Special performance from Ardrossan’s son

Precocious youngster Codigo provided Ardrossan with his first winner and the youngster has now added black-type success to the emerging Waikato Stud stallion’s record.

The two-year-old is prepared by Stephen Marsh and followed up his smart debut victory earlier this month with success in Saturday afternoon’s Listed Wellesley Stakes at Trentham.

“This is pretty special as I trained Ardrossan and this is a lovely horse who was unbeaten at the trials and then won at Matamata before today so he might need a week in the paddock now,” Marsh said.

“I’m super proud of the horse and ultimately we’ll be looking at the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.”

Codigo was given a sweet run behind the pace by Michael McNab and the gelding finished resolutely in the run home.

“We got a beautiful trip in the race and he just did the rest,” he said.

Out of the Per Incanto mare Sophia Magia, Codigo is raced by her breeder Dame Lowell Goddard with Waikato Stud.

“I bred the mother and the grandmother so it’s very special and this is a gorgeous boy,” she said.

“Mark Chittick chose the name, apparently its an incredibly fine tequila in Mexico.”

Codigo’s sire Ardrossan won the G3 Concorde H. and the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary S. and finished third in the G1 BCD Group Sprint and G3 Star Kingdom Handicap.

He will be represented by 21 youngsters through Book 1 and Book 2 at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.