NZ Briefs for 21st Aug 2015

Stud career beckons quality mare; Dee I Cee suffers spring setback; Kiwi lifts Derby prospects; Irish success for Sir Peter; Showcasing strikes again

Stud career beckons quality mare

Time has been called on the racing career of the stakes winner Miss Pelear.

She won five races including the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile and she also placed in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile and the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

“She’s been a great mare to us,” said Paul Guise, who bred and raced Miss Pelear with his wife Maureen. “She was exceptional and the Hawtins did a wonderful job and they were always very good to us.”

The daughter of Mr Nancho was prepared by the Te Awamutu father and son partnership of Keith and Brendon Hawtin, with the former now training on his own account.

"Dad's taken a step to the side and the only major change is that his name's not in the book anymore,” he said.

Dee I Cee suffers spring setback

Dee I Cee’s Australian debut from Gai Waterhouse’s stable is on hold.

He was sold to clients of her Tulloch Lodge establishment after he finished fourth in last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby for trainer Kevin Myers.

“They like him and he got to the trials, but he’s had a setback since,” said bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, who brokered the deal. “He’s got an issue with his hoof, nothing major, but he’s unlikely to race this spring.”

Cataldo’s past purchases for the Waterhouse stable include the Group One winners Descarado (Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Stakes) and Herculian Prince (The Metropolitan).

Kiwi lifts Derby prospects

Lee Freedman’s confidence of a fourth Gr.1 VRC Derby victory has been boosted by the recent arrival of the New Zealand-bred recruit Ragnaar.

“He’s perfectly placed because he’s had the two runs as a two-year-old - which is one of my formulas - don’t have too many runs as a two-year-old,” he said.

“He has staying potential and has settled straight into the stable here. In a perfect world, we’re going to go 1400m straight to a mile in town and then probably to the Caulfield Classic or through another avenue to the Vase and the Derby.”

Freedman, who now trains with his brother Anthony, has previously won the Derby with Mahogany (1993), Portland Player (1996) and Benicio (2005).

Ragnaar was placed in both his juvenile starts from the Pukekohe stable of Nigel Tiley before his sale to Hong Kong interests, who have placed him with the Freedmans for his three-year-old campaign.

Irish success for Sir Peter

Sir Peter Vela’s familiar blue and white colours were carried to an impressive midweek European success.

His Irish-bred Fastnet Rock filly Assume was successful on debut over 1700 metres at Killarney in Ireland for trainer David Wachman.

Purchased by the British Bloodstock Agency on behalf of Sir Peter for €280,000 at the 2013 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Assume is out of the Machiavellian mare Alsharq who is from the family of Gr.1 French Derby runner-up and successful Australian sire Twig Moss.

Showcasing strikes again

Showcasing’s son Tasleet has put himself in line for a crack at a European Group One two-year-old feature following his latest success.

The colt has added the DBS Premier Yearling Sales Stakes at York to his record after previously winning the Listed Rosebowl Stakes and finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Richmond Stakes.

“He’s tough and he might go for the Middle Park Stakes next,” trainer William Haggas said.

Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Showcasing has now produced the winners of major sales races in both hemispheres following the Ellerslie victory of Hardline in last season’s Listed Karaka Million.