The New Zealand arm of Sean Buckley's extensive Australasian
racing and breeding operation is making its presence felt, tasting success at
Te Rapa with two year-old Nicconi filly Caesour's Dream.
Under his Ultra Thoroughbreds banner, he was successful with the Murray Baker
and Andrew Forsman-trained Street Ranger at Hastings on Thursday and stablemate
Caesour's Dream followed suit with victory in Saturday's Wentwood Grange 2YO
Premier.
"We've got horses in Sydney and Melbourne and a big base in Adelaide with
Phillip Stokes," Ultra Thoroughbreds' general manager Toby Koenig said.
"The focus is on New Zealand as our international base. It's been a super week
and things are really starting to click for us."
They also have Coerced Witness, a Star Witness mare who won four races from
Stokes' stable, with Baker and Forsman.
"We'll be looking for some black type for her before she goes to stud next
year, she'll be going to Savabeel," Koenig said. "We've got half a dozen mares
we're now breeding from at Waikato Stud.
"We'll be selling at Karaka as well with colts by Shamus Award and Savabeel,
who were foaled at Waikato, in the Bradbury Park draft."
A homebred for Ultra Thoroughbreds, Caesour's Dream is the first winner for
Caesour's Promise, a daughter of South African Group I winner Perfect Promise
(SthAfr), who also won the Group I MRC CF Orr Stakes in Australia for Ultra
Thoroughbreds.
Caesour's Dream had been placed at her first two starts before she led all the way to open
her account at Te Rapa.
"She did everything right after she raced greenly the other day at Otaki,"
Baker said.
"She's a lovely filly and we might look at a stakes race at Ellerslie for her
over Christmas, but she will be even better in the autumn."
Buckley is no stranger to Group One success in New Zealand - he won the 2009 NZ
Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes with the Lee Freedman-trained Dane Julia – and
plans are afoot for a crack at another feature.
"Captain Duffy is nominated for the New Zealand Derby," Koenig said. "We're
fielding some offers from Hong Kong for him, but if he isn't sold he'll go
over."
Trained by Stokes, Captain Duffy has won two of his nine starts including a
front-running victory over 2200 metres in the Listed Geelong Classic. – NZ
Racing Desk.