As Deep Field looks to put a stamp on his all-too-short career with his record-priced son High Octane in the colts and geldings division of Saturday's Group III Sportsbet Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield, the fairytale could be thwarted by the highest-priced son of his Newgate heir apparent Cosmic Force.
The Phillip Stokes-trained Stay Focused will likely benefit significantly from his dominant debut in a Saturday meeting at Geelong on January 6.
He defeated Yulong's $1,300,000 Snitzel colt Trunk, which takes his chance in Saturday's $2,000,000 Inglis Millennium at Randwick.
A $190,000 pinhook for Blade Racing from the Kingstar Stud draft at the National Weanling Sale, Stay Focused was the highest-priced yearling from the first crop of Cosmic Force when Bennett Racing went to $250,000 to secure the colt from the Sledmere Stud consignment at the 2023 Magic Millions.
There is a bit of inside knowledge here as Bennett Racing has enjoyed success with Stay Focused's three-quarter sister, Beauty Rising (Deep Field), and half-brother, Apache Star (Star Witness).
The 3-year-old filly Beauty Rising, a $160,000 Magic Millions yearling, won at Sandown-Lakeside at two, was second at Flemington and Moonee Valley, and finished midfield in the Blue Diamond Prelude won by Exploring.
The 7-year-old gelding Apache Star, a $67,500 Adelaide Magic Millions purchase, has carried the black and orange checks and Bennett Racing logo to victory seven times, including three at Morphettville.
The trio are out of the Galileo mare Coral Reef, also the dam of Group III-placed Miss Moana (Uncle Mo), and Listed Geelong Classic runner-up Hollywood Mo (Uncle Mo).
Coral Reef came from Galileo's fifth and final Australian crop. She was a $12,000 purchase for Colm Santry at the 2009 National Yearling Sale, indicating that Galileo was slower out of the box than the Australian market demanded.
It was further ten years before Coral Reef saw a sales ring again. Hollymount Stud had the final say at $100,000 for Coral Reef at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale when carrying Beauty Rising's sister Ningaloo Star, a talented performer for John Sargent and Tricolours Racing.
A half-sister to South African stakes-winner Chevauchee (High Chaparral), Coral Reef is the daughter of the unraced Danehill mare Chevaleresse (IRE), a half-sister to Group II Newmarket Jockey Club Stakes winner Riyadian (Polish Precedent), who was second in the Group 1 Newmarket Champion Stakes and third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Chevaleresse's dam Knight's Baroness (Rainbow Quest) won the Irish Oaks and was third in the Oaks at Epsom.
Coral Coast has a yearling brother to Stay Focused. After missing in 2022, the daughter of Galileo was among the first to visit Artorius.
The colours of Newgate Farm, China Horse Club and partners will be carried by High Octane and the Capitalist colt Holmes A Court in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
The progressive Hunter Valley Farm has to be delighted with the early success of Cosmic Force, which stood last season for $11,000.
The Cosmic Force colt Beer Baron was a troubled second to Odison in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery at Randwick when on debut and looks at an excellent each-way chance in the Inglis Millennium.
