Covered In Glass was an eye-catching winner of the Steeple Tabaret Maiden at Mornington on New Year’s Day and locally trained youngster Apollo Creed should frank the form after he ran on resolutely into the placings.

Apollo Creed (2g Primus – She’s A Knockout by Kingston Rule) is the first starter for Chatswood Stud freshman Primus and trainer John McArdle will find a suitable race for him this month.

A $20,000 buy from the 2010 Inglis Classic Sale, Apollo Creed has no black-type on his dam’s side which suggests Primus has upgraded the bottom half of his pedigree.

Standing Primus at Chatswood Stud is just like old times for Greg Willis.  Chatswood’s owner stood Flying Spur when the champion sire commenced his illustrious stud career.

Up to that stage, Flying Spur covered the best book of mares of any stallion to ever stand at stud in Victoria and Chatswood remains the only Victorian stud to stand two Golden Slipper winners at the same time, the other being Danzero.

Primus is a dark bay standing 16 hands with an impressive temperament and there’s always a glow through his coat.

Trained by John O’Shea for Sheriff Iskander, Primus won three stakes races at Randwick and he was also third home behind God’s Own and Paratroopers in the 2005 G1 Caulfield Guineas.  He had a great turn of foot and appeals as the ideal type to put that essential ingredient of speed into his progeny.

Primus has quite an impressive pedigree with a double cross of Mr Prospector and an added touch of Star Kingdom through his second dam Clifton Gardens.  She was a daughter of Tommy Smith’s Caulfield Cup winner Mighty Kingdom.

It does not matter how you view this pedigree it has the Smith stamp about it.  T.J. had amazing success from this family going back as far as Amusement Park and champion broodmare Denise’s Joy who is the third dam of Primus.

Willis has given Primus every opportunity to succeed and the winners should come on stream shortly – starting with Apollo Creed.