Written by Paul Vettise
Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Breeder Andrew Fowler is meticulous when it comes to his choice of stallions and his due diligence in the selection of Shocking for his speedy mare Ticklish (Maroof {USA}) went against weight of advice.
The Pukekohe-based Fowler was convinced Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking was the perfect fit and his thought process has proved to be on the money with the undefeated and quaintly named Elephant (NZ), a winner on his Australian debut on Saturday at Caulfield, the result.
Elephant (NZ) (yellow and purple silks) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Ticklish won nine races up to 1200 metres, including two at Listed level in New Zealand and finished third in the G1 Lightning S. behind Miss Andretti (Ihtiram {Ire}) and Magnus, who subsequently embarked on a successful stud career.
“I loved Shocking and Ticklish was a sprinter who had her issues. She was bred to go a mile and it’s a very slow, maturing family. I don’t mind that and everyone said you can’t send a sprinter to a stayer,” Fowler said.
“I couldn’t see why that wouldn’t be the right thing to do, to be honest. It’s the stamina that kicks in at the end and then it’s about what’s inside their heads.”
Fowler also raced Elephant’s half-sister Melt (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who won twice at Group 3 level and was runner-up in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.
“I sold Melt to Cambridge Stud because I’ve got a lot of that blood now. They can send her to better stallions than me, and for me, it’s a passion and not a business,” he said.
“I sold Melt to Cambridge Stud because I’ve got a lot of that blood now. They can send her to better stallions than me, and for me, it’s a passion and not a business.” – Andrew Fowler
“They can ship her across to Australia and go wherever they like and can improve my family, that’s why I sold her.”
Ticklish is currently in foal to Shocking’s associate sire Vadamos (Fr) and given the mare’s age, she is now 21, he has yet to decide her next mating.
“Ticklish will foal down pretty soon to Vadamos. She’s pretty old now and I’ll wait and see how she foals down first,” he said.
“She slipped two foals to High Chaparral when he was here at Windsor Park Stud. I missed that High Chaparral blood, which I really want so I thought I might go to his son Ace High. I spend a lot of time going through it all.
“I had Ticklish at Haunui Farm because she had trouble foaling and nearly died having Elephant. Mark Chitty is awesome and a great vet.
“She’s now at Wentwood Grange, which is across the road from where Dave and Emma-Lee (Browne, trainers) are, in a paddock with a couple of other mares.”
Elephant was unbeaten in his first four starts before making a successful Australian debut at Caulfield on Saturday with Fowler’s patience rewarded with the 5-year-old’s spectacular start to his career.
“I had Elephant at home for so long to let him grow because he’s a very unusual type of horse and very special. He’s lightly raced and thought we’d go over to Australia and have a go,” Fowler said.
“I had Elephant at home for so long to let him grow because he’s a very unusual type of horse and very special.” – Andrew Fowler
“It was a big risk because Dave has gone over and can’t get back and if I went over I wouldn’t have been able to get back. Dave might not get back until next year so it was all really special on Saturday.
“I got a whole bunch of other people involved and they’ve leased a bit of him, there’s a heap of them, old rugby team guys and they’re having the time of their lives. It’s pretty cool.”
Elephant showed his ability at the first time of asking at the trials for Fowler, who then dared to dream he may have a special one on his hands.
“I was at the trials at Matamata and I knew then he was good. He came around the corner and got smashed and he just carried on and ran fourth. After the post, he just took off as well and that’s when you see the best of them,” he said.
“I wanted to call a horse after something in Africa and my partner, May, said he keeps sticking his nose out so call him Elephant and that was it. When I told Dave the phone went quiet.”
Date at The Valley
Elephant is expected to make his next appearance in three weeks’ time in either the G2 Feehan S. or an open 1600 metre handicap on the Moonee Valley card.
“I don’t like to push my horses so we’ll wait and see. I’m not going to race him 10 times in a campaign, there’s no future in that,” Fowler said.
“He hasn’t been beaten and that adds pressure, but we are just thinking what’s best for the horse and maybe try and get him to something like a Cox Plate or whatever.”
“He (Elephant) hasn’t been beaten and that adds pressure, but we are just thinking what’s best for the horse and maybe try and get him to something like a Cox Plate or whatever.” - Andrew Fowler
Fowler was introduced to racing at an early age by his mother Lola and he was a regular visitor to the Te Awamutu stable of the late Bill Sanders.
The Sanders-trained Shaitan (NZ) (Hermes {GB}) was unplaced in Gold And Black's (NZ) (In The Purple {Fr}) 1977 G1 Melbourne Cup but did enjoy success in Australia with a Group 3 victory in the Governor’s Cup.
“I’ve dreamed of this since I was 13 when I was in Australia with Mum and the horses. She had a horse called Shaitan, which went over for a Melbourne Cup so I’ve grown up with them and used to go down to Bill’s stables,” he said.
African naming theme
Fowler’s African theme has continued with Elephant’s stablemate Rhinoceros (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}), who was unplaced in his Ruakaka debut and finished an encouraging fourth after making the pace at Cranbourne on Sunday.
“I was really happy with Rhinoceros and to be fair the inside was a bit off. He pulls at the moment and we had to teach Elephant not to pull,” Fowler said.
“With Rhinoceros, we hoped he wouldn’t jump that well, but they’ve all got Ticklish in them and he jumped in front of them like Elephant.
“We sent him over there as well because I thought if COVID hits hard here the racing will be shut down and they just keep on racing in Australia.”
Rhinoceros is out of Ticklish’s daughter Hot In Pink (NZ) (Lonhro), who was twice successful.
“Hot In Pink had a Belardo filly last year and she’s possibly going to Shocking,” said Fowler, who has been involved in the property game.
“I was doing sub-divisions and that went really well and have an investment in New Zealand companies, which are going really well.
“Racing is a great ride and everyone is so happy for anyone who does well. It can be a great leveller though and I don’t take it lightly that we won on Saturday. It was pretty precious and can be all over the next day or the next week.”
