NZ HARNESS NEWS
Potential Cup class pacer Ana Malak has been sold and left today to join the Western Australia stable of Greg and Skye Bond.
And heading in the same direction, and to the same stable, is Saying Grace, the five-year-old American Ideal gelding who was unbeaten in three races last month for Greg and Nina Hope.
The four-year-old Bettor’s Delight entire Ana Malak won four his six races for trainer Ken Barron and Christchurch breeder-owner Gaby Maghzal.
He was the subject of a huge offer from the Bonds back in January after finishing second to Sheriff at Ascot Park, but failed the vet exam and went for a good spell after surgery.
Ana Malak resumed with a four-and-a-half length romp at Addington a few weeks ago, which prompted the sale to be revisited.
“He was a bit sore when he got home from Invercargill, but the same people just waited for him to have a spell and return to racing before putting an offer on the table again,” said Barron.
“He was picked up today and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t do extremely well racing in Perth as I expected him to go all the way here.”
Maghzal bred Ana Malak from his good mare Anna Livia, who won nine races but who was lost foaling to Terror To Love a couple of years ago after producing half a dozen foals.
The first three foals didn’t amount to much but the fourth in the Bettor’s Delight mare Anna Ivy won two of her 12 races and she is now at stud for Maghzal and has left a yearling colt by Terror To Love.
“Anna Ivy was quite small but she was simply retired when her mother was lost,” said Barron.
Maghzal has also bred a three-year-old brother to Ana Malak in Ana Afreet, who is in training with the Hopes and who is 4-6 weeks away from the workouts.
Saying Grace began racing late last year and had won five of his 15 starts for owner Eric Walls.
Ben Hope drove him to twice win races for junior drivers last month before Ricky May jumped back on to win again at Addington a fortnight ago, beating Wrangler and Baileys Knight after showing good gate speed to lead then trail in a 1980m mobile.
“We always knew he had speed and ability and would develop into a nice horse and it was just immaturity which held him back for wee while,” said Ben Hope, the trainers’ son.
The third winner from three foals from the Christian Cullen mare Move Heaven Andearth, Saying Grace was bought by Motueka-based Walls for $30,000 at the Premier Sale and had earned $36,000 to date for him.
– NZ Harness News
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