Big Blue to make Australian debut at Randwick

The former French galloper Big Blue is set to make his Australian debut in Saturday’s G3 JRA Plate that is shaping as a highlight for Godolphin of the final day of the Randwick Autumn meeting.

A progressive stayer who comes to hand quickly, Big Blue has had three trials to prepare him for a 2000m race that looks well within his capabilities.

Trainer John O’Shea said Big Blue (Tommy Berry), the winner of three races in France, had impressed him since arriving in the stable late last year.

“Big Blue’s a lovely horse who has been gelded since his last run in France.”

“He’s had a lovely foundation, a few trials. He’s a really nice staying horse.”

Big Blue, a son of Galileo, has won on soft ground in France where he was trained by Andre Fabre who produced him to win at 1800m as a two-year-old at his first start.

Big Blue is joined in Saturday’s race by stablemate Floodlight, another former Fabre-trained runner, who has had blinkers added to his racing set-up.

“It was a bit unfortunate that he got the very heavy ground the other day and he had a negative run,” O’Shea said.

Another good first-up prospect for the Godolphin team at Randwick is Federal (James Doyle) who resumes in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes.

“He has always had a good record first-up and he loves wet ground,” O’Shea said.

Federal was five times in the money without winning during his Spring campaign which concluded with a luckless third at G3 level at Flemington in November.

In the G3 JHB Carr Stakes, O’Shea is looking to Raiment (James Doyle) to return to the form that earned her a first-up victory.

“I’ve forgiven her run the other day. She was wide all the way when you needed to be on the rail,” he said.

“The 1400 poses no problems for her and she should roll forward and take up a good position.”

The Randwick team is completed by Duca Valentinois (Craig Williams) who is first-up in the non-graded Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy.