A beaten favourite at Newcastle back in March when making his only appearance at two, high-priced Frankel colt Merovee broke his maiden status over 1350m on the Beaumont track on Tuesday.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman for trainer Chris Waller, Merovee (pictured below as a yearling) won the battle of bluebloods, defeating the Fastnet Rock x Princess Coup gelding Legendofoz by three-quarters of a length with 4-1/4 lengths back to the third placegetter Mister McIlroy (Fastnet Rock).
Settled back midfield by Bowman, Merovee made his move before the home turn.
He looked to be in trouble when challenged by Legendofoz but was safely holding the Fastnet Rock gelding on the line.
The first two across the line sport the Vinery silks.
"He looked good but he felt really good," winning rider Hugh Bowman told Sky Racing.
"I was able to get moving when it suited me and I loved the way he dug deep the last 100 because he had a fight on his hands and for an inexperienced horse to respond the way he did I thought was a very good sign.
"To my
Merovee was consigned to the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale by his breeder, John Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud.
He was knocked down to Chris Waller Racing for $1.6 million, the most expensive of the five yearlings by the undefeated Frankel sold in Austrasia in 2016.
He is the first foal of the dual Group II winner More Strawberries (More Than Ready) (pictured above), a half-sister to Group I Emirates Stakes winner and successful sire All American.
More Strawberries dam Milva (USA) (Strawberry Road) is a half-sister to Rock Hard Ten (Kris S) winner of the Grade I Santa Anita H. and Grade I Santa Anita Malibu Stakes out of the top-class Mr Prospector mare Tersa.
Singleton retains an interest in Merovee and he also has the unraced homebred Frankel filly, Women, who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Women
