Preview: Dylan Johnson Bloodstock 2YO

A big thank you goes to Andrew Castles and his team at the Waikato Racing Club for allowing us the very exciting opportunity to have a race in our name at their meeting today - the Dylan Johnson Bloodstock 2YO! It is a great thrill and something we look forward to immensely!

With the spring fast approaching we are starting to see a number of early contenders for our feature races starting to step out and begin their preparations. Today’s 2YO event over 1100m shapes as a beauty with a healthy mix of exposed race day form and a number who have shown ability in recent trials.

We took the time to review the runners and get the thoughts of a number of trainers with runners in the race.

By Brighthill Farm resident stallion Dalghar out of Tavistock mare Diamond Duchess who is a descendant of a European Green Desert family, Flash Warrior looks a very strong contender in the contest.

Well trialled early in his 2YO season, he debuted with a nice 3rd placing before breaking maiden status at his second race day start. He won a trial at Ellerslie after the resumption before putting in an eye catching 2nd on this course two weeks ago where he was held for running room at the 350m. Great chance.

This very well bred filly is a full sister to the Stakes performing Aalaalune, by Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man. The third product of this mating combination has just been sold at Book 1 of Karaka 2020. Prior to this, the Gerry Harvey owned dam in Veva Girl had produced two foals from another of his stallions in Redwood. One of these was Black Thorn who clocked up four wins in Malaysia, three of which were in succession.

A second placing at the trials just after the resumption was followed up with a very good victory on this course two weeks ago. She’ll have to cope with a 3kg rise in weight, but is sure to be super competitive.

“She is very well, she’s up in weight a bit but she has certainly improved from her fresh up win she will be very competitive” – Graeme Rogerson

By champion racehorse and ever-excelling sire Dundeel out of Tavistock mare Arpeggio who is a half sister to Harb (Catbird) a black type performer and winner of four races in Australia and Hong Kong. The second dam is a half sister to the strong staying mare in Filante Etoile (Soviet Star) who was 2nd in the NZ Oaks and won a listed contest in Australia.

Three trips to the trials have yielded a win, a second and a third. Today’s race will be used as stepping stone towards contests with a step up in trip, where a bright future is predicted.

“Lovely staying type of horse who we do really like, he will go back from his wide gate but should be hitting the line well and we expect him to be in the top half for sure. He is a horse to follow who we think will furnish into a classy 3YO” – Andrew Forsman

Well bred, this colt is by the highly successful stallion in Sebring out of Fastnet Rock mare Hennessy Rock. The dam is a half sister to Bring A Ring, herself by Sebring, who fashioned a four win record in Australia that bought about A$221,000 in prizemoney. The second dam Hennessy Waltz (Hennessy) also enjoyed a black type performing career across the Tasman, banking A$220,000 in prizemoney in the process.

Travelling up from the CD under the eye of Josh Shaw after winning his only trial, the colt will have to overcome a wide draw, but looks a very nice type of horse.

“He’s certainly well, his trial albeit on a poor track was impressive. He has travelled up well, yesterday and settled in to his Cambridge stable nicely and eaten up. He’ll run well but is going to improve on a better surface. - Josh Shaw

This is a gelding by former Cambridge Stud sire Burgundy, out of the veteran performer of the 2000’s in Cullcha who enjoyed a 78 start career that netted eight wins and twenty minor placings for Graeme Rogerson. Like many of his team, the dam is owned by Rogerson and he has been involved in a number of the siblings and relations.

This horse won’t lack for experience, which can often be a telling factor in 2yo races. Prior to his debut 9th on this course a fortnight ago, he had experienced six trial outings. He may however find others too tough in this.

The sire of this runner Showcasing is well known for producing very forward strong going 2yo types, in both Hemisphere’s. Out of an Ifraaj mare, you can go right back in the pedigree of this horse to find two products of the sire Trophy Case in Sean’s Pride and Sean’s Gift - who between them chalked up 19 wins on both sides of the Tasman in a host of black type races.

Prior to his only raceday start on Boxing Day at Ellerslie where he never got going, this horse had racked up solid trial form. He has subsequently trialled for second behind fellow fancied rival in Eva James. This may be the dark runner at long odds.

By Super Easy, the dam of this filly in Imperial Miss was a solid performer on the racetrack in New Zealand in a record that stood at 12 starts for four wins. When she was last sighted on a racetrack, in the process of winning she beat smart performers in Breaking Dawn, King Kamada and NZ Oaks winner More Than Sacred.

