Mongolian Falcon recorded his first stakes win as a sire last Saturday and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Vicki Wilson, who stands the son of Fastnet Rock at her Hawke’s Bay property.
The Kelvin Tyler-trained Aberlour got on the stakes board when taking out the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m), just in time to give her sire a pedigree update ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales next week.
Wilson will head to Karaka for the first time to offer a select draft of two yearlings in the Book 2 session, and she is excited to step into the sales ring for the first time.
“It was a tough race, they were fast out early and she was right up there. She really battled away well,” Wilson said.
“It’s perfect timing as we are taking two nice Mongolian Falcon fillies to Karaka next week.”
Wilson bought Group Two winner Mongolian Falcon a couple of years ago to add to her stallion roster, primarily to serve her own mares, and she has been pleased with his progress from limited foal crops.
“I bought Falcon because of his blood - the Fastnet Rock cross with Galileo,” she said. “He was a stallion mostly for ourselves so we could put him into our breeding programme.
“To have him leave a couple of winners and now this Listed win is a wonderful thing for us. He hasn’t got many horses to the track yet, so I think they will only get better.”
Wilson is pleased with both fillies she will offer at Karaka, particularly lot 917, the first foal out of Rip Van Winkle mare Rippin.
“We are taking up one of our own who is out of a very strong, smart mare called Rippin. She is a superb filly, she is one we would love to keep as she is probably the best on the property, but that is the one that always has to go,” Wilson said.
“She is smart, she has a superb brain, is very athletic, and I think she will do great things.”
Wilson will also offer lot 1000, the Mongolian Falcon filly out of Tansava, a Savabeel half-sister to stakes performer Thunderstrike.
“The other filly is out of a Savabeel mare, whose Wrote gelding, Amend, won his third race at Hastings a couple of weeks ago.
“I think these two fillies are beautiful types.”
Wilson has tried her hand at many equine pursuits and is looking forward to adding yearling preparer to that growing list next week.
“I love doing new things and stepping outside my comfort zone,” she said. “It (Karaka) is a good avenue to start with, we are breeding some nice horses here and hopefully that is recognised.”