This time two year ago Angela Williams was hoping for two scratchings in the New Zealand Derby so Carchelo (No Excuse Needed - Bellesinga), a horse she bred with her father Tom, could get a start. They didn't eventuate but this year Angela will be represented in the classic with Nippin ( Pins - Wait a Minute), a horse she bred in partnership with Waikato Stud, capping a wonderful month for the Auckland based breeder - who only breeds from 3 or 4 mares each season - that started with Goodview Successor ( O'Reilly - Zalass) winning in Hong Kong on 15 February.
A winner over 1600m from just six career starts, the Zabeel mare Zalass's second dam is the former high class racemare and increasingly influential taproot mare Sanderae who has foundered something of a dynasty in recent years with the likes of Roman Emperor, Black Mamba and Rios all descendants of the Oncidium mare. Zalass is a half sister to Switch Hitter, dam of the promising Melbourne three-year-old Absolutelyawesome.
Goodview Successor who was Zalass's first foal, has a year younger unraced three-year -old No Excuse Needed half brother in work with the Saunders at Te Awamutu, a retained two-year-old O'Reilly full brother in training at Awapuni and a weanling Towkay half brother who Williams intends to have prepared for next years Ready to Run Sale. Zalass is in foal to Nom Du Jeu.
Racecaller Dave McDonald summed up the finish of the Listed Southland Guineas on 19 February perfectly when he implied that the winners name Champagne Needed (No Excuse Needed - Bellesinga) would be needed in rather large quantities, and quite quickly by connections of the 52 to 1 winner. As the colts breeder and well capable of joining in a good party, Williams may not have been trackside to share in the celebrations but she had a toast or two at home to just the second stakeswinner she has bred - the first was Larry's Never Late (Pentire-Labeel) who she bred with her father Tom.
A most attractive mare by Danasinga, Bellesinga, who was a winner over 1600m and 2000m in 15 starts, came from a family extremely light on black type and it was only her ability to transmit her looks into her progeny that saw her second foal - Champagne Needed's full brother Carchelo - accepted into the 2007 Karaka Select catalogue, where he sold purely on type for $95,000. More workman like than his prettier older brother, but still a very nice type, Champagne Needed only made the Festival Sale in 2009 where he sold to his present trainer Shane Kennedy and Michael Wallace Bloodstock for $27,000.
Unfortunately Bellesinga died last year when in foal to No Excuse Needed. Williams has retained her first foal, an O'Reilly mare who she will send to the court of the new Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto later this year, and Bellesinga's last foal an unbroken Scardee Cat two-year-old filly is currently on the market for private sale.
The jewel in William's broodmare band is clearly the dual race winning Centaine mare Wait A Minute whom Angela bred and raced. A full sister to the group one winning filly Sixty Seconds and group winner Spottswoode, this is the family of the 2007 NZ Broodmare of the year River Century and her sister Arletty - grand dam of this weekends New Zealand Derby second favourite He's Remarkable.
Nippin, Wait A Minute's first live foal, was a $210,000 purchase by Alan Sharrock from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale. His year younger half sister by Savabeel, bred in partnership with Little Avondale Stud and passed in at last years Karaka Premier Sale is likely to be leased for a racing campaign before a broodmare career for Williams and her cousin Sam Williams (owner and studmaster at LA). Wait A Minute has a weanling Pins colt and is in foal to O'Reilly.
The fourth member of Williams broodmare band the O'Reilly mare Maggie O'Reilly was purchased from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2009 Karaka Broodmare Sale for $6,000 in foal to No Excuse Needed. Unraced at that stage, Maggie O'Reilly's first foal a filly by No Excuse Needed has since made a promising start to her racing career from John Bary's stable as No Excuse Maggie, registering a win and two seconds, one of which was to Derby contestant On The Level, from just 4 starts.
Canterbury's Berkley Stud may well have got somewhat of a bargain when they bought No Excuse Maggie's full brother from Williams at last years National Weanling Sale for $2,000 with a view to re-offering him at this years South Island Sale. Maggie O'Reilly, who is empty and did not have a foal last year, is due to visit Per Incanto this year.
While it maybe expecting too much from Nippin to win this weekends New Zealand Derby, Williams has savoured the last month, coming as she does from a family stepped in breeding tradition and well versed in the ups and downs of breeding thoroughbreds. Regardless of Saturdays result Williams small band of broodmares look well capable of bringing her a lot more enjoyment over the next few years.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Karaka Observations
While the overall results can't disguise the sorry state of our domestic racing industry, at least Karaka 2011 showed that one's desire to find the next champion of the turf still burns as brightly as ever in Australia and some nations further afield despite the worldwide affliction of the largest global financial crisis since the Great Depression. Whichever way you look at it, racing horses is as bigger luxury item as you will find anywhere, yet Karaka held up remarkably well.
