Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Under their Peachester Lodge banner, the Huddys’ colours have been carried with distinction by the likes of Preferment (NZ), now retired to stud at Brighthill Farm, and the late Shoot Out (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Both of them were elite middle distance performers, as was their G1 South Australian Derby winner Volatile Mix (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), but this term it is a couple of 2-year-olds the Huddys are involved in that are chasing Group 1 honours.
They are part-owners of the in-form Chris Waller-trained pair of Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) and O’President (Fastnet Rock), who will go head-to-head in the G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill.
“It is something different for us, we haven’t really got into the sprinters too much, but we went into these colts and have had good results,” Linda Huddy told TDN AusNZ.
“It is something different for us, we haven’t really got into the sprinters too much, but we went into these colts and have had good results.” - Linda Huddy
“It was a Coolmore initiative and we just went along with them and it’s worked out very well. There are a lot of colts’ syndicates around and we thought we would go in with Coolmore so we’re pretty happy that we did.”
Home Affairs as a yearling
Home Affairs was bred and offered by Torryburn Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and purchased by Tom Magnier for $875,000.
He is a half-brother to this season’s G1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Aysar (Deep Field) and their dam Miss Interiors (Flying Spur) is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and Newgate Farm sire Russian Revolution.
O’President was offered by breeder Kia Ora at the Inglis Easter Sale and was signed for at $520,000 by James Bester Bloodstock.
The colt is a son of the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. winner O’Marilyn (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a half-sister to the Group 1-winning siblings Headturner (Anabaa {USA}) and Anacheeva.
O’President as a yearling
Sound form credentials
Home Affairs has been out three times and followed up a debut second in the G3 Canonbury S. with success in the G2 Silver Slipper S. and was most recently third in the G2 Todman S.
O’President was unplaced first time out in the Kirkham S. and following a break won at Canterbury Park in January and again led all the way to add the G2 Skyline S. to his record.
Both colts have been effective on rain-affected tracks in their brief careers, but Saturday’s conditions at a sodden Rosehill will be a new experience.
“The I Am Invincible fellow may be a bit more of a query if it’s really wet. We’ve not had a lot of Vinnies and I don’t think we’ve had one that really liked it wet,” Huddy said. “The other bloke has got the better form on the wet. To get two of them to the Slipper is pretty amazing.”
James McDonald will guide the chances of Home Affairs while Glen Boss has been booked to partner O’President.
Graham and Linda Huddy
Toss up on track
Waller’s Racing Manager Charlie Duckworth said the pair were in excellent order, but the heavy nature of the ground made the outcome a guessing game.
“Home Affairs moves really well and he obviously got through a Soft track the other day so I don’t think he will be completely at sea, but he is a better horse on top of the ground,” Waller’s Racing Manager, Charlie Duckworth, said.
“You can get those rare days that are a Heavy 10 and sometimes even the real wet trackers fail on them and I think that may be how it is. I don’t think anyone will know whether their horses get through it or not.
“O’President will have to roll a bit from the gate while the other fellow has drawn well so we would expect they will both be in the first half a-dozen, which will be a positive.”
“O’President will have to roll a bit from the gate while the other fellow (Home Affairs) has drawn well so we would expect they will both be in the first half a-dozen, which will be a positive.” – Charlie Duckworth
The stable will also be represented by the Neville Morgan and David Devine-owned Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), the mount of Kerrin McEvoy.
“It’s a big buzz to have three in the race and they have not just got there by prizemoney, they have won their exemption into the race and that’s satisfying. They are three red-hot contenders and probably all a little bit over-priced,” Duckworth said.
“Shaquero has drawn out wide and will have to go back. I’ve been looking at the stats of the last few Slippers and all the outside draws have been winning the race.
“He may have to be ridden like James (McDonald) rode Mossfun a few years ago, hug the rail and hope everything comes off with that dream passage.”
Shaquero won the G3 Pago Pago S. last weekend and was successful in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January off a seven-day back-up.
