Julius Sandhu will head to Caulfield in a fortnights time with a chance of a maiden Group 1 after his blueblood colt Lofty Strike made it two from two in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
All roads lead to the Blue Diamond (image Grant Courtney)
Ridden by Jamie Mott, the son of champion sire Snitzel and Golden Slipper heroine Overreach powered home to defeat the Shalaa (IRE) colt Semillion by one and a quarter length with the Epaulette colt Daumier a further half-length back in third.
The favourite Jacquinot (Rubick) missed the start and was never a factor.
“It’s exciting, that was a big win, Sandhu said.
“it was really nice to see him actually get here at a different course that has its own challenges.
“He was off the bit a long way from home and then just picked it up and went down to the line quite impressively.
“He put them away quite well.
“We’ll make sure he comes back and pulls up well and hopefully he ticks all the boxes and is sound.
“We’ll go back home and celebrate this a little bit, as we should.
“It is an endorsement to the team, not just me, as the stable has worked really hard to keep him the way he is.
“There’s a lot of excitement, that’s for sure.”
Lofty Strike. What is he worth now? (image Grant Courtney)
Mott was impressed how lofty Strike finished the race off after coming under pressure before the turn.
“It was a very special moment, I’m sure Julius agrees, Mott said.
“He’s a beautiful animal. I was really confident after last start that he has the makings of a nice horse and he showed us that today.
“I felt I had to get into the race to make sure the ones upfront hadn’t skipped away. I was under pressure around the corner. I wouldn’t say I was worried but I wasn’t really making good ground at that stage but once I balanced on straightening he put them away quite easily.
“He’s handling it all well. Julius’ team have done a good job with him and he’s a horse with a really bright future and hopefully he can be back here in two weeks and do it again.”
Lofty Strike was a $280,000 purchase by the Paul Lofitis managed Lofty Thoroughbred Group from the Corumbene Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions.
Lofty Strike a $280,000 Magic Millions yearling
The son of Snitzel is the second foal of Corumbene’s 2013 ATC Golden Slipper winner Overreach.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel had a troubled start to her broodmare career.
Her first foal by Sepoy died then she missed to Fastnet Rock before foaling a Snitzel colt named Talbragar.
Retained to race by George Altomonte, Talbragar won his only start at Narromine in October last year for Kody Nestor. He has not been seen since and is now in the stable of Cody Morgan.
A sister to Group II ATC Expressway Stakes winner Standout and Widden Stud’s stakes-placed Outreach, Overreach is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort a great stalwart for Chatswood Stud before his death last November.
Overreach has a yearling filly by Snitzel and a filly foal by Zoustar.
She was covered by Capitalist last spring.
Snitzel. His 2yos are flying