Some other thoughts:
- Maybe it's about time we reviewed our liking for jokes and jibes about our neighbours. At times Karaka resembled the mounting yard at Caulfield and about the only Australian's seemingly missing in the bar were Shane Warne and Paul Hogan, but just as they ve been a saviour in Christchurch, many local breeders will have felt the same way about their Karaka presence.
- How well would the High Chaparral's have sold if he had served a better quality of mare in 2008. Without the HC factor, a number of his yearlings were of Select Sale quality based on the mare, and some marginal at that, but he still finished fifth in the Premier averages.
- The only real offering of Sadlers Wells blood, outside of HC, came from five Gallant Guru yearlings who averaged a more than respectable $30,000. Especially if Montjeu's sire sons Authorised and Motivator can kick on from their promising starts at stud in the U.K, the debut next year by Nom Du Jeu could be very fruitful for those breeders who patronised the Fairdale stallion at his $6,000 service fee.
- The handful of yearlings by Dylan Thomas impressed with their lovely balance and good walks. Despite the stallion's staying profile he has met with pretty good acceptance worldwide to date and it will be fascinating to see how his progeny develop over the next couple of years. Can the son of Danehill follow Danehill Dancer and Invincible Spirit as successful sires from the Danzig/Sharpen Up cross.
- Not unexpectedly Darci Brahma suffered a little from the traditional second-season sire blues. The stallion himself only made his racetrack debut on the opening day of the 2004 Sale and from a Zabeel mare who never raced at two, the market may have expected a little too much of his progeny, however the post Sale performances of Chateauneuf Dupape and Rescue Mission will have heartened many breeders who have invested so heavily in the son of Danehill.
- While the spend by the HKJC was up considerably on last year, the expected Asian influence, especially from Hong Kong and Singapore didn't eventuate. I suspect that it may have something to do with the record of NZ breds this season in both jurisdictions, particularly the former where we haven't been as dominant as recent seasons on account of better performances from high profile Australian stallions such as Encosta De Lago and Fastnet Rock and a European influence which is becoming much more noticeable especially in the more tightly assessed races.
- The Select Sale is now a very strong sale in it's own right and should continue to be promoted strongly however the Festival Sale is no longer viable "tacked onto" the other two sales and a better fit now would seem to be around Auckland Cup time or even slightly later in the autumn.
- With father time conspiring against Zabeel and to a lesser degree Pentire, our industry needs to ensure that the momentum generated by the increased Australian demand for staying bred yearlings can continue to be capitalised on and this can only be achieved by upgrading our stallion ranks with the types of horses that our industry has become re-known for. The debuts next year by Nom Du Jeu and Sir Percy will sustain some of that appetite but continual replenishment is needed as the market place is a very harsh marker even for slower maturing staying types and some of our current crop of younger staying profiled stallions have all but exhausted their appeal to the Australian market.
- Courtesy of a spectacular run of winners leading up to Xmas and then over the New Year period, Savabeel emerged from the Select Sale as the only stallion to improve his average from 2010 ( $30,000 compared to $27,923).
I didn't spend a lot of time at Karaka this year so my viewing of horses on the sale complex was limited however I was lucky enough to get to a trainers and agents parade of the Central District studs over Xmas. Although severley handicapped by a stone bruise at that stage, Wellfield's Zabeel - Cold Shoulder filly could still just about out walk Robert Korzeniowski, reminding me a lot of her three-quarter brother Efficient.
Some other thoughts:
- Maybe it's about time we reviewed our liking for jokes and jibes about our neighbours. At times Karaka resembled the mounting yard at Caulfield and about the only Australian's seemingly missing in the bar were Shane Warne and Paul Hogan, but just as they ve been a saviour in Christchurch, many local breeders will have felt the same way about their Karaka presence.
- How well would the High Chaparral's have sold if he had served a better quality of mare in 2008. Without the HC factor, a number of his yearlings were of Select Sale quality based on the mare, and some marginal at that, but he still finished fifth in the Premier averages.
- The only real offering of Sadlers Wells blood, outside of HC, came from five Gallant Guru yearlings who averaged a more than respectable $30,000. Especially if Montjeu's sire sons Authorised and Motivator can kick on from their promising starts at stud in the U.K, the debut next year by Nom Du Jeu could be very fruitful for those breeders who patronised the Fairdale stallion at his $6,000 service fee.
- The handful of yearlings by Dylan Thomas impressed with their lovely balance and good walks. Despite the stallion's staying profile he has met with pretty good acceptance worldwide to date and it will be fascinating to see how his progeny develop over the next couple of years. Can the son of Danehill follow Danehill Dancer and Invincible Spirit as successful sires from the Danzig/Sharpen Up cross.
- Not unexpectedly Darci Brahma suffered a little from the traditional second-season sire blues. The stallion himself only made his racetrack debut on the opening day of the 2004 Sale and from a Zabeel mare who never raced at two, the market may have expected a little too much of his progeny, however the post Sale performances of Chateauneuf Dupape and Rescue Mission will have heartened many breeders who have invested so heavily in the son of Danehill.
