Just like her sire Brazen Beau, speedy two-year-old Exploring again showed her liking for the straight course when she led all the way to win the Annabel Cobain Sprint over 1,000m at Flemington on Saturday, 15 July.
Brazen Beau was a dual G1 winner down the straight of the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and the G1 Newmarket Handicap the following year during his brilliant 12-start racing career.
Exploring debuted with a victory at Flemington over 1,000m on New Year’s Day before going on to win the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at Sandown in her first racing preparation.
First-up from a spell, and despite giving weight to colts and geldings, Exploring controlled Saturday’s race under 58kg after the claim for apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray.
Gaudray sat quietly on the daughter of Cristobal - who is also the dam of a weanling colt by Street Boss (USA) - before the James Cummings-trained filly kicked strongly at the 300m mark.
Exploring stopped the clock on 57.47 seconds in beating Archo Nacho by a half length, with Harry Angel (IRE) colt Ouroboros finishing strongly for third a further long neck away.
Sean Keogh indicated Exploring could target the G3 Quezette Stakes over 1,100m at Caulfield on 19 August.
Brazen Beau has sired the winners of 694 races worldwide, including 38 at Stakes level.
The stallion stands at Darley’s Northwood Park property in Victoria for a service fee of $44,000, GST inclusive.
Exploring was dominant… takes out the first today at HQ, the VRC Member Annabel Cobain Sprint | 📽 @Racing pic.twitter.com/xGBsHIx5mS
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) July 15, 2023
"I didn't really panic."
— Racing.com (@Racing) July 15, 2023
Celine Gaudray gets the job done aboard Exploring in R1 at Flemington.@stowaustralia pic.twitter.com/E9LNBRb2A2