The Gooree Park-owned Swift Alliance (Aus) (Don Eduardo) lived up to the reputation that stud manager Andrew Baddock has been building for the horse when winning impressively on debut at Rosehill today.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, the three-year-old colt has always been held in high regard by his connections and is reported to be right up there with Gooree's top three-year-old colts.  Facing the starter for the first time today, the colt jumped from a wide barrier to sit just outside the leader for most of the 1200m journey and turning for home, quickly put the race beyond doubt to annihalate his opposition by five lengths easing down at the line.

"It is great to see a nice three-year-old emerge for Don Eduardo this season," said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  "Andrew Baddock of Gooree Park Stud has always talked highly of this colt and we have been waiting for him to hit the tracks," said Mark.  "He showed a lot of promise at two and they did earmark a Queensland campaign for the colt but he went shin sore and was duely given the time he needed," said Mark.  "On today's performance you would have to say that everyone involved with the horse has been right on the money and hopefully he can go on to some nice black type events," he said.

Swift Alliance became his sire's sixth individual winner in Australia so far this season with his total standing at nine in Australasia for the 2008/2009 season.  Don Eduardo stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a service fee of $10,000 + GST.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995 - or Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513.

Haunui Farm's draft of two-year-olds for the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale completed their breeze-ups at Te Rapa on Tuesday.  With sixteen horses to offer, the largest Haunui draft of two-year-olds for some time, there is sure to be a horse to suit every buyer's needs.

"We have some smart horses to offer with a majority having not been to a sale before," said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  "The draft are by a variety of exciting young stallions such as Lohnro, More Than Ready and One Cool Cat and they have all pleased with their work throughout the preparation," he said.

The Haunui Farm draft includes a filly by King's Chapel (Aus) (King Of Kings) out of Quality Blonde (NZ) (Star Way), Lot 175.  Breezing up in a time of 10.88, this filly is from a solid black type familywith some nice residual value.

Two One Cool Cat (USA) (Storm Cat) two-year-olds feature in the draft, Lots 198 and 239.  Lot 198 is the first foal of the Zabeel (NZ) (Sir Tristram) mare Rozeel (NZ) from the family of Super Impose (NZ) (Imposing) and Mikki Street (NZ) (Cape Cross).  He stopped the clock over 200m in 10.95  Lot 239 is a gelding out of Strawberry Affair (NZ) (Star Way) who breezed up impressively in a time of 10.88.

Lot 82 is a colt by proven sire More Than Ready (USA) (Southern Halo) out of the Zabeel mare Liberty Walk (NZ).  This colt is a close relation to Group One performer Activation (NZ) (Zabeel) and multiple Group One-winner Coogee Walk (NZ) (Success Express). 

Haunui stallion Don Eduardo (NZ) (Zabeel) is represented by three horses in the draft, a filly, Lot 242 from the family of Surfers Paradise (NZ) (Crested Wave), a colt, Lot 49 out of the fast mare Justee (NZ) (Justice Prevails) and a gelding, Lot 349 out of Centro Star (NZ) (Centro).  The filly breezed up in a time of 11.14, the colt a time of 11.91 and the gelding stopped the clock in 11.40.

One of the standouts of the Haunui draft is Lot 237, the Lohnro (Aus) (Octagonal) colt out of multiple stakes-winner Stella Marie (NZ) (Magic Ring).  A colt that has done everything easily in his preparation, he breezed-up in a time of 11.13.

The fastest breeze-up of the Haunui draft was recorded by Lot 332, a Bertolini (USA) (Danzig) gelding out of Biaire (Aus) (Best Western).  The second foal of the mare, he recorded a time of 10.61, one of the quickest of the day.

New Trumps (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux) is a stallion that stands privately at Haunui for his Hong Kong-based owner and from limited numbers is achieving some sound success on the racetrack, particularly in Macau.  Haunui will offer two geldings by New Trumps, Lot 347 is a half brother to stakes performer Coup Strike (NZ) (Straight Strike) out of Centamiss (NZ) (Centaine).  He breezed up in a time of 10.90.  Lot 306 is a gelding out of Anarkali (NZ) (McGinty) whose pedigree features the likes of Keeninsky (NZ) (Stravinsky) and he breezed up in a time of 11.19.

Haunui's up and coming stallion Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) has one colt in the draft, Lot 34 out of Itti Bit (NZ) (Bigstone) - he stopped the clock in 11.13.