- While the spend by the HKJC was up considerably on last year, the expected Asian influence, especially from Hong Kong and Singapore didn't eventuate. I suspect that it may have something to do with the record of NZ breds this season in both jurisdictions, particularly the former where we haven't been as dominant as recent seasons on account of better performances from high profile Australian stallions such as Encosta De Lago and Fastnet Rock and a European influence which is becoming much more noticeable especially in the more tightly assessed races.
- The Select Sale is now a very strong sale in it's own right and should continue to be promoted strongly however the Festival Sale is no longer viable "tacked onto" the other two sales and a better fit now would seem to be around Auckland Cup time or even slightly later in the autumn.
- With father time conspiring against Zabeel and to a lesser degree Pentire, our industry needs to ensure that the momentum generated by the increased Australian demand for staying bred yearlings can continue to be capitalised on and this can only be achieved by upgrading our stallion ranks with the types of horses that our industry has become re-known for. The debuts next year by Nom Du Jeu and Sir Percy will sustain some of that appetite but continual replenishment is needed as the market place is a very harsh marker even for slower maturing staying types and some of our current crop of younger staying profiled stallions have all but exhausted their appeal to the Australian market.
- Courtesy of a spectacular run of winners leading up to Xmas and then over the New Year period, Savabeel emerged from the Select Sale as the only stallion to improve his average from 2010 ( $30,000 compared to $27,923).
I didn't spend a lot of time at Karaka this year so my viewing of horses on the sale complex was limited however I was lucky enough to get to a trainers and agents parade of the Central District studs over Xmas. Although severley handicapped by a stone bruise at that stage, Wellfield's Zabeel - Cold Shoulder filly could still just about out walk Robert Korzeniowski, reminding me a lot of her three-quarter brother Efficient.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Avondale Guineas: Jimmy to Sleep Well
The difficult 2100m start at Ellerslie combined with the rail being out 10 metres and a number of the higher rated runners drawing wide barriers had led me to suspect that yesterdays Group 2 Avondale Guineas wouldn't be the guide it so often is to the New Zealand Derby in a fortnights time.
Even allowing for those vagaries to be used as excuses, what transpired will have left a number of punters with more questions than answers as they mull over the Derby form.
By rights the genuine tempo set by Starcheeka - who dropped out to run a long last - should have assisted those who settled back in the race however the nature of the running rail out so far in a fifteen horse field meant that those who choose to come through the inside or even the centre of the track were going to need the best of navigation and more than a little bit of luck. Favourites Banchee and He's Remarkable chose the shorter route home and suffered interference although it s arguable that the later was doing enough before his line was taken with about 1500m to go.
However the win of Icepin was thoroughly deserving as he did plenty of work early in the race to get handy and kicked very strongly when they straigthened, in stark contrast to his fellow on pace colleagues who were going back through the field faster than a Helen Clarke motorcade.
Second place-getter On The Level settled much more kindly than he did at Te Rapa - which was his first time beyond 1600m - and lost little in comparison to the winner with his late finishing effort down the outside. Of the rest third place-getter Sierra Nevada and fifth placed O'Reilly's Prize, at his first run right handed, ran on solidly.
If you thought that trainers have it easy preparing a horse for a Derby in March now instead of Boxing Day then you needed to have been taking an interest in the parades of the lead up races. Some horses who looked like catwalk models around Xmas time had that slightly washed out coat look yesterday highlighting how much of a tightrope trainers often have to walk targeting a major race with a young horse.
It's a shame when we have got to a stage where a race with as much history as the Avondale Guineas is dictated by the need to preserve a racetrack for a major carnival. In saying that the turn up in form from yesterdays final Derby lead up probably owes as much to the wonderful uncertainty of a horses physical and mental maturity as it does to the nature of the race conditions although it's doubtful Jimmy Choux will be having any sleepless nights before Saturday March 6.
Even allowing for those vagaries to be used as excuses, what transpired will have left a number of punters with more questions than answers as they mull over the Derby form.
By rights the genuine tempo set by Starcheeka - who dropped out to run a long last - should have assisted those who settled back in the race however the nature of the running rail out so far in a fifteen horse field meant that those who choose to come through the inside or even the centre of the track were going to need the best of navigation and more than a little bit of luck. Favourites Banchee and He's Remarkable chose the shorter route home and suffered interference although it s arguable that the later was doing enough before his line was taken with about 1500m to go.
However the win of Icepin was thoroughly deserving as he did plenty of work early in the race to get handy and kicked very strongly when they straigthened, in stark contrast to his fellow on pace colleagues who were going back through the field faster than a Helen Clarke motorcade.
Second place-getter On The Level settled much more kindly than he did at Te Rapa - which was his first time beyond 1600m - and lost little in comparison to the winner with his late finishing effort down the outside. Of the rest third place-getter Sierra Nevada and fifth placed O'Reilly's Prize, at his first run right handed, ran on solidly.
