Medaglia d’Oro two-year-old colt Astern has won his second Stakes race in just four starts after overcoming early trouble for a dead-heat win in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on April 2.
A winner of the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) three starts ago, the John O’Shea-trained juvenile was caught wide on the speed in the G1 Golden Slipper (1200m) last start, but overcame another wide run at Randwick to make it three wins in four starts. Astern also won on debut at Randwick in December.=
After jumping awkwardly in the Kindergarten Stakes, Astern was caught three and four wide for the entire journey, but dug deep over the final 200 metres to dead heat with El Divino under strong riding from James McDonald.
A half-brother to Stakes-placed Lonhro three-year-old Mogador, Astern is out of Essaquira, a city-winning Exceed And Excel mare who has had three foals to race for three winners. Essaquira has a Sepoy yearling filly, an Animal Kingdom weanling and was served by Brazen Beau in November.
Medaglia d’Oro sired 29 Stakes winners last year, including the 2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, Eclipse Champion juvenile filly Songbird and Gold Medal Dancer, winner of the G2 Azeri.
