It may have been an off-season Sunday meeting at Ballarat but you would go a long way to find a more intriguing trio of two-year-olds making their career debuts than those that fought out the finish of the 1200 maiden.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Albarado fended off a trio of Godolphin youngsters to make the best possible start to his career.
The son of Savabeel enjoyed a cosy run in third under Thomas Stockdale before taking the gap between the leaders approaching the home turn and set up a winning lead halfway down the straight.
There was no money to suggest the Godolphin trio would play a part in the finish however two sons of the former Darley shuttler Teofilo (IRE) showed they have bright futures.
Alcyone, a son of the Group 1 BRC Queensland Oaks and Group 1 STC Arrowfield Stud Stakes winner Purple (Commands), charged home to be beaten a neck while Choir, a half-brother to Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Microphone (Exceed And Excel), came from the rear of the field to be a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
“We bought him in New Zealand and the feedback we got from the breaker was that he needed gelding straight away and that he was actually very naughty, Natalie Young told racing.com.
“When we got him over here he seemed to just change a corner and he’s probably one of the quietest Savabeel colts we’ve ever had in the barn.
“He’s shown plenty on the track and he had quite a nice gallop the other morning. I said to Vicky who is strapping him today, the last 50m you’ve got to punch him across the line so he knows what to do when he’s off the bit.
“I think it worked because he really extended when asked although I was a bit worried when that blue was coming.
“We might give him one more because he has done everything right so far, he’s a nice, impressive big colt and if he has one more he will have that little bit of money in the bank then we will give him a little freshen-up and get him through to the spring.
“I think the more education they get as a 2yo they handle it better. He went a bit shinsore in his first preparation after being broken in so there will be no worries with that going forward.
“He’s a lovely big Savabeel colt who has done everything right so far. We.ve got plenty to work with a he is going to mature a bit more, he’s probably still a bit low in the wither so he will strengthen up a bit in three or fourth months time so he should be spot on for the spring."
Godolphin’s other runner Halic, a son of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Epsom Derby, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes winner Golden Horn out of Lonhro’s dual Listed stakes-winning daughter Dysphonia, plugged on in to fourth.
Albarado was a $140,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing out of the Rich Hill draft at Karaka in 2019.
The son of Savabeel is the first foal of the dual Group III winning O’Reilly mare O’Fille who was runner-up in the Group 1 ARC Zabeel Classic.
Rich Hill consigned a half-brother to Albarado by the Melbourne Cup winner Shock to Karaka earlier this year where he was knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $200,000.