If you thought that trainers have it easy preparing a horse for a Derby in March now instead of Boxing Day then you needed to have been taking an interest in the parades of the lead up races. Some horses who looked like catwalk models around Xmas time had that slightly washed out coat look yesterday highlighting how much of a tightrope trainers often have to walk targeting a major race with a young horse.
It's a shame when we have got to a stage where a race with as much history as the Avondale Guineas is dictated by the need to preserve a racetrack for a major carnival. In saying that the turn up in form from yesterdays final Derby lead up probably owes as much to the wonderful uncertainty of a horses physical and mental maturity as it does to the nature of the race conditions although it's doubtful Jimmy Choux will be having any sleepless nights before Saturday March 6.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Milo: Good for Young Bones & Old Memories
I had hardly been on course at Ellerslie on Boxing Day five minutes when I bumped into a work colleague who gave me a stable tip for Milo, a first starter down to race at Wingatui later that afternoon. My experience with stable tips lately had been as successful as buyouts of ailing finance companies so I stayed away from the tote but watched the race on the intertrack service with more than just a passing interest.
In a previous life, Milo was a game little Pakistan 2 mare who despite having the misfortune to be born around the same time as Silver Liner, Grey Way, Copper Belt, Kiwi Can, Orchidra, La Mer and co, fashioned a handy record as a open class sprinter/miler in the mid 1970's throughout the Central Districts. With my love of the chocolate and malt drink, and an enquiring and developing interest in the racing game, I was a keen follower of the mares fortunes, usually on my fathers transistor in the garden on a Saturday afternoon.
The modern day Milo kicked off his career most promisingly; a tallish, good barrelled, almost gangly type, he finished strongly into third despite some greenness in the home straight. Easy wins at his next two starts have the Coats Choice gelding a likely favourite for the Gore Guineas this weekend.
A $20,000 buy from the 2009 South Island Sale, Milo, still largely unfurnished apart from a lovely deep shoulder, should make a nice horse next season when fully developed.
Milo's emergence is timely for his sire, a lightly raced son of Redoutes Choice with oldest progeny just three-years of age and very limited raceday representation. Milo is not unlike others I have seen by the sire; they tend to exhibit physical characteristics which suggest time will be their best ally.
Coats Choice has eight yearlings entered in next months Karaka Festival Sale with seven hailing from his home Berkley Stud in Christchurch. Two appeal on pedigree and their purchase price probably won't require complete disclosure with the wife or girlfriend - lots 1246 and 1577.
In a previous life, Milo was a game little Pakistan 2 mare who despite having the misfortune to be born around the same time as Silver Liner, Grey Way, Copper Belt, Kiwi Can, Orchidra, La Mer and co, fashioned a handy record as a open class sprinter/miler in the mid 1970's throughout the Central Districts. With my love of the chocolate and malt drink, and an enquiring and developing interest in the racing game, I was a keen follower of the mares fortunes, usually on my fathers transistor in the garden on a Saturday afternoon.
The modern day Milo kicked off his career most promisingly; a tallish, good barrelled, almost gangly type, he finished strongly into third despite some greenness in the home straight. Easy wins at his next two starts have the Coats Choice gelding a likely favourite for the Gore Guineas this weekend.
A $20,000 buy from the 2009 South Island Sale, Milo, still largely unfurnished apart from a lovely deep shoulder, should make a nice horse next season when fully developed.
Milo's emergence is timely for his sire, a lightly raced son of Redoutes Choice with oldest progeny just three-years of age and very limited raceday representation. Milo is not unlike others I have seen by the sire; they tend to exhibit physical characteristics which suggest time will be their best ally.
Coats Choice has eight yearlings entered in next months Karaka Festival Sale with seven hailing from his home Berkley Stud in Christchurch. Two appeal on pedigree and their purchase price probably won't require complete disclosure with the wife or girlfriend - lots 1246 and 1577.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
My Summer Six
We didn't do too badly last year selecting six to follow over the summer months so let s go again. Our older staying and sprinting ranks are devoid of any real depth this season so I can see our neighbours from across the ditch taking home the thick end of the Railway and Telegraph purses however Booming and rising talent Innocent Lady should test any comers in the Cups.
Nippin: caught the eye as a stayer of some promise with the way he attacked the line when breaking his maiden over 1400m in late October at New Plymouth - at just his second start. The son of Pins from a high class female middle distance family was unlucky at his next start, also over 1400m; just failing to run down the highly promising Kiwi Lady, after struggling to find clear galloping room until well into the Trentham straight. Holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby and has the racing profile and pedigree to make the start line at Ellerslie on the first Saturday in March.
Innocent Lady: one of those mares who sometimes grow another leg during spring and early summer as the combination of sunshine and natural strengthening with age lift their form many lengths. It takes a good horse to break 2.16 for 2200m at Ellerslie these days but Innocent Lady accomplished that easily when dealing to a decent enough rating 80 field in mid November before coming out at Te Rapa on Saturday and scoring a facile win in a rating 90 2400m with 58kgs. When her usually conservative trainer labels her a significantly better staying prospect than his dual Auckland Cup winning mare Prized Lady, it pays to sit up and take note. A major player in races such as the City of Auckland and Wellington Cups during January.
