The winners continue to flow for Waikato Stud’s young High Chaparral (IRE) stallion Tivaci with Draft Day making the best possible start to his career with a tough performance over 1200m at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained gelding becomes the fifth winner from six runners for Tivaci in Australia this season, and he did it the hard way.
Caught three-deep the trip under Damien Oliver, Draft Day needed to dig deep to defeat the fast-finishing Flying Artie colt Riverplate by a short-half-head with the Wolf Cry gelding Prowling a further one and a half lengths back in third.
“It was a super effort; not much went to plan,” stable representative Dom Sutton said.
“Ollie was expecting him to jump much better and put him right there. He had to use him up early and was just too good late.
“It was all about starting off and see what he did. He has always shown us plenty of ability at home. He has just been a slow mature to put it all together.
“He still looked pretty raw out there today, switching on and off the bridle. I’m sure Troy will sit down and map out a plan now.
“We are hoping to get out to a mile. We would love to head to the Guineas if we think he can take us there. He has got plenty of natural speed, so we will utilise that.”
Oliver praised the geldings toughness.
“It was a brave effort; he did not get any favours from a wide gate, and he did a good job to fight them off,” Oliver said.
“He’s still pretty new but shows nice potential. That appeared to be a pretty strong maiden on paper, and I think he can progress.
“Not sure what level he can reach in the spring, but in time he will develop into a very nice horse.”
Purchased by Malua Racing / Flemington Bloodstock for $85,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2020 NZB Yearling Sale at Karaka, Draft Day is the first winner for the 3-time winning Johar (USA) mare Miss Lioness.
A daughter of the Generous mare Lioness, Miss Lioness is a half-sister to Group 1 Victoria Derby and Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes winner Lion Tamer (Storming Home), and the stakes-placed winners Let Me Roar (Rip Van Winkle) and Lubaya (Rip Van Winkle).
Andrew Forsman purchased a brother to Draft Day for just $40,000 at Karaka earlier this year.
Miss Lioness has a yearling colt by Sacred Falls and was covered by Contributer (IRE) last spring.
After failing to sire a 2yo winner from nine starters in Australia last season, Tivaci has been unstoppable in the first month of the new season.
The Group 1 All-Aged Stakes winner stands at Waikato Stud for a value fee of $12,500 (+gst) with a live foal guarantee.
