Odds-on Count gets the job done

Qatar Bloodstock Limited homebred Count Octave landed the odds on his return at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night.

Count Octave had finished runner-up in the Gr. 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot last season and also sixth in the Gr. 1 St Leger at Doncaster. He wasn't near that form on this reappearance but he didn't need to be, and he's a very laid-back colt so was always going to be rusty on his first start back.

He was returning to the scene of his previous win, also over a mile and a half, and afer travelling much the best he eventually overhauled second favourite Saroog to win the FCL Global Forwarding Novice Stakes by a neck under a typically determined Oisin Murphy.

Oisin was adamant Count Octave will improve plenty for blowing away the cobwebs and a return to better company beckons, with the Gr. 1 Yorkshire Cup back over a mile and three quarters on May 18 an option.

Count Octave has been expertly handled so far by Andrew Balding, bringing the four-year-old along steadily, and it's easy to forget he's only had seven starts in his life. We'd like to think he could be one for the Gr. 1 Melbourne Cup further down the line.

By Frankel out of Mark of Esteem mare Honorine, Count Octave is closely related to Gr. 1 Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach, while other siblings are the Listed winners Elidor and Honor Bound.

The Qatar Racing colours were also carried successfully on Wednesday, on the other side of the world, when Omineca built on his debut to win the Pluck@Vinery Handicap over 1600m at Warwick Farm. He was given an excellent waiting ride by Hugh Bowman, with the pair hitting the front 100m out and winning by a length and three quarters.

"If he can relax like that over a mile and half, he might be a Queensland Derby proposition," was Bowman's reaction.

Present to celebrate the success of the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old gelding was Hannah Wall, assistant to Qatar Racing's racing manager David Redvers.