Young Haunui Farm stallion BELARDO (IRE) (Lope de Vega) is currently New Zealand’s leading 2YO and First Season Sire by winners and he added another to his first crop tally yesterday which now sits at 6.
Trainer David Payne made the astute decision to back 2YO filly Chitabe (NZ) up after the first start of her preparation at Randwick last week and stretching her out to 1600m, certainly proved the right move. Travelling just in behind the speed from barrier one, Chitabe forced her way off the fence in the straight and finished over the top of stablemate Caboteur (AUS) (So You Think) to land her maiden victory.
You can watch the race replay here.
Post-race comments from Chitabe’s trainer, David Payne, suggest that the further she goes, the better she’ll get which bodes well for her Classic season.
One of only ten yearlings from BELARDO’s first crop sold in or to Australia, Chitabe is his second winner in our largest export market following on from Tympanist (NZ), who is also a member of the David Payne stable.
So far, BELARDO is ticking all the right boxes with his first crop 2YO’s, equalling the first crop tally of winners achieved by former Haunui stallion IFFRAAJ, and exceeding the deeds of SHOWCASING who cemented his place among New Zealand’s most dominant 2YO sires in recent times.
Two stakes performers – AVONALLO and Fonsalette - have ensured BELARDO has ticked the blacktype box and with last-start winner Yeaboi (NZ) (Belardo) headed to the Listed Ryder Stakes this weekend, there is every chance of adding to that tally on the final day of the season.
BELARDO returns to Haunui Farm for his fifth season in 2021 at a fee of $10,000 + GST.
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