Keenly: may have slipped under the radar of a few when quietly fashioning a decent record away from stakes company in October and November but the form around those performances and the way the daughter of Keeninsky from a Zabeel mare has been finding the line over those 1400m - 1600m assignments suggest the Robert Priscott trained filly should be ultra-competitive in races such as the Eight Carat and Royal Stakes over New Year even allowing for the real depth in our three-year-old filly crop this season.
Kings Rose: If the interference suffered by We Can Say It Now and the fallout from the Magic Briar interference seemed to overshadow Kings Rose's tough performance to win in the 1000 Guineas then her emphatic win in last Saturdays Eulogy Stakes after sitting three wide for a greater part of the 1600m contest should have silenced any doubting her true class. With WCSIN seemingly set to target WFA racing at home before a possible Australian campaign, Kings Rose looks to have a mortgage on the remaining Filly Of The Year races and this weeks announcement that she may target the New Zealand Derby should have put a shiver down the spine of connections of the leading Derby contenders. At $12 currently in the Derby market the temptation will be too great for a number of Futures players who will know all too well that should she line-up her odds will conceivably one-third of the current quote.
Leica Scotch: With justification some of you maybe feeling that this chap is becoming one of those sucker horses who roar home early in their campaigns over seemingly unsuitable distances going by the horses pedigree and racing pattern; doing enough for you to withdraw your superannuation and re mortgage your mother-in-laws home, only for you to find that those late finishing bursts fail to translate into success in supposedly more suitable races. In other words he is what is commonly referred to in racing circles as a "gunna". But in fairness to Leica Scotch he has had his share of problems throughout his abbreviated 12 race career, although at five years of age and well down the handicappers ratings the Zabeel gelding is never going to get a better chance to live up to the high opinion the stable has had for him from an early three-year-old. He needs to land a nice PQ race and do it convincingly over the next couple of weeks to have any chance of landing a start in races such as the City of Auckland and Wellington Cups but if he does he can be a legitimate lightweight danger to the likes of Red Ruler, Booming and Innocent Lady.
Planet Rock: The well hyped colt Super Easy was all out to beat Planet Rock when they both made their debuts at Trentham earlier this month. With four and a half lengths to the third horse and a track record to boot it should be a top form guide to two-year racing over the next few months at least. The Fastnet Rock filly also didn't help herself by wanting to lay out for a greater part of the straight while the winner went as straight as a pool-cue. Befitting a $280,000 yearling buy the filly is an athletic sort with plenty of physical scope to improve, which when married with the experience gained from more racing should make the Christchurch trained filly very competitive against the best juvenile company.
Near misses for the six-pack were On The Level and Fireside.
Away from town-hall company but a few with their foot firmly on the till at the moment are Billy Bingo, Punt Hill (particularly if we get some rain), Platinum Princess, Diamonds In Time and Elite Street.
Just to finish I got along to Ellerslie last Sunday mainly to see if there were any horses in the Championship Stakes who could be legitimate contenders for the Derby in March. While the winner won well I feel he beat very little and he needs to find another 2 lengths to be competitive. If there was a horse on the card that took my eye it was the Keeninsky gelding Rimsky - he really picked-up in the straight and looks a lovely genuine type with maybe a touch of something.
Nippin: caught the eye as a stayer of some promise with the way he attacked the line when breaking his maiden over 1400m in late October at New Plymouth - at just his second start. The son of Pins from a high class female middle distance family was unlucky at his next start, also over 1400m; just failing to run down the highly promising Kiwi Lady, after struggling to find clear galloping room until well into the Trentham straight. Holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby and has the racing profile and pedigree to make the start line at Ellerslie on the first Saturday in March.
Innocent Lady: one of those mares who sometimes grow another leg during spring and early summer as the combination of sunshine and natural strengthening with age lift their form many lengths. It takes a good horse to break 2.16 for 2200m at Ellerslie these days but Innocent Lady accomplished that easily when dealing to a decent enough rating 80 field in mid November before coming out at Te Rapa on Saturday and scoring a facile win in a rating 90 2400m with 58kgs. When her usually conservative trainer labels her a significantly better staying prospect than his dual Auckland Cup winning mare Prized Lady, it pays to sit up and take note. A major player in races such as the City of Auckland and Wellington Cups during January.
Keenly: may have slipped under the radar of a few when quietly fashioning a decent record away from stakes company in October and November but the form around those performances and the way the daughter of Keeninsky from a Zabeel mare has been finding the line over those 1400m - 1600m assignments suggest the Robert Priscott trained filly should be ultra-competitive in races such as the Eight Carat and Royal Stakes over New Year even allowing for the real depth in our three-year-old filly crop this season.
