Innes guides Veyron to Sprint win but will make way for Hills
By Waikato Times - Aidan Rodley |
14 Feb 2012 |
Sometimes success in racing is about being in the right place at the right time. The ability to manoeuvre into that spot can be the difference between triumph and defeat - especially if you are a jockey.
Leith Innes capitalised in Saturday's Gr I $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa after ensuring his mount Veyron was in the perfect position in running - right on the back of hot favourite Mufhasa.
The result was a resounding win in a lightning 1:20.99 for the 1400m. But Cambridge jockey Mark Hills has done some manoeuvering of his own.
With Veyron's regular raceday and trackwork rider, Rogan Norvall, sidelined with injuries resulting from a trials fall in December, Innes has been engaged as the star galloper's race rider.
Meanwhile, Hills has been Cambridge trainer Linda Laing's go-to rider in training and she has rewarded his efforts with the prime ride for the Gr I $200,000 Haunui Farm Classic (1600m) at Otaki on February 26.
That decision had been made well in advance of Saturday's Waikato Sprint, with Laing getting the two jockeys together to tell them at the same time, but after an impeccable ride on Saturday, Innes was having a hard to time digesting it. "I'm not too sure what's going to happen yet, but it's hard to take a Gr.1 winning rider off,'' Innes said on unsaddling.
However, Laing was standing strong. The decision was made and as usual she was sticking to her principles. "If you are not loyal in this game, you have nothing,'' she said. "Mark has really stepped up to the plate and ridden him in work ... and I'm grateful for that. I'm true to my word. I can remember when I was riding and what it was like riding trackwork and then not getting the ride on raceday.
'Mark is a quiet achiever. He's a good rider and this is his reward for the work he has put in riding trackwork.'' Hills last week said he was looking forward to riding Veyron in the Otaki Gr I race, and that anticipation would have multiplied in the past 48 hours, having watched from the jockeys' room as Veyron produced a stirring win over 1400m - his fifth at a distance generally regarded as shorter than his best. Laing said yesterday that Veyron had come through the race particularly well and it was now full speed ahead to Otaki. "The mile will probably suit him better but I can't say there's a hell of a lot of improvement in him because I don't think he's ever been as well as he was yesterday. He's just run 1:20 for 1400m,'' Laing said.
Race tactics for Saturday's two Waikato Sprint favourites were in disarray soon after the start. Guiseppina was fractious in the barriers and rider James McDonald said he called for the starter to wait but it was too late and the Gr I Telegraph Handicap winner began awkwardly and lost several lengths.
Further out Mufhasa slipped on jumping rather than making his usual lightning beginning and rider Sam Spratt, unable to push into a position one-off the fence, was forced to sit three wide. Innes took advantage. He peeled out and tracked Mufhasa into the race, then made his move, edged past to hit the front and forged on to victory.
"Obviously Mufhasa was the horse to beat and I was surprised [Spratt] wasn't up outside the leader,'' Innes said. "I got across his heels and into the straight it was a two-horse race. [Mufhasa] is a tough horse and once he saw me on the outside he really dug deep but my horse was tough. “Veyron is now five starts at the distance for five wins and that was a good effort.''
Laing said she had gone into the race confident that Veyron could upstage Mufhasa and Guiseppina. "I said to the kids this morning `they'll know he's been here','' said mother-of-two Laing. "I've virtually trained him like an Australian two-year-old for the last two weeks - bugger-all work. He was coming back from a mile and a quarter [2000m] six weeks ago and that's not easy. "He's been a nightmare at the track this week. We've had to lead him around everywhere because he's been so fresh and full of himself.''
Owners Isabel and Alistaire Barker were thrilled and heaped praise on Laing's preparation of Veyron. "I'm still in shock and I can't believe he's actually won this race,'' Isabel Barker said. "Linda's an incredible trainer and for her to bring him back to 1400m and produce a performance like that, it's an unbelievable training feat from her.
"I didn't think he'd win today. I didn't think he'd beat Mufhasa and Guiseppina, but he's amazing.''
Mufhasa's trainer Stephen McKee was lamenting Mufhasa's poor beginning which led to him being caught three wide midfield rather than his usual position on the speed.
