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Joe Pride-trained son of Host captures his second Group One victory

Eduardo (7 g Host - Blushing by Fantastic Light) won his second Group One on Saturday when taking out the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m). 

A winner of The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) at Rosehill on March 27, Eduardo finished third last start in the T J Smith (Gr 1, 1200m), but returned to winning ways on Saturday. Under Nash Rawiller Eduardo went straight to the front from the barriers. Rounding the home turn in the lead he ran on in the straight to hold off his challengers and scored by a long neck over Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom).  There was a photo for third with The Harrovaian (Fastnet Rock) prevailing by a nose from Vega One (Lope De Vega). 

Trainer Joe Pride said that Eduardo would now be spelled in Queensland ahead of his spring campaign. 

"There was so much pressure this week. All my Group Ones have been at double figures. I think Eduardo was the shortest when he won the Galaxy at about $7," Pride said.

"He is a great horse. He got the job done. We came here as a bit of an afterthought. It is a testament to the quality he has.  

"You don't often see a horse that has so much speed have so much fight. He is a bulldog, he just keeps fighting.

"He will have a little break in Queensland. He seems to like it up here. He will have a break before the spring and look forward to what he can do next time around."

Eduardo is the only Group One winner by the late Host (Hussonet) who stood at Swettenham Stud and then Willow Grove Stud. He is one of three winners out of the unraced Fantastic Light (Rahy) mare Blushing and she herself is a daughter of Lavina Bay (Dehere), who is in turn out of Group Three scorer Peggy Ann (Bletchingly). 

Peggy Ann is out of Group One winner Avon Angel (Avon Valley) and she is the grandam of Macau Listed winner Best Of Luck (Thorn Park).