The great Rough Habit was a wonderfully versatile performer at the highest level and his close relative Addictive Habit is now showing he has inherited a healthy dose of that family flair.
At Te Rapa yesterday, the 6-year-old won his second group two by adding the Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate to last season's Coupland's Bakeries Mile success.
The Lee Somervell-prepared Addictive Habit also campaigned in Queensland where he won the Listed Southbank Quality at the Gold Coast.
"He's a terrific horse and he'd make any trainer look good," Somervell said. "He's got the heart of a lion and he obviously liked his Brisbane holiday.
"He only had two weeks off so he had a fair bit of race fitness against some others that were in fresh."
Addictive Habit, whose dam is a half-sister to Rough Habit, will make his next two appearances at Hastings in the opening legs of the Triple Crown series, the group one Makfi Challenge Stakes and the group one Windsor Park Plate.
"I haven't got him in the last one though, we might be looking to go over to Melbourne with him," Somervell said.
Addictive Habit drew a wide alley at Te Rapa, but rider Sam Spratt was able to keep the leaders within her sights before improving wide near the turn.
Addictive Habit hit top gear in the straight to take major honours with Kawi finishing off strongly for second, but he was subsequently relegated to fifth after a protest from the connections of Whosyourmaster was upheld.
Original third placegetter Tomorrowland, who had led 200 metres from home, was promoted to second ahead of the dead-heaters The Filly and Whosyourmaster.
- NZ Racing Desk