It's the smallest possible sample size, but the first appearance of a 2-year-old by Rubick {Aus} (Encosta De Lago {Aus} gives significant cause for optimism ahead of the coming season.
Krameric became the first of Rubick's progeny to publicly trial at Rosehill on Monday morning and the Chris Waller-trained colt was suitably impressive, beating his rivals by 4.3l over 895m.
Much is expected of Rubick's first crop when they hit the track this season, and one bookmaker has the former sprinter, who stands at $17,500 at Coolmore, as favourite to top the first season 2YO sire rankings, ahead of the likes of Deep Field, Brazen Beau, Dissident and Shooting To Win.
A total of 80 Rubick yearlings were sold at the yearling sales last season, at an average over $107,144, including 13 at or above $200,000.
Krameric was one of those 13, selling for exactly $200,000 to Guy Mulcaster at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.
“We really liked what we saw of the Rubicks on the whole. He was an incredibly fast two-year-old himself and our purchase was a running colt that looked like he should be a two-year-old.” Mulcaster said at the time.
It appears, not for the first time, Mulcaster's judgement was spot on and jockey James McDonald was suitably impressed by the trial.
For everything that Waller has achieved, he is not renowned as a trainer of early running two-year-olds.
But Krameric, whose dam Queen For Nine Days (O'Reilly {NZ}) is out of multiple Group winning mare De Montfort (NZ) {Random Chance {NZ}), could be set to buck the trend.
His time of 54.88s was comparable to the open trials run earlier on the day and he certainly had a fair bit on his three rivals, who were by three of Australia's leading stallions, Snitzel, I Am Invincible and Not a Single Doubt.
It was the second 2YO trial of the season, with the Mark Newnham-trained Exceed The Stars (Star Witness {Aus}) winning the first trial at Randwick on August 2.
Rubick
