Ardrossan posts first winning strike

Waikato Stud resident Ardrossan has opened his stallion account following a gallant winning
performance from his son Codigo over 1000 metres at Matamata on Tuesday afternoon.

It was fitting that the two-year-old is trained by Stephen Marsh, who prepared Ardrossan to win four of his nine starts, including success in the G3 Concorde H. and the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary S. and a third placing in the G1 BCD Group Sprint.

Codigo is just the third race day representative for the Redoute’s Choice stallion and following two trial successes he worked his way across the field from a wide gate to dispute the pace.

The two-year-old was headed in the run home, but lifted strongly for rider Michael McNab to score on debut.

“He was brave as he was marginally slow from the barrier and then he got headed in the straight, but fought back like a good horse,” Marsh said. “He knew where the line was and was doing his best work there.

“He is actually a real chip off the old block as he looks like his old man and seems to have inherited
plenty of that ability.

“We’ll see how he comes through this, but I’d like to take him to Trentham later in the month for the Listed Wellesley S. as I think he would be suited to a big, roomy surface like that.”

Codigo is raced by his breeder Dame Lowell Goddard with Waikato Stud and his dam is the Per Incanto mare Sophia Magia, who also has a yearling filly by Ardrossan.

“The whole story is just so good around this guy as Dame Lowell bred him and then we got involved
when he was a yearling,” Chittick said.

“She is on track to see him race today and I think that has given us all a thrill and it is a great reward for all of the syndicate who have supported Ardrossan.

“The syndicate has worked tirelessly to boost his numbers and I think the wonderful thing is that he appears to have really stamped his first few crops and is leaving consistently good types.”

Ardrossan will be well represented at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month with seven individuals on offer during the Book 1 sale and a further twelve in the Book 2 sale.