The $75,000 Max Lees Classic
for two year-olds at Newcastle on Sunday was won by the red hot favourite
Strasbourg, a $750,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Yarraman Park draft.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained colt had shown nice ability in recent trials
and upped the ante on race day to score a dominant two length win coming from
off the pace in the 900 metre scamper.
"I think he began well enough but he did not have the gate speed of the
others," Peter Snowden said.
"I gave Corey (Brown) the option of sitting off them knowing he would be good
late.
"It was only a 900 metre race and he wants further than that but it was good to
see him go right through the line and really hit top speed 100 metres out.
"He is a good sort, they paid a lot of money for him and you can see why - they
just have to get it back now."
Bred by Yarraman Park in partnership, Strasbourg was bought by China Horse Club
/ Newgate Farm / WinStar Farm and is the first living foal of Group II placed
Danish Spy, a half-sister by Dane Shadow to stakes-winner Forest Spy.
Yarraman Park will offer the full
brother to Strasbourg at the 2019 Magic Millions as Lot 499.
Strasbourg is the sixth two year-old winner this season for Yarraman Park's super sire I Am Invincible,
four of those winners being stakes-winners.