Prepared by Team Hawkes, Ballet Rose was sent out favourite for the 1100 metre
maiden and although tested by the runner-up Fifth Affair was able to post a
short neck victory.Carrying the Vinery Stud colours, Ballet Rose was a $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Vinery from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft and is a three-quarter sister by Exceed and Excel to Group I winner King's Rose (now at stud in Japan) and Group II winner Hardham.
She is the sixth winner from seven foals to race from stakes-placed Nureyev's Girl, who comes from the family of Group I winner Anabandana.
Bhima sold a full sister to Ballet Rose at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $1million and her last foal (Nureyev's Girl died in 2016) is a yearling filly by Snitzel.
Winning the next race, a 1400 metre maiden, was the Gerald Ryan trained colt Godunov, who scored a half neck win despite being easy in the market.
A $620,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Element Hill draft for his trainer,
Godunov is the most expensive yearling sired in Australia by renowned European
Group sire Dalakhani (IRE), who shuttled to Cornerstone Stud in South Australia
for three seasons.He has a superb international pedigree being a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (also by Dalakhani) and is also closely related to Group I winner Cerulean Sky (by Dalakhani's sire Darshaan).
Bred by Hutchins Thoroughbreds, who retain a share in his ownership, Godunov is the second winner for unraced Sadler's Wells mare Global Dance (IRE), who produced a colt by Zoustar this spring.
