Stanley expects Sun to shine at Karaka

Cover image courtesy of Woburn Farm

At the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Adrian Stanley’s Woburn Farm sold a brown colt by Sweynesse out of Madonna Mia (Red Clubs {Ire}) for NZ$90,000. Purchased by Joe Barnes of J & I Bloodstock, he was named Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) and sent to Hong Kong, where he has been a revelation, crowned Champion Griffin in 2021/2022 with five wins from seven starts.

The Manfred Man-trained Lucky Sweynesse retuned in September with a first-up victory, before running second behind Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter Wellington (All Too Hard) in the G2 The Premier Bowl in October.

Stanley has been following the gelding’s career closely and, ahead of this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, which kicks off at Karaka next Wednesday, he told TDN AusNZ he may just have another topliner in his six-member draft.

The horse he is most excited about is Lot 113 – a colt by The Autumn Sun from the three-time winner, Group 3 placegetter High Lago (High Chaparral {Ire}) - which was consigned by Esker Lodge at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Woburn Farm paid $140,000 for him.

The colt’s second dam, De Lago Lass (Encosta De Lago), is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1-producing sire Rothesay, and his fourth dam is the great Canny Lass (Bletchingly) – a winner of three Group 1s and dam of stakes winners Astute Angel (Godswalk {USA}) and Causeway Lass (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).

“He’s the standout of the draft,” said Stanley, who named the farm after his favourite horse, Group 3 winner and G1 New Zealand Derby placegetter Woburn (Groom Dancer {USA}).

“He's a well above-average horse, he has plenty of ability. It’s a good cross and he’s a real nice type. The Autumn Suns have got great brains and this guy is no different, he does everything that is asked of him and is a real professional. I don’t think anyone could knock him on anything when they see him.”

The colt, who is from the same family as recent Listed-winning colt Fast Witness (Star Witness), breezed in 10.80s.

“His breeze was good, he ran 10.80s under a good hold. He did it nice and easy,” said Stanley.

The Inglis Premier Yearling Sale has been kind to Stanley and he hopes this colt continues that trend.

In 2018, he bought a Kuroshio-Myskina (Xaar {GB}) colt for $55,000 and he (Lincoln’s Kruz) won the Listed Pegasus S. at Riccarton on Saturday for trainer Lisa Latta, who bought him from the Woburn Farm draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for NZ$150,000.

Stanley also paid $80,000 at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for Lot 305 - a Toronado (Ire) colt out of Circus Polka (Stravinsky {USA}) from the Swettenham Stud draft. Later that year, he sold the colt at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for NZ$300,000, with Laming Racing buying. Named Master Montaro, he bolted in on debut at Pakenham, before being transferred to the Lindsay Park stable. Master Montaro won his only start for them (at Geelong), before joining David Hayes’ Hong Kong yard, where he has notched three wins.

“I bought him in Melbourne and he eventually made $1.5 million,” Stanley explained.

“It’s good to get good horses up and running in Hong Kong, you need them performing every year. We had a Time Test colt named Island Golden, he’s had one start for one win up there and my Time Test colt this year (Lot 18, from Awesome) is a spitting image of him.

“At the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, we sold Packing Award, who is by Shamus Award, for a sale-topping NZ$550,000. He’s done a good job; he’s going through his grades up there.

“If you keep selling nice horses, they’ll keep coming back to buy.”

Classic prospects

Stanley said the second seed in his draft is Lot 128 – a colt by Justify (USA) from the two-time winner Jaipur Princess (Redoute’s Choice).

His dam is a three-quarter sister to the Listed victress Estee (Redoute’s Choice), as well as Tigress Lily (Snitzel), who has produced the Group 2 winner Daisies (Snitzel) and G1 Golden Rose S. placegetter Zou Tiger (Zoustar).

The colt’s third dam is triple Group 1 winner Tycoon Lil (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), who was the Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old in New Zealand in 1997/98.

“He’s a Derby-type, for sure,” Stanley commented. “He’s a lovely horse, he’s just not so precocious. He’s a Classic-type and he’s got a really good action; he’s got a big action on him.

“With a bit of time and looking after him, he’ll make a nice horse, a real Guineas or Derby-type of horse.”

Stanley bought the colt from the Coolmore Stud draft at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Another colt Stanley has a high opinion of is Lot 2, a son of U S Navy Flag (USA) and Zambezi (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

His dam is a half-sister to the dual Listed winner All In Vogue (Pins), his grandam is three-time Group 1 heroine Tall Poppy (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), while his third dam is Group 1 victress Fun On The Run (NZ) (Racing Is Fun {USA}).

“He’s a ripping type of horse,” he said. “He’s another Derby-type the Aussies like to come over and buy.”

The U S Navy Flag colt was bred by Goodwood Stud. Woburn Farm will also offer Lot 266, a gelding by Complacent from the stakes-performed Star Way (GB) mare Shining Light (NZ).

“He’s another staying-type with plenty of upside,” Stanley said.

Déjà vu

Lot 283 is a colt by Sacred Falls (NZ) out of the winning So You Think (NZ) mare So You Sparkle. His grandam, Silver Sparks (USA) (Mt. Livermore {USA}), is a half-sister to the Listed winner Barsanti (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}).

“He’s a lovely type and he reminds me of Shamus, who I sold at this sale two years ago,” Stanley explained.

“He was one of the best 3-year-olds here in New Zealand last year, he won the G2 Wellington Guineas. This guy resembles him and I think he’ll be a good racehorse.”