A patient approach with high-priced youngster Osamu (Exceed And Excel) was rewarded at Tuesday’s Rosehill trials where the regally-bred 2-year-old won his 900 metre heat in fine style in the countdown to his first race day appearance.
Trained by Chris Waller, the potential G1 Golden Slipper S. contender settled kindly on the fence for rider James McDonald in the Aquis Farm colours and lengthened stride to cut down the pacemaker Jor El (I Am Invincible) in the closing stages.
Osamu was a $1.7 million purchase for Aquis at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where he was offered through the draft of Tyreel, who have remained in the ownership syndicate.
“He was right at the top of our tree and he’s a lovely looking horse by a champion sire,” Aquis Chief Executive Officer Shane McGrath said.
“Everything at the moment points to having a nice colt on our hands. You never want to put too much of a rap on them, but he couldn’t have done it any better.
“Obviously, he’s the highest-priced yearling they’ve sold and the folks there loved him from the day he was born. It’s lovely to keep the breeders involved.
“There’s always a bit of luck involved and it’s nice to race horses in partnership to foster relationships. That’s part of our mantra, to try and work with like-minded people.”
Osamu had undergone a spring preparation, but rather than press on any further the colt was given a break.
“He had trialled pretty well around Breeders’ Plate time, but we just decided to back off and have him ready for the better races. He’s on a Golden Slipper program,” McGrath said.
Osamu is a son of the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. winner Written Dash (Written Tycoon) and closely-related to the Inglis Premier 2YO S. winner and G1 Blue Diamond S. placegetter Masthead (Written Tycoon).
It is a precocious family that has also produced the G1 TJ Smith S. winner and sire Sizzling and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. winner Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}), who also finished third in the G1 Golden Slipper S. The G1 Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento (So You Think {NZ}) is also on the pedigree page.
“At the end of the day, it was Osamu’s first trial back and he jumped and got on speed and went on to win his trial well,” McGrath said.
“There’s no money for trials, we all know that, but at least you can walk away with a smile on your face after that. They’re all champions until they go to the races.
“It looks like a pretty serious crop of 2-year-olds this year and at least we’ve got a few who are part of the action.”
Osamu’s effort was also mirrored by his stablemate and another Aquis-owned colt in Sauvestre (Hinchinbrook), who showed determination to run down the tearaway pacemaker Belieber (Zoustar) to claim his 900 metre heat.
“It was his second trial and it was nice to see him run through the line like that. The leader had gone out pretty hard and Hugh (Bowman, jockey) gave him a lovely, educational ride and he learned to chase one down,” McGrath said.
“He’s a beautiful horse and whether we give him a little break now we’ll leave up to Chris. He’s a Magic Millions colt, but it may all come a little too soon for him.”
Sauvestre was bred and offered by Cressfield at the Gold Coast and was knocked down to Aquis for $500,000. He is a half-brother to four winners, including the Group 3 performer The Chairman (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Their dam Dezign (Zabeel {NZ}) is an unraced daughter of the three-time Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Elegant Fashion (Danewin), also the dam of the G3 Ladies’ Day Vase winner and G1 Schweppes Oaks runner-up Star Fashion (Street Cry {Ire}). – TDN ANZ
