SABLONNEUSE “BEACHES” HIS RIVALS AT FIRST DISTANCE TEST

TALK about throwing sand in their faces!

Theresa Bateup has been looking forward to getting three-year-old Sablonneuse out over a distance, even though his sire Sandbar (by Snitzel) was a sprinter; his four wins being between 1100m and 1200m.

She was proven correct when the gelding, at his first attempt at 2000m, came through with flying colours at the Kembla Grange trainer’s home track yesterday.

Ridden by Brock Ryan, Sablonneuse ($4.80) was convincing in his defeat of Hawkesbury husband and wife trainers Phil and Tara Vigouroux’s Just Shane ($17) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap.

He had had two and a quarter lengths to spare at the finish, posting his third success at his 11^th start.

“I’ve always felt he would handle a middle distance,” Bateup said today.

“It has just been a matter of time finding the right race.

“He was stiff not to win the Wagga Guineas (1600m) when fourth at the Cup carnival last month, and then he ran fourth 19 days later in a Benchmark 68 Graduation (1600m) on a heavy Warwick Farm track.”

The French word sablonneuse translates to “sandy” or “sand like” in English, and the equine Sablonneuse certainly beached his rivals yesterday.

The gelding is the last foal of his dam, the Encosta De Lago mare Fidele, who died in August 2024, and Bateup trains him for Angus Lamont’s Kooringal Stud just outside Wagga.

The stud stands Sandbar, who gave leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup his maiden stakes success in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm in February 2018.

“I love the progeny of Sandbar,” Bateup said.

“They are very likeable, being easy to train, and have common sense in everything they do, along with natural ability.

“I’ve got a few of them.”

Bateup is considering backing up Sablonneuse at Newcastle on Saturday in a Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1850m.

“I’ll see how does during the week, but yesterday’s race was his first for a month, so I can see him taking further improvement from it,” she said.

Sablonneuse was Bateup’s 22^nd winner of the season, and rounded off a pleasing two days for her.

She knows a thing or two about backing up horses quickly, having been successful with $19 chance Brannum at Moruya the previous day.

“Brannum had run last of seven only four days earlier at Nowra after travelling strongly in the race,” Bateup explained.

“Amy McLucas rode him, and said afterwards that perhaps he was a ‘boy’s horse’.

“I spoke with the owner, and we decided to back hm up at Moruya, and Chad Lever rode him.”

Whilst Bateup is pleased with her season’s results, she believes her success will lay a good platform for next season.

“I’ve got quite a few young horses, and am really looking forward to seeing what they can do in the next racing year,” she said.

Bateup was one of four Kembla Grange trainers to return from Moruya with a winner last Friday.

Team Price scored with Monte Maximus (Jean Van Overmeire) at $21, Paul Murray took the opener with $3.80 favorite Won For Vicky (Quayde Krogh), and Mitch Beer and George Carpenter cleaned up in the closer with $1.70 hotpot Dirtballer (Amy McLucas).

Dirtballer, a three-year-old daughter of Graff, is now unbeaten from two starts.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 21, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS