The 2023 Bestinbeds.com.au JD Watts Memorial, raced at Menangle over 1609m, was won by Arden-bred South Coast Arden (Somebeachsomewhere - Southwind Arden). He is trained by Paul Fitzpatrick and was driven by Gavin Fitzpatrick. He is raced by New Zealand owners G and P Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, K and G Woodham and J and A Gibbs.
This is what Adam Hamilton had to say on the Aussie News section on the HRNZ website:
"The second coming of South Coast Arden couldn’t have started any better.
The former Kiwi star made it two wins from as many starts for NSW trainer Paul Fitzpatrick when he scored narrowly but impressively at Menangle last night.
And he smashed the clock with a 1min49.1sec mile.
In a spirited affair, South Coast Arden did what few can do at Menangle by sustaining a big run around the field to beat some serious opposition.
He was helped by a scorching 53.3sec opening half set-up when Abouttime blasted out to lead from a wide draw and just kept running.
Just when it seemed Spirit Of St Louis, who sat behind the leader, was going to win, South Coast Arden lunged and won by a half-head.
Spirit Of St Louis was terrific first-up since finishing second in the Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 14.
Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow, who was also resuming sat three pegs and had his chance but was still good in third spot.
The worry from the race was Bondi Lockdown, who for the second successive week ran well below his best.
Fitzpatrick will now surely be tempted to take South Coast Arden north next month for races like the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake."
It is not the first time an Arden-bred has won the time-honoured JD Watts Memorial. In 2018 Celestial Arden (Rocknroll Heaven - Arden's Darlin) won the Group 3 event sponsored by Cabra-vale Diggers by beating a good open-class field to win by 12m over Ultimate Art and Match In Heaven. Celestial Arden's mile rate was 1. 53.9 for 2300m. KerryAnn Morris was the winning driver.
Photos: Ashley Brennan Photography Facebook page
To see Celestial Arden's race click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9p2G3YhO4
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