Brilliant Debut for $1million Colt

The dogs have been barking Beneteau for some time now and the eye-catching son of Redoute’s Choice lived right up to expectation when cruising home to win what looked a very strong juvenile maiden at Randwick on Australia Day.

Impressive in winning two Randwick barrier trials on January 4 and again on January 15, the Paul Messara trained colt was sent out favourite for the 1000 metre dash and did pretty much everything right.

Ridden by leading apprentice Daniel Ganderton, Beneteau jumped well and was content to settle behind the leader Georgette Silk and when asked for an effort in the straight accelerated quickly to win by the best part of three lengths in 57.62 seconds (a class record) despite still racing a touch greenly.

Nicely bred Flying Spur filly Georgette Silk boxed on well to hold second with the God’s Own filly Dreamcoat surging late to grab third a further neck away, both fillies looking to have considerable potential for the future.

“He has a great turn of foot and down the track he might be a horse that will improve with blinkers or some type of assistance, but at this point in time he is coming along well,” said Paul Messara.

“We will just see how he pulls up and we will go from there with no set plans.

“We will have a chat with the owners and decide which way we go,”

After the dust settled later in the day, connections indicated the colt would remain in Sydney for a campaign aimed at the Golden Slipper, rather than chasing immediate returns in the Blue Diamond.

Purchased for $1million from the Arrowfield draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Yearling Sale by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, Beneteau (pictured as a yearling) races fro a partnership that includes the Blue Sky Stallion Fund, Arrowfield Stud and partners.

He is the second foal and first winner for stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Slice of Paradise, a full sister to champion mare and four-time Group One winner Alinghi, who is also a member of the Arrowfield broodmare band.

Slice of Paradise joined Arrowfield when purchased off the track at the 2004 Inglis Broodmare Sale for $375,000 by Grant Pritchard-Gordon. She has no yearling this year, but did produce a filly foal by Redoute’s Choice last spring and was again covered by the champion sire.

The Redoute’s Choice x Encosta de Lago cross has not been as widely carried out as you might imagine, however it has already produced a Group One winner in South African based colt Musir and Beneteau may well add further to it’s merit.

Source: Tara Madgwick, Breednet