Smart 3YO delivers emotional Group victory for stud

[Wandering Eyes]

Emerging three-year-old He’s Lucid provided Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison with a bittersweet result when he downed a competitive age group line-up at Riccarton.

The Kevin Myers-trained representative’s timing was faultless to break his maiden in Saturday’s Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) and is now a $10 equal fourth favourite for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

Davison bred and sold He’s Lucid, a son of the late Contributer who tragically passed away at the Matamata nursery last month.

“Contributer had been a big part of our lives and our stud for many years,” he said. “It was a tough one to swallow, very difficult.

“From limited numbers, he’s performed incredibly well as a sire. I think you’ll see more winning in the next six months, he’s got a lot of smart young horses coming through.”

He’s Lucid won at his fifth appearance after earlier placings in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m).

The gelding accounted for Tony Pike’s dual black-type winner Raziah and Kiwi Skyhawk, another highly rated son of Contributer with Stephen Marsh, in the War Decree.

He’s Lucid was bought out of Mapperley’s New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale draft last year by Myers for $40,000.

“He was a really nice horse and it will be exciting to see what he can go on and do,” Davison said.

“He’s a big horse and what he’s done so early is quite surprising really for such a raw-boned type, he’s showing a lot of ability and when he strengthens further, he’s going to be even more impressive.”

He’s Lucid is the first foal bred by Davison from the No Excuse Needed mare Big Dreamer, who was purchased off Gavelhouse in 2020 for just $600.

“I had a mate, Johnny Orr, who rang me up and said that I should be buying No Excuse Needed mares to go to Contributer,” he said.

“Johnny is a client and a pedigree buff who has mares with me, he’s from the South Island and was on my case and kept saying buy No Excuse Needed mares.”

Big Dreamer was a five-time winner and showed her quality with placings in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) and the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).

She was trained by Paul Mirabelli, who secured He’s Lucid’s brother for $20,000 at Karaka earlier this year and as Shoma produced a tidy debut performance to finish fourth at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Big Dreamer is due to foal to Profondo and will then make a return visit to the Group One-winning son of Deep Impact.

View the full article