Exciting Swettenham Stud graduate Khutulun returned to racing with a brilliant victory in the Askin Hcp (1300m) at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

The Luke Oliver trained mare will now be set for the $100,000 TAB Rewards Trophy (1700m) on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington.  She was bred and sold by Swettenham owner Adam Sangster in conjunction with leading Perth breeder Ron Sayers and cost $16,000 at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

“She’s only had one jump-out and was underdone today,” Oliver admitted.  “She did it all so quickly last prep and is still learning how to race!”

Khutulun (4m Soldier’s Tale – Great Tradition by Rock Of Gibraltar) had won on debut at Kyneton in March and followed up with an on-pace victory at Sandown.  She was then runner-up to subsequent G1 Queensland Derby winner Sonntag at Caulfield before finishing her first campaign with an unplaced run in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

“It’s hard to know how good she is,” Oliver said.  “She had a pretty busy winter so we won’t pressure her this time in.”

Khutulun is raced by the Grand Great Tradition syndicate managed by Sam Lyons.  She is from a three-quarter sister to Swettenham homebred Blackfriars who won the 1999 Victoria Derby before embarking on a successful stud career at Scenic Lodge in WA.

Her dam Great Tradition has a yearling colt by Swettenham’s Group 1 stallion Master Of Design.