Our stable was represented by an impressive winner at Counties last Sunday with Azaboy showing great courage to win narrowly but well over 1600m on a heavy surface. This followed on from his prior placing for 3rd at Avondale where he finished off strongly having his first run in blinkers so we were confident of his chances. It was a nice win at Counties for his local owners Henry Wilcox, Terry Shaw & Warren Gatland.
The 3yo Azamour – Cataari gelding has run out of time to get to the Derby however we expect to see even more from him when stepped up over staying trips. His next outing could on Derby day in a R65 Benchmark event.
Time Lord is our other staying 3yo who produced a big effort to finish 3rd in the Waikato Guineas a fortnight ago in the hands of our son Jason. His Group 2 placing over 2000m was well deserved after a couple of solid runs against older horses over the mile trip. We have opted to bypass the Avondale Guineas and keep the speed in his legs so he will go straight into the NZ Derby on March 3rd from here.
Artic Storm resumed back to the races last Sunday at Counties after a lengthy spell, finishing 3rd over 1200m. He showed ample ability last season and has strengthened as a 4yo, given a better surface at Avondale on 7th March we could see him go close over 1200m.
This Tuesday we took two horses to Taupo to trial. Fast Learner, now a 7yo won his 1000m heat. This was his first outing in almost two years after straining a ligament in a fetlock. He was initially retired and after spending his time being the ‘stable pony’ accompanying other horses to the races he resumed training last November. The Align gelding (winner of 5 races from 20 starts) will trial again at Avondale on the 27th over 1200m before looking to resume during March.
Mercy Hill was our other horse to trial, she settled back over 1000m and on straightening loomed up against the rails to challenge the leader then weakened just as quickly. This being her first outing since a trial in October she blew hard following confirming she will need a further trial on the 27th before resuming race day. The All American – Do Gooda filly will be seen at her best on raceday when she gets up over 1600m.
Also looking to trial at Avondale on the 27th will be Selfie, Cinematic & 2yo Von Trapp. Both older horses have been freshened during January. Selfie could be seen next at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup Day over 1200m while a suitable race has yet to be confirmed for Cinematic.
Von Trapp (Swiss Ace- Musically) missed a planned jump out due to the wet conditions so the Avondale trial will be his first public outing. He is a powerful type and looks a prospect of winning as a 2yo. All the Swiss Ace stock we have raced to date have shown ability but lacked early maturity.
Just a fortnight ago Arthur Avis, the owner of both Selfie & Top Prospect passed away at the age of 94. Arthur had raced horses with us since Packsapunch joined our stables in 1992. Horses like Riotous and So Wotif gave Arthur a lot of joy and he was also a partner in our most recent stakes winner Untamed Diamond.
Untamed Diamond continues to be on the injured list along with Swissta. Both are slowly recovering and should be back in training by the end of February.
Alternative Fact found the 3yo 1600m a bridge to far in a fresh state on Karaka Millions day. She has had some foot issues since. The filly has shown enough ability on wet ground and staying trips to pick up black print in the right race going into the autumn.
Massachusetts (Ferlax – Boston Symphony) missed her planned race debut at Te Aroha last Wednesday with the cancellation of the meeting due to heavy rain. She was forward when winning a jump out earlier in the month and was ready to go well however there is another maiden 2yo race on the 28th at Counties so we will aim for this for the filly to commence her racing career.
Tiger Silk & Sepella have made good progress in recent weeks and are close to either a local jump out or trial at the end of the month. Both 2yo fillies are expected to press on to racing in March.
The Swiss Ace – Uberfrau filly and recent new arrival Helmut – Pteryon gelding are progressing well and could have a jump out locally in early March.
Gottgetmywoohoo & Gutsy Gussie have completed a month in training following spells over summer and will train towards a trial later in March. Ventura also resumed training recently after a lengthy spell and will race through the winter with the other two geldings.
We have also recently resumed with 2yo Rip Van Winkle- Mary Agnes & 3yo Duke of Marmalade – Midnight Senorita. The pair are both out of mares that raced and won with our stable.
In the past month Confederacy was sold to race in Hong Kong and Moki was sold to Malaysia after racing at Avondale.
Finally at the recent Karaka sales we inspected numerous yearling and purchased a couple of lovely types, a Sweet Orange filly, a half-sister to Wealth Princess and a Rip Van Winkle colt who is an excellent individual.
