Kiwi Breeders Celebrate Producing a Magic Millions 2YO Contender

Media Release - Thursday January 11

Ainsley Downs Stud’s policy of purchasing older mares in Australia has been rewarded with another feature race contender across the Tasman.

The Courtney Howells-bred Vianarra will take aim at The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) and win, lose or draw the Te Kauwhata nursery is delighted to have a representative in the A$3 million feature.

“I don’t know if any New Zealand breeders have managed that and it shows that you never know where the next good one is coming from,” he said.

“He’s a runner’s chance and he’s drawn 15, which won’t be an advantage, but he’ll be strong enough and I’m just thrilled he’s made it this far and looks a progressive horse.”

Vianarra was bought by Busuttin Racing for $105,000 at Magic Millions.

Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Vianarra is a son of Shalaa and the Flying Spur mare Vinavion, who is a granddaughter of the former New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Burletta.

Howells purchased Vinavion at the Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale for A$80,000 with Auckland-based bloodstock agent Paul Willetts signing the ticket.

“She was owned by the Inghams and at the time I particularly wanted a mare in foal to Shalaa,” Howells said.

“There was talk about him being above average as a sire and as an imported speed horse he slipped under the radar a bit in Australia because they like their own.

“I left them over at Fairhill Farm and I’ve been doing it for the last few years, buying older mares that have already got something on the board, be it a stakes winner or they’ve showed they can leave a decent horse.”

Vinavion had previously produced four winners, including the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) winner Wine Bush and the Group performer Wine Tales.

“We sold the colt (Vianarra) at the Sydney Weanling Sale for A$90,000, which was serious money for a Shalaa at that stage, and then he went to the Gold Coast and was passed in and obviously sold later (for A$105,000) to be registered for the Magic Millions.”

Howells subsequently entered into a foal share agreement with Newgate and the mare produced a daughter of Flying Artie.

Advertisement

“She was a lovely filly as a weanling, but the market at Karaka was for high-end weanlings last year and not for something by a stallion like Flying Artie, so we bought her back,” Howells said.

She will be offered in Ainsley Downs Stud’s Book 2 draft as Lot 1033 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with Vinavion currently in foal to Mapperley Stud’s Armory.

“She is a lovely, big, strong mare and you can see why she leaves such a good type,” Howells said.

Vianarra has placed in his last two appearances at Ballarat and Randwick and will be ridden on Saturday by John Allen.

“He’s huge for us because he was the jockey on Affaire A Suivre when she won the Australasian Oaks (Gr.1, 2000m) for us,” Howells said.

“She’s out of another mare we bought in Sydney, so we’ve had a bit of luck. A lot of people don’t like buying older mares, but it has certainly worked for us.”

By Astern, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-prepared Affaire A Suivre is a daughter of the American-bred Highest Honor mare Laurelling, a sister to the Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy winner and sire Medaaly.

Laurelling was a A$34,000 Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale purchase and Affaire A Suivre subsequently realised $75,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

Her son by Darci Brahma will be offered as Lot 181 by Ainsley Downs during the Book 1 session at Karaka where they will also be selling a Ribchester filly (Lot 444).

Ainsley Downs’ consignment will be completed by Book 2 colts by Merchant Navy (Lot 699), Dirty Work (Lot 979) and King Of Comedy (Lot 1039) and a Super Seth filly (Lot 991). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pedigree Watch – Euro 3YO Chester Classic Trials
Godolphin have been dominating the Northern Hemisphere classics in spectacular fashion on both sides of the Atlantic, but Coolmore had their turn at Chester overnight producing a homebred colt from a family with an Aussie offshoot and a sale-topping filly with Derby and Oaks aspirations.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
MyRacehorse Swoop on Circus Maximus 2YO
Promising juvenile Engine Of War has joined the growing Australasian stable of international micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse.
Rising Stars - Metro 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) unleashed not one but two exciting juveniles at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the opening race going to the colt Regulated Affair and shortly after it was the turn of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Agarwood.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
Japanese Bred Filly Wins At Eagle Farm
Could trainer Kris Lees have the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on his mind after his three-year-old, northern hemisphere bred filly Eclair Encore (Jpn) recorded a strong victory over 1800m at Eagle Farm.
So You Think Filly Shows Oaks Potential
The Bjorn Baker stable has been on fire this year and it’s full steam ahead to Queensland for talented So You Think filly Dame Commander, who beat older rivals at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 7
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Chairman’s Sale-Toppers – Where Are They Now?
A star studded renewal of the Inglis Chairman’s Sale will light up Riverside Stables this evening from 5pm with glamour girls Bella Nipotina and Amelia’s Jewel vying for top honours, so we’re taking a quick look back to check in on some of the stars from the past.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.