The powerful Godolphin stable did not win a juvenile Group I this season, but they did produce plenty of stakes-winning two year-olds and we saw four of their stakes-winning colts step out and win trials at Hawkesbury on Monday morning, so which looks to have more to offer?
Exceed and Excel colt Cylinder was flying in the autumn winning the Group II ATC Silver Slipper and Todman Stakes before a second in the Golden Slipper and then was unplaced in the wet behind Militarize in the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes at 1400m.
Looks to have come back in great order, travelling deep and cruising to the line under a hold to win by a length and has the pedigree to suggest more to come. His dam Circular is a Group III winner up to a mile by Street Cry (IRE) from the family of the great champion Lonhro. His three year-old half-sister Parsifal (Astern) has been a Group III winner this season at 1200m and she too was winner at this set of trials.
Running the quickest time of the four Godolphin colts was another son of Exceed and Excel in Barber, who won the $1million ATC Golden Gift and the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude beating Little Brose and Corniche, before his form tapered off.
He was ridden quietly early and steamed to the line under a hold to win by half a length. Barber is a full brother to Group III winning sprinter Manicure from Group winning Lonhro sprinter Trim, so on pedigree and what he’s done to date it’s hard to see Barber running much further than 1400m.
Untapped Fastnet Rock colt Corniche went to the paddock after breaking his maiden at start four with a victory over subsequent Golden Slipper winner Shinzo in the Group III ATC Skyline Stakes.
He bounced straight to the front and stayed there, trucking to the line under a hold to win by the best part of a length. Corniche is a half-brother to Group III winning sprinting filly Heresy from another fast Group winning filly Montsegur, a three-quarter sister to Group I winning sprinter Paulele. Top class family that also features Group I winners Bonaria and Merchant Navy, who is by Fastnet Rock.
Tom Kitten (Harry Angel (IRE) and Amur (Snitzel) are both stakes-winners this season, Tom Kitten winning the Listed Fernhill (1600m) before finishing fourth in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes to Militarize and Amur won three of five starts closing his autumn campaign with a win in the Group III ATC Ballieu (1400m).
The raced together through this trial and coasted to the line with a long head between them, both travelling well. Tom Kitten is already a winner at a mile and is from Street Cry (IRE) mare Transfers, who traces back to Shantha’s Choice via the Twyla branch of the family, so there is no better pedigree in the studbook and Amur is the first winner for Leopard, a half-sister by Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (USA) to Group I winners Alizee and Astern.
Any one of these colts could easily take the quantum leap next season to earn a slot on the Darley stallion roster for 2024.
