Good times rolling for PN farm
31 Jan 2017Goodwood Stud graduates have hit a rich vein of form and the Palmerston North also enjoyed success on day one of NZB’s National Yearling Sales at Karaka.
Talented filly Nicoletta started the ball rolling at Trentham where she triumphed in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes.
The daughter of Savabeel was having her first run since finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes on New Year’s Day.
“We’ve always thought that Nicoletta is a real Oaks filly so to do what she has done over a mile is very encouraging,” co-trainer Andrew Forsman said.
“I thought it might have been a bit sharp for her, but the way the race was run, it just fell into her hands.”
Rider Michael Coleman was also delighted with the performance as he is another who believes she will be at her best when seen over the 2400 metres of the NZ Oaks.
“It was a sit and sprint sort of race and she tracked up really nicely,” he said.
“I had said to Andrew I really liked her as an Oaks filly. She has got a bit of quality and I think there is a lot of upside to her.”
Raced by Lib Petagna, Nicoletta was purchased out of Goodwood’s 2015 Karaka draft for $90,000.
The farm’s run continued at Te Teko on Monday when graduate Gingernuts showed his true colours to post the second win of his five start career.
Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, he is a son of Iffraaj and the Generous mare Double Elle.
Goodwood also made an impact at Karaka where their O’Reilly filly was the subject of spirited bidding.
She was eventually knocked down to Matamata agent Ric Wylie for $170,000.
She is out of the Zabeel mare Zambezi, also the dam of the multiple winner and Group performer Zamezi Warrior.