The Intimidator bound for Hong Kong
Quality three-year-old The Intimidator has been sold and will do his future racing in Hong Kong.
The Toronado gelding won three of his eight starts from Andrew Forsman’s stable, including the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) and placed in both the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
He made his final New Zealand appearance when fifth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) before he was purchased by Hong Kong interests in a deal brokered by Waikato bloodstock agent Stuart Hale.
“It does get harder when you get out of racing against your own age group, but he’s the sort of horse that is going to strengthen up and develop and hopefully he can go up there and have a good career,” Forsman said.
The Intimidator was originally purchased as a weanling by Inglewood Stud for A$37,500 via an Inglis Digital Sale and later knocked down at Karaka to Hale for $160,000 when reoffered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
Stradbroke aim for Waihaha Falls
The John O’Shea-trained Waihaha Falls is aiming to land a spot in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) when he contests the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on Saturday.
Raced by Waikato Stud’s Mark and Garry Chittick in conjunction with Hawke’s Bay trainer Guy Lowry, the five-year-old son of Sacred Falls has won four of his 14 starts with a further four placings.
A last-start runner-up in the Gr.3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m), Waihaha Falls will have the services of Chad Schofield and will jump from barrier 14 on a track rated a soft 5.
“He is probably better getting his toe in, but he is just in such great form,” O’Shea told SEN Track.
“His two runs this time in have been fantastic and the other day I thought Tommy (Marquand) made a blue not getting on the back of the favourite (Vilana) at the half mile when he was three-wide.
“He just had too much to do but he was good late. He steps up to 1300m on Saturday. I think his perfect trip is 1400m. If he can win this and break into a Stradbroke it would be a good scenario.
“I think that’s a perfect race for him and he is probably second-tier handicap level where he gets down in the weights with a fast-run race and a long run in.”
The A$3 million Stradbroke will be run on June 10 at Eagle Farm.