Cambridge Stud lands Kiwi stallion
Group I winner Age Of Fire will take his place on the Cambridge Stud stallion roster at the conclusion of his racing career.
Te Akau principal David Ellis has confirmed the son of Fastnet Rock has been secured for duty by the farm’s incoming owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, in partnership with the three-year-old’s current ownership syndicate.
Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Age Of Fire will be the latest member of the stable to head to Australia when he departs for Sydney next week to join stablemate Melody Belle, who runs in Saturday’s Group II Light Fingers Stakes (1200m)
Randwick.
Te Akau also has Embellish in Melbourne with the Savabeel colt to open his Group I Australian Guineas (1600m) campaign in this weekend’s Group III C. S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
He will also stand at Cambridge Stud, to be taken over by Brendan and Jo Lindsay in April, at the end of his racing days.
Age Of Fire significantly boosted his stallion profile when he won the Group I Levin Classic (1600m) at his latest appearance.
Age Of Fire will trial at Taupo today ahead of his Australian debut in the Group II Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday week.
‘‘All going well it will be on to the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas,’’ Richards said. ‘‘He’ll then head toward the Derby if his form warrants it. He is a very exciting colt and we’re looking forward to Sydney with him.’’
With Embellish and Age Of Fire to be racing on alternative weekends in Melbourne and Sydney, stable jockey Opie Bosson will guide the pair’s Australian fortunes.
Meanwhile, the frustrated connections of another Te Akau stablemate, Heroic Valour, are praying for fine weather on the opening day of the next month’s Auckland Cup carnival.
The four-year-old has already missed Group I opportunities this year in both the Railway (1200m) and the BCD Group Sprint (1400m), with wet tracks forcing his late scratching on both occasions.
In between times, he finished strongly at Trentham to run fifth in the Group I Telegraph (1200m).
‘‘He’ll trial at Taupo tomorrow and then run in the Darley Plate at Ellerslie,’’ Richards said. ‘‘He’s going well and not far off winning another good one if he gets a decent track.’’
Meanwhile, Mission Hill has had the better of his barn-mate Vin De Dance in two previous meetings, but the stable isn’t reading too much into that just yet.
The three-year-olds will square off again in Saturday’s Group II Electrolux Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie and co-trainer Andrew Forsman said there is little between the pair.
The son of Teofilo, who has drawn 20 at Ellerslie, is unbeaten this preparation following wins at Pukekohe and Te Rapa with Vin De Dance finishing fourth and sixth behind him.
Danielle Johnson will replace Opie Bosson, who will be in Melbourne to ride Embellish in the Group III C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, on Mission Hill while Jason Waddell has been booked to partner Vin De Dance.
Decisions on riders for the Group I Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) have yet to be confirmed.
Mission Hills’ winning form has propelled him to equal $7 second favouritism with Mongolianconqueror for the Ellerslie classic behind the $3.50 market leader Scott Base. Vin De Dance is rated a $14 prospect. Meanwhile, last-start Group I Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) winner Lizzie L’Amour will defend her Group I Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) crown at Ellerslie on March 10 at her next appearance.
‘‘She’s come through Te Rapa really well, as did Nicoletta,’’ Forsman said. Nicoletta was a game third in the Herbie Dyke and a decision has yet to be made whether she tackles the New Zealand Stakes as well. Meanwhile, the future of Group I performer Ever Loyal has yet to be confirmed.