There was much to like about the victory of the 3-year-old Written Tycoon gelding Hammett, who ran down the well-backed Frankel colt Viktor in the Racing And Sports Maiden Hcp (1600m) at Warwick Farm.
Ridden by Tim Clark for Chris Waller, Hammett was caught on a limb in the early stages before Clark elected to go forward and follow Viktor.
The first to come off the bit, Hammett was under severe pressure before the turn as Viktor was under a hold by Adam Hyeronimus.
Hammett did not flinch in the run to the line, passing the $560,000 Frankel weanling at the 100m to break his maiden at start three by one and a half lengths.
The American Pharoah (USA) filly My Phar Lady was a length back in third
A homebred for the Kepitis family's Woppitt Bloodstock, Hammett is a half-brother to the Group 1 ATC Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann (Lonhro).
The son of Written Tycoon is the third winner from four to race for the stakes-placed stratum mare Self Esteem, who carried the same colours to victory at Warwick Farm and Rosehill and was runner-up in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and was fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes won by Single Gaze.
Self Esteem has a yearling three-quarter brother to Hammett by Written By.
She was covered by Pierro last spring.
Hammett is the 37th winner of the season for Written Tycoon, the sire of Saturday's Group II Danehill Stakes winner First Settler, while his son Ole Kirk was off to the best possible start to his stud career when King Kirk won the Breeders' Plate, and O' Ole was runner-up in the Gimcrack Stakes.
