Respected Rutten keen to play bloodstock agent to a bigger audience
New Zealand breaker and pre-trainer to place more emphasis on yearling selection
Chris Rutten’s brief stint as part of the buying team for champion trainer Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, but the experience has whetted the appetite of the respected New Zealand horseman to expand his bloodstock business.
The Cavallo Farm principal, who specialises in the spelling, pre-training and breaking-in of horses, has the distinction as a master judge, purchasing and racing quality thoroughbreds such as Group 1 winner Yourdeel (Dundeel), the recently retired Group 2 winner Scott Base (Dalghar) and talented three-year-old Yourpoint (Bull Point).
Rutten will be out to enhance his recent record when NZ$30,000 yearling purchase Avonallo, a colt by Haunui Farm’s first season shuttler Belardo (Lope De Vega), lines up in the Nobby Bussell 2YO (800m) at Riccarton.
The Jamie Richards-trained Avonallo, whose breeder Sam Williams of Little Avondale Stud retained a share, has caught the eye in two barrier trial victories last month.
“Hopefully he will be hard to beat, but you never know in these early races as there could be another smart one there,” a cautious and understated Rutten said yesterday.
“We haven’t competed against anything to get a line on them. He goes all right, but he’s never been pressured. He’s been held back in his two trials, but Jamie is very pleased with him.
“I have broken-in another couple by Belardo for other people and they are really nice horses, too.”
Rutten’s exploits were recognised by Waterhouse and Bott, with the latter approaching him to assist the Sydney trainers in selecting yearlings.
He started that role at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, putting his name alongside colts by Sebring (More Than Ready) and Xtravagant (Pentire), and had planned to be at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale prior to both countries being effectively locked down and the international borders closed.
“I was looking forward to the sales there, but that didn’t happen. Adrian said (Easter) was where they do most of their buying but Covid put an end to that,” Rutten said.
“It just throws you out of kilter, the Covid, and it will until we get fully operational again, but when that happens I’ll be looking forward to getting back to Australia for the sales.
“That is what I’d like to get into now. I’ve been breaking and pre-training and I’ve been buying and selling horses, which have all been going well, but I’d like to do a bit more bloodstock work rather than focusing so much on the land and being on the farm all the time.”
Rutten’s hands-on experience has assisted him in assessing the respective merits of yearlings but he also spent years at Karaka honing his skills, something he hopes to call on to a greater capacity.
“I enjoy looking at horses and being able to compare them all. I’ve been going to the sales for a long time and just looking at horses,” he said.
“I haven’t really promoted myself. I’ve been quite busy on the farm and I need to let that go to spend more time promoting myself and getting myself out there to try and act as an agent. I will keep that up and try to make some more contacts.”
Meanwhile, Rutten also revealed yesterday that Yourpoint was spelling at his farm in the south of the North Island after performing below expectations in the Northland Breeders Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and the El Roca Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) two weeks later.
The two runs in September came after Rutten had rejected significant offers to buy the Bull Point (Fastnet Rock) gelding who he purchased for NZ$100,000 at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
“It’s been a little bit disappointing and we couldn’t really put a finger on why he didn’t finish off,” he said.
“He copped a couple of bumps and maybe that saw him switch off. He’s just having a little spell on my farm and then he’ll go back to Jamie.
“He showed a lot early and hopefully he’ll be back in time for Ellerslie (in January) as he’s only having a short break. He’s got a good turn of foot when he gets going.”