Young Hallmark Stud sire Spectatorial whose second crop sells at Karaka 2006
Weekend racing generated major excitement around the small town of Te Kauwhata, which lies off the main highway between Auckland and Hamilton.
At Ainsley Downs Stud, Courtney and Mandy Howells' delight at Russian Pearl's sterling victory in the rich HKJC Stewards' Cup HK-1 on Sunday evening matched that of theBaker family at Hallmark Stud a day earlier.
As Gee I Jane (Jahafil-Miss Distinction by Bletchencore) romped home in the WRC Telegraph Handicap 1200m G1 Denny Baker, his wife Lyn, son Mark and daughter-in-law Vicki could look out the window at two Premier Sale yearlings from the mare's immediate family. They are two colts by Hallmark's young resident sire Spectatorial, one a half-brother to Gee I Jane, the other a son of her Group 3-winning half-sister Miss Jessie Jay.
A Group One-winning two-year-old with a classic winner's pedigree, Spectatorial has made a quick start to his stud career thanks to his debut-winning daughter Blue Skies.
Pedigree students will note that Spectatorial is by Rainbow Quest's classic-winning son Spectrum, while Gee I Jane's sire Jahafil is by Rainbow Quest himself.
Gee I Jane was bred by her Hawke's Bay co-owner Kieran McCarthy who leased Miss Distinction from her Taranaki owners Delma and Trevor Hurley. The Bakers will present the mare's current yearling on their own account, and the Miss Jessie Jay colt in partnership with Mr Hurley.
Miss Distinction, who was bred by the Bakers' long-time friend Lance Wallace, has done a fine job at stud, leaving four winners, including two Group winners, from four foals to race. Further back this is the family of the outstanding multiple Group One winner Sir Dane (15 wins incl. Cox Plate and MacKinnon Stakes), Sydney Cup winner Azawary (eight wins) and the very good Group Two-winning mare Millefleurs (ten wins).
Miss Distinction has a Spectatorial filly at foot, and Miss Jessie Jay has a colt by Spectatorial. Both mares are now in foal to Waikato Stud's accomplished young sire Pins.
Hallmark has another 22 yearlings for Karaka, a Danehill Dancer colt and Giant's Causeway filly for the Premier Sale; eight colts and a filly for the Select Sale; and seven colts and four fillies at the Festival Sale. Spectatorial is represented by a total of 14 Karaka sale yearlings from his second crop.
Hallmark Stud has been the leading Festival Sale vendor twice in the past five years, including 2005 when the Stud received the sale's top price of $45,000 for the Spectatorial-Lady Carlotta filly.
Thanks as always to Arion Pedigrees for pedigree, performance and statistical data.
- Susan Archer