However, he said Mufhasa would continue on to Otaki for a rematch with Veyron and Guiseppina. McKee has offered Innes a ride in the Otaki feature on Eagle Mountain, the former Brighthill Farm stallion who had fertility issues and return to training last year. Eagle Mountain was placed in the English and Irish Derbies before winning the Gr I Hong Kong Cup and placing in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He was third in a trial at Ellerslie last week.
"He might be the one to throw a spanner in the works down there,'' McKee said. There was three-quarters of a length between Veyron and Mufhasa, with 1 1/2 lengths back to Fazzle and half a length to Guiseppina.
Trainer Moira Murdoch said Fazzle would contest the Listed $50,000 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on March 7 as a lead-up to the Gr I New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 7.
Veyron rules supreme in Gr.1
By Wally O'Hearn |
14 Feb 2012 |
It was scripted as a race between eight-time Group One winner Mufhasa and last-start Telegraph Handicap winner Guiseppina, but nobody told Veyron.
The Cambridge galloper upstaged the two glamour gallopers to register his second Group One win in the $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa today and with Leith Innes in the saddle he did it in the style of a horse with further Group One glory ahead.
Ten months after winning the Group I Land Pride Easter Handicap at Ellerslie in the hands of Rogan Norvall, Veyron outgunned a very brave Mufhasa in the final stages, drawing clear in the shadows of the winning post to provide trainer Linda Laing with a special thrill.
Though it wasn’t Laing’s first Group One success, the win had special meaning because Laing had called Te Rapa racecourse her home track for so many years, having grown up nearby at stables on Sunshine Avenue, where her father, Royce Dowling, trained with much success before shifting to the Tauwhare area.
“This means a lot to me,” said Laing. “It’s unbelievable. All I told Leith was to try not to get blocked in and sit behind Mufhasa.”
What Laing didn’t expect was Mufhasa being trapped three-wide in fifth or sixth spot, but Innes had Veyron right behind him and when the pressure came on in the home straight it was obvious Veyron was going to be Mufhasa’s biggest threat.
Mufhasa had worked to the lead on straightening while Guiseppina, who had been tardy away, was sweeping up wide out with Fazzle, but going better than all of them was Veyron, who was quickly at Mufhasa’s girth.
Laing had said before the race she would be privileged to see Veyron run second or third behind Mufhasa so you can imagine the thrill she got when the stable star triumphed.
Being part of the big occasion were Laing’s sons, Ryan and Danny, while thoughts of Laing’s late husband, Martin “Lumpy” Laing, were rekindled after the win. Lumpy loved Veyron and it would have been a special day indeed for the likeable character.
Veyron, or Jethro as he is known around the stables, has now won 11 of his 18 starts and he is unbeaten at 1400 metres.
But what about the training feat of Laing. It was one of the standout efforts to bring the son of Thorn Park back from finishing second to Shez Sinsational in the 2000 metres Group I Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day to master such a superstar as Mufhasa.
Laing is one of the country’s most under-rated trainers and now she has a chance of back-to-back Group One triumphs as Veyron will head to Otaki for the Haunui Farm Group One WFA Classic in a fortnight.
Mark Hills has been promised the ride on Veyron in the Otaki feature as a reward for his help with Veyron and other Laing horses during the absence of the injured Norvall.
Group One success caps successful weekend for Thorn Park
If any further proof was needed of Veyron’s spectacular ability, or that of his trainer Linda Laing, it was provided at Te Rapa on Saturday where the son of Thorn Park recorded his 11th win from just 18 starts and his second victory at Gr.1 level.
Returning from running second in Gr.1 company over 2000m, Veyron confirmed his position among NZ’s best gallopers when winning the 1400m Gr.1 Waikato Draught Sprint while recording 1.20.99 for the distance - just over half a second outside the track record of 1.20.42.
Veyron defeated a high class field that included last-start Gr.1 winners Mufhasa, Guiseppina and Sangster to maintain his unbeaten record of five wins in five starts over the trip.
Veyron is raced by his breeders Isabel and Alistaire Barker and his success helped propel Thorn Park into second position on the current NZ Sire’s list where he sits just $21,693 behind O’Reilly, in a close fought battle for premiership honours.
