Trainer Greg Eurell will search for a suitable race at the Adelaide Carnival for Icarus after the 3-year-old son of O’Lonhro sprouted wings to make a winning career debut in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Maiden Plate at Sandown-Lakeside on Monday.
Despite an alarming betting drift, Icarus won in the manner of an odds-on chance. Settled back in second last by Daniel Moor, Icarus was momentarily blocked for a run on straightening. When eased out to mount a challenge down the centre of the track, Icarus quickened impressively to defeat the Trapeze Artist debutant Here The Crowd by one and three-quarter lengths with the Sidestep colt Creek a half-head back in third.
“It was an impressive effort. He has taken a while to get there, but we were happy with his work last week,” Eurell revealed.
“He is still very new and has a lot to learn but has plenty of raw ability.
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“He is a slow-maturing horse and has been in and out, which has been frustrating, but the wait was worth it.
“He is a lovely, big, strong horse, and he is holding up super at the moment.
“There are some nice opportunities, and he may even sneak his way to Adelaide.”
A homebred for the Saade family, Icarus is the second foal and first runner for the Bushranger mare Carterista who won a maiden at Ballarat and finished second in four of her six starts. She was second behind the future multiple Group III winner Ocean Embers when making her debut at Caulfield.
Carterista has a yearling filly and filly foal by Impending. She was covered by Supido last spring.
Icarus comes from the penultimate crop of O’Lonhro, who was pensioned after the 2020 breeding season and died in 2022.
