The two debutants fought out the finish of the Inglis Millennium Day 10 Feb 3yo Maiden Hcp (1400m) at Randwick on Boxing Day with the honours going to the Snitzel colt Franz Josef.
Ridden by Rachel King for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou, the flashy chestnut was among the best to begin but was momentarily caught three wide.
King pushed on to race outside the favourite Le Chocolat. Hitting the front on straightening, Franz Josef gave a good kick at the 250m. The Ardrossan first-starter Pure Alpha enjoyed a cozy run and was taking good ground off the winner to be beaten a short-neck.
The Zoustar gelding Listentozou was four and a half lengths back in third.
Carrying the Wanless tartan colours of Ron and Judy Wanless, Franz Josef was a $190,000 purchase for Tasman Bloodstock from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Gerald Ryan confided that he had difficulty getting a handle on Franz Josef
“He has been hard to get a line on. He is inconsistent in his work and the feed bin. We spelled him, trialled him and spelled him again,” Ryan said.
“One day, he works well; the next day, he won’t. He trials well one day, and the next trial is no good.
“We decided to take him to the races and see what he is like for the experience.
“He is a Snitzel out of a Galileo mare from an all-European family, and he should get over 2000m later on.
“He was in front at the top of the straight, so it was almost 500m. The first time away from Rosehill, he probably got a bit lost and felt the pinch late. But he did a good job and there is plenty of improvement.
“Ron (Wanless) sent four down last year and another four this year; I like having those colours being used.”
Bred by G S A Bloodstock, Franz Josef is the second winner from as many to race for the unraced Galileo mare Embroidered Silk (IRE), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Willie Cazals (Aussie Rules), and Group II winner Joanna (High Chaparral), the dam of Listed winner Rafaadah, the dam of Group 1 Prix Saint Alary winner Tawkeel (Teofilo).
Bhima Thoroughbreds consigns a Capitalist half-brother to Franz Josef to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (lot 243).
Sadly, he will be the final foal of Embroidered Silk (IRE), who died in January.
