The Stephen Marsh-trained I Am Queen was untested in Saturday's Starlight Cinema Centre Maiden (1000m) and a race later Jasd turned it on in the Graeme Thomson Antique Jewellery Maiden (1200m).
The favourite I Am Queen made use of her inside gate to share the pace with the well-fancied Excaliffraaj, who lost his compass across the top, and she scooted clear 200m from home to give jockey Danielle Johnson a cruisy ride to the post.
"The draw made it a lot easier and when the second favourite ran off," said
Marsh of his runaway winner."She jumped and travelled beautifully and won really well, she'll go places. We'll keep an eye on her and see how she is, but she'll be much better in the autumn."
A daughter of Animal Kingdom, I Am Queen had placed in both of her trials, the latest at Te Aroha earlier this month.
"That was a really good trial and she's done nothing wrong," Marsh said. "She's got a bit of class about her."
I Am Queen was a $310,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Arrowfield draft for Roger Blunt and is a half-sister to Group II placed Raphael's Cat and Tale of Choice being from Group II winner Cat by the Tale (USA).
Arrowfield Stud will offer her yearling half-brother by Redoute's Choice at Magic Millions as Lot 591 and he is pictured below.
Sepoy's good-looking son Jasd was in action at the same matinee meeting and he won his 800m heat by a wide margin.
"He's got plenty of raw talent and he's a gorgeous type, but still mentally immature," Pike said.
Jasd followed the pace at Taupo before rider Michael McNab urged him forward three wide across the top and the three-year-old was too good in the run home.
"He looks like he'll get a mile eventually," Pike said. "We'll probably look for a soft option for him next, he could be a nice horse for Brisbane in the winter."
Jasd is the first winner for stakes-placed Stratum mare Mabsam and was a $70,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase from the Yarraman Park draft before being re-offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale where he made $240,000 for Kilgravin Lodge.
A yearling half-sister (Lot 355) to Jasd by I Am Invincible will be offered by Windsor Park Stud at the Book 1 Sale at Karaka on January 28. – NZ Racing Desk.
