By Bren O'Brien
Two well-bred imports put themselves up on the radar as potential future stars at Kensington and Sandown respectively on Wednesday, with the Team Hawkes-trained Kingsheir (GB) (Kingman {GB}) claiming his second win in Sydney while the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-prepared Cadre Du Nior (USA) (War Front {USA}) romped home in Melbourne.
Having his third start, the Orbis Bloodstock-owned Kingsheir atoned for his last start defeat by charging home under James McDonald to win a BM72 H. at Kensington over 1550 metres, defeating Easy Campese (Sidestep) by 1l with Relucent (NZ) (Savabeel) another 1.3l back in third.
The 4-year-old entire holds a nomination to the G1 Cox Plate in October and co-trainer Michael Hawkes was happy to see him return to the winner's circle.
“He’s still learning his craft and it was just too wet for him at Warwick Farm, so it was good to see him do that on a better surface here today,” Hawkes said.
“It just depends on how he pulls up as to where we go and what we do next.”
McDonald said the inexperienced import still had a fair bit to learn but was loaded with talent.
"He's such a big horse, a good moving horse with a good turn of foot and he just got bogged down the other day on an extremely heavy track," he said.
"Back onto a fast surface ridden with a sit, albeit he still did a lot wrong, he still pulled, but he showed a good turn of foot and got the job done.
"I was probably a victim of thinking he was a good thing last time and tried to ride him accordingly. Today, he was ready for my signal out of the gate and he took a little bit to come back to me.
"I was probably a victim of thinking he was a good thing last time and tried to ride him accordingly." - James McDonald
"Probably from the 800 metres, I was pretty confident he was in a bit more of a rhythm and going through his gears, he just accelerated beautifully."
McDonald's impression was that Kingsheir would win further races this campaign but his best was probably a preparation away. He is $101 for the Cox Plate.
A €110,000 (AU$180,564) buy for Stroud Coleman from the 2018 Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale, Kingsheir is one of two winners from Rose Memory (Ire) (Elusive City {USA}), a half-sister to Group 2 winner Hard Dream/Chater Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from the family of G2 American Derby winner Gold And Steel (Fr) (Shining Steel {Fr}).
He is one of three winners from three starters in Australia by Kingman (GB).
Kingman (GB), sire of Kingsheir (GB) | Standing at Juddmonte Farms and available to cover on Southern Hemisphere time
Dominant performance
The Phoenix Thoroughbreds-owned Cadre Du Noir justified his short-price favouritism at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, winning the Ladbrokes Odds Boost H. over 2400 metres by 5l easing down.
In a dominant performance, the 5-year-old assumed control after over-racing for jockey Ben Melham early in the contest. He cantered away down the straight to win impressively in his third start in Australia for his second win in eight starts.
“We were hoping he’d be hard to beat today but I don’t think you ever expect them to win like that,” assistant trainer Lucy Yeomans said. “He was incredible”
Cadre Du Noir is now set to head to a 2200 metre race at Bendigo in two weeks' time.
He was a US$1.1 million (AU$1.53 million) purchase for Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
He is a half-brother to multiple Graded winner Parranda (USA) (English Channel {USA}).
The import is now $41 for the G1 Caulfield Cup and $51 for the G1 Melbourne Cup after his impressive win.
