Organic whitebait?? And I thought some studs were pretty creative with their marketing.
Fair dinkum, I saw this sign on the way down to Hawkes Bay on the side of the road, south of Cambridge I think it was.
Speaking of things creative, I got told a good story at the races on Saturday about a guy who asks for extra gluten with his cake at cafes.
I like that one. I 'm going to order that, along with one I ve been wanting to ask for for a while, the double shot decaf. I guess as long as it's chic, some cafe in Auckland will serve it to me.
There's something pretty theraputic about coming over that rise on the Naiper Taupo Rd and seeing the splendour of the Hawkes Bay before you. And does it ever rain down there?
Well that should guarantee Graham Avery's allowance for a couple more months at least. I could do with it as you ll see.
Beautiful spring day, firm track, good horses, it was time to blow the cobwebs off the wallet.
I 'm not superstitious but I kind of knew I was in trouble when I ignored the winners of the first two races despite getting tipped into both.
And it got progressively worse. As you do, you then start to search for odds instead of sticking to your hunches - which shallow person said punting on the horses isn't a reflection of life.
Just to rub salt into the wounds my surething multi - The Pooka/Mufhasa/Wall Street went Waipukurau courtesy of Tavistocks head.
Anyway I'll stop playing the violin and here are some observations from the day.
Hastings must be one of the more picturesque courses in the country. You never tire of looking at the Kawekas especially this time of year when dappled in snow and the parade ring is sited perfectly to view the horses. I 'd love to grab an architect for the other facilities though. Put a second story with balcony on the Cheval Lounge and a sweeping carriageway on the back of the Members. The Lowry Public stand has probably the best views of any Public stand in the land and you wouldn'y have to do too much externally. Internally, it's a different matter. I 'll see if the Cloak Room is interested.
So Royal missed the jump in the first and was no hope afterwards but got home nicely. She paraded looking bright and is one to follow through the spring.
Thundermore - doesn't that name have a great ring to it - is clearly the horse to follow out of the 2nd and the blinkers should improve him further although he still needs to find a couple of lengths to match the Heckler, Flying Fulton, Kings Ransom and co in the Hawkes Bay Guineas.
Don't write off Benny the Ball on that run. He got a nasty check with 600 to run. He's a nice mover and there is a good word around for him.
One thing that did occur to me is that that horse of Rogersons, Gaston who beat Thundermore at Taupo must go okay. The third horse that day Rampant is highly regarded and remember Rampant pushed The Hombre on debut last season. I see he's nominated for the Wanganui Guineas this Saturday.
The Hombre was probably the most impressive winner on the day - he was over half a second quicker for his last 400m than Thundermore and Morelle - although I fancy some of those behind him will improve significantly. Corsage in partcular was very big in condition and she's likely to still be a run short going into the Gold Trail.
Blessed with the most magnificent of strides The Hombre is a sight in full flight. A big framed type he still has a bit more filling out to do and I trust they don't over race him in the spring because in 6 to 12 months time I feel he could be very exciting.
What odds Lucky Owners to top our second season sires list? With the Heckler still to step out this season, would Widden consider a shuttle?
It was good to see The Pooka return to form but I question what he beat. While he looked better physically on Saturday than he did the couple of times I saw him last season, he still doesnt carry the muscular definition he did when he was a two-year-old colt. Will he return to the form he displayed in the 2000 Guineas beating Alamosa and Rios?
I made a point of trying to watching as many of the Kelt contenders post race and All In Black certainly had the biggest blow. I though her run held merit. Not many could sustain runs around the outside all day and she came to the end of it 100 out. She may still have maturing to do physically and I think her best form could be in the autumn.
Racing horses is all about emotion and it was great to see some well sized groups of owners in the likes of Thundermore, The Hombre and Tavistock really enjoying the moment.
I've been to a few Mudgeways in recent years and I can't recall seeing so many of the main race looking so forward. Usually there's a few behind in their coat or sporting a partial winter girth but not last Saturday. I wonder if connections of some who won't contest one or both of the remaining legs thought here was their opportunity to take a Group One particularly with likes of Mufhasa going in fresh and drawing wide.
