G2 success for Arapaho

G1 winner Arapaho added a ninth success to his record on Saturday when successful in the G2 Sandown Classic at Caulfield.

The son of Lope De Vega, who was a €140,000 purchase by Avenue Bloodstock at the 2020 Arqana Autumn Sale in conjunction with his trainer Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock, prevailed under Rachel King over Smokin’ Romans to bring his earnings to over A$2.5 million.

“(Arapaho) put the writing on the wall a couple of starts ago, he backed it up again in the Champions Stakes, and then he’s just franked it today,” said stable representative Luke Hilton alluding to Arapaho’s fifth behind Via Sistina last time out in the G1 Champions Stakes.

“His work on Tuesday, Bjorn said to me, ‘I’ve never ever had a stayer, or him, work like he did on Tuesday’. So, we came full of confidence, the track was obviously a little bit of a question mark – he has won on heavy before – but it was a really good result and he’s back.

“It was a fantastic ride. She (Rachel King) loves this horse, she knows him so well, she knows him inside out and that was just an outstanding win. He’s a special horse for the team.”

At the time of his sale, Arapaho was a French Listed winner. He has added plenty to his record since then with wins in the G1 Kia Tancred Stakes, G3 ACJC Premier’s Cup, Listed Canberra Cup  and Listed Grafton Cup.

Bred by Ecurie Peregrine SAS, he is out of the Listed-winning Dansili mare Alzubra.