Liam Birchley and his cast of owners haven't
been shy in reinvesting their Ellerslie proceeds.
The Eagle Farm trainer celebrated his second victory in the Listed Karaka
Million with Hardline and he was in the action early again on the closing day
of NZB's Premier Sale.
Birchley signed for a son (pictured Trish Dunnell) of Westbury Stud's Redwood for $200,000 with the colt
to be raced by a number of Hardline's owners.
"He's an outstanding type with great balance and strength," he said. "He might
not be that precocious – he could be a classic horse."
The colt (Lot 235) is a half-brother to the dual Group Two winner Sound Journey
(Crystal Mile, Alister Clark Stakes) with their dam the unraced O'Reilly mare
Written By Sound.
His future stablemate Hardline has come through his Ellerslie success in good
heart and will be spelled on his return to Queensland.
"I'll get him home and give him a good break and then I might have a look at
the winter carnival for him," Birchley said.
"Putting the blinkers on him at Ellerslie was the key and hopefully he will go
on with it as a three-year-old."
Birchley had his first crack at the Karaka Million in 2009 with Sarge In
Charge, who finished runner-up behind The Heckler.
He returned the following year to go one better with the General Nediym filly
Sister Havana, a $40,000 Karaka purchase. – NZ Racing Desk.