Kings Rose: If the interference suffered by We Can Say It Now and the fallout from the Magic Briar interference seemed to overshadow Kings Rose's tough performance to win in the 1000 Guineas then her emphatic win in last Saturdays Eulogy Stakes after sitting three wide for a greater part of the 1600m contest should have silenced any doubting her true class. With WCSIN seemingly set to target WFA racing at home before a possible Australian campaign, Kings Rose looks to have a mortgage on the remaining Filly Of The Year races and this weeks announcement that she may target the New Zealand Derby should have put a shiver down the spine of connections of the leading Derby contenders. At $12 currently in the Derby market the temptation will be too great for a number of Futures players who will know all too well that should she line-up her odds will conceivably one-third of the current quote.
Leica Scotch: With justification some of you maybe feeling that this chap is becoming one of those sucker horses who roar home early in their campaigns over seemingly unsuitable distances going by the horses pedigree and racing pattern; doing enough for you to withdraw your superannuation and re mortgage your mother-in-laws home, only for you to find that those late finishing bursts fail to translate into success in supposedly more suitable races. In other words he is what is commonly referred to in racing circles as a "gunna". But in fairness to Leica Scotch he has had his share of problems throughout his abbreviated 12 race career, although at five years of age and well down the handicappers ratings the Zabeel gelding is never going to get a better chance to live up to the high opinion the stable has had for him from an early three-year-old. He needs to land a nice PQ race and do it convincingly over the next couple of weeks to have any chance of landing a start in races such as the City of Auckland and Wellington Cups but if he does he can be a legitimate lightweight danger to the likes of Red Ruler, Booming and Innocent Lady.
Planet Rock: The well hyped colt Super Easy was all out to beat Planet Rock when they both made their debuts at Trentham earlier this month. With four and a half lengths to the third horse and a track record to boot it should be a top form guide to two-year racing over the next few months at least. The Fastnet Rock filly also didn't help herself by wanting to lay out for a greater part of the straight while the winner went as straight as a pool-cue. Befitting a $280,000 yearling buy the filly is an athletic sort with plenty of physical scope to improve, which when married with the experience gained from more racing should make the Christchurch trained filly very competitive against the best juvenile company.
Near misses for the six-pack were On The Level and Fireside.
Away from town-hall company but a few with their foot firmly on the till at the moment are Billy Bingo, Punt Hill (particularly if we get some rain), Platinum Princess, Diamonds In Time and Elite Street.
Just to finish I got along to Ellerslie last Sunday mainly to see if there were any horses in the Championship Stakes who could be legitimate contenders for the Derby in March. While the winner won well I feel he beat very little and he needs to find another 2 lengths to be competitive. If there was a horse on the card that took my eye it was the Keeninsky gelding Rimsky - he really picked-up in the straight and looks a lovely genuine type with maybe a touch of something.
Friday, November 5, 2010
2000 Guineas: A Lot at Stake
These days a decent stallion prospect from the NH fetches more than a developing nations GDP, so more than ever it's to within their own ranks that local studmasters are looking for that next special colt. While potential suspects for the mantle of the next Darci Brahma or Alamosa need good form at two, it's Classic success at three and below 2000m that really gets the calculators out.
The increased significance of the breeding consideration has seen the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas grow in statue as a race and it's little co-incidence that four of the leading chances for this afternoon's 1600m Classic have been spared the cruelest cut of all. A win later today by either of Jimmy Choux, Cellarmaster, Maradona or He's Remarkable will be worth considerably more to connections than the $600,000 first prize-money.
Jimmy Choux is easily the best male product to date of Thorn Park, a group one winning son of Spinning World, from an unraced daughter of Champion Broodmare Stallion Centaine - sire in that capacity of 20 group one winners including budding stallion Alamosa.
The Centaine factor is probably going to be the most important selling point of the colt s female line with the 1998 Avondale Guineas and Wellington Stakes winner Mr Danamite - from a half sister to Jimmy Choux's second dam - easily the best representative of a family somewhat light on black-type.
Line-breeding purists will enjoy the presence of four crosses of Star Kingdom within Jimmy Choux's pedigree.
Not necessarily the type to bowl you over with his looks in the birdcage, Jimmy Choux is nonetheless an extremely well balanced colt, of medium size with a game, genuine head and eye. And while his breeding does not suggest as much, he may well get over 2000m and further, such is his relaxed disposition.
Cellarmaster has a comparatively similar pedigree profile to Jimmy Choux although his sire Dubawi has made a superior start to his stud career than Thorn Park, largely on the back of his NH stock which have left him in the highly enviable position for a sire with only three crops of racing age in Europe of sitting in sixth-place on stakemoney won and 2nd to Oasis Dream in the number of Pattern winners.
Withdrawn from the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale and retained by his breeder, Cellarmaster is the 7th foal of the unraced Sound Reason mare Oneology, dam also of the useful Australian performer Our Bahare, a winner of nearly $250,000 and third in the VRC Derby of his year to Elvstroem. Further back it's a family responsible for the high class stayer Second Coming and the Breeders Cup Turf winner and leading sire In The Wings.
Like his two-year-old sparring partner, Cellarmaster is not an overly tall or long horse but he's well balanced and very strongly made - especially through the girth and shoulder.
