LA's April's star was the impressive debut win of the LA bred and owned two-year-old filly Aspinal (Pins-Clermont Rose) in the New Zealand Bloodstock Fillies Handicap at Avondale. Raced in partnership with Paul Bittar, S Browne, J Fox, Tony Pike and R Wilson, the filly was unlucky not to get stakes accreditation for the victory, the race only losing its listed status this season despite place-getters the last two-years the calibre of Diamond Deck, Metropolitan and last years winner Juice.
Towkay's Tremendous Winning Consistency
Towkay bought up his thirteenth individual winner in Hong Kong during April, tying him with O'Reilly for seasonal honours.
Winners for Towkay over the last month include;
Wai (Towkay-Iamwhatiam) broke through the $100,000 prizemoney barrier with her R90 win at Awapuni on Anzac Day.
Electronic Million (Towkay-Gaysutina) took his prizemoney tally to nearly $200,000 when he won over 2000m at Morpethville on SA Derby Day.
Ballistic Ruler (Towkay-Ballistic) won over 1600m in Victoria.
Cash Money (Towkay-Also) won over 1400m in Hong Kong
Spring Tide (Towkay-Perfect Sunrise) the Sue Harty bred was a South Island winner over 1600m
No Parole (Towkay-Out on Bail) won her fifth race when successful at Riverton on Easter Monday.
Mount Surplus (Towkay-Certaine) won over 1000m in Hong Kong on 19 April.
Animation (Towkay-Chica Guapa) the Tony Lockyer bred won over 1400m in Hong Kong
Prime Target (Towkay-Lady of the Lake) bought up his fourth Hong Kong victory with his win over 1800m.
National Weanling and Broodmare Sale
A high clearance rate of nearly 90% for the weanlings and a positive vibe amongst a good sized crowd were the highlights of the sale held earlier this week. LA's five weanlings realised $41,000 with the top price received been $16,000 for Lowell Goddard's Dubai Destination colt from Vaughan.
Our Zed weanling from the Towkay mare Maggs was a standout on type, drawing very favourable interest before getting knocked down for $7,000 to astute Otaki Bloodstock agent Phil Caltaldo.
Weanlings
We are excited about the potential of the farms weanlings this season. They may have only just been weaned and have a way to go before Karaka but here's just a glimpse of some of their pedigrees;
Darci Brahma colts from Southern Cry, Rivertaine and Miss Moneytree
Written Tycoon filly from Bondi Beauty - family of Black Mamba, Rios, Roman Emperor etc.
Pins colt from group winner Eloa, the family of Alamosa
Testa Rosa colt from the Carneige mare Generous Nature
O'Reilly colt from Caulfield Cup runner-up Laebeel and already the dam of Larry's Never Late and recent Melbourne winner Sesotho.
Darci Brahma colt from Sound Lover
On type Sam is really taken to date by the Pins filly from Racing Waters, the Elusive City filly from Forest Dream and the Savabeel filly from Towkay mare Double Okay.
In other news on the weanling front the Don Eduardo - Juliette Heights colt purchased by Alan Jackson along with the Towkay - Outstripping colt bought by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from the National Weanling Sale earlier last week have arrived at the farm to be prepared for the Karaka yearling sales.
Other News
The two-year-old whom we syndicated through this newsletter last year almost was a meritorious second on debut at Hastings last week. Drawing off the track in the 1200m contest Rampant (Towkay-On Honeymoon) zoomed home after dropping out to the rear early for Hayden Tinsley. Back having a brief spell at LA before heading back to Guy Lowry's stable, exciting times lie ahead in the spring for his excitable connections.
The sky seems the limit for members of the Sellou/Sneetch/Gussy Godiva clan. In fact a lot of industry commentators are picking broodmare of the year honours for the Ormond families Gussy Godiva. As reported last month, Gussy's two-year-old Volgus, purchased from our draft at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale by Alan Sharock , is looking every inch a three-year-old stakes horse and he lived up to the rap when taking the always competitive two-year-old race at Hastings on Hawkes Bay Cup day.
Volgus's half brother Rios (Hussonet-Gussy Godiva) added more black type to his record when successful in the Listed Ekraar At Stoney Bridge Anzac 1600m at Awapuni on 25 April. Rios was bought from our Karaka 2007 Premier draft by Stuart Hale for $65,000.
Despite racing right-handed for the first time and being the youngest horse in the field, the LA and Pip McCaroll bred Can't Keeper Down (Keeper - Ashley Downs) showed she's right on target for next months Group One Queensland Oaks with her R90 win at Te Aroha last weekend. Can't Keeper Down is raced on lease from LA by clients of her trainer Lisa Latta.
Until next month, keep rugged up and warm.
