Capitalist remains the stand-out two-year-old of the season but Godolphin continues to produce challengers with Souchez the latest winning debutant for Sheikh Mohammed.
The Lonhro colt was the $3 favourite in Saturday’s 2YO Plate at Rosehill and lived up to expectation when he overhauled Mooshakissa ($5.50) to win by half a length with Faraway Town ($4.20) another three-quarters of a length third.
Souchez
Souchez has been introduced to the Golden Slipper market at $26 with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist the $6 favourite ahead of Godolphn’s Astern ($11).
Trainer John O’Shea will give Souchez the chance to prove himself as a contender for the $3.5 million Slipper on March 19 but won’t force the issue.
“We’ll give him two or three weeks off and then see if he shapes as a Slipper horse,” O’Shea said.
“If he gets there well and good but I think he will be an ideal Golden Rose type next spring.
“He will take improvement from this run and it’s very pleasing.”
With Godolphin’s No.1 rider James McDonald on the suspended list, Sam Clipperton was more than happy to get the call to ride the colt.
“I worked him on Tuesday and he impressed me but you never know until they are under pressure in a race,” he said.
“But he handled it like he’d been around a hundred times.”
