Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Experienced New South Wales-bred six-year-old Watts Up Sunshine bowed out as a winner at his final Australian start when he led and scored a narrow victory in the $21,000 Call Garrard’s Horse And Hound For All Your Equine Needs Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has been sold to the United States, providing he passes a vet test,” said trainer Michael Young after Gary Hall Jnr had driven Watts Up Sunshine, the $1.10 favourite, to a half-head win over $13 chance Solesseo Matuca.
“There have been conditions for the sale. His owner Bradley Watts was happy to sell if he won tonight. There has been an agreement reached on the price, so it’s pretty much all done.
“Watts Up Sunshine will suit the American style of racing. He is a good frontrunner capable of rolling some big sectionals in front. Junior was a bit kind with him tonight.”
Watts Up Sunshine has thrived under Young’s care, with the gelding’s 31 WA starts producing five wins and eight placings, taking his career record to 90 starts for 22 wins, 25 placings and stakes of $270,887.
Watts is a prominent breeder and owner, and he certainly must have been delighted with the performance of his four-year-old trotter Watts Up Partytime, who revealed great speed to win a 1720m trial at Melton last Tuesday when he won by 48 metres from Kyvalley Michael, rating 1.57.8, when he covered the final 800m in 56.6sec. and the last 400m in 27.9sec.
Watts Up Sunshine is by American sire Sunshine Beach and is the fourth foal out of the Art Major mare Cheeky Cheeky, who raced five times for four placings before being retired.