Ones to Watch – TSHA National Titles

Tara Madgwick - Monday June 3

Breednet always run popular One to Watch stories for promising young racehorses when they start showing potential, so we’ve had a look through some of the younger thoroughbreds that were competing at the TSHA National Titles last week to highlight some of the up and coming jumpers to follow.

It takes years of training and experience for horses to become good showjumpers and the majority of horses competing in Ring One at heights of 1.05 and higher are older well seasoned horses that know their craft.

Ring Two is the nursery where you will find the up and comers and the 75 and 85cm classes are always packed with interest, so I’ve highlighted a few of these horses that caught the eye.

Churo 

4YO Capitalist gelding Churo with Elaine Robl - image Geosnap

Four year-old Capitalist gelding Churo would have been one of the youngest horses competing at this event and he did a terrific job for Elaine Robl jumping some very flashy clear rounds and taking home some ribbons.

An $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Newhaven Park draft, Churo then sold for just $35,000 at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale and after one race start when he finished last at Kembla in August last year he was retired.

Jumping is obviously going to be a better path for the handsome chestnut rather than racing!

 

 

Oscar Eighty One

5YO Sebring gelding Oscar Eight One with Dale Frew - image Geosnap

Advertisement

Five year-old Sebring gelding Oscar Eighty One was bred to be good as a half-brother to Group I winner Mourinho, Group III winner Molto Bene and stakes-winner Classic Weiwei, but after passing in shy of his $150,000 reserve when offered by Little Wych at Inglis Premier he showed very limited ability on the track. Named Tasting Stars, he had three barrier trials in which he failed to beat home a runner and was duly retired unraced.

Competing at this show for Dale Frew, he jumped some really lovely rounds and also went home with ribbons.

 

 

Gold Pegasus

5YO Gold Pegasus and Rebcca Bates - image Geosnap

When I arrived at Stonewall, the very first horse I saw at the stables was leggy buckskin gelding Gold Pegasus, who would be one of the most unusual looking thoroughbreds you will ever see.

Stabled near us with his owner Rebeccca Bates, five year-old Gold Pegasus is tall and angular with a jumper’s physique and his one race start in May of 2022 produced an inglorious last placing at Warwick and a ticket to a new career.

He was beaten 26 lengths that day and hit by stewards with an uncompetitive embargo, but that just goes to show what makes a good racehorse and a good showjumper can often be two very different things.

Five year-old Gold Pegasus is from placed Octagonal mare Octagonal Heights, whose dam Moonlight Heights is a half-sister to Caulfield Cup winner and four time Group I winner Sky Heights, so there is quality New Zealand staying blood right through the female sire of his pedigree.

The really interesting part of his pedigree is his sire Rocket of Gold, a rare palomino thoroughbred that had 36 starts around country Queensland winning one of them before turning his hand to showjumping.

9YO Rocket of Gold cleared 1.6m in the puissance for Kadell Sykes.

9YO Rocket of Gold and his rider Kadell Sykes were stars at this show last year being a part of the winning team in the Racing Challenge and they were back again this year and had a crack at the puissance clearing 1.60m!

Earlier in his life before being gelded and switched to showjumping, Rocket of Gold covered 11 mares in 2017 which produced six foals and Gold Pegasus is one of them and five time race winning palomino gelding Milky Rocket is another.

5YO Milky Rocket has won five races and over $100,000.

Gold Pegasus might have shown nothing on the racetrack, but his big scopey floating jump easily made him a one to watch at this show.

He competed successfully in Ring Two and then stepped it up in Ring One to be a part of the Bates Equine team that finished second in the Maiden Challenge.

“I always thought was good enough for the teams event, but given he’s so young and we had no performance I thought nobody would pick us for a team, so I decided to make my own,” said Rebecca Bates.

Gold Pegasus and Rebecca jumped a glorious clear in the final round of the teams event and there is no doubt this horse is on his way to better things as a showjumper!

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Express Yourself Returns to NZ
Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
No Compromise Still Going Strong in NZ
Bill Thurlow couldn’t have hoped for a better week at the New Zealand Cup carnival and is optimistic a more senior member of the team can add a northern feature to the stable’s tally this Saturday.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tavistock Mare Chasing G1
Last start Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Town Cryer has another Trentham feature in her sights, taking the next step towards the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Foxton trials on Tuesday.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.