Waldorf (NZ) Wows in Wanganui Guineas

If a dominant display in Wednesday’s $60,000 Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1340m) is anything to go by, the $30,000 that trainer Andrew Campbell paid to buy Waldorf (NZ) (Highly Recommended) at the 2016 Select Sale has secured him one of New Zealand’s brightest three-year-old talents.

The striking black colt had already shown his mettle with two wins and three placings in seven two-year-old starts, culminating in a Listed win in the Ryder Stakes on the final day of the 2016-17 season.

But Waldorf appears to have gone to another level since then, leaving his five rivals in Wednesday’s Guineas field for dead and romping away down the Wanganui straight to win by five and a quarter lengths with minimal encouragement from rider Johnathan Parkes.

“He’s still got improvement in him, he’s a big, burly horse,” Campbell said. “I knew the track wouldn’t worry him today and I expected a big run.”

Waldorf has now had eight starts for three wins, three placings and prizemoney of $94,825 – more than three times his purchase price. Campbell shares ownership with his top client Tommy Heptinstall, along with John and Chris Barnao, Tom Pivac, David Platt, David Allison and Nicki Cruickshank.

Campbell is now turning his attention to the $500,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in early November.

“He’ll head to the Hawke’s Bay Guineas next and then Christchurch is the plan, as long as everything continues to go so well,” Campbell said.

“I don’t have any worries about him running a mile at Riccarton, his half-brother Timy Tyler won the Winter Cup there.”

Waldorf was bred by rookie breeders Mike and Anne McSweeney and was offered at Karaka by Berkley Stud. The South Island farm stands Highly Recommended, whose second crop are now three-year-olds headed by the dual stakes winner Waldorf. Making Wednesday’s result even sweeter, another son of Highly Recommended, Kirkland (NZ), finished second on debut.