Azaboy winning the Group 2 Valachi Downs Stakes at Pukekohe
Our stable has had a very busy April with 15 race day runners, the largest number for a month this racing season. It was also a very successful month with five winners and six place getters.
The highlight was Azaboy winning the 3yo G2 Valachi Downs Stakes over 2100m at Counties. We just missed the quinella with Time Lord being nosed out of 2nd placing. Azaboy’s win was his second for the month when winning a fortnight prior also at Counties over 2100m. The Azamour gelding, locally owned by Henry Wilcox, Terry Shaw and son in law Warren Gatland has now gone to the paddock for a well-earned spell. We are keen to have the horse back up and racing in the spring with the obvious target the Counties cup in November.
Time Lord has since flown to Brisbane and will race at Caloundra this Wednesday over 1600m. Safely through that race he will head to the Grand Prix for 3yos on 26th May over 2200m, with his main target being the Queensland Derby a fortnight later.
Cinematic was also successful twice in April initially at Counties earlier in the month then at Te Rapa three weeks later. She was ridden by our apprentice Kavish Chowdhoory who gave her lovely rides on both occasions. With her golden patch of form she will remain in training and race either at Te Rapa next Saturday over 1400m if track conditions are good otherwise wait for a 1200m at Te Rapa early in June before a spell.
Kavish will be a big asset for our horses who need a 4kg allowance over the next few months as he is a good thinker and a strong rider.
The highlight was Azaboy winning the 3yo G2 Valachi Downs Stakes over 2100m at Counties. We just missed the quinella with Time Lord being nosed out of 2nd placing. Azaboy’s win was his second for the month when winning a fortnight prior also at Counties over 2100m. The Azamour gelding, locally owned by Henry Wilcox, Terry Shaw and son in law Warren Gatland has now gone to the paddock for a well-earned spell. We are keen to have the horse back up and racing in the spring with the obvious target the Counties cup in November.
Time Lord has since flown to Brisbane and will race at Caloundra this Wednesday over 1600m. Safely through that race he will head to the Grand Prix for 3yos on 26th May over 2200m, with his main target being the Queensland Derby a fortnight later.
Cinematic was also successful twice in April initially at Counties earlier in the month then at Te Rapa three weeks later. She was ridden by our apprentice Kavish Chowdhoory who gave her lovely rides on both occasions. With her golden patch of form she will remain in training and race either at Te Rapa next Saturday over 1400m if track conditions are good otherwise wait for a 1200m at Te Rapa early in June before a spell.
Kavish will be a big asset for our horses who need a 4kg allowance over the next few months as he is a good thinker and a strong rider.
Kavish after his first ride & win on Cinematic at Pukekohe
,We have had a changing of the guard’s rider wise with Alysha leaving for her six month contract in Singapore last week and Andrew returning permanently from Macau three weeks ago. Also Kelly McCulloch who rides track work for us regularly has resumed race day riding, mixing this with her gym instructing so we have no shortage of quality jockeys. I have always found it a big advantage putting jockeys on race day who have ridden the horses in training.
Selfie had a change of ownership in April and now races for John Clydesdale of Silverstream Racing Ltd. He immediately put some money in the bank for his new owners when finishing 4th close up at Te Aroha on good ground before finishing strongly late for 3rd placing locally on heavy ground later in the month. He then started in a strong line up at Te Rapa on 5th May and never saw daylight at any stage in the straight. We were happy to see the horse race well on heavy ground and with Kavish’s claim it won’t be long before he is back on the winners list.
We are getting close to having our first starter in a jumping race for almost six years when Gottagetmywoohoo lines up over fences at Te Rapa this Saturday. He was a trial winner over hurdles at Cambridge a fortnight ago. Along with a couple of flat races he has recently galloped well at Kariotahi Beach and also schooled at Anne Browne’s legendary training facilities at Cambridge so he should be forward in condition for his race day debut over hurdles.
Andrew came so very close to getting an early winner fresh back from Macau when promising 2yo Fluorobus finished 2nd at Counties over 1200m. After winning a Waipa trial late in April he had trained on nicely prior to his debut and has continued to do well since. He will return to Counties on the 26th May for the Listed Futurity Stakes over 1400m. The Helmut gelding is a long striding horse and will be better on firm tracks but he has enough ability to cope with the tracks as they are at present.
