Rafaga showcases talent at higher level
25 Jan 2012 | By Micheal Lee
With leading jockey Joao Moreira again riding in red-hot form, versatile galloper Rafaga lowered the colours of top sprinter Mr Big to score a brilliant win in the $95,000 Family Reunion Handicap (1200m) on Polytrack on Tuesday.
A previous four-time winner over distances ranging from 1200m to 1600m, the Lord Of Warriors four-year-old was stepping up in class in the Open Benchmark 89 race but showed he was certainly not out of his depth with a convincing neck-win over odds-on favourite Mr Big (Danny Beasley) with People’s Victory (Barend Vorster) a gap away more than four lengths away.
The winning time was a smart 1min 10.83secs.
Rafaga (Joao Moreira) keeps hot favourite Mr Big (Danny Beasley) at bay in Race 11.
Moreira, who was at the third leg of a four-timer having earlier saluted aboard favourites Good Towkay and Aserious before taking out the last of the 12-race progamme aboard another hotshot, Super Guru, predicted better things to come from the Tan Hor Khoon-trained Rafaga.
“I think he will be an even better horse than what he already is in six months’ time,” said Moreira who has now won with Rafaga at three of his five wins for the Arm Stable.
“He can handle any distance and I wasn’t worried about him coming back in distance today. The fast pace suited him and I was lucky (Ivaldo) Santana’s horse (Run For The Hills) came off the fence at the top of the straight.
“I got a bit of a gap and it was enough for me to go through. Mr Big is a very good horse and kept coming at us but my horse fought very bravely.
“On that run, I think his connections can dream bigger for him. They should give him a chance to prove himself at a higher level.”
Tan, who took out the Group 3 Fortune Bowl at that meeting last year, was delighted he was not going home empty-handed, even if last year's Fortune Bowl winner Fatkid could only settle for third in this year’s renewal captured one race earlier by Tenzing.
“It’s still a meeting that has brought me luck. We didn’t win the Fortune Bowl but Fatkid ran on very well for third, and now Rafaga has won up in class,” said Tan.
“He (Rafaga) has always been honest and Joao judged the race very well on him. Though they were drawn a bit wide, he was able to get on the fence right behind the speed and attack at the right moment.
“I will probably give him a rest now and possibly consider the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge later in the year.
“I’ve always thought this horse should be able to go over more ground. I will test him over longer someday.”
The $32 shot was able to tuck himself in third on the rails after Run For The Hills raced away to an early lead with Mr Big on his outside.
Moreira bided his time until the top of the straight when Run For The Hills rolled off the fence while Mr Big was making his bid down the middle.
Rafaga shot through the gap to open up a two-length break but Mr Big knuckled down to the task and set about chipping away at the lead. But Rafaga never gave up and was able to hold a neck advantage on the line.
With that fifth success, Rafaga has now brought up his stakes earnings past the $270,000 mark for his connections.
He just won't Getreel-ed in
07 Jan 2012 By Michael Lee
The instructions given by trainer Brian Dean to jockey Soo Khoon Beng on how to ride Getreel in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m paid instant dividends on Friday.
The Australian conditioner, who was preparing the previously Cliff Brown-trained gelding at only his third run, had observed getting-back tactics did not quite work out with the three-time winner.
He told Soo he should be ridden more positive compared to his last couple of starts where he was dropped back to the rear.
Jumping a fraction slowly from his barrier No 2, Getreel was immediately bounced to the front by Soo and to his surprise, he was able to do so without much hassle in the initial stages of the race.
Though he looked like he was getting away with a soft lead, the tempo was steady. When favourite People’s Victory (Barend Victory) was peeled out for his run at the top of the straight, most expected the Argentinian-bred chestnut who was coming off the back of two straight wins, would gobble him up.
Getreel however found a second gear and kicked again and despite Vorster’s efforts, People’s Victory just could not peg him back. Getreel, a four-year-old New Zealand-bred by Black Minnaloushe fell in by one length from People’s Victory with Bombay Sling (Joao Moreira) third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 11.07secs.
Dean was delighted with the tactical win, but if he had any anxious moments, they came before the race. The start was delayed after Simply The Best played up at the barriers and was scratched.
“I was a bit worried he stood in the barrier for so long as he tends to be a bit slow out of the gates,” said Dean.
“I had told KB to hunt him up and take the lead. When he gets back in the field, I noticed he doesn’t want to put in.
“Though he had a soft lead in front, it was a good enough time in the end. He’s a horse who has always shown ability and I’m glad he’s won his first race for us.
“The owner (Phenomenal Stable) has got Squall Line with us and I hope he can win a race for us too.”
Getreel ($55) has now chalked up four wins from 11 starts and prizemoney in excess of $150,000.
Soo said Getreel was a little sluggish at the start but he always had plenty of horse under him thereafter.
“He always does that. A bit slow at the start, but he was always going well after that,” said Soo.
“I was a bit worried I would get squeezed out at the start, but luckily the horse on our outside was scratched. He got to the lead easily and fought off the favourite very well.”
HK Tan goes home a winner in last two
By Michael Lee - 26 Nov 2011
Trainer Tan Hor Khoon took out the last two races on Friday's 10-race programme with two well-tried runners in Rafaga and Xin Treasure.
While Rafaga, who was second favourite at $27, was at his fourth win, it was the maiden success for Xin Treasure, who had previously picked up two seconds and one third.
Rafaga was ridden by Saimee Jumaat in the $75,000 Class 3 race over 1600m on turf while Leong Yoon Fei was aboard Xin Treasure in the $65,000 Initiation-2 race over 1200m on Polytrack.
Rafaga (Saimee Jumaat) on the outside overcomes greenness to get the better of Meteor Mike (Olivier Placais) right at the wire.
Assistant-trainer Desmond Gan said both wins were more or less expected and predicted a handy future for both gallopers. He was particularly pleased with Rafaga, who races in the unique rainbow colours of the Arm Stable, as he was recently beset by a shoulder injury.
“Rafaga has really come right since he hurt his shoulder some time back,” said Gan. “Tonight’s distance (mile) suited him better and he ran true to his form.
“We told Saimee to ride him forward as he was against quite a handy field this time. He was hanging in and out in the last bit but he is still green and still has a lot to learn.
“I have no doubt he will turn into a better horse next year.”
Race-leader Meteor Mike looked all poised to give jockey Olivier Placais his fourth win of the night when he drew clear at the 300m, but a very game Rafaga wore him down with every stride, despite proving hard to steer inside the last furlong.
