Striking chestnut Pandemic added his name to Godolphin's bottomless pit of top-class three-year-olds with a brilliant display to win a 3&4YO BM 70 HCP over 1100 metres on the Kensington track at Randwick on Saturday.
An impressive winner of a 1000 metre 2yo maiden at Wyong at his career debut on July 23, Pandemic looked in trouble when boxed up between runners as the highly regraded Fastnet Rock filly Maddi Rocks was charging home down the centre of the track.
Tommy Berry found a narrow seam on Pandemic and the son of Sepoy exploded between runners to put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
The James Cummings-trainee defeated Maddi Rocks by one and a quarter lengths with the Snitzel mare Exotic Ruby a length back in third. (images Steve Hart )
Berry was
impressed enough to say Pandemic would not be out of place in the Golden Rose.
"It felt like I was at a standing start at the furlong and a half but he picked them up in a stride and we all know how good Maddi Rocks is," Berry said.
"She had the momentum and my fella had to go from being stopped in his tracks to letting down as well as he did.
"Wyong didn't suit him at all, he got a little bit lost coming from around the bend. I've ridden a couple there lately, Exceedance and this bloke and when they can come from their positions and put a field away in a matter of strides it's very exciting when they come to Randwick or Rosehill.
"I don't know what limits he will reach but he is much better than this. You would say that the way he is progressing he would be a Golden Rose horse but that may come up a bit soon for him and he would be better in the spring. But I will leave that up to James and hopefully get the call up to ride him again."
Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said Pandemic has a bright future.
"He's been a late maturing type being by Sepoy. He couldn't have been any more impressive first time out at Wyong and the horse he beat (Heart Of Oak) came out and won, Beadman said.
"They didn't seem to be going that hard up front early but he has run time and he is a proper racehorse.
A half-brother to the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner and Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper runner-up Earthquake and the Listed winner Palomares, Pandemic is the ninth live foal of the Marauding mare Cataclysm who is a half-sister to the multiple Group II winner El Cambio and the dual Listed winner Complicate.
Cataclysm has a yearling colt by Kermadec and was covered by Epaulette last spring.
Sepoy has made an excellent start to the season with his star daughter Alizee winning the Group II Missile Stakes.
He has had 10 winners making their seasonal debut's the latest being another Godolphin colour-bearer Landstrasse who was hugely impressive at Kembla Grange shortly after Pandemic's win in Sydney.
