Group 1 Winning 3yo Ugo Foscolo will do his future racing in Australia following a change in the top three-year-old's ownership.
Prominent breeder Kevin Hickman, of Valachi Downs and Hamilton's Todd Bawden have taken the majority interest in the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner, who will be transferred to the Randwick stable of Gai Waterhouse and her co-trainer Adrian Bott.
UGO FOSCOLO
Hickman is also a part-owner of Ugo Foscolo's sire
Zacinto (GB) and he has moved to both protect and promote his assets.
"There had been a lot of interest in Ugo Foscolo from a lot of places and Hickman wanted to ensure the horse was keeping Group One company in Australia for the stallion," said Valachi Downs stud manager Jonathan Scully.
"As far as Hickman is concerned it's about making sure that Ugo Foscolo gets every possible opportunity."
Trained in NZ by Stephen Marsh, Ugo Foscolo won both of his starts as a juvenile including the
Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes.
This season he successfully resumed at Hastings before finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas.
He returned to his winning ways in the
Gr.2 Sarten Memorial ahead of his impressive victory in the
NZ 2000 Guineas Gr1 1600m at Riccarton earlier this month.
"He's spelling and he'll probably be there for another 10 to 14 days and then go over the Gai," Scully said.
"The Australian Guineas is a likely target and longer term we're hoping to get through to the Cox Plate.
"Some didn't think he would get a mile and he proved them all wrong at Riccarton. He's still maturing and he'll strengthen more so we think he will go over a bit more ground."
Hickman has previously enjoyed success with Waterhouse, who prepared Bohemian Lily to win the Gr.2 The Roses at Doomben.
"Kevin's got a half-sister by Fastnet Rock to Bohemian Lily that will also be going to Gai," Scully said.
Dynamic Syndication are the Primary Syndicators to the GAI WATERHOUSE / ADRIAN BOTT Stables and only have limited shares remaining to join their team in 2016.
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