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A
colt that was bought as a 'Slipper horse' may find redemption in a Derby win at Flemington
this Saturday.
There may have been more impressive winners in the lead up to the Group I $1.5
million VRC Victoria Derby, but there were none that sparked a
more emotional return to scale Hvasstan. Read his story here.
Champion sire Fastnet Rock provided the first two over the line in the Group
III MRC Norman Robinson Stakes last month with two up and coming three
year-olds in Hvasstan and Electric Fusion fighting out the finish to the 2000
metre Derby lead up.
In a rough run race, that ended in a nail biting finish, the Peter Gelagotis
trained Hvasstan (pictured Racepix Vic) forced a passage between runners to score a half head win over
Electric Fusion, who was later relegated to third with third over the line
Honorius elevated to second on protest.
All three place-getters are engaged to run in the Derby, which holds the
promise of providing a stirring rematch as they take on the favourite It's a
Dundeel.
A $260,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the draft of Supreme Thoroughbreds,
Hvasstan was selected by Manny Gelagotis (pictured below with Hvasstan as a yearling) and is the first stakes-winner from Group
II placed Snow Hero.
By Fastnet Rock, who sired Mosheen to win the Group I VRC Oaks last year,
Hvasstan has proven a good investment winning three races and placing second
twice from just six starts.
Already he has earned more than $200,000 in prizemoney for his lucky group of
owners with the promise of a big pay day if he can win tomorrow.
"I was never going to leave that sale without him," Manny Gelagotis reflected.
"I really only had $150,000 for him, but I had a mad moment when he was in the
ring and just kept going.
"I thought he was the best horse I'd seen at that sale and way above everything
else, but I'd be lying if I said it had all been smooth sailing since then."
Given the value of the colt, the Gelagotis family decided to send him to Peter
Moody for his initial campaign with a view to aiming him at races such as the
Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper.
"He broke in really well and looking at him we just thought he'd jump and
explode, but the tracks at Moe where we train were in poor condition, so we
thought to give the horse the best chance it made sense to send him to Moody,
but it didn't quite work out," Gelagotis revealed.
"He had some ability, but lacked concentration and we gave serious thought to
gelding him, but I wanted to hold off on that as long as possible.
"He had a couple of trials as a two year-old, but it just wasn't happening for him,
so we brought him back home to Moe and Peter (Gelagotis) took over and he
hasn't looked back.
"The staying ability has caught us a bit by surprise, but he's very sound and
really wants to be a racehorse, so he deserves a shot at the Derby and I wouldn't
swap him for the world."
Bred by Supreme Thoroughbreds, Hvasstan is the best of four winners from Snow
Hero, a tough and talented racemare by True Hero (USA) from the family of Group
I VATC Oakleigh Plate winner Coal Pak.
A relatively new player in Victorian bloodstock, Romsey based Supreme
Thoroughbreds has become a familiar name at the Victorian sales in recent
years.
Established in 2007, by Brent and Adrienne Grayling and Neil and Sue Shaw,
Supreme Thoroughbreds is a boutique broodmare farm offering all the services
for breeding stock as well as sales preparation, spelling, pre-training and
bloodstock advice.
Supreme Thoroughbreds were the third leading vendor at the 2011 Inglis Premier
Yearling Sale selling 21 yearlings for $1.9 million and were prominent again at
the Victorian flagship sale this year selling 17 yearlings for $1.4 million.
"I was the manager at Eliza Park and Neil Shaw was a client that I got to know
and become friends with," explained Brent Grayling.
"We discovered we had similar views on horses and started buying a few together
and one of the first of those was Snow Hero. It got to the point where we had
too many horses, so we decided to start our own business involving our wives as
well and Supreme Thoroughbreds was born."
Hvasstan is the fifth foal for Snow Hero, who has been a bit unlucky at stud.
"Her first foal Northern Royal showed plenty of ability, but broke his pelvis
and another of her winners Spirited Hero, also looked very good early and then
went in the wind," said Grayling.
"Hvasstan was the pick of our draft at Premier that year, a real standout on
type and a 'Mr Cool' in attitude so we weren't surprised when he sold so well."
Snow Hero has already foaled this spring producing this colt by High Chaparral
(IRE).
"He'll be heading to the sales in 2014 and Snow Hero is going back to Fastnet
Rock," Grayling said.
Sadly, there is no yearling from Snow Hero for the sales next year, but Supreme
Thoroughbreds still expect to consign an exceptional draft for the 2013 Inglis
Premier Yearling Sale.
"We have a sensational draft with some real stars including a colt by New
Approach from Expensively and a filly by Choisir from Smarty Jane that is
closely related to a couple of very smart Choisir fillies in Psychologist and
Cute Emily," Grayling added.
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