Results: Nostradamus too good in San Domenico Stakes 2014

The stocks of well-related colt Nostradamus have soared after a breakthrough Group win at Rosehill which has him on a path to the top level.

A younger sibling to Group One winner Star Witness, Nostradamus ($3.60) lived up to his favouritism in Saturday’s Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m).

He and Washington Heights ($4) made their runs together but Nostradamus stretched out to win by three-quarters of a length.

It was the fourth trip to the races for Nostradamus who had his first public experience of right-handed racing when he won a barrier trial on Monday.

“He did everything right and jumped well, in fact probably a bit too well,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.

“He was still a bit fresh but he is such a lovely strong colt who will keep on improving.

“I think he had plenty in reserve and that will have taught him a lot.

“He can be a lazy horse but he has got determination.”

Nostradamus won on debut at Flemington in January then finished fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude and seventh in the Group One Blue Diamond.

Hawkes said the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) on September 13 was a Group One aim this spring.

“He will most likely run in the Run To The Rose in two weeks and then on to the Golden Rose,” he said.

“The way he hit the line I expect him to get over further ground and that looks like the way we’ll head.”

The runner-up will also head towards the Run To The Rose with his trainer Gerald Ryan pleased with his effort.

“Eleven hundred metres is a little bit out of his comfort zone,” Ryan said.

“The Golden Rose is there after that or the Spring Stakes at Newcastle depending on how he goes.

“He is heading towards the 2000 metres of the Spring Champion Stakes and once he gets up over that distance I think we will see the best of him.”

The Ryan-trained Ygritte was well supported during the week but eased from $3.80 to $4.60 on Saturday as punters flocked to the top two.

After looming up to figure in the finish, the filly weakened to sixth, almost four lengths from the winner.

Her jockey Kerrin McEvoy said Ygritte did not travel as strongly as he thought she would.

Nostradamus was ridden by James McDonald, who won the Golden Slipper on the Hawkes-trained Mossfun.

McDonald teamed up with the stable in the following race to win aboard Entirely Platinum who is heading to the major staying features.

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