Kevin Hickman will be tuned in from afar when Bohemian Lily attempts to follow in the footsteps of another of his Group One-winning Valachi Downs graduates in Australia on Saturday.
The Matamata nursery's principal is currently in Europe where he is finalising breeding plans for his recently retired home-bred star Silent Achiever.
"He's catching up with the Juddmonte people who have a lot of experience with Southern Hemisphere mares going up there," Valachi manager Jonathan Scully said.
Multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever will fly to Europe in June or August for her date with Galileo's champion son Frankel, who retired to Juddmonte Farms' European base at Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket, England, after an unbeaten 14-start career.
Winner at home of the New Zealand Derby and the New Zealand Stakes, Silent Achiever claimed the Ranvet and The BMW in Sydney and Bohemian Lily will have her Group One opportunity in the familiar Hickman colours in Saturday's $A500,000 Queensland Oaks.
"Bohemian Lily has certainly matured since she's been over in Australia," Valachi manager Jonathan Scully said.
"It's quite unbelievable to have another one so good by O'Reilly so soon and she's got to be a strong chance on Saturday. What chance would there be of the mare leaving three Group One winners?"
Scully was referring to Valachi resident Bohemian Blues, who has already produced the Australian Derby and Guineas winner Shamrocker and the Auckland Cup winner Rock Diva.
"She's also got a stunning Fastnet Rock filly and is in foal to O'Reilly," Scully said.
Silent Achiever's dam Winning Spree also has a Fastnet Rock filly and will be served by So You Think in the spring.
Purchased by Hickman in 2005, Valachi Downs has made a rapid rise to breeding prominence with last season's champion two-year-old Vespa another Group One winner on their honours board. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Matamata nursery's principal is currently in Europe where he is finalising breeding plans for his recently retired home-bred star Silent Achiever.
"He's catching up with the Juddmonte people who have a lot of experience with Southern Hemisphere mares going up there," Valachi manager Jonathan Scully said.
Multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever will fly to Europe in June or August for her date with Galileo's champion son Frankel, who retired to Juddmonte Farms' European base at Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket, England, after an unbeaten 14-start career.
Winner at home of the New Zealand Derby and the New Zealand Stakes, Silent Achiever claimed the Ranvet and The BMW in Sydney and Bohemian Lily will have her Group One opportunity in the familiar Hickman colours in Saturday's $A500,000 Queensland Oaks.
"Bohemian Lily has certainly matured since she's been over in Australia," Valachi manager Jonathan Scully said.
"It's quite unbelievable to have another one so good by O'Reilly so soon and she's got to be a strong chance on Saturday. What chance would there be of the mare leaving three Group One winners?"
Scully was referring to Valachi resident Bohemian Blues, who has already produced the Australian Derby and Guineas winner Shamrocker and the Auckland Cup winner Rock Diva.
"She's also got a stunning Fastnet Rock filly and is in foal to O'Reilly," Scully said.
Silent Achiever's dam Winning Spree also has a Fastnet Rock filly and will be served by So You Think in the spring.
Purchased by Hickman in 2005, Valachi Downs has made a rapid rise to breeding prominence with last season's champion two-year-old Vespa another Group One winner on their honours board. – NZ Racing Desk.
