It's hard to put into words the level of anticipation on a stud when the first son or daughter of your stallion goes to the trials. Despite Zed's (Zabeel-Emerald Dream) pedigree and general profile suggesting we would be unlikely to see a great deal of his stock on the racecourse as two-year-olds or certainly not before Xmas, there was still a real buzz around the farm this week waiting for Heat 6 at the Cambridge Trials on Friday 22 October. And we weren't to be disappointed with the as yet unnamed Zed colt from Maranello Miss (by Eagle Eyed) running a close second to an O'Reilly filly over 650m.
The LA bred Marquardt (Shamardal-Centrefold Angel) ran a game third to the former kiwi trained mare Culminate in the 1400m Group 2 Tristarc Stakes on the Caulfield Cup programme. Centrefold Angel doesn't have a yearling this year but she recently delivered a cracking O'Reilly filly who we will look to take to the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale in 2012.
Considered highly enough by connections to run in last season's Group One AJC Derby the Bart Cummings trained Suyama (Savabeel-Steluta) was a winner over 1500m in New South Wales last weekend. Suyama who was a $300,000 purchase from our 2008 Sydney Easter Sale draft for his breeder Ricky Savory, has a smashing Pins half brother in our Karaka Premier Yearling Sale draft this summer.
The Homebush Partnership, a racing syndicate of local investors and enthusiasists including LA, and managed by Masterton bloodstock agent Bruce Perry, look to have another smart performer, this time in the form of the Stephen McKee trained Hammer Down, who signalled claims to a start in next month's New Zealand 2000 Guineas with a comprehensive win over the highly touted Rockburn at Rotorua last weekend.
