Despite just five runners contesting the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) at Caulfield on Wednesday the race looked ripe for an upset, which was supplied by the Godolphin debutant Daumier.
Ridden by Damian Lane, the striking son of Epaulette was the second string for Anthony and Sam Freedman behind the favourite Philosopher. After a quick start, Daumier eyeballed Philosopher into the straight before taking control.
He held the challenge of the Frankel colt Rampant Lion by a half-length with the $800,000 Zoustar colt Philosopher a further length back in third.
“It was a very good performance,” Sam Freedman said.
“He began a little bit better than we thought and we didn’t have much of a plan going into it, but he put up a really good performance.
“He was challenged from all sides and showed really good fight in the last 100 (metres) and showed the 1100 and 1200 will be right in his wheelhouse.
“He plays around with his tongue a little bit and to avoid that getting over the bit we’ve had the tongue tie on him for a little while. The earmuffs, we put them on a few youngsters for their debuts to keep them nice and calm.
“He’s been pretty straight forward, and we’ve been able to control him nicely and he seemed to race that way.
He’s going to meet a bigger field in the Prelude, and we would anticipate him to be a pair further back. He relaxes well in his races and he should have no problem getting out in trip.”
Lane said he had been impressed the way Daumier had progressed through the preparation.
“He’s a lovely colt. He’s taken really good improvement this preparation and taking it all in his stride,” Lane said.
“He was really field shy in his first preparation. He’s improved a lot in his second and improved again into today. He took it all in his stride behind the barriers, remained really calm and is one of those horses that is doing everything right at the right time and should progress again.
“He’s a nice horse going the right way.”
Bred by Godolphin, Daumier is the second winner from two foals out of the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Illustrate. Her first foal, the promising Exceed and Excel gelding Depiction has been sold to continue his career in Hong Kong.
Illustrate is one of just two foals left by the Group II ATC Surround Stakes and Group III AJC Silver Shadow Stakes winner Parables. Tragedy also struck her only other foal, Marble (Exceed And Excel), who was showing great potential with three wins and placing in the Group III Gold Coast Guineas behind Champagne Cuddles and the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben behind Whypeeo before his death.
So, it has been left to Illustrate to continue the line and she has made a bright start.
She has a Brazen Beau yearling colt. Given a year off in 2020, Illustrate visited Brazen Beau again last spring.
Daumier becomes the 17th stakes-winner for former Darley stallion Epaulette who was exported to Turkey in October last year.
The dual Group 1 winning son of Commands stands at Türkiye Jokey Kulübü.
