Schwarz handles The Valley best in the G1 William Reid Stakes
Rosemont Stud’s continued investment in high-quality colts has paid off handsomely, with their $1.25 million purchase Schwarz securing victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Described by co-trainer Tom Charlton as "a big-ticket stallion with a big pedigree," Schwarz was bought at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has now well and truly justified his price tag.
Benefiting from a leader-friendly track pattern, the four-year-old son of Zoustar bounced back from a below-par Orr Stakes run to showcase his brilliance over 1200m.
"He’s still relatively lightly raced, and we’re learning a lot about him with each preparation," said Charlton, who trains in partnership with John O’Shea.
"He was dominant first-up here but didn’t quite see out the 1400m two weeks later. We had it in the back of our minds to target this race fresh at 1200m, and it’s worked out perfectly."
Schwarz ($5.50 betting favorite) surged to a one-length victory over Benedetta ($7), with race favorite Jimmysstar ($2.90) flashing home for third, another length away.
Jockey Jamie Mott, who stepped in for the absent Blake Shinn, capitalized on the favorable conditions to claim his third career Group 1 win.
"Before the meeting, I was a little worried the inside might be off, but as the day played out, I gained more confidence," Mott said.
"The way the track was playing suited how I wanted to ride him, and it gave him the best chance to win."
With six wins and a placing from 12 starts, Schwarz has now amassed more than $1.1 million in prizemoney, reinforcing his status as an elite sprinter.
Meanwhile, Jimmysstar’s slow getaway proved costly, though jockey Ethan Brown was pleased with his effort.
"He ran enormous," Brown said.
"He stepped quite slow today and was on the back foot from there.
"I thought they were just a bit sharp for him around The Valley, and that run suggests he’s looking for 1400m now. But take nothing away from him—he ran terrific."
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