Exciting young sire Home Affairs opened his account with his first winner in New Zealand on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for race favourite Harvey Wallbanger at Ellerslie.
The Tony Pike-trained gelding had looked a handy customer when winning nicely over 950m at the Waipa trials on 9 October and produced a similar effort first time to the races in the hands of Jasmine Fawcett.
Fawcett took the initiative at the 700m when the early speed slackened, to send Harvey Wallbanger around to sit outside pacemaker Shambo Jack before easing clear early in the run home.
Harvey Wallbanger maintained a strong gallop to the line to win the 1100m scamper by three and a half lengths over Sword of Stars, a filly by another first season sire in Sword of State.
“It was a smart ride by Jasmine as he is not brilliant out the barriers,” Pike said.
“She was caught three-wide early when they eased the tempo and it was very smart to go and sit outside the leader.
“He’s done it very comfortably, a little bit new and green when he hit the front, but I think he has plenty of upside as he isn’t a big horse but has a very big action.
“Unfortunately, he is not Karaka Million qualified as he is a homebred from Wentwood Grange but congratulations to them as he is the first foal out of their smart mare Mai Tai.”
Bred and raced by Wentwood Grange Stud owners the Hawkins family under their Llanhennock Trust brand, Harvey Wallbanger is out of smart racemare Mai Tai, a multiple Group placed stakes-winner by Fastnet Rock stallion Atlante.
Home Affairs has covered over 600 mares in his first three seasons at stud and stands at a fee of $82,500 this spring.
