Less than half a length covered the first four across the line in Saturday’s Group III Ascot Green Eagle Farm Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm but it was the day for Godolphin’s Street Cry (IRE) gelding Gaulois to return to the winners circle.
Narrowly beaten last start in the Listed Wayne Wilson Quality at the Gold Coast, the James Cummings trained gelding was given a positive ride by the in-form Brad Stewart who took up the running after going a couple of hundred metres and he has a three length lead turning for home.
Although shortening stride in the final stages the 5yo son of Street Cry (IRE) had enough in hand to defeat the fast-finishing favourite Niccanova (Nicconi) by a half-head with Military Zone (Epaulette) a head back in third.
"I was happy enough to sit second early but the leader just wanted to steady up too much so I took him to the front and he seemed happy enough to travel there," Stewart said.
"I knew I was going to have to get away from them with the swoopers to come late. I shook him up early in the straight and he responded, he was out on his feet the last hundred but got in.
“He was out on his feet the last 100m but did just enough.”
Godolphin stable representative, Nicim Dilmi. Said it was not the intention to lead.
"Instructions certainly weren't to lead but all is forgiven when they win a Group race like this. I was nervous in the run but Brad got him home,” Dilmi said.
"At the six hundred when he just started to extend to get a few of them off the bit, I started to think he was going to have enough to hold on. He had a good gap halfway up the straight and just fell in.
"Brad was kind enough to come down Tuesday morning and gallop him to get a feel for the horse and he said he felt a million bucks and would be very tough to beat.
"Both Gaulois and (fourth-placed) Best Of Days (GB) will head back to Sydney tomorrow for a nice spell and will bring them back back in Spring and I’m sure Janes will find a nice race in Melbourne for them”
"I'll be staying put (in Brisbane) we have Multaja racing here in three weeks time and then backing up a fortnight later so I get to enjoy Queensland a bit longer."
The winner of the Listed Civic Stakes at Rosehill last June and the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury, Gaulois advances his record to 8 wins, 7 seconds and 9 thirds from 35 starts with earnings of $814,825.
A half-brother to the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes and Group II Angus Armansco Stakes winner La Tene (Helmet), Gaulois is out of Lonhro's top-class daughter Celts whose four wins included the Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes and Listed Brian Crowley Stakes.
Celts' dam Dinna Flash (Canny Lad) is a half-sister to the honest sprinter Appoint (Alquoz) whose 11 wins included the Group III VATC Rubiton Stakes.
Celts has a yearling Teofilo (IRE) filly named Ceilidh and a weanling colt by Street Cry's son Street Boss (USA). She was covered by Hallowed Crown last spring.
