Photo: Trish Dunell
Syndication is proving an invaluable tool in aiding Little Avondale Stud’s ongoing commitment to build on the quality of its broodmare band.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Belluci Babe is the latest success story for the Masterton farm following the dependable five-year-old’s victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick.
Belluci Babe never saw an auction ring and was syndicated with the aim of adding race performance to her pedigree, as was Roch ‘N’ Horse, also by stud resident Per Incanto, who is a Listed winner and Group One placegetter.
The third member of the syndicated horses of that year is Keke Star, a daughter of Shooting To Win who was successful in a handful of starts from Jamie Richards’ stable.
“Timing is everything and Belluci Babe gave us a fantastic result on the eve of the sales here at Karaka,” Little Avondale’s Sam Williams said.
The nursery will be offering 19 Book 1 youngsters at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, which opens on Monday, and a further 13 during the following Book 2 session.
“The interest has been really good and I’ve been very happy with the way it’s gone. Obviously, we would have loved to see our Australian friends here, we really would, but we’ve got to do the best we can.
“The Kiwi agents have been very pro-active and doing a wonderful job. Everyone is trying their utmost to be as transparent as possible and supply as much information as we can to help to sell the dream.”
Belluci Babe has now won six of her 18 starts and a further eight top three finishes is testament to her genuine nature.
“It is really nice that she has finally got that Group win and Bjorn has done an amazing job, placing her so well and he’s rated her right from the word go and said she was a black-type horse,” Williams said.
“He has been patient and the mare has been forever consistent. When it came up a Heavy 10 I did have butterflies in my stomach and thought we do not need to be racing her on a Heavy 10.
“Some horses can lose their confidence by doing that and when a mare does then that’s it finished.
“I know she’s a gutsy mare and tries her darndest every time, but that Randwick track is amazing. With all that rain they have had it was incredible how well that track played.”
Williams’ syndication venture with his trio of well-related mares got away to the fastest of starts in 2020.
“All three of them won their first starts for different trainers. Keke Star syndicated really quickly and was full within a week, Belluci Babe was done soon after and Roch ‘N’ Horse was the last one,” he said.
Keke Star is out of Kekova, a dual stakes winner by Elusive City, while Roch ‘N’ Horse, who runs in next Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap, is out of a half-sister to black type winners Weissmuller and Travolta.
“Keke Star and Roch ‘N’ Horse went to the sales and didn’t meet their reserves and I wasn’t prepared to let them go and I was never going to sell Belluci Babe – she was my favourite filly that year,” Williams said.
“They will all be back in our broodmare band in the future and Belluci is a three-quarter sister to Magnum, who was a stakes winner as well, and a granddaughter of Sound Lover.
“She had 11 to the track for 11 winners and she was a Blue Hen mare. I think her progeny won 60 odd races, she was amazing so it’s going to be great to have her Group Three-winning granddaughter back in the broodmare band at some stage.” – NZ Racing Desk.
