A great end to the day for Team Hawkes at the Gold Coast with
Leebaz ending a long list of outs in the Hollindale Cup before Nostradamus
broke through for his first win since the San Domenico Stakes in August last
year when he captured the Group III Gold Coast Guineas (1200m).
The royally bred son of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) may have staved
off a gelding operation with his three-quarters of a length win over Time For
War (Snitzel) with a neck back to the fast-finishing Traveston Girl (Flying
Spur).
"It was D-Day for him," co-trainer Michael Hawkes told
Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"Maybe between
his legs he might have been thinking a little bit, but he's got a reprieve I
think."
"He was going home tomorrow night. We'll make a
decision in the next 24 hours."
Nostradamus advances his overall record to 3 wins and 1 second
from 12 starts for earning of $302,900.
Bred by Ken Turner's Almavale Bloodstock, Nostradamus was
purchased by Koundouris Bloodstock for $500,000 at the 2013 Inglis Australian
Easter Yearling sale.
He is a half-brother to Widden Stud's promising young
stallion Star Witness (Starcraft) who won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at
two and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at three before finishing second in the Group 1 King Stand Stakes and third in the Group
1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Both are out of the Group III winner Leone Chiara (Lion
Hunter), a sister to multiple Group II winner Chinchilla Rose and Group II
winner and successful young stallion Ferocity, and a half-sister to Listed
stakes-winner Chiaramonte (Redoute's Choice).
