Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
For Dwyer, there is plenty to like about a team that has depth across several age groups, with horses at different stages of their preparations and a number of potential targets beginning to take shape. Dwyer spoke to The Thoroughbred Report about how his team is shaping ahead of an important period for the stable.
Well-performed galloper Different Gravy (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) could be aimed towards the Ballarat Cup later in the spring, while And There You Go (Hellbent) may have black-type ambitions as her preparation develops.
The promising 3-year-old filly Mountjoy (Street Boss {USA}) is another to keep an eye on, with the mare potentially heading across the Tasman to Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The stable is not looking to push every horse towards the same targets, with some already nearing a return to racing while others are being given additional time to develop. As the spring progresses, their individual paths are expected to become clearer.
With further imports also set to arrive through Dwyer’s European operation and newly established Newmarket base, the stable continues to build towards its next group of headline performers following the retirement of star globe-trotting mare Asfoora (Flying Artie).
3-year-olds
Silent Devotion, 3-year-old filly (Pinatubo (Ire) x Soft Sand {Dansili {GB}})
"She has ran three good seconds in a row, she may now have a little break and she could be a metropolitan level filly in the off-season.
"It is hard for 3-year-olds early as if they win a maiden they are pretty much straight to stakes level, another nice break will do her good."
And There You Go, 3-year-old filly (Hellbent x Andromache (NZ) {Charge Forward})
"She isa nice well-bred filly that had a bit of a break after her run at stakes level in Adelaide, and the form out of that race has been quite good, when often they are not the strongest.
"I think she could measure up to Group level through the spring and she will most likely jump-out next week.
"She will go to a 1300 or 1400 metre maiden in mid-September and could then graduate to a race like the Jim Moloney and if she measure up, even a Thousand Guineas."
Celestaria, 3-year-old filly (Tassort x Reelclass {No Nay Never {USA}})
"She is similar to Silent Devotion, hopefully she can get a maiden soon and then I may tip her out and she could turn into a off-season nice Sataurday quality filly, she should be winning a maiden soon."
Home Tomurra, 3-year-old colt (Home Affairs x Apamurra {Lonhro})
"He last raced in Queensland and followed the same formula as Different Gravy, having a break and pre-training in Queensland, we have left him a colt, he is a lovely sensible colt and while he is a little while off, he is a lovely horse.
"I may look to give hima run or two and possibly set him for a 1400 metre race on Melbourne Cup day
Mountjoy, 3-year-old filly (Street Boss (USA) x Lorne {Redoute’s Choice})
"She needed a good break after her 2-year-old season. She has come back in nicely and I may think a bit differently with her and get a couple of runs at the tail end of the spring and into December and take her over to Karaka Millions night for a 3-year-old 1400 metre race as she was purchased there."
Mountjoy as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
4-year-olds
Different Gravy, 4-year-old gelding (Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Venerated {Medaglia D’Oro {USA}})
"He is back in Victoria, he spelled and has been pre-trained in Queensland after he ran in the queensland Derby and he has come back in really good order.
"I'm thinking of giving him a lightish spring, I find the Queensalnd Derby horses struggle in the spring, so we will pick and choose.
"He might be right for a race like the Ballarat Cup or I may even take him to Queensland to target the Magic Millions stayers race, he isnt eligible but h could atempt to win his way in through one of the wild card races."
Only Opera, 4-year-old mare (Castelvecchio x Luzonica {Canford Cliffs {Ire}})
"She ran well in a maiden the other day, she will run in a 2000 metre maiden at Ballarat in a couple of weeks and hopefully she can break through.
"She is no star but I think she has a couple of wins in her."
Older Horses
Cote Atlantique (Ire), 6-year-old gelding (Kodiac (GB) x Liwa Palace (GB) {Oasis Dream {GB}})
“He is going to run next Saturday afternoon in the 1400 metre Listed race (Tontonan Stakes). We sort of tried to stretch him out to a mile and I don’t think it worked.
“I feel he is a better run on 1400 metre horse so Flemington should give him a chance to do that.
“He has been in work for a while now, so he does need to put his hand up next start to show that he will keep him going through the spring, otherwise he will have a short break.”
Paradise Storm (Fr), 6-year-old gelding (Masked Marvel (GB) x Holystorm (Fr) {Limnos {Jpn}})
"He is still in rehab after his tendon injury in the Autumn, he was great in the Auckland Cup and ran well at Flemington after that, he will shape up as more of a Autumn prospect."
World’s My Oyster, 5-year-old mare (Charge Forward x Authority Belle {Authorized {Ire}})
"She went on a great winning run and we pushed onto Adelaide for a couple of stakes races but she was probably a touch over the top, freshening her up after racing all summer just didn't quite work.
"She has had a good spell, I have no real plans with her, but think I may start her off in benchmark grade and she should be a chance of sneaking some black type."
Grecian Destiny (Fr), 5-year-old gelding (Masar (Ire) x Dalila (Ger) {Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}})
"He was pretty plain first up the other day but he did it all upside down, he wanted to over race a bit and it all went a bit wrong.
"He might go to the Golden Nugget at Ballarat in a couple of weeks and we will see from there, he is very much work in progress."
Wuddzz (NZ), 9-year-old gelding (Complacent x Princess Uno {Danehill {USA}})
"We are just waiting for the wet tracks a bit with Wuddzz, we scratched him on Wednesday, there may be a race for him in Sydney, we will follow the weather, I don't really have big grand plans with him, he is going really well."
2-year-olds
"We have picked up some really nice horses at the sales and have a nice group coming through, I haven't really done anything with them yet, but we have six colts going through the stables at the moment and had six fillies go through a couple of weeks ago.
"They are all really nice horses and the future looks exciting."
