Yearling Progress - Huesca
Our 2YO colt HUESCA (pictured left) is coming along beautifully!
Foaling Season in Full Swing
We have been fortunate enough to welcome two colts so far this season, with our Santos colt out of Retosona pictured on the left.
He is a lovely leggy colt and we can't wait to watch him develop.
Bella Nipotina Breaks Her Maiden
The below article by Brad Waters for Racenet was written after BELLA NIPOTINA'S impressive 2 length Group 3 win:
Favourite backers were out of business after 200m but Bella Nipotina picked the perfect race to shed her maiden status in Saturday’s Group III Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Group I winners Alinghi, Bel Mer, I Am A Star and Sunlight all won the Quezette Stakes before Bella Nipotina joined those stars on the honour roll with her display of speed.
The $3 favourite Parlophone made Bella Nipotina’s task easier when she tried to buck soon after the start, which cost her a few lengths, but winning rider Michael Rodd said his mount didn’t behave perfectly either.
“Early in the race she was a little bit keen. I had to steady her up. She flicked her head up once or twice but she came back underneath me nicely,” Rodd said.
But Bella Nipotina was all business when Rodd asked her to quicken early in the straight.
Bella Nipotina beat off the honest River Night before the three-year-old strode to a two-length win, which belied her $21 starting price.
“She’s always had the ability but couldn’t put it together,” Rodd said.
“But as (co-trainer) Ben (Hayes) said to me after the race, she’s more mature now and she sustained that speed and she quickened off it this time.”
Hayes said he and training partner Tom Dabernig considered giving Bella Nipotina an easy assignment in a maiden but her jumpouts convinced them to go for a Group race with the daughter of Pride Of Dubai.
“She has been a very unlucky horse in her races to date, she has been knocked off by some really nice horses,” Hayes said.
“Off her trials it looked like she had really improved but we weren’t sure.
“We were going to go to a maiden but she trialled so well so we changed plans and we went here to go to a stakes race so it was a very good decision. It was a huge result.”
Photo credit: Pat Scala/Racing Photos
Following in His Fathers Footsteps
The below article by Jay Rooney for The West Australian was written after ZADOK's impressive win at Belmont:
Memories of a rollercoaster ride with the talented but ill-fated Longma came flooding back for Craig Thompson when Zadok won at Belmont Park yesterday.
Longma was one of the ownerbreeder’s favourite horses after bursting on the scene with an incredible eight-length win on debut at Werribee in 2013.
The son of Sebring went on to win at Warwick Farm and Ascot, but injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Thompson stood Longma at his Denmark stud Mt Hallowell where he produced a small crop of foals, one of them being Zadok.
“I got five babies out of him and was actually giving him away to a South Pacific Island,” Thompson said.
“He went in for surgery on a foot and when he woke up (from the anaesthesia), he charged at the wall, snapped his neck and died.
“He was one of my all-time favourites. He was going to be anything after he won at Werribee. I got offered $1.4 million for him from Hong Kong but knocked it back.”
At his second start for trainer David Harrison, Zadok gave Longma his first winner as a sire with victory in the Free Entry To Belmont Park Maiden (1000m).
Sent out a $19 roughie, the three-year-old stormed home from 10th on the turn to beat Strathmore Rose ($6.50) by a head. Natural Airchief ($9.50) ran third.
Zadok’s manners improved when he was gelded after running last in his race debut at Ascot in February.
“That operation did the trick,” Thompson said.
“Harro’s been patient with him. He’s turned the horse around from being a complete nightmare.
“The horse has got a bit of his old man in him.”
Photo credit: Sharyn Walker/Western Racepix
Breeding Season
Our boys Brave Smash and Santos (pictured) have been enjoying some down time prior to departing for Lincoln Farm, where the fun really begins!