Aleppo Pine emerges as a Blue Diamond contender with dominant win at Ballarat

Well-bred Godolphin Aleppo Pine colt emerged as a Blue Diamond contender with a commanding win at Ballarat on Saturday.

Two-year-old Aleppo Pine was an emphatic winner on debut at Ballarat on Saturday. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Godolphin unearthed a potential Blue Diamond contender at Ballarat on Saturday with Aleppo Pine a dominant winner.

The Blue Point colt, half-brother to Group 1 mare Savatiano and multiple stakes winner Vilana and Athiri, sprinted clear the last 200m of the 2YO Handicap (1100m) and won by 2½ lengths.

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Stable representative Tian Pozman welcomed the emphatic performance.

“I’m sure the team will be absolutely thrilled with how he’s performed here today,” Pozman said.

“He’s very well bred, he’s got a very good temperament and he obviously has a bit of an engine there, so a great result today.

“We’ll see how he comes through today, obviously it would be nice to see him perhaps at a Blue Diamond, in a few months’ time.

“Whether we give him a little spell and freshen up and head him towards that, I’m not sure. That’ll be up to (trainer) James (Cummings) and the team to decide.”

Impressive win on debut for Aleppo Pine! 👏@[e-mail]/Sbn2Kak2WO

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 7, 2024

Aleppo Pine returned $2.50 with Ladbrokes.

Neverenoughlego rallied late to grab second from Pafitis and Hello Romeo.

Jockey Jye McNeil cruised on Aleppo Pine and needed only half a gap early in the straight to put the race away.

“I thought it was a great ride by Jye. I thought he was quite patient,” Pozman said.

“He stepped away well and perhaps we would have liked to have been a little bit more forward, but he wasn’t as quick as we thought, so he took his time and his turn of foot was very good.

“Jye asked, and he gave.”

Aleppo Pine could be on a Blue Diamond path next year. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

McNeil lauded the colt’s professional display.

“He’s very classy, he looked at it in his jumpouts,” McNeil said.

“Today was my first time on him and the race worked out perfectly. It was a pretty neat gap that he had to take, especially with his lack of experience on race day, but he was very professional.

“At the time he was still travelling and on the bridle. When it presented (the gap), I just asked him to quicken up slightly. Once I felt what was under me, I knew it would sneak through pretty quickly and he was dominant.”

Hayes galloper prevails in Show stopper

Just For Show denied bridesmaid Illuminance in a hotly contested Emerging Stars Final (1400m).

Illuminance, now runner-up in even of 11 career starts, headed Just For Show inside the last 100m but relinquished the lead over the concluding stages.

Short-priced favourite Dream All Day proved a nightmare for favourite backers and connections, slow into stride initially and then disappointed for a run at a crucial stage in the straight.

Dream All Day rallied again late but could do no better than third.

Just For Show gets the job done 💪@[e-mail]/AAZsGLxDry

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 7, 2024

Lindsay Park trainer Ben Hayes was relieved to get the result with Just For Show.

“From the angle we watched, I thought (trainer) Julius (Sandhu) knocked us off (with Illuminance), we weren’t sure if we’d won, but through the line, I’m lucky it went our way.

“His horse ran super as well, so should be very proud.”

Consistent performer Just For Show has won twice in seven starts and not missed a place.

“It was a good ride by Craig (Williams) because he (Just For Show) has, in most of his races, landed and put himself on speed … where today, Craig, when he didn’t jump well, went to plan B,” Hayes said.

“He had a lovely run in transit. He presented and he’s a genuine horse that tries, and that’s what he did, and he was able to get his head down.”

Williams praised the gelding’s fighting qualities.

“I had a horse that was really nice in a slowly run race, and then most importantly at the fighting end, he dug deep because he did get headed by the horse on the outside,” Williams said.

“We probably had a question mark going into today about 1400m, and today it’s like I can’t wait for him to get out for 1600m.

“He did things right and he’s a lovely strong horse, so he’s got a great attitude and nice ability and a great will to win.”

Originally published as Aleppo Pine emerges as a Blue Diamond contender with dominant win at Ballarat