Two-year-old debutante Candika recorded a brilliant win at Doomben on Saturday for our Eagle Farm trainer Steve O’Dea.
Candika, Proven Thoroughbreds’ earliest juvenile runner to date, had the blinkers on for her first race start and when she was presented with clear room in the straight she let down strongly to claim a half-length victory.
The daughter of Sebring didn’t give jockey Robbie Fradd the best of rides as she jumped slightly sideways at the start and had to be restrained on a couple of occasions when on the back of rival runners.
So it came as a pleasant surprise to see Candika unleash a big sprint over the final furlong and collect a handy $41,600 for her owners.
Candika was a $100k yearling purchase at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale earlier this year.
Steve will decide in the coming days on whether to prepare her for the $2 million Magic Million 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.