Husson Boots scores a strong win at Ballina Love that BOBS money!!!

Things have certainly started to fall into place for us with two nice winners on Friday. The first was Husson Boots who certainly tested our patience at times but did a great job to break her maiden at Ballina. She had recorded seven placings in her previous ten starts with six of these in the Metropolitan area. Well done to Tony Gollan who decided to drop her back to 1000m so she would be forced to race off the speed. She tried to over race again but the speed saw her settle and be far too strong for her opponents in the run home. Hopefully she can now go on with the job and win more races for her connections.

We have been waiting for six months to get Banachek to the races. The son of Written Tycoon had always displayed good potential but had to overcome some serious issues including a colic operation that could have easily taken his life. He is a stunning horse and I thought I had stolen him when I snapped him up at the Magic Millions National Sale in 2015. Incidentally, this is the same sale I purchased The Wasp from.

Banachek was the most dominant of winners leading by up to eight lengths early in the straight before being eased up to win by five. He was clearly a class above his rivals and will now head to better races. He is out of a well related Redoute’s Choice mare so has a serious pedigree on both sides of the page. Well done to Darren Weir and his team for doing such a great job with him.

Banachek coming back with Dean Yendall after winning on debut by 5 lengths Cracking horse!!!

Grace O’Neill Update

Maree and I thank you for the best wishes sent through for Grace after her accident on the ski slopes in Japan. She is recovering after seriously dislocating her knee but will survive and tells us she is being well cared for. Maree heads over in early April to spend a couple of weeks with Grace so hopefully she will be a bit more mobile by then. Maree asked Grace how her knee looked and she replied it is a big as dad’s head which I thought a bit unkind.

Adelaide Magic Millions Sale

At the start of this sales season I planned to purchase 13 yearlings, a Rugby League team. Well after purchasing three nice horses in Adelaide we have 14 yearlings which are enough to maintain our racing team at about 50 horses. The Adelaide Sale was good with the overall quality up on last year. These are the three I purchased.

Lot 69 Sizzling / Dedication colt

I must say I loved this colt from the moment I saw him at the sale. He is by a sire I really like out of a well related Singspiel mare which is a wonderful cross. As a type he was faultless and reminded me so much of Husson Eagle and Under Command when I purchased them as yearlings. He will be paid up for Magic Millions Series and heads to Tony Gollan in Brisbane. 

Lot 123 Husson / Jezangani filly

I was inspecting the Cornerstone Stud draft and kept seeing a stunning chestnut filly being paraded in the Baramul Stud draft. I asked to look at all of Balamul’s yearlings and was really waiting for the chestnut to come out. When she did I was taken by her athleticism and presence. I was determined to buy her and the picture tells the story. I am going to syndicate her as this year’s ‘Ladies Only Syndicate’ with Kris Lees to train. She was a steal and if looks mean anything she should be a star.

Lot 186 Al Maher / Miss Cutie filly

When you are buying horses it really helps to know the physical characteristics of the families you are looking to buy into. Miss Cutie the dam of this filly is by Street Cry and this filly has really thrown to Street Cry. Having said that she also has a lot of Al Maher in her and is a bit like Unchain My Heart was when I purchased her. This filly goes to John Thompson at Randwick. She looks a classic three year old type to me. And by the way Winx is by Street Cry!!! I like the cross of Al Maher over the Street Cry mare. Two great sire lines coming together with Danehill over Machiavellian. This cross gave us the black type winners Shania Dane, Scintillation, Miss Pinkerton as well as five other winners from just 10 to race with this cross.