Grand Impact lived up to his name when winning impressively on debut at Geelong on Friday.
The son of Satono Aladdin was taken straight to the front from his inside draw by jockey Michael Walker where the pair remained throughout, running away to a comfortable 1-1/4 lengths easing down to the line.
Walker was impressed by the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained juvenile and he believes there is a bright future instore for the colt.
“He’s a serious horse,” Walker said.
“I had one sit on him in a jump out and I said to Pricey ‘please can I stick next to him’ so thanks to the owners for keeping me on.
“He was just doing it so easily (today). He still doesn’t know what he was doing. In the straight, he ran in and he was having a look at the grandstand and the people standing in it and he’s won by that much. It was very easy actually.
“I probably now have to beg to stay on him.”
Grand Impact was initially trained in New Zealand by Stephanie Tierney for whom he had two trials, winning over 800m at Ellerslie in January before his sale to Australia.
Grand Impact is by Satono Aladdin, a Group One-winning son of Deep Impact, who will shuttle to Rich Hill Stud this coming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of $12,500+GST.
Later on the card, another New Zealand-bred two-year-old was to the fore for the same barn, with Cadazio also winning on debut over 1400m in the hands of Jye McNeil.
The son of Tarzino jumped well and was pushed forward early by McNeil. The promising juvenile was forced to do plenty of work four-wide before settling outside leader Snow Business at the 800m mark.
Cadazio opened up turning for home and ran away to a 2-1/2 length victory, rewarding his supporters who sent him out as a $1.60 favourite.
McNeil was impressed with the win and believes he will be a strong contender in staying races as a three-year-old.
“It was a great effort,” McNeil said.
“The thing I was most impressed about today was in the parade he was very fresh and very well and went to the gates very keen and I was a little bit worried he might be doing the same in the run.
“But once we pressed forward it was a moderate tempo and he responded to coming back and relaxing very well which is great for him as he’s going to get over more ground.
“He’s got a nice enough future as a stayer.”
Cadazio is a son of Derby-winning stallion Tarzino, who stands at Westbury Stud for a fee of $15,000+GST.
Cadazio, who carries the silks of OTI Racing, was purchased out of Westbury Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $120,000 by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo and his trainers.
