The economy of Turkey has been struggling in recent years, but there will be something to celebrate tonight, with the Epaulette colt Daumier providing a third Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in four years for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
In a driving finish, Daumier hung tough under Mark Zahra to defeat the Russian Revolution filly Revolutionary Miss by a short-half-head, with the fast-finishing Rubick colt Jacquinot a neck back in third.
A Godolphin homebred, Daumier won the Listed Blue Diamond Preview in January before finishing third at his most recent start in the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude behind Lofty Strike.
Sam Freedman said the addition of blinkers was a positive.
“I’m just proud of the whole team at Pinecliff and Flemington,” Sam Freedman said.
“Mark Zahra gave him a great ride. To Godolphin, they’ve supported us with a handful of horses every year. Everyone there is a pleasure to deal with, and they let us place the horses as we wish.
“To the horse’s credit, he really knuckled down there late. This colt has shown very good ability from day one, and it’s nice to see it come to fruition.”
“We toyed with the idea of putting winkers on him or something for the Prelude. Ultimately we needed to find a couple of lengths today. “It was the same story with Artorius last year. He worked super the blinkers on Tuesday.
“You’ve got to be right on top of your game, and thankfully he was today.”
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. Her only other foal, Marble (Exceed And Excel) showed great potential with three wins and placed in the Group III Gold Coast Guineas behind Champagne Cuddles and the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben behind Whypeeo before his death.
It has been left to Illustrate to continue the line, and she has made a perfect start. She has a Brazen Beau yearling colt and was given a year off in 2020.
Illustrate visited Brazen Beau again last spring.
Daumier is the first Australian Group 1 winner for former Darley stallion Epaulette, who has winners at the top level in South Africa and USA. The dual Group 1 winning son of Commands was exported to Turkey in October last year where he stands at Türkiye Jokey Kulübü.
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