NZ’s Champion Sire last season, Thorn Park also enjoyed success further afield at Awapuni where his 3YO daughter Itsmycall won on debut while in Sydney his topclass son Centennial Park resumed from a spell to finish a gallant second in the Gr.2 ATC Expressway Stakes, a race he was successful in last year.
Thorn Park, who also has current NZ Derby co-favourite Ocean Park representing him, recently completed a successful sales series at NZ Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales at Karaka where his progeny sold up to $350,000 and averaged $132,737 in the Premier Session.
Group race next for So You Think's brother
By Racing Standard |
09 Feb 2012 |
Trainer Danny O'Brien believes So You Think's half-brother Now You Know is a stakes-class horse in the making after he led all the way for his first metropolitan win at Sandown.
The Elusive City colt was bought for $260,000 as a yearling from the Windsor Park draft at Karaka after So You Think had won the first of his two Cox Plates for master trainer Bart Cummings as a three-year-old.
So You Think, an NZ$110,000 yearling himself when purchased from the same draft a few years earlier, has gone on to prove himself one of the world's best middle-distance gallopers.
He has won eight Group 1 races in three countries and NZ$9.6 million in prize-money. "He (Now You Know) was a very nice yearling. So You Think probably wasn't as forward as him," O'Brien said.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Now You Know, backed from $8 to $6 in the Premier Signs Handicap (1400m), won by a short-head from Shanghai Warrior ($7) with favourite Dany The Fox ($2.15) two lengths away third.
"Craig was always going to be aggressive on him today and they had to chase him down as he's probably looking for a mile and a quarter (2,000m)," O'Brien said of the three-year-old, who has had been very lightly raced has now had two wins and two seconds, his other victory being in a 1600m sale maiden in October.
O'Brien said Now You Know had run his race before he got to the barriers when he started as one of the main fancies in a listed race on Oaks day, before finishing second last at the end of his last preparation. But he believes he can measure up to stakes company. "This horse isn't by High Chaparral but we think he's a stakes-class horse in the making."
Williams agreed and believes he should be effective up to 2400 metres. ''You never really know until they get there but he gives me every indication that he will run 2400 metres. He's got a bit of class about him,'' he said.
Now You Know is likely to step up to stakes grade next start in the $180,000 Gr.2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes day.
''I'd like to get him up in distance a bit now and all the better three-year-olds will be heading to the Guineas, so the Autumn Stakes should be ideal,'' O'Brien said.
Should Now You Know progress as well as O'Brien anticipates, there are plenty of options if he wants to follow a Derby path. ''We'd like to think he's going to get into a nice race but whether it's Sydney, Adelaide or Brisbane, we'll just take it race by race,'' he said.
A brother to So You Think will be offered (Lot 436) at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
New Group winner for Falkirk
By NZTM.co.nz |
07 Feb 2012 |
Punters may have been stunned by the Group Three White Robe Lodge Handicap victory of Jaggard (NZ) (Falkirk), but his Wingatui co-breeder, part-owner and trainer Shaun McGarry wasn’t.
“He’s some horse and from day one he’s showed heaps of ability,” he said. “He’s had a few problems, nothing major, and he’s done the job today.”
The winner of two of his previous nine career starts, Jaggard (NZ) was a 75-1 chance after claiming a Rating 65 sprint at Omakau two runs back and followed up with a second placing in rating 75 company at Gore.
The four-year-old entire jumped smartly from an inside draw on Saturday to lead for apprentice Ryan Hurdle and they were clear on the home turn.
Jaggard (NZ) was headed by Ziva (NZ) (Duelled) 250 metres from home, but fought back strongly to gain a nose decision on the post.
“I walked the track on Friday afternoon and the caretaker’s done a great job,” McGarry said. “I told Ryan if we get away okay, to lead or trail, and it worked out just fantastic.”
The northern pair of Flash Hapi (NZ) (Coats Choice) and Alegrio (NZ) (Captain Rio), who started the favourite, were next home ahead of El Chico (NZ) (Stravinsky). He got home nicely under topweight of 59kg after being well back on straightening.
Jaggard (NZ) is a son of Centastage (NZ) (Centaine) who won five races and was stakes placed.
She hails from a productive New Zealand family that has also made its presence felt further afield with a feature name in the pedigree the South African Group One winner Port Pegasus (Trocadero).
