After placings in the Fairetha Stakes, Raconteur Stakes and Belmont Guineas, the 3yo Exosphere gelding Upper Limits had his day in the sun in Saturday’s Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m) at Belmont Park.
Relishing the stretch out to 2000m for the first time, Upper Limits came with a barnstorming finish from last under Willie Pike to defeat the Rich Enuff gelding Demolish by one and a quarter length with a further one and three-quarter lengths back to the Manhattan Rain gelding Santa Brae in third.
Trained by Jeremy Easthope, Upper Limits advances his record to two wins, four seconds and four thirds from eleven starts with earnings of $174,155.
A two-time veteran of the sales ring, Upper Limits failed to reach his $15,000 reserve when offered by his breeder Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2020 National Weanling Sale Rheinwood Pastoral before making $10,000 to the bid of Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (FBAA) at the 2021 Adelaide Magic Millions.
The son of Exosphere is the first named foal of the Wanted mare Defar who placed in three of her seven starts and is a half-sister to Nurse Kitchen, who won the Group II Moonee Valley Fillies Classic and was runner-up in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Peter Moody bred Defar and trained her sire Wanted and dam Flying Monty (Montjeu).
The day that Flying Monty bowed out of racing with a win over 2000m at Flemington, Wanted was edged out by Nicconi in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes.
Further evidence that Upper Limits should have little trouble staying 2400m, Flying Monty’s half-brother Hades won the NZ Derby before announcing himself on the world stage, when known as Helene Vitality.
Defar has a yearling filly by Super One and a weanling colt by Winning Rupert. She was covered last spring by Zousain.
Upper Limits is the sixth stakes winner for Oaklands Stud’s striking Lonhro stallion Exosphere, who came close to a stakes double on Saturday when the lightly raced Legio Ten finished third behind stablemate Renosu in the Listed A.R. Creswick Stakes at Flemington.
