Gallant Son has a bit to achieve to live up to the deeds of his mother, but Luke Nolen is not ruling it out after a brilliant debut win at Sale on Wednesday.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained colt streeted his rivals by six lengths in the Max Blakiston/Ian Rees 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m).
Gallant Son is by dual Golden Slipper-winning sire Written Tycoon out of Plucky Belle, who Moody prepared to win the 2015 Group 1 Coolmore Classic with Linda Meech aboard, and Nolen suggested bigger wins beckoned for the Mossman mare’s fourth foal.
“I thought he’d come here and be very hard to beat, but the way in which he went about it, I probably have to reevaluate him again,” Nolen said.
“He’s got a beautiful nature, mum was a bit the same and I had a bit to do with her at Pete’s.
“She was a Group 1 winner, ‘Meechy’ won (the Group 1) on her, and she was a lovely mare to have at home and I think this bloke’s got a lot of her traits.
“We’ve ticked one box today, to make him a two-year-old winner, but no doubt on that effort today we win better races.”
Gallant Son was offered at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where he was passed-in after failing to reach a $500,000, meaning he races in the same Esplin family colours that Plucky Belle carried throughout her career.
Specked from $8 into $6.50 with betting sites, Gallant Son jumped well and travelled outside the leader before taking over early in the straight and surged away to defeat $1.1 million filly Crime Of Passion, who edged out three-time Stakes placegetter Flattered for second.
“He’s a nice mover and he’ll probably be better on top of the ground too, so he’s got it all in front of him,” Nolen said.
Gallant Son was one of two impressive two-year-old debutant winners on the Soft 6 surface at Sale, followed up by Chris Waller-trained filly Eternal.
In contrast to Gallant Son, the daughter of Epaulette and Shamardal mare Cameo came from the second half of the field to gobble up her rivals and race away late to score a soft 3-1/4 lengths win under Jye McNeil.
Big debut win for a son of a Group One winner.
Gallant Son (2c Written Tycoon X Plucky Belle) for @moodyracingpgm.
Dam won the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Retained to race by the Esplin family after offered at @inglis_sales Easter.@YulongInvest pic.twitter.com/TaccMiBukN— Breednet (@BreednetNews) June 26, 2024
