Trentham test for Richard Of Yorke

Richard Of Yorke secured his maiden hurdle victory at Te Aroha last month and now a feature target awaits the promising jumper at Trentham on Saturday.

The Jamie Richards-trained nine-year-old will contest the Hydra-Cell Pumps Wellington Hurdle (3400m) where he will be ridden by regular jockey Michael Roustoby.

 

“We’d placed in all five jumps starts prior (to his win at Te Aroha) and I was thrilled to get the win,” Roustoby said. 

“He wasn’t that confident to start with over hurdles and once he gained confidence we struck a couple of tracks that were too firm at Ellerslie. He still tried his guts out for second and third though.

 

“He’s struck wet tracks to suit this season, fit and ready, and Jamie (Richards) has taken his time developing him the right way.”

Richard Of Yorke placed in a 2200m highweight at Te Aroha on Sunday, boosting Roustoby’s confidence ahead of the weekend

 

“He went huge last Sunday on the flat at Te Aroha. The track was quite holding, but a good warm up for Trentham,” he said.

 

“We finished second to Chief Sequoyah at Ellerslie, but another 600m-700m and he’s improved since so I think he should go well on a track he really likes. 

 

“He’s won there (Trentham) by over seven lengths and beaten a half head in the Parliamentary Handicap, and if the forecast rain shows up he’ll love it.”

Masetto primed for Whangarei Gold Cup

Masetto will be vying for back-to-back cup victories when he heads north to Ruakaka on Saturday.

The Group Three performer was impressive when winning the Bream Bay Cup (2100m) at the Northland track last month by 5-1/2 lengths and will meet a similar field in the ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup (2100m) this weekend.

Masetto joined Ardmore Lodge trainer Allan Smith’s barn a couple of months ago and he has impressed his new handler in that time, recording a win and a runner-up result from just three starts.

“He is a lovely horse and I am honoured that Elizabeth and David (Olsen, owners) have given me the job of looking after him,” Smith said.

Masetto has continued to please Smith with his work at home and he is expecting another strong showing from the five-year-old on Saturday.

“I think his chances are pretty good,” Smith said. “He is a very good horse and I can’t see it being any different to what it was last start.”

After Saturday, Masetto will head for a freshen-up before being set to return to race on better surfaces later in the year.

“He is going to have a break after Saturday,” Smith said. “We will race him through the spring, he just needs better tracks.”

Strong demand for Satono Aladdin yearlings

Rich Hill Stud shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin posted strong results during yesterday’s JRHA Select Yearling Sale at Northern Horse Park.

The Group One-winning son of the legendary Deep Impact had five youngsters go through the ring and they sold for $3,539,848 at an average of $707,969 with a top price of $1,487,872.

The most popular colt was Lot 82, who was offered by Northern Farm and purchased by Haramura Masatochi. The colt is a half-brother to four winners including the G3 Fairy Stakes winner and G1 Japanese Guineas third Fine Rouge.

Northern Farm also sold a son of Satono Aladdin to Fujita Susumu for $1,111, 898 with Lot 119 out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Medicean.

Lot 196 was another Northern Farm offering and the filly went to the Nagoya Keiba Co. for $376,632 and is half-sister to five winners.

Shadai Farm sold a pair of Satono Aladdin youngsters with Lot 190 knocked down to Urano Kazuyoshi for $285,783 and is out of a half-sister to dual Group One winner and sire Caravaggio while Lot 235 went to DMM Co. for $271,565. The filly is out of the two-time Argentinian Group 1 winner Cursora.

Satono Aladdin will return for the fourth time to Rich Hill in 2021 and will stand at a service fee of $12,500 + GST.