SPRINGHILLS (Aus), was a another Redoute’s Choice colt to win first up, scoring in a Maiden Plate over 1000m at the Vaal on Thursday under a good ride from Callan Murray.

Three-year-old Springhills races in the silks of Arrowfield Stud owner and Chairman John Messara who stands Redoute’s Choice, Animal Kingdom, Snitzel and several other leading stallions. He established the Arrowfield Group in 1985.

Springhills (black and yellow checks), got up to win.

Mike de Kock commented: “We are honoured to have John Messara racing with us, we’ve supported Arrowfield over the years and he is one of the game’s true professionals.”

Springhills is a horse with only one eye and Mike chuckled: “Bizarrely, they don’t allow one-eyed horses to race in Australia, but they do allow one-eyed stewards.”

Springhills had soundness problems as a two-year-old and Mike said: “We hope he has outgrown that now. He has a nice pedigree and some potential. He looks like a sprinting type and should be at best over 1200m.”