Promising Great Barrier Reef Trials In Style

Purchased from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the Inglis Easter yearling sale for $1.4m, the Chris Waller-trained Great Barrier Reef (I Am Invincible-Cosmic Endeavour, by Northern Meteor) produced an exciting display on Tuesday at the Canterbury barrier trials, winning as he liked. Raced by Coolmore and partners in their stallion syndicate, Great Barrier Reef is the third foal of the Gr1 Canterbury Stakes-winning Cosmic Endeavour, herself a grand-daughter of the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Twiglet (Twig Moss), who is in turn the dam of Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler Fairy King Prawn (Danehill). Settling in third position, jockey James McDonald asked the colt for an effort rounding the home turn, where he pulled off the heels of the leader and, with ears pricked, coasted to the line, hard held to defeat the Bjorn Baker trained Ribtickler (Ribchester-Alberton Princess, by Golan), the half-brother to Newgate Farm stallion Brutal (O'Reilly). With no current yearling, having missed to I Am Invincible, Cosmic Endeavour foaled a filly this season by Darley's multiple Gr1 winner Too Darn Hot (Dubawi). Likely to be targeted towards the Gr1 Golden Slipper as he is not eligible for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, it would be no surprise to see Great Barrier Reef trial again before stepping out on race day, with the $2m Inglis Millennium on February 5, a possible initial option.

Great Barrier Reef was a $1.4m easter yearling (pic: inglis.com.au)