Heavily backed favourite Military Zone defeated his $1,000,000 stablemate Lion's Head in a 1200 metre maiden at Newcastle on Saturday to credit his sire Epaulette with his sixth first-crop winner.
Ridden by Adrian Layt, Military Zone tracked the early pace before gaining an inside run to hit the lead then safely holding the challenge of his expensive stablemate by a length with another three and a half lengths back to Flower Of Love in third.
Bred by Two Bays Farm, Military Zone (pictured as a yearling ) was purchased by Triple Crown Syndications for $140,000 from the Three Bridges draft at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, having made the same amount a year earlier at the Great Southern Weanling Sale.
He is the second foal of the Street Sense (USA) mare Loading Zone a half-sister to stakes-winners Hesitates and Super Lacuna and to the dam of Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Scarlet Rain.
The sire of the Group III winners Khulaasa and Meryl, dual Group 1 winner Epaulette (Commands) will stand at Kelvinside in 2018 for a fee of $27,500.
