Fourth on debut behind the promising San Giovanni, who has since won again, the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Written Tycoon colt Duke Atreides was sent south to Victoria with instant success.
A half-brother to dual the dual Group 2-winning, Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up Best of Bordeaux (Snitzel), who will cover his third book of mares this season at Coolmore Stud, the well-bred Duke Atreides went forward to take up the lead after jumping away from barrier 4.
The Hawkes Racing trained Algorithmic (Zoustar), who faced the unkindest cut off all during a spell, jumped away the race favourite and settled in third position on the rail getting a cosy run.
As jockey Ethan Brown controlled the race from the get-go aboard Duke Atreides, the colt was able to kick away into the straight, and although they started to pull ground off him late, he held too big of a margin, going strong all the way to the line to win by a length and three quarters.
Working home well into second was Algorithmic with another three parts of a length back to the Greg Eurell trained second favourite Fastoso (Shamus Award).
Speaking post-raced, Annabel Neasham was enthused by Duke Atreides’ winning performance.
"He's always been a horse that's shown plenty, but we were trying to dodge the wet tracks up in Sydney," she said.
"I said to Ethan, he was a bit green when he hit the front and wobbled about at Newcastle, but there wasn't much speed today so I left it up to Ethan.
"The horse has his ears pricked all the way, and it looked pretty soft to me."
It is always pleasing to see horse run through the line, and not start to weaken, and although the performance of the son of Written Tycoon suggest further could be an option, Neasham isn’t in any rush to extend him out at the moment.
"His half-brother is Best Of Bordeaux, who was second in a Golden Slipper, so there's plenty of sharpness in the family as well," Archibald said.
"We'll see what Ethan thinks, he might well stretch out over a bit further. But it was good to just do that today, he's always shown plenty at home and in his trials.
"Good to just knock off his maiden and it's the right time of year to be winning your maiden and looking for something nicer."
Purchased by TFI and Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $575,000, the colt is the second runner and winner out of the High Chaparral mare Chateau Cheval.
Unfortunately, Chateau Cheval hasn’t had the best breeding career with her first foal Left Bank (Fastnet Rock) unraced and sent to stud where she left just one foal, a filly by Justify (USA) before passing away.
Her second foal is Best Of Bordeaux, and after missing to Snitzel in consecutive years produced Duke Atreides, followed by producing a full brother to Best Of Bordeaux before missing to Snitzel once again. Chateau Cheval is currently in foal to Snitzel once again with that foal due this season.
From a pedigree that has stallion appeal, Chateau Cheval is a half-sister to Group 1 sire Casino Prince (Flying Spur) and is from the extended family of Group 2 Danehill Stakes winner First Settler (Written Tycoon) who will cover his first book of mares this season at a fee of $11,000 (inc. GST) at Yulong who interestingly parted with $1m on Tuesday to secure that colt's Listed-winning half-sister Vienna Princess (Snitzel) at the Magic Millions Virtual Sale.
Duke Atreides is the third winner so far this season for Written Tycoon, with the Champion Sire set to once again cover a quality book of mares from his Yulong base at a Private Fee this season.
