A city win over 1400m on debut at the back end of the season gives connections optimism that the Dundeel colt Elliptical can be a player in stakes races in the spring.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Anthony and Sam Freedman, Elliptical opened his winning account in the Tile Importer Hcp at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
Elliptical fought off the stubborn leader Concentric (I Am Invincible) before safely holding the fast-finishing Magnus gelding Dashing by three-quarters of a length.
Concentric was a short-half-head back in third with the favourite Legio Ten (Exosphere) a solid finishing fourth.
Owned by a partnership that includes Cambridge Stud's Brendan Lindsay and Jo Lindsay, Elliptical will be given his chance to emulate the deeds of the stable's star Dundeel colt Super Seth.
"You dream of going to a Caulfield Guineas with a horse like him with his pedigree, Sam Freedman told Racing.com.
"So, we'll target that sort of race with him at the start of spring.
"He is a high-priced colt with very good ability, which he is holding back a touch.
"He's had a lengthy preparation with three solid trials, and he's earned a break now."
Zahra said Elliptical has plenty to learn.
"He's always had the ability; he's just been quite green," Zahra said. "He hit the front easily enough, but when he got there, he didn't know what to do; he had his ears pricked.
"I just wanted to lean in on Craig (Newitt's horse Concentric), so he could see him with the blinkers. Once he saw him, he did enough all the way to the line."
Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Elliptical was a $200,000 pinhook by Newgate Farm's James Carey at the 2020 National Weanling Sale.
Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Anthony Freedman Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) shelled out $380,000 for the son of Dundeel when consigned by Newgate to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal and first runner for the Testa Rossa mare Marquise Da Rossa whose only win in five starts for Saab Hasan came at her debut over 1100m at Ballarat.
From the family of Marauding and Biscalowe, Marquise Da Rossa is one of eight winners from nine to race from the Danehill mare Make My Dane, who had two stakes-placegetters, Lordag (Any Given Saturday) and Singularity (Not a Single Doubt).
Phoenix Broodmare Farm has sold the last three foals of Marquise Da Rossa to the National Weanling Sale.
Tasman Bloodstock purchased her Grunt colt in 2021 for $40,000, and this year Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) outlaid $120,000 for the Castelvecchio filly.
Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) went to $180,000 for the Grunt colt consigned by Coolmore Stud to the Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January.
Marquise Da Rossa was covered by So You Think last spring.
