Nathan spent some time designing and organising his striking new stable colours of grey and blue -no doubt with able help from partner Ashley, a design specialist-but he would hardly have expected to have four sets on hand at only the second raceday of his new training career. And fortunately he won’t.
He has four youngsters in a six horse field in the first Young Guns heat on Friday.
“Some will have owner’s colours so it works out fine” said Nathan who qualified a team last week with a view to this race.
So who are these debutantes and how will they shape ?.
“This is an assessment race.It will help decide whether we press on to further Young Guns heats and hopefully the final or some may need a break along the way.They all have potential but not all exactly at the same stage.”
Young Guns Heat one $17,000, 1700m
THREE BAGS FULL- Tony Herlihy
Dontgetmestarted
A youngster raced by a Kennard Syndicate, he is by Captaintreacherous from a sister to Belle of Montana in Delightful Kas a triple race winner in moderate company herself in a light career. The best in this family are not only good but quick and the best may not have been seen of this guy in his trial where he settled last and looked best very late.
“He is very laid back. I think he might have just taken advantage of not being asked early in his trial. He is better than that” Nathan said
The family’s most notable highlight was Carabella a champion filly and this guy’s second dam Lady Cullen had a lot of speed.She was a half -sister to Carabella.
DONTGETMESTARTED- Brooke Wilkins
A Sweet Lou colt raced by Lynne and Stuart Dobson,Dontgetmestarted is built to be an early comer. The ownership is appropriate as his 4th dam Pleasant Franco was the dam of Christian Cullen, the Dobson’s father Ian’s supreme champion. He was bred the right way too being to the credit of Andrew Grierson of veterinary and Woodlands Stud distinction.
His dam,Best Western,by Bettor’s Delight from a Western Terror mare First Western,won three of 27 for Tim Butt but in Australia was second in the 2019 Breeder’s Crown filly final at Group 1 level beating home Princess Tiffany (3rd) who had beaten her in the semi-final.
Nathan took him out of the trail behind a stablemate,Coal Fire,in his trial with 600 to run and he finished off strongly. They ran the quickest last 400 of the series.
“I wanted to see if he could carry on with it when asked and he did. He is more a two year old type than some of the others and I will be very interested in how he goes”
COAL FIRE – Andre Poutama
A colt by Art Major form the Bettor’s Delight mare Emmber he is bred on the right lines and is living up to it so far.He led up in his trial, shaded Dontgetmestarted and they ran 27.8 for the last 400 2.03.8 overall.
Coal Fire is raced by a syndicate including Nathan ( thoroughbred personality Bruce Sherwin also holds a share) and is from the famous Black Watch family which is due a return to the headlines. His granddam Lauraella was there winning the NZ Oaks .She was bred on the potent Christian Cullen/Falcon Seelster cross and she is a proven broodmare.Emmber was her third foal and won five races in lesser lineups but took a 1.58 mark and this is her first foal. She was tried in Group One company at three but ran into a rampant Amazing Dream.
Coal Fire is probably regarded as the most precocious of the squad at this early stage and stable horseman Andre Poutama takes the drive.
“He has been sharp in his work and his trial and I am looking forward to raceday” Nathan said
ARISUS -Josh Dickie
By Vincent for whose progeny Nathan has high respect with a Group 1 2yo winner for the combined stable last year among his offspring,Arisus is raced by Marcus and Sharon Kirkwood of Smolda fame and who also conduct a small breeding arm to their Hunter Valley business in Australia. This youngster was a Purdon Racing purchase and further evidence it is not just the high priced yearlings who show out as early two year olds.
His dam Take a Bet won three of six starts and this is her fourth foal. The second dam Kabet won six races and the family is closely connected to the famous Cummings nursery at Lawrence through broodmare gem Sakuntala.
While Arisus’s trial seems inferior with a closing section of 29.4 the overall time was the same as Coal Fire meaning there was more pace in the early and middle stages. He and Josh Dickie have an outside draw to contend with in the small field.