Astern colt Aft Cabin stamped his class and reputation as one of the best three-year-olds in Australia when he won the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes over 1,200m at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 4 February.
First-up since winning the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1,400m) on 17 September in Melbourne before suffering a slight setback, Aft Cabin proved too good for Zou Tiger and Communist.
The Godolphin-trained galloper, with premier jockey James McDonald in the saddle, took his record to three wins and two placings from five starts.
Head trainer James Cummings is now considering starts in the G1 Randwick Guineas and the G1 Doncaster Mile, both over 1600m at Royal Randwick.
Aft Cabin is out of the Lonhro mare Shelters, the dam of Stakes-race winners Veranillo and Multijar - both by Medaglia d’Oro (US).
Shelters also has a yearling colt by Harry Angel (IRE), a weanling colt by Brazen Beau (AUS) and she revisited Astern.
Astern, who won five races and was placed twice from just nine starts, has had 101 winners of 170 races, including 12 Stakes races, for prize money of nearly $12.5 million.
A winner of the G1 Golden Rose, Astern has already sired six Stakes winners - including G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, Seradess, Sail By and Oxymore.
Five lots by Astern are in the catalogue for the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables from 12-14 February.
Aft Cabin was far too good for them in the Eskimo Prince Stakes 🔥@godolphin @mcacajamez pic.twitter.com/snapf6xnJI
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 4, 2023
👇 James McDonald after winning on Aft Cabin (#Astern) in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick.
— Darley in Australia (@DarleyAus) February 4, 2023
"He oozes so much quality, floats across the ground, unbelievable turn-of-foot and he can only improve from this" - James McDonald 👏
🔥 He definitely oozes quality! https://t.co/1yZtx7KkNB
