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.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
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.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Written Tycoon: Auspicious Start
About this time last year at Little Avondale Stud in Masterton a couple of friends and I watched half a dozen yearlings career around a large paddock. One yearling stood out; while the Written Tycoon filly was often slow to get underway, it didn't take her long to get into her long floating stride and run past her paddock mates with deceptive ease.
The first two-year-old trials of the new season in Australia were held this week and the
stallion on every ones lips is Written Tycoon with trial winners at Randwick and Cranbourne on Monday and another at Newcastle on Wednesday. Buoyed by this and with three of his progeny breezing up under the 11 second mark at the Gold Coast earlier this week in readiness for the upcoming Ready To Run Sale, Magic Millions took the unusual step for a stallion without a runner to the races, in naming Written Tycoon as their Stallion of the Week.
The first two-year-old trials of the new season in Australia were held this week and the
stallion on every ones lips is Written Tycoon with trial winners at Randwick and Cranbourne on Monday and another at Newcastle on Wednesday. Buoyed by this and with three of his progeny breezing up under the 11 second mark at the Gold Coast earlier this week in readiness for the upcoming Ready To Run Sale, Magic Millions took the unusual step for a stallion without a runner to the races, in naming Written Tycoon as their Stallion of the Week.
Written Tycoon is a rare thoroughbred. He ran up to his looks. As attractive a horse as you could wish to see, he moved like an athlete, effortlessly, with a lovely fluid action.
Described by trainer John O Shea as the fastest horse he had trained to that point, the highlights of Written Tycoon's career came in his first preparation culminating in victory in the Group Two Todman Slipper Trial with Domesday (now a promising sire) second. Interestingly the Slipper Trial is proving to be a very good pointer to stallion potential with it's winners including Luskin Star, Maruding, Octagonal, General Nediym and Exceed and Excel.
While not possessing a "fashionable" pedigree, Written Tycoon's bloodlines are proven in Australian conditions: by a successful homebred speed stallion (Iglesia) from the prolific Last Tycoon sireline, from a daughter of leading broodmare stallion Kenmare and containing male and female lines of Star Kingdom and Vain respectively. And with only one line of Northern Dancer (through Last Tycoon), he offers options for owners of Northern Dancer/Danehill mares.
Iglesia was a significant loss to the Queensland breeding industry when he died prematurely in 2006 after just five seasons at stud. The one time Australian record holder for 1200m still became a prolific sire of winners whose stock are re known for their speed and durability. Nova Star who won the Group One Winter Stakes in Brisbane has been his best performer to date.
Last Tycoon's influence down-under needs little extrapolation. While in these parts it s been as a broodmare sire that his impact has been most pro nounced, his male-line influence, despite the premature deaths of Iglesia and Just Awesome, looks set to prosper for some considerable time thanks to O'Reilly and to a lesser degree Towkay.
The filly described in the introduction to this piece was eventually sold at this years Karaka Select Yearling sale to Timothy Kemp Bloodstock for $56,000 - the highest price Written Tycoon filly yet sold at auction. A decent sized filly with a fair bit of leg she is currently spelling after being broken in by Joe Yorke. Ironically there is still a small share available in the filly - Tim can be contacted on 021 243 3045.
While about the only thing that can be read into this start is that Written Tycoon's progeny have an early aptitude and natural speed, it s still a promising beginning by a stallion, many of whose progeny showed enough physical scope at the sales to suggest they would be far from just early season flashes in the pan. Time will tell.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Zennista: Oaks Fit
I'm finding that the fillies and mares events are providing more and more of our best racing. With so many of our better colts and geldings exported now and the well bred colts that stay home more sparingly raced with stud careers in mind, it s a man drought - at least in the quality department.
Take a look at the recent record of four-year-old mares in the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown. Five years ago the young girls weren't getting a look in - how times have changed.
The three-year-old Filly of the Year events are the nursery for this change, full of mouth watering pedigrees and physiques to match. A front-row birdcage posse is essential viewing.
Despite the freakish late winter and spring weather hindering so many preparations, a quality field lined up in yesterdays Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings.
