A New Frontier: Neasham & Archibald's first New Zealand foray

7 min read
Te Rapa hosts Group One racing on Saturday and with recent prize money increases making New Zealand an attractive option for Australian trainers and owners, Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald are amongst those with eyes on their prizes.

Cover image courtesy of Annabel Neasham Racing

It is a matter of nice timing for the duo's pair Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) with both horses racing in good form over the summer months and both being proven travellers.

“It is very exciting to be heading to New Zealand with these horses,” Archibald said of the stable's first runners in that country.

International travel is still a relatively new venture for the trainers, but a strong performance in the G1 Hong Kong International Mile in December 2022 was nearly as good as a win. Neasham proudly watched as Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) battled bravely to finish third behind the outstanding California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) and Golden Sixty (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}).

Neasham was quoted on the day as saying how much she enjoyed 'international raids.'

“It certainly whet the appetite for more.”

A great horse over a long time

Archibald has an understandable soft spot for Numerian who he said “has been a great horse for the stable over a long time.”

“His owners like to travel and he certainly deserves a Group 1 win. There is not a lot around for him in Australia at this time of year and Saturday's racing looks a good opportunity for him.”

“He is fit and well and we were really happy with his recent jump-out at Pakenham.”

“He (Numerian) is fit and well and we were really happy with his recent jump-out at Pakenham.” - Rob Archibald

The G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes is Numerian's ninth crack at Group 1 level with his best results so far a couple of seconds; digging deep from on pace in the 2023 G1 Australian Cup won by fellow import Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {ire}) and two starts later again showing plenty of fight having done a bit of early work from a wide gate in the G1 Doomben Cup won by Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}).

Numerian is certainly an experienced traveller, kicking off his career in his native Ireland (his first six starts all at Dundalk race course) and making an appearance at Royal Ascot.

Numerian (Ire) | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography

He made his Australian debut in September 2021 (recording his first local win the following May, the Listed Gosford Cup) and since then has raced in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Ipswich, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast.

Both Group 1 races in which he ran gallant seconds were contested over the same 2000m distance as the Herbie Dyke - a race won in 2021 by the imported Royal Performer (GB) (Medicean {GB}), trained by Jenny and Bob Vance. Much like Numerian, Royal Performer was a seasoned traveller, having raced in England and Hong Kong before settling in New Zealand.

Archibald said, “Numerian is the ideal horse for travelling as he takes everything into his stride.”

“Numerian is the ideal horse for travelling as he takes everything into his stride.” - Rob Archibald

“Some horses get a little bit nervous about travelling and some take a while to adapt to new environments. You are less inclined to travel with those sort of horses but Numerian and Bosustow are both very laid-back, professional horses.”

Whilst Bosustow, who takes his place in the G1 BCD Group Sprint, is having his first international adventure, he has done his share of travelling within Australia, having raced successfully in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Such trips can be the making of young horses, maturity hastened by experience and Bosustow “has not missed a beat" during his trips.

Bosustow | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“It can actually be easier travelling horses to New Zealand than it can be getting them down to Melbourne,” Archibald said, noting that the four hour flight “with a bit of waiting time before and after” is a smooth one.

“Those flying with the horses know what they are doing, they have a lot of experience,” he said.

A vital Group 1

A last start winner of the R-Listed Magic Millions Guineas, Bosustow pulled up well enough to continue his campaign; in fact, he has been flourishing.

“He is really starting to hit his straps and his recent work has been as good as it has ever been,” Archibald said. “This is a great opportunity for a colt to add a vital Group 1 race to his record.”

A quiet few days lead into Saturday's racing, Archibald noting that “basically all the work has been done, they had a little bowl around the track this morning and our travelling foreman Liz is very happy with them.”

Having a trusted stable member with travel experience is a big part of a stable enjoying international or interstate success and Liz Laycock is just the right person for that job.

“Wherever our horses go, she goes,” Archibald said. “She knows our horses and she knows our system well.”

“Wherever our horses go, she (Liz Laycock) goes. She knows our horses and she knows our system well.” - Rob Archibald

Another valued staff member is Todd Pollard (head of the Queensland stables), a Godolphin Flying Start graduate who worked for the accomplished New Zealand trainer Stephen Marsh as Racing Manager for two and a half years.

And that link has seen Numerian and Bosustow become guests of the Cambridge based Marsh stable for their stint in New Zealand.

“He has been very helpful and accommodating and we are very grateful to him,” Archibald said.

Todd Pollard | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland

Attractive prize money increases

With the straightforward travel and warm welcome from New Zealand stables, more Australian trainers are likely to target races across the Tasman. Lindsay Park is among them, fielding the 7-year-old Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking), a last-start winner of the Pakenham Supernova, who will take on Bosustow this Saturday.

The race they contest, the BCD Group Sprint, saw its prizemoney increase from $400,000 to $500,000 last year, while the Herbie Dyke received a significant boost from $450,000 to $700,000. Waikato Thoroughbred Racing is committed to elevating this race day into a premier event on the New Zealand racing calendar.

The New Zealand Summer Series Bonus, an initiative by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Entain, is also up for grabs, with Here To Shock among the eligible contenders, having secured his place through the Supernova as a qualifying race.

Numerian and Bosustow may be the first of their trainers’ horses to venture to New Zealand, but they’re unlikely to be the last, with Archibald pleased with the experience so far.

Here To Shock (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos

“People like to travel with their horses and we certainly do. New Zealand racing is going to be on people's radar with those big prizemoney boosts.”

Saturday's races are the major targets for both horses and whilst the stable have not ruled out further options, they are happy at this stage to focus on this weekend.

Archibald has not long been back from New Zealand, enjoying his time at the recent Karaka sales where the team, along with Will Johnson Bloodstock, secured five yearlings with a specific type targeted.

“New Zealand does those middle distance, Classic and staying type horses so well and they continue to perform well in Australia,” he said.

“New Zealand does those middle distance, Classic and staying type horses so well and they continue to perform well in Australia.” - Rob Archibald

“Annabel has had great success with those sort of horses and we love the opportunity to offer owners something a bit different with the sort of horses who are not in great abundance in Australia.”

Fillies by Hello Youmzain (Fr), Proisir, Almanzor (Fr) and Per Incanto (USA) and a colt by Noverre (NZ) join the stable and have already settled in well in Australia.

“They just need that little bit of time, and we always like to give them the time and opportunity to develop,” Archibald said.

Numerian and Bosustow seek to become the second Group 1 winner for the training partnership. They cheered on Sunshine In Paris (Invader) in the G1 Sprint Classic at Flemington last spring, Neasham's 11th elite level success.

Thank you for reading

Te Rapa
Numerian
Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
Bosustow
BCD Group Sprint
Herbie Dyke Stakes
Stephen Marsh