Not
your typical speedy youngster Medaglia D'Oro's Astoria left a good impression with
a strong finishing win in the last heat.
A homebred for Godolphin, Astoria settled off the pace for James McDonald and
took a bit of riding to wind up to top speed.
Once he got there though he steamed through to win not by a big margin but nevertheless
in most impressive fashion.
Astoria is out of Segue, a winning daughter of Ad Valorem, a half-sister to former
Champion Australian two year-old and three year-old Viscount.
It's the famous family that harks back to horses like Diamond Lover, Don
Eduardo, Kaapstad, Octagonal etc.
It's not a family that screams two-year-old and while it was the first set of trials
in the early season, Astoria did have the look of a horse that we're not going
to see the best of for a while despite his obvious talent.
1st – Astoria (Medaglia D'Oror x Segue)
2nd – Falconic (Niicconi x Queen Of The Falls)
3rd – Let It Roll (Not A Single Doubt x Princess Layla)
Time: 51.5
Margins: Head, 1-1/4 lengths.