Strong weekend for Redwood

[Wandering Eyes]

High Chaparral’s sons have made a profound impact on Australasian racing and among his success stories is Westbury Stud’s Redwood.

A Group One producer whose progeny have proved versatile performers, Redwood enjoyed another rewarding weekend with Tuchel continuing his march through the grades in Hong Kong with his latest success.

Sons Hyperion Tree and Columbus County also produced bold showings at Sha Tin while on the domestic scene, Dr Hank was a dashing winner of the Waikato Hurdles with further major prizes awaiting him through the winter.

Hyperion Tree finished runner-up in the opening event over 2000 metres while the genuine Columbus County, who has a third placing in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) to his credit, was a sound fourth in the Gr.3 Premier Plate (1800m).

Prepared by champion trainer John Size, Tuchel is unbeaten in his last two starts and on Sunday evening the progressive three-year-old was into the clear at the top of the straight before powering away under rider Zac Purton.

They hit the line with two and a quarter lengths to spare and clocked a swift 1.22.06s for the 1400 metres with a rise in trip and the transition from Happy Valley to Sha Tin key factors in bringing out the best in the Gerry Harvey homebred.

“His first two runs were promising, he ran well both times and then when he got to a little bit more distance (1400 metres) and a bigger track (Sha Tin), he was able to win quite well,” Size said. “He’s got a good temperament so he should keep improving.

“Now that he’s (Tuchel) had four races, he’s starting to put it together more efficiently.

“To win by a margin (two and a quarter lengths) with a heavy weight (133lb), it’s hard to do. He’s got a future.”

Tuchel was bought out of Westbury’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $130,000 by Simple Bloodstock Services.

He is a son of the Testa Rossa mare Trista Rossa, successful on three occasions, who is a daughter of the Stakes winner and the Group placegetter Altrista.

Redwood’s best representative to date has been the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) winner Rock On Wood with stakes winners from 1300 metres to 2400 metres.

His tally includes this season’s Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) heroine Bellatrix Black and Communique, who won the 2020 edition, two-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart, successful in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1400m), runner-up in the Listed The Phoenix (1500m) and fourth in the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm recently.

Meanwhile, Dr Hank has now won four of his six starts over the smaller fences and looms as a top chance to one better in the Great Northern Hurdle following his runner-up finish last year.

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