Satherley to ice the cake in Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic

By Glenn Davis

Warwick Satherley is hoping to ice the cake on his dual-licensed career as both a trainer and jockey aboard unbeaten youngster Saraqael in the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic at Rockhampton on Saturday.

Former New Zealander Satherley arrived in Rockhampton about three years ago to initially begin a training career but instead returned to race riding after more than a decade in the wilderness.

Satherley was forced out of the saddle in New Zealand because of increasing weight.

But, such was his success when back in the saddle at Rockhampton he took out a dual trainers and jockey’s licence.

Satherley, who prepares a team of three, has a strike-rate few trainers in the country can boast since kicking off his training career in December of 2023.

From just 14 starters, he has notched up nine wins for a 64.3% winning strike-rate while his current season stats stand at 83.3% with five wins from six starters.

Saraqael is responsible for the bulk of his strike-rate after going unbeaten in his only three starts.

Saraqael was bought for $8,000 at the Capricornia Yearling Sale.

The galloper is raced by Satherley’s partner Joanna Andersen and his sister Susan.

Susan will make the trip from Perth to watch the youngster go around in Rockhampton’s feature two-year-old event.

The son of Flying Artie was picked out by Satherley on looks and he was unaware of his pedigree.

Saraqael's pedigree includes multiple Group-winners including his grand dam Absolut Glam who won a Group 1 Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm as well as a Group 2 win at Moonee Valley.

“I liked the scope of him at the sales and he was a nice cut of a colt and had a good temperament,” Satherley said.

“At the time I didn’t know that much about his breeding.”

Saraqael had to withstand a protest before holding on to his unbeaten record following his win over the Clinton Taylor-trained Bitter Spirit in an 1100 metre two-year-old race at Callaghan Park on March 25.

Brisbane jockey Ryan Wiggins was aboard for his last win but Satherley will be reunited for his Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic assignment.

“We’ve raced him sparingly with this race in mind and it’s the race we want to win,” Satherley said.

“I was suspended when he won last time and Ryan did a good job filling in.”

Satherley has had one previous ride in the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic, finishing third on the then Craig Smith-trained Acedrod last year.

Acedrod, who is now trained by Sileas Green, is still part-owned by the recently retired Smith and is looking for redemption in the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic for three and four-year-olds.

Acedrod was placed over 1300 and 1400 metres at Callaghan Park in January before being freshened up for a last start fourth against his own age behind the Jamie McConachy-trained Querida over 1200 metres on March 25.