‘He’s a jet’: John Messara justified knocking back Hong Kong offers for Know Thyself

On the evidence of Know Thyself’s runaway win it is easier to understand why part-owner John Messara knocked back a huge sum rumoured to be over $1 million for the three-year-old gelding.

Know Thyself bolts in at Rosehill.

Know Thyself showed why money can’t buy him with a stunning Sydney Saturday debut at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The race was only a TAB Highway (1400m) on a wet winter track but Know Thyself imposed himself, not only on his rivals, but the entire meeting, with a thoroughly dominant display.

On the evidence of Know Thyself’s runaway win – his third win from four starts – it is easier to understand why part-owner John Messara, the Arrowfield Stud supremo, recently knocked back a huge sum rumoured to be over $1 million for the three-year-old gelding.

“We did have a big offer from Hong Kong,’’ revealed Messara, who also celebrated a stakes win with Willinga Beast at Eagle Farm about 10 minutes after Know Thyself.

“But I rejected it because we feel Know Thyself is a little bit special.

“We want people to see what sort of horses can be bred by The Autumn Sun. We are in the stallion business and this horse will be great publicity for his sire.’’

One of the most dominant Highway wins you'll see! 🤯

Know Thyself kicks well clear and is destined for bigger races!@Aaronbullock90@[e-mail]/XnMmjY9iuX

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

Know Thyself ($1.95 favourite), trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, made light work of his opposition to win easing down by five-and-a-half lengths – the third biggest winning margin in a TAB Highway since they were introduced in 2015.

His chasing rivals seemed like they were in a different race with Shihab ($14) running on for second with Agirlsbestfriend ($21) more than a length away in third place.

Aaron Bullock, who leads the NSW Jockey premiership with this season with 128 wins at a lofty strike-rate of 22 per cent, had a succinct description of Know Thyself post-race: “He is just a dead-set jet!”

“It’s a privilege to be associated with a horse like him,’’ Bullock said. “He’s such a lovely horse and it helps when you are on a bit of horsepower with a nice barrier.

It was a one act affair for Know Thyself.

“Mind you, they didn’t make it easy for me, we could have easily ended up three or four pairs back on the fence and in trouble.

“But after riding this horse in races and barrier trials, I knew I could ask him to hold his spot, then put the brakes on mid-race before asking him to go again.

“Because of the confidence I have in this horse, having ridden him before, I knew he could push up, hold his spot and there would still be plenty left for me.’’

Bullock continued his remarkable association with the Messara-Gavranich stable, combining for their 22nd win this season at extraordinary strike-rate of 42 percent of winners per runners.

Messara and Gavranich also boast the best stable strike-rate of winners to runners in NSW racing his season with 35 wins at 31 per cent.

Gavranich was on track at Rosehill and was also trying to keep a lid on Know Thyself’s growing boom.

Co-trainer Leah Gavranich with Know Thyself.

“He has been blessed by the barrier gods every start, he always seems to draw a nice gate,’’ Gavranich said.

“Aaron was obviously trying to get off the fence, it wasn’t to be, but he had the horse to quicken at the top of the straight, take the rail and away he went.

“He is such a nice horse. He goes on any ground, he is confident in the ground, he’s confident in everything he does and he’s obviously a smart horse going forward. He is a serious horse.’’

The Messara and Gavranich stable have produced arguably the two most exciting country-based sprinters in NSW racing in the same week with Know Thyself’s win coming five days after stablemate, Clear Thinking won by a monstrous eight lengths on debut at Scone.

John Messara owns both boom sprinters and said Clear Thinking, the superbly-bred mare by Dubawi out of Sweet Idea, is likely to race at the provincials next before being given her chance in a Highway before the end of the season, while Know Thyself if going straight to stakes level.

“With Know Thyself, Paul and Leah are keen to run the horse next in the Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast,’’ Messara said.

“I’m not sure what the plans are for the spring but if he can win a stakes race next start then we are on our way. I think we will have some fun with this horse.’’

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON FOR STRATHTAY

Strathtay showed a glimpse of the class of his star father Preferment when the Chris Waller-trained galloper scored his first Australian win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Kiwi-bred gelding demolished his opposition to win the James Squire Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m) in the easiest of fashion.

Strathtay is raced by Kiwi owner Iain Bruce, who also had a share in Preferment during his stellar racing career.

Preferment won four Group 1s for the Waller stable in the Victoria Derby (2014), Turnbull Stakes (2015), Australian Cup (2016) and The BMW (2016).

“His father Preferment was a fantastic racehorse himself,” Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.s

“He hasn’t performed massively well at stud but he has put a bit into this son of his. Hopefully he can go onwards and upwards from here.

Strathtay picks up his first win in Australia!

Jay Ford with an early double at Rosehill. ✌️@cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/9KR6QGyMzl

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

“Mr Bruce has been a massive supporter of Chris over the years and owns this outright.”

Strathtay made the move over to Australia after eight starts in New Zealand that delivered two victories.

He produced an ominous Australian debut with a fifth in heavy conditions earlier this month and relished the step up to 2000m second up.

Jockey Jay Ford got him in clear air at the top of the straight and Strathtay ($16) surged away to score by 3½ lengths from the Annabel Neasham-trained Gulf Of Mexico ($6.50) and Perfect Play ($5.50).

“He was fantastic,” Duckworth said.

“Jay Ford actually came out with a bit of confidence pre-race. He rode him first up and he gave him a terrific feel that day.

“His only concern was that he was going to pull a little bit second up going to 2000m but to his credit the horse performed well and he darted through it.”

Duckworth said the stable were in no rush to raise the bar too high for Strathtay.

“We will take him through his grades,” Duckworth said.

“We were hoping it would be a slashing run today rather than blowing them away but he did win really well.

“Obviously a wet track is a little bit of an advantage for him because he relishes it and there was a bit of a question mark on some of our other runners but he has got plenty of talent.

“He is a good looking horse and a really powerful boy.”

Originally published as ‘He’s a jet’: John Messara justified knocking back Hong Kong offers for Know Thyself