Lot 224 will be of interest to a number of buyers, the only two-year-old in the sale by Giant's Causeway (USA) (Storm Cat), he is the first foal of Snowdonia (GB) (Pientre Celebre).  He breezed up with Lot 15, a China Cat (USA) (Storm Cat) gelding with the two-year-olds clocking 11.40 and 11.43 respectively for their 200m breeze-up.

Rounding out the Haunui draft is Lot 151, a gelding by Scaredee Cat (Aus) (Tale Of The Cat) out of the five-time winning mare Panza Anne (NZ) (Sound Reason).  He breezed up in a time of 11.66.

Haunui's draft of two-year-olds can be viewed in the Sales seciton of the website with breeze-up clips to be uploaded as soon as they are available.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995 – or Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513.

Three-year-old filly Returntosender (NZ) (Elusive City) added her name to a growing list of Southern Hemisphere winners for her sire Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) yesterday when she streaked away on debut to win by five lengths over 1400m for trainer Peter Moody.

Bred by Judi Wanless, the filly was born and raised at Trelawney Stud, partners in Elusive City and the farm where he stood for his first two Southern Hemisphere seasons.  Impressed with the performance, trainer Peter Moody commented after the race that “the filly is definitely City class and it was nice to open her account with a win like this today,” he said.

Returntosender became her sire’s seventh individual Southern Hemisphere winner this season and continues a fine run of form Elusive City’s progeny have been having on tracks both in Australasia and, the Northern Hemisphere.

Not to be outdone, second starter Ahdashim (NZ) (Elusive City) was also impressive in his winning effort for trainer Gerald Ryan at Warwick Farm today.  Settling midfield on the rail, Ahdashim was moved into the clear by jockey Jeff Lloyd to make his run and easily reeled in race favourite Back On Top (Aus) (Shagny) over the 1100m trip.

A $150,000 yearling purchase from the draft of Trelawney Stud for trainer Gerald Ryan, Ahdashim has two wins from as many starts and joins Marne (NZ) (Elusive City) as unbeaten horses in Australia.  “In speaking to Nick Williams yesterday I was told that Marne has been sold to Hong Kong for over $500,000,” said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  “While it’s a shame we won’t see him racing in Australia, it is certainly promising in terms of building another market for Elusive City progeny if he can go over there and fulfil his potential,” said Mark.  “Nick also said that they’ll have Elusive City on their buying list at next year’s yearling sales which is definitely a bonus!”

“His numbers just keep rising and he has as many individual three-year-old winners so far this season as any New Zealand based sire,” said Mark of Elusive City’s efforts so far.  “He seems to have a new horse emerging each week and it would be nice to think that some more black type might come his way in the near future,” he said.

Darley’s John Ferguson has given his stamp of approval to the progeny of Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) by purchasing a yearling colt by the exciting young sire at Tattersall’s.

Ferguson paid 80,000 guineas for Lot 791, a colt out of the well related mare Princess Luna (Ger) (Grand Lodge) and he will join the many high class yearlings purchased by John Ferguson on behalf of Darley’s Sheikh Mohammed in 2008.

“It’s always a good sign when one of the world’s biggest buyers of bloodstock purchases a yearling by one of your stallions,” said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  “You know that when these guys step up to the mark that they must have a high opinion of the horse and of course the other guarantee is that the yearling will get every opportunity to succeed on the track,” said Mark.

Elusive City has made a strong impact in the Northern Hemisphere with a Group One performer, two Group Three-winners, a Goffs Million-winner and three stakes performers among his fourteen individual winners.  These results have Elusive City at the top of the First Season Sire’s Table based on earnings.

After an impressive second in her last start at Ellerslie, Dashing Donna (NZ) (Don Eduardo) showed she is well and truly on track this preparation with a scintillating win over 1200m at Matamata on Saturday.

Early in her career, Dashing Donna was an on-pace runner however like at Ellerslie in her previous start, on Saturday she was jumped out to take up a position in mid-field by jockey Vinny Colgan and there she stayed until turning for home.  Behind runners turning into the straight, the opening soon appeared and once into open space, Colgan asked Dashing Donna for her effort and she was quick to oblige quickly reeling in race favourite Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy).

Saturday's effort has placed the Listed Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (1400m) to be run on the 12th of November on the four-year-old's agenda  however a firm decision won't be made until co-trainer Donna Logan has spoken to the mare's owner, Dominic Li.  "There is also a nice race for her at Waikato so we will just see what suits best," said Donna Logan.  "The turn of foot she has showed in her last two races has been great and it's what we normally expect from her," she said.  "Getting her to settle back in the field and then finish off her races seems to be working," said Donna.