Windsor Park colt sets sale ring alight
By NZTM .co.nz |
07 Feb 2012 |
Hong Kong agent Willie Leung had a blank cheque in his bid to secure So You Think's three-quarter brother.
Leung went to NZ$800,000, the highest price to date at New Zealand's Premier Yearling Sale, to secure the colt by High Chaparral out of La Souvenir (Nuclear Freeze), a daughter of So You Think's dam Triassic (NZ) (Tights).
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| Lot 824 High Chaparral x La Souvenir |
The colt from the draft of Windsor Park Stud was bought on Tuesday for Leung's Hong Kong clients WK Lee and Peter So.
They had already secured Monday's top-priced colt at Karaka, a High Chaparral-Creil (NZ)( Frenchpark) colt bought for NZ$650,000.
When asked what his clients were prepared to pay, Leung simply said there was "no budget".
"They (Lee and So) are looking for a real, top stayer. That's why we picked the best two colts and we were very keen to get them," Leung said.
"We believe they are the best in the sale."
Both horses are likely to begin there careers in either New Zealand early on before possibly going to Hong Kong.
Unlike many horses bought by Hong Kong buyers, Leung said the La Souvenir (NZ) colt would be kept entire for the time being.
"For the Hong Kong environment maybe we need a gelding, but because of his breeding potential we will try to keep him as a colt," Leung said.
Windsor Park Stud marketing manager Mike Moran, who bred the colt in partnership with his wife Helen and Chris and Carol Chamberlain, said it was a great result.
"Just to think we bought her mother (Triassic) for $16,000, kept that filly, and it was a great call to do it," he said.
"He rated himself really highly, this colt, so did So You Think, and he still does, and hopefully this fella's half as good as him."
So You Think (NZ) was bought at Karaka for NZ$110,000 and trained by Bart Cummings to win two W. S. Cox Plates.
Dato Tan Chin Nam sold a controlling share in So You Think (NZ) for a reported $30 million to Irish racing and breeding concern Coolmore.
Rising Stars Primed for Gr.1 Hong Kong Classic Mile
By ANZBloodstocknews.com |
24 Jan 2012 |
The first leg of the 2012 Four- Year-Old Series kicks off at Sha Tin’s popular Chinese New Year Raceday on Wednesday, 25 January, when some talented hopefuls line up for the day’s feature event, the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile (HK Gr 1, 1600m) on turf.
Among the rising stars aiming for glory is the exciting Fay Fay (Falkirk), who is one of eight runners to also hold an entry in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (HK Gr 1, 2000m). The four-year-old extended his unbeaten sequence this season to four when sweeping to an impressive Class 2 course and distance triumph on 1 January.
John Size has primed the Falkirk gelding for five wins and three seconds from eight career starts and believes his charge is equipped for the leap into HK Group 1 company. “The horse is fine and if he holds together we’ll be looking ahead to the Derby”, said the trainer, who is seeking a first success in the Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile. “Fay Fay has been doing his best in his races and I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s race, in the sense that he has to improve to keep winning.”
Admiration (Encosta de Lago) finished seventh behind last year’s Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) winner, Lucky Nine (Dubawi), in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1) over 1200m in December. The John Moore trainee makes his third attempt at 1600m, a distance at which he is yet to win,
having crossed the line two places behind stablemate Captain Sweet in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup (HK Gr 3, 1400m) last time.
Captain Sweet (Fastnet Rock) posted a career best effort in the CCC Cup when second, conceding 13 pounds to the winner. He too holds a Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby entry, as do Moore’s other two candidates for the Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile, Zaidan (Street Cry) and Smart Giant (Pins), who heads the
standings after the latest Rising Star voting.
“Captain Sweet is one of the most genuine horses in my yard, and, now that he takes the big step up to Group 1 class, I don’t have any doubts that he’ll be able to hold his own. His work, as usual, has been impressive in the lead up but there is always a little doubt as to whether he’ll get a strong run mile,” revealed Moore, who has won the prize twice since it was upgraded to HKG1 status in 2000, with Tiber (2004) and Sunny Sing (2006).
