Eyes on Athletica after stablemates sold

3 minute read

Two of the exciting three-year-olds in Andrew Campbell’s stable have been sold to Hong Kong, leaving his focus on Athletica in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas at Hastings on Saturday.

Campbell has confirmed the sale of Waldorf, his other candidate for the Hastings feature, along with stablemate Getty, a winner of two of his three starts.

“The sales for both Waldorf and Getty have been completed,” Campbell said. “I pulled Waldorf out of the Hawke’s Bay Guineas this morning (Wednesday).

“It’s a shame to see them go as they’re both smart young horses, but the money was too good to turn down. They’ll do well in Hong Kong, they’re the right type of horses for up there.”

Former Campbell-trained horses have excelled in Hong Kong, particularly Werther, whose wins for the Opaki trainer included the Gr.2 ARC Championship Stakes and Gr.2 Eagle Farm Cup.

Werther has gone on to win three Group Ones in Hong Kong (Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Champions & Chater Cup, Hong Kong Gold Cup) and be named Hong Kong Horse Of The Year, Champion Middle-Distance Horse and Champion Stayer.

Waldorf, a son of Highly Recommended, has won three of his eight starts and has placed on three occasions.

His latest two outings have resulted in wins in the Listed Ryder Stakes and, fresh-up, the Listed Wanganui Guineas. Last season he was runner-up in the Listed Wellesley Stakes.

Campbell kept Waldorf up to the mark for the Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas until his sale was completed and he couldn’t be happier with the horse.

“His work on Tuesday was super. He would have been very interesting in the Guineas,” he said. “His last run was his best run yet and he’s really starting to mature.”

Waldorf will join the stable of Tony Cruz, while Getty will be trained by Dennis Yip.

Getty, a son of Excelebration, was unbeaten in his two juvenile starts and resumed with a fourth to the unbeaten Bostonian in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy at Hastings last month.

“He beat Waldorf when he won his second start and he just blew out at Hawke’s Bay last time,” Campbell said. “He was due to come back into work this week and we were aiming him at the Karaka Mile.”

Despite losing Waldorf and Getty, Campbell has plenty to look forward to with Athletica, a son of Tavistock who followed a trials win at Foxton with an impressive debut win at Awapuni last month.

“He’s a work in progress and he’s going to be a good horse,” Campbell said. “It’s all systems go for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas with him and Lisa (Allpress) will ride him again.

“It’s a big ask, but if he’s heading down south for the Two Thousand Guineas he needs to shape up in this.

“I don’t expect him to win, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win. He’s got loads of ability.”

Campbell also has Gobstopper set for Riccarton and between times he will shift from Opaki to Cambridge.

“We take over on October 31 and I’m looking forward to it,” Campbell said