Golden Slipper Stakes winner Farnan ruled out of Saturday’s Everest
Dollar For Dollar steps in to fill the vacant Aquis Farm slot
An Everest (1200m) start for Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) has been abandoned on the eve of the barrier draw for the $15 million race despite Racing NSW veterinarians giving the valuable colt the all-clear to run on Saturday.
The valuable colt, the subject of a high-priced deal in August to announce the return of Kia Ora Stud as a major Hunter Valley stallion farm, was last night ruled out by trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Everest slot holder Aquis Farm.
Farnan, co-owned by Kia Ora Stud, Aquis Farm and Phoenix Thoroughbreds, is expected to barrier trial at Rosehill on Friday in a hit-out connections hope will be enough to convince them to press ahead with his interrupted campaign culminating in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on October 31.
As a result of Farnan’s defection from the Everest, Aquis Farm turned to the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained eight-year-old gelding Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral), runner-up in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and Gilgai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at his past two starts.
Farnan, who was beaten first-up as favourite in the Run To The Rose (Gr 2, 1200m) on September 12, worked strongly in an exhibition gallop on September 30, but a foot issue last week ruled him out of a tilt at last Saturday’s Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
“It’s very disappointing as The Everest is a huge race on the world stage, but like an Olympic final, you don’t go there unless you’re 100 per cent,” Kia Ora bloodstock and breeding managing Shane Wright told ANZ Bloodstock News.
The horse is doing very well, but he’s just had one or two little setbacks and missing a gallop, so you have to do the right thing by the horse and be guided by your trainers.
“Team Kia Ora would like to wish the very best of luck to Aquis on Saturday and their choice of replacement for the slot.”
Aquis Farm managing director Shane McGrath echoed the sentiments of Wright and believes Farnan can reinforce his place as his generation’s dominant colt.
“The Coolmore is a traditional three-year-old race and it’s going to be a cracker this year and he’ll possibly trial during the week and then head on to Gai and Adrian’s Flemington stables,” McGrath said.
“If he lives up to his Golden Slipper run, he’ll be the one they’ll have to beat, there’s no doubt about it.”
Tony McEvoy could not hide his excitement after receiving the unexpected call-up for The Everest.
“Dollar is at the top of his game and he was heading up for the 1200-metre Sydney Stakes anyway, so he’s in tip top shape for the race,” he said.
“What a journey this little horse has taken us on already and hopefully he can climb to the top.”
Three Bridges backs Haut Brion Her to fly farm’s flag in Everest
Meanwhile, Victorian stud farm Three Bridges Thoroughbreds has passed up the lure of a maiden Group 1 win for valuable homebred mare Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) to instead chase the riches of The Everest.
Haut Brion Her was yesterday confirmed as the last runner in the 12-horse, $15 million Everest after Peter Liston orchestrated a deal to buy the slot owned by Chris Waller Racing to ensure the mare gained a start in Sydney’s most talked about race.
Liston, principal of Three Bridges, combined with Haut Brion Her’s co-owners Gary Johnson and Steve Gardiner, to purchase the $600,000 slot in the race rather than reaching an agreement with the Waller-led syndicate.
“We’ve got some very good clients and they’ve supported us all the way through with Haut. We believe in the product we breed, raise and race and this is our way of showing everybody that we’re proud of what we do,” Liston told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“Hopefully we get a good barrier draw and Chris (Waller) can put his magic touch on her. It’ll be a great day whatever happens, but it’d be even better if God shone on us and we can finish in the placings, if not win it.”
Other Everest slots have also been traded this year, with miRunners paying $880,000 for one held by Greg and Barb Ingham, while Hong Kong owner Bon Ho also entered into a private arrangement to purchase the slot owned by the Australian Turf Club in order for current favourite Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) to run in the race.
A dominant Sheraco Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner at Rosehill on September 12, Haut Brion Her was a well-backed favourite in the Golden Pendant Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) two weeks later, but worked hard from the outside barrier before tiring to finish seventh, two and a half lengths behind Subpoenaed (Rip Van Winkle).
Liston reasoned that despite not yet having a Group 1 win on her record, a strong performance in The Everest would also add significantly to Haut Brion Her’s breeding value, while he also heeded the advice of her trainer Chris Waller.
“The reason we’ve gone to the Everest is that when she won the Blazer Stakes in Melbourne, the jockey (Michael Walker) and Chris both thought that she goes a lot better the Sydney way,” the Victorian studmaster said.
“Chris was considering the Manikato and if this didn’t come up, it might have been a secondary thought, but it is mainly that she does go better the Sydney way..
“She would be the first mare to win The Everest, so I don’t think that would be forgotten (by breeders and yearling buyers).”
Waller said: “Haut Brion Her has shown her brilliant speed this preparation with a superb win in the Sheraco and I know she is capable of giving this race a shake up. Her work has been faultless the last two weeks which gives me great confidence that she will be primed to put in a big performance on Saturday.”
Haut Brion Her’s racing career hung in the balance 12 months ago after suffering a tendon injury but a long rehabilitation in Victoria has seen her return to arguably career-best form.
“After the Blazer, she had an injury that required quite a bit of time off, so we sent her to Lee Everson, who deserves a lot of credit,” Liston said.
“He specialises in this type of work and it was mainly through his dedication and my son Toby’s belief that we could get her back that it’s all happened.
“We sent her back up to Chris and he’s taken his time with her and it’s been a great team effort to get her to this stage and we’re very proud to have one our of homebreds on the big stage.
“Hopefully there’s room for the battlers out there to share the spoils as well.”
Brenton Avdulla will ride Haut Brion Her in The Everest.