Striking chestnut Spieth has not been a factor in his first two stakes races but the progressive son of Thorn Park could turn that around in the near future judging on his win at Flemington on Saturday, his third consecutive victory.
The Goulburn Murray Handicap (1100m) was Spieth's fourth win from seven starts and his only two failures came when stepped up to stakes company in the Group II Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick and the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
With Craig Williams in the saddle, Spieth looked in some trouble in gaining a run when crowded 300 metres out.
Williams found a narrow seam between runners and Spieth opened up impressively to defeat Lord Von Costa (Von Costa de Hero) by three-quarters of a length. (photos Grant Courtney)
"It's a relief, he had to overcome a few things in the run but he's done it well at the finish," winning trainer Bryce Heys said.
"It's not the ideal scenario first time up the straight and facing the breeze."
"The cut in the track possibly nullified the serious turn of foot he can produce but it didn't
top him getting the job done.
"He was giving weight away all round and he'll improve off that.
"I'll see how he comes through this but the plan is to come back here for the (Listed) Creswick (Stakes) in two weeks time."
Craig Williams was back on the colt for the first time since seventh in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last spring and has no doubt he is a stronger horse now.
"He's stronger all round and he travelled nicely for me," Williams said.
"I wanted him to get a trail into the race going up the straight and he towed me through the line.
"He feels like he's up to better quality races and Bryce has done a great job with him."
From the penultimate crop of Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Thorn Park, Spieth was a $200,000 purchase out of the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2014 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale.
Heys went back to the same sale in 2015 to purchase Spieth's half-brother by Savabeel for $190,000.
His imported Stella Livia (GB), a twice winning daughter of Titus Livius, is a half-sister to Ransom Of War (Red Ransom), the Horse of the Year & Champion 3YO in Germany in 2003.
Her dam Sombrefee (Polish Precedent) is a three-quarter sister to the Group II Temple Stakes winner and former useful stallion Snaadee and the Group II Newbury Mill Reef Stakes winner Russian Blond.
Perhaps a stakes success for Spieth will increase the prospects for his half-sister Stella Vega.
Passed in short of her $70,000 reserve as a yearling, the daughter of Haradasun recently sold for just $100 after failing to place in a 7-start career.
