Rising Stars Primed for Gr.1 Hong Kong Classic Mile
By ANZBloodstocknews.com |
24 Jan 2012 |
The first leg of the 2012 Four- Year-Old Series kicks off at Sha Tin’s popular Chinese New Year Raceday on Wednesday, 25 January, when some talented hopefuls line up for the day’s feature event, the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile (HK Gr 1, 1600m) on turf.
Among the rising stars aiming for glory is the exciting Fay Fay (Falkirk), who is one of eight runners to also hold an entry in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (HK Gr 1, 2000m). The four-year-old extended his unbeaten sequence this season to four when sweeping to an impressive Class 2 course and distance triumph on 1 January.
John Size has primed the Falkirk gelding for five wins and three seconds from eight career starts and believes his charge is equipped for the leap into HK Group 1 company. “The horse is fine and if he holds together we’ll be looking ahead to the Derby”, said the trainer, who is seeking a first success in the Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile. “Fay Fay has been doing his best in his races and I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s race, in the sense that he has to improve to keep winning.”
Admiration (Encosta de Lago) finished seventh behind last year’s Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) winner, Lucky Nine (Dubawi), in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1) over 1200m in December. The John Moore trainee makes his third attempt at 1600m, a distance at which he is yet to win,
having crossed the line two places behind stablemate Captain Sweet in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup (HK Gr 3, 1400m) last time.
Captain Sweet (Fastnet Rock) posted a career best effort in the CCC Cup when second, conceding 13 pounds to the winner. He too holds a Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby entry, as do Moore’s other two candidates for the Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile, Zaidan (Street Cry) and Smart Giant (Pins), who heads the
standings after the latest Rising Star voting.
“Captain Sweet is one of the most genuine horses in my yard, and, now that he takes the big step up to Group 1 class, I don’t have any doubts that he’ll be able to hold his own. His work, as usual, has been impressive in the lead up but there is always a little doubt as to whether he’ll get a strong run mile,” revealed Moore, who has won the prize twice since it was upgraded to HKG1 status in 2000, with Tiber (2004) and Sunny Sing (2006).
“The same can be said of Admiration,” he continued. “He found the sprint too short last time, even with blinkers, and he looks like he’ll be a 1400m/miler but there’s that question mark over a strong mile. “Smart Giant is definitely Group 1 class and dropping back to the mile is not a problem. He’s getting ready for the Derby and this race fits his programme in the lead up, but saying that, he’ll be the one of mine to beat.
“Zaidan has become much more genuine since he was gelded. He’s another being aimed at the Derby and this race fits in nicely - the drop back to a mile may raise a doubt.”
Tony Cruz has a fine record in the Mercedes-Benz HK Classic Mile. Victorious as a trainer with Floral Pegasus (2007), Helene Mascot (2008) and Beauty Flash (Golan) (2010), he aims for a fourth success with Packing Tycoon (Danehill Dancer) (formerly Alexander Pope). Longwah Supreme (Southern Image) (formerly Hatupatu) stretches out to 1600m for the first time and represents last year’s winning trainer Caspar Fownes, while David Ferraris relies
on Sweet Orange (War Front) (formerly Warning Flag) , who will be ridden by Weichong Marwing.
The field includes another with good past European form, New Deerfield (Choisir) (formerly Codemaster) from the Derek Cruz stable, as well as Horace’s Empire (Grand Slam) (formerly Zelimir), trained by Sean Woods.
The remaining two legs of the Four-Year-Old Series are the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Cup (HK Gr 1, 1800m) on 19 February and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (HK Gr 1, 2000m) on 18 March.
Ocean Park Lashes Quality Field in G3
The three-year-old son of Thorn Park, Ocean Park (NZ), showed that he is a colt with a big future when he lead an NZB trifecta with a stunning four-and-a-half-length victory in the Group 3 $70,000 Phil Cataldo Bloodstock Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Trained by Gary Hennessy, Ocean Park (Thorn Park x Sayyida, by Zabeel) was slow from the gates and raced at the back of the field with jockey Chad Ormsby stoking the colt up at the 600 metres and bringing him wide on the turn.
