It was a
Big Day for Darley and their
Champion Australian Sire EXCEED AND EXCEL, as the World’s Champion 2yo Sire showed again why he has earned the title, with yet another of his talented offspring -
BURATINO blitzing his rivals in the
Coventry S., Gr2, for 2yo’s at Royal Ascot.
BURANTINO
Buratino made sure his first start in Godolphin colours a winning one, as he dashed away to land Tuesday’s feature 2yo event over 6 furlongs (1207m).
Buratino has only been in the Godolphin team a matter of days, having transferred from the ownership of the sheikh's son, Sheikh Hamdan, whose colours he had previously shown turbo-charged abilities when winning at Epsom on Derby Day.
Buratino displayed to the world exactly why Sheikh Mohammed was so interested in buying him, after he rattled off a power-packed surge to win the Coventry Stakes.
The son of
Exceed And Excel was purchased privately, after scoring impressively at Epsom in the Woodcote Stakes (Listed) on Derby day.
As they jumped away in the Coventry Stakes,
Buratino bungled the start. His
jockey William Buick allowed
Buratino to find his feet and balance up, which therefore ensured he was clearly last at the 800m.
Buick then lengthened some rein and allowed to
Buratino to work through the field from the 800m to the 600m. At the halfway mark, Buick angled to the outside into clear running.
Buratino accelerated into the lead at the 200m, powering up the hill to defeat Air Force Blue (7/2) by two lengths with Eltezam (12/1) a further two lengths away third.
"We had a pretty good run through, he’s not the fastest away but he’s got a great finishing kick,” jockey William Buick said.
"We were lucky to have an uninterrupted run and was able to choose when I wanted to go,
"It’s a long furlong the last one here, I probably went a bit sooner than I wanted to,
"He's the most exciting two-year-old who's around at the moment,
"He’s won very well, I see no reason why he won’t stay seven furlongs.”
"He's come on for every run and travelled so well," Buick said.
Buratino’s Trainer Mark Johnston, saddling his 38th winner at Royal Ascot, added: "I kept my feet on the ground with him. You just had to look at the bare form. Stepping him up in trip has obviously been the key.
"William (jockey) has now ridden him three times and the horse has got better in his estimation and given him a better feel.
"William told Sheikh Mohammed he wouldn't be frightened to run him over seven furlongs later in the year.
"I see no reason why he shouldn't improve further or stay seven furlongs, but we'll take it one step at a time. I've just watched the replay and it seems like the field were pretty strung out so I'd say it was a good performance."
"We'll discuss where to go next. He's a different horse now.
"When he won on the first day of the season Simon Crisford (former Godolphin racing manager) said 'Put him away for Ascot', but I think they need experience.
"When you go to Ascot you need experience under your belt."
The Coventry is the first Group contest of the year for juveniles. Many top class horses to win this race go on to achieve major success.
Buratino has won five of his seven starts, placing the other two for trainer Mark Johnston.
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of the runner-up Air Force Blue, said: "He was a little bit green still but we think he's a horse to look forward to. In an ideal world we would have liked him to have had another run, it was only his second start but he's run a fair race."
Bookmakers William Hill believe the Classic potential of the first two home is equal, bracketing Air Force Blue and Buratino as their 16-1 joint favourites for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas next season.
Buratino was bred by Darley Stud. He’s a son of three-time winning Kingmambo mare Bergamask, who ran third in the Listed Prix Petite Etoile at Deauville. He hails from the extended family of Danehill Dancer. Already the dam of three winners, Bergamask also has a yearling colt by Shamardal, a filly foal by Cape Cross and has been tested in foal to first-season stallion Slade Power.
Exceed And Excel, who sits on
99 Individual Stakes Winners, is the world's best stallion of juvenile precocity. He has now sired
25 individual Group Winners at 2, including Breeders' Cup victor Outstrip, the multiple G1 winner Helmet, Golden Slipper heroine Overreach, Blue Diamond Winners Reward For Effort and Earthquake and 2015 Magic Millions winner Le Chef.
EXCEED AND EXCEL is standing the upcoming season at Darley Stud, NSW at a service fee of $110,000.
Hoofnote:
Dynamic Syndications and Gai Waterhouse have just launched our latest offer – a superb filly by the
Buratino’s sire
EXCEED AND EXCEL from the mare
RED FEVER (by Red Ransom).
She hails from a female family that boasts
101 Stakes Class horses in her family (50 Stakes Winners and 51 Stakes Placed).
With our filly being aimed at the 3 Major 2yo races, a 5% share in our
Gai Waterhouse trained filly is only
$6,900 whilst ongoing training and other costs average $8.20 per day.
Hoofnote 2:
Such is the depth and quality of
RED FEVER’s pedigree, our filly has a close relation named
CLADOCERA engaged at Royal Ascot on Day 2.
CLADOCERA - 4yo mare
Sitting prominently on her pedigree page,
CLADOCERA who was already a Stakes Winner in France when we purchased our filly in January, will contest Race 3, the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (formerly Windsor Forest Stakes) (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) at 8 furlong (1609m).
CLADOCERA has had some significant pedigree updates since we purchased our filly.
To start this racing preparation, she was 2nd in a Listed Race at Kempton Park (England) over 8 furlongs (1609m) and then was sent to Dubai where she won her next 2 starts at Meydan, both at Gr2 level at 1600m and 1800m, before finishing 6th in her most recent start at Gr1 level over 1800m behind
Solow - who franked that form winning the Queen Anne S., Gr1 yesterday - Day 1 of this 2015 Royal Ascot carnival.
RED FEVER is a daughter of
PROSPECT FEVER - who is a ½ sister to
CARELAINE – dam of 3 Stakes Winners including
CAESARINE – a Stakes Winner in France and dam of
CLADOCERA.
So we will be watching this event carded as Race 3 on the programme with great interest, to see if this already
dual Gr2 winner and Listed Winner and also Listed placed mare who may be able to add another
Gr2 win to her resume.
CLADOCERA race record reads: 8 starts: 4 wins and 1 second.
CLADOCERA (f by Oasis Dream) 4 wins at 1600, 1800m, £272,509, to 2014-15, Meydan Balanchine S.,
Gr2, Cape Verdi S.,
Gr2, Longchamp Prix des Lilas,
L, Chantilly Prix des Gres, 2d Kempton Hyde S.,
L