Photo: Ange Bridson
Wrote continues to find favour with breeders and the tried horse market also remains strong for the progeny of High Chaparral’s Group One-winning son.
The Highview resident’s flagbearer has been his daughter and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous while his son Read About It gives every indication he will be a major player at the elite level this season.
Trainer Robbie Patterson has his sights set on the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Read About It who claimed the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) last term.
He successfully opened his three-year-old campaign on Saturday with victory in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m) to keep Wrote to the fore.
“He’s a pretty talented horse and there were no excuses for the others, he gave them a head start and went around the Cape and still won it easily,” Highview’s Brent Gillovic said.
“There’s been more phone calls off the back of that and Wrote’s close to being full at around 90 (mares).”
The Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (1600m) winner also has a strong following in Hong Kong where he has had five winners from six representatives.
“I’m predicting he’ll have a really good season up there and the appetite for his trial winners has been massive,” Gillovic said.
“We’ve sold three and I fielded more phone calls for the last one we sold after he won a trial at Te Awamutu than I have had in a long, long time and they were all from Hong Kong.
“Wrote leaves good-looking horses, they’ve got nice temperaments and they’re not hard to sell.”
Meanwhile, Highview newcomer Mr Mozart has also been warmly received in his first season.
“He’s going well and we had the biggest crowd we’ve ever had at our stallion parade last week,” Gillovic said.
“Bookings have been solid since then for him and Wrote, in particular.”
A son of Snitzel, Mr Mozart won the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and the Doncaster Prelude Handicap (1500m) and Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) at Group Three level.
However, one stallion on the roster who hasn’t attracted the numbers Highview believe he deserves is Choisir’s well-related Divine Prophet.
“I’m bewildered about it, he’s a brother to Proisir and won the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and has left over 130 individual winners,” Gillovic said.
“He’s a gift and to my mind, for anybody who wants to get on the Proisir train I just don’t know why they wouldn’t be jumping on this one.
“He’s a magnificent horse with a beautiful head. Santos is getting steady support and Divine Prophet is the only one on the roster who’s been a bit slow.”
A son of I Am Invincible, Santos won the Gr.2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) during a brief racing career and his progeny are headed by the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Ulanova.
“Platinum Attack looks to be one out of the box as well,” Gillovic said.
Trained by Lisa Latta, the now four-year-old has four consecutive victories from six appearances to his credit