Saimee did not give up and his craft and determination were rewarded in the end when the Lord Of The Warriors four-year-old put his neck in front on the line. Meteor Mike ran a gallant second while Lightning Thief (Danny Beasley) ran third only three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 37.32secs.
Xin Treasure, who has been knocking on the door, travelled on the speed throughout the 1200m journey before working home brilliantly to score by three parts of a length from second favourite Fat Bobo (Joao Moreira) with newcomer Continental Flyer (Beasley) third just under five lengths further away. The winning time was 1min 12.65secs.
Incidentally, Moreira, who has been assured of his second champion jockey title from a long way back, has not greeted the judge in his last 23 rides, making this the longest losing sequence for the normally highly-prolific jockey.
Moreira, who will ride at his last 2011 meeting on Sunday as he will begin a three-day ban and is then heading back to his native Brazil for his yearly Christmas holidays, last scored aboard Wassaic on November 13, bringing his tally to 152 winners.
Sulmona home an easy winner
Craig Brennan
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Joao Moreira factor can never be underestimated as was evidenced by the success of Sulmona in the $75,000 World Airlines 2007 Handicap over 1200m on the Polytrack on Friday night.
The race restricted to Fillies & Mares, was won in easy style by Sulmona but what was a little surprising to all was the $9 dividend returned by the winner.
Leading from the outset, the Michael Clements-trained mare scored an untouched five-and-a-half length victory over Country Club (Matt Kellady) with Princess Janna (Anandan Subramaniam) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Short-priced favourite Sulmona (Joao Moreira) streets his rivals in Race 4.
“I was a little surprised by just how short she was,” said Clements.
“But I think that is the Joao factor. Everything he throws a leg over seems to come up at least half the price it should be.”
Clements said he had targeted this race with Sulmona following her last start fourth to Thrilla In Manila over 1200m in Class 4 grade back in September.
“It’s a good opportunity for the fillies and mares to race for some good prizemoney,” said Clements.
“We picked out this race for her and we were lucky to get Joao on top. She has always shown ability from the start and Joao rode the perfect race on her.
“We didn’t think there was much pace and when the topweight (Teen Angel) came out I thought Joao would sum it up and go to the front.
“She did it easily tonight and hopefully there are a few more wins to come.”
The win saw Moreira edge slightly closer to the magical 150 mark as the Sulmona win was his 146th winner for the season.
“I was the lucky one on top tonight,” said Moreira. “Anyone of the guys could have won on her.
“She jumped so well and when she wasn’t pressured in front and it was a sprint home I knew that she would be very hard to beat.
“The job was made a little easier with Teen Angel being taken out at the barriers, but she had a big weight compared to us tonight and I was always confident of winning.”
A four-year-old New Zealand-bred mare by Van Nistelrooy from the More Than Ready mare Pretty Ready, Sulmona landed her third win from 10 starts and topped the $100,000 mark in prizemoney for the Sulmona Stable with her win on Friday night.
Rafaga scores first-up after injury
Michael Lee, Sunday, November 06, 2011
Model of consistency Rafaga returned from a short layoff due to a shoulder injury with a determined victory in the $65,000 Graduation race over 1200m on Polytrack on Sunday.
Well ridden by leading jockey Joao Moreira, the Lord Of Warriors four-year-old, who has finished out of the placings only once in nine previous runs, came from midfield to score a half-a-length win over a resilient Yin Xin (Soo Khoon Beng) with Let’s See Action (Barend Vorster) battling gamely in third another 1 ¼ length away. The winning time was 1min 11.31secs.
Assistant-trainer Desmond Gan paid tribute to the veterinarian team at the Singapore Turf Club for bringing the Tan Hor Khoon-trained gelding back to racing fitness.
Favourite Rafaga (Joao Moreira) comes with a well-timed run to defeat Yin Xin
(Soo Khoon Beng) on his inside and Let's See Action (Barend Vorster).
“He had a deep cut on his shoulder after his last run,” said Gan. “That stopped him for three months and he had to have his cut sewn up.
“Thanks to the wonderful job done by the vets, he recovered well and I’m really happy to see him win today.
“We told Joao to sit him either third or fourth but he got a little further back than we wanted after he got a bit checked at the start.
“He actually ran second to the horse he beat today (Yin Xin) in a barrier trial last week, and that to us was an indication he was back to his best.
“As he was fresh, we decided to drop him back to 1200m even though he’s scored his two wins over 1400m. He has a very nice turn of foot and he won a nice race.”
Moreira, who later went on to score a winning treble (having scored earlier aboard Natural Nice) with $12 favourite Bungae for Cliff Brown in the last race, the $65,000 Intiation-1 race over 1400m, and keeps soaring to unprecedented heights (currently on 145 wins), was effusive of the chestnut’s game effort.
“I got checked at the start when KB’s horse bumped with us. That’s why I lost my position,” said the Brazilian rider.
“Another horse crossed from behind, and I got shuffled back even more, but I was able to steady him up and get cover behind Olivier Placais’s horse (Premier Grade).
“Once I got him on the outside at the top of the straight, he just quickened very well for me. It was a top effort considering we were checked at the start.”
Rafaga, who was sent out the $13 favourite, sports the uniquely colourful rainbow colours of the Arm Stable and has now brought his earnings past the $170,000 mark.
SYDNEY trainer Anthony Cummings believes Red Eye Special will be hard to beat in Wednesday's $240,000 Centrebet Geelong Cup following an impressive workout at Geelong racecourse on Saturday.
"Red Eye Special liked the Geelong track and worked quite nicely," Cummings said yesterday. "On his gallop on Saturday, he will run well."
And English trainer Brian Ellison, who has decided against running Moyenne Corniche in the Geelong Cup, yesterday rated Bauer the best chance of the three European visitors expected to start in Wednesday's race.
"The distance will suit Bauer, the German horse Dunaden will probably need a soft track and I don't know much about Illo, (German horse now under the care of Bart Cummings)," Ellison said.
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"But I've heard Tanby will be running in the Geelong Cup and I expect he'd be the one to beat," Ellison said.
Tanby, a member of the Lloyd Williams stable, ran second to Shewan, with Moyenne Corniche third, in the Herbert Power Hcp (2400m) at Caulfield last start.
Your Say
"For the hype this race has had it is most disappointing to note that a less than capacity field has accepted for the event. There are only thirteen in the field. No doubt the Moonee Valley ( Drake International ) Cup on Saturday next and the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday week have diluted the field."
