Veteran trainer Paul Cave has had a long and successful association with the family of the four-year-old gelding Blue Sky Moon who made a winning career debut over 1200m at Wyong on Wednesday.
The son of Puissance De Lune (IRE) went off a heavily backed second favourite after impressing in a pair of barrier trials at his home track, Warwick Farm.
There was a scary moment when Blue Sky Moon unseated Kathy O’Hara on the way to the barrier. There was less concern in the run.
Sent straight to the front, Blue Sky Moon led at every call to defeat the odds-on favourite Doppelpunkt (Charm Spirit) by a half-neck with Chloebella Rose (Rothesay) four and three-quarter lengths back in third.
“He is obviously still very raw and has a lot to learn,” O’Hara said.
“He is a scopey big horse that will improve with time and racing. I know he is four already, but he is a big framed horse that has a lot of filling out to do.
“They have taken their time with him, so I hope they are rewarded.
“He has got good speed for a big horse, and he will get further later on.”
The Thomas family homebred is the first foal of the Snitzel mare Tasty Morsel who won nothing more than a 1200m maiden at Nowra. But she is a half-sister to the Paul Cave-trained The Free Stater (Over) who numbered the Group III AJC Frederick Clissold Stakes, Group III AJC Liverpool City Cup and Listed HRC Hawkesbury Guineas among his seven wins from 17 starts.
The Free Stater was also used to hone the skills of the teenagers Tommy and Nathan Berry in barrier trials.
Blue Sky Moon becomes the latest winner from the first crop of Puissance De Lune (IRE).
Despite having his fee more than doubled to $19,800 in 2020, the Swettenham Stud stallion had his busiest season to date covering 155 mares.
