Written by Paul Vettise
With exquisite timing, young Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir (Choisir) has produced his first winner with his leader of the pack now also guaranteed a place in next Saturday’s Karaka Million.
Tappy’s One (NZ) was making his third appearance on Friday and capitalised on a cosy run behind the leader at Tauranga before striding clear in the straight to win with authority under rider Sam Spratt.
Proisir has only been represented this season by three other runners, two of them placegetters, and the stallion’s maiden success has served to further boost the confidence of Rich Hill’s John Thompson ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
“The timing couldn’t be any better and it’s lifted the spirits again of the farm.” – John Thompson.
“The timing couldn’t be any better and it’s lifted the spirits again of the farm. A week or so out from the sale is a terrific result for all concerned,” he said.
“It just confirms all the very good feedback we’ve been getting from trainers and breeders.
“Proisir has been well-supported since he retired to Rich Hill and what’s interesting is that he got a better book in his second season than his first. That doesn’t happen very often and he’s got plenty of really good yearlings out there.”
Proisir got an even better book of mares in his second season
The catalyst for that came from his younger brother Divine Prophet, who did Proisir a major favour when he came out and won the G1 Caulfield Guineas in the early spring of 2016.
“Proisir’s got more yearlings in Books 1 and 2 at Karaka this year than he did last year so it’s all very encouraging for us.” – John Thompson.
“Proisir’s got more yearlings in Books 1 and 2 at Karaka this year than he did last year so it’s all very encouraging for us,” Thompson said.
“It’s also interesting that Proisir was a quality 3-year-old himself and ran second to Dundeel in the G1 Spring Champion S. over 2000 metres so there’s plenty to come from his stock,” Thomson said.
Proisir
Proisir won his first three starts as a 3-year-old, including the G3 Spring S., before he was runner-up in the Spring Champion and subsequently placed in the G3 Hobartville S. and second again to Dundeel (NZ) {High Chaparral {IRE} in the G1 Randwick Guineas.
His son Tappy’s One was making his third appearance for trainer Stephen McKee and is raced by his father Trevor with breeder Ian Taplin, who has been a strong supporter of Proisir since his retirement.
"He’s really excited about the horse’s Guineas prospects for next season, more so than the Karaka Million.” - Ian Taplin.
“I got a call from Stephen straight after the race. He’s really excited about the horse’s Guineas prospects for next season, more so than the Karaka Million,” Taplin said.
Trainer, Stephen McKee
“But Stephen does fully expect that Trevor will be pushing for the Karaka Million if the horse pulls up well.
"I told him to listen to his father, I’m really excited about him racing in it.”
The juvenile is a son of Tappy Lee (NZ) (One Cool Cat {USA}) and the family of the G1 Levin Classic winner Bunker (NZ) (Sandtrap {USA}) and the G2 Great Northern Guineas Petanque (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}) and his brother Red Baron (NZ), a G2 Wellington Guineas winner.