Mufhasa looks to have grown and thickened. To me last season he had a slight boyish look about him but on Saturday he looked liked he grown out of the jeans and tees into the three piece suit. I'd love to see him go to Aussie at the top of his form.
The aptly named Tavistock retains a lot of the classical looks of the English thoroughbred. Whilst not as appealing to the eye as say Nom De Jeu, particularly through the body, he has a lovely head and eye which befits his kind temprament.
Can he win the Kelt?
Not for me. I think the three tough races in 5 weeks may just find his constitution out. I would love to be proven wrong because the post race party would be huge and secondly he becomes a legitimate stallion prospect for our industry.
For mine the Kelt winner wasn't at the Bay on Saturday. He was getting home nicely enough in a much more sedate 1200m contest 4 hours north of there. And his hardest foe was standing in her box at Awapuni.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Beats a Berocca
Where is a good cup of coffee when you need it? Certainly not in Tahuna at 9am on a Sunday morning.
Devoid of sleep (blame the AB's and Mr Cuervo) I was beginning to question the trip in favour of a lie in and a cooked breakfast in the Village.
Thankfully a sense of direction is one of my few virtues, for although it must have been close on 20 years - it was known as Evergreen Lodge then - I managed to find Rich Hill in the early morning mist and drizzle.
Maybe it's the setting in the rolling hills that makes the very aptly named Rich Hill a little different. Most NZ studs I ve visited are pretty flat but contours have meant this place is set out a little differently and it works; from the paddock overlooking the farm gates with mares and their days old foals, to the grassy pitched stallion yards.
I was particularly looking forward to seeing the farms latest recruit, the English Derby winning three-year-old Sir Percy. I guess it had something to do with a friend having booked a mare into his court and taking criticism from a few people including yours truly, plus despite the malignment of winners of Derbies these days, you still rarely get to see the winners of such prestigious races in these parts and from good "old" English stock to boot, rather than that "common" line our friends across the ditch are so enamoured with.
He did not disappoint.
I remember reading an article once on a leading agent, an English chap I think he was. Starting out in the business he had recommended a mating to a client based on a stallion he had only seen in photos. The stallion was in fact very different in the flesh and did not suit the mare on physical compatibility and the result was not pretty. From then on, despite the horrendous gas and motel bills, he made a point of getting to some far flung posts around GB to physically inspect every new commercial stallion.
The photos I had seen of Sir Percy where of a washy bay, almost a little coarse and weak.
Actually he's a rather elegant horse of a rather rich bay clouring. A typical miler on type, he's of medium size and bone with good balance and a deep strong symetrical shoulder (a physical trait of his father Mark of Esteem) which is probably where he would have got that muscular wind up acceleration he displayed in most of his victories.
Probably the clincher for me was a lovely intelligent head and eye. Stood up in front of me for a time, I 'm sure he was looking me over, thinking, serves you right you silly old b...... for thinking you still a teenager and staying up half the night.
Slightly bigger than I had imagined, Pentire is your typical classic English thoroughbred and while some of those refined features, particularly around the girth (sounds all too familiar) after 12 odd years of Matamata grass are a little harder to disseminate, I don't imagine Pentire would have carried a lot of condition as a racehorse rather living on the nervous energy he displayed while paraded today.
A little short in front Pentire is possessed of a longish barrel which is offset by a good gaskin and hind quarters.
I was lucky enough to see Lion Hunter one day early in his racing career and had thought to myself then what a gorgeously made horse. Sure there was the dapled grey coat which is enough to make any horse lover weak at the knees but he had esquisite balance coupled with a beautiful way of moving.
Any Suggestion didnt take my breath away like dad but it's easy to see why breeders rushed to him last season with over 130 mares. It's no Banjo Paterson or even Tony Morris but "big" is the first word that comes to my mind after seeing him.
But he's not coarse at all, there's good balance, a big overstride, a pronounced wither and a lot of athleticisim. It's going to be fascinating to see what size yearling he leaves.
Before today I wasn't so sure about Sir Percy, the pedigree worried me slightly and despite been impressed with his race performances on DVD his photos were hardly inspiring.
Revigorated by my morning (and some Warehouse Songs and Stories) the question I kept asking myself as I headed home was is he going to be another English Derby winner to flop as a sire joining the ranks of Oath, High Rise, Benny the Dip, Erhaab and Shammit just some winners since 1990 who have been major disappointments in the breeding shed.
