Six lengths second to Veight in a 1200m maiden when on debut at Pakenham in February, Apulia closed the gap to two lengths behind the high-class son of Grunt in the Group II VRC Sire’s Produce Stakes at Flemington on March 11. That’s handy form for a 1500m maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday, and the son of Fiorente (IRE) got the job done with minimal fuss.
Ridden by Mick Dee for Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Apulia travelled sweetly outside the leader Pariah Pearl. When Dee upped the temp at the 600m, he had Pariah Pearl off the bit with the chasing pack beaten a long way out.
Despite looking around in the straight, Apulia was untroubled to defeat the game Pariah filly Pariah Pearl by two lengths, with the Fiorente gelding Black Autumn two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Stable representative Sarah Fannin said it was what the Lindsay Park team hoped to see at his first start for 23 weeks.
“It was an easy watch and a great ride by Mick. It’s great to get that one out the way,” Fannin said.
“He still does a bit wrong, so there is improvement to come. He had blinkers on last prep, so we might look at that for the rest of his campaign.
“We have always thought he would get over ground, so we might throw him in the deep end now and hopefully plot towards the (Victoria) Derby.”
Bred by Meadowvale Pastoral and Revelstone Stud, Apulia races for the Garrett family’s Revelstone Stud and Lindsay Park Bloodstock.
He is the first foal of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Giannarelli, a half-sister to Group II Queensland Guineas third Spot The Rock (Fastnet Rock) out of the stakes-placed Fasliyev (USA) mare Can’t Hackit a great-granddaughter of AJC Oaks heroine Just Now.
Giannarell has a 2yo filly by Pride Of Dubai, a yearling filly by Nicconi and was covered by Nicconi last spring.
