He's bred to be a good horse and gives every indication he
is top-class, Nostradamus opened his stakes account at his seasonal bow in
Saturday's $125,000 Group III Smithfield RSL San Domenico (1100m).
A Flemington winner when making his career debut in January
Nostradamus was competitive in the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude and the Group
1 Blue Diamond Stakes, a race won by his half-brother Star Witness, before
given time off to mature.
Ridden by James McDonald for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes,
Nostradamus was quickly into stride. He looked to become unbalanced when asked
to make his run but once McDonald balanced him up, Nostradamus staved off the
challenge of the striking Commands colt Washington Heights by three-quarters of a length with a length back to Denman colt Law, giving Darley stallions a 1-2-3 finish.
"He was a bit fresh today he only trialled Monday, James got
him nicely balanced and he hit the line strong," Michael Hawkes said.
"He's done everything right, he's a lovely colt and obviously
his value's just gone up so he'll keep improving he wasn't fully screwed down
today so his got something in reserve.
"He's definitely got more to come and I think he'll get
over a bit more ground."
Purchased by Koundouris Bloodstock for $500,000 from the
draft of his breeder Ken Turner's Almavale Bloodstock, Nostradamus comes from
the first Australian conceived crop by Darley Stud's Medaglia D'Oro (USA).
His Group III winning dam Leone Chiara (Lion Hunter) is a
sister to multiple Group II winner Chinchilla Rose and Group II winner and
successful young stallion Ferocity, and a half-sister to listed stakes-winner
Chiaramonte (Redoute's Choice).
Leone Chiara took the family to another level with her first
foal Star Witness (Starcraft).
The Danny O'Brien trained chestnut won the Group 1 Blue
Diamond Stakes at two and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at three.
He performed credibly in Europe finishing second in the
Group 1 King Stand Stakes and third in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at
Royal Ascot.
Leone Chiara has a 2yo brother to Nostradamus named Doctor
Zed, a yearling filly by Sepoy and was bred back to the Golden Slipper winner
again last season.
Nostradamus becomes the first Australian-bred stakes-winner
for his sire Medaglia D'Oro (USA) who will stand his fifth season at Darley's
Aberdeen base at a fee of $55000.
