Written by Georgie Dennis
The first victorian juveniles stepped out at the Sandown jump-outs on Thursday in three 600 metre 2-year-old heats.
The first heat was won by an unamed Exceed And Excel filly from the Clinton McDonald stable. The filly was quick out of the gates and led the field by a considerable margin, winning by several lengths.
Purchased for $350,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by McDonald, the filly is out of Swaane (Charge Forward) and is from the family of G2 Sandown Guineas winner and Wyndholm Park Stud sire Ringerdingding.
Exceed And Excel x Swaane (filly)
The second 2-year-old heat was won by a Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained I Am Invincible filly.
Jumping from an inside barrier, the filly was keen out of the gates but eventually settled and followed the rail around to win the heat by a head.
Passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is out of G1 The Galaxy placegetter Anatina (Fastnet Rock) and is related to dual Group winner Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt).
Second in the heat was a fast-finishing filly by first-season shuttler Shalaa (Ire) who is also from the Maher and Eustace stable. She is out of stakes-placed European mare Bana Wu (Shirocco {Ger}) and was a $160,000 Melbourne Premier purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing.
The last of Thursday’s juvenile jump-outs at Sandown was taken out by a Maher and Eustace-trained Street Boss (USA) colt. Jumping from an outside barrier, he settled on the pace and showcased the trademark Street Boss turn of foot to run past the leader in the final stages of the heat and win by 0.3l.
The colt was purchased by Maher at the Inglis Premier Sale for $250,000 and is out of winning Fastnet Rock mare Cupid. She is a half-sister to G1 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who herself produced last year’s VRC Oaks victor Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Finishing second in the heat was Defcon One, a son of Eureka Stud resident Defcon who was bought by Maher and Billy Jackson-Stops for $85,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Cost Yearling Sale.
Street Boss (USA) x Cupid (colt)