While all honours were with the winner - the seasoned Rememba Howe - the runner-up Zennista struck me as a filly to follow.
From the first NZ crop of former Japan Cup winner Zenno Rob Roy (ZRR), the Lisa Latta trained charge is a gorgeous moving type who relaxes well in her races, factors that will stand her in good stead when stepped up over more ground.
It s very early days for ZRR in NZ but he's made an encouraging start to his stallion career in Japan siring first and third in the Japanese Oaks back in May. With the stallions Sir Tristram and Touching Wood featuring in Zennista's female pedigree she has the staying bloodlines to support a racing style which suggest a race like the New Zealand Oaks in March would suit.
Lisa Latta has been steadily compiling a good record from her Awapuni base and one feature race she s shown an uncanny knack in targeting with success has been the NZ Oaks. From six starters she's had the 2004 winner Wharite Princess: the 2009 runner-up Can't Keeperdown; a third with Lady Annaliesse in 2003; the fourth place-getter Princess Annaliese and the desperately unlucky Fiaba - sixth in 2002 and still looking for a gap.
Zennista still has to prove herself on-top of the ground but if she can, she looks an ideal type to give Lisa Latta her second NZ Oaks.
Take a look at the recent record of four-year-old mares in the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown. Five years ago the young girls weren't getting a look in - how times have changed.
The three-year-old Filly of the Year events are the nursery for this change, full of mouth watering pedigrees and physiques to match. A front-row birdcage posse is essential viewing.
Despite the freakish late winter and spring weather hindering so many preparations, a quality field lined up in yesterdays Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings.
While all honours were with the winner - the seasoned Rememba Howe - the runner-up Zennista struck me as a filly to follow.
From the first NZ crop of former Japan Cup winner Zenno Rob Roy (ZRR), the Lisa Latta trained charge is a gorgeous moving type who relaxes well in her races, factors that will stand her in good stead when stepped up over more ground.
It s very early days for ZRR in NZ but he's made an encouraging start to his stallion career in Japan siring first and third in the Japanese Oaks back in May. With the stallions Sir Tristram and Touching Wood featuring in Zennista's female pedigree she has the staying bloodlines to support a racing style which suggest a race like the New Zealand Oaks in March would suit.
Lisa Latta has been steadily compiling a good record from her Awapuni base and one feature race she s shown an uncanny knack in targeting with success has been the NZ Oaks. From six starters she's had the 2004 winner Wharite Princess: the 2009 runner-up Can't Keeperdown; a third with Lady Annaliesse in 2003; the fourth place-getter Princess Annaliese and the desperately unlucky Fiaba - sixth in 2002 and still looking for a gap.
Zennista still has to prove herself on-top of the ground but if she can, she looks an ideal type to give Lisa Latta her second NZ Oaks.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Paydirt for Breeder
Hawkes Bay's Alan Jackson fashioned a successful business career from backing his hunches, so when he went on last year's Manawatu Stallion Parade and liked what he saw in a stable box at John O'Brien's Newmarket Lodge property, he didn't muck around.
Jackson had taken an instant fancy to a weanling colt by Mr Nancho from the Anziyan mare Cashcade. A keen follower of the races again since selling up his business interests about 12 months previous, he had been impressed with the potential of the filly Ekstreme whose resume at that stage included a win the Group Three Lowland Stakes win and a group two placing from a just concluded Brisbane winter campaign.
Recognising that Cashcade was the dam of Ekstreme, and after establishing that Newmarket Lodge in fact owned Cashcade, Jackson negotiated a package to acquire the mare and her weanling colt. Once Jackson had the seal of approval on confirmation from his bloodstock advisor Cambridge agent Michael Wallace, the deal was done and the fun started.
About the time Ekstreme returned to the racetrack for her new season campaign, Jackson was getting wind that Opaki trainer Andrew Campbell had quite an opinion of unraced two-year-old colt in his stable. The link for Jackson was that the colt happened to be Cashcade's second foal, by Mr Nancho and a full brother to the younger brother he had acquired a few months earlier.
