Gold Standard (AUS)
3 c Sebring – Coniston Gem by Greig
O: Mount Hallowell Stud (MGR: C G Thompson) & D K M Walpole
T: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
B: R J Crabtree
S: Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale V: Eliza Park International P: Mount Hallowell Stud / Gai Waterhouse Racing / Julian Blaxland $160,000
W: Tab.com.au Maiden Plate, 1250m, Canterbury, 9 August
Gold Standard showed promise with his debut second to Addictive Nature (Savabeel) in a two-year-old handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on 19 July, and he built on that effort with a smart win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
He raced outside the leader in the early stages under Tim Clark, edged into the lead at the 200 metres and then drew clear to score quite impressively by a length and a quarter from the Godolphin-raced Absolute (Street Cry).
Gold Standard is one of five named foals out of the dual Group Three-winning mare Coniston Gem (Greig), making him a half-brother to two winners.
His second dam No Telling (Gold Carat) produced nine winners from nine foals to race, while his third dam is the stakes placegetter Secret Message (Namnan).
Further back, this is also the family of Group Three winner and Group One placegetter Rapid Man (St Covet) and Group Three winner Solar Princess (Gay Bachelor).