Stakes placed at two, Dashing Donna has four wins to her credit from a twelve start career as well as three seconds and two thirds.

Don Eduardo (NZ) (Zabeel) mare Divine Rebel (NZ) (Don Eduardo) made it three from three in Australia this preparation with another impressive win at Mooneey Valley on Friday night.

The four-year-old kicked off her Spring campaign impressively at Warnambool and followed this up with an impressive win when debuting at "The Valley" three weeks ago.  In that race, Dvine Rebel started the lowest rated horse of the field but finished her race of strongly to win on the line. 

Friday night saw Divine Rebel return to the home of the Cox Plate and again, she was impressive in her effort signalling that she will be a strong contender for some major spoils toward the end of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

"We did have her nominated for the Cups initially but we pulled her out in early September as she just took a little longer to come to it in Melbourne than we expected," said Paul Moroney who takes care of the New Zealand arm of the Moroney training operation and who has overseen the career of Divine Rebel all the way through.  "We have always rated her among the best horses in the stable," he said.

From ten starts, Divine Rebel has four wins and three seconds to her credit and with her form to date, looks like adding to this tally in the weeks ahead.

"It's great to see this mare doing the job in Melbourne," said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  "She has been impressive this campaign and there's no doubt it would be a great result for Don Eduardo if she were to pick up some nice black type in the Spring," said Mark.  "We know his progeny are only going to get better with age and with three stakes performers from his first crop who are now four, we're looking forward to him notching up further black type success," he said.

Don Eduardo stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a fee of $10,000 + GST.  For more information please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995 - or Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513.

Haunui stallion Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) is making his presence felt among the first season sire ranks in the Northern Hemisphere heading the leading first season sire's table in regard to earnings.

With two Group three-winners, a Group One-performer, a Goffs Million winner, three stakes performers and, fourteen individual winners to his credit to date, Elusive City is certainly making his mark.

His figures in the Southern Hemisphere also see him as an exciting second season sire prospect with six individual winners - three on both sides of the Tasman - among them, stakes winner Metropolitan (NZ) (Elusive City).

"His stakes performers to foals ratio in the Northern Hemisphere is almost 7%," says Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  "That is from a crop of 93 foals," he said.  Elusive City's winners to runners ratio also impresses at 32%.  "It's quite exciting to have ownership in a stallion that is doing so well in the Northern Hemisphere and if he could replicate that with his three-year-olds down here it would be fantastic," said Mark.

Elusive City is currently working his way through his fifth Southern Hemisphere book of mares and the success of the past few months has seen the bookings start to roll in for the young stallion.  "He is on track to serve more than last year which was 90," says Mark.  "The great thing about Elusive City is that he types his yearlings, he's a dominant sire and buyers like that," he said.  "He's had six figure yearlings from each of his crops to go through the ring - colts and fillies at both Premier and Select level - so at an $8,000 service fee, breeders have every chance of making some good money in the sale ring," he said. 

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a service fee of $8,000 + GST.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995 - or Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513.

Group Three-winner Elusive Wave (Ire) (Elusive City) became her sire's first Group One performer when finishing second on the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches over a mile at Longchamp on Sunday.  The filly had already made headlines the day before selling for 660,000 euros at the Arqana Arc Sale.

Elusive Wave's second was preceded on Friday by two-year-old filly Nashmiah (Ire) (Elusive City), who added her name to Elusive City's list of first season Northern Hemisphere stakes performers when running third in the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes (1400m) on good ground at Newmarket.

"To get a Group One performer in his first Northern Hemisphere crop is a great result and there is still a good number of major two-year-old races left in the season up there," said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  "What has been most pleasing was to see Elusive City get some early season results up there but more importantly, his progeny are still around and emerging, at the business end of the season," he said.

From his first Northern Hemisphere crop, Elusive City has already left the Group Three-winner and subsequent Goffs Million-winner Soul City (Ire), Eluisve Wave who herself is a Group Three winner and Group One performer as well as the stakes performers Nashmiah (Ire), Connie Mac (Ire) and, Able Master (Ire).  In the Southern Hemisphere, Elusive City has sired six winners so far this season - three on either side of the Tasman - among them is stakes winner Metropolitan (NZ) and Marne (NZ) who has been unbeaten in two starts in Australia.

