The saying "when it rains it pours" is never truer than this week at LA. While it's not literally raining foalings just yet, we have had four new arrivals in the last week & what, with the Mercedes Thoroughbred Racing Awards in Naiper on Friday night, the stallions due to start serving this Saturday and the Kelt Capital Spring Carnival kicking off on the same day, sleep will be at a premium!
This last week has been eventful for Little Avondale's Charity of choice www.catwalk.org.nz . The Great Chef's of Wellington held on Saturday 25th August at the Duxton courtesy of Minter Ellison Rudd Watts raised $175,000 to go towards the charity's goal of getting people out of wheelchairs and back on legs. A record for this event and credit due to the fabulous CatWalk volunteers.??
?Then just to cap the weekend off perfectly, Tom and Gay's daughter Angela (Sam's cousin) announced her engagement to Simon Irving. Angela's second biggest love, her broodmare Wait A Minute ( Centaine & Fifteen Reasons), is due to foal to Pins shortly. A 50/50 foal share arrangement with LA, the mare then goes to Savabeel this season under the same foal terms.
There are a number of top horses with LA connections, due to step out on Saturday at Hastings, for the first day of the Kelt Capital Spring carnival. Here's a brief summary of them.
If Kay's Awake can't win the Mudgway, we shall gladly settle for the Waikato Stud owned Splashing Out (O Reilly-Igauzu). She's closely related to a number of LA broodmares, including Clermont Rose (dam of Grand Dancer) and Clermont Lass (dam of Igauzu). Clermont Lass has a Towkay colt going forward to the Karaka Yearling Sales in January and she's in foal to Savabeel.
One of the more attractive race-mares in commission, Earaheedy (Danasinga - Forest Dream) is set to resume in the R94 2000m. We sold Earaheedy for $25,000 at the 2003 Karaka Select Fillies Yearling Sales to New Zealand Bloodstock. .. Kevin and Pam Hughes from Christchurch bought a very nice half sister by Towkay from us at this years Carnival Sale. Forest Dream is currently in foal to No Excuse Needed
With one of the best first-up strike rates in the business, trainer Mike Breslin should have Zatiger (Zabeel-Sounds Like Me) ready to go a bold race in the R94 1400m. Whilst staying is her forte Zatiger can sprint well fresh-up, as she showed last preparation, when a close second over 1600m at Awapuni on a dead track. Sounds Like Me is a half sister to the LA bred and owned, Caulfield Cup runner-up Laebeel. Laebeel is in foal to Pins.
Rios (Hussonet - Gusy Godiva), whom we sold on behalf of Arthur and Michael Ormond at Karaka last year for $85,000 starts in the Special Conditions Maiden 1400m.
Towkays sons Towzan and Towzee are entries for the R90 1200m.
On the racing front this last week, things have been understandably quiet with the influenza outbreak in Australia however the impressive win of Husonic (Hussonet-Galroof) in Melbourne last Wednesday was more good news for the LA domiciled broodmare Steluta. The dual Group One placed Galroof is a half sister to Steluta. On behalf of Ricky Savory, LA sold last seasons Group One VRC Derby runner-up Gorky Park (Montjeu - Steluta) for $360,000 at the 2005 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale. Steluta has a stunning Savabeel colt going forward to next years Karaka Premier Sale.
Foalings this week include John Gilbert's mare Jabeske delivering an O Reilly colt and Maxamite a Lucky Owners colt for Brian Collins.
Hopefully this wind is heading north and can help to dry the Hastings track We look forward to catching up with some of you in the Bay this weekend. And of course go, Kay!
And our fancy to win the Kelt Capital Stakes - Princess Coup, to just beat High Octane (Towkay - Trendy And True)! .
