Late-blooming Redoute's Choice gelding Furious gave hope of better things to come when breaking his maiden at start two in the Ladbroke It! Maiden Plate (1300m) at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.
Ridden by Damien Oliver for Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, Furious sat close to the speed set by Labhuku before taking control at the 100m. He proved three-quarters of a length too good for the royally bred Zoustar x Catchy filly Floozie with a half-length back to the promising Savabeel mare Procureable in third.
Furious was resuming from a 23-week break after his luckless debut when second in a Newcastle maiden on April 12.
Bred by Billy Slater's Slater Thoroughbreds, Furious was a $425,000 purchase for his trainers from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
"He is a lovely horse, one of the last Redoute's, and we know how good Redoute's Choice was," Wayne Hawkes said.
"Billy and Nicole bred the horse and were happy to stay in.
"He was immature and should have won his first start. He was three, four, and five wide the trip and pulled up tired.
"We put him in the paddock and gave him a good spell, and we have been in no rush with him. We must thank the owners because you need patience when you pay a lot of money for these horses and they are 4-year-olds."
From the family of one of the sport's most versatile top-flight performers, Mahogany, Furious is the third winner from as many to race for the Melbourne metro winner Inishowen (Encosta de Lago).
Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) / Lindsey Smith shelled out $220,000 for a Pride Of Dubai half-sister to Furious, which Rosemont Stud consigned to the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After foaling a King's Legacy colt last spring, Inishowen was covered by Brazen Beau.
Furious is one of 23 live foals from the final crop of Redoute's Choice, who has quite the week.
Shortly after Furious opened his winning account, TTC Tasmanian Oaks and TRC Strutt Stakes heroine made a winning return at Warwick Farm for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Last Saturday, Rediener struck for the last Redoute's Choice crop with a dominant performance in the Group III ATC Bill Ritchie Handicap, and that won't be his last win.
,
