More colts for local trainer
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is well into the second phase of his Colts Syndicate initiative that he launched last year.
Last year Pike put together a group of investors to find a bunch of well-bred colts at the Karaka’s National Yearling Sale. He purchased six but Not A Single Doubt colt, Not An Option became the top horse after winning in the Gr.2 Wakefield Stakes at Trentham last month.
The star juvenile’s bid for the Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie this month is getting its finishing touches.
“We’ll get together this week to discuss the plans for Not An Option and a start at Ellerslie,” said
Australian opportunity was completed in the week that Pike outlaid A$300,000 for a Not A Single Doubt colt at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
“We’ve had terrific feedback from our first Colts syndicate and the original investors are keen to go again, so we will be back at Karaka this year to look for another half a dozen yearling,” said Pike.
“We bought the Not A Single Doubt colt as the first stage to filling that syndicate and we will be looking around the other sales over there in the next few months for some more to add.”
Last year’s market was highly competitive, and Pike doesn’t expect it to be any less in 2020.
Former Cambridge High School 1st XV captain Mitch Jacobson has been named in the Sunwolves squad for the 2020 Super Rugby competition.
The Japan-based team announced the signing of Jacobson, 24, in November, just weeks after ‘unluckily’ missing out on a place in the Chiefs squad.
“Being able to spend time in Japan was a massive draw card for me,” said Jacobson. Jacobson, older brother of All Black Luke, is eager to experience Japan and its culture after hearing from many people who have loved living and playing rugby there.
“The thing I’m looking forward to about playing for the Sunwolves is being a genuine chance at the 23 every week. Being able to test myself against some of the best players in the world in one of the toughest competitions in the world,” said Jacobson.
“I know it will be a challenge for the Sunwolves as we started our prep quite late, but the aim is to concentrate on ourselves and put out performances that we can be proud of.”
The loose forward has played for Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup since 2015 and was called into the Chiefs squad last year as injury cover, making two appearances.
His 2020 goals are simple. “My goals this year would be to get my first start at Super Rugby, be pushing for the starting 15 each week and complete my role to a high standard each time I take the field.”
This season is the last time that the Sunwolves will compete in Super Rugby.