By this stage Jackson was keen to track down the whereabouts of Cashcade's second foal - an unraced year younger full sister to Ekstreme - and his hunt resulted in a call to Matamata trainer Paul Jenkins who had the Ekraar filly and a pretty fair opinion of her too. Lining up for her racecourse debut in mid November last year at Rotorua, the well backed filly, by then named De Colletage, unfortunately injured herself in the running and wasn't a factor in the race, however Jackson's disappointment was quickly tempered when just a few weeks later Ekstreme confirmed the potential he had seen in her all along and then some, by taking the Group One Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham.
Boarding his mares at Masterton's Little Avondale Stud, Jackson gets down regularly to see his flock so started making a point of stopping in at the Opaki track to keep up with the progress of the Andrew Campbell charge. After a number of growing pains the colt -by then named Maradona - finally debuted in a two-year-old race at Foxton in July this year and despite the wet track, which he detested according to jockey Jonathan Riddell, battled on very gamely for second.
The three-year-old open event on the first day of this years Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival was Maradona's next start and despite another wet track, connections persevered with a start knowing that any chance of making the Hawkes Bay Guineas rested on a good performance. Producing one of the better efforts of the day, from a wide draw Maradona had to do a fair bit of work to get a position on the outer, challenged the leader wide on the home turn before surrendering second late in the race.
Meanwhile De Colletage was back in training after her long injury induced layoff and a trials win at Cambridge in July preceded a very much under wraps second place finish at the Te Teko trials on 12 August. De Colletage is down to make her second career start at Counties this Sunday in a maiden 1300m and while she doesn't have the same wet track inclination as her full sister her class should still have her in the finish.
So what s happened to Maradona's full brother that Jackson bought in the package deal? Recently turned two and still unnamed, he s just about to commence a second preparation with Hastings trainer Patrick Campbell and has done everything asked of him to date although it s too early to say if he s inherited the family genes.
Two weeks ago the jewel in the crown Cashcade delivered her owner the Pentire filly shown in the top photo of this blog and the mare is currently at Darley Stud in Victoria where she ll be served by Domesday anyday. With her genes the Pentire filly is one very valuable girl but one imagines her insurable value and that of her mum, can only get bigger and it may start that climb as soon as this weekend.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Taupo: Talent Unearthed
It maybe not quite Tattenham Corner but the home-turn at Taupo has bought many an inexperienced horse undone; it falls away into quite a dip on the point of the turn before an abrupt rise, leaving only about 150m for a horse to get balanced and find the line.
Therefore there was a lot to like about the wins on debut of He's Remarkable (Pentire-Axiom)and Rockandready (More Than Ready-Bumps) at the lakeside circuit last week, coming as they both did from well off the pace and wide on the home-turn.
It seems almost impossible to fathom now but only four or five years ago John Thompson was seriously considering not continuing to bring Pentire down on his southern hemisphere shuttle so significant a shun was he receiving from local breeders. Serving less than 100 mares between the seasons 2002-2004 and leaving only 44 live foals, the former high-class European stayer was being heavily penalised for a slow start to his breeding career.
Pentire's standing with local breeders changed significantly after the 2004/2005 racing season during which the career of the near champion Xcellent commenced with group one victories in the NZ Derby and Zabeel Classic and his Australian trained daughter Recurring took the Group One Railway Handicap after earlier placing second in the Group One Sallinger Stakes at Flemington. The floodgates had suddenly opened for Pentire - he had gone from a stallion acknowledged by breeders as capable of leaving slower maturing middle distance-staying types to one who could throw serious WFA and sprinting horses.
Using the expression career defining to describe the next couple of seasons for Pentire's progeny would be putting unwarranted expectations on a stallion who has already reached heights most studmasters can only dream about, but it will be fascinating to monitor their progress, coming as they do from far and away his biggest and best books of mares.