The critical difference is that Sir Percy had the speed to win a Grp 1 as a two-year-old. And no it wasn't a 1600m 4 runner slog in the Curragh mud but consistently the most competitive two-year-old race in Europe, the Dewhurst at 1400, where he beat the high class and subsequently ill fated Horatio Nelson.
And when you look at some of the more recent Derby winners who have gone onto become leading sires it is that 2 year-old speed that differentiates them from their contemparies.
Galileo, High Chaperal and Generous spring to mind from more recent times. Yes I can already hear someone demand of me to mention Dr Devious or Dr Who as I once saw him described. He didn't set the Ganges let alone the Thames on fire as a stallion. And Michael Phelps brother drowned in the bath...
Which got me thinking about pedigree. Did he outrun his? I'll save this for a rainy day for I have chores to do before the working week. Suffice I think it's a better pedigree than it looks on paper which is probably symptomatic of how insulated we have become down under over a couple of sire lines but thats a whole topic in itself.
Regardless of how he fares, hats off to John Thompson and the team for having the nous and kahunas to bring Sir Percy to our shores. We need more English Classic horses to revigorate our breed especially those blessed with his mile speed and type. Remember most were put off Pentire 12 odd years ago for reasons of his pedigree.
Devoid of sleep (blame the AB's and Mr Cuervo) I was beginning to question the trip in favour of a lie in and a cooked breakfast in the Village.
Thankfully a sense of direction is one of my few virtues, for although it must have been close on 20 years - it was known as Evergreen Lodge then - I managed to find Rich Hill in the early morning mist and drizzle.
Maybe it's the setting in the rolling hills that makes the very aptly named Rich Hill a little different. Most NZ studs I ve visited are pretty flat but contours have meant this place is set out a little differently and it works; from the paddock overlooking the farm gates with mares and their days old foals, to the grassy pitched stallion yards.
I was particularly looking forward to seeing the farms latest recruit, the English Derby winning three-year-old Sir Percy. I guess it had something to do with a friend having booked a mare into his court and taking criticism from a few people including yours truly, plus despite the malignment of winners of Derbies these days, you still rarely get to see the winners of such prestigious races in these parts and from good "old" English stock to boot, rather than that "common" line our friends across the ditch are so enamoured with.
He did not disappoint.
I remember reading an article once on a leading agent, an English chap I think he was. Starting out in the business he had recommended a mating to a client based on a stallion he had only seen in photos. The stallion was in fact very different in the flesh and did not suit the mare on physical compatibility and the result was not pretty. From then on, despite the horrendous gas and motel bills, he made a point of getting to some far flung posts around GB to physically inspect every new commercial stallion.
The photos I had seen of Sir Percy where of a washy bay, almost a little coarse and weak.
Actually he's a rather elegant horse of a rather rich bay clouring. A typical miler on type, he's of medium size and bone with good balance and a deep strong symetrical shoulder (a physical trait of his father Mark of Esteem) which is probably where he would have got that muscular wind up acceleration he displayed in most of his victories.
Probably the clincher for me was a lovely intelligent head and eye. Stood up in front of me for a time, I 'm sure he was looking me over, thinking, serves you right you silly old b...... for thinking you still a teenager and staying up half the night.
Slightly bigger than I had imagined, Pentire is your typical classic English thoroughbred and while some of those refined features, particularly around the girth (sounds all too familiar) after 12 odd years of Matamata grass are a little harder to disseminate, I don't imagine Pentire would have carried a lot of condition as a racehorse rather living on the nervous energy he displayed while paraded today.
A little short in front Pentire is possessed of a longish barrel which is offset by a good gaskin and hind quarters.
I was lucky enough to see Lion Hunter one day early in his racing career and had thought to myself then what a gorgeously made horse. Sure there was the dapled grey coat which is enough to make any horse lover weak at the knees but he had esquisite balance coupled with a beautiful way of moving.
Any Suggestion didnt take my breath away like dad but it's easy to see why breeders rushed to him last season with over 130 mares. It's no Banjo Paterson or even Tony Morris but "big" is the first word that comes to my mind after seeing him.
