SA's first 2yo winner of the season

Buildthemanastatue delivered South Australia’s first two-year-old win of the season when he scored in a heat of the SA BOTRA Kindergarten Stakes at Globe Derby last Monday, and in doing so secured the inaugural $5,000 South Australian Harness Racing Club 2YO First Win Bonus on top of his Southern Cross payment.

The extra bonus came as an unexpected boost for trainer Kevin Von Duve.

“I knew he’d earned his Southern Cross bonus, but I was excited when they told me he’d also picked up the extra $5,000 from the club,” Von Duve said.

Von Duve purchased the gelding for just $10,000 at the 2025 APG Melbourne Sale.

“He’s not very big, but he’s sensible and he wants to run,” he said.

Von Duve has only three horses in work,  Smokin Strepo, Springfield Affair, and Buildthemanastatue all of which made the trip from his Glencoe base in the South East.

“It was the little fella’s first trip away and he handled it well,” he added.

This season, the South Australian Harness Racing Club introduced the $5,000 bonus for any Southern Cross-eligible two-year-old who wins their first race at Globe Derby Park. To qualify, the horse must also be trained in South Australia for at least 60 days prior to the victory.

by Gary Newton for Harnesslink