Mulberry’s Internal Affairs produces first-up victory

Mulberry Racing appears to have a promising colt on its hands, with two-year-old Internal Affairs justifying his odds on status with a first-up victory on his home track of Hawkesbury on Tuesday.

The Brad Widdup‑trained colt raced twice late last year, finishing runner-up in the Listed Inglis Nursery at Randwick prior to a spell.

Resuming on the back of two barrier trials, Internal Affairs settled on the fence behind the leaders for jockey Tyler Schiller who waited for a run approaching the turn before taking an inside run to score by three‑quarters of a length.

Bred by Morning Rise Stud’s Robert McClure, who retained a share in the colt, Internal Affairs was a $440,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Mulberry Racing last year.

He is the fourth winner from Group I‑winning Argentine import Kononkop, who is due to foal this spring to Coolmore shuttler City Of Troy. A brother to Internal Affairs sold for $100,000 at this year’s Magic Millions.

Internal Affairs is the 14th first‑crop winner for Home Affairs, the leading first season sire whose fee has increased to $176,000 (inc GST) this year.