Hall of Fame Claims the Guineas' Trial

Date: 1 Oct 2016

Hall of Fame Claims the Guineas' Trial

Hall of Fame (3 c Savabeel - Around the Clock, by Galileo) made up for an unlucky run last start with a devastating victory in the $20,000 Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial on October 1 at Riccarton.


Michael McNab had the talented colt away swiftly from barrier six to settle second, on a genuine pace. After travelling sweetly he took control at the 400m and raced clear to win by three and a quarter lengths.


Commentator Matt Cross summed up the situation by saying: “This is a Guineas' trial and a half, sat outside the leader and has bolted in”.


With the addition of side winkers and a tongue tie, Hall of Fame ran the 1400 metres in 1:23.6 and last 600m in 34.6, on a track rated Good3. A dominant favourite, he returned $2.10 fixed and $1.90 on the tote.


Impressive winning as a two-year-old, by four and a half lengths in May at Pukekohe, Hall of Fame had resumed with a slashing performance for second to Ugo Foscolo (Zacinto) in the $20,000 3YO 1200 metres at Hastings, from a wide draw, before nothing went his way when finishing fourth at Taupo, and it was timely to see him return to his best in such conclusive fashion.


Owned by the Te Akau 24/7 Syndicate, Hall of Fame was purchased by David Ellis for $230,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, following a fine looking breeze up in 10.9 seconds.


“The boys (Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards) have done a terrific job with him and Kris & Nicole Shailer have carried on the good work since he's been down in Christchurch,” Ellis said.


“He's a very classy colt by Savabeel out of a Galileo mare and we have just witnessed another colt out of a Galileo mare, Mongolian Falcon, win the Hawkes Bay Guineas.


“We've had the 2000 Guineas in mind for him all the way through and we'll run him next in either the John Grigg Stakes or the Canterbury Stakes - both races we've had really good success in winning as lead in's to the 2000 Guineas."


A good-looking, strong colt, Ellis said: “He's a colt that is really thriving and will take a bit of racing, and I think he's got a very bright future.


“Jamie (Richards) rang me after he'd saddled him up and said: “gosh this colt has improved and I think he'll win easily today”, and as usual Jamie was spot on.


“Today we've won a race in Singapore, we've won a race in New Zealand, and later on we're attempting to make it three countries in one day when Shillelagh races in Melbourne.


Ellis made the comments after watching Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) contest the $100,000 Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Hastings, where he finished third on Slow8 footing.


Jamie Richards said: “It was a bit unfortunate what happened at Taupo, where he was a victim of circumstances, and ridden positively with a senior rider back on him we saw the real colt today.


“We've always held him in quite high regard and a couple of gear change certainly agreed with him and he's right on track for the [2000] Guineas now."

Richards said Hall of Fame would have his next start in the $70,000 Zacinto Stakes (Listed, 1600m) [Registered name: Canterbury Stakes] on October 22 at Riccarton, on his way to the $400,000 Sothys 44th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on November 5 at Riccarton.


“We are very happy with him. He's strong colt with a good action and Michael (McNab) rode him beautifully,” Richards said.


“David (Ellis) astutely bought him at the Ready to Run Sale. He was passed in, we followed the horse out of the ring and bought him off Lyndhurst Farm straight away,” Richards added.


In a changing fixed odds market for the 2000 Guineas, Hall of Fame shortened from $14 to $9, on the fourth line of betting, behind Mongolian Falcon ($5), Heroic Valour ($6), and Sweet Leader ($6).


Hall of Fame was strapped by Kris Shailer.



Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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