Trainers
David Hayes and Tom Dabernig believe they have an A-grader in the stable in
PETROLOGY, who kicks off his spring preparation in Saturday’s 1200m
Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.
Dabernig said
Petrology had always shown the potential to be a top-liner, including last spring when he
won the Connoisseur Stakes and the Sandown Guineas.
As a 2yo Petrology started in 3 races, winning on debut over 1200m before finishing runner-up in a 1200m Handicap at Caulfield to Pressing and then running second again to Pressing in the Redoute’s Choice S., 1200m at Listed Race level.
PETROLOGY
As a 3yo he has raced on 9 occasions. He had 6 starts in the spring which culminated in back-to-back Stakes Wins taking out the
Connoisseur Stakes Listed Race over 1800m at Flemington before dropping back a furlong at his next start to win the
Sandown Guineas Group 2 at 1600m.
Petrology had just three starts in the autumn. After an excellent first-up effort when a fast finishing second place in the
Group 3 Manfred Stakes, the Fastnet Rock colt disappointed in his next two runs at Group 1 level in the CF Orr and the Australian Guineas however Dabernig says the colt hadn’t come up as expected after his excellent spring and big effort first-up in the Manfred Stakes.
“We’ll be guided by what he does on Saturday, but he really looks to have furnished and become a much more mature horse,” Dabernig said.
“He had a really good hit-out on the grass at Euroa (their private training facility) and he’s had a couple of jump-outs at Flemington.
“It’s going to be a nice lead-up race for him to get him going for the spring.
“They might be a bit sharp for him, but we think he’ll run well and show he’s in for a good spring.”
Dabernig said the
Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 29 at Caulfield was one of their targets.
Petrology will be ridden in the Group 3 Bletchingly by Damien Oliver, who wanted to ride the Fastnet Rock colt to test out his spring credentials.
If ever a colt had the pedigree to be successful it’s
Petrology.
By FASTNET ROCK (a son of Danehill) from ROMANTIC RIVER (USA) (by Irish River), he is a younger three-quarter brother to
Champion Mare AQUA D’AMORE a winner of 9 races from 1200m to 2400m and $1,936,850 including the
Gr1 MRC Futurity S., AJC Villiers Gr2, Summer Cup Gr3, and was Gr1 placed in the Caulfield Cup, Turnbull S., LKS Mackinnon S., CF Orr S., and also ran fourth in the Australian Cup, Cox Plate and Doncaster.
AQUA D'AMORE
Naturally our teams at Dynamic Syndications and Gai Waterhouse Racing are looking forward to seeing if PETROLOGY can go through its grades and win at Gr1 level as this would add more commercial value to an already strong commercial pedigree.
Dynamic Syndications are ready to launch our latest promotion with
GAI – a MORE THAN READY filly from the Champion Mare AQUA D’AMORE. Incredibly our filly is the sixth foal from
AQUA D’AMORE but very importantly, she is the
first daughter of AQUA D’AMORE.
Our filly is a
gilt-edged investment. She is
by a multiple times Champion Sire from a Champion mare and the mare is a ¾ to PETROLOGY. She has the opportunity to become a mythical
“Blue Hen” status mare in the future, so her residual value will make her highly sought after upon racetrack retirement.
OUR FILLY by MORE THAN READY ex AQUA D'AMORE
If she could add Group 1 black-type to her own resume
she could become priceless.
With
5% shares at $9,250 she will be a terrific opportunity for her astute owners. Details can be found on the filly in our upcoming syndications section of our website.