The last few days have been gold for this high profile New Zealand farm with the arrival of a new foal for NZ Horse of the Year Seachange, whose first foal Divan is on the path to spring glory in Australia.
The Cambridge farm welcomed the arrival on Tuesday morning of a filly (pictured Trish Dunnell) by
resident sire Darci Brahma out of their former outstanding mare Seachange and
the following day her much-hyped son Divan was an impressive winner at Sandown
Park in Melbourne.Victory from Recite in the stud's colours in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings on Saturday would complete a memorable period of events for the Dick Karreman-owned nursery managed by Rick Williams.
"Seachange has had a stunning filly with a lot of leg, really strong and the same colour as her mother," Williams said.
"We're delighted to have another live foal after she previously lost a Darci Brahma colt and she'll be going back to him again."
A two-time Horse of the Year and the winner of seven Group One races in New Zealand during a stellar career for The Oaks, Seachange's first foal by Zabeel is the as yet unraced five-year-old Thornton.
A $500,000 yearling at Karaka, he is preparing to make his long-overdue debut in Melbourne from the Williams family's private training establishment at Mt Macedon under Robert Hickmott's care..
"He's had a few little niggles and then he got a bad virus, which put him out for nine months," Williams said. "He's due to race soon."
Seachange's second foal is Thornton's stablemate and brother Divan, (click here to read about him) who has already been the subject of spirited Group One support for both the Caulfield Guineas and the Cox Plate.
Also a $500,000 buy at Karaka, he opened his account in fine style at Sandown on Wednesday when he resumed from a break after a Listed placing in the Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington in his sole juvenile appearance. – NZ Racing Desk.
