Special Mission
Special Misson’s (Towkay – Te Akau Trek) win in the Listed Stoney Bridge Ryder Stakes last Saturday was more vindication for breeders sending mares to Towkay this season.
By maligned stallion Khozaam, Te Akau Trek has had 9 foals prior to Special Mission for one individual winner of two races (at Timaru and Wairoa to boot!), once again highlighting the ability of Towkay to upgrade his mares.
The Mark Walker stable have spoken post race of Special Mission’s ability to just ‘eat and sleep’ and that temperament was to the fore on Saturday in the way she walked around behind the barriers like a sedated old broodmare. It’s this kind of demeanour that makes his progeny popular with trainers and helps his stock perform so well in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.
Keeping with the racehorse theme, last weeks Te Awamutu trial win by High Octane (Towkay – Trendy and True) has connections considering a late entry fee for the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings on 1 September as part of his campaign towards the Kelt Capital Stakes on 6 October. With Special Misson likely to target the Highview Stakes during the Carnival and Kay’s Awake (Towkay – Wake Up Suzie) set to be one of the favoured runners for the Kelt Memorial, we can’t wait for the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival.
Some of the mares already booked to go to Towkay this season include the stakeswinners Heureka and Aspect’s of Love; the stakesplaced Sonia Blade and the dams of Pintsize, Kay’s Awake and Starkay.
A quality group of bookings were made for Towkay following Sunday’s parade at the stud and Special Mission’s win. Contact Sam on 0274 853400 to secure a booking in the remaining spaces for the son of Last Tycoon and Princess Tracy at $10,000 plus GST.
Stallion Parade
Last Sunday’s stallion parade and farm walk was a great success with approximately 60 visitors and clients visiting the farm.
By the luck of the gods, the rain held off until about 30 seconds after the walk around the farm concluded. By then a host of us were nestled in the warmth of the stabling area busily feasting on Stuart’s sausages and the infamous LA lolly jar!
The way Zed and Towkay paraded was a real credit to the staff. At 12 years of age Sam’s had to keep Towkay up to the mark with a steady regime of walking and trotting – he’s up to 30 minutes trotting and 15 minutes walking each day this week.
Understandably a little more playful, four-year-old Zed showed the crowd how much benefit he’d derived from his 8 weeks on the farm. By this time next season, the son of Zabeel and Emerald Dream will have really let down into quite a specimen of a stallion. More than one observer on Sunday was heard to comment just how much better he looked than the photo in the Stallion Register.
Despite the ‘full book’ sign going up before last Sunday, after the parade, breeders were still keen to enquire about sending mares to the stallion this season. Zed will serve 130 mares with a number on the waiting list.
South Island Sale 10 August
Sam’s off to Christchurch next week to oversee the sale of our sole entry, LOT 110, the Dubai Destination gelding from Rivertaine. If interest from Hong Kong in the horse is anything to go by the gelding is going to be one of the feature lots of the sale. Mind you when you re a half brother to, Regency Horse, one of Hong Kong’s best sprinters and one of their most promising gallopers and up and coming stable star for Tony Cruz in O’Reilly Rally, you have a fair bit going for you!
Charlie
Charlie (No Excuse Needed – Soneri) continues to thrive. He comes into the stable this Monday, where he’ll stay for a week getting used to having his feet picked up and just more general handling. Following that he will be moved into a one acre paddock all to himself! He’s got just under 3 months of freedom there before he comes into the stables to begin his preparation proper for Karaka.
The progeny of Charlie’s dad No Excuse Needed have hit the tracks running. Already from just a handful of runners, he has produced Group Three winner Grand Dancer, track record holder Just Diamonds and Sydney winner Etoile Fille. Given that his progeny did not look natural two–year–olds on type, it’s a promising start for the son of Machiavellian. By sales time next January we expect the No Excuse Needed stock to be at the forefront of discussions for some nice three-year-old races; very timely for Charlie’s presence at Karaka.
LA have already tasted yearling sales success with the stock of No Excuse Needed, selling the group winner Grand Dancer for $280,000 at Karaka Premier in 2006 and earlier this year selling in conjunction with Ron Tunnicliffe, the colt from Cymbidium for a record Karaka Select price of $230,000.
