Long-time friends Mark Chitty and Ian Renton didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and they are now co-breeders and part-owners of the ruling Classic favourite Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
They didn’t need to be asked twice when they were offered Xpress (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) and her daughter is now atop the market for next month’s G1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.
“Ian and I went to school together and his dad David bred Gold And Black and Military Plume, among others,” said Chitty, who operates Haunui Farm at Karaka.
“Murray Baker bought Xpress for David as a racing proposition and she won a race, but had pelvic issues.” – Mark Chitty.
“Murray Baker bought Xpress for David as a racing proposition and she won a race, but had pelvic issues.
“David wasn’t interested in breeding so he gave Xpress to Ian and I.”
Two visits to Showcasing, who formerly shuttled to Haunui, didn’t hit the heights but third time around Xpress produced Xpression.
Showcasing
“She didn’t go to the sales, she would have only made Book 3 at Karaka anyway. I said to Ian we should keep this filly and sell the mare,” Chitty said.
“She’s called Xpression and she’s got the X-factor.” – Mark Chitty.
“Studs have to trade and I’m glad we kept the best one for ourselves. She’s called Xpression and she’s got the X-factor.”
The filly was placed with Hawke’s Bay trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen and last season she finished third on debut before winning the G2 Wakefield Challenge S.
Xpression winning the G3 Barneswood Farm S.
“She had some viral issues, quite typical in the autumn with a young horse,” Chitty said.
“We tried everything but to no avail and time is the greatest thing we have in racing.” – Mark Chitty.
“We tried everything but to no avail and time is the greatest tactic we have in racing.”
Xpression has showed the benefit of a patient approach this season and following a resuming win at Taupo she finished runner-up in the G3 Gold Trail S before a hollow win in Saturday’s G3 Barneswood Farm S., at Ashburton.
She will remain in the South Island to round off her preparation for Guineas on November 17, for which she is now a dominant NZ$2.80 market leader.
Sticking to game plan
Chitty said that has been her long-term target and no thought will be given to running Xpression running in both Classics.
“She’s a pretty exciting filly and I’ve seen that tried before, we’ll be sticking to what we’ve set out.
“She had all that time off after the Wakefield and it’s great credit to Guy and Grant to have her back and we won’t deviate from our plan.”
