Mark’s Mail – 23 February

Matamata Breeders Stakes day is always a highlight for me but this weekend I’m afraid I will heading to the hills with the boys for a hunting trip.

All the best to everyone with runners on the big day, it’s very exciting to look through the fields to find that between Savabeel and Pins there are 7 Stakes runners at Matamata alone, including Sword of Osman, Masque, Broadway Brawler, The Real Beel, Heaven’s Keep, Clarify and Nicoletta.

We hope tomorrow’s winning connections enjoy the hospitality in the Waikato Stud winners circle – don’t forget to get your photo taken with Sacred Falls if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in there!

There’s no denying the weather has certainly put a dampener on what is supposed to be New Zealand’s most exciting period of racing and it’s just another reminder that we, unfortunately, don’t have any control on what the weather offers up.

In Gareth’s pedigree pointer this week, he made mention of the incredible strike rate that Ocean Park is running at and I must admit, it really puts things into perspective when you put the likes of him and Savabeel side by side.

We’re incredibly proud of what he has achieved as a young sire and to see him in in fourth place on the Australian Second Season Sires table is pretty special.

Happy hunting at the track!

Cheers,
Mark