I Wish I Win headlines an exciting few days both sides of Tasman for Waikato
The performance of Waikato Stud homebred Hurry Curry (Ocean Park) at Flemington on Sunday concluded a fruitful week for the operation and the filly’s win could be a precursor to another big weekend for the New Zealand-based nursery.
The promising daughter of Waikato resident Ocean Park (Thorn Park) broke her maiden at the second time of asking in facile fashion over 1600 metres at Bairnsdale earlier this month, and quickly followed it up when claiming the Oaks Preview (1800m), where her sustained speed in the final stages saw her dismiss Inevitable Truth (Fastnet Rock) by 1.5 lengths.
That effort confirmed the Danny O’Brien-trained filly as a legitimate contender for the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) on November 7 and continued a fine vein of form for Ocean Park, who has sired seven winners in the past six days.
3YO Ocean Park filly, Hurry Curry scores the Oaks Preview with a smart performance in the WS colours @FlemingtonVRC under @JyeMcNeil for @DOBrienRacing 💥
Bred on-farm, her dam is the Savabeel mare Hurry. It’s a great start in the game for our great friend Craig Duncan, who we… pic.twitter.com/oJ8sH2pifZ
— Waikato Stud (@WaikatoStud) September 22, 2024
Hurry Curry was offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year by Sledmere Stud on behalf of Waikato, but failed to meet her reserve of $150,000.
“She was one we couldn’t sell,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick told ANZ Bloodstock News. “I’ve now got a good mate who part-owns her and she’s his first ever horse – I don’t think he understands the significance of your first horse winning at Flemington on its third start.
“That last 150 metres showed that we’ve hopefully got a good one. It’s her first campaign but the Ocean Parks are tough and enjoy their racing. Danny will take her through quietly and she’ll have one or two runs before November 7.”
Those two starts will likely come in the Ethereal Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) at Caulfield on October 19, while Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Flemington on November 2 could also be on her agenda.
Hurry Curry is out of Hurry (Savabeel), whose four-year-old son The Mansman (Almanzor) broke his maiden at Sale three days after his half-sister’s victory at Bairnsdale.
That last 150 metres showed that we’ve hopefully got a good one. It’s her first campaign but the Ocean Parks are tough and enjoy their racing
Her second dam is Rush (O’Reilly), a half-sister to Iguazu’s Girl (Redoute’s Choice), who produced Waikato’s four-time Group 1 winner and New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) hero and ill-fated stallion Sacred Falls (O’Reilly).
“She’s [Hurry Curry] bred for the distance,” Chittick added. “It’s a cross we’ve delved in the odd time, being by Ocean Park out of a Savabeel mare. You’ve got Zabeel up quite close but if we could get a Group 1 winner on that cross it would certainly give us a fair bit of confidence to step it out a bit more.”
Hurry Curry will continue her campaign into the autumn after this Oaks preparation and that will also be the plan with fellow three-year-old Sought After (Tivaci), who Chittick is hoping will gain a slot for the inaugural NZ$3.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March following the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding’s impressive debut victory at Taupo last Friday.
However, a mare who may not be seen in the autumn is Waikato’s Group 1-winning Skew Wiff (Savabeel). Last year’s Tarzino Trophy (Gr 1, 1400m) winner was fourth in this year’s renewal at Hastings on her last start, and the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained five-year-old is set to contest the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) at same the track on Saturday, after which connections will decide whether to race on with the daughter of Waikato stalwart Savabeel (Zabeel).
“We’re gonna see how Saturday goes,” said Chittick. “We were going to cover her in between these two runs at Hastings, but we just thought we’d hold off on that and make a decision this weekend as to whether she races on for a year or is bred and races on for 120 days.”
Skew Wiff takes out the G1 Tarzino Trophy at double figures! 🏆@WaikatoStud @LOVERACINGNZ pic.twitter.com/CPVWbH42Of
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 9, 2023
Skew Wiff is one of 33 Group 1 winners for nine-time champion New Zealand sire Savabeel, who turned 23 on Monday, and stands for $100,000 (plus GST).
A stallion who looks primed to continue such success for Waikato is Super Seth (Dundeel), who was crowned New Zealand’s champion first–season sire in 2023. Super Seth sits on ten individual winners and could notch a first Group 1 winner on Saturday when his Group 3-winning elite-level-placed Linebacker, who lines up for the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Rosehill.
“That’s a hell of a hot field but he certainly deserves his place,” Chittick said. “I think with that touch more distance, 1400, 1600, up to 2000, you’ll see the best of a very good horse.”
Super Seth also has last-start maiden winner Couples Retreat set to take his chance in the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on the same card.
Not to be outshined just yet, Savabeel could also be set for a big weekend and his main representative this week is undoubtedly I Wish I Win, himself now a stalwart of the Waikato operation, who heads for the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at The Valley on Friday evening.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding came to prominence when he landed the Golden Eagle (1400m) in 2022, and has since become a dual Group 1 winner and placed in five more, in addition to a close second behind Think About It (So You Think) in last year’s Everest (1200m).
When your wish comes true! 😉
I Wish I Win takes the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup with @luke_nolen in the saddle for Team @moodyracingpgm – @kscoleman!@BrisRacingClub pic.twitter.com/TERTwuUS1e
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 1, 2024
“He is an absolute honour to be involved with,” Chittick said. “His story just keeps on going. For us it’s a hell of an experience, and to be honest, it’s a new experience. For us to race a gelding at that level for this long is new and nothing short of enjoyable.
“That longevity comes down a lot to the management of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. They’ve recognised he’s a top class athlete, and because he’s a gelding we want to get longevity out of him, and they’ve done an outstanding job managing him accordingly. That’s given us this new experience in a game which is our whole life.”
The $20 million contest on October 19 is the main aim once again for the six-year-old, who ran an eye-catching fifth first-up in the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) at The Valley.
“The Queensland winter has done him a treat,” Chittick said. “Over the last two months, he’s the best he’s ever looked. This year we have a much more relaxed approach to The Everest – everybody is switched on and focused for that one race and that focus started way back in Queensland over the winter. Hopefully we get there in one piece and get a better opportunity than last year being stuck down on the rail.”
Chittick is unconcerned about I Wish I Win drawing barrier 12 of 13 for Friday’s contest where he will face the likes of Ciaron Maher’s star three-year-old Growing Empire (Zoustar), his stablemate Estriella (I Am Invincible) and Clinton McDonald’s Blue Diamond (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting).
“It’s an outstanding field,” he said. “I’m less concerned about being drawn out than in one – out of five runs he’s drawn one four times and we know it doesn’t suit him. With this horse at this stage of his career, I’m totally relaxed because he is just so honest, so tough and so loyal, win or lose – which he’s done over the last two years – he’s never not tried his best, and he’ll continue to do that.”