Astern Claims Second Stakes Win
An honourable shared victory to Godolphin's top-rated Australian two-year-old Astern in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes highlighted an otherwise frustrating day for the stable at Randwick on Saturday, April 2.
An honourable shared victory to Godolphin's top-rated Australian two-year-old Astern in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes highlighted an otherwise frustrating day for the stable at Randwick on Saturday, April 2.
Astern's dead-heat win preceded a string of stakes placings, two of them in G1 races including the Australian Derby.
Astern (John O'Shea/James McDonald), who had failed from an outside gate in the G1 Golden Slipper two weeks earlier, produced his true form to dead-heat with El Divino, registering his third win from four starts and second at stakes level.
The son of Medaglia D'Oro again drew wide, but jockey James McDonald had him travelling comfortably enough to move into a winning position with 300m to run.
In the drive to the line his efforts told and he was unable to shake off El Divino, with the two colts inseparable on the line.
"He had no luck in the Golden Slipper and no luck at all today, but he still got the job done. There was plenty of merit in that run, he's come a long way in his first preparation," said trainer John O'Shea.
Another two-year-old, Telperion (John O'Shea/James McDonald), who showed great potential when fourth in the Golden Slipper, again produced a solid effort when second in the G1 Sires Produce Stakes.
"That run showed he's come on from the Golden Slipper and we'll have a think about running in the (G1) Champagne Stakes next week," O'Shea said.
"He's a colt with a good future next season, so we'll discuss the Champagne Stakes and decide what's best for him."
Tally (John O'Shea/James McDonald) made it a second successive placing in the G1 Australian Derby for Godolphin, following Hauraki's runner-up finish in 2015, running bravely and well to take third place behind the New Zealander Tavago.
"He's another one that has come a long way in a short time and you can be very proud of a horse who is placed in a Classic." O'Shea said.
Also among the placings at Randwick were Alegria (John O'Shea/James McDonald) who finished second in the G2 Chairman's Handicap and Pearls (John O'Shea/James McDonald), the runner-up in the G3 PJ Bell Stakes.