Unraced due to an eye injury, Axiom is a Zabeel daughter of the dual Australian group two winning Centaine mare Arletty, a leading three-year-old filly of her year in NZ before transferring to become an inaugural member of the O'Sullivan stables short-lived Sydney operation from where she tasted further group race success as a four and five-year-old. Arletty's best performer to date from her nine foals is the three win Zabeel gelding Maythehorsebemagic.
Arletty is a half sister to the 2007 NZ Broodmare Of The Year winner River Century the dam of group one winners Legs and Guyno while she's a three-quarter sister to group one winner Sixty Seconds and group three winner Spottswoode. Adding further credence to a most prolific family is Arlettys full sister Rivertaine, the dam of three individual winners in Hong Kong including multiple group placed performer Regency Horse and the five times winning O'Reilly Rally.
Axiom's first foal is the promising Melbourne trained mare Fashion Black, a winner twice including a city victory, and two placings from just five starts. Her next foal was the $360,000 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale graduate He's Remarkable, followed by a full brother who sold to Fashion Black's trainer Danny O'Brien for $160,000 at this years Karaka Sale. She is due to foal again to Pentire this spring after failing to get back in foal to him the previous season.
Another stallion on an ever increasing upward surge in popularity over recent seasons has been the Australian based More Than Ready who just a matter of days after his daughters Taupo success registered his 73rd stakeswinner worldwide when a two-year-old son won a group three event in North America. Like Pentire, most of More Than Ready's sire success has been generated off his down-under shuttle service where he demands a service fee of $121,000 Aus (down from last years pre recession $148,500), a jump from $40,000 in 2007 largely courtesy of consecutive Champion Australian Two-Year -Old Premierships in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, and a significantly higher fee than the $30,000 US he currently commands Stateside.
Rockandready is bred on a very similar cross to More Than Ready's second Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready whose dam is a daughter of the Scenic stallion Blevic.
Bumps an unraced daughter of Scenic from the Christmas Tree mare Final Claus has fashioned a most respectable record at stud with Rockandready her sixth individual winner from the eight of her nine foals to make it to the racetrack. Two of her earlier progeny - both by Rory's Jester - were stakesplaced while her 2006 son by Fastnet Rock named Therock already has a fourth to his credit in a listed event after only 6 lifetime starts.
Final Claus's hails from an imported family which has crossed successfully with Australian speed influences. Her dam the imported Northfields mare Life At Last left a VRC St Leger winner in Full At Last and a daughter Imposing Life is the grand dam of Group One Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort while Betty Box, a full sister to Life At Last, is the dam of Aynda who in turn is the grand dam of Waikato Stud stallion Fast N Famous.
Rockandready was sold as a yearling at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale to Grant Searle for $190,000 before being re sold in the yearling section of the 2009 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Sale for $75,000 and again in the two-year-old section of the same sale this year for what could well turn out to be a bargain price of $90,000. While the financial plight of her co-breeders is likely to have had something to do with the unusual ownership changes the filly doesn't seem to have taken the passing around personally judging by her Taupo win.
Conclusions:
He's Remarkable - from a stable not reknown for having their charges wound up to win first time out, the colt looks just the type to make up in a Derby horse in the autumn and further enhance the reputation of his sire for leaving middle-distance Classic performers.
Rockandready - big long legged type who never looked suited to debut venue at any stage but overcame that with raw natural ability to win easily and while the 1000 Guineas may come around a little too soon for her, she may just be good enough to give the race a huge shake.
Therefore there was a lot to like about the wins on debut of He's Remarkable (Pentire-Axiom)and Rockandready (More Than Ready-Bumps) at the lakeside circuit last week, coming as they both did from well off the pace and wide on the home-turn.
It seems almost impossible to fathom now but only four or five years ago John Thompson was seriously considering not continuing to bring Pentire down on his southern hemisphere shuttle so significant a shun was he receiving from local breeders. Serving less than 100 mares between the seasons 2002-2004 and leaving only 44 live foals, the former high-class European stayer was being heavily penalised for a slow start to his breeding career.
