As is the way of things, Poet's Voice (IRE) was on a one-way ticket to back to England at a time his son Viridine was putting him on the map with an unbeaten 4-start run culminating in a hugely impressive victory in Saturday's Group II Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Godolphin's retained trainer James Cummings has no doubt the 3yo colt is the real deal and has mapped out an ambitious programme.
After racing fiercely in the early stages under Brenton Avdulla due to a farcical speed, Viridine quickened impressively over the final 100 metres to defeat the Gary Portelli-trained Single Bullet by two lengths with the winner's stablemate Beau Geste doing his best work at the finish to be a neck back in third. (photo Steve Hart).
"Enormous run. I've never had a horse pull so hard and keep going," Avdulla said.
"They went very steady on speed and he didn't give himself much of a breather, I didn't get much of a breather riding him.
"He wasn't into a rhythm at the top of the straight and when it was time to go, as soon as I gave him a one-two he was off and gone."
The Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 4 is on the radar but it's undecided if he will starts beforehand.
"The Coolmore is a month away and I'd imagine that anyone looking at that would agree that he's a pretty exciting prospect," Cummings said.
"We'll have to decide on how we get there but he's such a fast colt. I watched him work on Tuesday at Osborne Park and in three months of training there I haven't seen a horse work better than that – fearing that he almost worked too good to win.
"I dare say there's more improvement there."
Viridine kickstarted his career last season at two with a win over 1100 metres ta Rosehill. Two weeks later he won over 1200 metres on the same track and was put away for the winter.
At his seasonal debut, the son of Poet's Voice opened his stakes account in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Randwick.
Viridine is the second winner out of the dual Melbourne winner Patina (Anabaa) who was sold by Darley at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Mario & Jenni Cesnik for $15,000 while carrying a filly foal by Epaulette.
A half-sister to Listed winner Jerezana (Lonhro), Patina is a daughter of Saddler's Silk (Barathea) who was placed in the Group I QTC Sires Produce Stakes and is a sister to dual Listed stakes winner and Group 1 placed
Patina has a 2yo Denman colt named Coach and a yearling filly by Epaulette. She was not covered last year.