But he's not coarse at all, there's good balance, a big overstride, a pronounced wither and a lot of athleticisim. It's going to be fascinating to see what size yearling he leaves.
Before today I wasn't so sure about Sir Percy, the pedigree worried me slightly and despite been impressed with his race performances on DVD his photos were hardly inspiring.
Revigorated by my morning (and some Warehouse Songs and Stories) the question I kept asking myself as I headed home was is he going to be another English Derby winner to flop as a sire joining the ranks of Oath, High Rise, Benny the Dip, Erhaab and Shammit just some winners since 1990 who have been major disappointments in the breeding shed.
The critical difference is that Sir Percy had the speed to win a Grp 1 as a two-year-old. And no it wasn't a 1600m 4 runner slog in the Curragh mud but consistently the most competitive two-year-old race in Europe, the Dewhurst at 1400, where he beat the high class and subsequently ill fated Horatio Nelson.
And when you look at some of the more recent Derby winners who have gone onto become leading sires it is that 2 year-old speed that differentiates them from their contemparies.
Galileo, High Chaperal and Generous spring to mind from more recent times. Yes I can already hear someone demand of me to mention Dr Devious or Dr Who as I once saw him described. He didn't set the Ganges let alone the Thames on fire as a stallion. And Michael Phelps brother drowned in the bath...
Which got me thinking about pedigree. Did he outrun his? I'll save this for a rainy day for I have chores to do before the working week. Suffice I think it's a better pedigree than it looks on paper which is probably symptomatic of how insulated we have become down under over a couple of sire lines but thats a whole topic in itself.
Regardless of how he fares, hats off to John Thompson and the team for having the nous and kahunas to bring Sir Percy to our shores. We need more English Classic horses to revigorate our breed especially those blessed with his mile speed and type. Remember most were put off Pentire 12 odd years ago for reasons of his pedigree.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
All Roads Lead To Te Teko
It had been a few years since I'd ventured to these trials - the days of Distinctly Secret I think.
To any budding Marco Polo's I'm pleased to report they ve now signposted the racecourse. Last time I ended up horendously lost - thank you AA.
The weather was fine throughout and the surface which was officially rated dead, did cut out on the inside gradually during the programme so I would ignore the slower times later in the day as they were scouting 4 and 5 horse widths off the rail from the turn by then.
I won't bother you with the obvious - the dailys are paid to do that tomorrow. I saw a few performances and a horse or 2 on type which you may like to paste away in your black book.
As far as the two-year-olds heats went I thought I was at Doremello Stud not Te Teko for a while, for there were Duelled's everywhere. For all I know Roggie may even have had the Clerks of the Course on one. As a type they did not strike me as two-year-olds, a rather unfurnished group, although the filly out of Tittletaat looked a runner.
The General Nediym - Zolius colt from Mark Walkers barn looked the most forward of all the babies out today. A typical well muscled example of his fathers get, it would surprise me if he is winless by Xmas.
Quiet trialists with scope for improvment were a couple from Peter McKays yard: the General Nediym colt from Little Deuce Coupe - a brute of a horse - along with a Commands colt from Apart.
Russianov (Keeninsky-Amy Cee) got home very nicely and out of a Yamanin Vital mare you d fancy him a bit later on and further than 600m! The Oaks crew should be happy enough with that start.
Finally from the babies heats, Savannah Prince was doing handstands and won have won by a gap if he had been let down.
Very little was asked of Prince of Wales, Six O Clock News and Tell a Tale with the later getting home very nicely the last 50m, a feakishly similar effort to his hitout at these corresponding trials last season.
St Germiane, after botching the start, found the line well under minimal urging. She look's to have developed during her break.
Il Quello Veloce who was hard held in second, paraded looking like she had thickened appreciably.
The easiest winner on the programme was La Bella Encosta. He d won another trail recently and I gather the agents have been circling.
The unraced Our Heir Apparent (Zabeel - La Quinta Gold by Encosta De Lago), who holds a VRC Derby nom, didn't really look to be handling the track but was doing some nice work late. A gorgeously balanced medium sized athlete - as befitting a 900k yearling - he looks an early winner once he strikes 1600m.
