The Kris Lees-trained Gem Song proved he is the real deal with a well-deserved maiden stakes win in Saturday's Group III Aquis Farm Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.
Settled back second last of the six runners, Gem's Song rider Jason Collett has his mind made up for him when making his claim the closet to the inside rail but the son of Your Song quickly had the field covered. He went on to defeat the fast-finishing outsider Purple Sector (Pins) by a long-neck with an erratic Charge (Zoustar) a neck back in third. (image Steve Hart )
Having his first run since finishing runner-up in the Listed Dulcify Stakes at Randwick back on September 29, Gem Song advances his record to 4 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 6 starts with earnings of $304,095.
"There is a lot of upside to him," Lees told AAP.
"I thought he might be struggling on the ground but he did it well.
"We'll go the traditional path with him to the Hobartville and the Randwick Guineas and see where he ends up."
The Gooree Stud homebred is a half-brother to stakes-winner Omega Man out of the crack racemare Beautiful Gem.
A daughter of Peintre Celebre (USA), Beautiful Gem won nine races highlighted by the Group II Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The granddam of stakes-winner Moti (Don Eduardo) and the stakes-placegetters Mongolianlightnin and It's Ben Again, Beautiful Gem was sold at the 2016 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale with Bowness Stud signing the ticket for $30,000.
She was carrying the now 2yo Smart Missile filly Miss Gem at the time of her sale but it has been anything but plain sailing since.
She missed to Wandjina in 2016 and had a dead foal by that stallion last spring.
Gem Song becomes the third stakes for Widden Stud's Group 1 winning Fastnet Rock stallion Your Song who covered 96 mares last spring at a fee of $22,000.