Maradona's immediate pedigree has been detailed in a 14 September posting. While the presence of disappointing stallions Anziyan and St Hilarion as sires of his first two dams is not going to do wonders for the Mr Nancho colts stud appeal, both mares have shown a real affinity to out perform their pedigrees and Cashcade in particular looks capable of taking her branch of a solid old family to a another level.
A taller and longer horse than Cellarmaster and Jimmy Choux, Maradona is a heavier, slightly showier version of his half sister Ekstreme, rangy and workman like rather than necessarily attractive.
He's Remarkable's pedigree has been detailed in a 13 September posting. By a well and truly proven stallion in Pentire and from a Zabeel mare whose dam is a Centaine full sister to the 2007 NZ Broodmare of the Year, He s Remarkable has the most fashionable pedigree of the four colts.
Given the tough examination that is a stallions pedigree, Jimmy Choux, Cellarmaster and Maradona regardless of todays result are probably going to have to win another group one contest, and preferably this autumn in Australia in a race like the Randwick, Rosehill or Australian Guineas - never an easy ask against the local foe - whereas a win by He's Remarkable this afternoon may well tempt a profile farm to at least take a majority position in the Roger James trained colt.
With the current almost unprecedented demand for staying types not expected to abate anytime soon and being by a proven middle distance sire in his twilight years and without a son at stud, plus having the presence of two of the most significant names in post war NZ breeding in his female line, all lends itself to He's Remarkable having the most at stake today.
The increased significance of the breeding consideration has seen the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas grow in statue as a race and it's little co-incidence that four of the leading chances for this afternoon's 1600m Classic have been spared the cruelest cut of all. A win later today by either of Jimmy Choux, Cellarmaster, Maradona or He's Remarkable will be worth considerably more to connections than the $600,000 first prize-money.
Jimmy Choux is easily the best male product to date of Thorn Park, a group one winning son of Spinning World, from an unraced daughter of Champion Broodmare Stallion Centaine - sire in that capacity of 20 group one winners including budding stallion Alamosa.
The Centaine factor is probably going to be the most important selling point of the colt s female line with the 1998 Avondale Guineas and Wellington Stakes winner Mr Danamite - from a half sister to Jimmy Choux's second dam - easily the best representative of a family somewhat light on black-type.
Line-breeding purists will enjoy the presence of four crosses of Star Kingdom within Jimmy Choux's pedigree.
Not necessarily the type to bowl you over with his looks in the birdcage, Jimmy Choux is nonetheless an extremely well balanced colt, of medium size with a game, genuine head and eye. And while his breeding does not suggest as much, he may well get over 2000m and further, such is his relaxed disposition.
Cellarmaster has a comparatively similar pedigree profile to Jimmy Choux although his sire Dubawi has made a superior start to his stud career than Thorn Park, largely on the back of his NH stock which have left him in the highly enviable position for a sire with only three crops of racing age in Europe of sitting in sixth-place on stakemoney won and 2nd to Oasis Dream in the number of Pattern winners.
Withdrawn from the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale and retained by his breeder, Cellarmaster is the 7th foal of the unraced Sound Reason mare Oneology, dam also of the useful Australian performer Our Bahare, a winner of nearly $250,000 and third in the VRC Derby of his year to Elvstroem. Further back it's a family responsible for the high class stayer Second Coming and the Breeders Cup Turf winner and leading sire In The Wings.
Like his two-year-old sparring partner, Cellarmaster is not an overly tall or long horse but he's well balanced and very strongly made - especially through the girth and shoulder.
Maradona's immediate pedigree has been detailed in a 14 September posting. While the presence of disappointing stallions Anziyan and St Hilarion as sires of his first two dams is not going to do wonders for the Mr Nancho colts stud appeal, both mares have shown a real affinity to out perform their pedigrees and Cashcade in particular looks capable of taking her branch of a solid old family to a another level.
A taller and longer horse than Cellarmaster and Jimmy Choux, Maradona is a heavier, slightly showier version of his half sister Ekstreme, rangy and workman like rather than necessarily attractive.
He's Remarkable's pedigree has been detailed in a 13 September posting. By a well and truly proven stallion in Pentire and from a Zabeel mare whose dam is a Centaine full sister to the 2007 NZ Broodmare of the Year, He s Remarkable has the most fashionable pedigree of the four colts.
Given the tough examination that is a stallions pedigree, Jimmy Choux, Cellarmaster and Maradona regardless of todays result are probably going to have to win another group one contest, and preferably this autumn in Australia in a race like the Randwick, Rosehill or Australian Guineas - never an easy ask against the local foe - whereas a win by He's Remarkable this afternoon may well tempt a profile farm to at least take a majority position in the Roger James trained colt.
With the current almost unprecedented demand for staying types not expected to abate anytime soon and being by a proven middle distance sire in his twilight years and without a son at stud, plus having the presence of two of the most significant names in post war NZ breeding in his female line, all lends itself to He's Remarkable having the most at stake today.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Hastings Observations
I got to Hawkes Bay for the last day.
