Darn good winner for Elsdon Park

[Wandering Eyes]

Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) credited Elsdon Park with their first winner produced off the Matamata-based farm since it was established in 2022.

Leading from start to finish at Randwick, the two-year-old colt was having just his second race day appearance after finishing third on debut at the same track a fortnight ago.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, Hezdarnhottoo was untroubled during the Toyota Forklifts Hcp (1100m), scoring a comprehensive win by a margin of one and three-quarter lengths.

Bred by Elsdon Park’s Lib and Katrina Petagna, Hezdarnhottoo races out of the Bjorn Baker stable and was purchased by Baker in partnership with Clarke Bloodstock for $170,000 out of Elsdon Park’s inaugural 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft.

The son of Too Darn Hot is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Savabeel mare Rosa Carolina who raced in Petagna’s familiar blue, yellow and apple green racing colours.

“He’s a lovely colt, a bit raw,” stable representative Luke Hilton said. “He jumped in the air at the start the other day. To Tommy’s credit he didn’t drive him mad, he let him find his feet and he worked to the line well.”

“He jumped well today, and Tommy took the race by the scruff of the neck. He had a nice colt with wraps on it behind him today.”

Elsdon Park’s General Manager Kerrie Cox said the win was an exciting milestone as they continue to build the farm’s brand.

“He was actually the first horse ever branded with the Elsdon Park cipher so he has one over one on his offside shoulder, which is special- we even have a video of him being branded to mark the occasion” she said.

“He was a real standout as a young horse so it’s great to see him go on and perform on the track. It’s not easy to get a city win as a two-year-old, especially in Sydney. By all accounts the stable has a high opinion of him.

“It’s a great advertisement ahead of us taking our first consignment to Sydney next month with three beautiful yearlings, highlighted by our I am Invincible filly out of three-time Group One winner Lucia Valentina.”

Rosa Carolina was covered by State Of Rest last spring while Roger James and Robert Wellwood went to $220,000 to secure her Almanzor yearling filly when consigned by Elsdon Park at Karaka 2024.

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