Epaulette Colt Daumier Strikes in Blue Diamond Preview

Mark Smith - Wednesday January 26

Despite just five runners contesting the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) at Caulfield on Wednesday the race looked ripe for an upset, which was supplied by the Godolphin debutant Daumier.

Daumier impresses on debut (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Damian Lane, the striking son of Epaulette was the second string for Anthony and Sam Freedman behind the favourite Philosopher. After a quick start, Daumier eyeballed Philosopher into the straight before taking control.

He held the challenge of the Frankel colt Rampant Lion by a half-length with the $800,000 Zoustar colt Philosopher a further length back in third.

“It was a very good performance,” Sam Freedman said.

“He began a little bit better than we thought and we didn’t have much of a plan going into it, but he put up a really good performance.

“He was challenged from all sides and showed really good fight in the last 100 (metres) and showed the 1100 and 1200 will be right in his wheelhouse.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;He plays around with his tongue a little bit and to avoid that getting over the bit we’ve had the tongue tie on him for a little while. The earmuffs, we put them on a few youngsters for their debuts to keep them nice and calm.

“He’s been pretty straight forward, and we’ve been able to control him nicely and he seemed to race that way.

He’s going to meet a bigger field in the Prelude, and we would anticipate him to be a pair further back. He relaxes well in his races and he should have no problem getting out in trip.”

Lane said he had been impressed the way Daumier had progressed through the preparation.

“He’s a lovely colt. He’s taken really good improvement this preparation and taking it all in his stride,” Lane said.

“He was really field shy in his first preparation. He’s improved a lot in his second and improved again into today. He took it all in his stride behind the barriers, remained really calm and is one of those horses that is doing everything right at the right time and should progress again.

“He’s a nice horse going the right way.”

Bred by Godolphin, Daumier is the second winner from two foals out of the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Illustrate. Her first foal, the promising Exceed and Excel gelding Depiction has been sold to continue his career in Hong Kong.

Daumier - striking specimen (image Grant Courtney)

Illustrate is one of just two foals left by the Group II ATC Surround Stakes and Group III AJC Silver Shadow Stakes winner Parables. Tragedy also struck her only other foal, Marble (Exceed And Excel), who was showing great potential with three wins and placing in the Group III Gold Coast Guineas behind Champagne Cuddles and the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben behind Whypeeo before his death.

So, it has been left to Illustrate to continue the line and she has made a bright start.

She has a Brazen Beau yearling colt. Given a year off in 2020, Illustrate visited Brazen Beau again last spring.

Daumier becomes the 17th stakes-winner for former Darley stallion Epaulette who was exported to Turkey in October last year.

The dual Group 1 winning son of Commands stands at Türkiye Jokey Kulübü.

Epaulette

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Blue Diamond Preview-C&G LR 1000m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.75
1
Daumier
- 2c Epaulette (AUS) x Illustrate (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damian Lane 56
2
0.5
Rampant Lion
- 2c Frankel (GB) x Furnival (USA) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
3
1.5
Philosopher
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Lone (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: D Oliver 58
Zoustar
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $440,000
Seller: Widden Stud, Widden Valley
Buyer: China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Withdrawn
4
4.2
Thron Bone
- 2g Thronum (AUS) x Thorsborne (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: Jerome Hunter Rdr: Craig Williams 56
5
7.0
Michelotti
- 2g Sebring (AUS) x Sandrelli (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
More Reading...
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Godolphin's Epaulette Colt Daumier Strikes in Blue Diamond
The economy of Turkey has been struggling in recent years, but there will be something to celebrate tonight, with the Epaulette colt Daumier providing a third Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in four years for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.