Hutchings confirmed for NZB Kiwi on Sought After

Australian-based, Kiwi-born jockey Rory Hutchings has been confirmed as the rider for Waikato Stud’s NZB Kiwi representative Sought After (Tivaci ex Popular), trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott of Wexford Stables.

Selected to represent Waikato Stud’s slot in October last year, Sought After will line up in the southern hemisphere’s richest race for three-year-olds at Ellerslie Racecourse on 8 March.

“We’re rapt to have a local but international rider on board,” said Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick.

A last-start winner on 12 January, Sought After is another true-blue product of the Matamata nursery. The son of Tivaci and the Savabeel mare Popular, his grandam is a sister to the stud’s four-time Group 1 winner and successful but ill-fated sire Sacred Falls.

“He’s got a pretty good record. He’s raced the top-rated three-year-olds before, second to Damask Rose, and he’s raced around Ellerslie before and won – he’s a great horse to be on,” said Hutchings.

“I’ve ridden for Waikato Stud a few times but to wear the Chittick family’s colours in a race like this, and being a Matamata boy myself, it’s going to be pretty special.”