In a professional performance against a tough field, Ocean Park picked up the leaders in a matter of strides after the turn, and in a hands and heels ride from Ormsby, the son of Thorn Park extended in the Trentham straight putting four-and-a-half-lengths on the field at the post.
Ocean Park has only had four starts, winning his debut and his second start, both at Ellerslie, before running second to Knight's Tour after a tough run in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas at his last start.
Now the firm favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby on 3 March, Gary Hennessy declared after the race that there's a lot of improvement left in the horse.
The win takes Thorn Park to second place on New Zealand's Sires' Premiership with just 61 runners, 49 less than O'Reilly who currently holds first place, and 33 less than Pins who holds third.
Thorn Park has 56 entries at Karaka 2012 including:
· Lot 222, the half-brother to the Group 1 winner and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (Pins).
· Lot 207, the half-brother to the Group 2 winner Hidden Asset (High Chaparral) from the Zabeel mare Fragile Asset, the same cross Ocean Park is bred on.
Ocean Park has extended Zabeel's lead on New Zealand's Broodmare Sires' Premiership where he is over $360,000 clear of Centaine. In a remarkable season, Zabeel also leads the Australian Broodmare Sires' Premiership with $6,936,883 in stakes.
Bred by Trelawney Thoroughbred Ltd, Ocean Park was purchased by his trainer and part-owner Gary Hennessy who races the colt with Hong Kong owners Andrew Wong and Steve Yan. The three-year-old was purchased from Trelawney Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $150,000.
Second in the Group 3 was another promising three-year-old Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Royal Kiss) who raced mid-field and looked sharp in the straight for trainer Adrian Bull. The gelding put in a winning trial coming into the race and is also nominated for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.
Little Avondale Stud will be offering a half-sister to Nashville by Stravinsky at Lot 410 of the Karaka Premier Sale.
Running into third place and sealing the New Zealand Bloodstock trifecta was the Jason Bridgman trained $1.3 million colt Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choice x Grand Echezeaux) who put in a good performance running from the back of the field to take third place. Burgundy also holds a nomination for the New Zealand Derby.
New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 National Yearling Sales Series is set to commence on Monday 30 January at the earlier time of 10am. For news and sales information visit www.nzb.co.nz.
Single has Carmody on a High
By Racingandsports.com.au |
23 Jan 2012 |
A return to winning form by Single (High Chaparral) at Rosehill on Saturday put the smile back on trainer Craig Carmody's face and gave jockey Nathan Berry a welcome 21st birthday present.
Carmody was baffled by the four-year-old's last-start fourth as the dominant favourite in a 1500m race on New Year's Eve when he laboured to the line.
It was a different story in Saturday's Vinery Stud Handicap (1800m) with Single (A$4.40 fav) working into the race nicely before charging clear to beat
Rolling Pin (NZ) (Pins) by 1-1/2 lengths with Tropicana Girl (Redoute's Choice) another 3-1/2 lengths away third.
For Berry, Single's victory helped ease the pain of being dropped as the rider of Aeronautical (Encosta de Lago) and a suspension incurred on Friday.
Three-year-old Aeronautical did not perform as well as expected earlier in the day but Single did everything right.
The four year-old, by High Chaparral from the Nashwan mare Myself, showed class to runa- way at the finish of the 1800m event by a length and a half.
“He's very classy and has some black type races in store for him,” said his rider Nathan Berry.
"It is great to get a win to celebrate my birthday," Berry said. "He is a good horse and he got a good run today. "I had four lengths to make up in 400 metres mid-race and I used that and he eased into it comfortably. "I've got no doubt he can get up over more ground and I've got a lot of time for him."
Carmody was relieved to see Single back to his best. "I think he struggled with the stop-start tactics last time," he said. "The tempo wasn't to his liking and he ended up having to make two runs in the race. "That didn't happen today and he went as we hoped. "He still has maturing to do and I think time is going to be his friend."
Purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Single has won four of his eight starts earning $142,400.
Bred by Bloomsbury Stud, a three-quarter sister to Single will be offered through the draft of Phoenix Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale which commences on January 30 as Lot 42.