The John Sargent team who looked strong throughout, produced another nice trialist in Mr Thorpedo. The Thorn Park three-year-old who had run 2 solid races last season got home strongly.
Noel Harris only had a ride or 2 yesterday but his reason for attending became clear when he lead all the way for an easy win on Sandblaster, indicating the 5 year-old entire is well forward for a return to racing.
The terribly named Warrentherooster won nicely enough despite carrying a bit of condition. He had the most physical scope of the Savabeels I saw out at 2 so it will be interesting to see how he progressesd. This heat could have some form come out of it as the unraced One Cool Cat - Glenview Lass gelding who ran second, had won a trial at Rotorua last month and is well regarded by the Moroney stable.
It was getting chilly but I m glad I stayed on to see Penrickson take the 1200m Open Catchweight heat. A 6 year-old now, I had last seen him as a 2 year-old and he has furnished into a lovely lengthy horse. A roll forward horse he is going to pick up a nice race back in NZ this season.
Man I love the spring. Roll on Mudgway day.
To any budding Marco Polo's I'm pleased to report they ve now signposted the racecourse. Last time I ended up horendously lost - thank you AA.
The weather was fine throughout and the surface which was officially rated dead, did cut out on the inside gradually during the programme so I would ignore the slower times later in the day as they were scouting 4 and 5 horse widths off the rail from the turn by then.
I won't bother you with the obvious - the dailys are paid to do that tomorrow. I saw a few performances and a horse or 2 on type which you may like to paste away in your black book.
As far as the two-year-olds heats went I thought I was at Doremello Stud not Te Teko for a while, for there were Duelled's everywhere. For all I know Roggie may even have had the Clerks of the Course on one. As a type they did not strike me as two-year-olds, a rather unfurnished group, although the filly out of Tittletaat looked a runner.
The General Nediym - Zolius colt from Mark Walkers barn looked the most forward of all the babies out today. A typical well muscled example of his fathers get, it would surprise me if he is winless by Xmas.
Quiet trialists with scope for improvment were a couple from Peter McKays yard: the General Nediym colt from Little Deuce Coupe - a brute of a horse - along with a Commands colt from Apart.
Russianov (Keeninsky-Amy Cee) got home very nicely and out of a Yamanin Vital mare you d fancy him a bit later on and further than 600m! The Oaks crew should be happy enough with that start.
Finally from the babies heats, Savannah Prince was doing handstands and won have won by a gap if he had been let down.
Very little was asked of Prince of Wales, Six O Clock News and Tell a Tale with the later getting home very nicely the last 50m, a feakishly similar effort to his hitout at these corresponding trials last season.
St Germiane, after botching the start, found the line well under minimal urging. She look's to have developed during her break.
Il Quello Veloce who was hard held in second, paraded looking like she had thickened appreciably.
The easiest winner on the programme was La Bella Encosta. He d won another trail recently and I gather the agents have been circling.
The unraced Our Heir Apparent (Zabeel - La Quinta Gold by Encosta De Lago), who holds a VRC Derby nom, didn't really look to be handling the track but was doing some nice work late. A gorgeously balanced medium sized athlete - as befitting a 900k yearling - he looks an early winner once he strikes 1600m.
The John Sargent team who looked strong throughout, produced another nice trialist in Mr Thorpedo. The Thorn Park three-year-old who had run 2 solid races last season got home strongly.
Noel Harris only had a ride or 2 yesterday but his reason for attending became clear when he lead all the way for an easy win on Sandblaster, indicating the 5 year-old entire is well forward for a return to racing.
The terribly named Warrentherooster won nicely enough despite carrying a bit of condition. He had the most physical scope of the Savabeels I saw out at 2 so it will be interesting to see how he progressesd. This heat could have some form come out of it as the unraced One Cool Cat - Glenview Lass gelding who ran second, had won a trial at Rotorua last month and is well regarded by the Moroney stable.
It was getting chilly but I m glad I stayed on to see Penrickson take the 1200m Open Catchweight heat. A 6 year-old now, I had last seen him as a 2 year-old and he has furnished into a lovely lengthy horse. A roll forward horse he is going to pick up a nice race back in NZ this season.
Man I love the spring. Roll on Mudgway day.
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