A flashy chestnut prepared by Kris Lees, Guard of Honour was a short priced favourite at Warwick Farm on Wednesday having beaten last Saturday's smart winner Conchita by five lengths in a recent barrier trial.
A touch slow from the gates, he mustered speed quickly to find a position just behind the leaders and surged to the front on turning for home.
Guard of Honour kept going strongly to the line for Hugh Bowman to win the 1000
metre juvenile maiden by a length and a quarter."Booms are put on horses that win barrier trials but you like to see them do it on raceday," Lees said.
"I think you have to be a bit guarded about provincial trials because you're never sure of the opposition but I had a couple in his trials that I knew went ok so I got a little bit of a guide.
"I thought it was an impressive enough win, he hasn't got brilliant gate speed but he mustered speed very quickly and looked to travel kindly and showed a bit of fight at the end."
It was only the second start for Guard of Honour, who was unplaced at his only previous run on a heavy track in the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes won by Tessera.
A $300,000 Magic Millions purchase for Scone Bloodstock Services from the Mill Park draft, Guard of Honour was bred by Mill Park in partnership and is the second winner for General Nediym mare Victory Cry, a full sister to stakes-winner Victory Chant and half-sister to stakes-winner Reldas.
It's a family that has generated much success for Mill Park and their clients over the years with Group I winner Serious Speed and Group II winner Majestic Music the standout performers.
Victory Cry has a weanling filly by Foxwedge and was covered last spring by Northern Meteor's Group I winning son Shooting to Win, so Guard of Honour will be followed closely by the team at Mill Park!