Single is a half-brother to three Northern Hemisphere bred winners including stakes-placed Ghayth and Ego being from the imported stakes-winner Myself.
His sire High Chaparral is set to play a major role at the 2012 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka as it will feature his last New Zealand bred crop of yearlings.
He now shuttles to Coolmore Australia in the NSW Hunter Valley.
So You Think favourite for Dubai World Cup
Windsor Park Stud graduate So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral) will be entered for the $US10 million Dubai World Cup (2000m) at Meydan and has been installed favourite by British bookmaker Coral for the race.
Now trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, So You Think (NZ) is at 7-2 to take the world's richest purse at Meydan on March 31.
The eight time group one winner is part-owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam in association with Ireland's thoroughbred breeding powerbrokers at Coolmore, will be a leading contender if it is decided he will take his place in the race.
"He will be entered for the race but obviously no decision will be made until nearer the time," O'Brien's wife Annemarie tweeted .
A dual Cox Plate winner of five group one races when formerly trained by Bart Cummings, So You Think (NZ) has won a further three Group One races on European soil since being transferred to O'Brien in 2011.
So You Think (NZ) was ranked equal seventh in the World Thoroughbred Rankings for 2011 and has had his past four starts in four different countries - Ireland, France, England and the United States.
Guillotine WILL make an impact at Karaka
By Adrian Clark, www.adrianclark.co.nz |
22 Jan 2012 |
I attended today’s yearling parade staged at Mapperley Stud then Windsor Park Stud and came away hugely-impressed with the first crop yearlings by Guillotine.
To be honest, Guillotine has not been a stallion who’s really grabbed me before now. I haven’t bred to him, nor have I recommended the horse to any clients I manage broodmares for.
I’ve changed my tune. The yearlings I saw today were a terrific line of horses; generally big, strongly-made and athletic.
I’m sure seasoned yearling buyers will be of the same mind; these horses grab your immediate attention. Today I marked a number by him which are now on my short list for re inspection at Karaka.
Probably my pick from today and certainly a horse I’ve short listed for the CHALLENGE NO.1 SYNDICATE (click here to find out more) is Lot 647, the Guillotine filly from Colors of Life (Woodman).
I mark my yearlings out of five. 1 is outstanding; 2 is very good; 3 is good; 4 is ok and 5 is don’t go there. This filly scored a two and I can’t wait to see how she adapts to the Karaka environment.
By the way, the two parades today were slickly run. These are two of New Zealand’s key thoroughbred nurseries. They’ve been doing it a long time & it shows. Great horses, excellent presentation and, by the way, lunch was most enjoyable too!
O'Shea wins first-up with Alberton Park
Alberton Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) had the perfect introduction to Sydney racing for her new stable with a convincing victory in the opening race at Rosehill on Saturday.
The five-year-old joined John O'Shea's team three months ago and the Randwick trainer was expecting a big showing in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1200m) based on what the mare had shown him on the training tracks.
"I said to (part-owner) Tony Bott that if she didn't do anything today we'd be in a world of pain, because there were just no excuses for her leading into the race," O'Shea said. "She hasn't put a foot wrong since she's been with us. She's an uncomplicated little mare and we have been very happy with her.
"Every time I have worked her she has worked well and every time I've trialled her she has trialled well." Alberton Park (NZ) did her previous racing in Brisbane with trainer Liam Birchley and won five of her 28 starts with 14 placings including a second in the Listed Bright Shadow Quality at Doomben last April.
After settling in the perfect position just behind the leaders, apprentice Chad Schofield peeled Alberton Park (NZ) (A$8) out on straightening and she came down the centre of the track to reel in her rivals.
She defeated the Chris Waller-trained First Look by three-quarters of a length with another 1- 1/4 lengths to Hatton Garden in third.
O'Shea said the Listed Wiggle Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares at Warwick Farm in March would be a likely target.
Schofield, who has built up a healthy lead in the Sydney apprentices' premiership, showed off a new European style of using the whip in his victory on Alberton Park (NZ), something he is still working on perfecting.