Diwali
Final fields for the Geelong Cup meeting will be known after acceptances close at 9am today.
Bart Cummings has delayed making a firm decision on whether Illo will line-up until acceptance time.
However, his son Anthony has engaged in-form jockey Chris Symons to ride Red Eye Special, a five-year-old stayer from New Zealand who joined his stable this year.
Red Eye Special was an emerging stayer on his way toward the Melbourne Cup, Cummings said.
Cummings ran second with the classy Zavite in the 2007 Geelong Cup won by The Fuzz.
"This bloke races handy to the speed and is a good stayer, they are two good attributes for a race such as the Geelong Cup," he said.
Red Eye Special was ridden by stable employee Nathan Stanley at Geelong. "He trotted and cantered the horse. He went a bit of even time for a couple of laps and pulled up well," Cummings said.
Red Eye Special had a stout staying pedigree but had not raced beyond 1600m when bought by Australian company Shergar Racing and syndicated this year, he said.
Among the owners are former news presenter Angela Pippos and Sky Channel TVN racing presenter Adam Olszanski.
Cummings said Red Eye Special had come a long way in a short time.
Red Eye Special was a close second to Lamasery in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Randwick and followed with a fifth in the Group 1 Metropolitan Hcp (2400m) in Sydney.
The stayer is 59th in order of entry for the Melbourne Cup.
Another giant stride by Lamasery to The Metro
By Rob Burnet 24 Sep 2011
Lamasery took another giant stride towards the Group 1, The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick next week with a tough win in the $125,000, Group 3, Red Rock Deli Colin Stephen Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The five-year-old Commands gelding, trained by David Vandyke at Warwick Farm, carried the top-weight of 57kg to victory to add to his win in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m at Rosehill on September 10th.
Lamasery was well-ridden by Brenton Avdulla settling in fourth one out from the rail while Two For Tea (NZ) (53kg) and Chris Munce took the field into the back straight. Rebel Soldier (IRE) followed with Red Eye Special (NZ) (53kg) and Nathan Berry in third.
The order stayed the same until Rebel Soldier moved up line abreast with the leader with 700m to run. Avdulla watched and did not make a move until 500m to run and as they entered the main straight he was closing and four wide.
Rebel Soldier faded and Red Eye Special went inside Two For Tea. It took Lamasery time to climb through the gears under the weight, but to his credit he kept to the task and slowly gained the lead.
Lamasery gets his nose in front in the Colin Stephen Handicap. Picture Sportpix.com.au
The winning margin was a head with Red Eye Special (Yamanin Vital) holding second and Two For Two (Drama Critic) third, the margin 1/2L. The $3.50 favourite Adroitly was seventh.
The time was 2.29.93 on the Good 3 track with the final 600m in 35.15. Lamasery paid $4.70 on NSW TAB.
“The rail is out six and they are not making a lot of ground. I said to Dave that I would rather go forward and bit closer and have less to do at the finish, get him around the corner and get him comfortable and it paid off,” summed up Avdulla.
“I never thought I was going to get beat half-way up the straight and he kept sticking his head out,” he added.
“He shocked me how he fought on there, 2400m was an ask, 57 was an ask, third up was an ask and he just answered all the questions,” said Vandyke, “ He drops five kilos next week in The Metro, bring it on.”
Lamasery carries 52kg in The Metropolitan and this would be a rise in class that seems within his reach after the fighting performance on Saturday. He is out of the Quest For Fame mare Verse and this was his ninth win from15 starts. With three placings he has earned stakes of $315,250 for owners SP Mayer and Mrs MM Mayer.
Rod Fulton Bloodstock Ltd arranged the purchase of Red Eye Special from the stable of Howie Matthews in New Zealand on behalf of Shergar Thoroughbreds and Brendan Tohill in Melbourne.
Red Eyes Metropolitan
Written by AAP Saturday, 10 September 2011
Red Eye Special
Anthony Cummings praised champion jockey Glen Boss' ride on Red Eye Special after the former New Zealand gelding took another step towards the Group One Metropolitan with victory at Rosehill on Saturday.
Boss, who was in Sydney to partner the Cummings-trained Smart Missile in the $1 million Golden Rose, was able to get Red Eye Special across from a wide gate (11) to be midfield and one off the fence settling down in the Styletread.com.au Handicap (1900m).
Boss then got going three wide with cover when the pace slackened mid-race, and Red Eye Special ground down his rivals in the straight to defeat Mossamine by a short neck with a half-head to Saint Saiala.
"He's brought his A-game," Cummings said of Boss.
"It was either get in where he did or be four deep in a horrible position. He then tracked the grey horse (Spence) into the race and he was too good.
"It was an intelligent ride and a good result. This horse is going somewhere."
Red Eye Special, a five-year-old son of Yamanin Vital, was having just his second start for Cummings after doing his early racing in New Zealand.
The gelding is nominated for all the spring features with the Group One Metropolitan his first main target.
"I'll have a look and see how he does, he probably needs another one to get a strong mile and a half (2400m)," Cummings said.
"It is two weeks until the Colin Stephen and then it's a week to the Metrop. That's what I'm probably looking at. He's a nice horse."
The Group Three Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) is at Rosehill on September 24 with the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 1.
Picture: Sportpix
Dry track suits Getreel down to the ground 20 Jun 2011
By Craig Brennan
Trainer Cliff Brown’s successful month of June continued on Sunday when Getreel took out the $55,000 Class 4 Div. 2 Stakes over 1200m.
The victory was his sixth for the month and moved the Australian conditioner up to sixth place on the Trainer’s Premiership Table with 24 victories for the year.
Ridden by Olivier Placais, Getreel scored a two-and-a-half length victory over Swagger (Barend Vorster) with Splittsville (Marcus Au) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Placais had Getreel settled in the perfect one-out, one-back position in the run and was able to bide his time well into the straight behind the speed set by Swagger and Super Knight (Danny Beasley).
Vorster allowed Swagger to roll out up the running and Placais elected to switch back towards his inside up the straight.
For a few strides it looked as though it would be a good fight to the finish, but over the last 150m Getreel proved superior in the run to the line.
Getreel landed his second win from just four visits to the track and Brown said there were excuses for his two defeats.
After winning on debut back in January, Getreel finished sixth at his next outing before having a break. He returned with a disappointing 11th placing at the start on June.
