The late Shane Warne or Warnie as he was known by his friends and contemporaries, was a cricketing legend and he will be fondly remembered for his mastery of leg spin.
But now it seems that there could be a new sporting star on the horizon, except this time in horse racing, and in honour of the Australian great, he is also aptly known as Warnie.
Having been acquired for 65,000 guineas several weeks ago by Nathan Barnett, a horse named Warnie put in an impressive showing at the recent Royal Ascot meet.
Making his debut in the Chesham Stakes in the opening race on the final day of Ascot, Warnie pushed hard at the final post, and came home in ninth place, two-and-a-half lengths behind the eventual winner Snellen.
And by the sounds of things, the purchase could be an astute bit of business on Bennett’s part, and he has suggested that Warnie may stick to the UK racing circuit, as he has been nominated for several Group 1s.
‘He’s going to be up for it’
Bennett sees a lot of potential in Warnie, and he thinks he will be up for the challenge that comes with UK racing.
He said: “To be within two and a half lengths of them in the Chesham Stakes is incredible, he was sort of blocked for a run there as well.
“We bought him seven weeks ago for 65,000 guineas… he was the second fastest of the breeze-ups.
“The big one for us was how well he finished his work in the breeze-up. He was the second fastest (in time) but he was the fastest last 200m past the post.
“He’s going to be up to it, isn’t he!”
When will Warnie back Down Under?
Bennett has admitted that Warnie is ready to acclimatise to the UK racing scene, although he did also hint that the bay colt could return to Down Under one day, and be a 2,000 millar at some point.
While the UK racing scene makes for absorbing viewing, the Australian racing environment has also been hotting up for several years. Each week, the best Aussie bookies will display a raft of betting markets for the biggest races, and that includes bet365.
At the likes of bet365, you will be able to locate a range of outrights per meet. But horse racing enthusiasts can also discover futures lines for some of the most prestigious events Down Under, which include the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup, which is known as “the race that stops a nation”.
While Bennett didn’t see Warnie in the winner’s circle at Royal Ascot, it was still a positive meet, as he had three runners featuring on the final day.
As far as Warnie is concerned, it is probably too early to make any cast iron judgments. However, the early signs seem to suggest that he could be one to watch out for in the future. Maybe one day he could enjoy iconic status like Frankie Dettori, who signed off on a glittering career with four winners at Ascot to take his total to a staggering 81.
PHOTO: Snellen after winning the Chesham Stakes (credit: Megan Ridgwell) Courtesy of Royal Ascot
