Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s proven G1 sire Oratorio looks to have an exceptional crop of two-year-olds this season.
Not only is the triple G1 winning son of Danehill responsible for the once beaten East Cape Fillies Nursery winner Carlita, but Oratorio two-year-olds stole the show in Scottsville’s features this past Sunday.

Oratorio sons Cue The Music and Van Halen ran 1-2 in Sunday’s G3 Godolphin Barb Stakes, while the sire’s talented daughter Petra provided Oratorio with yet more black type when she finished third in Sunday’s G3 Strelitzia Stakes. Both the Godolphin Barb and Strelitzia Stakes were contested over 1100 metres.

The Avontuur bred Cue The Music stamped himself a leading G1 Gold Medallion contender when he cruised home to post a facile three length win over paternal half-brother Van Halen in the Godolphin Barb.
Now unbeaten in two races (he had also won a barrier trial previously), the Dennis Bosch trained colt had waltzed home previously to shed his maiden by 2.75 lengths, and Cue The Music looks a top sort in the making.

The colt was a R1.6 million buy from the 2017 Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale.

Petra, beaten by just a length into third in the Strelitzia, was making just her second racetrack appearance (she had taken in barrier trial previously) following an effortless 3.75 length win previously and she looks a smart filly in the making.

Oratorio, whose previous notable juvenile winners include international G1 winners Banchee and Beethoven, has been represented by six two-year-old winners (and counting!) this season thus far.