Almanzor youngsters star at trials

[Wandering Eyes]

A son and a daughter of popular Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Almanzor impressed with winning outings at the Rotorua trials on Monday.

The Jamie Richards-trained pair of Dynastic and an unnamed filly stepped out in consecutive 800m heats and both were successful under kind rides from Opie Bosson.

“We’ve got plenty of Almanzors and these are two of the more forward ones. They are out of mares that had a bit of speed themselves,” Richards said.

“He is a really exciting stallion and most of the ones I’m fortunate to have will improve as three-year-olds and we like them a lot.”

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis out of Windsor Park Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $360,000, Dynastic settled at the back of the field and, under his own steam, lengthened stride down the outside to win his heat.

“Dynastic is a really nice colt and we paid a bit of money for him. He knows he’s a colt sometimes and as long as we are firm but fair with him he is pretty good,” Richards said.

“He trialled well at Taupo in October and then had the benefit of a little break. We’ll see how he does after this trial before we confirm where we are going to go, but there are plenty of races for him.”

The colt is out of the Volksraad mare Meir, whose two foals to race have been successful and is from a family that features the international Group One winners Eagle Mountain and Dank.

The unnamed Almanzor filly was bred by Te Akau and partners and is out of Corsage, also by Volksraad, who won three races and finished third in the G1 Diamond Stakes.

She is also the dam of the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) winner and Listed Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetter Aotea Lad.

“We really like the filly and Corsage is a wonderful broodmare and was a very good racehorse and she has put a lot of natural strength into this filly,” Richards said.

“She has come back in good shape and we’re very happy with her. We’ll pick out a race for her reasonably soon.

“Hopefully, she’s a Matamata Breeders’ Stakes type of filly, so we’ll see how she progresses.”

She sat in second spot in her heat before angling wide at the top of the straight and, under hands and heels riding, finished determinedly.

Both of Almanzor’s Australasian runners to date have placed with Andalus third on debut in Saturday’s G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Te Rapa while Gibraltar Rising has a runner-up finish and a third from three appearances.

Andalus’ trainer Stephen Marsh has said the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) is the longer-term target for his colt.

Heat 9 – Dynastic

Heat 10 – Almanzor – Corsage

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