A younger brother of multiple Group One winner Jameka, two-year-old colt Grandslam is poised to make his own mark at stakes level.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Grandslam runs in Saturday’s Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington where he will get the chance to highlight his potential ahead of his three-year-old season.
By Myboycharlie out of Mine Game, Grandslam is a full brother to Jameka who Maher trained to six wins highlighted by Group One victories in the 2015 VRC Oaks, 2016 Caulfield Cup and 2017 Tancred Stakes.
Grandslam finished fifth on debut over 1200m at Ballarat in February before winning in Adelaide over 1250m on April 11.
“He’s a lovely colt,” Eustace said.
“We’ve brought him along fairly gently but he was impressive in Adelaide considering where he was in the run and how he had to get himself out of jail a bit.
“He’s taken plenty from that and he’s really, really come on for that experience.
“He’s going to really relish Flemington and 1400 metres. We’re looking forward to it.
“He’s definitely a horse that as a physical type has always been quite striking. There’s definitely similarities to his sister as well.
“He’s only going to improve with a bit of ground and a bit of time, next spring when he gets to the mile.”
Maher has won the Anzac Day Stakes twice, with Throssell in 2016 and subsequent dual hemisphere Group One winner Merchant Navy in 2017, before Eustace was elevated to co-trainer.
Eustace believes Grandslam is a Guineas prospect for the spring and thinks he will be hard to beat on Saturday.
The Anzac Day Stakes was won in 2013 by Long John who went on to win the Caulfield Guineas while Super Seth was third as short-priced favourite last year before winning the Guineas in spring.
“It’s a big track and invariably you get good ground and the timing is right to just have a short break off the back of hopefully a win leading into the spring,” Eustace said.
“Hopefully it’s a bit of a confidence-booster for the horse. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but he’s certainly a horse we think has got a really good future.”