“He just didn’t go a yard on the wet track last time,” said Brown. “He was dipping and diving in the ground throughout.
“We thought on a better track today that he would run a better race, and he showed that.
“We had to give him some time off after his second start after he gave one of his joints and decent whack during the race.
“We tried to go on with him, but in the end he couldn’t go on so we had to give him a break.
“The break did him the world of good and it’s good to get another win out of him.”
Placais has a good opinion of the New Zealand-bred three-year-old and believes there are more wins in store for the gelding.
While confident the gelding would be hard to beat, Placias admitted to concerns following heavy rain on Saturday.
“As he didn’t handle the wet track at his first run back, I was worried the track would be wet following the rain on Saturday,” said Placais.
“But it is a nice hot day this afternoon and the track has dried out beautifully. Being an early race also suited him.
“I was always confident in the run. He travelled so well behind the speed and when he got clear I knew he would be hard to beat.
“He has a really good change of speed and he showed me that today.”
By Black Minnaloushe from the Zabeel mare Stareel, Getreel has now won around $60,000 in prizemoney for the Phenomenal Stable.
South America a world class source of excellence
By Brian Russell - 24th May 2011
Animal Kingdom's victory this month in North America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, was timely for a stud farm in the eastern foothills of the mountains near Dungog in the lower Hunter. It is Jamie and Jennifer Mackay’s historic Cangon and the Kentucky Derby result coincided with the news that they had moved upmarket as a commercial thoroughbred breeding operation in installing one of the fastest horses to come out of South America in their stallion complex.
Like Vinery stud’s outstanding shuttle sire More Than Ready and their emerging young winner getter Dubleo, a son of the prepotent Southern Halo, the newcomer is the Group1 winning Argentinian Snapy Halo – pronounced Snappy. His correlation with the Derby winner lies in Animal Kingdom being by Leroidesanimaux, a South American who showed up when transferred north as a world class racehorse and then a first class sire. He was rated North America’s best grass performer for 2003.
The success of Animal Kingdom drew comment from authority John Berry in a review in the world wide respected web www.thoroughbredinternet.com that the excellence of his win was enough to reflect particular credit on South American bloodstock. He wrote “the South American rightly commands respect throughout the World.”
Animal Kingdom is the second Kentucky Derby winner by a South American bred sire, being preceded by Gato Del Sol in 1982. He was by the Chilean stallion Cougar, a winner of six Group1 races in California.
More recently performers who have demonstrated that those bred in South America, a region which like Australia is southern hemisphere and mostly similar in environment, can be world class have been headed by Argentinian produced two times world champion Invasor (wins included Dubai World Cup, American Breeders’ Cup Classic) and Candy Ride (world’s equal third best 2003). Setter of a new track for 2000m at Del Mar, California, Candy Ride from stud use in Kentucky has provided six Group1 winners in his first two crops.
Others who have shone following transfer north have included Pio Central (rated World’s best sprinter 2004), Hard Buck (North America’s best stayer 2004) and Gloria de Campeao (first and second in both the Dubai World Cup and Singapore International Cup).
South American breeding is predicted to have a significant input in Australia in the near future through representatives of the Hussonet sire dynasty.Two of half dozen sons imported from that part of world, Host (at Swettehham, Nagambie, Vic) and Trotamondo (Yarraman Park, Scone, NSW) followed up being champions in Argentinia’s neighbour Chile with good performances in the United States. Host won to Group1 level in the USA and went to Dubai and finished fourth in the Group1 Duty Free.
Another South American to follow up top performances at home by competing at high level abroad was Snapy Halo, the new sire now standing alongside Nothin’ Leica Dane (by Danehill), Recapitalize (Royal Academy) and Sea Battle (Quest for Fame) at the Mackay’s Cangon Stud.
Snapy Halo included in a brief Sydney campaign, one that commenced after a 36 week lay off, a third in the AJC Doncaster Prelude-LR, a sixth of 20 in the AJC Doncaster Handicap-Gr.1(finished strongly to beat Triple Honour, Drumbeats, Danleigh,Theseo,Typhoon Tracy, Mentality,etc) and fifth in the STC Ajax Stakes-Gr.2 after running into interference 200m out.
Back home in Argentina, the handsome 16.1 hands bay/brown Snapy Halo proved one of the best of his generation, appearing 12 times for six wins from1000m to1600m on their top track, San Isadoro, Buenos Aires. In a stirring finish to his Argentinian racing he won his last three outings, appearance in two open handicaps at 1200m (in1:8.16) and 1400m (by 2.5 lengths,1:20.58) and finally the Group1 Estrellas Mile (3.0 lengths,1:32.49).
His three earlier wins in Argentina were at 1000m (0:55.97),1400m (1:21.40) and 1400m (1:21.51). He finished second in the Group 2 San Isidro Gran Premio Clasico Americo.
No horse has run as fast for a mile (1600m) in Australia as Snapy Halo and his best times for 1400m compare favourably with the national record here of 1:20.20.
Snapy Halo’s extra quick turn of foot has been a quality of a preponderance of the runners by his sire Southern Halo, a son of the very influential Halo, a relation of Northern Dancer and Danehill and the sire also of Sunday Silence. Seven times leading sire in Argentina, Southern Halo, according to a recent Keeneland sales catalogue, has supplied 995 winners (over 70% of his runners) of 3029 races. They have won in all the South American countries and also North America, Great Britain, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.
The excellence of the breed is shown by his 167 stakes winners, headed by 45 successful at Group1 level and 19 named champion. Also, his daughters include 25 Group1 winners and seven champions among their progeny to date.
Four of Southern Halo’s Group1 winners are More Than Ready, Snapy Halo, his brother Sebi Halo (eight wins at 1000m) and their sister Halo Ola (won three Group1s and placed in four others). The latter three were from the good Argentinian sprinter Esnaola, a mare who had all her eight foals win and six earn black type.
Esnaolo’s sire, Ringaro, a stakes winning juvenile on New York’s Belmont Park, is by Caro, one of the major influences from the Grey Sovereign male line, followed up quality success as a source off winners in Argentina by becoming a force as a broodmare sire. So far his daughters have produced 15 Group1 winners.
The immediate family of Snapy Halo has been a consistent source of good horses. In fact there are ninety black type earners (53 winners, 37 stakes placed) under his first four dams. The winners include 19 successful in Group1 races, seven of them in South Africa and the high class European performer Rio De La Plata (Group1 winner France and Italy; second French Two Thousand Guineas, Curragh National Stakes).
