Icarus Stuns on Debut

Mark Smith - Monday April 1

Trainer Greg Eurell will search for a suitable race at the Adelaide Carnival for Icarus after the 3-year-old son of O’Lonhro sprouted wings to make a winning career debut in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Maiden Plate at Sandown-Lakeside on Monday.

Big and raw with loads of ability (image George Sal/Racing Photos)

Despite an alarming betting drift, Icarus won in the manner of an odds-on chance.  Settled back in second last by Daniel Moor, Icarus was momentarily blocked for a run on straightening. When eased out to mount a challenge down the centre of the track, Icarus quickened impressively to defeat the Trapeze Artist debutant Here The Crowd by one and three-quarter lengths with the Sidestep colt Creek a half-head back in third.

“It was an impressive effort. He has taken a while to get there, but we were happy with his work last week,” Eurell revealed.  

“He is still very new and has a lot to learn but has plenty of raw ability.

Advertisement

“I was hoping he would posse up a little closer but once he balanced up and peeled out I knew he would give it a fair shot.

“He is a slow-maturing horse and has been in and out, which has been frustrating, but the wait was worth it.

“He is a lovely, big, strong horse, and he is holding up super at the moment.

“There are some nice opportunities, and he may even sneak his way to Adelaide.”

Lots to look forward to (image George Sal/Racing Photos)

A homebred for the Saade family, Icarus is the second foal and first runner for the Bushranger mare Carterista who won a maiden at Ballarat and finished second in four of her six starts. She was second behind the future multiple Group III winner Ocean Embers when making her debut at Caulfield.  

Carterista has a yearling filly and filly foal by Impending. She was covered by Supido last spring.

Icarus comes from the penultimate crop of O’Lonhro, who was pensioned after the 2020 breeding season and died in 2022.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Mdn Plate 1200m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.39
1
Icarus
- 3g O'lonhro (AUS) x Carterista (AUS) (Bushranger (IRE))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: D Moor 58
2
1.8
Here The Crowd
- 3f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Fleur De'here (NZ) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56
3
1.9
Creek
- 3c Sidestep (AUS) x Rillito (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
4
3.1
A Book Of Days
- 3g Written By (AUS) x Rock Princess (AUS) (Elvstroem (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
5
5.6
Gin Baba
- 3f Invincible Spirit (IRE) x Baba Ghanouj (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
6
6.9
Bravue
- 3g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Chevovessence (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: Declan Bates 58
7
7.6
Immortelle
- 3f U S Navy Flag (USA) x Everlasting (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Damian Lane 56
8
14.6
Misil Cadente
- 3g Redente (AUS) x Angelify (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 58
More Reading...
Waikato Stud to Cheer Derby Runners
Waikato Stud will have strength in numbers to add to its success rate in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and boost its seasonal tally at the top level.
Sires Pack Profitable Punch at Weanling Sale
There are many members of New Zealand’s stallion ranks whose progenies racetrack results far exceed their service fee.  Next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an ideal opportunity for traders and end users to secure the progeny of these creditable sires.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Little Avondale’s Weanlings Follow Successful Footsteps
Graduates of Little Avondale Stud’s drafts at the NZB National Weanling Sale have a proud record of racetrack success, and stud principal Sam Williams believes his class of 2025 compares favourably with previous years.
The Boss Lady Bounces Back in G3 Belmont Sprint
Tough Street Boss (USA) mare The Boss Lady lived up to her name with a hard fought win in the G3 Belmont Sprint yesterday.
Highview Stud Announce 2025 Fees
With a host of quality performers from its proven lineup – Divine Prophet, Santos and Wrote – over the past 12 months, along with plenty of excitement about the pending arrival of Mr Mozart’s first foals, New Zealand’s Highview Stud has announced stallion fees for 2025.
Newhaven Park Confirm 2025 Fees
One week after Newhaven Park bred, raised and sold Cool Archie recorded his second successive juvenile stakes race victory in the Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic at Doomben, Newhaven Park stud principal John Kelly has confirmed the 2025 service fees for the first-crop 2-year-old’s sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ), as well as the farm’s two associate stallions Xtravagant (NZ) and Mo’Unga&nb
Verry Exciting Weekend Looms
New Zealand horseman Nicholas Bishara will cross the Tasman this weekend to watch his filly Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister to his ill-fated 11-time Group One Verry Elleegant, contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
Trials this morning at Rosehill were run on a heavy 9 so horses were well held together and not asked for too much, but there were still a couple of intriguing unraced heat winners by Extreme Choice and Justify (USA), plus we got another look at the $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Sunlight.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.