This time last year we acquired a lightly framed horse named Gallic Chieftain. Under the tutelage of Darren Weir, Gallic Chieftain has started his career in Australia superbly with his latest win being the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill on July 1. He will now aim at feature spring races.
OTI’s latest purchase, Dusk Falls, is a very similar type to Gallic Chieftain. This 3YO grey gelding has performed exceptionally well in his career to date and appears to have all the credentials necessary to be a top stayer in Australia. He is the essence of a quality equine athlete. He has a high cruising speed but can sprint off the bend.
Dusk Falls started three times as a two-year-old over unsuitable journeys. In five starts as a three-year-old, Dusk Falls has won two and finished 2nd twice. His most recent win was at Maisons-Laffitte over 2500m on a good-to-soft track. Up against Darbuzan, a quality Aga Khan horse, Dusk Falls led and sprinted at the 400m to put a two length gap on him. There was a six-length gap back to Inverloch, an OTI horse. At his next start, Inverloch won a high-classed maiden against 16 starters over 2900m. We assess Inverloch as a horse that will make it to Group class and is considered a high-class stayer for Melbourne.
By the son of Galileo, New Approach, out of the Pivotal mare, In the Mist, Dusk Falls is exceptionally well bred. He is from the family of Grey Lion, who finished 2nd in the Group 3 Geelong Cup and contested the Melbourne Cup last year. Dusk Falls’ stallion, New Approach, was a Derby winner in England before going on to be a top sire. Although still early in his breeding career, he has already produced over 30 stakes winners including the Group 1 winner, Dawn Approach.
Dusk Falls is expected to race in the spring for his new trainer, Darren Weir. Like Darren has successfully done with Gallic Chieftain, Dusk Falls will simply be asked to race through his classes in the initial stages, with a view to graduating to a higher level of racing in the autumn and spring of 2018.
Gallic Chieftain has achieved 4 wins from his 9 starts in Australia and now has a Listed victory to his name. He is now poised to step onto the spring stage as a serious contender of Group races. Dusk Falls is looking to follow in his footsteps.
