Oaklands Stud based Exosphere has had a memorable 2023 producing five stakes-winners this year with four of them in Australia, but his US based French bred son Easter was the one in the spotlight on Boxing Day winning the Group II San Gabriele Stakes (1m 1/8f ) on turf at Santa Anita.
A last start Group II winner at Del Mar, the Phillip D’Amato trained five year-old gelding won by a length and a quarter taking his overall record to seven wins and six placings from 19 starts.
“I think two things helped today, when he won under Graham [Motion] he got his confidence up,” said D'Amato.
“We also learned that he liked the firmer turf courses over here. Between those two things and getting to know his quirks, he is a very quirky horse and just knowing what he likes to do and just keep him happy. I think hopefully sky is the limit.”
Easter raced previously in France for Fabrice Chappet, where he was stakes placed in 2021, and then transferred to the US stable of Graham Motion in 2022 where he won several races and his last two wins have been for D'Amato.
He is a half-brother to Group III winner Sweety Dream and is now the best of seven winners from seven runners from good producing Group III placed mare Excellent Girl, a three-quarter -sister by Exceed and Excel to Group III winner Fastnet Tempest.
Easter is one of five stakes-winners this year for Exosphere joining Skybird, Spacewalk, Phearson and Upper Limits.
A Group I winning son of Lonhro, Exosphere stands at a fee of $6,600 at Oaklands Stud in Queensland.