Charlie’s female family has been active again recently too. Last month his dam’s half sister Political had her son Chief Whip run fourth in the Listed Grafton Cup.
Things start to crank up on the farm now. The first foals are due inside the next two weeks and the stallions begin serving from 1 September. New Zealand Bloodstock representatives visit the farm later in August to inspect our entries for next years Karaka Yearling Sales Series. The end of the month will be the Mercedes dinner for the Horse Of The Year Awards and the Mudgway.
See you there!
Some of the mares already booked to go to Towkay this season include the stakeswinners Heureka and Aspect’s of Love; the stakesplaced Sonia Blade and the dams of Pintsize, Kay’s Awake and Starkay.
A quality group of bookings were made for Towkay following Sunday’s parade at the stud and Special Mission’s win. Contact Sam on 0274 853400 to secure a booking in the remaining spaces for the son of Last Tycoon and Princess Tracy at $10,000 plus GST.
Stallion Parade
Last Sunday’s stallion parade and farm walk was a great success with approximately 60 visitors and clients visiting the farm.
By the luck of the gods, the rain held off until about 30 seconds after the walk around the farm concluded. By then a host of us were nestled in the warmth of the stabling area busily feasting on Stuart’s sausages and the infamous LA lolly jar!
The way Zed and Towkay paraded was a real credit to the staff. At 12 years of age Sam’s had to keep Towkay up to the mark with a steady regime of walking and trotting – he’s up to 30 minutes trotting and 15 minutes walking each day this week.
Understandably a little more playful, four-year-old Zed showed the crowd how much benefit he’d derived from his 8 weeks on the farm. By this time next season, the son of Zabeel and Emerald Dream will have really let down into quite a specimen of a stallion. More than one observer on Sunday was heard to comment just how much better he looked than the photo in the Stallion Register.
Despite the ‘full book’ sign going up before last Sunday, after the parade, breeders were still keen to enquire about sending mares to the stallion this season. Zed will serve 130 mares with a number on the waiting list.
South Island Sale 10 August
Sam’s off to Christchurch next week to oversee the sale of our sole entry, LOT 110, the Dubai Destination gelding from Rivertaine. If interest from Hong Kong in the horse is anything to go by the gelding is going to be one of the feature lots of the sale. Mind you when you re a half brother to, Regency Horse, one of Hong Kong’s best sprinters and one of their most promising gallopers and up and coming stable star for Tony Cruz in O’Reilly Rally, you have a fair bit going for you!
Charlie
Charlie (No Excuse Needed – Soneri) continues to thrive. He comes into the stable this Monday, where he’ll stay for a week getting used to having his feet picked up and just more general handling. Following that he will be moved into a one acre paddock all to himself! He’s got just under 3 months of freedom there before he comes into the stables to begin his preparation proper for Karaka.
The progeny of Charlie’s dad No Excuse Needed have hit the tracks running. Already from just a handful of runners, he has produced Group Three winner Grand Dancer, track record holder Just Diamonds and Sydney winner Etoile Fille. Given that his progeny did not look natural two–year–olds on type, it’s a promising start for the son of Machiavellian. By sales time next January we expect the No Excuse Needed stock to be at the forefront of discussions for some nice three-year-old races; very timely for Charlie’s presence at Karaka.
LA have already tasted yearling sales success with the stock of No Excuse Needed, selling the group winner Grand Dancer for $280,000 at Karaka Premier in 2006 and earlier this year selling in conjunction with Ron Tunnicliffe, the colt from Cymbidium for a record Karaka Select price of $230,000.
Charlie’s female family has been active again recently too. Last month his dam’s half sister Political had her son Chief Whip run fourth in the Listed Grafton Cup.
Things start to crank up on the farm now. The first foals are due inside the next two weeks and the stallions begin serving from 1 September. New Zealand Bloodstock representatives visit the farm later in August to inspect our entries for next years Karaka Yearling Sales Series. The end of the month will be the Mercedes dinner for the Horse Of The Year Awards and the Mudgway.
See you there!
