Brad Spicer purchased and raced Choisir's international champion Starspangledbanner and now the leading syndicator looks to have a promising type on his hands with Olympic Oath a son of Choisir's four-time Group 1 winning son Olympic Glory (IRE).
Following a promising second when making his career debut at Bendigo back on July 5, Olympic Oath broke his maiden over 1500 metres on the Ballarat Synthetic on Monday and had few favours in the run.
The Lindsey Smith-trained colt was caught three and four wide the trip under Ben Allen but importantly had cover before peeling out to mount a challenge on the home turn.
Rebel Excell (Rebel Raider) followed him through but could get no closer than half a length on the line with Fioroso (Fiorente) four lengths further back in third.
He gout out the back, relaxed well, finished off well when he was challenged and I like the way he dug deep late," Spicer said.
"He's a fat bull and he should improve off this and the further the goes the better he is going to get.
"He seemed a little bit better in the coat today and tightened up a bit around the belly. I think he is going in the right direction and now we'll see if we go on for another run before the end of his 2yo year or give him a little break and bring him back for the spring.
Last year the Spicer Thoroughbred syndicated Extra Brut won the Group 1 Victoria Derby and Spicer is hoping Olympic Oath can follow a similar path.
"He's a
stretchy colt out of a Zabeel mare so you always hope they can get to a derby
trip but there are a hundred other horses around Australia at the same level as
him but you live in hope and dream," Spicer said.
"Extra Brut was a more athletic horse than him, he is a rather heavy set horse being by a (a son of) Choisir but you never know he's put the writing on the wall today and you have just got to keep hoping."
A $260,000 purchase by Spicer Thoroughbreds/Darren Weir Racing out of the Kenmore Lodge draft 2018 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Olympic Oath (pictured as a yearling) is the third-highest priced yearling by Olympic Glory (USA).
A three-quarter brother to the six-time winner Skytastic (Choisir), Olympic Oath is the fourth live foal of the three-time Sydney winner Flighty (Zabeel) who is a daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Flitter (Bluebird) the granddam of VRC Matriarch Stakes winner Jersey Belle (Rock Of Gibraltar).
Olympic Glory (IRE) covered three books of mares at Arrowfield Stud but is not returning this year. Olympic Oath becomes the fourth winner from his first Australian crop.