"I've only been trying it out the last couple of weeks at trackwork and used it for the first time in a race at my last meeting (at Gosford on Friday)," Schofield said. "It's a style my dad (Glyn Schofield) often uses and I've noticed Tommy Berry starting to use it as well. I still haven't perfected it, but I like it."
Bred by Anne Storey and her Late father Evan Kerr-Taylor, Alberton Park (NZ) is a daughter of Group Two winner Alberton Star (NZ) (Stylish Century)
The same family was represented later in day when the Gerald Ryan-trained Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward x Alberton Rose) won A$250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) at Rosehill.
Mapperley Stud will offer a Thorn Park half-sister to Cavalry Rose's dam at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale as Lot 38, while the same family is represented through Lot 39, a Thorn Park colt out of Alberton Princess (NZ) (Golan). Alberton Park (NZ) features is the pedigree of Lot 1130.
Thorn Park will be represented by 15 Premier, 39 Select and 2 Festival lots at the 2012 NZB National Yearling Sales Series.
Park favourite for Derby after Group win
By The Informant Paul Vettise |
22 Jan 2012 |
Ocean Park powered his way to clear favouritism for the Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand with a commanding performance at Trentham today that left his rivals chasing a memory in the home straight.
The Gary Hennessy-trained colt bolted away with the Gr.3 Cataldo Bloodstock Wellington Stakes to earn a $3 fixed odds quote for the March 3 classic at Ellerslie.
He has displaced Knight’s Tour at the head of the market with the last start Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas winner remaining firm at $5.
When the TAB’s Derby market opened in late November quoting Ocean Park at $21, the good looking bay had been a dead-heat winner at Gisborne in his only start.
He won his next start and his only defeat came in the Great Northern Guineas at the hands of Knight’s Tour, when he was denied clear galloping room in the straight and found the line strongly to go down narrowly.
Rider Chad Ormsby ensured there was no chance of bad luck coming into the equation today. He settled Ocean Park one of the fence at the back of the field and began his move across the top.
The pair quickly eased around runners to take control early in the straight and sailed away to win easing down by four-and-a-half lengths from Nashville and Burgundy.
“He keeps stepping up and it’s quite freakish,” Hennessy said. “There’s a lot of improvement in the horse yet.”
Ocean Park will now follow the traditional Derby path with his next start in the Gr.3 HS Dyke Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa on February 4 and then his final lead-up in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie on February 18.
It is a similar route taken by last year’s Derby hero Jimmy Choux, who won at Trentham and Te Rapa, but bypassed the Avondale feature, on his way to Blue Riband success.
The other common factor is they are both by Windsor Park Stud’s Thorn Park. Ocean Park can claim another major plus as he is out of Sayyida, a daughter of the champion stallion Zabeel.
Hennessy said his colt had both the ideal temperament and racing manners to cope with the Derby distance of 2400 metres and he was confident the trip would present no problem.
He purchased Ocean Park for $150,000 out of Trelawney Stud’s Select Sale consignment to Karaka in 2010 and shares in the ownership with Hong Kong-based associates Andrew Wong and Steve Yan.
Kontiki Park gives Nash a win
By Queensland Racing |
20 Jan 2012 |
Kontiki Park (NZ) stormed home in the $200,000 Korean Air Magic Millions Stayers Cup 1800m to give Nash Rawiller a happy ending to a day filled with highs and lows, and Gai Waterhouse her second win for the day.
Playaction piloted by Jason Taylor crossed the line two and three quarter lengths back to claim second followed by Racing Heart (Jim Byrne) another one and three quarter lengths away in third.
Gai Waterhouse couldn’t have been happier with Kontiki Park’s (G6Thorn Park-Pretty Special) win describing him as a big horse with a big heart.
“He was bred in New Zealand and sold at Magic Millions a few years back,” Gai said. “He is the most versatile horse.
“He can race on the speed or he can come from the back of the field. He has really broken through.
“He won the Bernborough two weeks ago (December 31, 2011) and now he has won the Magic Millions Cup. He is a horse that is really going places.”
Waterhouse thought the gelding’s run in the Villiers was outstanding as well, saying he is a joy to watch.
“Kontiki Park is the most improved horse in the stables and also one of the favourites,” Waterhouse said.