Among the Group1 collection have been Tex Fina (Horse of the Year Peru),Tucson (Champion Miler Peru), Evidencia (Champion Mare Argentina), Empress Club (Horse of the Year South Africa), Ecurie (Champion 2YO Filly South Africa), Esperada (Champion 2YO Filly Argentina) and Estambul (Champion Sprinter Argentina).
Overall, Snapy Halo offers Group1 racing ability, a mass of genes that have helped produce much excellence, splendid physical qualities and an outcross for Danehill from a foreign environment. He also offers a new alternative at a modest usage cost for those who cannot manage More Than Ready’s 2011 fee of $99,000.
Now standing at the Mackay’s Cangon stud on behalf of his Australian racing owners, a powerful consortium of breeders including Kitchwin Hills and Hobartville studs and Black Caviar’s part owner Werrett Bloodstock, he is to debut next season on $7,150 (including GST). Lifetime use can be secured for an investment of $10,000 plus GST.
Snapy Halo is in very good hands at Cangon Stud, one on country settled by the Mackay family way back in1838.They have been breeding horses using thoroughbred stock for more than a century, but mainly concentrating of polo ponies. Since 1980 Cangon under the stewardship of Jamie Mackay’s, a seven goal player, has produced horses which have been exported to many polo playing nations, including England, America, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
At the same time the Mackays have got into thoroughbred breeding for racing and have had the pleasure of breeding and racing the stakes winners Vanquished, Golden Millennium, Miss Kariba, Katima, Whoever and He’s No Pie Eater. Twice they have had the joy of winning at Randwick the juvenile stakes named after an earlier member of the family, the Keith Mackay Handicap.
Rafaga looks to have a bright future
Craig Brennan - April 10, 2011
Three-year-old Rafaga looks to have a promising career ahead of him following his all-the-way victory in the $65,000 Penang Turf Club Trophy over 1400m on Sunday.
Jumping straight to the lead in the maiden contest, Rafaga, ridden by Saifudin Ismail, scored by a length-and-three-quarters over Ravoux (Matt Kellady) with Take The Fifth (Joao Moreira) two lengths away third.
Lining-up for his third start, Rafaga appreciated the step up to 1400m.
Rafaga (Saifudin Ismail) pulls away for a smart win at his third start in Singapore.
Trainer Tan Hor Khoon labeled the helding as a “one-pacer” who had improved from his first two starts.
“He’s a one-pacer and we were very lucky to get to the front with him,” said Tan.
“He settled pretty well when he got to the front and he had improved from his last start.
“I am very happy with the win.”
Saifudin said there will be more improvement to come from the gelding which raced in pacifiers and a shadow roll on Sunday.
“He was a little bit lost when he was in front,” said Saifudin. “I was a little concerned when Oscar (Chavez, on Coliseum) came up to me at the 1000m, but he settled pretty well underneath me.
“Coming to the 600m I let him slide forward a bit but once we got to the straight he wanted to start looking around.
“When the second horse came up to his tail he started to concentrate again and moved away at the finish.
“He’s still a young horse and is still learning. I think he will get further and he should have a nice future here in Singapore.”
A New Zealand-bred three-year-old by Lord Of Warriors from the Justice Prevails mare Behind Bars, Rafaga has won around $50,000 in prizemoney for the Arm Stable.
El Chico claims the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton 9/4/11
El Chico (NZ) (Stravinsky) provided central districts-based jockey Lisa Allpress with back to back wins in the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Last year Allpress guided El Santo (NZ) (My Halo) to a two-length victory in the race. This year the margins were much shorter. El Chico (NZ) flashed home from a distant last position, to claim the feature race by a short head over Royal Flight (NZ) (Danzighill). The Hand of Faith (NZ) (Danske) and Our Bee Jay (NZ) finished third equal one-and-a-quarter lengths behind Royal Flight (NZ).
This was the Michael Pitman-trained bay’s first win at stakes level. All up the six-year-old has registered 12 wins and 15 placings totaling NZ$198,388 in stakes for owners John and Evelyn Carran and Michael Pitman.
The R Lam-bred gelding is the 67th stakes winner for the former Cambridge Stud shuttler Stravinsky. He is one of two winning foals from the winning Classic Fame mare Las Chicas Buenas (NZ).
El Chico (NZ) is likely to back up for next Saturday's Gr3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).
.......to read another article on El Chico click here
Satisfying first season
By: Taylor Strong 14th March 2011
Andrew Carston, with the trophy for the feature race at Wingatui on Saturday. Photo by Tayler Strong.
Andrew Carston can take satisfaction with his achievements in his first season in charge of the Riccarton stable of Jon Sargent.
The stable won the $45,000 listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes for 3yr-old fillies at Wingatui on Saturday with No Choice.
The stable won the Canterbury Belle Stakes, the first race in the Southern Filly of the Year series, with Princess Emmy.
The two fillies share the lead in the four-race series.
The Riccarton stable has contributed 16 wins for Sargent's tally of 50 this season.
Carston was instrumental in the lease of No Choice in December after the filly had recorded a fourth from three starts from the Cambridge stable of Murray and Bjorn Baker.
He was offered the filly by Christchurch agent Roddy Fulton on behalf of Singapore breeder Akthar Mann.
Carston now races No Choice with Gerard Brown and Lance Mitchell of Christchurch and Graeme Laing and Tim Rodger of Matamata.
"I liked her because she was by Coats Choice," Carston said.
Coats Choice is making his mark with his oldest progeny 3yr-olds.
The son of Redoute's Choice is also the sire of Milo (Dunedin and Gore Guineas) and Five Coats, who ran third to No Choice on Saturday. No Choice is the seventh foal of Winkum, an unraced mare by Waikiki Star.
No Choice came from the rear of the 16-horse field at the 400m to win by a length and a-half over the 1400m in the hands of Jamie Bullard.
Getreel opens account on debut
Craig Brennan
Sunday, January 02, 2011
First starter Getreel landed a betting plunge with a decisive win in the $65,000 Peace And Joy Maiden Stakes over 1200m on Sunday.
Heavy support late in betting saw the Cliff Brown-trained gelding backed into run the $17 co-favourite.
Ridden by French jockey Olivier Placais, Getreel scored by two-and-a-quarter lengths over Jet Stream (Saimee Jumaat) with Princess Eunice (T Rehaizat) a length-and-a-quarter away third.