Artic Storm regained form in April once stepping up over 1400m and with an apprentice claim. Kavish rode him for a 3rd placing at Avondale on the 25th April at long odds, he then backed that up at Rotorua on Saturday finishing 3rd in good company on very heavy ground. The 4yo Captain Rio gelding is closing in on his second win and will start next at Counties on the 26th again over 1400m.
Alternative Fact was another to appreciate getting back onto softer ground at Counties last week finishing on nicely for 4th over 1600m in a fresh state. The filly will be improved by the outing and once she strikes a looser surface we expect her to go close to winning again as she did in her impressive maiden win. She is another who will appreciate a 4kg claim over the winter months.
After her brave maiden win at Counties early in April Mercy Hill was given her chance in listed company in the 3yo fillies Warstep Stakes over 2000m at Riccarton. As with all her three starts this preparation she again drew wide. Alysha was caught three wide in the leading line throughout and understandably she weakened to finish 7th over the final stages. We have freshened the All American filly since and she could step on next Saturday over 1600m. Having missed all of the summer racing we intend to race her on into the winter months.
Similarly Swissta has missed the majority of the summer with a hind quarter issue. He has completed plenty of ground work over the past two months and will trial shortly.
Ventura is expected to trial at Avondale this week after having a jump out locally last Monday over 800m. She is pencilled in to resume at Avondale in a R70 race over 1400m early in June. The Iffraaj mare is coming to hand nicely and we are looking forward to a good winter campaign with her.
Also due to trial this week following jump outs last Monday are 2yos Von Trapp & Sepella. Von Trapp will debut early in June at either Avondale or Te Rapa. Sepella, a tall Sepoy filly is expected to be a nice 3yo over ground but she shows enough now to perhaps warrant having a race as a late 2yo.
Midnight Countess & Gutsy Gussie will also trial this week, both 3yos are strong enough to race following their trials providing they cope with the softer tracks. Braced has steadily picked up strength during this preparation, we plan a jump out for the Postponed 3yo later in the month prior to trialling. Also due for a jump out is 2yo O’Reilly – November Rain, now gelded he has continued to grow this time in and will spell following his jump out.
Hvar is back in training after a paddock injury in the summer. The promising Zed 3yo has furnished into a lovely type during his enforced spell. He is still a good way off racing.
The 2yo Showcasing Memory Keeper colt has completed almost a month in the stable and could have a jump out shortly after some barrier education and stronger work recently.
We have turned out a number of horses recently including Massachusetts who had a minor placing in a maiden 2yo race over 800m early in April along with Tiger Silk who trialled at Cambridge on soft ground and did not cope with the surface. Unnamed fillies Swiss Ace- Uberfrau & Rip Van Winkle – Mary Agnes were also put aside after 800m jump outs. The pair are both leggy types who will develop into stayers later on.
Untamed Diamond has been spelling with part owner Brian Mollet for the past couple of months and is due to re-join the stable later in May.
The stable has had a few yearlings back from the breakers recently, they have completed a fortnight at our track before spelling. We have a Proisir – Pristino colt, being a half-brother to Dejon Bleu who is very athletic and forward at this early stage. A Rip Van Winkle – Shes Got Spunk gelding who is very strong and mature, and a Sweet Orange – Wealth Star filly who is a real professional and is a natural 2yo type. We have another four yearlings currently at the breakers at different stages who are due back later in May.
Selfie had a change of ownership in April and now races for John Clydesdale of Silverstream Racing Ltd. He immediately put some money in the bank for his new owners when finishing 4th close up at Te Aroha on good ground before finishing strongly late for 3rd placing locally on heavy ground later in the month. He then started in a strong line up at Te Rapa on 5th May and never saw daylight at any stage in the straight. We were happy to see the horse race well on heavy ground and with Kavish’s claim it won’t be long before he is back on the winners list.
