LARRY’S NEVER LATE continued the splendid winning run of NZ sire Pentire when he scored a two length victory in the G3 Launceston Cup on Wednesday.
His in-form trainer Rod Douglas said Larry’s Never Late will now be set for the Queensland winter carnival. He was placed behind Court Ruler in the G1 Queensland Derby last year.
Larry’s Never Late is by Rich Hill Stud based sire Pentire out of the Zabeel mare Laebeel who was runner-up to Sky Heights in the 1999 Caulfield Cup. Douglas won the Listed Tasmanian Oaks with Zabeel filly Coulis last Sunday.
Both gallopers are owned by Pinecliff Racing’s Jonathon Munz. He purchased Larry’s Never Late for $77,500 from Te Parae Stud at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Sale.
Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson has been busy keeping tabs on the Pentires with several black-type winners on both sides of the Tasman this year. And there’s plenty more to come with a half-dozen of them gunning for Group 1 victories in the next month or two.
ZARITA will lead the charge after her last-start victory in the G2 Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley. She is second favourite at $8.50 for the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 6 and trainer Pat Hyland would love to crack another win at the elite level with her.
Zarita (5m Pentire – Gin Player by Defensive Play) is likely to head to stud at the end of her current campaign. She was bred and raised at Rich Hill Stud and won the South Australian Oaks – Derby double last year.
Rich Hill sold her for $195,000 at the 2006 NZ Bloodstock Karaka Sale and she has since earned $1.65 million.
RANGIRANGDOO proved he was on-course for the Sydney Easter carnival with another gusty effort in the G2 Apollo Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.
Rangirangdoo (5g Pentire – She Wishes by Kenfair) was coming off a first-up win in the Expressway Stakes and was all set to claim a G2 double before stablemate Danleigh arrived in a driving finish.
The Chris Waller trained galloper is currently a $7 favourite for the G1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 17. He cost $170,000 from the Longlands Stud draft at the 2006 Karaka Sale and his connections have already banked over $680,000. The pot at the end of the rainbow at Randwick is $1.5 million.
CORPORAL JONES can join Zarita at the elite level on March 6 when he runs in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie. Prepared at Matamata by Andrew Scott, he has put the writing on the wall at his last two starts when runner-up to Zarzuela in the G3 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa and the G2 3YO Championship at Ellerslie.
Corporal Jones (3g Pentire – Assesarose by Conquistarose) is raced by the Hong Kong Trainers’ Syndicate and was bought for $85,000 at the 2008 Karaka Select Sale. Zac Purton will make a special trip from Hong Kong to ride him in the classic.
MUFHASA has been winless since claiming a G1 double in the Telegraph Hcp and Waikato Sprint 12 months ago but signalled another feature isn’t far away with a last-start third in the 2010 edition of the Waikato Sprint.
Mufhasa (5g Pentire – Sheila Cheval by Mi Preferido) is trained by Stephen McKee and he has been entered for the G1 Fairdale Classic at Otaki this Sunday. He will appreciate the weight-for-age conditions and the step up to 1600m this weekend.
Mufhasa was another bargain as a yearling when selling for $50,000 from the Rich Hill consignment at the 2006 Karaka Select Sale. He raced as King Mufhasa in Australia this time last year when he was placed in the G1 George Ryder at Rosehill.
SHOOT OUT is another Group 1 prospect with a Pentire connection. He is by High Chaparral from the Pentire mare Pentamerous and his connections have several options in sight this Easter.
The Gold Coast raider scored a last-stride win in the Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick on February 13 and he can make it a G2 double in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill this Saturday.
Trainer Johnny Wallace is taking it one step at a time and still hasn’t decided whether to set him for the G1 Doncaster Mile or the G1 Australian Derby.
Shoot Out’s dam Pentamerous is a half-sister to G2 Craiglee Stakes winner Native Jazz. She was raced by the late John Roberts and won a Pinjarra maiden over a mile from 10 starts in West Australia.
RICH HILL has catalogued six yearlings for the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Sale. Among the highlights is a Zabeel half-sister to Zarita (Lot 448) and a Pentire half-brother to G2 SA Breeders’ Stakes winner Deprivation (Lot 452).