Godolphin haven’t had many winners in Australia by their young sire Blue Point (IRE), but he has given them a very promising debut two year-old winner at Ballarat on Saturday in Aleppo Pine.
Trained by James Cummings, the blueblood colt was well fancied off his jump out form and went out favourite with Jye McNeil to ride in the 1100m open juvenile contest.
He settled behind the leader and when angled into the clear, Aleppo Pine quickly asserted himself and ran away to win by a couple of lengths.
“He’s very classy. He looked it in his jump outs although today was my first time on him and the race worked out perfectly,” said Jye McNeil.
“He was very professional, he quickened up well and then got a little bit lost it in the final stages, so it was a win with plenty of upside.”
Aleppo Pine is a half-brother to Group II winners Savatiano, Vilana and stakes-winner Athiri being the fifth winner from six to race f rom good producing Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina, a daughter of Group I winner star Shiraz.
Retsina has foaled this spring producing a filly by Pinatubo (IRE).
Blue Point has just finished his fifth season at Darley Victoria at a fee of $44,000.
