Cypress had been an eye-catching winner of his only trial during the winter, and he carried that form over to race day for trainer Kevin Myers with a smart debut victory at Woodville.
The Gerry Harvey-bred son of former Westbury Stud resident Telperion was well-supported on debut over 1100 metres on Sunday and the three-year-old performed right up to expectations.
He settled toward the back of the small field before rider Lily Sutherland set him alight 500 metres from home.
Cypress was widest at the top of the straight and, despite racing greenly, he proved too strong to make the perfect start to his career.
The chestnut was offered by Westbury at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka and was secured by Myers for $15,000.
He is a son of the General Nediym mare Empress Wu and she is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Oaks, G2 Warwick Stakes and G3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner Royal Descent and to the dam of the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes winner Solidify.
It’s also the family of the dual Group 1 winner Golden Sword and the multiple Group 2 winner and internationally performed sprinter Falkirk.
Empress Wu also has a two-year-old daughter of El Roca, a Tarzino yearling filly and is due to foal to Redwood.
