Showmanship’s return to winning ways at Caulfield provided breeder Haunui Farm with a result to savour.
The son of former stud resident Showcasing’s comeback from injury was crowned on Saturday with his victory over 1600m for trainer John Leek and Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership winner Damian Lane.
Showmanship was initially purchased out of Haunui’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $145,000 by bloodstock agent John Chalmers on behalf of high-profile Western Australian owner Bob Peters.
He was a seven-time winner for trainers Grant and Alana Williams before joining Danny O’Brien’s operation and added the Gr.3 Show County Quality (1200m) to his record in 2022.
The rising nine-year-old, who has earned more than A$520,000 from just 16 career appearances, joined Leek’s Pakenham stable last year.
“It was a great result and he’s one of those horses we’ve bred that his racetrack ability isn’t quite reflected in his form,” Haunui’s Mark Chitty said.
“We know how good he was and was an early favourite for a race like the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) before he went amiss so it was good to see him back.
“He’s an older horse now and thankfully I’ve got a half-sister sitting in the paddock due to foal down to Ribchester later in the breeding season.”
They are out of the Don Eduardo mare Khales, a half-sister to the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) winner and multiple elite level placegetter Beauty Watch and the family of the Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2400m) winner Princess Jenni.
“Unfortunately, Khales passed away and she was a great old mare and left two stakes winners,” Chitty said.
Her first was the champion Singapore stayer Bahana, a son of Elusive City, who two black type victories included an edition of the Singapore Gold Cup (2200m).
“Khales was a cheapie out of the Inglis Broodmare Sale, we paid A$7500 for her off the track,” Chitty said.
“She was a good stye of mare and did a very good job for us.”
Showmanship’s sister La Mouline was also successful on six occasions and placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m).
“She’s got a Pierro four-year-old named Debonnaire who has won four in a row in Western Australia. I raced La Mouline before I sold her to Bob Peters,” Chitty said.
Haunui, who has already welcomed a filly foal by El Roca, has enjoyed a good season on the track.
“The breeding season has come early and we’ve had a nice time on the track with a couple of Group One horses off the farm, Orchestral and Militarize,” Chitty said.
Haunui also races homebred Sudbina, a daughter of Almanzor trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood who won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.