Written by Paul Vettise
Madison County (NZ) (Pins) brought an international flavour to the closing day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.
The G2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner is raced by the global powerhouse The China Horse Club, who purchased him out of Waikato Stud’s draft to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for NZ$36,000.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Madison County came off the back of Melt (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) at the top of the straight and finished impressively to lower the favourite’s colours.
“Murray and Andrew have held him in high regard and to see something so impressive was important, it’s a high quality race.” - Michael Wallace.
“That was some performance. Murray and Andrew have held him in high regard and to see something so impressive was important, it’s a high quality race,” said Michael Wallace, the China Horse Club’s bloodstock and racing manager.
Madison County was runner-up behind Melt in his seasonal debut at Ruakaka and connections were bullish they could go one better at Hastings.
“With that run under his belt we were confident we could turn the tables with a bit of luck,” Wallace said.
“He gave them all a start and beat them fair and square.” - Michael Wallace.
“He gave them all a start and beat them fair and square. He’s a very versatile horse with a great mind and sound limbs.”
Madison County was a $36,000 NZB National Yearling Sale purchase
The G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas is Madison’s major spring target.
“Quite how we get there I’m not too sure at the moment,” Baker said. “He’s just taken a bit of time and he’s by Pins and they are very genuine horses.”
“He’s just taken a bit of time and he’s by Pins and they are very genuine horses.” – Murray Baker.
Rider Matthew Cameron said he enjoyed a trouble-free run from a tricky gate and he was confident 300 metres from home.
“He loves his job and at home he can be a bit quirky and not a flash horse to ride, but on race day he really turns it on,” he said.
Madison County’s dam is Red Delicious (NZ), an unraced daughter of No Excuse Needed (GB), who is a sister to the G3 CS Hayes S., winner Take The Rap (NZ).
Her fourth dam is the G1 Golden Slipper S., winner Courtza (NZ) (Pompeii Pearl {USA}), the dam of the late, great multiple champion sire O’Reilly (NZ) (Last Tycoon {IRE}). It is also the family of the G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic winner Critic (NZ) (Centaine).
