Lightly framed filly Photograph emerged from a 16-week hiatus to open her winning account over 1200m on a heavy track at Scone on Tuesday to credit Blue Point (IRE) with his fifth Australian winner.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for James Cummings, Photograph was caught wide from an outside barrier. The last to come off the bridle, the 2-year-old filly cruised up to the leaders and was only asked for an effort over the final 200m.
Under minimum urging, Photograph defeated the Toronado (IRE) colt Torn by two lengths, with the Churchill (IRE) gelding Ionaceltic back in third.
Photograph finished a close-up fourth at her first start at Canterbury before finishing fourth in a highly rated 2-year-old handicap over 1300m at Newcastle won by Last Command (Tassort) from Just Party (Justify) and stablemate and rising star Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot) back in third.
"A lovely smooth ride by Zac," assistant trainer Darren Beadman said.
"He let her balance up, and the wide gate was no concern; it's no good on the inside, so he kept her in a nice rhythm.
"She trialled nicely twice this time in. She ran an acceptable race at her last start in the Paul Perry Hcp (at Newcastle). Today, she slid into the race nicely, and I (to Zac) to count to ten; it's a long straight, and get to the middle.
"She's very fine and does not take a lot to get fit. She's very athletic and has a huge stride for a small filly."
A half-sister to Listed Denise's Joy Stakes winner Commemorative (I Am Invincible), Photograph is the third winner from four to race for the winning Street Cry (IRE) mare memorial, who placed in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes and Listed Lonhro Plate.
A half-sister to Group 1 BRC Stradbroke Hcp and Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Impending (Lonhro), Group III winner Forget (Exceed and Excel), Listed winner Epidemic (Lonhro), and to the dam of Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre (Lonhro), Memorial is a daughter of the MRC Thousand Guineas and STC Queen of the Turf Stakes winner Mnemosyne (Encosta de Lago).
Memorial has a yearling colt by Lonhro, which has been named Cenotaph.
After missing in 2022, Memorial visited Brazen Beau last spring.
While Godolphin's high-flying Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a no-show in Australia this year, Blue Point (IRE) returns to Darley Stud’s Northwood with his fee set at $44,000.
