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MAKYBE bred Vatican (pictured at MAKYBE in Feburary 2010 as a yearling) ran a sensational race at Sandown today in the Listed Chairman’s Stakes over 1000m. The race was an important lead up race to the major 2yo races of the autumn and looks a very strong form race with some well credentialed two year olds in the field including Rosehill winner Hollyweird and Moonee Valley winner Metonymy. The winner of the race the debutante, Atomic, rumoured to be the best two year old in work at Lee Freedman’s Markdel stables is now Golden Slipper bound.
Vatican showed unbelievable speed to charge to the lead to clearly lead around the home turn. With blistering speed early he was entitled to tire. He displayed tremendous tenacity to kick back when headed at the 100m mark to be beaten by Atomic by less than half a length in the very smart time of 56.72 seconds.
Vatican is out of the MAKYBE owned Peintre Celebre mare, Our Sistine, a half sister to the champion 3yo and NZ Horse of the Year, King’s Chapel. By God’s Own, Vatican is expected to get a strong mile and will benefit greatly from yesterday’s 1000m dash and looks destined for a bright future as he stretches out to a mile.
MAKYBE has retained a small stake in the colt and the colt is raced predominantly by clients of trainer Byron Cozamanis.
Cozy, as Cozamanis is affectionately known has had a huge wrap on Vatican for some time. Yesterday’s smashing run at his third start vindicated Cozy’s opinion of the horse. On debut he ran into a wet track which never seemed to suit at Caulfield in the Listed Debutante Stakes on Thousand Guineas Day. At his second start he featured in the steward’s report and wobbled down the Flemington straight. Yesterday’s run showed he is still green with plenty to learn. Once again he got lost in the straight shifting ground and with a straight course he may have possibly beaten Atomic.
According to Cozy, Vatican will be given one more run as two year old on the 5th of March at Flemington before he is spelled in readiness for an assault on the three year old classics in the Spring. His pedigree and his run yesterday suggest the mile is ideally suited. Cozamanis is hopeful he has a Guineas colt on his hands.
While Vatican impressed today at Sandown, his younger half brother by MAKYBE’s exciting first season sire Purrealist impressed prospective buyers at the annual Melbourne Premier Yearling Parade at the MAKYBE. The chestnut yearling colt will be going through the ring on day one of the Premier Sale at Oaklands on Tuesday 2nd March as Lot 314. He is one of 15 Purrealist yearlings at the sale and one of 9 Purrealists in MAKYBE's draft of 24.
Already the Purrealist progeny have been extremely well sought after. His average with 10 lots sold at the Magic Millions was $97,950. Another measure of the popularity of Purrealist was he had 6 lots sell for $80,000 or more at the Gold Coast. He left tongues wagging with the impressive types he is leaving and his progeny have left a huge impression on the market.
Vatican’s half brother is a well muscled chestnut colt with many of the features of Purrealist. He is sure to be one of the most sought after Purrealist yearlings at the sale. The outstanding run of Vatican has brought the colt further into the spotlight when he steps into the ring.
