Godolphin unearthed a promising colt in Mural Crown who lowered the colours of some expensive bluebloods in an exciting career debut in the Furphy Maiden Hcp (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for James Cummings, the 2yo son of Epaulette tracked the early speed and did not have to go around a horse in defeating the $2.5million 3yo Snitzel gelding Magic by a half-length.
The wayward favourite Les Vampires was a short-head back in third. The 2yo Pierro debutant clearly has ability but had to survive a protest from fourth-placed Global Empire (I Am Invincible).
Assistant trainer Darren Beadman said the stable had Mural Crown primed for his first start.
“He’s very professional. James and the team have given him a decent amount of time to find his feet and grow into himself,” Beadman said.
“He’s a bit cheeky, still being a colt, but he is not nasty and has a bit of character about him.
“Zac was able to work into a lovely position without doing any work and was strong at the finish.”
Mural Crown is the first foal of the talented Dawn Approach (IRE) filly Gongs. A winner of four of her 17 starts, including her first two and Canterbury and Rosehill, Gongs was third to Sunlight and Estijaab in the Group II Silver Slipper.
A daughter of the Listed VRC Lexus Hybrid Plate winner Belcentra (Bel Esprit) from the family of Fleur De Chine, Sneetch and VRC Oaks heroine Sanderae, Gongs has a weanling colt by Exceed And Excel and the Darley Stud’s flagship stallion again last spring.
Mural Crown is the second 2yo winner of the season for the former Darley stallion Epaulette who now stands at stud in Turkey.
