Lib and Katrina Petagna’s Elsdon Park is fast building a reputation for excellence despite still being in its infancy.

 

The Wellington couple took ownership of the stunning Matamata property formerly known as Valachi Downs in 2022, and their investment is paying dividends.

 

Under the watch of General Manager Kerrie Cox, quality graduates are already emerging from the farm, while Petagna’s well-known apple green silks with a navy sash and navy and yellow striped sleeves continue to be prominent on the racetrack.

 

Elsdon Park will present 32 yearlings (28 Book 1, 5 Book 2) at Karaka this year, but can be rightly proud of having four graduates of last year’s draft qualified for Saturday’s Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m)

 

“It’s a big draft from us this year, with a lot of quality and I think horses that will suit a variety of budgets and purposes, including trade horses or end users,” Cox said.

 

“To have four horses that we have bred potentially going to run in the Karaka Millions 2YO is quite an achievement.”

 

Among them are the Johno Benner-trained pair of De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Butler Cabin (NZ) (Ardrossan), with the former an unbeaten stakes winner, the Andrew Forsman-trained Ellerslie winner Stromlinien (NZ) (Almanzor) and the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained debut winner Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express).

 

“While two-year-old racing is not the be-all and end-all, it is nice to be producing sound horses which is very high on our priority list with how we grow them and raise them.

 

“We use specialised nutritionists for their bone development and muscle development. It is a big tick for us that these horses are coming out and being nice, sound two-year-olds.

 

“The four runners in the millions range from a $16,000 online purchase in De Armas to a $450,000. Filly in Stromlinien, and I think that's really awesome.”

 

The Elsdon Park draft includes yearlings by a number of sires Lib Petagna has an interest in, including nine yearlings by Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan.

 

“Lib was in the ownership of Adrossan when he was racing and then retained shares in him when he went to stud,” Cox said.

 

“He's a really good-looking horse and we never got to see the best of that horse on track.

 

“I think the people who saw him race and the people who were involved with him knew what a good racehorse he was going to be.

 

“We have supported him strongly and we've bred the majority of his stakes winners and stakes performers to date. We have sent him some really nice mares and he leaves a cracking type.

 

“We've been well rewarded, not only in the sales ring but also those horses have gone on to be nice racehorses. We have Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan), who is a three-time Group Three winner by Ardrossan running in the Railway Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) on Karaka Millions night too.”

 

Cox said since taking control of the farm, the Petagna’s have continued to develop on the great foundation the Hickman’s and Valachi Downs had builtband they have an eye to the future with Elsdon Park home to a broodmare band of around 80.

 

”The Hickman's and Valachi downs did a wonderful job establishing the farm. The facilities are top quality.

 

“We sort of settled in and then made some changes after about a year being here and we put in a new foaling unit and yearling parade area and have adjusted a few things and we have a great team.

 

“Looking ahead, we are interested in standing a stallion, and whether that's going to be this season, which we'd be quite keen on, we are not sure.

 

“We've just got to find the right one that not only suits our broodmare band, but one that also suits the New Zealand industry.”

 

The Elsdon Park colours have been to the fore in recent weeks care of classic hopefuls Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) and Day One (Wootton Bassett), who are both prominent in betting for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), while last Saturday’s Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) winner Fairy Dream (NZ) (Proisir) is another graduate of the farm, sold to Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $360,000 at Karaka 2024.

 

”I think Lib gets his biggest thrills in the industry through winning those big races, not only in our colours, but also with horses that we've bred and that people have purchased off us,” Cox said.

 

“Now that he has Elsdon Park and this beautiful broodmare band, which with the help of Bruce Perry he has developed over a number of years, he comes to the farm a lot and his interest in the breeding side of the industry has really grown.

 

“Whilst it is a long game, it's one where once you're in it, it doesn't seem that long because every year you've got the next crop coming through.”

 

“We've got a Per Incanto colt out of Santa Catarina. He's a half-brother to Stromlinien. He's a really well-balanced, forward, strong Per Incanto. He's got this real strength of Per Incanto, and he's definitely got stamped by the Savabeel influence from his dam side. He's a lovely horse and I think he'll appeal to pretty much anyone when they see him. Personally, I think Santa Catarina is going to be one of our best mares going forward. She's just a magnificent-looking horse and she was fast.”

 

“The Alabama Express filly out of Daniela's Magic. She really should probably be in the keeper paddock, to be honest. She’s one of the most beautiful-looking horses. She's big and scopey, bold and strong. She's got a great brain on her and the mares doing the job, she's left an Australian stakes winner already, only a young mare and she just leaves a belter type and this one is no different. Alabama Express fillies are in hot demand.”

 

“She is very much like her Dad. I saw him in the flesh last year and I was quite impressed. The mare is a beautiful big chestnut mare and this filly’s half-sister, Ethereal Star, was a chestnut as well and she was an incredibly fast stakes-winning two-year-old that ran second in the Karaka Millions. She has got that precocity to go early and she has a great brain and is a beautiful filly.”