Observer blossoms in Vase at The Valley

G2 Drummond Golf Vase over 2,040m at The Valley on Saturday, 25 October and is now chasing possible G1 glory.

The three-year-old son of Godolphin’s former champion galloper Ghaiyyath (IRE) took the lead 300m after the start and then travelled beautifully before jockey Mark Zahra released the reins with 400m to travel.

Observer lengthened quickly and dashed to a four-length lead before Zahra eased down the colt, with trainer Ciaron Maher’s eyes on next Saturday’s G1 VRC Derby 2,500m at Flemington..

Observer, out of the Australian mare Smooth – who is also the dam of dual Stakes winner Sandpaper – beat Providence by a half-length with O’Sheamus a length away in third place.

The colt, who has a yearling half-brother by Anamoe and whose dam was covered by Cylinder last November, now has two wins and three placings from six starts for prize-money of $587,100.

Ghaiyyath has enjoyed remarkable success since commencing stud duties in 2021.

Just last week he sired the quinella of the Listed Hill Smith Stakes over 1,800m at Morphettville when Freedom Flame (out of Khandallah) and Different Gravy finished one-two.

Yum (Dream Food) scored in Listed company at Caulfield, My Highness (Majestic Queen) won at G2 level at Deauville and The Padre (Shalanaya) won a Stakes double at Del Mar.

World-wide, Ghaiyyath has sired 65 winners of 106 races, including eight Stakes winners of 10 Black-Type events.

Ghaiyyath stood at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland this year for a service fee of 20,000 euros.