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Member of successful Godolphin family to make his debut on Saturday
The highest-rating two-year-olds so far this season will be in action in Sydney and the Group action for juveniles is happening in Brisbane, but there will be no shortage of interest in the race for the youngsters at The Valley this Saturday.
James Cummings will produce a debutant who will form the next chapter of one of Sheikh Mohammed's most successful families since taking over the Woodlands operation around 15 years ago.
Amur is a son of Snitzel and the Animal Kingdom mare Leopard, who is out of Essaouira, an Exceed And Excel mare who has produced two Group 1 winners and another who was favourite for the Golden Slipper before injury brought down the curtain on his career after just two starts.
That was Tassort (Brazen Beau), who won the Golden Gift (1100m) by 5-1/4 lengths on debut before being retired after his second placing in the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m).
He was Eassaouira's foal that followed Leopard, whose only start resulted in a last placing in a Kembla Grange maiden.
The two foals from Essaouira that preceded Leopard had much more decorated racing careers.
Leopard followed Alizee (Sepoy), who won 10 races, including a Flight Stakes (1600m), Queen Of The Turf (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Group 1 level.
Essaouira's foal before Alizee was Astern, who was one of the stars of his generation and banked a brilliant Group 1 win in the Golden Rose (1200m).
The four others Essaouira has had to race are all winners, including city winner Mogador (Lonhro).
Amur's preparations for Saturday's 1200m event have included three trials or jumpouts, the first a low-key effort at Warwick Farm on November 4 before second and third placings in 800m Flemington hitouts on November 25 and December 9.
He is not the only youngster from a famous family making their debut in the $150,000 event at The Valley with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Shalaa filly Chill The Krug to make her debut.
Like Amur, Chill The Krug is out of an Animal Kingdom mare, Earth Angel, who is a daughter of former champion filly Miss Finland.
The daughter of Redoute's Choice has also proven herself a Group 1 producer with her Street Cry filly Stay With Me a winner of the Thousand Guineas (1600m), a race Miss Finland also won.
Chill The Krug, who has been well-prepared for her debut with four Cranbourne jumpouts, the most recent a stylish win, is TAB's $3.60 second favourite for Saturday's race behind Phillip Stokes debutant Devils Delight ($3.20) with Amur a $5.50 chance.
