Race Images Palmerston North
A 1400 kilometre trip has not deterred Willow Glen Stud owners Mike and Barbara Cooney who have travelled north from their Waimate farm to offer three colts by their resident stallion Pure Champion in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 3 catalogue.
They are the first yearlings to be offered by the Group One winning son of Footstepsinthesand.
“We are really excited to offer three nice colts up here at Karaka by Pure Champion,” Mike Cooney said.
“They are all nice, correct colts. They have all travelled up here well and have been eating, drinking and sleeping and we are really pleased with the way they have arrived.”
The globe-trotting Pure Champion competed in Ireland, Hong Kong and New Zealand, winning stakes races in all three racing jurisdictions.
The highlight of his career was his half-neck victory over quality mare I Do in the 2014 edition of the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m).
“He was such a fantastic racehorse,” Cooney said. “He raced all around the world and came back to New Zealand and won a Group One and Group Three.
“He’s been a great horse to have around, he’s a great server and good with the mares.”
Cooney will offer four Pure Champion colts at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale in April under his Willow Glen Stud banner, alongside yearlings by Proisir, Darci Brahma, Jakkalberry, and the farm’s other resident stallion Saperavi. – NZ Racing Desk
