Stalking no Sitting Duck
27 January 2009
Stalking may have led the field throughout yesterday at Te Teko but he proved to be much more than a sitting duck in the home straight where he shifted into another gear to land the Whakatane RC Whakatane Beacon Handicap (2100m).
Owned by the same combination, Mark Wyborn, Trevor Farmer, and Peter and Philip Vela, who have enjoyed considerable success of late with Noble Manor (Stravinsky) in Singapore, Stalking led the field a merry chase in the Rating 70 staying event to win in a time of 2.10.98.
Michael Walker pushed Stalking (Van Nistelrooy – Dance My Dance, by Sadler’s Wells) out of the gates and he found the lead easily, a position where Walker let him use his high cruising speed to roll along at a good tempo.
Approaching the home turn the big gelding had most of the field off the bit, and once he kicked on straightening it was all over. Second place went to Kawatiri (Encosta De Lago) by three and a quarter lengths, while third was Xan Xan (Street Cry)two lengths behind the winner.
Four-year-old Stalking was bred by Pencarrow Stud from the beautifully bred Dance My Dance. The mare by Sadler’s Wells was purchased in-foal to Danehill during 2002, the filly she produced, Dancing Delight, was her first foal while Stalking was her second.
Dance My Dance is from Group 1 winner Tis Juliet (Alydar), who in turn is out of twenty-four time winner My Juliet (Gallant Romeo) whose victories included the Group 2 Aqueduct Vosburgh Handicap.
Dance My Dance has a two-year-old filly by Tiger Hill and a yearling filly by Stravinsky which have both been retained by the stud as racing and breeding propositions. Dance My Dance visited Coolmore sire Holy Roman Emperor this season.
Stalking has now won two races from nine career starts and he will look to progress through the staying grades for the remainder of the season.
Owned by the same combination, Mark Wyborn, Trevor Farmer, and Peter and Philip Vela, who have enjoyed considerable success of late with Noble Manor (Stravinsky) in Singapore, Stalking led the field a merry chase in the Rating 70 staying event to win in a time of 2.10.98.
Michael Walker pushed Stalking (Van Nistelrooy – Dance My Dance, by Sadler’s Wells) out of the gates and he found the lead easily, a position where Walker let him use his high cruising speed to roll along at a good tempo.
Approaching the home turn the big gelding had most of the field off the bit, and once he kicked on straightening it was all over. Second place went to Kawatiri (Encosta De Lago) by three and a quarter lengths, while third was Xan Xan (Street Cry)two lengths behind the winner.
Four-year-old Stalking was bred by Pencarrow Stud from the beautifully bred Dance My Dance. The mare by Sadler’s Wells was purchased in-foal to Danehill during 2002, the filly she produced, Dancing Delight, was her first foal while Stalking was her second.
Dance My Dance is from Group 1 winner Tis Juliet (Alydar), who in turn is out of twenty-four time winner My Juliet (Gallant Romeo) whose victories included the Group 2 Aqueduct Vosburgh Handicap.
Dance My Dance has a two-year-old filly by Tiger Hill and a yearling filly by Stravinsky which have both been retained by the stud as racing and breeding propositions. Dance My Dance visited Coolmore sire Holy Roman Emperor this season.
Stalking has now won two races from nine career starts and he will look to progress through the staying grades for the remainder of the season.