Gold Coast Co-Topper Down to Debut

Tchaikovsky (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), for whom bloodstock agent James Harron paid a joint-top price of A$1.3 million at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (click for Kelsey Riley's sales coverage), is entered for his first career appearance in the A$150,000 Luxury Network Pierro Plate that goes as race two on Saturday's program at Royal Randwick.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and carrying the same dark green and gold epaulettes as 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) and last year's G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up and fellow 'Rising Star' Pariah (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), Tchaikovsky has logged a pair of recent barrier trials at Randwick, finishing a close third of eight Jan. 29 over 745m before lunging late to 'win' his latest going an extended five furlongs Feb. 12 (video).

“He's a really nice horse,” Peter Snowden told Racing and Sports. “This will be a good test for him. There's a couple of seasoned horses in there that have won already but he's a colt with good ability. He's got a fantastic attitude and that's what I like most about him. He's really come on since that second trial on Monday and he looks a picture.”

Bred by Arrowfield, the Sept. 8 foal is a son of Ballet Blue (Aus) (Stravinsky), a half-sister to four full black-type winners, including Group 2-winning juvenile The Heavyweight (Aus) (Zeditave {Aus}).

Of the four other horses to realise seven-figure pricetags at the Gold Coast a little more than a year ago, two have already faced the starter. Angel (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), an A$1.2-million half-sister to G1SW Miracles of Life (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}), was impressive in scoring first time out at Geelong Jan. 4 for the Coolmore/Stonestreet partnership, while Adana (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), an Arrowfield-consigned A$1.1-million purchase by Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster, was a close second on Warwick Farm debut Feb. 14.

Following scratches, Tchaikovsky will have to deal with the inside barrier in a field of eight in the 1100m event, which jumps at 1:25pm (9:25pm Friday evening US Eastern time).