New home required for stallion prospect; So It Goes preparing for return; Unfurl flying Kiwi flag

New home required for stallion prospect

Wexford Stables are still looking to place Pure Champion at stud.

The Group One winner suffered a career-ending injury earlier this year after endearing himself to Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with his competitive nature.

“For him to come back and be so genuine was very rewarding,” Scott said. “Unfortunately, he pulled a ligament down his pastern and we’re still looking for a good home for him.

“He did a wonderful job for the stable and he deserves a chance at stud.”

A Group winner in his native Ireland, Pure Champion subsequently continued his career in Hong Kong where he was a multiple Group Three winner and runner-up in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup.

The handsome son of Footstepsinthesand and a Danehill mare finished third in last year’s Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes in his New Zealand debut before he claimed the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate. He also won the Gr.3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes in December.

So It Goes preparing for return

Promising four-year-old So It Goes has begun his build-up toward a new campaign after overcoming a foot issue.

The lightly-raced gelding has won two of his seven starts for trainer and part-owner Ben Foote and hasn’t raced since he finished fifth at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, the stable has high hopes for two-year-old debutant Enigma Machine in the Bill Woods Memorial 800 at Ruakaka on Wednesday.

The Rothesay colt is unbeaten in two trial appearances and will be ridden from an inside gate by Leith Innes.

Unfurl flying Kiwi flag

New Zealand-bred filly Unfurl is staking a strong claim for a trip to Brisbane.

The Darren Weir-trained filly holds a nomination for the $A500,000 Gr.1 Queensland Oaks at Doomben on May 30 and was a last-start winner over 2000 metres at Caulfield. Her previous five starts had yielded a maiden success and four placings.

By White Robe Lodge’s Raise The Flag, Unfurl was purchased for $40,000 at the NZB’s South Island Sale in 2013 and is a half-sister to the dual Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup winner Inferno.