Proven stallion Niagara, a Group Two winning son of Encosta de Lago, will return to Hawke’s Bay ahead of the 2023 breeding season to take up residence at Vicki Wilson’s Hau Ora Farm in Kahuranaki, south of Hastings.
It is somewhat of a homecoming for Niagara, who initially retired to Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds in Hawke’s Bay in 2013, before the couple relocated across the Tasman, resulting in Niagara joining The Oaks Stud’s roster in 2017.
The sire of nine stakes performers and 118 winners at a strike rate of 62.8 percent winners to runners, the consistent Niagara will stand at a fee of $3,000+GST.
“I love thoroughbreds and the racing part of it,” Wilson said. “I have got to the point where I want to breed, race and produce them ourselves so we know what we are working with.
“We have Mongolian Falcon here and we love his young stock so when we were approached to stand Niagara, we thought why not give it a go.
“Niagara is a super type and he consistently leaves a nice horse. He had three winners over the past week and I think every stallion only needs one good one.
“He is arriving next week and we are really excited.”
Wilson said the shareholders in Niagara will continue to support him and his stock have also proved popular in the equestrian world.
“He leaves some good jumpers. They are naturally athletic,” Wilson said.
“I think that is what I like about Niagara and Mongolian Falcon, to sit on they are very athletic and natural horses. Hopefully they both have a good one come through.”
Wilson’s property suffered extensive damage from flooding resulting from Cyclone Gabrielle but despite the heartbreak she quickly prioritised the care of 180 horses on the property, which included her racing team.
“I had 30 in work before the cyclone,” Wilson said. “Then that came through and we lost our track and a lot of our grazing so for seven weeks it was clean up and everything got turned out.
“I have three racing currently and have probably got five or six that are a couple of weeks away.”
Six-year-old gelding Red 'N' Surf is among those currently in work, and the son of Redwood romped to victory in a Rating 65 contest at Hastings on Tuesday after a lengthy period away from the winner’s circle.
Wilson has kept the faith in the stayer’s ability and has had to nurse him through a couple of float incidents and he now looks to have good upside.
“We have always known the ability was there, we just had to get rid of the little niggles,” she said.
“He has had a lot of slow beach work to strengthen him up and we have been very patient. I think a lot of people would have given up.”
Red 'N' Surf will now likely have one more run on the flat before switching to hurdles, having won a jumping trial in good fashion before Tuesday’s victory.