The win of the LA bred Viadana (Towkay-Yeah Nah by Kinjite) in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes 1600m at Ellerslie on Saturday has extra significance for the farm as we will be offering her full brother at the Karaka Select Sale on 1 February.
Her rider, the internationally experienced Mark du Plessis predicted even bigger things in store for the five-year-old mare when commenting to the media post race.
“I’m very confident she can win a group one race,” du Plessis said. “The win was very soft; she was in a relaxed rhythm from the barrier and travelled beautifully before she kicked.”
Viadana was purchased for $25,000 from our draft at the 2009 Karaka Select Sale by her trainer Lance Noble.
In winning Saturday’s Eagle Technology Stakes (registered as Great Northern Challenge Stakes), Viadana became the 12th individual stakeswinner for Towkay (Last Tycoon).
Towkay also has an association with Cassini who was successful in the other domestic feature on Saturday, the $50,000 Listed Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup. Trained by Mark Oulaghan, and with a resume that includes a Gr.3 win and a Gr.2 placing in The City of Auckland Cup, the 7YO Reset mare recently tested in foal to Towkay.
The diminutive Surf Patrol (Towkay-Out On Bail) recorded her seventh career success and lifted her prizemoney to just shy of $100,000 when successful in the St Johns Club 2040 at Wanganui on Saturday.
As Saturday’s racing and the recent Ready to Run Sale results attest, Towkay is the best value stallion at stud in New Zealand. Bookings can still be made for this season at just $5,000 plus GST.
