Another Group 1 Winner for NZB Ready to Run

The lightly raced but talented galloper Albany Reunion (Fastnet Rock) completed a meteoric rise through the grades to triumph in the Group 1 $200,000 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at only his eighth career start.

Albany Reunion triumphant in the Group 1 Manco Easter Handicap.  Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

The Ready to Run graduate’s worst finish in his short career was a fourth placing in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap earlier this season. He was a last start winner at Ellerslie over 1400m for trainer Nigel Tiley and won a trial leading into Saturday’s Group 1 feature.

The four-year-old gelding  had to overcome a wide barrier of 15 in the 18-horse field for rider Mark du Plessis.

After starting well the son of Fastnet Rock was caught three-wide without cover, having to do extra work around the field. There were a number of chances as the field sprinted for home but it was Albany Reunion who stuck his head out in a close finish to prevail over Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel), who dived late but missed by a half-head, with Rollout the Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor) only a nose away in third.

“He has come a long way in a short time,” commented Tiley. “He has been thrown in the deep end on a number of times, most of his races have been out of his own grade. To do what he did and do it as tough as what he did was a great result.

“His run in the Telegraph was way better than it looked, that was only his sixth start in a race and I think the trip away helped him.

“He will go to the paddock now and we will bring him back for the spring carnival at Hawke’s Bay. Without a doubt he will be a better horse next season, he will improve a lot.”

Saturday’s victory was the fourth from eight starts for Albany Reunion, along with three minor placings. The gelding has earned $190,550 for his owners T D Connell & Watson Bloodstock Ltd.

Bred by Westbury Stud Ltd, Albany Reunion is by leading Australian sire Fastnet Rock and is out of Secret Silence (Fusaichi Pegasus). He is a brother to Listed Champagne Stakes winner Fast Dragon (Fastnet Rock) and is from the family of Group 1 winner Northjet (Northfields). He was offered at the 2011 Ready to Run Sale by Lyndhurst Farm but failed to meet his reserve.

Albany Reunion is the fourth Group 1 winner for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale this season, three of those four winning graduates having been offered by Lyndhurst Farm. The Ready to Run Sale also produced Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup winner Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma) on Saturday.