Sepoy silences critics in Golden Slipper

Sepoy silenced the critics with a clinical victory in the G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday.  This victory stamps Sepoy as most exciting stallion prospect in Australia.

The Darley homebred demoralized his Melbourne rivals earlier this year but that perfect record was tarnished by Smart Missile in the G2 Todman Slipper last month.

Sepoy (2c Elusive Quality – Watchful by Danehill) showed his true ability with a dominant performance on Saturday.  He becomes the first G1 Blue Diamond winner to complete the Golden Slipper double since Courtza in 1989.

He won the Golden Slipper with a minimum of fuss.  Jockey Kerrin McEvoy piloted the colt perfectly after jumping from barrier 10.  They sat just off pacemaker Karuta Queen and then pulled away from the pack for an easy win.

Sepoy is from the penultimate southern crop of Darley sire Elusive Quality who left Australia for good in 2008.  He averaged over a 100 mares in six seasons down here but the only horse of any consequence at that stage was his G1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Camarilla.

Sepoy’s dam Watchful is a sister to G1 Queensland Derby winner Camarena (Danehill) whose four winners to date include Camarilla.  Watchful has a yearling colt by Dubai Destination and she was covered by Domesday last year.

Elusive Quality has two yearlings on offer at the Inglis Easter Sales starting this week at Newmarket.  Lot. 360 is colt from Torryburn Stud who is half-sister to Montana Flyer and Lot 474 is a filly catalogued by Princes Farm from the G1 winning family of Grand Zulu.

Sepoy is one of 66 stakes winner for Elusive Quality.  There are seven at the highest level including 2010 USA champion Quality Road, as well as Kentucky Derby hero Smarty Jones and G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass.