Promising stayer Blue Breeze took the first step on the path to a potential Melbourne Cup bid with a dominant first -up victory over 1400m at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Sporting the colours of his new part-owners, Cambridge Stud couple Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the Bullbars 6-year-old was expected to be running on strongly over the 1400m journey but not as a winning prospect.
Suited by a fast pace set up by Admiral and He's Cavalier on the tricky Heavy11 conditions, Blue Breeze showed a touch of class as he stormed home out wide for apprentice Erin Leighton to round up the leaders and cruise to a comfortable one and a half-length victory.
Breeder and part-owner Tony Gavigan was thrilled with the performance as he outlined the potential road ahead for the Allan Morley-trained gelding, who finished third behind Glory Days in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m).
"I think he's the best handicapped two-miler in New Zealand at the moment," Gavigan said.
