NZ HARNESS NEWS
A year on from his 2017 Auckland Cup win, Vincent is still producing the goods.
Few watching his effortless victory in last year’s running of the Gr.1 would have thought it would turn out to be the Art Major entire’s last start.
A subsequent suspensory ligament injury made sure that it was, despite the horse receiving stem cell treatment in a big effort to get him back to the track.
Once further racing was officially ruled out, a deal to stand the horse at stud was confirmed between his former owner, Jean Feiss, and stallion giants Alabar and Nevele R Stud.
The parties decided Alabar Australia’s Echuca farm was the place for Vincent and he has thrived since arriving there.
“He has done a really good job, his semen production is great and he is getting his mares in foal,” Alabar NZ general manager Graeme Henley said.
“He is doing a super job for a young horse. Sometimes young horses have to build in to it, but he has really hit the ground running.”
Vincent has been going so well at stud he has exceeded the initial expectations Alabar and Nevele R Stud had for him.
The five-year-old will have served 250 mares by the time he signs off his stud season.
“For a stallion of his age he has done a really good job, he has got the confidence of all the semen bases that he is a really good option.
“It is a nice number. As we have got into the spring with him, we have been able to serve a few more mares than what we initially anticipated.
“That is going to be a really good thing for his stud career because you need foals on the ground to kick a goal.”
Henley said Vincent’s trio of owners were happy with the quality of mares the sire had attracted in his rookie season.
“It is always hard for the new horses to get traction against the big guys.
“The best mares usually go to Bettor’s Delight or Art Major.
“But, we have been happy with the quality of mares Vincent has been able to attract.
“Alabar and Nevele R have been able to breed some of our own nice mares to him to give him a chance.”
The past year has not been such a good one for Vincent’s career sparring partner, sometimes arch-rival, and former stablemate, Ultimate Machete.
The pacer has had a stop-start career in the past 12 months and it has come to another halt following a hoof injury.
Ultimate Machete pulled a shoe and damaged his hoof after making a winning return to racing at Addington earlier this month.
“A couple of days later he was quite lame,” trainer Mark Purdon said.
“There are no plans for him. This will be his second week on the water walker and then he will come back to the barn.”
A year on from Vincent’s win, the Purdon-Rasmussen stable are set to unleash another highly talented four-year-old in the Auckland Cup.
Turn It Up has opened favourite for the 3200m feature after drawing barrier six.
He will start alongside second favourite Dream About Me, who has barrier five.
The All Stars stable have a handy trio of four-year-olds to play back up to their rising star, Turn It Up.
They also start All U Need Is Faith from barrier four, Sicario from barrier seven and Ashley Locaz from barrier 12.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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