NEWS & EVENTS
LA Update 6th September
September got off on the right foot for LA
with the Mercedes Horse of the Year Awards in Napier last Friday night. There were a number of winners with LA connections. Before we start on those winners though here's a chance to bid on tickets to the Rugby World Cup Semi finals, with flights and accomodation....go to www.trademe.co.nz and you could secure your place in Paris supporting the All Blacks!
The Champion Two-Year-Old Nightlign is out of a Carolingian mare. Carolingian was our foundation sire at LA - was also represented by another Group race winner as a dam sire last season in Splashing Out (O Reilly-Iguazu), who ran such a good race in a hotly contested Mudgway Stakes last Saturday.
LA lease the broodmare Shahiid (Pentire - Star Royal ) and are in partnership with Richard and Sarah Greaves of Masterton so the win of her full brother Pentathon in the Champion Stayers category saw Sam's cellphone even busier than usual. Shahiid is in foal to Towkay and due to visit Elusive City this season.
Darci Brahma added yet another accolade to his high class racing resume by easily taking out the Champion Sprinter title from Seachange. LA's shareholding in Darci Brahma continues with his breeding career and the stud are sending a mouth watering selection of mares to Darci's court this season. They are Sound Lover, Nikki's Bride, Miss Moneytree, Kalamanda and Rivertaine. And in conjunction with clients, Southern Cry on behalf of Don Gordon and Ciara Some of you may recall Ciara from her racing exploits last season.. The attractive O Reilly mare dual Group Two placed - possessed outstanding acceleration and looks an exciting broodmare prospect for owner Lorraine Jameson. It would pay to keep an eye out on the half sister to Ciara, by Towkay called Casey.
This past week New Zealand Bloodstock confirmed 36 LA yearlings for the Karaka Yearling Sales Series with 19 gaining selection in the Premier Session. Notable inclusions amongst the Premier entries are the Savabeel-Steluta colt, the Zabeel-Rites of Spring colt and Towkay colts from Millie Munroe and Aspects of Love. On the subject of Aspects of Love, her three-year-old filly Veeandvee by O Reilly won over 1600m in Singapore last weekend.
Charlie (No Excuse Needed- Soneri) was confirmed for the Select Session at Karaka, continues to thrive. Sam's had to cut back on his feed and all other yearlings as the spring grass growth is lush at the moment. Charlie was back in the stables for a short time last week getting drenched and having his feet trimmed. A real favourite of all the staff with his friendly, inquisitive nature.
Zed and Towkay both began serving last Saturday. Zed has taken to his new role with gusto. His first cohort was head groom Helen Phinney's Zedative mare Stella Suprema dam of Speedy - a recent arrival into the P D O'Sullivan's stable in Hong Kong. His second mare was a full sister to Danamite. Bookings are still available to Towkay. In case you had not caught up with the news, Towkay was selected in an article on www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz as the best value stallion in the $5,500 to $15,000 service fee category based on stakeswinners to foals and 2007 yearling sale results.
Last weekend was significant in the breeding career of the Keltern Stud mare Sneetch. Sneetch's Black Minnaloushe filly Black Mamba ran second in a $250,000 stakes race in the USA while her daughter Gussy Godiva was the dam of Saturdays impressive Hawkes Bay winner Rios. Sold through the LA draft for $80,000 at the 2006 Karaka Yearling Sale on behalf of Gussy Godiva's owners, Arthur and Mick Ormond, the Hussonet colt holds a VRC Derby nomination. Sneetch was bred by Buzz and Tom Williams and LA still has a number of mares from the family including the young Danasinga mare Bondi Beauty. Bondi Beauty, one of two LA mares currently domiciled in Australia, but safely in Victoria (so far!), has a booking to Written Tycoon this year.
Foalings in the last week include colts from Monashees (Catbird) and Foxtrot (Pins). However the really big news was a three quarter sister to dual Group One winner Legs (Pins- River Century) delivered to us by our mare Rivertaine. Speaking of River Century, Waikato Stud's dual Group One producing dynamo was named Champion Broodmare of the Year at Fridays Mercedes Awards.
There are still positions available for the breeding/yearling season so if you are interested, please call Sam on 0274 853400. Experience with broodmares and/or foals whilst preferred is not essential, however a keen attitude and the ability to laugh most certainly are.
Look forward to catching up with you next month, just prior to the Kelt Capital Stakes. There is bound to be plenty of LA connected horses at the forefront of discussions for the last day of the Kelt Capital Spring Carnival plus we shall have news of a host of new foalings and happenings from around the farm.