In this week's Rowe On Monday, Tim Rowe examines the unheralded influence at stud of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, puts a spotlight on the South Australian breeding industry and reveals two possible Bjorn Baker-trained contenders for the NZB $3.5 million Kiwi.
Hardly a Shock as Hong Kong Derby looms
Is Rich Hill Stud sire Shocking, the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner, underappreciated by breeders and the market?
The son of Street Cry just keeps producing talented horses who train on, as evidenced by his Group 1 double at Te Rapa on Saturday courtesy of El Vencedor in the Herbie Dyke and Here To Shock in the BDC Group Sprint, which was quinellaed by Australian-trained horses.
And Shocking could add to his tally of prestigious wins with Packing Angel a leading Hong Kong Derby contender.
Trained by Francis Lui, Packing Angel has won his past three starts, all over 1400m, and he looks ideally suited when stepping up in distance.
The gelding has been patiently handled, having raced just six times, after being purchased by Tartan Meadow’s Paul Chow for $160,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2022 on behalf of the Lee family’s Exciting Racing Syndicate.
Packing Angel had two barrier trials in New Zealand in early 2024 for Cambridge trainer Alex Oliveira, winning his second public hit-out at Tauranga when called Shock The Barn, prompting the decision to send him to Hong Kong with the Derby in mind.
“We don't even know the exact field for the Classic Cup, not to mention the Derby, because it's got almost two months to go,” says Chow, who told his clients “from a very early stage that looks like a very smart one”.
”So, it's kind of hard to say now, but he has the credentials going in there (to the Derby) as he can stay the distance, no problem.
“He's probably the most obvious one that could handle the trip of 1800 and 2000 metres no problem at all.”
Packing Angel is currently a $15 chance for the Hong Kong Derby on March 23 at Sha Tin.
Shocking covered 69 mares in 2022, 51 in 2023 and 55 last breeding season at a fee of $12,500 (plus GST).
Racing SA boss praises breeders for ‘finding another way’
As the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale approaches, new Racing SA chief executive Nick Bawden says the state’s major studs should be applauded for their willingness to adjust their approach to breeding.
Stallion numbers in South Australia are not what they used to be but Bawden insists that in no way diminishes the quality of horses bred in the state.
“It frustrates me when people say ‘there’s a decline, there’s no breeding industry’,” Bawden told The Straight colleague Warwick Barr.
“The reality is that it’s just a changed breeding industry. Yes, there are limited commercial stallions.
“But whether it is Mill Park Stud or Cornerstone Stud or a range of others, they are continually producing from quality mares and putting up quality yearlings.
“I think the breeders have found another way and are probably benefiting from it in terms that they've got brilliant producing mares.
“And they're able to strengthen the bloodlines by transporting to commercial stallions (in the eastern states) and then come back to South Australia where there are clearly good horses raised here.”
QUEMAN 😍
— Racing SA (@RacingSA) February 24, 2024
SA’s Shane & Cassie Oxlade are the winners of the 2024 Oakleigh Plate 🏆
What a moment for SA racing! pic.twitter.com/e5gYJQXIIg
Of the 12 finalists for the recent SA Thoroughbred Breeders Horse of the Year, Attrition (Toorak Handicap), Benedetta (Goodwood), Queman (Oakleigh Plate and Socks Nation (Queensland Oaks), were Group 1 winners.
“There's a lot of quality from here and I'm hopeful that parlays into our sale,” Bawden said.
“The Adelaide sale is probably known for its value … our breeder and owner scheme here is just going from strength to strength and I think that's providing a lot of confidence, particularly around the local industry, so people are happy to invest.”
The Adelaide sale will be held across two days - March 17 and March 18 - with 455 lots catalogued.
Leading into the auction, two races for Magic Millions graduates will held at Murray Bridge on March 8 ahead of Adelaide Cup day at Morphettville on March 10.
It’s a format that Bawden said worked well when implemented for the first time in 2024.
“I think it was a positive in terms of highlighting the racing before going into the sale the week after,” he said.
“It gives everyone a bit extra time as opposed to over Adelaide Cup weekend when (the sale) can get a bit lost.”
Captain Tan zeroing in on Kiwi horse
Captain Tan Tiang Huat is closing in on locking in his horse for the inaugural NZB The Kiwi and the prominent Malaysian owner is likely to link with an expatriate New Zealander in a bid to win the $3.5 million race.
The 1500m three-year-old race, which is restricted to New Zealand-sired or New Zealand Bloodstock-sold horses, will be run for the first time on March 8 at Ellerslie as part of a revamped summer-autumn calendar.
And it’s in-form Sydney trainer and expatriate New Zealander Bjorn Baker who is in the box seat to seal a deal with Captain Tan.
Baker, who is second on the Sydney trainers’ premiership with 46 metropolitan winners so far this season, has the OTI Racing-owned Perfumist and Puntin in contention for a trip to Ellerslie.
“We have talked to a few trainers and one of them is Bjorn. The options are quite open,” Captain Tan said at the Inglis Classic sale.
“There's still discussions about the splitting of the horses’ prize money, who pays for the freight, and all those things that are already in the final stages now. We have to have a decision by next week.”
El Roca filly Perfumist has won her past four starts, most recently scoring a maiden city win at Rosehill on January 18, and she is expected to race again this weekend with apprentice Anna Roper booked to ride.
Stablemate Puntin, a Super Seth three-year-old gelding, could also be snapped up depending on how he comes through Saturday’s second at Randwick over 1600m.
The economic benefit to the New Zealand economy through Captain Tan’s involvement in the NZB The Kiwi can’t be underestimated, with 20 friends expected to fly into Auckland to attend the race day.
Captain Tan, who paid $225,000 for the one-year slot in the NZB The Kiwi that was auctioned at last November’s Ready to Run Sale in New Zealand, is attending his first Australian sale and he wasted little time in getting onto the buyers’ sheet.
On Sunday, the Malaysian businessman bought four yearlings for between $80,000 and $170,000. They will be sent to New Zealand to be educated by Paul Chow at his Tartan Meadow property.
“We have talked to a few trainers and one of them is Bjorn. The options are quite open” - slot holder Captain Tan Tiang Huat on his hunt for an NZB Kiwi runner
Captain Tan, who has interests in about 60 horses, believes racing in Malaysia, and Selangor Turf Club in particular, is on the up on the back of increased prize money from January 1.
“The extra prize money helps, but it still needs to come up for us because we are investing quite a lot of money,” he said.
“But it's moving upwards. All the horses are very competitive now. You see in the races, there are a lot of dead heats, a lot of wins by a short head and a neck.
“More and more people are interested now because the races are exciting.”
