Inglewood Stud sire War Decree makes first crop impression at Te Rapa trials
Almanzor’s first southern hemisphere two-year-old also catches eye in New Zealand
It can be fraught with danger getting carried away with barrier trial results, but New Zealand South Island studmaster Gus Wigley certainly liked what he saw from two first crop juveniles by his imported stallion War Decree (War Front) at Te Rapa yesterday.
The Inglewood Stud sire had an unnamed colt and filly run one-two in heat five, the first two-year-old barrier trial session of the New Zealand season, and in heat seven the first southern hemisphere-bred juvenile by Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) to make a public appearance also showed he had talent with a closing second.
It was trainers Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard who unleashed the winning War Decree colt over the Valachi Downs-owned and Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer-trained filly with only a head separating the pair.
“We’ve been getting some really good feedback over the past couple of months from all around the traps. We knew the Valachi filly had a bit of a rap on her. We didn’t know much about the colt but Pam (Gerard) was pretty bullish about him,” Wigley told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“He was impressive and went to the line under a hold and the Valachi filly ran on nicely, too, so it is a pretty exciting start for a young stallion having his first two trial runners.
“He leaves very mature horses physically and mentally. They have got plenty of muscle but they are pretty athletic as well, so we always thought he had the attributes to leave a two-year-old.”
The winner is out of Colonel’s Daughter (Hinchinbrook), a half-sister to Group 3-winning juvenile Irish Flame (Zed), who was bought at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for NZ$80,000 by Ballymore Stables and agent Paul Moroney.
The War Decree filly is a homebred for Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs, being the second foal out of winning mare Civetta (Thorn Park).
In a post-trial report to Wigley after the performance of the War Decree colt, Gerard suggested a trip south to Riccarton in November for the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m).
“He’s shown us plenty right through. He’s probably a little standout in the birdcage. He’s strong, he’s cocky, he knows he’s good and, at home, his work has been very professional,” the Matamata trainer said.
“He was a little bouncy in the birdcage today, but … he was pretty impressive and Michael (McNab, jockey) gave him a big rap. He will probably go to another trial on some grass somewhere and see how he is.
“He looks a million dollars at the moment and he’s certainly not, to me, looking for a holiday so we will probably aim at something quite early. I’d love to bring him down to Christchurch.”
Rival trainer Graeme Rogerson already has his sights set on New Zealand’s first two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui on September 4 with his yet-to-be named son of Almanzor.
Out of Star Of Gibraltar (Danehill), he is a half-brother to Queensland Listed winner Tukiyo (Haradasun) and the Group 2-placed Santuzza (Savabeel). He was purchased by Rogerson for NZ$80,000 at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Ridden by Wiremu Pinn, he jumped well before easing back in the four-horse trial before extending nicely over the line to finish runner-up by a neck to a Tivaci (High Chaparral) gelding trained by Moroney and Gerard.
“He is a really good horse,” Rogerson said. “He will be very competitive in the first two-year-old race.”
Wigley’s confidence in the first crop of War Decree was boosted when he showcased them at the Karaka sale in January.
“He’s obviously a South Island-based stallion, but he has got some runners up in some really good stables up north and that is probably a reflection on how they sold at Karaka,” he said.
“We obviously didn’t have the Aussies over here at Karaka this year, which was a bit disappointing that we couldn’t put them in front of some of those Aussie buyers, but the Kiwis certainly looked at them and … it was the big guys who were buying them and they’ve gone to some good stables, so he’s going to have every chance.
“Hopefully there’s a few more (at the trials) in the next month or two as well.”
Inglewood Stud has committed 12 of its own mares to War Decree, a winner of the Vintage Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Goodwood at two for Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien, as he enters his fourth year at the South Island operation. Among them is Artesian (Hard Spun), a half-sister to Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Kiamichi (Sidestep), and Macavity (Keeper), who is a half-sister to Maastricht (Mastercraftsman), the dam of Group 1 winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).
“He covered a decent sort of book last year and the encouraging thing is, everyone ringing up and booking in a mare has been talking to someone who has a good one or heard word on the grapevine that there’s one that’s come out quite nicely,” he said.
“A lot of his two-year-olds have been in work and had a prep already, which is not common over this side of the ditch, particularly in the South Island. For a horse like him to have had early (trial) runners, it’s pretty exciting.”
Inglewood spreads its 30-strong broodmare band between War Decree and to stallions at fellow New Zealand studs on the North and South Island while also breeding to Australian sires.
“Some mares that were sent away will come back and go to War Decree, so he’s got a good chance with some Book 1 quality mares,” he said.
“We will also send nine mares over to Australia this year and another seven or eight up to the North Island and War Decree will get the balance of them.
“It’s a nice way to mix it around and to make sure he’s getting some really nice commercial mares.”
Capitalist filly Mozzarella on comeback trail
The encouraging start by War Decree follows on from last season when Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley and his wife Bianca enjoyed success on the racetrack with two-year-old filly Mozzarella (Capitalist) who won twice earlier this year.
Trained by Wigley’s father Nick and Kayla Milnes, Mozzarella was retained to race by Inglewood Stud after her mother Parmalove (Snitzel) was bought in foal carrying the filly for $230,00 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
“She was a filly who wasn’t very tidy in front, which was one of the reasons we kept her,” Wigley said.
“She’s just had a little chip taken out of her fetlock which flared up after her last race of the season (in the Listed Champagne Stakes). She’s just come back into work and there’s a 1000-metre race during Cup Week (at Riccarton) that we are hoping to get her to in November.”
Wigley has retained three progeny by War Decree but he doesn’t expect them to get to the racetrack until the autumn.
“One of my workers runs the stable and my father trains in partnership with her. I worked out the other day that they’ve had 11 runners for us and six have earned black type, so it’s a good string to our bow,” he said.
“They’re mostly fillies that we’ve decided to keep and race. It’s good for the broodmare band.”
Snapshot of Inglewood Stud 2021 matings
2021 2020
Artesian (Hard Spun) War Decree Super Seth
Shylo (Volksraad) War Decree War Decree
Pikea (Anabaa) War Decree War Decree
Green Roller (Flying Spur) Super Seth War Decree
Mystique (Montjeu) Ocean Park Merchant Navy
Myakka Park (Lawman) Circus Maximus War Decree
Pinup Coup (Pins) Per Incanto Brazen Beau
Back Date (Zacinto) Ancient Spirit War Decree
Frothed (Lonhro) Hello Youmzain Tivaci
Marcheechi (Toronado) Harry Angel –
Love Somebody (Fastnet Rock)Too Darn Hot War Decree –
Raven Darkholme (Iffraaj) Bivouac Microphone
Blackbook (Sacred Falls) Spirit Of Boom –
Shanakee (Northern Meteor) North Pacific –
Parmalove (Snitzel) Dundeel Written Tycoon filly
Don’t Cry Wolf (Street Cry) King’s Legacy Pierata