The Price Bloodstock colour-bearer Squid Game made the best possible start to his career over 1200m at Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday.
With Michael Dee in the saddle for trainer Patrick Payne, the 3yo son of Shooting To Win was given an aggressive ride from an outside barrier.
Travelling sweetly on the outside of the leader Treporti, Squid Game finished strongly to defeat the $6000,000 I Am Invincible gelding Treporti by a length and a quarter with the Deep Field colt Masterful a length back in third.
"It was just a matter of how he began, and he really jumped and spun in to the bridle," Dee said.
"He worked across very comfortably, and basically he did the rest. He travelled well for me in to the straight and was able to give a really nice kick and I felt we were really comfortable on the line.
"He will learn a lot from today. He has the talent there. I thought that if we were challenged, he would have fought.
"He has had a few trials and has progressed each time. He came here in tip-top shape and was ready to go."
The bold striding Squid Game was a $150,000 purchase by his trainer from the Inglewood Stud draft at the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale Book 1.
He is the second winner from as many to race out of the Keeper mare Macavity, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Velocitea (Volksraad), Listed winner Weaponry (Declaration of War), and the stakes-placed Maastricht (Mastercraftsman).
The dam of dual Group 1 winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), Maastricht was purchased by Coolmore for $2,250,000 when offered by Newgate Farm on behalf of owners Alan Bell and Ananda Krishnan at the Inglis Chairman's Sale.
She was carrying a full sister to Loving Gaby, which made $1.2 million to the bid of Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Next Level Syndication at the Gold Coast earlier this year.
Maastricht has a colt by Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in January.
Macavity has a yearling colt by Time Test (GB) and was covered by US Navy Flag (USA) last spring.
