Samudra prevails in battle of blue bloods at Sandown on Wednesday
Rich pedigrees were on display at Sandown on Wednesday with blue-blood juveniles Samudra and I'mateez fighting out a hotly contested 1000m 2YO Handicap.
Fast filly Samudra, a $750,000 daughter of super stallion Snitzel out of Group 1 winner Pippie denied I'mateez, the half-brother of 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz.
Trainer Mark Walker, who ironically conditioned Te Akau champion Imperatriz during her career was most pleased with Samudra's last 100m under pressure from I'mateez and third-placed Latin Boss.
Latin Boss went stride for stride with Samurdra through the first 800m and only relented late.
'(Samudra) was under a lot of pressure but she really dug deep and found,' Walker said.
'Probably going forward she's going to be a better chaser than leader.
'You would've thought she was all done at the 100m but that natural (talent), mum's (Pippie) ability kicked in and she's going to be a much nicer three-year-old, that's for sure.'
The blue-blooded Samudra grits her teeth, staving off the challenge of her opponents to make a winning debut 🙌
Odds on backers won't want that again 😅 @BMelham pic.twitter.com/2Rks3hxM7T
â€' Racing.com (@Racing) May 21, 2025
Samudra is set to be spelled for the spring with attention on stakes success.
'She'll keep improving with a bit more time,' Walker said.
Alex Rae, trainer of I'mateez, said the two-year-old Capitalist colt would likely stay in work after a most promising debut.
Rae went into the 1000m event unsure how laidback I'mateez would perform under race pressure.
'He's just been a bit plain in his work late,' Rae said.
'It was good he added a string to his bow today so he's going to make a horse.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Joliestar arrives in the last hop in the Kingsford Smith Cup
Champion jockey James McDonald timed his run to perfection aboard Joliestar in the $1 million Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained mare came from well back in the field to claim the weight-for-age feature in the final stride. Joliestar defeated Zarastro by a nose with a similar margin back to Golden Mile in third. An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩 @cwallerracing @mcacajamez @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 The win was Joliestar's sixth from 15 starts, her third at Group 1 level, and took her earnings to more than $4.5 million. Waller indicated he would discuss Joliestar's immediate with her owners but while holding a nomination for next week's Stradbroke Handicap, the likelihood is the four-year-old will head to the paddock to begin her preparation for the $20 million The Everest in October.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Miss Ole prevails at Flemington to stamp Coolmore Stud Stakes ambitions
Miss Ole and Espana stamped their credentials as fillies of the future at Flemington on Saturday. The pair engaged in a stirring duel late in the Brendan Drechsler Handicap (1100m), with Miss Ole, trained by Clinton McDonald, shading Espana on the post. Espana, trained by Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans, pinched a break inside the last 200m and held a margin until Miss Ole stretched out. 'She's a winner,' McDonald said. 'She had to be tough there, she was just coming and coming. 'I was confident but it was coming very quickly the post. 'I know Lloyd Kennewell has a good opinion of his horse … it ran fantastic, I think it will be a good form race and she can go to the paddock … and we'll look for something in the spring for her.' Miss Ole too strong at Flemington giving her back-to-back metro wins, a filly on the rise! @cmcdonaldracing @bennallen44 @FlemingtonVRC â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 7, 2025 McDonald said the straight experience would benefit Miss Ole on a spring path towards the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day. 'She's not a big filly but she's tough and tenacious,' McDonald said. 'We don't know where the ceiling is just yet. 'She's been down the straight so we'll look at the Flemington straight races for the three-year-olds, we'll see where she ends up … obviously a race like the Coolmore could be on the cards. 'We'll target something like that, I think she's a very good filly and I think she'll keep improving.' Miss Ole stepped slowly on debut at Warrnambool and finished fifth. She made amends with a strong come-from-behind at Sandown last start. 'It's good to have another nice filly and she'll be somewhere in the spring,' McDonald said. â– â– â– â– â–
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Matt Dale will weigh up Stradbroke Handicap tilt with Front Page after Moreton Cup win
It would be uncharted territory but trainer Matt Dale indicated 'the discussion will be had' about giving evergreen sprint warrior Front Page a crack at next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Rising nine-year-old Front Page has never won over 1400m – and indeed only raced over that trip once before – but on Saturday at Eagle Farm won the Group 2 Moreton Cup over 1200m which gives him a golden ticket into the Stradbroke (1400m). Connections would need to pay a hefty late-entry fee and they and Goulburn trainer Dale must decide whether it is worthwhile given Front Page is primarily known for his deeds over nippier sprint trips. But after scoring the Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm, Dale certainly wasn't ruling out a Stradbroke tilt. 'The (Stradbroke) discussion will be had,' Dale said. 'We will certainly give some thought to it. 'A decision will be made on Tuesday, he will either be racing in the Stradbroke or going out for a month in the paddock here in Queensland. 'It's a good problem to have. 'He is a tough old horse who is rock solid fit and he ran right through the line today. 'We will enjoy this win and then dissect everything.' Front Page makes himself newsworthy with a big win in the G2 Moreton Cup! ðŸ'° ðŸ�† @clarkyhk @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Adding to the complexity of Dale's decision is that it looks, at least on paper, to be shaping up to be one of the weakest Stradbrokes in recent times. Progressive Lindsay Park sprinter War Machine tops the Stradbroke betting market but there are few in the likely Stradbroke field who are standing out on stalks seven days out from the great race. Even if he doesn't contest the Stradbroke, Front Page won more fans on Saturday with his first win since scoring the $2m The Kosciuszko in 2023, his second triumph in that rich race after also scoring it the previous year. Front Page ($4.40) settled down to fight the Moreton Cup out with Tony Gollan's galloper Hidden Wealth and was stronger in the final stages. 'He's just an absolute beauty,' Dale declared. 'We came up here today rapt with how the horse was. 'The track has dried out all week but the track is still a bit choppy, and at the top of the straight I thought we were in a little bit of trouble. 'But he was prepared to get down and dirty and tough it out. 'I didn't think he looked as comfortable as he does on a good surface, but Timmy (jockey Tim Clark) knows him well and he did a great job sitting off Hidden Wealth.'