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a service fee of $8,000 + GST.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995 - or Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513.

The list of winners for Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) continues to grow with three-year-old filly Elusive Order (NZ) adding her name to the tally in impressive fashion at Te Rapa today.

Bred by Fairdale Stud now owned and raced by Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan, Elusive Order settled in just behind the leaders after jumping from an inside barrier and went head to head with Tincanman (Aus) (Show A Heart) down the Te Rapa straight, sticking to her task impressively going to the line a half head in front.

Elusive City's Southern Hemisphere tally for the 2008/2009 season now sits at six individual winners - three in Australia and three in New Zealand - including stakes winner Metropolitan (NZ) who lines up in the Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton tomorrow.

"It has been a big couple of weeks," said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm, referring to the stakes win of Metropolitan and then, the win of Soul City (Ire) (Elusive City) in the Goffs Million this past weekend.  "Every week Elusive City seems to be making headlines so lets hope it continues.

Owned in New Zealand by Fairdale Stud, Haunui Farm and Trelawney Stud, Elusive City is certainly proving an exciting stallion prospect for the New Zealand industry.  "There is still a lot to be done yet but he has some very promsing horses out there and the talk is good," said Mark.  "He has the runners out there so hopefully there are still some nice results to come," he said.

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a fee of $8,000 + GST.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995 - or Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513.

The success of Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) continued in the Northern Hemisphere overnight with two-year-old colt Soul City (Ire) (Elusive City) capturing the Goffs Million. 

Trained by Richard Hanon, Soul City was already a Group Three winner leading into yesterday’s race having taken out the Prix la Rochette in France after running fourth in the Group Two Vintage Stakes and now looks a likely candidate for the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

Soul City’s victory looks set to push Elusive City toward the top of the European First Season Sire’s table after holding fourth spot for some time whilst unbeaten Group Three-winner Elusive Wave (Ire) (Elusive City), also in the stable of Richard Hanon, is nominated for next weekend’s Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp and could easily add to her sire’s already impressive Northern Hemisphere record this season.  A stallion owned in New Zealand by Fairdale Stud, Haunui Farm and Trelawney Stud, this would be a great result for the New Zealand breeding industry.

Closer to home, Elusive City was represented by another first-start winner on Saturday in the form of City Newton (NZ) (Elusive City) who won impressively over 990m at Taranaki taking his Southern Hemisphere season tally to six individual winners – three on each side of the Tasman.

Stakes winning filly Metropolitan (NZ) (Elusive City) looks to be a strong contender for the South Island Filly of the Year title after taking out the first leg of the series, the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes.  Bred by Fairdale Stud in partnership with Jim Otway, she is now in the stable of John and Karen Parson’s who on the back of her efforts have booked a mare to Elusive City this season.  “We really think a lot of Metropolitan and there is more improvement in her,” said Karen Parsons.  The filly will line up this weekend in the Canterbury Racing Guineas Trial over 1400m and as she doesn’t hold a nomination for the 1000 Guineas at this stage, a win on Saturday could force owner Philip Bayly to look seriously at the Group One event.

“Elusive City has made a big impact in the Northern Hemisphere with his first crop of two-year-olds and whilst he didn’t have a large number of two-year-old starters from his first Southern Hemisphere crop, they have certainly come out firing as Spring three-year-olds with a stakes winner and six individual winners to date,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  “It’s certainly exciting to have a young sire in the barn that is shaping up in the Northern Hemisphere and with the results starting to come in the Southern Hemisphere, and the continued positive reports we are getting on Elusive City’s progeny, the Spring could be a very exciting time,” he said.

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a service fee of $8,000 + GST.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995 – or Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513.

With the end of September drawing near, Haunui Farm is pleased to report that Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) has made a flying start to the season covering over 30 mares with his first five scanning in foal this past week.

“We were hoping he would cover 40 mares this month to get a good head start on what is going to be a busy season for him and he is well on track to do that,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm. 

Of the thirty mares covered to date, Iffraaj has served the likes of three-time Group One-winner Fayreform (NZ) (Tights), Anna’s Choice (NZ) (Vice Regal), the dam of New Zealand Derby-winner Hades (NZ) (Zabeel) as well as the stakes winner Everbright (NZ) (Cape Cross) and stakes performers Katchmekate (NZ) (Bakharoff) and Swan Lake (NZ) (Green Perfume), and Tafelberg (NZ) (Kaapstad), the dam of recent winner Rubin Carter (NZ) (Storm Creek) as well as Solveig’s Song (NZ) (Bakharoff), a daughter of champion race mare and outstanding producer Solveig (NZ) (Imposing)

Iffraaj’s early positive scans include Dominica (NZ) (Cape Cross) a daughter of New Zealand Oaks-winner and stakes producer Domino (NZ) (Grosvenor).

