Classy colts Perth bound
One of Canterbury’s most promising three-year-olds will fly to Perth on Friday after he was purchased in a big-money deal.
Ocean Ridge has won three of his four starts for trainers Ken and Tony Barron this season, the most recent at Addington ten days ago.
His old co-owner, Rob Spencer, had just made payments for the New Zealand Derby when an offer arrived, according to Ken Barron.
‘‘He rung and said he was going away for a week, so he had just rung Brian Rabbitt at Addington and paid up for the Derby. Then in the next breath he said he hadn’t discounted selling the horse.’’
The horse was vetted the next morning and will soon be joining the stable of Skye Bond. Barron says he expects the horse to be a star in Perth. He’ll go right to the top level.
‘‘He’s got the speed, but the thing he’s done this year is shown more tractability.
‘‘When he sat parked that night and over-raced, he still won, then he stormed out of a hole in the ground last time.’’
The Barrons have lost their three best three-year-olds in the space of a month after Beachbabebeauty was sold to clients of Perth trainer Gary Hall and Ana Malak was sent for a spell after a pre-sale vet examination reveal a bone chip that needed operating on.
But Barron isn’t too concerned. ‘‘I’m just a pawn in the chess game. I either get to keep a nice horse or a get a commission on the sale from my owners.’’
Also on Friday’s flight out of Auckland will be another gun three-year-old King Of Swing. Last season’s Australasian Breeders Crown winner will finally be joining Hall’s stable after a sale deal was finalised late last week.
Hall was slated to purchase the Ray Green-trained colt last month but the deal was delayed for unspecified reasons.