Australia’s reigning champion first season sire Justify (USA) posted his first Australian winner of the new season at Scone on Monday for the Annabel Neasham stable.
Cicada was a handy fourth on debut at Randwick earlier this month and stripped fitter for this easier assignment of a 1600m Class 1 in the country. Despite racing greenly over the concluding stages he had too much class for his rivals and scored by a length and a half as a short priced favourite.
A $250,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Coolmore draft for Annabel Neasham/Brian McGuire, Cicada was bred by Emmaroo Bloodstock and is the first foal from winning O’Reilly mare Night Call, a half-sister to four time Group I winning stayer and $3.4million Preferment as well as Group III winner Rezoned.
Night Call has a two year-old filly by Pierro, a yearling filly by So You Think and is in foal to Yes Yes Yes. She was on-sold in the Inglis Digital February Sale this year for $205,000 to Chatsworth Farm (Yulong).
Cicada has the pedigree to suggest longer trips may suit even better and he will no doubt find some nice races to suit this spring.
Justify narrowly missed having a Group I winner in France overnight when his brilliant two year-old filly Ramatuelle finished second in the Group I Prix Morny at Deauville. The Triple Crown winner is back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $77,000.
