Much missed Cambridge Stud sire Tavistock has had three maiden winners in the past two days and all are interesting with an eye to the Classics unfolding this season.
David Payne is a very astute conditioner when it comes to preparing a classic three year-old and his Tavistock gelding French Emperor fits the mould of his past success.
Third on debut to boom colt Profondo at Randwick on September 1, he went to Goulburn on Saturday for an easy kill and despite racing greenly had way too much class for his rivals and cruised clear to win by two lengths as a red hot favourite at his second start.
A $200,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for HBL Racing from the Curraghmore draft, French Emperor runs for Aramco Racing and is bred to be a Derby contender.
He is the first foal from stakes-placed Fastnet Rock mare Special Memories, a full sister to Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten from the family of French Group I winners Matiara and Indonesienne.
Another promising Tavistock three year-old winning at his second start is the Mick Price and Mick Kent trained colt Gunstock, who resumed from a spell to win over 1600m at Cranbourne on Sunday as favourite.
He caught the eye with a late surging three-quarter length win that will have him primed for tougher assignments.
The stable nearly had a race to race double of Tavistock winners with another lightly raced three year-old colt in Bedford Estate finishing a good second in the next race over 1400m.
Gunstock was a $135,000 NZB Ready to Race purchase from the Ohukia Lodge draft for Import racing and was a successful pinhook having been sourced from the Cambridge Stud draft at Karaka Book 1 for $80,000.
Gunstock is the second winner from Zabeel mare Zeranti and is a full brother to Group II placed The Irishman, who has been exported to Hong Kong to chase the Hong Kong Derby.
The third winner of interest for Tavistock is four year-old mare Crystal Dynasty, who returned from a spell to win her maiden at Donald over 1350m for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace on Sunday.
Crystal Dynasty is unlikely to be a superstar, but she is a half-sister to Crystal Bound, who won the Listed VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes on Saturday and promises to be a star performer in the fillies division this spring.
Bred by Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds, Crystal Dynasty was retained to race and will be a valuable broodmare prospect going forward if her younger half-sister progresses as hoped.
Crystal Dynasty and Crystal Bound are among three winners from four to race out of Crystalised, a winning Zabeel half-sister to Dual Group I winner Zarita, Group II winner Run Like the Wind and stakes-winner Joy and Fun.
