Rowe On Monday – Deciding the stud of Choice for Sires’ winner, All Too Hard doubles up in HK, Will Hayes earns stable bragging rights

Berzelius produces the goods in Kia Ora silks

It’s a good problem to have, but if Extreme Choice colt Berzelius continues his upward trajectory, having won The Straight Sires’ Produce in Brisbane last Saturday, which stud does he retire to?

The two-year-old carries the colours of Kia Ora Stud, whose stallion roster has transferred to Vinery for the 2026 breeding season, after Shane Wright, Luke Wilkinson and the team purchased the colt in partnership with trainer Michael Freedman and the late Michael Wallace.

He was bred by SF Bloodstock, Newgate principal Henry Field and Matthew Sandblom’s Hollymount Stud, with the trio retaining equity in the Extreme Choice-Secret Liaison colt.

For that reason, perhaps Newgate would be the frontrunner to stand him, but a lot more will be known after he runs in the JJ Atkins where he is likely to come up against all-in favourite Tron Bolt.

A son of Toronado, Tron Bolt was a $900,000 Inglis Ready to Race Sale graduate last year for Hermitage’s Eugene Chuang who made it two wins from three starts with an emphatic performance at Rosehill at the weekend.

On face value, Tron Bolt may have been bought with the longer-term aim of running him in Hong Kong, but the way he’s progressing he could potentially follow The Autumn Sun path.

Chuang also raced The Autumn Sun, who, like Tron Bolt, was also trained by Chris Waller, to win the JJ Atkins, a Golden Rose and a Caulfield Guineas among his suite of victories at two and three.

With many of Toronado’s best-credentialled colts racing in Hong Kong, Tron Bolt could command interest as a stallion prospect if he can continue to progress to the highest level.

As it can often be, particularly when Waller is involved, this year’s JJ Atkins could well be a pointer towards the spring Group 1s at 1400m and beyond.

Eagle Farm and Newgate also played a part in the late Coolmore-owned shuttler Wootton Bassett siring his first southern hemisphere-bred Group 1 winner when Providence won the Queensland Derby.

Raced by the China Horse Club/Newgate colts partnership, Providence defeated stablemate Monopolistic, a gelded son of Savabeel who is raced in the same interests.

Hong Kong, particularly with its increased prizemoney and added incentives for high-quality four-year-olds on offer from next season, has been calling.

For Field’s business model, it will be hard to resist the offers from Hong Kong owners and trainers for the pair, who loom as likely Derby contenders at Sha Tin next year.

“We’ll sit down and talk to Chris over the next few days, he thinks he (Providence) would make a really nice Caulfield Cup horse but with the Hong Kong interest there as well, we’re running a commercial colts partnership at the end of the day and we’ve got to keep the economics of that working so there’s every chance he could get sold to Hong Kong but it’s too early to say,’’ Field said.

“Whatever happens, it’s a huge thrill to win a Derby and a great race for the partnership to win, it’s our first Derby success and it was great to have that success in the China Horse Club colours.

“Providence was a beautiful yearling at Easter, real quality with lovely size and scope. To be honest, we thought he was our Caulfield Guineas horse when we bought him, but you can’t complain when you’re winning Derbies, we’re really chuffed.’’

Providence, who was bred by Jonathan Munz, was a $625,000 Inglis Easter purchase, while Monopolistic was a $500,000 buy at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.

All Too Hard double in Hong Kong

Vinery’s All Too Hard enjoyed a winning double at Sha Tin on Sunday, with Ka Ying Lightning winning his first start while Patch Of Stars took his record to seven wins from 17 starts.

Ka Ying Lightning, trained by David Hall, was a $300,000 purchase for agent John Foote at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

A year earlier, Patch Of Stars was bought out of the same sale for $800,000 by Hong Kong owner Yeung Kin Man, with the now four-year-old delivering the prolific investor and the gelding’s trainer Manfred Man a Group 3 winner this season.

All Too Hard has sired six stakes winners this season, including debut Talindert Stakes winner Hard Kick, himself an Inglis Ready to Race Sale graduate, who could also end up in Hong Kong.

Closer to home, Darley shuttler Pinatubo has also gone on a late autumn winning run, siring four talented two-year-old winners in May including Inglis 2YO Challenge winner Global Goal and last week’s Canterbury scorer Pin Up Sheila.

Hayes goes easy on McEvoy

Whether it was the public relations teams at Racing Victoria or the Victoria Racing Club, we’re not sure, but it was well done to get two young trainers on the Nine Network on Sunday morning.

Lindsay Park’s Will Hayes, who played 13 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton, and Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Calvin McEvoy appeared on the Sunday Footy Show to participate in the long-running Lou’s Handball competition.

With his AFL experience, Hayes won the competition 69 points, one more than McEvoy’s 68, using his last handball to hit the lead. 

Hayes is lucky he “got up on the line”; otherwise, he may have been questioned on a running and handling charge for his earlier wayward handballs.

Channel Nine holds the broadcast rights to the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival. 

A racing flavour to today's Lou's Handball as Will Hayes & Calvin McEvoy go head-to-head! 🏇#9AFLSFS | @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/K8LuXUGtEr

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) May 31, 2026