Military Expert
2 c Redoute’s Choice – Gresset by Hussonet
Trainer: Annabel Neasham
Race: Elite Sand Soil Handicap (1200m), Rosehill
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. V: Bhima Thoroughbreds. P: Zhiqiang An, $1,100,000
Expensive yearling Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice) will bid to turn the tables on King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) when the pair face off in the Elite Sand Soil Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill today.
Purchased for $1,100,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Annabel Neasham-trained juvenile made his much-anticipated debut in a two-year-old maiden at Kensington on July 7.
Sent off as joint $2.80 favourites, the Paul and Peter Snowen-trained King Of Sparta prevailed by a quarter of a length over Military Expert, but the Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) colt is favourite with punters to reverse the form in today’s juvenile contest.
Military Expert is the first foal to race out of Gresset (Hussonet), a half-sister to the Group 1-placed and Group 2-winning mare Honorine (Redoute’s Choice).
Military Expert’s second dam, Zaldivar (Honour And Glory), is a half-sister to five stakes winners including Daralinsha (Empery), Gentle Genius (Danehill) and Darata (Vayrann) – all of whom have foaled subsequent stakes winners.
Military Expert also stems from the same family as Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) and European Champion 3YO Filly Darjina (Zamindar).
The Golden East Horse-raced colt has been handed barrier ten under Tommy Berry, who said yesterday he is really excited about Military Expert.