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6th May, Rob Burnet
A good New Zealand education never goes amiss for young
horse and the benefits of such a beginning were in full
demonstration at Rosehill on Saturday when the Guy
Walter trained Bobadah stormed home to win the $60,000,
Nepean Engineering Handicap (1500m) for three-year-olds.
Bobadah, a gelding by Bureaucracy out of the New Regent
mare Newette, was purchased by noted horseman, Cambridge
based Tony Pike, at the 2004 Classic Sale out of the
draft of Two Mile Lodge, as agent, for $18,000. The
yearling then went to Cambridge veterinarian Ian McKay’s
40 acre property for his care and early preparation.
McKay, who works with Cambridge Veterinary Services,
breeds a small number of horses each year, and is
developing the preparation side of juveniles on his
property. His son Ross, who is working for Coolmore Stud
in the Hunter Valley, was at Rosehill to enjoy the
successful development of Bobadah who after one unplaced
start at Ellerslie in October 2005 was then sent to
Warwick Farm and the care of Walter.
Since arriving at Walter’s stable Bobadah has won four
out of five starts and Walter has high hopes for him in
his next preparation.
The race at Rosehill was another that on the day was
dominated early by a strong pace. Thunderbird Hill and
Larry Cassidy took the field down the back straight at a
rapid pace and they were 2 1/2L in front at the 800m
mark. This came back to 2L at the 300m, but then the
field came swooping.
First the John O’Shea trained Friday Creek claimed the
lead with apprentice Tim Clark trying hard to get a
clean break. It was a good policy and Clark, claiming
2kg off the 57kg allocated to Friday Creek, looked to
have succeeded until Hugh Bowman and Bobadah came hard
down the outside of the track.
Bobadah claimed the lead and went to a 1L win over
Friday Creek, with Danahar (NZ) (Danasinga) third, the
margin 1/2L. The time was 1.29.79, the final 600m in
35.51. Bobadah paid $3.20.
Bobadah is owned by the Jalmak Pty Ltd Syndicate managed
by Kevin Curtz, and Ian McKay and family.
“Ian has bred some good horses including the Hong Kong
Derby winner Holy Grail,” said Curtz as he explained the
Australian purchase and New Zealand education
connection.
“He has improved the entire time and done everything
asked of him,” said Walter.
“He could become a very good horse next preparation,” he
added which is high praise from the patient conditioner
with an excellent record of taking older horses thorough
their grades to higher levels.
“It also showed just what a top jockey Hugh is. They
went fast early and he just waited and judged it
perfectly,” added Walter.
The planning of all involved has reaped stakes of
$90,972, plus the better part of the BOBS bonus of
$20,000 that Bobadah was eligible for on Saturday,
making the trans-Tasman airfare for Bobadah for the
green grass of Cambridge was a top idea.
Bobadah defeating Friday Creek.
By:
Rob Burnet, 6th May 2006 |