At $700,000, our Redoubts Choice - Foxtrot filly was the top priced female at this years Karaka Premier Yearling Sale. It's a great feeling as a breeder to receive that sort of money but it's much more satisfying to see that they actually might have the engine to match the price tag. Hence we were excited just over a week ago to get a phone call from Dean Hawthorne - who buys for owner Jonathan Munce- telling us that the filly, now named Pachanga, had won her first trial at Cranbourne for David Hayes and jockey Craig Williams. She starts in a listed race on Saturday at Flemington. Foxtrot, a Rory Jester mare, has a striking Savabeel colt going to Karaka in 2008 and a Pins colt currently at foot. She is in foal already to the son of Redoute's Choice, Fast 'n' Famous.
The Hussonet-Gussy Godiva colt probably should have made more than the $65,000 Stuart Hale had to pay to secure him from our draft at the 2006 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale. Sam, preparing the colt on behalf of Arthur and Mick Ormond, took an instant liking to the handsome, laid back colt when he arrived down at LA from the Ormond's southern Hawke's Bay farm in the late spring of 2005. Many good judges told Sam how he was too small - typical of a first foal - but Sam loved his balance and gorgeous head. Almost two years on and Sam's far from the sole member of his fan club, for the now named Rios is arguably the most talked about spring three-year-old male prospect in the country following another impressive victory, this time in last Saturdays Listed Hugh Green Group Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie. On behalf of the same connections LA is preparing Rios's half brother by Volksraad for Karaka next summer. Although a bigger individual than Rios at the same stage, he has a lot of qualities similiar to his brother.
Charlie
Charlie (No Excuse Needed - Soneri), our weanling we're following through to yearling sales at Karaka, is currently basking in the spring sunshine without his rug. Once the weather heats up in a couple of weeks, the rug goes back on so his chestnut coat does not get sunburnt. He's not due to come indoors and start his yearling preparation until later this month. Charlie's body has definitly lengthened during the winter.
As far as Charlie's pedigree goes, hardly a week seems to go by without a winner or significant performance from someone in the family. Actually Coolross, third to Rios last Saturday in the Listed race at Ellerslie; his grand dam is a half sister to Secrecy the mother of Soneri, Charlie's mum. Even Soneri's dad Stark South has been kicking goals as a broodmare sire of late with impressive Melbourne Group winner Antarctic Miss and Sam Kelt's promising mare Taatyana, a leading chance for Hawke's Bay on Saturday.
Speaking about the final day of the Kelt Capital Spring Carnival, we are backing the various LA bred and connected representatives that will be racing. Kay's Awake (Towkay-Wake Up Suzie) competes against the leading sprinters in the Listed Kelt Memorial while the under rated Earaheedy (Danasinga-Forest Dream) takes on the open handicappers over 2000m. Tough filly Special Mission (Towkay-Te Akau Trek), who lost few admirers with her performance for second to Diamond Deck in the Group Three Highview Stakes on the second day, is due to back-up as the only filly in the Golan Hawke's Bay Guineas.
Hong Kong/Aus/NZ Racing
Up in Hong Kong we await for the LA bred and Towkay connections to step out. One of the most talked about up and comers of last season, O'Reilly Rally (O' Reilly-Rivertaine), has had a run and got off to a good start with a 3rd in his first race to kick off this season's campaign. Sadly Ambitious Owner (Towkay-Make Up) has broken down and will not race again. Interestingly, Paul O Sullivan reports that Ambitious Owner's full brother, a three-year-old called Hapee Gift from his stable, has any amount of natural ability. Unraced, he's due to debut shortly.
The LA part-owned, The Fonz (Traditionally - The World Is Mine), made his Australian debut last week in Victoria. Heavily backed, he finished midfield when not suited by the race pattern. He will step up in distance next start and with the blinkers added should be a lot more competitive.
A couple of significant performances of note in Australia from an LA perspective over the last week were the wins of Pinnacles (Fuji Kiseki-Galroof) and Guyno (O'Reilly-River Century) in open handicaps in Melbourne and Perth respectivly. Galroof is a half sister to Ricky Savory's LA domiciled broodmare Steluta and River Century - already the dam of Kelt Capital Stakes winner Legs - is a full sister to LA broodmare Rivertaine. Pinnacles beat a number of group and listed winners by 2 lengths and Guyno, fresh up and certainly looking in need of the run, reeled off a sub 33.50 second last 600m.
Other
Notable amongst the foals this past month have been Eloa's Stratum filly and Classic Realm foaling a full brother to stakeswinner Starkay (Towkay). And note the cute Captain Rio - Piata filly pictured below owned by Justice Lowell Goddard.
Sam reports that Towkay and Zed are getting through their busy workloads well. Both stallions fertility figures are excellent. Towkay'sbook continues to fill and noticeably with better bred mares than he's received previously. There are still spaces available but to avoid any last minute disappointment we encourage you to phone Sam now on 0274 853400.
That's just about it for another busy spring month. We have filled our team for the yearling season and next time we will introduce you to a few of the new personalities around the farm. Until then, keep barracking for those Towkay's and if you fancy a small flutter, you could do a whole lot worse than investing on Earaheedy each way this Saturday. She paid nearly $5 a p
