First season sire Traditionally (Mr Prospector-Personal Ensign by Private Account) got his first winner in style yesterday, when his smart daughter Chant (ex Chantenay by Warning) won the Waikato RC Star Way 1000 LR at Te Rapa. In the process she burst the bubble of Don Garcia, the shortest-priced favourite in New Zealand TAB fixed odds history, who finished fifth.
Rick Williams, general manager of The Oaks Stud, owned by Chant's owner-breeder Dick Karreman, says "I only backed her for a place, but we'd have been more confident over 1200 metres, as she really finds the line. When distances step up she'll be even more competitive."
The formline through Jokers Wild, beaten a long neck by Don Garcia in the Wellesley Stakes in October, was an indication that Chant might prove up to the task. "She has the edge over Another Luskin who ran second to Jokers Wild in the Counties Challenge Stakes." Chant was second in both her previous starts, splitting Ifionlyhadtime and Another Luskin at Ellerslie on her debut, and beaten by Blue Skies at Te Rapa last month. All going well, Chant's next start will be in the Eclipse Stakes G3 at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, possibly followed by the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique at Te Rapa on 4 February.
Chant may have given her sire a fast start to his career, but success has been much slower for her dam, an unraced daughter of Irish Group 3 winner Chianzi, from the same family as American Oaks G1 winner Fiesta Gal.
Rick purchased Chantenay for The Oaks' previous owner Terry Jarvis, landing her in New Zealand for about $80,000. "She has a lovely pedigree but her first foal by Red Ransom had a very rare condition which affected his central nervous system and he was eventually put down. The next two foals were small and have done nothing yet, while Chant's full-sister born this year appeared to have the same condition as the first foal and was destroyed soon after birth."
Fortunately, the condition has not been inherited by Chant or her "very nice" yearling full-brother, catalogued for the 2006 New Zealand Premier Sale at Karaka. He's now certain to receive more attention than Chant who failed to attract a bid at this year's Select Sale, or their Stravinsky half-sister, sold for $2,500 at the Mixed Bloodstock Sale in May this year.
Traditionally is one of several first-crop sires that have featured prominently in early New Zealand two-year-old racing this season. Rick Williams says "Zabeel's success is fantastic but we really need other young, New Zealand-owned horses to start coming through."
The Oaks has equity in all three of its stallions. "We're the largest shareholder in Traditionally, with 15 of the 45 shares and control of his southern hemisphere standing rights. He'll keep shuttling because he's getting good sale results and good books at Ballylinch Stud." Traditionally's New Zealand stud fee is $10,000 and he has served books of 82, 76 and 92 mares since 2002, with his current book close to ninety.
Dick Karreman's racing interests are providing him with plenty of excitement at present. Seachange (Cape Cross-Just Cruising by Broad Reach), who won the CJC New Zealand 1000 Guineas G1 last month, has been back in work for two weeks and will head for the New Zealand Oaks in March, possibly via the Desert Gold Stakes, Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and Lowland Stakes. Magnetism (Marju-Calceolaria by Sackford) has been Group-placed three times this season, and the outstanding Darci Brahma (Danehill-Grand Echezeaux by Zabeel), in whom The Oaks has an interest as a member of the Te Akau Breeding Syndicate, has won the Hawke's Bay, Wellington and New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
- Susan Archer
Rick Williams, general manager of The Oaks Stud, owned by Chant's owner-breeder Dick Karreman, says "I only backed her for a place, but we'd have been more confident over 1200 metres, as she really finds the line. When distances step up she'll be even more competitive."
The formline through Jokers Wild, beaten a long neck by Don Garcia in the Wellesley Stakes in October, was an indication that Chant might prove up to the task. "She has the edge over Another Luskin who ran second to Jokers Wild in the Counties Challenge Stakes." Chant was second in both her previous starts, splitting Ifionlyhadtime and Another Luskin at Ellerslie on her debut, and beaten by Blue Skies at Te Rapa last month. All going well, Chant's next start will be in the Eclipse Stakes G3 at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, possibly followed by the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique at Te Rapa on 4 February.
Chant may have given her sire a fast start to his career, but success has been much slower for her dam, an unraced daughter of Irish Group 3 winner Chianzi, from the same family as American Oaks G1 winner Fiesta Gal.
Rick purchased Chantenay for The Oaks' previous owner Terry Jarvis, landing her in New Zealand for about $80,000. "She has a lovely pedigree but her first foal by Red Ransom had a very rare condition which affected his central nervous system and he was eventually put down. The next two foals were small and have done nothing yet, while Chant's full-sister born this year appeared to have the same condition as the first foal and was destroyed soon after birth."
Fortunately, the condition has not been inherited by Chant or her "very nice" yearling full-brother, catalogued for the 2006 New Zealand Premier Sale at Karaka. He's now certain to receive more attention than Chant who failed to attract a bid at this year's Select Sale, or their Stravinsky half-sister, sold for $2,500 at the Mixed Bloodstock Sale in May this year.
Traditionally is one of several first-crop sires that have featured prominently in early New Zealand two-year-old racing this season. Rick Williams says "Zabeel's success is fantastic but we really need other young, New Zealand-owned horses to start coming through."
The Oaks has equity in all three of its stallions. "We're the largest shareholder in Traditionally, with 15 of the 45 shares and control of his southern hemisphere standing rights. He'll keep shuttling because he's getting good sale results and good books at Ballylinch Stud." Traditionally's New Zealand stud fee is $10,000 and he has served books of 82, 76 and 92 mares since 2002, with his current book close to ninety.
Dick Karreman's racing interests are providing him with plenty of excitement at present. Seachange (Cape Cross-Just Cruising by Broad Reach), who won the CJC New Zealand 1000 Guineas G1 last month, has been back in work for two weeks and will head for the New Zealand Oaks in March, possibly via the Desert Gold Stakes, Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and Lowland Stakes. Magnetism (Marju-Calceolaria by Sackford) has been Group-placed three times this season, and the outstanding Darci Brahma (Danehill-Grand Echezeaux by Zabeel), in whom The Oaks has an interest as a member of the Te Akau Breeding Syndicate, has won the Hawke's Bay, Wellington and New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
- Susan Archer