This filly has been a model of consistency in her short career so far. She has had three trials for three wins and three raceday appearances for a win, a second and a third. Her win at Avondale just prior to lockdown was particularly impressive. After missing the kick on the course a fortnight ago, she recovered to battle hard to the line in behind today’s rivals De La Terre and Forceful Warrior. Should she jump on even terms today, you have to imagine she’ll be right in the money and has a very strong hope.

“She missed the kick on her fresh up run and it was always going to be hard to make up the ground. She won’t love a heavy surface but she is well, I galloped her myself this week in company and she felt fantastic. Trudy is back on her this week and she has a great affinity with the horse, we are pleased with the draw and if she can handle the track she will be right in it” – Ken Rae

By Pins out of an O’Reilly mare, this is a classic Waikato Stud type of filly. The hammer fell to a bid of $250,000 for the half sister to this filly at Karaka 2020. The second dam in Jacqwin (Bluebird) is a half sister to the likes of Keeper and Run For Roses (the dam of high performing Singaporian gallopers Medal Kun and King Louis). Jacqwin has produced eight runners with seven of those being winners. The best of these has been Metal Bender (Danasinga) who racked up A$1.9million in prizemoney with Group 1 wins in the Randwick Guineas, George Ryder Stakes, Doomben Cup, Rosehill Guineas and the Warwick Stakes (now known as the Winx Stakes).

After a strong trial win in March, this filly tailed home a 10 horse field a month ago at Counties. She will have improved for this run, but may find some others in here too stiff.

“She has certainly improved but we drawing a tough alley and with there being a fair bit of form in the race it’s a tough ask, with very few options at them moment we are a little stuck for options. We certainly expect an improved run” – Graham Richardson

By evergreen sire Darci Brahma out of the European mare in Italic, there is some interesting history in the pedigree of this filly. This is the fourth foal out of this mating combination, the most successful of these to date has been Cursive - a five time winner in NZ. If you go back to the third dam, you find a product of the great Mill Reef in Refill. She produced the likes of Winter Quarters (El Gran Senor) a champion German 2YO and Jumilla (El Gran Senor). Jumilla is the Grandam of Caspian Prince (Dylan Thomas) a champion sprinter in Britain who is still adding to his tally of 14 wins at the age of 11, and Spirit Quartz (Invincble Spirit) who was a champion Italian 3YO. She also produced Contrary, the dam of Exultant (Teofilo) a winner of the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase.

A filly who has had two trials for two placings, the best guide comes from the trainer:

“A lovely staying filly and nice to get a 2YO race into her at the back of the season. I expect her to run well, she will likely go to the paddock after today and looks like a filly who will develop into a nice classic filly in the autumn of her 3YO season” – Stephen Marsh

The second produce of Dalghar in the race, by Ustinov mare Bella Russia. The third dam of this filly Delightful Belle (Balmerino) was a 10 time winning mare in Australia including multiple victories at Group 2, 3 and Listed level. She produced Belle Du Jour (Dehere), the champion 2yo filly of Australia in 1999-2000, a season which included victory in the Golden Slipper.

She placed in a trial in June before running below par here two weeks ago, she may have taken improvement from the run but will have needed to have made a significant step.

Bred from a mare with a modest racing record which trainer John Wheeler owns, this is her second foal to race, the first is 3yo Nolgof Etikit who was runner up at Wanganui a week ago. This filly is by Newmarket Stud sire Echoes Of Heaven. Trained by Mick Price, he was a very strong race performer and of course is from an outstanding bloodline - a half brother to Redoutes Choice and full brother to Manhattan Rain.

This filly struggled in her debut at Wanganui over 800m, but may enjoy the step up in distance. The comments below from John Wheeler again give us our best guide.

Another filly that is breed, owned and trained by John Wheeler, this horse is out of the My Halo mare True Spirit. This is her second foal to race, the first is Remarx (He’s Remarkable) who has chalked up two wins in NZ. The sire Atlante was another premature loss to New Zealand’s stallion band. With a race record and bloodline that gave him every possible chance to succeed at stud, he sadly passed away well before his time whilst standing at Mapperley Stud.

This filly is making her debut and has yet to be seen at any trial meetings. With that, we’ll leave it in the capable hands of Mr Wheeler to give us our best guide:

“I think they are both over the odds and are both pretty nice horses. Songsungblu missed the kick badly at her first start and made up nice ground late. There is some good raceday form and experience in the field which counts for a lot with young horses, I’m not sure if either can win but they are both strong fillies and I would be disappointed if they aren’t in the top half. Don’t leave them out of trifecta’s !” – John Wheeler

All the very best of luck to connections with runners in the Dylan John Bloodstock 2YO at Te Rapa! I look forward to seeing you there for what will be a great day!