Godolphin claimed both divisions of the Blue Diamond Preludes after the Brazen Beau filly Exploring went coast to coast in the Group II Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
Ridden by Craig Williams for James Cummings, Exploring led bravely from the front. She defied the chasing pack in defeating the promising Sidestep filly Party For Two by a length with a further three-quarter length back to the Extreme Choice debutant Extreme Threat, who came off the reserve bench to claim some vital black-type.
At her debut on New Year's Day, Exploring led all the way over 1000m at Flemington. She was just over a length from the winner De Sonic Boom when fourth in the Group III Blue Diamond Preview on January 26.
Stable representative Sean Keogh said the team would decide whether to tackle the Blue Diamond or Thoroughbred Breeders Plate.
“The choices are there, and on what she’s done today she’ll acquit herself really well. It will be up to James and the team to cement a decision with only a fortnight away to the big one,” Keogh said.
“We had a wonderful colt (Barber) in the previous race put them to bed which Jamie (Kah) thought she had more in the tank, so the guys will weigh that up on Monday morning, but we’re delighted to get that black-type race out of the way, and now she’s quite valuable.
“We saw on debut that wonderful constitution she had to put herself in the race and close it off well.
“She was tough in the Preview with horses on either side of her from the get-go in the breeze, and she faltered a little bit late, but Craig was confident in how he rode her, and so was James (Cummings).
“So we didn’t fault on the tactics. We brought her here on Tuesday morning. She did a wonderful piece of work that we feel gave her
confidence again, and it was great to see her produce another good performance.”
Exploring is a sixth-generation descendent 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).
Spirit Of Boom covered Cristobal on October 8.
Exploring is the 22nd stakes winner for Darley Stud's brazen Beau.
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