“The same can be said of Admiration,” he continued. “He found the sprint too short last time, even with blinkers, and he looks like he’ll be a 1400m/miler but there’s that question mark over a strong mile. “Smart Giant is definitely Group 1 class and dropping back to the mile is not a problem. He’s getting ready for the Derby and this race fits his programme in the lead up, but saying that, he’ll be the one of mine to beat.
“Zaidan has become much more genuine since he was gelded. He’s another being aimed at the Derby and this race fits in nicely - the drop back to a mile may raise a doubt.”
Tony Cruz has a fine record in the Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile. Victorious as a trainer with Floral Pegasus (2007), Helene Mascot (2008) and Beauty Flash (Golan) (2010), he aims for a fourth success with Packing Tycoon (Danehill Dancer) (formerly Alexander Pope). Longwah Supreme (Southern Image) (formerly Hatupatu) stretches out to 1600m for the first time and represents last year’s winning trainer Caspar Fownes, while David Ferraris relies on Sweet Orange (War Front) (formerly Warning Flag) , who will be ridden by Weichong Marwing.
The field includes another with good past European form, New Deerfield (Choisir) (formerly Codemaster) from the Derek Cruz stable, as well as Horace’s Empire (Grand Slam) (formerly Zelimir), trained by Sean Woods.
The remaining two legs of the Four-Year-Old Series are the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Cup (HK Gr 1, 1800m) on 19 February and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (HK Gr 1, 2000m) on 18 March.
Ocean Park Lashes Quality Field in Gr.3
The three-year-old son of Thorn Park, Ocean Park (NZ), showed that he is a colt with a big future when he lead an NZB trifecta with a stunning four-and-a-half-length victory in the Group 3 $70,000 Phil Cataldo Bloodstock Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Trained by Gary Hennessy, Ocean Park (Thorn Park x Sayyida, by Zabeel) was slow from the gates and raced at the back of the field with jockey Chad Ormsby stoking the colt up at the 600 metres and bringing him wide on the turn.
In a professional performance against a tough field, Ocean Park picked up the leaders in a matter of strides after the turn, and in a hands and heels ride from Ormsby, the son of Thorn Park extended in the Trentham straight putting four-and-a-half-lengths on the field at the post.
Ocean Park has only had four starts, winning his debut and his second start, both at Ellerslie, before running second to Knight's Tour after a tough run in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas at his last start.
Now the firm favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby on 3 March, Gary Hennessy declared after the race that there's a lot of improvement left in the horse.
The win takes Thorn Park to second place on New Zealand's Sires' Premiership with just 61 runners, 49 less than O'Reilly who currently holds first place, and 33 less than Pins who holds third.
Thorn Park has 56 entries at Karaka 2012 including:
· Lot 222, the half-brother to the Group 1 winner and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (Pins).
· Lot 207, the half-brother to the Group 2 winner Hidden Asset (High Chaparral) from the Zabeel mare Fragile Asset, the same cross Ocean Park is bred on.
Ocean Park has extended Zabeel's lead on New Zealand's Broodmare Sires' Premiership where he is over $360,000 clear of Centaine. In a remarkable season, Zabeel also leads the Australian Broodmare Sires' Premiership with $6,936,883 in stakes.
Bred by Trelawney Thoroughbred Ltd, Ocean Park was purchased by his trainer and part-owner Gary Hennessy who races the colt with Hong Kong owners Andrew Wong and Steve Yan. The three-year-old was purchased from Trelawney Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $150,000.
Second in the Group 3 was another promising three-year-old Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Royal Kiss) who raced mid-field and looked sharp in the straight for trainer Adrian Bull. The gelding put in a winning trial coming into the race and is also nominated for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.
Little Avondale Stud will be offering a half-sister to Nashville by Stravinsky at Lot 410 of the Karaka Premier Sale.
Running into third place and sealing the New Zealand Bloodstock trifecta was the Jason Bridgman trained $1.3 million colt Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choice x Grand Echezeaux) who put in a good performance running from the back of the field to take third place. Burgundy also holds a nomination for the New Zealand
Single has Carmody on a High
By Racingandsports.com.au |
23 Jan 2012 |
A return to winning form by Single (High Chaparral) at Rosehill on Saturday put the smile back on trainer Craig Carmody's face and gave jockey Nathan Berry a welcome 21st birthday present.
