More Group One Success for Willetts

Media Release - Sunday May 13

New Zealand bloodstock agent Paul Willetts has a well-earned reputation as a man who can spot equine talent at a young age and that was emphasized once again on Saturday when Leicester took out the Group I South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.

Paul WillettsWilletts identified the promising stayer during a session at the 2015 Inglis Weanling Sale in Sydney where he outlaid A$10,000 to secure his purchase who is by Australian sire Wanted out of Galileo mare, Defy The Odds.

"He was a pretty cheap buy as no-one was really that interested in his sire at the time," he said.

"When I inspected him he looked far more like his dam sire, Galileo. He was out of young mare who has a superb European pedigree, so I decided to take a punt on him.

"At $10,000 he was a pretty cheap buy that looks even better now on what he has achieved."

Willetts races the horse with West Australian businessman Gary Johnson who he met through a mutual association with a property in Australia.

"I utilise the services of a farm in Victoria (Three Bridges Thoroughbreds) to spell and agist horses and that's where I met Gary," he said.

"We agreed we would put him away and race him ourselves with the option to sell him off the track once he was underway.

"When he won his maiden we thought about what he had been showing and decided we weren't going to just give him away. Since then he has gone from strength to strength so I'm pretty happy we kept him."

Willetts is quick to admit the decision to retain the horse after he opened his account with a maiden win over 1400m at Terang in January did draw some good-natured ribbing from some of his associates.

Advertisement

"I guess when people saw he had won his maiden at Terang they didn't place much stock in that result but when you look at the form out of the race it makes for impressive reading," he said.

"He beat Sopressa that day who won the Oaks at Morphettville a week ago and Exceltara who won at Caulfield in a strong race on Saturday.

"I would say that is pretty handy form for a Terang maiden now."

Willetts, who has purchased successful horses such as Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) winner Solzhenitsyn as a weanling was back in action at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale where he was delighted with the quality of the catalogue on offer.

"I thought it was a very good sale with some great buying to be had," he said.

"I ended up taking home five weanlings and a broodmare from the sale which was pleasing. From a buyer's perspective it was a good sale as the prices were reasonable although many of the vendors may not have felt the same.

"I don't really specialise in weanlings but I do like to buy horses at a young age as I think it allows you to develop them in a manner that suits your requirements.

"Some of the weanling purchases I made will be back at Karaka for the Yearling Sale next year for clients who like to pinhook from this sale while the others will be given plenty of time to mature and then we will see where to go from there." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Savabeel Stakes-Winner in the Making
A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 28
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Fifth Winner For Hanseatic As Audio Pop Cam Wins
With four jumpouts under her belt, winning the last three, Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Hanseatic filly Audio Pop Cam was too good for her rivals, starting favourite to win the Unox Casa Maiden Plate (1100m) at Pakenham with ease.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Stallion Shares in Cool Aza Beel Offer Rare Opportunity via Magic Millions Virtual Sale
Breeders will have a timely chance to invest in one of Australia’s most exciting young stallions next week, with two individual stallion shares in Cool Aza Beel to be offered via the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on Tuesday, August 5.
Beaufort Downs Celebrate Stakes Success with Platinum Diamond
A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour.
Tenth Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy has had a promising start to his stud career with his tenth winner arriving on Tuesday while at the Rosehill trials one of his unraced youngsters produced a slick trial win to hold out Group performing colts Skyhook and West of Swindon.
Closer Look at Written Tycoon – The Golden Crop Delivers
The sun might be setting on the stud career of Written Tycoon, but he’s not going into the twilight years quietly and is set to be crowned Champion Australian 3YO Sire this season, which is probably something predicted by many when he got the opportunity of a lifetime to cover at Arrowfield Stud for one season in 2020.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.