A full brother to Group III winning juvenile Ottoman, good looking Exceed and Excel colt Isaurian has been given more time to mature than his full sister, who was a star at two, but nevertheless looks to have plenty of potential.
He always looked the winner after jumping well from gate two and cruised home
for Hugh Bowman to win the 1100 metre contest by two and a half lengths as favourite."He's a good colt, but had a lot of nervous energy today which we saw at the barrier and then when he was coming back," said Hugh Bowman.
"When he gets rid of that he's going to be a very nice horse and would be well up to a Listed or Group Three type race at Flemington over the carnival."
Isaurian is the third winner from Byzantine, a half-sister by Elusive Quality (USA) to Caulfield Cup winner Mummify, a winner of over $5million.
Exceed and Excel and Elusive Quality are working together to produce a very successful nick with 67% winners to runners and ten of those 39 winners are stakes-winners headed by Group I winners Guelph and Alizee.
Following on to break her maiden in the next race was Street Cry filly Savatiano, who had three starts last season at two in races won by stakes-winners Teaspoon, Invader and One More Honey.
She appreciated a soft kill at her first run back, scoring by half a length over 1100 metres under 59 kg and will also measure up to better races like her stablemate Isaurian.
In second place was debutant Empress Matilda, who did a great job and is a full sister to Group I winner Headway.
Savatiano is the first winner for Redoute's Choice mare Retsina, a daughter of Group I winner star Shiraz.
