Future Plans for Star Kiwi 2YO's

Media Release - Monday April 1

Quality Te Akau two-year-olds Yourdeel and Equinox may have just entered their spelling paddocks, but trainer Jamie Richards is already looking forward to their return and is eyeing some rich Classic spoils in the spring with the pair.

Yourdeel wins his second Group One - Race Images Peter RuberyYourdeel took out the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Palmerston North on Saturday, adding a second win at elite-level to his record.

"He'll have six to eight weeks off now, we'll give him a good break," Richards said. "We'll get him back in and sit down with Chris (Rutten), Rod Preston and John Norwood and work out what we want to achieve.

"He looks like a 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) horse to us, but he might be good enough to go to Australia as well."

Although Equinox finished midfield in the juvenile Group One, Richards believes the talented son of Exceed and Excel has a big future ahead of him.

"I think he is a very exciting horse, but 1400m is just a bit too far at this stage of his career," he said.

"I thought he was in it until halfway down the straight and probably just knocked up the last 50m.

Advertisement

"He has gone for a well-deserved break and we look forward to having him back and turning him into a really exciting three-year-old as well.

"He shows us in track work that he's pretty exciting. He's a high-price yearling ($750,000) and has got a lovely pedigree and is a very good type. He can only continue to improve and we look forward to the future with him."

Meanwhile, Richards will travel across the Tasman to watch fellow stable juvenile Probabeel work ahead of her tilt at the Gr.1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The daughter of Savabeel finished sixth in the Gr.3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on a Heavy10 track last month and Richards is hoping for some better footing on Saturday for the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner.

"She works on Tuesday morning on the grass at Randwick," Richards said. "We are happy with her and looking forward to hopefully seeing a little bit of drying in Sydney this week.

"I think the step up to 1400m will really suit her." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Canberra
John Sargent has a great record with Oaks type fillies and is no doubt thinking that way with this blue-blooded Dundeel filly that broke the ice for her first win at Canberra on Friday.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Waikato Stud Secure Super Seth
New Zealand’s Waikato Stud has secured a majority share in star three-year-old colt Super Seth, the son of emerging super stallion Dundeel.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
$340,000 Dundeel Colt Keeps the Momentum at Karaka Ready to Run
Shaune Ritchie has backed his judgment once again at Karaka.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.