Taking his record to five from five, outstanding St Mark’s Basilica (FR) colt Aristopolos gave nothing else a chance in Friday night’s Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston with John Blacker trained 2yo pulling clear to win by two lengths.
Coming off a last start eight and a half length romp in the Magic Millions Tasmania 2YO Classic (1200m) at Hobart, the Erica Byrne Burke ridden colt started at prohibitive odds once again, jumping to the lead from barrier four as the gates crashed open.
Although Victorian visitor Woosh (Wootton Bassett) tried to go with Aristopolos in the run, the Shane Nichols and Hayden Black trained filly didn’t have the class of the favourite on debut but still produced a strong run throughout.
As the final turned was reached and Aristopolos kicked up a gear as the favourite pulled away from his rivals to win by to lengths.
Having finished in the placings behind Aristopolos in her prior three runs, the Stuart Gandy trained Momentslikethese (Tiger Of Malay) worked home once again to finish in second with Woosh holding on for third, a further three lengths behind the runner-up.
Trainer John Blacker indicated post-race that the colt would head for a thoroughly deserved spell.
A $60,000 Magic Millions Tasmania purchase for his trainer from the Armidale Stud draft, Aristopolos has taken his earnings to $308,705 from his five unbeaten starts.
Bred by Armidale Stud, Aristopolos is the best of two winners from three to the races out of stakes-placed Flying Krupt.
Flying Krupt foaled a colt last spring from the first crop of Newgate Farm’s King’s Gambit and was then covered by another young I Am Invincible stallion in Bodyguard.
Aristopolos is the first stakes-winner in Australia for St Mark’s Basilica, whose best so far in the Northern Hemisphere is G1- winning filly Diamond Necklace.
St Mark’s Basilica will be represented by 15 lots at the upcoming Inglis Premier yearling sale where Two Bays Farm will offer the Home Affairs half-brother to runner-up Momentslikethese as Lot 201 while Segenhoe Stud will present the Maurice (Jpn) half-brother to the third placed Woosh as Lot 244.
