Riders of the very good horses often say how those horses have a radar for the finish line – they know exactly where it is! Rios (Hussonet - Gussy Godiva) is just that kind of horse. Laid back and professional the colt was a last stride winner of Saturday’s Group 2 Wellington Thoroughbred Breeders Guineas 1500m. The result was a quinella of sorts for LA, having sold Rios at the Karaka sales on behalf of Arthur and Mick Ormond and also breeding the dam of runner-up Alamosa (O’Reilly- Lodore Mystic). Mick and Arthur have entrusted us again to sell Rios’s half brother by Volksraad at Karaka next year. Out in the LA paddocks are plenty of relations to Lodore Mystic including her sister Cent From Heaven and Cent From Heaven’s daughter, Group Three winner Eloa. Eloa recently delivered her first foal, a filly by the Golden Slipper winning son of Redoubts Choice, Stratum.
Saturday afternoon got even better for us with Guyno’s (O’Reilly-River Century) win in the Listed 1800m York Stakes in Perth. Already the dam of dual group one winner Legs, River Century is a full sister to the LA broodmare Rivertaine, herself a very good stakes producing matron. Rivertaine has a Pins filly foal at foot and was recently served by Darci Brahma.
Hard on the heals of the Caulfield Cup it was great to see NZ breeders annexing another of the prestigious Australian races with Saturdays success in the Cox Plate.
Did anyone spy the strong late run of Hussonic (Hussonet-Galroof) for second in the listed three year-old race at Geelong last week. It was an encouraging run from a VRC Derby perspective. He's from a family with recent form in the race - last year the LA sold Gorky Park (Montjeu-Steluta) was second in the classic. Ricky Savory's mare Steluta is a half sister to Galroof. Keep an eye out for Steluta'sSavabeel yearling at Karaka next year. He's quite some individual who is bound to turn a lot of heads.
He may have only run fifth but nothing finished faster than Delbrae (Thunder Gulch -We Leica) in Saturdays Group 1600m One Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham. It's not going to be easy giving weight to the likes of Wahid and Dorabella but they'll know they've been in a race with the tough gelding as he sets out to defend his Group Two Coupland Bakeries Mile crown next month. Delbrae's dam, purchased earlier this year by LA, recently delivered a Bradbury's Luck filly.
An unamed Towkay - Kentucky Lass three year gelding was a nice winner at the Taupo trials last week. With Murray Baker, he's from the Bourbon Lass family. LA will be selling 9 Towkays at next years yearling sale series.
