Sydney’s midweek meeting was at windswept Kensington on Wednesday, where the day’s times reflected a strong tailwind down the straight. Godolphin enjoyed a brilliant showing in the juvenile features, with Brigantine (Astern) winning the first race among the colts and geldings, and Laurelin (Lonhro) winning the second among the fillies.
Both events were over 1100 metres, and both youngsters started favourite in their races. Godolphin's Darren Beadman, who was trackside, expected them to make a good showing.
However, it was Brigantine’s victory that caused the most excitement, because the 2-year-old colt was the only Godolphin homebred by first-season stallion Astern in his debut crop.
“The way Brigantine won today, we’d love to have had a few more in that first crop,” said Adam Brayshaw, Nominations and Sales Manager for Godolphin. “He is the only first-crop Astern that we’ve got, so to have one and have him as a city winner is fantastic, and it bodes well for the stallion.”
On the way up
Brigantine was the tenth first-crop winner in Australia for the emerging Astern, who retired to stud in 2017. He has had an additional winner from this crop in New Zealand, plus two winners in the United States, where he has shuttled to Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.
Astern, a son of Medaglio D’Oro (USA), won four Group races through two seasons during his career, including the G1 Golden Rose defeating fellow sires Impending and Divine Prophet. From nine starts, he won five overall races and was second twice, in a generation that included Star Turn, Flying Artie and Russian Revolution.
Astern | Standing at Darley
At stud, and in particular in recent weeks, he has blossomed.
“The good news is that we’ve got nine by him in the second crop coming through,” Brayshaw said. “Nine rising 2-year-olds by Astern, and he’s up to 13 (global) winners now, with two stakes winners and another stakes-placed horse. He’s got real momentum, and he’s a horse that is really starting to get us, and our clients, excited.”
"He’s (Astern) up to 13 (global) winners now, with two stakes winners and another stakes-placed horse. He’s got real momentum, and he’s a horse that is really starting to get us, and our clients, excited." - Adam Brayshaw
The stakes winners are Seradess, who won the Listed Cinderella S. earlier this year, and Danger Strykes in New Zealand, who won the Listed Castletown S. at Wanganui.
“It’s been a great 24 hours for Astern,” Brayshaw added. “Gai and Adrian unearthed Sealion on debut at Wyong, and he was really impressive, and Brigantine is a colt that we heard from the racing team had improved dramatically, and he did it in really good fashion.”
The Listed Cinderella S. winner Seradess (white cap)
Like his father
Brigantine jumped from barrier eight in his race, the Admire Mars at Arrowfield Plate. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy put the colt behind the leading bunch, and the pair was fourth turning into the straight.
They overhauled Governor (I Am Invincible) and Retiro (Snitzel) at the business end of things, with only Publicist (Written Tycoon) to challenge on the rails. Brigantine, however, stuck true for McEvoy, and they were eventual winners by 0.38l, with Baranof (Hinchinbrook) fighting out third with Devil’s Throat (Snitzel) in a photograph.
“He’s very much like his father,” Brayshaw said. “Even the way he pricked his ears on the line, it reminded me of the day Astern won his maiden at Randwick. He may not reach the same heights as his dad, but he’s certainly going to win some races on the back of what we saw today.”
“He’s (Brigantine) very much like his father (Astern). Even the way he pricked his ears on the line, it reminded me of the day Astern won his maiden at Randwick." - Adam Brayshaw
Trackside, Beadman agreed.
“It was very satisfying for the whole team to see him win today, and for all the guys back at Kelvinside,” the assistant trainer said. “They do tremendous work with them, bringing them through and preparing them as young horses, and James (Cummings) just informed me that he’s one of four horses that we nominated for the Golden Rose among the colts.”
Beadman said he’d always held a good opinion of Brigantine, but it was a case of playing the waiting game.
“He just had to grow into himself,” he said. “He was a bit leggy in the early days, but he had good, natural ability and it was nice to see him finish off the race the way he did today.”
The race was Brigantine’s first win in three starts, with the colt racing twice in March, unplaced both times. However, he had since trialled brilliantly, coming second and first at Randwick and Canterbury respectively in the last few weeks.
The colt is the ninth foal from the seasoned broodmare Lobola (Anabaa {USA}), making him a half-brother to stakes winners Handfast (Street Cry {Ire}) and Rusambo (Elusive Quality {USA}). Lobola has a colt on the ground by Sidestep, and will foal to Encryption this spring.
Natural speed
Within half an hour of Brigantine’s win, Beadman was back before the cameras with 2-year-old filly Laurelin.
By Lonhro, the filly is from the excellent Redoute’s Choice mare Yavanna. As such, Laurelin is a full sister to Kementari, and a half-sister to stakes winner and Westbury Stud-based Telperion and city winners Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}) and Palurien (Reset).
Ridden by James McDonald, Laurelin had a nightmare draw in barrier 12, widest of the field. But she needed no excuses, putting herself into the early lead ahead of Ruby Kisses (Flying Artie) on the rail and Beep Test (All Too Hard).
In the straight, she cruised away from the field by 2l, and was untroubled by the fast-finishing Ringarosa (Sebring). The final margins were 0.84l and 3l to Ruby Kisses in third.
“She’s a lovely filly,” Beadman said. “She’s got natural ability, and her natural speed took all the guess work out of where she landed. James (McDonald) was able to control the race from where she was, and she showed a nice turn of foot. Looks like she’s in for a nice prep.”
Beadman said Laurelin would head into the spring with residual fitness, and added that the pair of winning 2-year-olds were paying dividends on their patient handling by the Cummings team.
Six foals, six winners
“Laurelin was entitled to get a little bit tired,” Brayshaw said. “She worked enough early to get up on-speed, and she was coming into it off just one trial, so at this time of year, on testing ground, it can find some horses out late.”
Laurelin was sixth on debut on this track in early January, running in behind a very sharp Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) that day. She won her only trial this prep a few weeks ago, so the win was full of merit.
“It was very pleasing to see her hold on, and a filly with that pedigree, she’s been very good,” Brayshaw said.
Laurelin provided her dam Yavanna with a continuing win streak.
“Yavanna’s been amazing. She’s six to race now for six winners, and I think this filly (Laurelin) can be another black-type performer for the mare as well." - Adam Brayshaw
“Yavanna’s been amazing,” Brayshaw said. “She’s six to race now for six winners, and I think this filly can be another black-type performer for the mare as well. We didn’t see the best of Yavanna during her racing career. She was trained by the Freedmans for us, and she had only five starts for her two wins. She had a lot of ability, and she’s certainly passing it on to her progeny.”
Yavanna dropped a full sister to Laurelin in 2019, who has been named Valier and who will head to James Cummings in good time. The mare was served by Too Darn Hot (GB) last season.
Brayshaw doesn’t clearly remember what Laurelin was like as a foal, visiting, as he did, over 100 Lonhro foals in 2018 when Laurelin was born. However, he recalls Brigantine clearly.
“He was always going to be a focus, being the only first-crop Astern (for Godolphin),” Brayshaw said. “He was one I saw multiple times as a young horse, and he always had good size, was very athletic and had good quality.”