With mares still to cover such as Rationaine (NZ) (Centaine), the dam of VRC Derby-winner Amalfi (NZ) (Carnegie) and Real Success (Aus) (Success Express), the dam of Group One winner Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel), Iffraaj’s first crop of foals will be well sought after.

“Our partners in Iffraaj have certainly supported him with some of their best mares just as we have,” said Mark.  “We appreciate the support we have received from other breeders as well and we are more than happy with his first New Zealand book,” said Mark.  “Roll on 2009 to the arrival of his first Southern Hemisphere foals!”

Smart filly Metropolitan (NZ) (Elusive City), the first stakes performer in either hemisphere for her sire as a two-year-old, has aptly become the first stakes winner from her sire’s first Southern Hemisphere crop with an impressive victory in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) on Saturday – the first race of the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Filly of the Year Series.

The widest runner for the majority of the race, Metropolitan had to do things the hard way but she did so in style with a sustained sprint down the centre of the long Riccarton straight holding off a strong finish by Platinum Zana (Aus) (Noverre) to win by a nose with a further length and half back to Full Pitch (NZ) (Stay Tuned).

Never out of the money in only five starts, Metropolitan finished third to Juice (NZ) (Bertolini) in the Listed Avondale JC Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) in her last two-year-old start and debuted this season at Taupo with a solid second. The transfer from the Keith and Brendan Hawtin and Stephen Autridge stable in the North, to John and Karen Parsons in the South for owner Phillip Bayly immediately paid dividends, literally, with the Canterbury Belle Stakes Metropolitan’s first southern start.

Elusive City continues to build momentum with his progeny in both hemispheres and Metropolitan’s victory on Saturday followed wins by Marne (NZ) and Ahdashim (NZ) in Australia earlier in the week. This coming weekend, the Mark Walker-trained Elusive Fortune (NZ) (Elusive City) will look to add to his sire’s tally of stakes performers – including two Group winners and two stakes performers in the Northern Hemisphere - when he contests the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“Metropolitan showed she was a smart filly from her first start and her win on Saturday comes as no surprise,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm. “We have heard nothing but good things about Elusive City’s progeny from day one and to get his first stakes winner on the board in the Southern Hemisphere in the early Spring is very encouraging,” he said. “I’m sure there is a lot more to come yet,” he said.

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a service fee of NZ$8,000 + GST. For more information, please contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995 – or Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513.
 

Elusive City has been represented by 2 impressive 3 year old provincial winners in Australia in the past 24 hours, with more promising types ready to show their worth. Ahdashim (ex Clinique) scored on debut for Gerald Ryan yesterday at Newcastle and Marne (ex Giuliana) made it 2 starts for 2 wins from the John Sadler stable at Bendigo today. Both horses raced on the pace and finished their races off in a fashion that would suggest further wins will be close at hand. Elusive City will be represented by the promising 3 year old filly, Metropolitan in the Canterbury Belle Stakes on Saturday and the Mark Walker trained Elusive Fortune is targeting Saturday week’s Bonecrusher Stakes as his next raceday appearance.
“The Elusive City’s are starting to fulfil what the trainers have been telling us for some time and Marne’s performance today was impressive and he looks stakes class” said Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty.
His progeny in the Northern Hemisphere are flying with 11 2 year old winners and 5 stakes performers with two of those 2 year olds being Group 3 winners, the unbeaten filly Elusive Wave and dual stakes winning colt Soul City who both look destined for higher season honours.
“To get early spring 3 year old winners in Australia along with stakes quality horses here at home, on the back of what he is doing in the North is exactly what you hope for with a young stallion” Mark said. “ I really think Elusive City has got under a few breeders guards before now but with his progeny starting to fulfil their undoubted potential in Australasia at the start of the breeding season I expect the horse to serve a book, close to the number of mares he served last year” he said.
 

Excerpts from his dissertation:

Divine Rebel (NZ) (Don Eduardo) made light work of her opposition over 1400m yesterday at Warnambool streaking to a comfortable four-length victory on debut in Australia.

