Eaton’s Gift Bounces Back

18th May 2008

Smart three year-old Eaton’s Gift (3c Johannesburg x Kit's City, by Carson City) found top form to win the Listed Matt Winn Stakes over six furlongs at Churchill Downs on the weekend.

The son of Johannesburg was up on the pace throughout and kicked clear to win by a length and a half, bouncing back to the form that saw him win the Group Two Swale Stakes at Gulfstream back in February.

Trained by Dale Romans for the Zayat Stables, Eatons Gift is a winner of four of his eight starts earning $232,005 and seems best suited over the shorter trips.

“He’s a good horse,” said trainer Dale Romans.

“Things really didn’t work out right for him in the Derby Trial, but we know he’s better than that. That’s why we wheeled him back pretty quick. He’s been training good and this is the way we expected him to run.”

A $150,000 purchase from the 2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Eaton’s Gift is one of 16 stakes-winners worldwide for Johannesburg and like so many of his best horses carries Mr Prospector blood on his dams side being from the Carson City (by Mr Prospector) mare Kit’s City.

A minor winner herself, Kit’s City is a half-sister to three stakes-winners.