Olivier Placais guides Getreel to a debut victory on Sunday.
Brown was a little surprised with the heavy support of the gelding which is owned by the some connections as stablemate Squall Line.
“I thought he had some chance in the race and he’s gone about his work in good style,” said Brown.
“He’s a nice little horse who is going to continue to improve and hopefully there are a few more wins in store for him.”
For Brown the win was a satisfying start to the season after finishing in the Top 10 on the Trainer’s Premiership Table with 38 winners in 2010.
His first runner for the year Deep Pockets finished second behind The Cinderella Man in Race 2 on the program.
“It’s always good to get the first winner for the season out of the way early,” said Brown. “You don’t want to be waiting a month and then hoping that win will come.”
Placais said Getreel still had a lot to learn about racing and believes the gelding will continue to improve.
“He was very green and wanted to run about in the straight,” said Placais.
“With a green horse like that I had to change my whip style and just went about tapping him.
“I’m sure he’s going to get better and hopefully there are some more wins in store for him.”
Getreel is a three-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding by Black Minnaloushe from Stareel and his victory on Sunday returned the Phenomenal Stable around $34,000 in prizemoney.
Sulmona
This filly was purchased by Swift Gallops Ltd along with her dam Pretty Ready (More Than Ready) on my recommendation. Pretty Ready has produced a filly by High Chaparral this season and been served by Elusive City.
Third time lucky for Sulmona
Michael Lee
Sunday, November 14, 2010
After recording two seconds from as many starts, short-priced favourite Sulmona was finally right on the money at her third run on Sunday.
Second at her first two starts, when punted down to favouritism, the Van Nistelrooy filly rewarded her backers for their unflinching faith with an easy all-the-way win in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden-2 (2&3YO) Community Stakes (1200m).
One of the best away, the Michael Clements-trained three-year-old, who has had lightweight jockey Ronnie Stewart aboard at all her three outings, did not have to work hard to cross to the rails.
Ronnie Stewart guides Sulmona to her maiden victory on Sunday.
Stewart steadied up the pace, which allowed the rest of the field to keep in touch within respectable distance, but once Sulmona rounded the home turn, the issue was quickly put beyond doubt.
Sulmona ($8) shot clear at the 300m and went on to score by a widening margin of 3 ½ lengths over debutant Always Happy (Barend Vorster) with Rocket Express (Joao Moreira) plodding on for third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 10.66secs.
“She has lots of speed and went into today’s race with two good runs”, said Clements.
She was also nice on weights and drew a pretty good barrier (6) and she produced the right run.
She’s only a small filly and there isn’t much of her, but what she lacks in weight, she makes up in heart.
She’s definitely got a bit of a future here but at this stage I will be looking at a Novice race or one those Plate races and see how she goes.
Stewart was delighted he has been able to find one better at his third link-up with the Sulmona Stable-owned filly.
“She has the right attitude and is a little fighter”, said Stewart.
“The other day she was a little hard to hold but she always gives 110% in her races. She was in the right race today and she was in control from the word go.”
“Mike and the team have done a good job with her. I’m glad they have stuck with me throughout and I was able to get third time lucky.”
Sulmona, who was named after an Italian city, returned $8 for a win and has already brought up earnings close to $60,000 for her connections.
Instant Return for Owners
18/10/10 - Tayler Strong - Otago Daily Times
El Chico gave his new owners an instant return when he won the Ashburton Cup yesterday.
El Chico, who had not raced for five months, was having his first race from the stable of Michael Pitman who, along with John and Evelyn Carran, of Otautau, bought the Stravinsky gelding in July.
Pitman made the purchase through Christchurch bloodstock agent Roddy Fulton.
El Chico won four races when trained by Jan Hay for Haunui Farm and R Lam.
El Chico won his first two races from the Matamata stable of Jon Sargent.
El Chico, who has won over 2000m, will have his next start at Wingatui on November 2 as a lead up to the $250,000 Coupland Bakeries Mile at Riccarton eight days later.
Squall Line back with impressive win
12 Sep 2010 - Craig Brennan
Lightly-raced galloper Squall Line returned to racing with an impressive win in the $65,000 Graduation Stakes over 1000m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Ridden by Danny Beasley, Squall Line lead throughout in scoring by two-and-three-quarter lengths over Big River (Saimee Jumaat) with Wallinger (Muhd Firdaus) a length away third.
Squall Line was having his first outing for new trainer Len Treloar who described the gelding as “above average”.
The New Zealand-bred five-year-old came to Treloar’s yard not long after he suffered a bleeding attack following his last start, when fourth to Lucky Jester on March 28, his only defeat in three previous starts.
“I was pleased to get him through that just as I thought he would be able to do,” said Treloar.
“This is an above average horse and I wasn’t concerned about him coming back from a bleeding attack.
“A lot of horses can bleed up here in Singapore and a lot of them make successful comebacks to the racetrack.
“I’m just glad he is one of them.”
Treloar said he went into the race full of confidence after the gelding had put in some strong gallops on the training track for his return to racing.
“He had had two trials and his trackwork showed that he is an above average horse,” said Treloar.
“I’m pretty sure that this horse will race his way through the classes.
The runner-up Big River had a pull in the weights, but at the end he pulled right away.
“He’s an exciting horse.”
Beasley, who was having his first ride aboard the gelding, said he was suitably impressed by the way Squall Line was able to finish the race off after being taken on in front.
“He’s a lovely horse,” said Beasley. “He showed a lot of grit to win in good style.
“He’s not just a Polytrack horse. He won his first start on the turf and is certainly a horse worth following.”
Squall Line took his prizemoney to around the $100,000 for the Phenomenal Stable with his third win in four starts on Sunday.
A five-year-old New Zealand bred, Squall Line is by My Halo from the Spectacular Love mare Tremble.
2/9/10
Balatro wins impressively over 1400 metres today at Waverley.
Taken to the front by Hayden Tinsley she was never headed and won untouched.
Trainer Sandie Cookson will head to Hastings now with this very promising mare for a rating 70.
"Balatro" (4m by Chianti ex Justice For All) was very impressive first up yesterday over 1400 metres at Foxton for the Sandie Cookson Stable. Selected originally by Rod Fulton Bloodstock Ltd out of the Neill Ridley Stable she was purchased by David Woodhouse and Bill Rutherford.
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3f by Chianti ex Justice For All (College Chapel)
Star Halo (My Halo ex Winkum) belongs to Swift Gallops Ltd whose bloodstock I manage in New Zealand. This filly was bred here in New Zealand and has been leased to a Syndicate in Singapore for her racing career.
