When the 2020 European Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (IRE) shuttled to Darley Victoria for the first time in 2021, you always had the feeling he was the sort of stallion that would get a classic horse and he did just that at Flemington on Saturday when Observer won the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) for Godolphin.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Mark Zahra, Observer put the writing on the wall last start when winning the Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Vase and was sent off favourite for the Derby in a full field of 16.
Mark Zahra took luck out of the equation to take the lead early and controlled the race before kicking clear to win by three-quarters of a length over Justify (USA) colt Arcora with Dundeel colt Deal Done Fast in third.
"He took luck out of it. He's riding on the crest of a wave. There's no-one riding any better. He's a great mate. It's just fantastic for Godolphin and to be able to train a colt like that, he's got so much ahead of him and so much furnishing to do,” said Ciaron Maher.
"I said to Mark, there was no point trying to fight him, let's just go with him. I thought he was better than them and I said you might as well ride him that way.
“To Mark's credit, he had the revs up early and I was a bit worried, but he got some nice sectionals midrace and that's fantastic."
Ciaron Maher was the beneficiary of a number of horses from Godolphin at the start of this season including the filly Tempted, who finished second in the Everest.
"To be given a horse like Tempted to run in an Everest and run so well and to have such a progressive colt like this, I can't thank Andy (Makiv), Jason (Walsh) and the whole team, Ross (Cole),” Maher said.
"The whole Godolphin team, they're an elite outfit, and I can't thank them enough.
"I think the sky's the limit for this colt, he's just so adaptable. He was unlucky in a Guineas, he's won a Vase and now he's won a Derby and he's pretty similar to his old man.”
Observer took his overall record to three wins and three placings from seven starts with earnings of $1.8million.
"I ummed and ahhed whether to lead, but speaking to Ciaron he gave me great confidence," said Mark Zahra.
I heard him say he'll run it, so if you want to lead, just do it. He never switches right off, he's always on the bridle, but he's a tough. He's just like his old man and late, when they got to him, he found again. It was a very good victory."
Bred by Godolphin, Observer is the best of three winners from three to the races for Lonhro mare Smooth, a sister to Coolmore’s champion sire Pierro and to the dam of Estriella, who was purchased by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $2.8m at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
A half-sister to Group 3 winner Sandpaper (Snitzel), Observer is the third foal of Smooth with her fourth foal being a colt from the first crop of Champion Anamoe (Street Boss), while the mare is due to foal in the Spring to Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner Cylinder (Exceed And Excel).
Observer is the first Group I winner for Darley’s Dubawi stallion Ghaiyyath.
The four-time Group 1 winner shuttled to Australia for four seasons at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST) and covered 377 mares here, but did not return this season.
