After coming ever so close to siring his first winner with Miss West Coast at Belmont back on October 6, Oakland Park Stud's first season sire Safeguard achieved that milestone when the Paul Jordon-trained Specialism made a winning career debut over 1100 metres at Ascot on Saturday.
The Mogumber Park homebred defeated Mia Dolce (Patronize) by three-quarters of a length with the favourite Tinsnip (Snippetson) a half-length back in third.
A half-sister to the tough-as-teak geldings Chinetti and Castle Retreat, Specialism is the fifth foal and fifth winner of the 4-time winning Tribu mare Clarecastle who placed in the Group III WA Champion Fillies Stakes and Group III Le Steere Stakes.
A son of Darley Stud's Champion stallion Exceed And Excel out of the Group 1 winning Canny Lad mare Preserve, who is a half-sister to Denman, Safeguard won his only two starts as a 2yo including the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes.
At three he won the Group III MRC Vain Stakes over 1000 metres.
Bought to Western Australia by Oakland Park in partnership with Mogumber Park Stud, Safeguard (pictured) stood his first two seasons at Mogumber Park before moving to Oakland's Stud in 2017 where his fee has been set at $6,600.