After the win of Croatian Belle at Moonee Valley on Saturday, Exploring completed a good weekend for Brazen Beau when welcoming in the new year with a dominant performance in the New Year Sprint (1000m) at Flemington.
With six two-year-olds facing the starter for the first time, Exploring jumped straight to the front for Craig Williams and was never headed in a three-quarter length win over the Cable Bay (IRE) filly Picky with the Written Tycoon folly Ode To Joy the same distance back in third.
Stable representative Sean Keogh said the Blue Diamond series would be the target for the James Cummings-trained filly.
“She was coiled up like a cobra in the barrier and pinged out,” Keogh said.
“Craig did a lovely job getting the rail without rushing there. He was patient in the mid-stages, and she showed a good kick and put them away.
“It was a stylish performance from a daughter of Brazen Beau, who had a 2yo winner yesterday, so he is in flying form.
“I received a text from James Cummings, who has earmarked the Blue Diamond Preludes.
“She is super precocious, and Sandown has more of a dog-leg turn than an actual corner, so that might be suitable.”
Exploring is a sixth-generation daughter of the Golden Slipper winner Fairy Walk. Her great granddam Step (Grand Lodge) is a half-sister to Group 1 QTC Stradbroke Handicap winner Crawl and dual Listed winner Old Man and to the dam of 4-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist.
Step produced the Group II MVRC AAMI Vase winner, Marching and the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes winner Gait.
Exploring is the first foal of the Group III placed Exceed An Excel mare Cristobal, which has a yearling colt and colt foal by Street Boss (USA).
Cristobal was covered by Spirit Of Boom on October 8.
