Kiwi imports bearing fruit for Australian Bloodstock

[Wandering Eyes]

The active interest taken in the New Zealand tried horse market in the past year has paid dividends for thoroughbred syndication group Australian Bloodstock as they enjoyed success in Sydney and Brisbane over the weekend.

Per Inaway (NZ), the Per Incanto three-year-old filly who won two of her four starts for Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock, was successful over 1200m at Rosehill when making her debut for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.

The same combination also had three-year-old filly Le Villi (NZ) (Puccini) gain some valuable Australian black-type when finishing a game third in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

Trainer Kris Lees
Photo Credit: Bradleyphotography.com.au

Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett was delighted with the performance of the two fillies who he and fellow director Luke Murrell had acquired the majority ownership interest in as part of their buying strategy in New Zealand.

“I thought both fillies went very well and Le Villi getting that critical black-type is very pleasing,” Lovett said.

“We thought she could compete at that level and she backed up nicely from a tough run the week before.

“She had been good when finishing seventh in the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) in Sydney when first-up off the plane from New Zealand and we have asked a bit of her by running in some good races over here.

“She is a tough filly who will pay her way and now she has that Group One placing she can have a quiet spring and we can look at some good races for her in the autumn.

“Per Inaway got the job done at Rosehill quite impressively and on that showing I think she might just appreciate a step up in distance.

“She always had the race at her mercy on Saturday and we can look to take her through the grades now.”

Lovett has also been impressed with quality two-year-old filly Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), who recently arrived in New South Wales and will be prepared by Lees for her inaugural Sydney campaign.

The daughter of Waikato Stud sire Tivaci will be aimed at some of the better Sydney three-year-old filly events in the spring after finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at her last New Zealand start.

Classy two-year-old filly Wolverine has arrived in Sydney ahead of a spring campaign for new trainer Kris Lees
Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

“Wolverine has arrived in great order and I was quite taken with just how well she looked,” Lovett said.

“She is tough and kept raising the bar during her campaign in New Zealand so if she can train-on over here and make the necessary improvement then the goal is to add some Australian black-type to her record.

“If we can do that then she is a valuable commodity for a possible sale at the end of her racing career.

“When we bought her, we were hoping she would run a mile as that is her best chance to get that black-type as there are plenty of opportunities here in Sydney for her.”

Lovett said the tried horse market in New Zealand had again come on their radar after several years of inactivity, with a particular focus on fillies and mares. Additionally they have added some unraced purchases off the trial track of late.

“We see the fillies and mares as offering some of the better opportunities, mainly as we can’t compete with the Hong Kong money for the colts and geldings,” he said.

“We went a bit quiet on things for a few years as we felt the asking prices were out of kilter with what was available, but the COVID pandemic seems to have corrected the market a fair bit and we have managed to buy some very nice horses.

“Some of our other buys include Cacofonix who has had a break since arriving and is getting ready to trial again.

“Edit was one of the first we bought and he is also getting ready to come back in to work. He just had no luck whatsoever in most of his starts and we are yet to see the best of him.

“We think he is a very good horse so with some better racing luck and the right track conditions he should show that.

“We have also bought a couple out of the trials including a lovely Sacred Falls colt and an Iffraaj gelding who were both impressive winners with some good talk around them.

“The fillies and mares are our main interest though as the opportunities in the sale ring for well-bred individuals with Australian black-type on their records provides the returns our clients are looking for.”

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