Australasia’s juvenile season gets underway with the Grangewilliam Stud 2YO Hcp (800m) at Wanganui in New Zealand on Saturday.

General Nediym colt Big River will be one of the favourites after winning both his trials at Te Teko.  He is part-owned by Laurie Laxon and is trained by Mark Walker at Matamata.

Big River is the first foal to race from Moonee Valley winner Zoilus (Maroof).  Second dam Star Worship (Star Way) was a G3 winner of the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes and she later ran second to Gamine in the G1 South Australian Oaks.

Aladdin Prince (2c Volksraad-Grand Princess by Last Tycoon) is another with claims after a promising hit-out at Otaki.  He is a brother to Captain’s Command who was a Listed winner of the Otago 2YO Champagne Stakes.

Coolmore Stud’s Oratorio (Danehill) and The Oaks resident Keeninsky (Stravinsky) are the only first-season sires with runners engaged.

Oratorio colt Upsala was placed in his only trial at Cambridge.  His sire was a 2yo Group 1 winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and trained on at three to claim the G1 Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.

Oratorio has been well-backed to capture Australia’s leading first season sires’ title by winners.  He has been the medium of several large bets and has firmed him into $17 with Sportingbet Australia.

New Zealand results have no bearing on the premiership and, in any event, Upsala is bred to keep improving with racing.  His dam Cinquilla won over 2600m and she comes from a family of French stayers.

Keeninsky filly Fille D’etoile was placed in her only trial at Waipa.  Her dam Citi Fille (Citidancer) won over a mile and her only winner to date from five named foals is Joker Target (Painted Black).