Regarded highly enough to face the silk department at his first three starts, Blaze A Trail took a considerable step back in class following a three month hibernation to beak his maiden over 1300 metres at Hawkesbury on Sunday to credit his fertility challenged sire Criterion with his first winner.
Originally trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Blaze a Trail was among the favourites at his career debut when third behind Dame Giselle and See You Soon in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill back in November.
After finishing unplaced behind the subsequent Golden Slipper winner Farnan in both the Group II Silver Slipper and Group II Todman Stakes, Blaze A Trail was sent for a spell and was transferred to Matthew Vella.
With Chad Lever on board and carrying the hopes of the punters, the good-looking son of Criterion made a winning start for his new stable with a length score over Samantha Miss’s son Sammy with the Poet’s Voice gelding Invictus Felix a nose back in third.
A home bred for Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Blaze a Trail is the first foal of the Group III-placed Bachelor Duke mare Flaming who is a half-sister to the Group II ARC Eight Carat Classic winner Smoulder who also placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes and Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas.
Sir Owner Glenn purchased Fiesta for $90,000 at the 2016 NZB National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
A 4-time Group 1 winning son of Sebring, the $7 million earner Criterion had just 14 live foals from the 70 mares he covered.
His only other starter to date is the filly Lady Of Luxury who finished third in the Wellington Boot in April.
