Striking Savabeel colt Addictive Nature may be given his chance in the $1 million Group I Golden Rose following a thoroughly game performance in Saturday's $150,000 Group III Monaco Cup-Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Sent to the front by Tim Clark, Addictive Nature was given little peace from the Tulloch Lodge entrant Runaway.
Meanwhile the undefeated Sebring colt Assimilate was meandering away a disinterested last.
When Addictive Nature beat off Runaway, he came under attack from Assimilate who was charging home from the tail of the field.
The Bjorn Baker-trained colt would not be denied, holding on strongly to defeat Assimilate by a short-head with Astoria (Medaglia d'Oro) a further one and three-quarter length back in third. (photos Steve Hart)
"He's still doing things a bit upside down but he's got untapped potential," Baker said.
"I guess for a Savabeel he has just about got too much speed, so it's a little bit of a question of what we do and where we go.
"He's always shown a lot, he's a high priced yearling and he's as good a looking horse as I've ever trained or even be involved with..
'We will have a bit of a think about things, see how he recovers. Regardless of what happens we are yet to see the best of him. He's done it all this preparation - that was his third run. He has been up for a while.
'We will just see how he comes through, there is a pretty good race in a few weeks' time (Stan Fox Stakes), there's couple of options there, we'll see."
A $775,000 purchase by Ultra Thoroughbred Racing from the Little Avondale draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Addictive Nature was the second most expensive of the 45 Savabeel yearlings at the sale.
He advances his overall record to two wins and a second from three starts with earnings of $126,950.
A full brother to Group II Mitchelton Wines Vase winner and Group I Champion takes third Savvy Nature, Addictive Nature is the fifth living foal of the unraced Carnegie mare Generous Nature a daughter of the Listed Quezette Stakes winner and Group I VATC Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up La Lagune (Danehill).
Generous Nature has a 2yo filly by Sebring named Our Sunny Girl. She missed to
Per Incanto (USA) in 2015 and was covered by the sin of Street Cry (IRE) again last spring.
Addictive Nature becomes the 65th stakes winner for Waikato Stud's flagship stallion Savabeel.