Excellent debut for Star Halo
10 Jul 2010 Craig Brennan
The wait was worth it for owner newcomers Nice Touch Racing when Star Halo scored an impressive debut win in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1000m on Friday night.
Ridden by leading jockey Joao Moreira, Star Halo scored by a length-and-a-quarter from Knight Spirit (John Powell) with Ace Allotroped (Barend Vorster) three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third place.
As a measure of her ability, Star Halo stopped the clock at 59.72 seconds for the 1000m journey.
Moreira explained that Star Halo was crowded from both the inside and outside on jumping away and that it took the filly some time to find her feet.
After travelling four wide in the early stages, Moreira kicked the filly for home on straightening where she quickly put the result beyond doubt.
“I rode her in a trial two weeks ago and I knew then that she was a filly with lots of ability,” said Moreira.
“She found some trouble at the start tonight, but I didn’t panic on her and allowed her to find her feet.
“On the hometurn I allowed her to go to the lead and she kept going without me having to use the whip.
“She is a very courageous horse.”
Trainer Michael Clements said Star Halo had taken a lot of education to get her to the stage of being ready to race.
Clements described Star Halo as a “fractious filly” but one that was “very precocious.”
“There is not much of her but she has a huge heart and a lot of speed,” said Clements.
“She has always shown us a lot and she pretty much had the race in her control a long way out.
“She had a good preparation in New Zealand before she made her way up here but has done most of work here.
“It is just that she has been a bit of a handful at the barriers which has delayed us in getting her to the races.”
Star Halo is a daughter of My Halo from the Waikiki Star mare Winkum and landed in Singapore in early February having arrived from New Zealand unraced.
Bright prospect for NSW Storm Cat newcomer
Rod Fulton Bloodstock Ltd arranged the orginal importation of Mosayter to Australia in association with Jane Henning of Sydney.
MICKEY DRIPPIN, a juvenile son of the spectacularly bred Mosayter, a new Storm Cat sire in New South Wales this year, is a youngster that could be worth keeping an eye on. He is yet to race, but suggested a bold first up showing is likely when he won an open trial for the age group at Perth’s Belmont Park on June 28.
Mickey Drippin is one of the foals that Mosayter has supplied from use in Western Australia, a region in which he had his first runners in 2007-08. So far he has had only 30 starters out of which seven have won and eight others placed. Those to impress have included Shajezar, a colt whose11 outings have returned eight first three cheques, including a win over 1600m in the city, a second and a third in Listed stakes.
Mosayter is also sire of the Perth winner My Sweet Lil and Perth placed Feline (won Pinjarra), Dontloitermosyter (won Bunbury by 2.25 lengths), General Mosville and Young Modern.
Now the foundation sire on a fee of $4,400 at Louise and Mark Ellis’s Argyle stud at Panuara on the southern slopes of Mount Canobalas near Orange and Canowindra, the16.2 hands American born Mosayter is among the most fashionably bred sires now at stud in New South Wales. Not only is he bred on a cross of two of great influences of modern times, being by Storm Cat and from a Cheshire Oaks second by Mr. Prospector, but he is from an immediate family which consistently throws up excellence.
He is a half-brother to the dam of American champion turf mare Lahudood and his dam is one eight stakes performers (six winners) from the nine to race out of Height of Fashion, a champion European 2-year-old filly and a prominent 3-year-old. Her foals include Nayef, a multiple Group1 winner and good sire who is a three-quarter brother to the dam of Mosayter, also the eminent sires Nashwan (by Blushing Groom, won English Derby and Two Thousand Guineas) and Unfuwain (won Newmarket Jockey Club Stakes).
Mosayter’s third dam, Highclere, won the English One Thousand Guineas and French Oaks and was grandaughter of another winner of the Thousand Guineas, Hypericum. She was a half-sister by Hyperion to the dam of breed shaper Round Table and a three-quarter sister to the dam of another world breeding influence, Aureole.
One of the most significant features of Mosayter’s breeding is its close ties with the Coolmore shuttle sire Tale of the Cat (fee $38,500). He is also by Storm Cat and from a Mr. Prospector mare and on top of this his fourth dam is a sister to Round Table.
Tale of the Cat’s best runners in Australia have included Glamour Puss (dam by Centaine),Tell A Tale (Sir Tristram), Real Saga (Air Express), Falkirk (Palace Music), Willow Creek (Umatilla) and Mr. Ubiquitous (Zabeel). Mares by these sires may also work with Mosayter.
Two other distinguished Storm Cat sires who have shuttled to Australia who have shown up his value as a sire of sires have been Hennessy and Giant’s Causeway.
Although Mosayter is the first sire to stand at the Argyle Thoroughbreds stud, they are already respected in the horse industry for their agistment services at modest rates. Louise Ellis can be reached (02) 6366 4234 or mobile 0427 899 827.
KING OF ROSES ( Fairy King ex Stellar Spirit) has arrived in New Zealand to stand at GREENACRES STUD in North Canterbury courtesy of Rod Fulton Bloodstock Ltd who arranged the lease from well known breeder David Hains in Victoria, Australia.
WHY THIS STALLION WILL SUCCEED IN NEW ZEALAND
King Of Roses is by Fairy King, a full brother to Champion Sire Sadler's Wells--sire of Montjeu.
Fairy King is also the sire of Shinko King who has been so successful here in New Zealand.
Fairy King is also the sire of Encosta De Lago--Champion Sire in Australia 2007/8.
King Of Roses has already been successful at Stud in Australia from a limited book of private mares. He has produced 20 winners including two G3 winners at Flemington in Australia, a winner of the Derby and Guineas in Macau, a stakes placed filly in Australia and a filly which has won her last two races in England very recently, from only 44 runners.
King Of Roses has approximately 76 current 2 yr olds and 70 yearlings still to race in Australia from his transfer to Independent Stallion Station in Victoria in 2007.
His pedigree provides access to Bold Reason, Secretariat (via a son), Special, Natalma and Bletchingly right in the engine room at the 3rd generation.
There are no dysgenic weaknesses in his pedigree and he displayed genuine ability on the track before injury curtailed his career. At his first start he defeated the Cox Plate winner Fields of Omagh in a runaway win over 1200 metres.
"His pedigree suits the NZ broodmare population even better than the genetic pool which has been available to him in Australia" according to noted pedigree expert Clive Harper.
