December 20, 2014 - ROSEHILL, Race 1, Mdn, AUD $85,000, 1100m
1st Dam: Byzantine (Aus)
2st Dam: Cleopatra's Girl (Aus)
2st Dam: Kinetag (Aus)
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Darley
Trainer: John O'Shea
It's a little more than 100 days to the world's richest juvenile race, the G1 Golden Slipper S. Apr. 4. Much will change between now and then, but Goldolphin's debuting 2-year-old filly Ottoman (Aus) (f, 2, Exceed and Excel {Aus}–Byzantine {Aus}, by Elusive Quality) was quoted as low as $6 (5-1) favorite following an improbable debut victory Saturday at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, home of the Slipper. Sent out a can't-miss proposition as a $1.30 (3-10) chance on the heels of an easy barrier trial win at Warwick Farm Dec. 9, Ottoman made a mess of the break of the 1100-meter heat and had just two behind her early on while racing greenly and firing up beneath James McDonald. Still well back and wide cornering in, Ottoman had several lengths to find, but let down impressively in the final 200 meters and was along late to best the more-experienced Miss Idyllic (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) by about a neck, covering the distance in 1:04.61. The winner is out of Byzantine, a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Mummify (Aus). The winner's sire supplied 2013 Slipper winner, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Overreach (Aus). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, A$48,750.
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