Black
Caviar's second born Prince of Caviar was a raging hot favourite to break his
maiden at Bendigo on Wednesday, but after looking the likely winner with a
furlong to run was mowed down late by promising Medaglia D'Oro (USA) colt
Mickey Blue Eyes.
Trained by the Hayes / Dabernig training partnership, Mickey Blue Eyes showed
promise in three starts in Sydney last season, the last of those runs producing
a below par performance behind subsequent Group I winner The Autumn Sun.
He lost a plate on that occasion and had a poor post-race recovery so we can
probably overlook that outing and he was immediately sent to the spelling
paddock.
Resuming in the 1300 metre maiden with Regan Bayliss on board, Mickey Blue Eyes
let down with a powerful turn of foot to run down Prince of Caviar to win by a
short head with three lengths back to the third horse.
"Prince of Caviar was a bit stiff, he only got caught late and this horse has a
future," said stable representative Bruno Rouge-Serret.
"He's a lovely individual and is heading towards better races this spring."
Mickey Blue Eyes is entered for the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas which may
come too soon for him, but there are undoubtedly plenty of Black Type options
down the track.
A $350,000 Magic Millions purchase for Peter Devitt from the Mill Park draft,
Mickey Blue Eyes was bred by legendary South Australian breeder Harry Perks and
is the second winner from Carolina Belle, a Zabeel daughter of stakes-winner
Wyndham Special.
At age 19, Medaglia D'Oro no longer shuttles to Australia for Darley, but Australian
breeders do have access to his two best Australian sons Vancouver and Astern,
who stand at Coolmore and Darley respectively.