Impressive Otaki three-year-old Galleon will do his future racing in Australia.
The Not A Single Doubt colt created a big impression when winning on debut in a Wanganui maiden over 1200m on November 27. He blew the start and had to loop the field on the tight track but had enough raw ability to win by a long neck.
Johno Benner, who trained Galleon along with his partner Hollie Wynyard, said the performance was enough to impress clients of the Ben and JD Hayes stable, and he has headed across the Tasman to join the Lindsay Park team.
“Galleon is a potential Group One horse,” Benner said.
“I don’t want to disclose the amount, but you couldn’t not sell him.”
Benner said fellow smart three-year-old Hoodlum was also under offer.
The son of Furnaces defeated subsequent Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) winner Belle En Rouge and smart filly Gwithian Bay on debut at Hawera before finishing fourth in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings.
One three-year-old that Benner and Wynyard are looking forward to targeting autumn age group features with is Titled, who holds early nominations for both the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (1600m)
After three juvenile starts brought a debut second and a fourth placing in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), Titled went to Australia and ran twice there, finishing third and fifth, before returning to Benner and Wynyard.
“He’s a nice colt who should be ready to run again shortly, in the next couple of weeks,” Benner said.
“He probably wants 1600m plus, which he hasn’t had the opportunity for yet, but he’s a beautiful horse with a beautiful action and we’ll find out the depth of him this preparation.”
Benner and Wynyard have accepted with Grand Mayson at Awapuni on Boxing Day in the Open 1200m handicap, while stablemate Dalmatia will run at New Plymouth in a Rating 65 2000m race on December 27.
Grand Mayson won the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Trentham last season and is nominated for the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) on January 15, though Benner said he would need to improve on his two outings to date this season to get a start there.
“Dalmatia has had no luck at all this season and is ready to peak now,” he said.