Carmody was baffled by the four-year-old's last-start fourth as the dominant favourite in a 1500m race on New Year's Eve when he laboured to the line.
It was a different story in Saturday's Vinery Stud Handicap (1800m) with Single (A$4.40 fav) working into the race nicely before charging clear to beat
Rolling Pin (NZ) (Pins) by 1-1/2 lengths with Tropicana Girl (Redoute's Choice) another 3-1/2 lengths away third.
For Berry, Single's victory helped ease the pain of being dropped as the rider of Aeronautical (Encosta de Lago) and a suspension incurred on Friday.
Three-year-old Aeronautical did not perform as well as expected earlier in the day but Single did everything right.
The four year-old, by High Chaparral from the Nashwan mare Myself, showed class to runa- way at the finish of the 1800m event by a length and a half.
“He's very classy and has some black type races in store for him,” said his rider Nathan Berry.
"It is great to get a win to celebrate my birthday," Berry said. "He is a good horse and he got a good run today. "I had four lengths to make up in 400 metres mid-race and I used that and he eased into it comfortably. "I've got no doubt he can get up over more ground and I've got a lot of time for him."
Carmody was relieved to see Single back to his best. "I think he struggled with the stop-start tactics last time," he said. "The tempo wasn't to his liking and he ended up having to make two runs in the race. "That didn't happen today and he went as we hoped. "He still has maturing to do and I think time is going to be his friend."
Purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Single has won four of his eight starts earning $142,400.
Bred by Bloomsbury Stud, a three-quarter sister to Single will be offered through the draft of Phoenix Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale which commences on January 30 as Lot 42.
Single is a half-brother to three Northern Hemisphere bred winners including stakes-placed Ghayth and Ego being from the imported stakes-winner Myself.
His sire High Chaparral is set to play a major role at the 2012 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka as it will feature his last New Zealand bred crop of yearlings.
He now shuttles to Coolmore Australia in the NSW Hunter Valley.
So You Think favourite for Dubai World Cup
Windsor Park Stud graduate So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral) will be entered for the $US10 million Dubai World Cup (2000m) at Meydan and has been installed favourite by British bookmaker Coral for the race.
Now trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, So You Think (NZ) is at 7-2 to take the world's richest purse at Meydan on March 31.
The eight time group one winner is part-owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam in association with Ireland's thoroughbred breeding powerbrokers at Coolmore, will be a leading contender if it is decided he will take his place in the race.
"He will be entered for the race but obviously no decision will be made until nearer the time," O'Brien's wife Annemarie tweeted .
A dual Cox Plate winner of five group one races when formerly trained by Bart Cummings, So You Think (NZ) has won a further three Group One races on European soil since being transferred to O'Brien in 2011.
So You Think (NZ) was ranked equal seventh in the World Thoroughbred Rankings for 2011 and has had his past four starts in four different countries - Ireland, France, England and the United States.
Guillotine WILL make an impact at Karaka
By Adrian Clark, www.adrianclark.co.nz |
22 Jan 2012 |
I attended today’s yearling parade staged at Mapperley Stud then Windsor Park Stud and came away hugely-impressed with the first crop yearlings by Guillotine.
To be honest, Guillotine has not been a stallion who’s really grabbed me before now. I haven’t bred to him, nor have I recommended the horse to any clients I manage broodmares for.
I’ve changed my tune. The yearlings I saw today were a terrific line of horses; generally big, strongly-made and athletic.
I’m sure seasoned yearling buyers will be of the same mind; these horses grab your immediate attention. Today I marked a number by him which are now on my short list for re inspection at Karaka.
Probably my pick from today and certainly a horse I’ve short listed for the CHALLENGE NO.1 SYNDICATE (click here to find out more) is Lot 647, the Guillotine filly from Colors of Life (Woodman).
I mark my yearlings out of five. 1 is outstanding; 2 is very good; 3 is good; 4 is ok and 5 is don’t go there. This filly scored a two and I can’t wait to see how she adapts to the Karaka environment.
By the way, the two parades today were slickly run. These are two of New Zealand’s key thoroughbred nurseries. They’ve been doing it a long time & it shows. Great horses, excellent presentation and, by the way, lunch was most enjoyable too!