Huki Fella and Aardie’s Express shine at Wyndham

[Wandering Eyes]

By Jonny Turner

Huki Fella put adversity well behind him when he registered the first siring victory for Lord Forbes at Wyndham yesterday.

The three-year-old impressed when powering home from off the speed to beat a handy line up for trainer-driver Craig Ferguson.

Huki Fella is partly raced by the man behind his sire Lord Forbes, in Gavin Forbes.

Forbes owned and raced Lord Forbes who won 11 races during an 118-start race track career.

There were no grand plans for Lord Forbes to join the country’s siring ranks once he retired from racing.

But Forbes has bred a handful of foals from his stallion while he lives the good life in retirement.

“He is just at home having a good time,” Forbes said.

“He has had one mare a year to breed from, but this year he actually has three mares going to him.”

“The next one coming through should be racing in the next few weeks, she is nice – Louie’s Girl.”

While he showed promise as a two-year-old, it has taken Huki Fella until his three-year-old season to show his best on the track.

“He just wasn’t developed, he was a bit narrow in front but this season he has filled out,” Forbes said.

Though his racetrack journey has been relatively smooth, the pint-sized pacer didn’t get off to the best start in life.

Forbes said Huki Fella was initially rejected by his dam at birth.

Lord Forbes provided a highlight for Forbes when competing in the 2010 New Zealand Cup.

Whether New Zealand’s greatest race remains a target for Aardie’s Express is still to be decided.

The four-year-old justified her hot favouritism when running to a comfortable mile victory at Wyndham yesterday.

Driver Tim Williams took the classy mare to the lead in the early stages and from there victory never looked in doubt.

“Obviously she had a wee glitch last start, it is good to put that behind us.”

“The feeling she gave me up the straight, she was obviously really strong when I asked her to turn in.”

While Aardies Express was being aimed at the New Zealand Cup at the beginning of her campaign, it is possible the mare will bypass the race.

“There is talk in the camp that her plans could change, we have already had a bit of a change of plans and here we are today,” Williams said.

“If she comes through today’s run well and gets home she may look at Oamaru next week, but we will assess that when we get home.”

Yesterday’s victory was Aardie’s Express’s ninth career win in just her 12th start.

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