Zealand journey an epic

CHESTNUT mare Zealand has been on a journey and a half to reach her first ever Australian race start at Townsville’s Cluden Park today.

Now trained at Tolga by Sharlee D’avila, the five-yearold comes from across the ditch, as her name suggests, after having six career starts in her home country.

Zealand was raced mostly around the mile, and even up to 2100m in her last NZ start, and has her first taste of Australian racing this afternoon in the Maiden Plate (1200m).

FNQ newcomer Zealand comes from the same ownership group that delivered the D’avila Tablelands stable Akileos, who won well on Saturday at Tolga, as well as Ammate, Spacex and Makarios. Sydney-based part owner Julian Holsman detailed the extensive journey his new mare had to undertake to even land in Australia, let alone be ready for her first race start.

“We purchased her online for $3000 in March at the start of COVID, which we felt was a bargain, based on her good form in NZ provincial grade,” Holsman said.

“Our intent was to spell for her for six weeks in NZ prior to flying to Brisbane and heading to Tolga. Soon after purchase, NZ stopped all racehorse transportation indefinitely and she was stuck on one of NZ’S finest stud farms, Lansdowne Park for four months.

“There were then no flights to Brisbane for the rest of 2020, meaning she had to fly to Sydney then embark on a four-day straight journey to Tolga, all up around a 6000km trip.”

After arriving on the Tablelands, Zealand spent six weeks in the paddock to freshen up, fixing a few teeth issues and taking her first preparation slowly, taking into account the need to get used to the FNQ conditions and time to overcome the long trip she had just endured.

Experienced Townsville rider Frank Edwards takes the ride today.

“Sharlee has been happy with her work, but there’s no doubting that we’ll see the best of the horse until she gets out over a mile and further,” Holsman said.

“As long as we see her hitting the line nicely late, we’ll be pleased.”