Jye Mcneil has a healthy opinion of the Hawkes Racing-trained Foujita San after the two-year-old strode to an impressive win at his second start at Sandown.
Sent out the $1.30 favourite in The Big Screen Company Handicap (1400m) on Wednesday, Foujita San was never troubled in recording a 5-¾ length victory from King’s Crossing ($7) with Dream Hour ($21) a half-length away third.
Foujita San was beaten on debut by Zamborghini at The Valley over 1200m last month and McNeil said the son of Maurice appreciated the roomier Sandown circuit on Wednesday.
Maurice is the sire of Hitotsu, who last Saturday added the ATC Australian Derby to his Victoria Derby success from the spring.
“I feel as though we saw the best of him on the big track,” McNeil said.
“He was going to win at The Valley, but he didn’t handle the turn, but he and the winner really did space the other runners.
“He has definitely come on with that race experience.”
As he had done in the small field at The Valley, McNeil elected to roll forward again on Wednesday against his four opponents.
But McNeil did not get things all his own way early in the race, but once Foujita San found the front the two-year-old relaxed nicely.
“They wanted me to be a little bit forward because of the small field,” McNeil said.
“He rode the speed at The Valley and the key was to make sure he was relaxed, but they did make me work a little to get into the lead.
“But he enjoyed it once he got into that role and that was the best part of his win for me.
“He’s probably bred to get over a bit more ground, but then you don’t really know until you try it.
“The way he’s going about it I don’t know if they’ll be in a hurry to step him up, that could be a future thing, but we saw the best of him today.”