We did struggle to buy others as the prices were very strong, we plan to attend the Magic Millions two day sale in Adelaide on the 13-14th March where we have previously found good value for money horses.
The 3yo Azamour – Cataari gelding has run out of time to get to the Derby however we expect to see even more from him when stepped up over staying trips. His next outing could on Derby day in a R65 Benchmark event.
Time Lord is our other staying 3yo who produced a big effort to finish 3rd in the Waikato Guineas a fortnight ago in the hands of our son Jason. His Group 2 placing over 2000m was well deserved after a couple of solid runs against older horses over the mile trip. We have opted to bypass the Avondale Guineas and keep the speed in his legs so he will go straight into the NZ Derby on March 3rd from here.
Artic Storm resumed back to the races last Sunday at Counties after a lengthy spell, finishing 3rd over 1200m. He showed ample ability last season and has strengthened as a 4yo, given a better surface at Avondale on 7th March we could see him go close over 1200m.
This Tuesday we took two horses to Taupo to trial. Fast Learner, now a 7yo won his 1000m heat. This was his first outing in almost two years after straining a ligament in a fetlock. He was initially retired and after spending his time being the ‘stable pony’ accompanying other horses to the races he resumed training last November. The Align gelding (winner of 5 races from 20 starts) will trial again at Avondale on the 27th over 1200m before looking to resume during March.
Mercy Hill was our other horse to trial, she settled back over 1000m and on straightening loomed up against the rails to challenge the leader then weakened just as quickly. This being her first outing since a trial in October she blew hard following confirming she will need a further trial on the 27th before resuming race day. The All American – Do Gooda filly will be seen at her best on raceday when she gets up over 1600m.
Also looking to trial at Avondale on the 27th will be Selfie, Cinematic & 2yo Von Trapp. Both older horses have been freshened during January. Selfie could be seen next at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup Day over 1200m while a suitable race has yet to be confirmed for Cinematic.
Von Trapp (Swiss Ace- Musically) missed a planned jump out due to the wet conditions so the Avondale trial will be his first public outing. He is a powerful type and looks a prospect of winning as a 2yo. All the Swiss Ace stock we have raced to date have shown ability but lacked early maturity.
Just a fortnight ago Arthur Avis, the owner of both Selfie & Top Prospect passed away at the age of 94. Arthur had raced horses with us since Packsapunch joined our stables in 1992. Horses like Riotous and So Wotif gave Arthur a lot of joy and he was also a partner in our most recent stakes winner Untamed Diamond.
Untamed Diamond continues to be on the injured list along with Swissta. Both are slowly recovering and should be back in training by the end of February.
Alternative Fact found the 3yo 1600m a bridge to far in a fresh state on Karaka Millions day. She has had some foot issues since. The filly has shown enough ability on wet ground and staying trips to pick up black print in the right race going into the autumn.
Massachusetts (Ferlax – Boston Symphony) missed her planned race debut at Te Aroha last Wednesday with the cancellation of the meeting due to heavy rain. She was forward when winning a jump out earlier in the month and was ready to go well however there is another maiden 2yo race on the 28th at Counties so we will aim for this for the filly to commence her racing career.
Tiger Silk & Sepella have made good progress in recent weeks and are close to either a local jump out or trial at the end of the month. Both 2yo fillies are expected to press on to racing in March.
The Swiss Ace – Uberfrau filly and recent new arrival Helmut – Pteryon gelding are progressing well and could have a jump out locally in early March.
Gottgetmywoohoo & Gutsy Gussie have completed a month in training following spells over summer and will train towards a trial later in March. Ventura also resumed training recently after a lengthy spell and will race through the winter with the other two geldings.
We have also recently resumed with 2yo Rip Van Winkle- Mary Agnes & 3yo Duke of Marmalade – Midnight Senorita. The pair are both out of mares that raced and won with our stable.
In the past month Confederacy was sold to race in Hong Kong and Moki was sold to Malaysia after racing at Avondale.
Finally at the recent Karaka sales we inspected numerous yearling and purchased a couple of lovely types, a Sweet Orange filly, a half-sister to Wealth Princess and a Rip Van Winkle colt who is an excellent individual.
We did struggle to buy others as the prices were very strong, we plan to attend the Magic Millions two day sale in Adelaide on the 13-14th March where we have previously found good value for money horses.
