Melbourne Cup hopeful sold;Coldplay ready for Sydney debut;Enzo’s Lad set for big time again; Melbourne option for Ugo Foscolo
Melbourne Cup hopeful sold
TeAkau principal David Ellis has revealed that their European Group One performer Torcedor has been sold to German interests.
“In the last few days we sold Torcedor, we received an emormous offer for a six-year-old gelding,” Ellis said. “He has been sold and the deal has been completed.
“We wish the new owners well with him – they are a consortium syndicate based in Germany.I’d say they would look at the Melbourne Cup for sure.
“He is quite an exciting horse, he goes to the front, he never stops trying and is a very gutsy horse.”
By Fastnet Rock out of a sister to champion stayer Yeats, dual Group Three winner Torcedor has been Group One placed in the Goodwood Cup (3200m), Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) and Irish St Leger (2800m).
Purchased by Ellis for 70,000 Euro (NZ$115,000) at the 2013 Deauville Yearling Sales in France, Torcedor was owned by Sir Patrick Hogan, Sir Peter Vela, Mohammed Moussa, and Laurie Laxon.
Coldplay ready for Sydney debut
Classy New Zealand mare Coldplay is coming to hand nicely in her new Sydney environment as she prepares for her last campaign before commencing a breeding career.
The dual Group Two winner will race as I Am Coldplay in Sydney for champion trainer Chris Waller and will make her Australian debut on Saturday in the Gr.3 Toy Show Quality (1300m).
The six-year-old daughter of Savabeel has had two trials to fit her for Saturday’s fillies and mares contest.
“She’s a Group Two winner in New Zealand over a mile and has been running in some really good races,” Waller said.
“Her trials have been fantastic and she has a good draw (7). There is nothing to say she hasn’t settled in and I couldn’t be happier with her. She might be one to follow.”
Coldplay is raced by Gary Wallace and Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick and will be mated with Australia’s champion sire Snitzel at Arrowfield Stud this spring.
Enzo’s Lad set for big time again
Enzo’s Lad shocked punters when winning this year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at odds of 73-1 and he’s going to be given another chance at the Trentham feature in January.
Trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are planning to take it even a few steps further this season with the six-year-old being set for the Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards’ Handicap (1200m), Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), and Gr.1 J.R. & N. Berkett Telegraph (1200m).
“The plan is to have a go at the big three with him,” Michael Pitman said.
“I know people say it was a fluke he won the Telegraph and, yes, he did get a dream run, but he still won it and that’s what counts.He deserves to have a crack at the three big ones.
“He’s been back in a while and he’ll have one run before the Stewards, probably in the Pegasus Stakes at the (New Zealand) Cup meeting.”
Stablemate Elfee, who finished third in last Saturday’s Winter Classic (1800m) at Riccarton, will also be chasing further black-type this season.
“She’s having a couple of weeks off then we’ll set her for some nice fillies and mares races. She’s done well.”
Melbourne option for Ugo Foscolo
A quiet trial at Avondale on Tuesday has Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh contemplating a Melbourne trip for the 2016 Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Ugo Foscolo.
Making his first public appearance since winning at Te Rapa in April, Ugo Foscolo was under a hold by rider Troy Harris over the final stages of his 1000m trial after trailing then leading mid-way.
“Troy was rapt with his run,” Marsh said. “It was such a wet track and we didn’t want him having a hard run and he had as soft a run as possible.
“He’ll go to Ruakaka for an open 1200m and we could then look at getting him to Melbourne. It’s an option, but we have to see how he does first.”
Stablemate Bevan Street also put himself on a path to a return to racing at Ruakaka with his effort for second to Mongolian Marshal in another open 1000m trial.
“He went enormous,” Marsh said. “And I was really happy with the run of Zappeur for third in the same trial.”
