The British statesman brings with him a promising debut race

If ever a canter was slowly fine-tuned to make a big statement on debut, it is an impressively behaved three-year-old at Monday’s Dubbo meeting.

The well-named British Statesman, a gelding son of multiple British Group 1 winner Churchill and out of a mare by speed sire Exceed And Excel, will make his long-awaited debut in a modest maiden handicap 1400m.

The British statesman has been poking around the trials for more than a year, first in late 2021 when he was in Joe Pride’s stable and with his current trainer, Bathurst-based Gayna Williams, since the middle of last year.

In that time the horse has tried the Dubbo track three times, each with a different little story, but all the while working towards a powerhouse.

He had a quiet period in an open class test in early August before moving up three weeks later and less than a length away from the winner.

However, it wasn’t all right and the Williams camp decided to give him more time to mature and it seems to have paid off.

Loading

The British statesman returned to the Dubbo trials on December 19, blowing away his opposition by more than eight lengths.

A freewheeling and naturally tall Strider, he parked well outside the fence in front of the early leader before sailing away to win by a huge margin and could easily have won by a lot further.