Whatton Manor Stud thrilled as Worth Waiting wins Aphrodite Stakes

Whatton Manor Stud bosses were toasting the impressive victory of Worth Waiting in Saturday's Listed Smarkets Betting Exchange Aphrodite Stakes at Newmarket, a result which provides a timely boost with another busy yearling sale season around the corner.

A winner of each of her last two starts, Worth Waiting was well backed on Saturday and once in the clear on the July course, she powered away to score by a comfortable length and three quarters, in turn becoming the third individual stakes winner for Juddmonte's Bated Breath.

Edward Player, of the Nottinghamshire-based Whatton Manor Stud that bred Worth Waiting, was full of praise for the filly's trainer, David Lanigan, and believes the best could yet be to come if she is given the opportunity.

Aphrodite Stakes result and replay

"We're absolutely delighted," said Player. "Breeding any Listed winner is always exciting because it's not easy to do, so we're thrilled.

"We always thought she was a lovely yearling. She was quite tall but we liked her a lot and David has been very patient with her. She's clearly improved a lot for the step up in trip and the way they backed her, they obviously were expecting her to win."

Whatton Manor sold Worth Waiting to Rabbah Bloodstock for 40,000 guineas at Book 2 of the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and Player added: "The family clearly does extremely well for a bit of time and a step up in trip.

"She's closely related to Journey and her dam [Salutare, by Sadler's Wells] is a sister to the dam of Journey, so I think she should keep on improving. To us, she looks like she could easily be a Group horse, so hopefully she will stay in training and keep progressing."

Salutare has since produced an Al Kazeem filly foal and this year visited National Stud newcomer Time Test and Player said: "It is pretty exciting having those two in the pipeline. We fully intend to keep the sister, as she is so closely related to Journey."

While there is not a Salutare yearling among this year's Whatton Manor crop, the late summer and autumn looks set to be no less busy for Player and his colleagues, with approximately 40 yearlings set to go through the various sale rings.

"We have 11 yearlings going to Doncaster and about 30 going to Newmarket, so we're very busy," he said.

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