Mark Smith - Saturday August 27

The Deep Field colt Sweet Ride dented a few reputations in Saturday’s Group III Furphy San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.

Ridden by Chad Schofield for Annabel Neasham, Sweet Ride turned back all challengers to defeat Nettuno (I Am Invincible) by one and a half lengths with the winner’s better-fancied stablemate Swiss Exile (Pariah) a head back in third.

Sweet Ride won over the course and distance on debut on January 15, and two starts later added the Black Opal Preview at Canberra.

Second in the Group III Pago Pago Stakes to Rise Of The Masses, the son of Deep Field failed in the Golden Slipper.

“First-up this preparation, he was disappointing, but he has got better and better each time, and we haven’t missed him at home,” Neasham said.

“We’ve put a lot of work into him. We have kept him fit because he can be a bit fresh at home. He was the fittest horse here today.

“A big ‘well done’ to (owner/breeder) Bert Vieira. He’s such a great supporter of the game, and to win a very good race like this with a colt is very exciting for him going forward.

“I was amazed at his price to be honest. I thought his run the other day was very good. He took a towel around with him as well. I wondered if it helped or hindered.

“Terrific effort from the third horse as well, Swiss Exile. He is going to be a nice horse as well but today is Sweet Ride’s race and he deserved it.

The Run To The Rose in two weeks is the immediate target for Sweet Ride.

“He loves the 1100m, but how tough he is?” Neasham said.

“He hasn’t run over 1200 for a while. He ran in the Slipper but deserves a go in two weeks. Maybe even something like a Coolmore (Stud Stakes) further down the track.”

Recorded as a $320,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Widden Stud draft, Sweet Ride runs in the colours of his breeder Bert Vieira.

He is the first winner from How Sweet It Is, a four-time winner by Foxwedge that was also bred and raced by Vieira.

Bjorn Baker Racing purchased a Divine Prophet colt from How Sweet it Is for $35,000 at the 2022 Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale.

From a family which features four-time Group I winner Metal Bender, New Zealand Oaks winner Amarelinha and Group winners North Pacific and Missybeel, How Sweet it Is was covered by Vieira’s 4-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist last spring.

Sweet Ride is the 16th stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Deep Field.