Winter has well and truly arrived early nationwide and we haven't been spared in the Wairarapa!
You would think all our mares have converted to Islam as they face towards Mecca in their paddocks, their hindquarters protecting them from the biting southerly.
On the racing front the highlight for the farm was Larry's Never Late's (Pentire-Laebeel) third in the Group Three Rough Habit Plate in Brisbane.
Actually May was a big month for our broodmare Laebeel as Larry's half brother Sesotho (Danasinga-Laebeel) took the $75,000 Victorian Provincial Final at 1600m.
Those of you who recall the yearling we nicknamed "Charlie" as we highlighted his progress through to the Karaka 2008 Select Yearling Sale will be interested to hear that the as yet officially un named No Excuse Needed - Soneri two-year-old gelding won first time to the trials at Otaki last month for trainer David Haworth who had purchased the cheeky chestnut from us for $60,000 at Karaka.
And with the breeding season fast approaching it's pleasing to see Zed's close relation Commands reinforce his standing as one of Australasia's premier stallions with his filly Purple's success in Saturdays Group One Queensland Oaks. Interestingly Purple is a close genetic relation to Zed with her dam Lady Violet a daughter of Zabeel.
Towkay
Four more individual winners during May took Towkay's record to 24 individual winners over the last three months.
Winners for Towkay over the last month were;
Wai Zoners (Towkay-Death by Chocolate) fresh up winner after 2 years off the racetrack.
Kay's Dream (Towkay-Forest Dream) 1200m winner at Riccarton.
Robbiemjay (Towkay-Marjie Marjie)
Jowka (Towkay-Jovita) took his stake earnings to $150,000 with his success in the $50,000 Trentham Gold Cup
Electronic Million (Towkay-Gaysutina) won again in Adelaide taking his stake earnings to nearly $220,000.
Zed
Zed's first foals continue to pleasantly surprise us with their development. The bloodline is without equal in these parts but then when you get a stallion leave foals like he has things start to get even more exciting. Zed - Dido pictured right.
Weanling to Follow
This year we have chosen the Towkay colt from Auxerre as the horse from our draft to follow through to Karaka. The colt is owned by LA and our client Brian Collins.His full brother has just been sold to Hong Kong after winning a trial in April.
Other News
Sam and Bruce Perry had an immediate return on the $7,000 they paid for maiden mare Myladys at last months National Broodmare Sale when her dam's half sister Bridie Jo left a Sydney Saturday winner in Visa Lisa on 23 May. Myladys is likely to head over the Tasman to be served by Stratum.
Sound Lover (Sound Reason-Country Flower) has been one of those dream mares. Blessed with a wonderful temperament she was a top class racemare for the family before becoming a leading matron whose progeny have been much sought after in the sale ring leaving stakeswinners Philosophe and Men at Work along with big Hong Kong winners Trillion Win and Cheeky. She looks to have another classy type in Smart Knight by O'Reilly judging by his Hong Kong success on 9 May.
Rampant (Towkay-On Honeymoon) who ran second at his only two-year-old start in April at Hastings has just left the farm for Guy Lowry's after a short spell. He will not start again until the spring.
Some other LA horses from our class of 2008 worth keeping an eye out for next season are an unraced O'Reilly colt from Zalass who ran second in his first trial the other day and Blonde Bombshell (Towkay-Millie Munro) also unraced but placed in both her trials to date.
Keep warm and enjoy your winter racing from team LA.
