3 minute read
Ferrando's racing days over
The racing career of Group One performer Ferrando has come to a premature end after the six-year-old entire suffered an injury during the running of the Listed Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Friday.
"He tore a flexor tendon," co-trainer Graeme Rogerson said. "He won't race again but he will be okay."
Rogerson is now eyeing a stud career for the son of Fast 'n' Famous who was runner-up in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) earlier this year.
"He will be confined to his box for a month and will stand at stud somewhere," he said. "He is a real gentleman and he didn't deserve that to happen to him.
"We are looking after him and hopefully he will make it as a stallion. Where I'm not sure but a couple of people have rung up. Nothing is set in concrete and we will see what happens."
Ferrando is the first foal from Captain Rio mare Rio Nugget who hails from the family of Group winners Sound Journey, Golden Heights and Samantha Miss. He closed his career with a tally of eight wins including the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) and more than $270,000 in stakes money.
Archer Park will offer a half-sister to Ferrando by Burgundy as Lot 820 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale in January.
Cups targets for Dezella
The Robbie Patterson-trained Dezella took her winning tally to five wins from just 10 starts when victorious over 2300m at Otaki last Friday.
The daughter of Zed will now be set on a Cups path, starting with the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday-week.
"She is a very progressive horse and it's only been the last seven or eight weeks that she has really clicked and got onto it," Patterson said.
"The plan was to give her a week off, but I couldn't the way she was carrying on in the paddock, so we thought why not have a go at the Waikato Cup?
"She is in a purple-patch, she will get in at 53 kilos, and 2400m is an ideal race. If she came through the race well we would look at the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m)."
While they remain ideal targets for the five-year-old mare, Patterson said he will take a race-by-race approach with her.
"She still is only a young stayer. She hasn't had a lot of racing and I don't want to over tax her this time around," he said.
"She will be around for another two or three seasons yet."
