Chajaba chasing New Plymouth success

[Wandering Eyes]

Chajaba will lineup at New Plymouth on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The breeding career of Handsome Ransom mare Hostage could be resurrected following the deeds of her son Chajaba.

The seven-year-old gelding was a meritorious runner-up to Justaskme in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) last month for trainer Tina Egan, who co-bred and co-owns the now seven-year-old.

“He went a good, cheeky race in the Opunake Cup and beat all but an absolute freakish run from the winner,” Egan said.

The breed has been with Egan for a couple of generations, with the Taranaki horsewoman acquiring his second-dam Taradise as a racing proposition.

“His mum (Hostage) ran fourth in the Tauranga Breeders’ and we bred her out of a horse (Taradise) I got off Te Akau,” Egan said.

“I was clerking at New Plymouth that day and I threw a saddle on her and went down to the logs they had there and had a jump. If she had reared I wouldn’t have taken her, but she didn’t rear, so I took her.

“We won a race with her and she paid $56. I nearly sold her to England, but we held onto her to breed and she had a couple of good ones, but Hostage was the best one.”

Hostage won four races for Egan, and Chajaba was her first foal, but she failed to get in-foal in subsequent seasons and was rehomed.

“He was the only foal and we couldn’t get her in-foal after that,” Egan said.

“I gave her to a friend and he was going to put her to a Clydesdale stallion. They were walking her across the paddock and the stallion served her there and then and she has had a foal.

“If we wanted to, we could still send her to something, which we may do now since she has left a stakes-placed horse.”

While contemplating breeding Hostage, Egan is enjoying racing her son Chajaba, who is set to return to New Plymouth on Saturday.

Egan has been rapt with his progress this preparation and is confident of a good showing on his favoured track.

“He has been freshened as I went down for National Week. My helpers have been trotting him on the lead because he is a bit of a rogue to work,” she said.

“I galloped him this morning and he went well.

“He loves New Plymouth and he tries his heart out, I couldn’t see him not running in the first three.”

Following Saturday’s contest, Egan said there are a few options for her gelding.

“There is an open mile at Hawera if we want to try him over a mile or we could trek to Hastings, it just depends on the weather. We will play it by ear,” she said.

Egan will also line-up The Witch and last-start winner Dublin Castle.

“Danny Champion (Riccarton trainer) bought Dublin Castle off Gavelhouse for $500,” Egan said.

“I went and picked her up and said I would pre-train her and send her down.

“We were going to take her down south but when she won he said to leave her up here. She will probably head down there eventually.”

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