“Talk about only coming to it later in life; he only just got into Black Type racing as a five-year-old. He has really hit his hobbles.”
Kontiki Park’s owners have followed him all the way, flying in from New Zealand, amongst other places, to watch their horse win.
Jockey Nash Rawiller believes Kontiki Park put his hand up in the Villiers and performed even better today.
“For an old horse he is going in the right direction. I don’t think I have ever felt him better than today and that’s a good sign,” Rawiller said.
“I’m sure Gai can find a nice race for him somewhere and place him with an advantage to win.
“He carried the weight very well. He is twice as big as everyone else out there so we just took advantage of that.
“Once he got there he really relaxed, I was just waiting for someone to pick me up.”
Kontiki has now had 25 starts for seven wins taking his prizemoney total to $489,900.
¾ Brother to So You Think at Karaka
New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 Karaka Premier Sale is set to offer a three-quarter brother in blood to one of the world's most talented thoroughbreds, the New Zealand bred eight-time Group 1 winning Karaka graduate So You Think (NZ).
To be offered by Windsor Park Stud who sold So You Think (High Chaparral x Triassic) at Karaka in 2008, the colt is by High Chaparral from La Souvenir, a daughter of Triassic, the dam of So You Think. The colt is set for sale on the second day of the Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 284.
Windsor Park Stud's Co-Owner and Stud Manager Rodney Schick is very pleased with the horse and is thrilled to have the colt in the Stud's Karaka 2012 draft.
"He is a fantastic type, he's a beast," commented Schick. "He is a good sized horse and is a very strong and well put together colt. He ticks all the boxes on type and is hard to fault so we expect him to be very popular come sale time."
So You Think has been the centre of media attention since his first Cox Plate victory in 2009. His rapid rise to stardom has seen the five-year-old become one of New Zealand's most successful thoroughbreds on the international stage since the late Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun), the winner of 13 Group 1 races including two Cox Plates.
Purchased by Duncan Ramage's DGR Thoroughbred Services from Windsor Park Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $110,000, So You Think has gone on to amass over NZ$9.6 million in stakes.
An outstanding winner of the Cox Plate in 2009 at three for master trainer Bart Cummings, So You Think became the only horse in Australian racing history to win the great race at both three and four when claiming his second victory last season.
His purchase by Coolmore Stud saw the entire taken to Coolmore's home in Ireland and transferred to trainer Aidan O'Brien who trains at the famous Ballydoyle stables.
The move was an instant success with So You Think making his Irish debut in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes (2100m) where he won by 10 lengths, with his next start seeing him take the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2110m) in a canter.
His following two starts in England saw him narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000m) by the ill-fated Rewilding (Tiger Hill) before he bounced back to win the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes (2000m).
In a fierce battle, So You Think and jockey Seamie Heffernan fought hard down the long Sandown Park straight, wearing down the 2010 English Derby and Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce (King's Best) in the final strides to win by a half-a-length.
A historic win, So You Think became the first horse from this part of the world to win a Group 1 race in England at a distance greater than a mile. Only Balmerino (NZ) (Trictrac) came close to achieving that feat in 1978 when he ran second in the Group 1 Coronation Cup (2400m) and Eclipse Stakes (2000m).
So You Think's next start saw him put in a determined performance to hold off Snow Fairy (Intikhab) in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m). The victory saw his name added to the illustrious winners list which includes Giant's Causeway, his sire High Chaparral, Azamour, Dylan Thomas, New Approach and the incomparable champion Sea the Stars.
With tough performances in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, after drawing wide, and the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Classic, his first start on dirt, So You Think is to be kept in training for the coming season and he continues to dominate headlines throughout Australasia, Ireland, England and Europe.
High Chaparral has the largest draft in New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 Karaka Premier Sale with 61 yearlings (35 colts and 26 fillies). The sire of seven Group 1 winners, four from his first New Zealand crop, the son of Sadler's Wells has sired 32 stakes winners (19 colts and 13 fillies) and 47 individual stakes performers (24 fillies and 23 colts) with a winners to runners ratio of over 72% in Australia.
