Almanzor’s son makes flying start

An impressive international pedigree was to the fore at Wangaratta where Guarded Optimist made the perfect start to his career.The son of our triple Group 1-winning shuttle stallion Almanzor and the English-bred Hurricane Run mare A Shower Of Roses was sent out favourite and duly delivered at the first time of asking over 1300 metres.Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the three-year-old jumped well to sit in fifth spot near the rail before angling into the clear at the top of the straight and finished off determinedly.“I was able to manoeuvre off the fence and move into it and he was tough to the line,” successful rider Ben Allen said.“He’s got a of improvement to come and I think he’s in for a good prep.”Guarded Optimist was originally purchased out of breeder Valachi Downs’ draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Brooks Farm for $150,000.He then changed hands again for the same price when reoffered by KB Bloodstock at the Ready to Run Sale with Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock signing the ticket.Guarded Optimist’s dam is a half-sister to the G3 Lillie Langtry Stakes winner Gravitation and the family of two-time Group 1 winners Fame And Glory and Legatissimo.