A maiden over 1500m at Newcastle on Saturday holds a good deal of interest with the debut of the $1,100,000 Deep Impact colt Elzamee, while Chris Waller will take the wraps off Orbis Bloodstock’s import Campeao (IRE).
Ciaron Maher Racing purchased Elzamee from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2020 Easter Yearling Sale.
The son of Deep Impact (JPN) was bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum who has retained an interest in the colt.
Elzamee is the fourth foal of the top-class racemare Amanee. A daughter of Pivotal, Amanee was a Group 1 winner in South Africa.
She is a half-sister to the Listed Geelong Classic runner-up Jadeer (Fastnet Rock) and Sun Is Up (Woodman), the dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Karakontie (Bernstein).
Amanee’s dam Moon Is Up (Woodman) is a French stakes-winning three-quarter sister to Kingmambo and Miesque’s Son and to the dam of Rumpelstiltskin and I Am Beautiful, out of the great Miesque.
After two conditioning barrier trials, Elzamee had a more serious hit out at Warwick Farm on December 2. He has not shown a lot of speed in his three trials, but there was a lot to like the way he finished off when third at his most recent trial.
Campeao (IRE) has not raced for a year. The son of Acclamation placed in all three starts at two for David Simcock.
His dam On Location (Street Cry) is a winning daughter of the top-class Film Maker (Dynaformer) whose eight wins were highlighted by the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland and placed a further eight times at the elite level.
Campeao (IRE) hit the line strongly when he came with a sweeping run to win a 900m barrier trial at Canterbury on November 30.