Mark Baker anticipated Nikau Spur would be a horse that would only improve with time, and he has continued to be proven correct as the evergreen galloper collected the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
In the care of Toowoomba trainers Corey and Kylie Geran, Nikau Spur has won five races in the past 18 months, capped off with an impressive effort in the staying feature, much to the delight of his former owner in Baker.
"When he got shuffled back to last on the turn, I thought he'd only be a hope to run a place, but the trainers have done a great job with him and he really attacked the line," Baker said.
"He finished off the race very well.
"It's hard to win a mid-week maiden race, let alone a stakes race in Australia, so it's always great to see your horses performing at that level.
"It's great for the staff and especially when you own the mare and a share in the stallion."
The Hallmark Stud principal bred Nikau Spur alongside the Springvale Family Trust, out of the first crop of foals by successful Rich Hill Stud sire Proisir.
After failing to meet his $40,000 reserve at the 2018 Karaka Yearling Sales, Nikau Spur was leased to Stratford trainer Rosie Buchanan, who prepared him to finish third in his only New Zealand start, before the gelding was privately sold through Ciaron Maher's bloodstock agent Will Bourne.
"He was a terrific bodied horse with a terrific action as a yearling, but he was a little bit offset through his knees, which put a few people off," Baker said.
"He was also a horse that was going to take a little bit of time, and factors like that make it a little bit harder to sell in first-crop Proisir's, as the stallion hadn't set the world on fire yet.
"We took him home and leased him to Rosie Buchanan, she did a great job with him."
Nikau Spur was the second foal out of Sarsarun, a daughter of Ustinov who won seven races including the Listed Karaka Classic (1600m). The mare returned to Proisir on five further occasions and produced two fillies, with the most recent selling to Maher for $230,000 at Karaka 2023.
"We've had this mare for a few years now, this breeding game is certainly a long one," Baker said.
"We remember her racing, she was tough and always tried really hard, and being a stakes winner made her have huge appeal.
"She was a good size and scope for a broodmare and very correct.
"It was an old Rodmor Stud family, going back a fair way. You can't beat having progeny out of these great old families, they can go through quiet periods, but in the end they always stand by you."
This breeding season, Sarsarun has visited Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State, a young sire that Baker has plenty of time for.
"She's back in foal to Sword Of State, we bred from her with Robert and Leone Stewart from Wanaka, so I'm delighted for them," he said.
"I have a lot of time for Sword Of State, he suited her physically which was the main thing, and seeing his first progeny and knowing what a very fast horse he was with a great page, we are big fans of his."
