Siege Of Quebec repels quality challenge

Talented colt Siege Of Quebec remains unbeaten after resisting a challenge by fellow rising star Calculated at Rosehill and taking another step towards Group One features in the spring.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained son of Fastnet Rock justified his $1.2 million price tag on Saturday when he won his Sydney debut comfortably after being placed under duress.

Hugh Bowman looked to have seized the initiative on the Chris Waller-trained Calculated but Siege Of Quebec – a first-up winner at Newcastle last month – rallied to score the two-year-old handicap (1400m) by half a length.

Siege Of Quebec will now freshen up to prepare for the Group Three Ming Dynasty at Randwick on August 26, a stepping stone to the Group One Golden Rose a month later.

“He looked under a bit of pressure at the top of the straight but when he’s challenged he knows exactly what to do,” said Bott after the $2.40 favourite surged to the line.

“He’s such a naturally talented horse. There’s a lot of raw ability there at the moment and he’s still working out what it’s all about.”

Tommy Berry, a stand in for the suspended Brenton Avdulla, agreed after an energy-sapping ride.

“He felt like he was going half-paced the whole way round. I had to keep his mind on the job.

“I hope he switches on more over a mile because I’m not fit enough to do what I did then over 1200,” he said.

“It’s hard to say how good he is because he just does what he has to. He pulled up like he hadn’t gone around. That’s a good sign.”

Berry was always confident Siege Of Quebec would respond when Calculated ($2.70) laid down the gauntlet.

“Hughie kept me honest but I knew if I could find a little bit more when I pulled the stick through to the right he’d pull out another half a length and he did that.”