One to Watch – Hawkesbury

Kris Lees knows a thing or two about a good Savabeel filly having trained multiple Group I winner Lucia Valentina, so this impressive winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday was always going to be an obvious pick as ‘One to Watch’, while the runner up is also firmly on the radar following her eye-catching debut.

A $600,000 NZB Premier purchase for China Horse Club from the Waikato Stud draft, Grand Bouquet was a stunning yearling that has blossomed into a very promising race filly.

Having her second start and first run back from a spell following a fourth on debut at Wyong in March, Grand Bouquet was allowed to settle at the rear from a wide draw by Glyn Schofield and steamed home down the outside.

She arrived on the line to post a nose win over another promising staying type in Roman Emperor filly Holy Empress, who was also ultra impressive on debut.

Grand Bouquet is a half-sister to stakes-placed Snowdrop and is the second winner from triple Group I winner Daffodil, who won the Group I ATC Australian Oaks among her eight victories.

Oaks races this season are sure to be on the agenda for the winner and the runner-up Holy Empress, who was bred by the late Bart Cummings and is from the family of his Australian Horse of the Year Saintly.