Next week’s Legends Day at Te Rapa will have a strong international flavour, with Sydney trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald set to tackle the meeting’s two Group One features with a pair of high-profile runners.
Promising three-year-old Bosustow is set to tackle the $500,000 Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) following his last start victory in the A$3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m), while Group One performer Numerian will head into the $700,000 Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) in a fresh state after finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot last month.
Bosustow is developing a burgeoning record for his connections, which includes Victorian thoroughbred nursery Rosemont Stud, and a Group One victory would go a long way in securing the colt’s stallion career at the farm.
His record already boasts placings in the Gr.1 J.J. Atkins (1600m), Gr.2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m), and Listed The Amanda Elliot (1400m), and his trainers would love to add a breakthrough stakes win to his name.
“Bosustow was excellent (in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas),” Archibald said. “He has been in good form, and it was nice to deliver on a good day like that at Magic Millions and hopefully he can hold that form and improve a little bit.
“Stepping up to Group One company is a big ask but we feel like the horse is going as well as he can, and he will give it a good shot.”
The son of Blue Point will continue his association with Australian jockey Josh Parr, who is no stranger to success in New Zealand, partnering Captured By Love to her victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
“Josh Parr has ridden Bosustow in his last couple of races and he has done a really good job, and he was keen to stick with him,” Archibald said.
Seasoned campaigner Numerian will cross the Tasman for the first time in a bid to score his Group One win in the Herbie Dyke, and the nine-year-old gelding’s trainers are pleased with his progress ahead of his New Zealand debut.
“Numerian is great. He had a jumpout at Pakenham on Tuesday and he is travelling over tonight (Thursday),” Archibald said. “He is in good order, he ran really well in Perth, and the 2000m is just about his sweet spot. He should be fit and ready to go, and we have been really happy with him.”
The son of Holy Roman Emperor has been a standout for his connections in his 48 career starts to date, winning seven races, five of those at stakes level, and placing on 10 occasions, including the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) and Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m), and has earned nearly A$3 million in prizemoney.
Victory in next Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes would tip him over that threshold, and New Zealand’s growing prizemoney, along with the elite-level status of their corresponding races, are the major driving factors for the trip across the Tasman.
“The stake money is fantastic in New Zealand,” Archibald said. “There has been a big boost over the past 12 months. We are excited to be part of it and a Group One there for Bosustow could potentially be very valuable on his CV. It is great racing. We were over there for the Karaka Millions raceday, which was fantastic, and we are excited to be a part of it.”
Numerian will be partnered for the first time on raceday by visiting British hoop Harry Davies, who has aligned himself with the Neasham/Archibald barn on his stint down under.
The 20-year-old jockey has 10 stakes victories to his name already, including a Group Two victory aboard Arabian Dusk in last year’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (1200m).
“Harry is doing a bit of a stint with us here in Sydney,” Archibald said. “He has got a relationship with the ownership of Numerian and they were keen to put him on.
“He is a good young rider. He rode him in his jumpout the other day, so hopefully he gives him a good steer.”
While in New Zealand for the meeting, Davies’ rides will be managed by Michael Coleman, who can be contacted on 027 285 5212.
Archibald said it will just be a hit-and-run mission for the pair at this stage but hasn’t ruled out targeting further New Zealand options.
“At the moment, we are just targeting those races, but we will see how we go,” he said. “If they ran well and a few other opportunities present themselves, then there would be no reason not to push on, but at the moment they are very much going for those two.”
Meanwhile, the stable was active at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka earlier this week where they secured a handful of yearlings for a total spend of $555,000.
“We went over there to try and buy some typical New Zealand types that can come back and target our Oaks and Derbys over here,” Archibald said. “We like buying from New Zealand, we have had good success with some of the horses in the past, and we are really pleased with the purchases we made.”