Tuesday’s G1 King’s Stand Stakes winner Little Bridge (NZ) has come a long way since his humble beginnings at Wentwood Grange in New Zealand.
Little Bridge is a son of Faltaat (Mr Prospector) and was bred by the Hawkins family at Wentwood Grange in Cambridge. Des and Janet Hawkins were on track at Royal Ascot along with their sons Leigh and Dean while brother Sean and his wife Kirsty watched the race unfold back home at Cambridge in the early hours of the morning.
“It’s just awesome,” Sean Hawkins said. “It’s all a bit of a blur really. I will have to go back and watch it again and again.”
“It is absolutely fantastic for our farm and for the New Zealand breeding industry. Mum, Dad and the boys are having the time of their lives at Royal Ascot. Dad just called and they’re on Cloud 9.
“Little Bridge’s grand-dam Enrichment was one of the first mares we bought when we started Wentwood Grange,” Sean Hawkins recalled. “We put her to Gold Brose and got a filly named Golden Rose. We sold to her Stephen McKee and later bought her back after she won a race.”
Sent to Faltaat, Golden Rose produced Little Bridge after her first foal by Storm Creek died. Offered at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock Weanling Sale, Little Bridge fetched just $9,000 when purchased by Hastings owner-trainer Margaret Hakema.
“Eddie Lowry inspected the horse on my behalf and suggested I buy him,” Hakema said. “From the time I put a bridle on him, I knew we had a serious racehorse. I took him to Wanganui for a trial and he won by seven lengths. Then the phone started ringing.”
A private sale ensued and Harkema has derived much pleasure in watching Little Bridge race so successfully for his current owner Ko Kam Piu. “I bought a full sister to Little Bridge and she’s in foal to Captain Rio. I also own a half sister to him by Hawkeye and I intend to breed from her.
“I cheer him home every time he races and to see him win at Royal Ascot was the ultimate thrill. Hopefully his connections enjoy further success abroad.”
Faltaat stands at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud and is by champion sire of sires Mr Prospector from Breeder’s Cup Juvenile winner Epitome. He has now sired seven Group 1 winners comprising NZ Horse of the Year Tit For Taat, Champion 3YO Filly Taatletail plus Sight Winner (HKJC Champion Mile), Sedecrem (Waikato Sprint) and Miss Raggedy Ann (Railway Hcp).
Little Bridge returns to scale