2023 a Good Year for Exosphere

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday December 27

Oaklands Stud based Exosphere has had a memorable 2023 producing five stakes-winners this year with four of them in Australia, but his US based French bred son Easter was the one in the spotlight on Boxing Day winning the Group II San Gabriele Stakes (1m 1/8f ) on turf at Santa Anita.

A last start Group II winner at Del Mar, the Phillip D’Amato trained five year-old gelding won by a length and a quarter taking his overall record to seven wins and six placings from 19 starts.

Advertisement

“I think two things helped today, when he won under Graham [Motion] he got his confidence up,” said D'Amato.

“We also learned that he liked the firmer turf courses over here. Between those two things and getting to know his quirks, he is a very quirky horse and just knowing what he likes to do and just keep him happy. I think hopefully sky is the limit.”

Easter raced previously in France for Fabrice Chappet, where he was stakes placed in 2021, and then transferred to the US stable of Graham Motion in 2022 where he won several races and his last two wins have been for D'Amato.

He is a half-brother to Group III winner Sweety Dream and is now the best of seven winners from seven runners from good producing Group III placed mare Excellent Girl, a three-quarter -sister by Exceed and Excel to Group III winner Fastnet Tempest.

Exosphere, click for more info.

Easter is one of five stakes-winners this year for Exosphere joining Skybird, Spacewalk, Phearson and Upper Limits.

A Group I winning son of Lonhro, Exosphere stands at a fee of $6,600 at Oaklands Stud in Queensland.

Advertisment
More Reading...
G3 Success For 2YO Maurice Filly Ethereum Girl
Improving off a close-up second in the Listed Oaklands Plate last start, two-year-old Maurice filly Ethereum Girl was too classy, winning the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Five Consecutive Wins For Spirit Of Boom’s Shining Smile
Ending his Autumn campaign with three consecutive Listed victories, two-year-old Spirit Of Boom colt Shining Smile resumed from a spell on Saturday, winning the $150,000 VRC Member Sarah Hart Trophy (1000m).
Sires With Winners - Friday July 18
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unbeaten Filly a New Stakes-Winner for Ghaiyyath
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) is not returning to Australia this year after four seasons at Darley Victoria, but he was in the news overnight with a new stakes-winner after his unbeaten three year-old filly Al Uqda won the Listed Vichy Prix Madame Jean Couturie (2000m).
What Stallions Can Step Up in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong racing season is over for another year, so a look at their sire tables by earnings and winners is always interesting and there is no surprise at the top with now pensioned Deep Field claiming his fourth consecutive champion sire title, but given he is now out of the picture the big question is what sires will replace him?
Robusto The Ultimate Inglis Digital Success Story
When Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto was offered on Inglis Digital last September he was a solid Saturday class horse that had claimed a Benchmark 88 event on July 20, fast forward 12 months and he’s a $2.1million earner with the Listed ATC Winter Challenge (1500m) on his resume.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Dual G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Not seen since winning the Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) at the start of June, the Aidan O’Brien trained Frankel filly Minnie Hauk started favourite in the Group I Irish Oaks (1m4f) at The Curragh overnight and duly saluted.
Karaka Graduates Shoot for Selangor’s Seven-Figure Prize
A quality cast of four-year-olds will clash in Malaysia’s richest race this weekend, with a significant NZB influence throughout the 16-horse field.
Melbourne Cup Contender for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been doing a lot of amazing things this year and he might just have a Melbourne Cup contender with the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa putting himself in the picture with a facile five length win in the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) overnight.
$1million Mehmas a Stakes-Winner for Godolphin
One of the big ticket purchases for Godolphin at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year was the half-brother to triple Group I winner Perfect Power by Mehmas and this 1million guinea purchase opened his stakes account overnight in the UK.