Seventh heaven for It’s Somewhat Down Under

Group 2 Hollindale Stakes win sets up a shot at the Doombem Cup (G1)

It’s Somewhat claimed a seventh Australian Group win with a hard-fought victory in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at Queensland’s Gold Coast track yesterday.

The winner last month of Australia’s premier mile race, the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap, It’s Somewhat took his lifetime earnings to A$2.9-million (Dh7.9 million) with a typically honest and brave performance.

One of the best to begin, It’s Somewhat was taken to the lead by jockey Tye Angland, setting an even pace until challenged at the 600m when a group of horses swept around the field.

But just as he had done in the Doncaster, It’s Somewhat withstood the challenges, holding on to score by a half neck from Single Gaze with Maurus a further three-quarters of a length away in third place.

“They came at us quickly after we were able to lead, but to his credit we held them off,” Angland said.

The win was the 173rd for the season for Godolphin in Australia and the 32nd at Stakes level, pushing the stable’s prize money haul beyond A$16-million for the 2016-17 term.

It also set the scene for a new era in the career of assistant trainer and Hall of Fame jockey Darren Beadman, who has stepped in as Godolphin’s interim head trainer in Australia.

“It’s Somewhat was a great way to finish one stint and start another,” said Beadman who had supervised the horse’s Queensland preparation.

The son of Dynaformer will now be set for the Group 1 Doomben Cup.

“Not many Doncaster winners come to the Gold Coast but it was a strong field. We gave him a trial after the Doncaster but there is no doubt the race will have been good for him,” Beadman said.

The stable also produced another two-year-old winner yesterday with Viridine taking out the ungraded Fresh For Kids Handicap at Rosehill.