Procul Boy (NZ) (Proisir) made up for a late start to his racing career with an eye-catching victory in the Property Brokers – Wanganui (1200m) at Waverley on Wednesday.
A five-year-old by Proisir, Procul Boy has been patiently handled by Gail Temperton, who bred and owns the gelding under her Taikorea Thoroughbreds banner. He made his first appearance to the trials back in December of 2023, and over a year later, he returned to Foxton to finish a narrow second over 1000m, showing promising signs ahead of his debut.
That came eight days later at the midweek meeting, where a number of scratchings reduced the field to an evenly-matched half-dozen runners. Procul Boy started second-favourite behind Oscar (NZ) (Mulaazem), but his chances looked to be dwindled at the start, missing the kick and settling last.
Oscar was a keen pacemaker and lead the field into the straight, but getting to the outside of the heavy track, Procul Boy came powering over the top in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Mereana Hudson.
Temperton admitted to a few nervous moments early but was delighted with the result.
“I thought it was all over and go home now, but you never know with them, do you,” she said. “I was very surprised, I knew he could do it but not with the way he started.”
Procul Boy is out of a Castledale mare Cullister, who Temperton also prepared to win two races, including at her first start. He was from an early crop of Rich Hill Stud’s resident stallion Proisir, who has gone on to become one of the country’s leading sires.
“His mother is from an old Cambridge Stud family and she was a very slow maturer, but she won her first start just like that,” she said. “Sadly, she took off in the barrier and was injured, so nothing much came of her after that.
“I have a lot of hope for this guy, he may make up for it.
“We had a share in Proisir, so we bred quite a few Proisir’s. He’s the first boy, because I’ve usually sold the boys and kept the girls. At nearly 77 years old, the fillies drive me crazy, but he’s a darling.”
