Talented Extreme Choice colt Emirate is probably going to go on and win a lot more races, but is unlikely to face worse conditions than he did on Saturday at Rosehill when he overcame adversity to keep his record at a perfect two for two.
Driving rain and a deteriorating track made it a tough task for the Chris Waller trained colt, but a clever ride from Josh Parr gave him cover from the elements on the fence and when angled into the clear Emirate did the rest.
He handled a heavy 9 to win on debut last month and was good again in the soft ground going on to win the 1300m contest by nearly three lengths.
“What an easy horse to ride. He just bounced and put himself in the perfect position,” Josh Parr said.
“He is a very nice horse.”
This race has been a launching pad for a number of past Waller stables stars including Madame Pommery, Osipenko and Tutta La Vita with spring goals on the agenda for Emirate, who has banked over $144,000 in his first two starts.
“He has been a tough horse ever since he came into the stable and he is continuing to rise through the grades,” said stable representative Damien Fitton.
“It was quite heavy at Warwick Farm last start, so he has had the benefit of being on a heavy track and we were quietly confident coming into today.”
Emirate holds an entry for the Group I BRC JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m), although a decision on whether he pushes on or heads to the paddock will be made next week.
A $1million Magic Millions purchase from Kingstar Farm for Aramco Racing/Mick Price Racing & Breeding/Rick Connolly Bloodstock, Emirate runs for a partnership between Aramco and Yulong.
Bred by Kingstar Farm, who also bred and sold Extreme Choice’s Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, Emirate is the first foal of Sweet Bouquet, a winning half-sister by Dream Ahead (GB) to Group winners Santos, Melagrana and to the dam of Group winner Sebonack.
She produced another filly earlier this year by Extreme Choice bred to Northern Hemisphere time, so the team at Kingstar Farm will be cheering Emirate on to greater heights.
