Talented filly Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) has already done more than enough to take her place alongside her dam in Elsdon Park’s broodmare band, but there are expectations she can further boost her value next season.
Bred and raced by farm principal Lib Petagna, the three-year-old produced a stirring performance to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
Ardalio’s Te Rapa success, the third of her six-start career, followed a luckless midfield finish in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) after racing three wide without cover from a wide gate.
“We were quietly confident going into The Kiwi, but unfortunately I picked the barrier draw and she was wide for the whole trip and still finished on, so we were really pleased with her,” Elsdon Park General Manager Kerrie Cox said.
“She came home this (Monday) morning for a break and we will then gear her up for her four-year-old season.
“She’s pretty exciting and Stephen (Marsh, trainer) thinks she’s got Group One potential so hopefully she can fulfil that. If for any reason she doesn’t she’s still definitely done her job.”
Ardalio is a daughter of the Written Tycoon mare Bridgewater, who was a A$300,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase with her dam a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Index Linked (Dansili).
Bridgewater only raced twice and has made an excellent start to her breeding career with her first foal Pure Alpha (NZ) (Ardrossan), a brother to Ardalio, a dual metropolitan winner from Chris Waller’s Sydney stable.
“We kept a share in Pure Alpha, who’s quite a big, raw sort of type and Ardalio is smaller and nuggety,” Cox said.
“She’s also got a rising two-year-old brother, who we’ve retained, and he’s been broken in and is back at the breakers for a refresher.
“He’s quite similar to Ardalio, really well put together, and Stephen will train him as well.
“The mare’s also got a Per Incanto colt, who has just been weaned and he’s a lovely sort with a bit more size and she’s in foal now to Sword Of State.”
Elsdon Park have a sizeable broodmare band, with the 600-acre Waikato farm regularly culling and upgrading.
“We run around 70 or 80 mares and try to keep it in that range,” Cox said.
“We bought quite a few nice mares last year and have seven others going on Gavelhouse next week, and that will be our reduction for the year.
“We like to keep within those numbers to utilise all our stallion shares and add a bit of Australian flavour and use some of the new stallions coming in here.”