High Chaparral began his Southern Hemisphere stud career at Windsor Park Stud in 2005 and the 2012 Karaka Yearling Sales will see the last of his New Zealand conceived yearlings offered at auction, with Windsor Park Stud set to offer 20 yearlings by the gun sire.
"We are very impressed with High Chaparral's yearlings," commented Schick. "We have a number of standouts by High Chaparral in our draft including the filly from Akela (Lot 36) who's a half-sister to Lady Kipling (Savabeel) who won last Saturday's Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes, she is a very nice filly."
To view High Chaparral's draft in the Karaka Premier Sale, click here.
Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 Karaka Yearling Sales (30 January - 5 February) are now available and can be viewed online at www.nzb.co.nz.
A remarkable career the ultimate tribute to Volksraad
By Dave Bradford, The Informant |
18 Jan 2012 |
A remarkable career has ended as the result of a paddock injury for eight times champion New Zealand sire Volksraad, just days short of his twenty-fourth birthday.
His final resting place at Windsor Park Stud will be alongside predecessors Silver Dream, Star Way and Kaapstad.
This week the team at Windsor Park remembered Volksraad’s influence on the New Zealand and Australian breeding industry, his 58 stakes winners including 14 at Group One level, and his rapidly growing stature as a broodmare sire.
Rodney Schick, son of Windsor Park’s founders Nelson and Sue Schick, described Volksraad’s loss as gut-wrenching, but added there was so much to celebrate about the stallion’s achievements.
Windsor Park general manager Steve Till’s association has been even closer. He was part of the 1993 syndicate formed by the Davison family and Windsor Park which initially stood the son of Green Desert at Matamata’s Mapperley Stud at a fee of $2,500.
A first crop of only 49 foals produced nine stakes winners, including the Gr. 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Dantelah. In 1999 he was transferred to Cambridge’s Windsor Park Stud.
“It has been a wonderful journey,” Till told The Informant.
One of the special milestones of that journey was winning his eighth New Zealand sires’ title, a feat only bettered by the iconic Foxbridge in the 1940s, but his sheer versatility has been his greatest asset.
He sired progeny who could jump out of their bridles at two like Vinaka, Zola, Katana, One Under and Thriller; metric two-milers like Willie Smith (Wellington Cup) and Torlesse (New Zealand Cup); and everything in between including Group One-winning sprinters, metric milers and the 2010 New Zealand Derby winner Military Move.
Unquestionably, however, his flagship performer has been the seemingly ageless Sir Slick, winner of 22 races and more than $2 million in stakes. Now 10, Sir Slick celebrated his 147th start with an unplaced run in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, but at his previous start he had dead-heated for second at Te Rapa to level his number of second placings with his wins. Additional weighing-in performances include 17 thirds, 11 fourths and 15 fifths. Few stallions have sired a more beloved and hardy campaigner.
With big numbers of Volksraad’s progeny still on the track, and more to follow from what amounts to 19 seasons at stud, his statistics are firmly poised to be further enhanced, including his progeny earnings of more than $47 million. An even more lasting legacy will follow through his broodmares.
“Great sires almost always become great broodmare sires,” says Till. “His mares have already produced 19 stakes winners, so obviously he’s already following the pattern.”
Volksraad’s Group One winners
SIR SLICK (01g, Paris Opera, Sir Godfrey). 22 wins from 1400m to 2000m, NZ$1,851,700, A$118,292, S$60,000, WRC Thorndon Mile, Gr.1-twice, ARC Zabeel Classic, Gr.1, New Zealand S., Gr.1, Waikato RC International S., Gr.1, Otaki Maori RC WFA S., Gr.1.
VINAKA (98g, Famous Star, Khozaam). 8 wins-3 at 2-to 1400m, NZ$475,900, S$10,575, WRC Telegraph H., Gr.1, ARC Railway H., Gr.1.
ONE UNDER (96f, Sir Tristram, Trictrac). 6 wins-4 at 2-to 1400m, NZ$195,425, A$19,050, ARC Ellerslie Sires' Produce S., Gr.1, Manawatu Sires' Produce S., Gr.1.
STAR SATIRE (97f, Kaapstad, Crest of the Wave). 5 wins-2 at 2-to 1400m, NZ$201,250, A$31,600, Otaki Maori RC WFA S., Gr.1.