I couldn't have backed Tridane in a month of Sundays but his win does show how certain horses can come right at the same time each year.
Four years ago almost to the day the Danelove gelding ran in the Guineas and while ninth of 13 to Alamosa he was beaten less than four lengths and beat home Run Like Al and Go Danny. They ran 1.20.86 that day so Tridane has run around 1.22 and nothing that he met Saturday fortnight ago would get within three lengths of him if he ran to that form.
A few horses who I thought looked well but could improve with another run under their belts were Manonamission, Platinum Princess and Cellarmaster.
Interestingly the first two are both in the Lisa Latta stable and in general all her horses looked well. She invariably does well at Christchurch and I'm picking she'll have another good carnival.
Manonamission has always struck me as a miler on type and race pattern, but most of his runs since been stepped up in distance last season have been full of merit, including his latest effort at the Bay. He holds a nom for the NZ Cup and at $10 is worth considering.
The first six home in the Guineas with luck should all win a good race. More unsettled (ask Andre Neil) than on the second day, Maradona is still a big kid. He looked like he would drop out once they turned for home but picked himself up like a good horse. I suspect Christchurch maybe just a tad soon for him but the Telegraph could be more his go given his speed, especially from the gates.
Cellarmaster is my pick to win the 2000 Guineas. He looked a shade pretty and ran to them at the 200m like he d win at Hastings but peaked on his effort. I couldn't get over the way he had developed in six months. While a natural enough athlete to be competitive at two, he was on the light side with a slight baby like face but now he s much more mature, in fact he s quite imposing, with an exceptional girth.
The Starcraft filly did well for such an inexperienced type and as a long and almost rangy type she should be a stunning individual come the autumn.
I dropped into Taupo on the way home. A few reputations were dented, not the least Maccavity and Rockandready. Maybe Maccavity's an autumn horse for she didn't look the same filly I saw back in April. If the Bakers get Rockandready to Riccarton next month, they are even better trainers than I give them credit for. She s a very leggy type and doesn't carry much condition yet.
Finally, while he s no So You Think, Wall Street is a seriously good galloper. He showed at Hastings how he can still be competitive racing to another pattern, and given his distance versatility - the Telegraph finish would have been interesting if he d stayed on his feet - and an affinity for most track conditions, he s arguably the most complete male WFA horse we ve had for a few seasons. He's actually developed into a very attractive horse now too, in fact I'd almost argue he s more athletic than the other good Montjeu's I've seen.
I couldn't have backed Tridane in a month of Sundays but his win does show how certain horses can come right at the same time each year.
Four years ago almost to the day the Danelove gelding ran in the Guineas and while ninth of 13 to Alamosa he was beaten less than four lengths and beat home Run Like Al and Go Danny. They ran 1.20.86 that day so Tridane has run around 1.22 and nothing that he met Saturday fortnight ago would get within three lengths of him if he ran to that form.
A few horses who I thought looked well but could improve with another run under their belts were Manonamission, Platinum Princess and Cellarmaster.
Interestingly the first two are both in the Lisa Latta stable and in general all her horses looked well. She invariably does well at Christchurch and I'm picking she'll have another good carnival.
Manonamission has always struck me as a miler on type and race pattern, but most of his runs since been stepped up in distance last season have been full of merit, including his latest effort at the Bay. He holds a nom for the NZ Cup and at $10 is worth considering.
The first six home in the Guineas with luck should all win a good race. More unsettled (ask Andre Neil) than on the second day, Maradona is still a big kid. He looked like he would drop out once they turned for home but picked himself up like a good horse. I suspect Christchurch maybe just a tad soon for him but the Telegraph could be more his go given his speed, especially from the gates.
Cellarmaster is my pick to win the 2000 Guineas. He looked a shade pretty and ran to them at the 200m like he d win at Hastings but peaked on his effort. I couldn't get over the way he had developed in six months. While a natural enough athlete to be competitive at two, he was on the light side with a slight baby like face but now he s much more mature, in fact he s quite imposing, with an exceptional girth.
The Starcraft filly did well for such an inexperienced type and as a long and almost rangy type she should be a stunning individual come the autumn.
I dropped into Taupo on the way home. A few reputations were dented, not the least Maccavity and Rockandready. Maybe Maccavity's an autumn horse for she didn't look the same filly I saw back in April. If the Bakers get Rockandready to Riccarton next month, they are even better trainers than I give them credit for. She s a very leggy type and doesn't carry much condition yet.
Finally, while he s no So You Think, Wall Street is a seriously good galloper. He showed at Hastings how he can still be competitive racing to another pattern, and given his distance versatility - the Telegraph finish would have been interesting if he d stayed on his feet - and an affinity for most track conditions, he s arguably the most complete male WFA horse we ve had for a few seasons. He's actually developed into a very attractive horse now too, in fact I'd almost argue he s more athletic than the other good Montjeu's I've seen.
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