Pentire's standing with local breeders changed significantly after the 2004/2005 racing season during which the career of the near champion Xcellent commenced with group one victories in the NZ Derby and Zabeel Classic and his Australian trained daughter Recurring took the Group One Railway Handicap after earlier placing second in the Group One Sallinger Stakes at Flemington. The floodgates had suddenly opened for Pentire - he had gone from a stallion acknowledged by breeders as capable of leaving slower maturing middle distance-staying types to one who could throw serious WFA and sprinting horses.
Using the expression career defining to describe the next couple of seasons for Pentire's progeny would be putting unwarranted expectations on a stallion who has already reached heights most studmasters can only dream about, but it will be fascinating to monitor their progress, coming as they do from far and away his biggest and best books of mares.
Unraced due to an eye injury, Axiom is a Zabeel daughter of the dual Australian group two winning Centaine mare Arletty, a leading three-year-old filly of her year in NZ before transferring to become an inaugural member of the O'Sullivan stables short-lived Sydney operation from where she tasted further group race success as a four and five-year-old. Arletty's best performer to date from her nine foals is the three win Zabeel gelding Maythehorsebemagic.
Arletty is a half sister to the 2007 NZ Broodmare Of The Year winner River Century the dam of group one winners Legs and Guyno while she's a three-quarter sister to group one winner Sixty Seconds and group three winner Spottswoode. Adding further credence to a most prolific family is Arlettys full sister Rivertaine, the dam of three individual winners in Hong Kong including multiple group placed performer Regency Horse and the five times winning O'Reilly Rally.
Axiom's first foal is the promising Melbourne trained mare Fashion Black, a winner twice including a city victory, and two placings from just five starts. Her next foal was the $360,000 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale graduate He's Remarkable, followed by a full brother who sold to Fashion Black's trainer Danny O'Brien for $160,000 at this years Karaka Sale. She is due to foal again to Pentire this spring after failing to get back in foal to him the previous season.
Another stallion on an ever increasing upward surge in popularity over recent seasons has been the Australian based More Than Ready who just a matter of days after his daughters Taupo success registered his 73rd stakeswinner worldwide when a two-year-old son won a group three event in North America. Like Pentire, most of More Than Ready's sire success has been generated off his down-under shuttle service where he demands a service fee of $121,000 Aus (down from last years pre recession $148,500), a jump from $40,000 in 2007 largely courtesy of consecutive Champion Australian Two-Year -Old Premierships in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, and a significantly higher fee than the $30,000 US he currently commands Stateside.
Rockandready is bred on a very similar cross to More Than Ready's second Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready whose dam is a daughter of the Scenic stallion Blevic.
Bumps an unraced daughter of Scenic from the Christmas Tree mare Final Claus has fashioned a most respectable record at stud with Rockandready her sixth individual winner from the eight of her nine foals to make it to the racetrack. Two of her earlier progeny - both by Rory's Jester - were stakesplaced while her 2006 son by Fastnet Rock named Therock already has a fourth to his credit in a listed event after only 6 lifetime starts.
Final Claus's hails from an imported family which has crossed successfully with Australian speed influences. Her dam the imported Northfields mare Life At Last left a VRC St Leger winner in Full At Last and a daughter Imposing Life is the grand dam of Group One Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort while Betty Box, a full sister to Life At Last, is the dam of Aynda who in turn is the grand dam of Waikato Stud stallion Fast N Famous.
Rockandready was sold as a yearling at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale to Grant Searle for $190,000 before being re sold in the yearling section of the 2009 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Sale for $75,000 and again in the two-year-old section of the same sale this year for what could well turn out to be a bargain price of $90,000. While the financial plight of her co-breeders is likely to have had something to do with the unusual ownership changes the filly doesn't seem to have taken the passing around personally judging by her Taupo win.
Conclusions:
He's Remarkable - from a stable not reknown for having their charges wound up to win first time out, the colt looks just the type to make up in a Derby horse in the autumn and further enhance the reputation of his sire for leaving middle-distance Classic performers.
Rockandready - big long legged type who never looked suited to debut venue at any stage but overcame that with raw natural ability to win easily and while the 1000 Guineas may come around a little too soon for her, she may just be good enough to give the race a huge shake.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