Transfered from the Moroney’s Matamata base some time ago, Divine Rebel has always been held in high regard by the training duo of Mike and Paul. "We rate her as highly as the best horses in the stable," said Paul Moroney. "She is a very good mare and she is only going to get better and better and we see her going to the top grade in Melbourne," he said.

A Cups campaign was initially on the agenda for Divine Rebel but after taking a little more time to settle in Australia than was hoped, she will target some of the major spoils on offer toward the end of the Melbourne Carnival.

With Spring racing now in full swing, Don Eduardo has notched up three winners in Australia over the last ten days and as the track conditions improve in New Zealand, there is no doubt we will see many more of his progeny hitting the track in the weeks ahead.

"The win of Divine Rebel yesterday was impressive to say the least," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm. "As a staying mare, she showed a great turn of foot and put paid to the field pretty quickly," he said. "The comments from Paul Moroney are very encouraging and we look forward to following her, as well as the likes of Najib, through the Spring," said Mark.

The results keep rolling in for Haunui Farm stallion Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) having recorded another Group Three win in France over the first weekend of September.

Soul City (Ire)(Elusive City), winner of the Listed Prix Francios Boutin (1400m) at Deauville in his last start, added a Group Three to his race record with victory in the Group Three Prix La Rochette (1400m) at Longchamp.

Ridden by Richard Hughes, the colt jumped well from his inside draw to lead from start to finish to score by half a length and after the race, trainer Richard Hannon declared him a possible Guineas contender but first on the agenda, is the Goffs Million race to be run at the end of this month.

The start of the new Southern Hemisphere season has already seen Elusive City notch up two further winners in Australia in the form of Time Call (NZ) (Elusive City), the winner of his second start for trainer Brian Guy whilst Marne debuted impressively for the Lloyd Williams stable at Geelong in early September. Both horses settled toward the rear of their respective fields and both finished off their races impressively to win by margins. In New Zealand, the Mark Walker-trained Elusive Fortune ran a solid second at Te Rapa on debut and given the high regard he is held in by his trainer, it shouldn’t be too long before he salutes the judge with the 2000 Guineas on his agenda later this spring. "To get another Group Three in France is a great result and he looks to have a number of horses in the Northern Hemisphere that will be set to compete at the highest level in the months ahead," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm. "It’s nice to see Elusive City having runners in these big races at what really is the business end of the season up there," he said. "Then, to get two early winners in Australia for the new season and some trials winners, things could really start to pick up in this neck of the woods over the next couple of months, " said Mark. Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a fee of $8,000 + GST. For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty 021 663 995 or Shannon Taylor 0212 855 513;

Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) has been represented by two exciting young horses in the past two days in the form of debutant winner Marne (NZ) (Elusive City) and Elusive Fortune (NZ) (Elusive City).

Purchased by Graeme Rogerson at the 2007 NZB Ready To Run Sale for Lloyd Williams for $155,000, the Williams stable was confident of a solid first-up performance and the three-year-old didn’t disappoint with an impressive victory over 1200m at Geelong.

Settling at the rear of the field, Marne stormed down the outside to win by a comfortable two-and-half lengths being eased down by jockey Steven Arnold just before the line.

In New Zealand, the Mark Walker-trained Elusive Fortune lined up on debut at Waikato.  A $62,000 yearling sold from Haunui’s 2007 Select yearling draft, Elusive Fortune is another held in high regard by his trainer and he didn’t disappoint at Te Rapa yesterday finishing second by three-quarters-of-a-length over 1200m.  It is hoped that Elusive Fortune will chase some of the big three-year-old spoils up for grabs later in the spring.

“With two stakes winners in the Northern Hemisphere and six stakes performing two-year-olds worldwide, Elusive City is a young stallion on the move,” said Mark Chitty of Haunui Farm.  “He’s had a number of horses at the trials and hopefully we will see a number of them hitting the tracks over the next few weeks,” he said.  “The horse has really built some momentum in the Northern Hemisphere and if he can get that going down here, it’s going to be pretty exciting,” said Mark.

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2008 for a service fee of $8,000 + GST.  For more information please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995 – or Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513.

Following on from her win in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure (1400m) at Longchamp in July, unbeaten filly Elusive Wave (Ire) (Elusive City) took another step up in taking out the Group Three Prix Du Calvados (1400m) at Deauville this past weekend.

Spring has sprung at Haunui with a flurry of foals over the last three days.