CLIFTON KING (95g, English Harbour, Le Filou). 17 wins-3 at 2-from 1000m to 1600m, R1,849,750, Gosforth Germiston November H., Gr.1, Greyville South African Guineas, Gr.1.
DANTELAH (94f, Icecapade, Caro). 8 wins-2 at 2-to 1200m, NZ$50,000, A$862,488, HK$249,100, VATC Oakleigh P., Gr.1.
VELOCE BELLA (03f, Crested Wave, Sovereign Edition). 12 wins from 1200m to 2100m to 2010-11, NZ$645,925, A$20,000, Waikato RC International S., Gr.1.
VELOCITEA (05f, Felix the Cat, Beaufort Sea). 7 wins-2 at 2-at 1000m, 1200m, NZ$28,750, A$537,988, SAJC Goodwood H., Gr.1.
DEZIGNA (99g, Conquistarose, Crested Wave). 11 wins from 1200m to 1600m, NZ$712,115, A$45,500, WRC Captain Cook S., Gr.1.
ORANGE COUNTY (02g, Kaapstad, Super Gray). 9 wins-2 at 2-to 1400m, A$842,875, MRC Sir Rupert Clarke S., Gr.1.
ZOLA (95f, Chem, Long Row). Third top filly on The 1997-98 Australasion 2YO Classification.5 wins-4 at 2-from 1000m to 1600m, NZ$152,625, A$79,800, ARC Ellerslie Sires' Produce S., Gr.1.
MILITARY MOVE (06g, Just a Dancer, Mussorgsky). Second on 2009-10 NZ 3YO Free H (1601+m).4 wins from 1200m to 2400m to 2011-12, NZ$1,502,775, HK$2,796,250, New Zealand Derby, Gr.1.
WILLY SMITH (01g, Sound Reason, Roi Lear). 6 wins from 1600m to 3200m, NZ$377,850, Wellington Cup, Gr.1.
DISTILL (08g, Casual Lies, Success Express). 2 wins-1 at 2-at 1000m, 1600m to 2011-12, NZ$164,375, Levin Classic, Gr.1.
Ocean Park to make amends for unlucky last start defeat
By Paul Vettise |
16 Jan 2012 |
Ocean Park was unlucky to lose his perfect record last time out and he gets an ideal opportunity to return to his winning ways in tomorrow’s Gr.3 Cataldo Bloodstock Wellington Stakes at Trentham.
The Thorn Park colt shared victory on debut when he dead-heated at Gisborne and then gave serious notice of his talent when defeating the capable Joy’s Choice in an age-group event at Ellerslie.
He returned to headquarters for the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas on Boxing Day, but his luck ran dry when he got clear galloping room too late and dashed home to go down by a head to the highly regarded Knight’s Tour.
“That was one that got away on us and he didn’t get the gaps soon enough,” Matamata trainer and part-owner Gary Hennessy said. “What he ran his last 200 metres in I don’t know because they ran 34 seconds off the front for the last 600.”
Ocean Park, who will again be ridden by Chad Ormsby, should be right at home on the roomy Trentham track and the left-handed circuit is of no concern to Hennessy.
“He’s trained that way and I don’t think there’s any bias either way,” he said. “It’s the logical race for him to run in and then he’s most likely to go to the Waikato Guineas.”
The Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 3 will be Ocean Park’s grand final and Hennessy has no concerns about the son of Thorn Park seeing out the 2400 metres of the classic.
“He relaxes and doesn’t do anything until you ask him. He looks the ideal sort to get the Derby distance,” he said.
He is out of the Zabeel mare Sayyida, who showed great promise as a three-year-old and was on a classic path herself until she suffered a serious leg injury in the Avondale Guineas and never raced again.
Ocean Park has made impressive progress since he trialled as a two-year-old. “He ran last in his first two trials but he was a gangly horse and he needed a bit of education and they were on wet ground,” Hennessy said. “He was a little disappointing, but I wasn’t looking to make him a two-year-old and he was a growing colt. He would have come up sooner this spring had the ground been firmer.”