He was the hot ‘street corner’ tip after warming up for his debut with two trial wins and the Toby and Trent Edmonds trained Debussy certainly did not disappoint when taking out the QTIS Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Handicap over 1000m.
The Choisir colt was only ordinarily away but quickly mustered speed and had the lead by the time the field had travelled 100m. Once there, the $1.45 favourite dictated the course of events all the way to the line.
The $7 (Sportsbet) chance Grey Defence held second spot throughout. The Les Ross trained runner tracked the leader to the turn where he briefly looked like he might start annoying the favourite but that was a fleeting moment only as, once jockey Robbie Fradd gave Debussy a bit more rein, the colt easily increased his advantage to secure a winning lead.
To his credit, Grey Defence stuck to his task and was actually closing on Debussy on the line, but the impression was very much there that, if the grey had got any closer, Debussy would have found another gear and that defeat was never really a possibly for this promising two-year-old.
“He was bit slow out of the gates. He didn’t do it in his trials, but he’s done it today,” said co-trainer Toby Edmonds.
“Race-day is always a little bit different. There is more intense pressure, but he has got an abundance of speed … you saw him pick them up pretty quickly once he got going.
“He has been easy to deal with and pretty much push button the whole way through.
“He has got a long way to go. He is only a young horse and he has got a future. Whether it is this prep or not, I’m not sure yet.”
“He is a very nice horse in the making,” agreed Robbie Fradd. “He steps away a little bit slow but then he gathers himself up pretty quick. He got to the front and then he came back to me nicely.
“When he heard a horse approaching him around the corner, he picked up on his own. Toby said don’t look pretty on him. Stick to the rail and let him go.
“I think that maybe he was a bit lost in front, but there is more to come from this horse for sure.
“He has got a beautiful temperament. He cantered to the start like he had run before and he had a good temperament in the barriers, so there is a lot of positives and upsides to this horse.”
