Elamaz makes successful Australian bow
Elamaz (5 g Gleneagles – Emiyna by Maria’s Mon) got his Australian career off to the perfect start when he took out Saturday’s W J McKell Cup (Listed, 2000m) at Rosehill.
In an impressive training performance from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Elamaz was having his first start beyond 1600 metres on Saturday and his first run since September.
Elamaz did a terrific job to fend off the late bid of runner-up Belvedere Boys (Maurice) by 0.1 with Glory Daze (Cotai Glory) best of the rest, another 1.5 lengths in arrears.
“Our plan wasn’t to lead the race. We were looking for cover to make it as soft as possible but that cover just wasn’t going to eventuate,” winning rider Josh Parr said.
“I had to make a decision so I pressed to the front and trusted the stable and how well they had him and he did the rest.
“There was a period down the side where he had no clue where he was, leading the race here at Rosehill, and he’s done well to fight off every challenger and the one very late [Belvedere Boys], he held it to the line.”
Tulloch Lodge stable representative Neil Paine said they were confident Elamaz could make a winning Australian debut and the horse ticked an important box by stretching to 2000 metres.
“What do you say? Gai and Adrian do it all the time, especially with these horses from overseas,” Paine said.
“We seem to have luck with them first-up. We love them.”
A Listed winner in France for his breeder and former owner, Elamaz was bought by Louis Le Metayer and Equos Racing for €480,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale last year. The son of Coolmore Stud’s Gleneagles (Galileo) is out of the Group 3 winner Emiyna (Maria’s Mon).