We are getting close to having our first starter in a jumping race for almost six years when Gottagetmywoohoo lines up over fences at Te Rapa this Saturday. He was a trial winner over hurdles at Cambridge a fortnight ago. Along with a couple of flat races he has recently galloped well at Kariotahi Beach and also schooled at Anne Browne’s legendary training facilities at Cambridge so he should be forward in condition for his race day debut over hurdles.
Andrew came so very close to getting an early winner fresh back from Macau when promising 2yo Fluorobus finished 2nd at Counties over 1200m. After winning a Waipa trial late in April he had trained on nicely prior to his debut and has continued to do well since. He will return to Counties on the 26th May for the Listed Futurity Stakes over 1400m. The Helmut gelding is a long striding horse and will be better on firm tracks but he has enough ability to cope with the tracks as they are at present.
Artic Storm regained form in April once stepping up over 1400m and with an apprentice claim. Kavish rode him for a 3rd placing at Avondale on the 25th April at long odds, he then backed that up at Rotorua on Saturday finishing 3rd in good company on very heavy ground. The 4yo Captain Rio gelding is closing in on his second win and will start next at Counties on the 26th again over 1400m.
Alternative Fact was another to appreciate getting back onto softer ground at Counties last week finishing on nicely for 4th over 1600m in a fresh state. The filly will be improved by the outing and once she strikes a looser surface we expect her to go close to winning again as she did in her impressive maiden win. She is another who will appreciate a 4kg claim over the winter months.
After her brave maiden win at Counties early in April Mercy Hill was given her chance in listed company in the 3yo fillies Warstep Stakes over 2000m at Riccarton. As with all her three starts this preparation she again drew wide. Alysha was caught three wide in the leading line throughout and understandably she weakened to finish 7th over the final stages. We have freshened the All American filly since and she could step on next Saturday over 1600m. Having missed all of the summer racing we intend to race her on into the winter months.
Similarly Swissta has missed the majority of the summer with a hind quarter issue. He has completed plenty of ground work over the past two months and will trial shortly.
Ventura is expected to trial at Avondale this week after having a jump out locally last Monday over 800m. She is pencilled in to resume at Avondale in a R70 race over 1400m early in June. The Iffraaj mare is coming to hand nicely and we are looking forward to a good winter campaign with her.
Also due to trial this week following jump outs last Monday are 2yos Von Trapp & Sepella. Von Trapp will debut early in June at either Avondale or Te Rapa. Sepella, a tall Sepoy filly is expected to be a nice 3yo over ground but she shows enough now to perhaps warrant having a race as a late 2yo.
Midnight Countess & Gutsy Gussie will also trial this week, both 3yos are strong enough to race following their trials providing they cope with the softer tracks. Braced has steadily picked up strength during this preparation, we plan a jump out for the Postponed 3yo later in the month prior to trialling. Also due for a jump out is 2yo O’Reilly – November Rain, now gelded he has continued to grow this time in and will spell following his jump out.
Hvar is back in training after a paddock injury in the summer. The promising Zed 3yo has furnished into a lovely type during his enforced spell. He is still a good way off racing.
The 2yo Showcasing Memory Keeper colt has completed almost a month in the stable and could have a jump out shortly after some barrier education and stronger work recently.
We have turned out a number of horses recently including Massachusetts who had a minor placing in a maiden 2yo race over 800m early in April along with Tiger Silk who trialled at Cambridge on soft ground and did not cope with the surface. Unnamed fillies Swiss Ace- Uberfrau & Rip Van Winkle – Mary Agnes were also put aside after 800m jump outs. The pair are both leggy types who will develop into stayers later on.
Untamed Diamond has been spelling with part owner Brian Mollet for the past couple of months and is due to re-join the stable later in May.
The stable has had a few yearlings back from the breakers recently, they have completed a fortnight at our track before spelling. We have a Proisir – Pristino colt, being a half-brother to Dejon Bleu who is very athletic and forward at this early stage. A Rip Van Winkle – Shes Got Spunk gelding who is very strong and mature, and a Sweet Orange – Wealth Star filly who is a real professional and is a natural 2yo type. We have another four yearlings currently at the breakers at different stages who are due back later in May.
