Yearling preparation has begun in earnest and we have a magic team of staff attending to their every whim. Buzz and Susie have gone up to Hong Kong for the International Meeting this week. The LA bred O Reilly Rally (O Reilly-Rivertaine) and Special Days (Keeper-Eva's Belle) are entered for Sunday night along with the highly regarded Ambitious Mascot (Towkay-Melissa Moon) and so Buzz will have plenty to cheer on.
National Yearling Sales Series, Karaka 28 January - 4 February 2008
We're excited about the 2008 yearling draft and you can find pictures of each individual on our website(Link here) If you would like to come out to the farm and inspect any of the draft just give Sam a call to make arrangements. Our public parade will be on Sunday 13th January 10.30 - 12 Noon. Here is just a brief profile of our 13 strong Premier draft
Savabeel - Bering Island filly(on behalf of Jim Barlow) - anyone looking for a filly with broodmare potential has to check out this girl. From an imported mare who won two races locally when trained by John Sargent, her third dam is the dam of Postponed and her fourth dam is the mother of Storm Cat.
Shamardal - Centrefold Angel filly - first foal of a Centaine mare by first season Australian shuttle sire who was 2004 European Champion 2YO. Very strong type.
No Excuse Needed - Chatto Creek filly - second foal of a young Desert Prince mare, herself a daughter of Rivertaine, a sister to River Century the dam of Legs and Guyno.
Towkay - Clermont Lass colt (pictured right)- a half brother to stakeswinners Iguazu ( dam of Splashing Out) and Clermont Rose ( dam of Grand Dancer). Family of Omnicorp and Crimson.
Towkay - Millie Munro filly - first foal of a Grosvenor mare from the family of Tycoon Lil.
One Cool Cat - Rapid Kay filly - first foal of dual stakeswinning mare. Bred and built to run early.
Towkay - Aspects of Love filly (pictured right)- from a young SW Famous Star mare in turn from a Blushing Groom mare, this filly's half brother by Danasinga fetched $110,000 at Karaka earlier this year.
Zabeel - Dancing Daze filly (in partnership with Don Gordon ) - out of a young Group Two winning Dance Floor mare from the family of Mun Lee, Sands of Time etc. A breed well known for producing tough durable racehorses.
Volksraad - Gussy Godiva colt (on behalf of Arthur and Mick Ormond) - a half brother to this seasons Group Two winner Rios - one of NZ's most promising colts - from a family very much on the move of late through the likes of Rios, Belcentra and Black Mamba ( dual Group placed in the USA this season).
Savabeel - La Charea filly (on behalf of Max Brown and Lib Petagna) - second foal of an unraced Maroof mare herself a half sister to stakeswinner Yangtzee River, from a very good English family.
Savabeel - Steluta colt (on behalf of Ricki Savory) - a half brother to 2006 VRC Derby runner up Gorky Park and a real standout physical specimen.
Towkay - Tycoon Lover filly (on behalf of Vicky and David Duncan) - Verystrong and early running type. First NZ foal of an imported English mare bred by Swettenham Stud.
Towkay
November saw Towkay credited with his 10th individual stakeswinner when High Octane (Towkay-Trendy and True) dead-heated with Who Knows in the WFA Group 3 Tauranga Stakes. High Octane won the Duoro Cup at Trentham last season carrying more weight than Sir Slick carried to win the same race the previous season. Potent at a mile, he has just needed a good surface to return to the form he displayed last summer. In fact the harder tracks throughout the country have co incided with a number of Towkay winners over the last three weeks.
Other winners locally have included the Karen Zimmerman trained Master Nagol (Towkay-Miss Nagol) at Otaki on Premier Day last Thursday and one of the better bred Towkays in La Pizzazz (Towkay-Reasonable), who lead all the way at Wanganui on Saturday. Recently served by Volksraad, La Pizzazz's third dam is none other than Sunbride, Te Parae's foundation mare - twice NZ Broodmare of the Year - and dam of those great staying horses Straight Draw, Ilumquh and General Command.
Carol and Steve Kupa of Foxton have a promising type in Itsabuzz (Towkay - Te Awahou). By an Oregon mare from a good Santa Rosa family, Itsabuzz (yes, he is named after Buzz) is a most impressive individual. Third on debut at Otaki earlier in the month, he backed that up with another close third last Saturday. He's one Towkay who does not seem to mind a wet track having won a jump out prior to his debut by 10 lengths! Still a little green, the three-year-old is an early winner.
It would also pay to post Aukay (Towkay-Auchtric) in your blackbooks. Second over 1400m at the Counties Cup Premier meeting, the six-year-old was second-up after an 18 month injury enforced layoff. He looked a middle distance find over the summer of 2006 for trainer Chris Wood and with another second at Avondale yesterday he is definitely one to watch when he gets out to 2000m this preparation.
And last Sunday at Cromwell, Spring Tide (Towkay-Perfect Sunrise) broke her maiden for breeder and owner Sue Harty.
Towkays flagbearer in Hong Kong Armada heads to our shores shortly, sadly not for a race, but for an injury enforced break in Cambridge. Connections have been unable to pinpoint his exact problem but hopefully the break will work the oracle for last seasons 8th best galloper in the world according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authority.
Zed
The owners of Zed's decision to stand the Zabeel entire at $500 has had a massive impact with the young stud serving 136 mares. The five-year-old has loved his new job and Sam is already looking forward to next season "I can see him maturing by the week, both physically and mentally. He arrived here still very much a racehorse and I m looking forward to the horse he'll be when he does let down fully."
He has 98 mares in foal with 28 under service and a handful that remain to be served.
Charlie (No Excuse Needed-Soneri)
Man has Charlie grown tall! Always a muscular type, this last month he's sprouted up. With some careful work on the walking machine before Karaka he's going to muscle up into one of our most imposing individuals come late January. Still a very well balanced type, one of the first things you'll notice on inspecting Charlie is his lovely shoulder.
No Excuse Needed's son Vincent Mangano became an unbeaten dual stakeswinning two-year-old when taking the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes at Ellerslie in November. And of course potentially the best of No Excuse Needed's progeny is the LA bred and sold Grand Dancer (Clermont Rose), about to restart his three-year-old career in Sydney which was interupted by the EI virus in New South Wales.
December Horse To Watch - Yelracm (Towkay-Our Secret) - Grant Searle four-year-old who is the spitting image of his dad. From barrier 18 at Levin he travelled three wide throughout before been eased right down over the last 150m when it was obvious he was not going to weigh in. Nominated for the Listed Levin Stakes on the same programme, with a decent draw he can win at short notice.
The LA Team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and new year and thank you for your support this year. We look forward to seeing you at the...
