Last
season there was a single two-year-old by gun French sire Siyouni in Australia,
the stakeswinning Aylmerton, so it was interesting when the lone Siyouni two
year-old this season won a barrier trial at Hawkesbury on Friday.
Bred and raced by Woodpark Stud and trained by Jean Dubois, Aylmerton came off
an impressive barrier trial in February before making a debut win in maiden grade
and promptly won the Gr.2 Todman Stakes at his second run last season.
Persepolis, although a filly, is at this stage carrying a very similar profile –
bred and raced by Woodpark Stud, trained by Jean Dubois and brought into
Australia as an overseas covering of his dam Prevalent, a US bred daughter of
Empire Maker.
She had trailed once previously on November 26th when fourth but
looked most impressive at her second on Friday when rounding up the opposition
while well within herself and went to the line to win with seemingly plenty in
hand.
A winner at the highest level as a juvenile and Group 1 placed at three years
old, Siyouni met with great success with his first four crops which were
conceived at a fee of just €7,000, and he ranks amongst the elite European
stallions.
He was the leading sire of two-year-olds in France in 2017, to date has sired 26 stakeswinners and
currently stands for €100,000.
Aylmerton was the lone foal born in Australia by his sire in 2015 and
Persepolis the lone foal of 2016 however Woodpark Stud doubled down last season
with two on the ground and there were four born this season.
The Aga Khan Studs offered him to southern hemisphere breeders last season at
Haras de Bonneval.
Other impressive trial performers at Hawkesbury included the Peter and Paul Snowden
trained Enforcement, by I Am Invincible from Express Power.
He was a $360,000 purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and WinStar Farmat this year's Inglis Australian Easter Sale and has looked good now in two
trial wins.
First season sire Rubick also had a winner in Miraculous,
out of Sophielicious, a $68,000 buy for JHB Syndications at the Inglis Classic
Yearling Sale.