He descends from one of the best Classic families in Australia--the "Kingston" family which includes Spirit of Kingston G1, Rose of Kingston G1, Kingston Rule G1, Portland Player G1, Coup De Grace G1 etc which are all present in his first three generations.
He is 16.1 hh and has strength and scope.
His stock display his own ability to run off the front and accelerate away from the opposition in the straight.
He has produced winners in Macau, Singapore and Great Britain already from three individual runners.
His fillies and colts have sold for between A$30-35,000 at recent auctions in Australia so there is demand for his progeny.
At a service fee of NZ$3000.00 plus GST he represents incredible value.
Ultimate Fighter gives Chin maiden success
IPOH, April 17, 2010 |
ULTIMATE FIGHTER bounced back after a run of dismal showings to register a huge upset in the Da Ma Cai Stakes (Class 4 Banded 48-58) over the 1100m straight course to give apprentice Chin Chee Seng his maiden success in the saddle.
Since breaking through for his maiden win last July, ULTIMATE FIGHTER (Simon Snorkel - Wendy Jane by Beaufort Sea) managed just one placing in six starts.
Partnered by Chin for the first time today, ULTIMATE FIGHTER came through in a big field of 19 runners to pay RM189 for a win - the same payout by maiden winner CHINA GREAT (Mull Of Kintyre - Vanda Miss Joaquim by Dash O'Pleasure) in the opening event. |
Gust blows them away in Marsling Classic - Singapore
7 March 2010 Craig Brennan
Gust took out the $150,000 Marsling Classic Stakes over 1800m on Sunday, ridden by Singapore’s leading apprentice jockey over the past two seasons, Mark Ewe.
Racing on the speed throughout, Gust held on to score by a length over Saddlers Creek (Barend Vorster) with Switchblade (Oscar Chavez) a short-head away third.
The 1800m journey was covered in 1min 52.20 secs which took 0.23 secs off the previous record held by Bumble Bee.
Ewe allowed Gust to settle in second place behind the speed set by Golden Number (Olivier Placais) with Superb (Soo Khoon Beng) tucked away in third place.
After initially setting a steady pace, Placais was able to give Golden Number a breather down the backstraight, which in turn helped the chances of Gust.
Soon after straightening for home, Gust took over at the head of affairs and kicked clear of the chasing pack which was whittled down to Saddlers Creek and Switchblade with Drovetti (Saimee Jumaat) driving late.
But it was to no avail as Gust kept going strongly all the way to the line.
“The race turned out perfectly for us,” said Ewe. “He is a horse that likes to race from the front, but the pace was strong and we were able to take a sit.
“Down the back the pace wasn’t as strong and that really suited us. My horse was nice and relaxed and when he went to the front he showed good fight.”
Gust was having his third start for trainer Tan Hor Khoon after being previously prepared by John Meagher.
“He’s only been with me for around a month,” said Tan. “And today was just his third start for me.
“We’ll take him along quietly but it is satisfying to get this victory.”
Gust is a six-year-old Australian-bred by Langfuhr from the Celtic Swing mare Green Genes and recorded his ninth victory in Singapore from 34 starts. The win saw his prizemoney has top the $500,000 mark for the Four Season Stable with the success.
Rod Fulton Bloodstock sold this horse to Singapore after he won a Trial in NZ and he has won 9 races and $500,000 now.
Squall Line does it again making it
2 starts for 2 wins
19 November 2009
The New Zealand bred four-year-old gelding by My Halo out of Tremble (Spectacular Love) showed his class by winning the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1100m in Singapore on 18 November in a time of 1min 06.4 secs. He was ridden by K.B. Soo and carried 56.5kg and showed little contempt for his rivals winning the race by six lengths. This win comes after an impressive debut race when he won by two lengths over Palombaro in a 1200m race on November 1st.
Squall Line has now won around $60,000 for the ZQ Stable, and trainer Tan Hor Khoon, from these two starts.
His racing career while in New Zealand included two trials resulting in a win and a second for the then trainers Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue of Cambridge. On both occasions he was ridden by Andrew Calder. His first trial saw him beaten into second by Try Time by a head and his second trial saw him win by 2 lengths over Prospective Belle.
Squall Line (4g by My Halo ex Tremble)
I sold this horse to Singapore earlier this year and he has just won up there by 2 lengths first up on Sunday night in 1.10.4 for 1200 metres. Purchased from the stable of Tony Pike at Cambridge after a Trial win he appears to be a horse with plenty of potential.
In association with the late Lyle Mortimore I imported My Halo to New Zealand in 2001 and he was purchased by Wynyard Lodge Stud in Canterbury. As the first son of Southern Halo to enter Australasia he has played an important part in the development of that sireline which is now also successfully represented by More Than Ready. Other representatives include new imports such as Thano, Edenwold and Mr Nancho.
With the ever increasing saturation of our pedigrees by Northern Dancer via Danehill, Danzig, Nureyev and Nijinsky it has become very important to have access to another complimentary sireline. Southern Halo is by Halo whose 2nd dam Almahmoud is also the 2nd dam of Northern Dancer and even more significantly Southern Halo is out of Northern Sea by Northern Dancer therefore providing an automatic sex balance with any Northern Dancer line mare. My Halo also carries the very unusual but extremely valuable female influence of Northern Dancer himself via two daughters at 3x5.
Squall Line (Click on photo's to enlarge)
ELTAWAASUL has his first Stakes performer at the Riccarton Cup Meeting
Premier Lady (2f by Eltawaasul ex Blowfish Baby by Deputy Governor) runs a very unlucky 2nd in the Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton on November 14th 2009. Beaten only a short neck by Encosta Diablo over 1000 metres in 57.72, she was desperately unlucky after having to change ground in the straight.
The ironic factor about the result was that the winner was purchased for NZ$600,000 at the Karaka Sales and Premier Lady was purchased by Paul Harris (Trainer) for around $1500.00 at an Emerald Lodge Dispersal Sale.
Premier Lady becomes the first Stakes performer for Eltawaasul (Nureyev) and continues the promise shown by a number of his progeny recently including Imani (ex Sothys by Crested Wave) who has won twice for Terri Rae. A recent Trial winner by Eltawaasul ex Come On Darling shows promise.
Rod Fulton Bloodstock Ltd arranged the lease of Blowfish Baby specifically for Eltawaasul. This mare is closely related to Circles of Gold-- dam of Elvstroem and Haradasun.
