The picture for this Saturday’s $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) was given an injection of fresh blood last Saturday when super talented Hard Kick scored an impressive debut victory in the Listed VRC Talindert Stakes (1100m).
Not among the original entries for the Blue Diamond, the All Too Hard gelding was so dominant at Flemington that if he pulls up well, the Lindsay Park team are giving strong consideration to paying the $55,000 late entry to put him in the race.
It’s been a sharp rise from comparative obscurity to being one of the most talked about juveniles in the country in a matter of days, but one person not surprised about his emergence is bloodstock agent and astute thoroughbred investor Jimmy Unwala of Avesta Bloodstock.
Unwala spotted Hard Kick at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale in March last year and saw potential.
He bid $30,000 to secure the All Too Hard colt from Friendly Donna out of the draft of Middlebrook Valley Lodge, who offered him on behalf of his breeder David Baxter of Macquarie Stud in NSW.
“He presented as the type of horse that rewards those prepared to look beyond fashion and focus on value,” Unwala recalled.
“He wasn’t the headline lot of the sale, but he was the right horse at the right price.
“Hannover Lodge also joined the ownership group, playing a crucial role in preparing him for the Ready-to-Run market. Their professionalism and attention to detail in educating and presenting young horses is well known, and Hard Kick was no exception.”
Gelded prior to the sale, the youngster thrived during his preparation and it quickly became apparent that he had the most important attribute of all… speed!
He was offered in the Hannover Lodge draft at Inglis Ready 2 Race and in his pre-sale breeze stopped the clock at 10.10s (fastest time recorded on the Synthetic surface and 2nd fastest overall time).
Champion trainer David Hayes was at the sale and secured him for $140,000 for the Lindsay Park business delivering a textbook pinhook success for Avesta Bloodstock and partners.
The purchase of trade yearlings with a view to the Ready to Run market is a strategy that serves two key purposes for Unwala.
First, it creates cash flow. When weanlings and mares are sold, there can be a long gap before the next yearling sales cycle. That period without revenue is inefficient and the Ready-to-Run market bridges that gap.
Second, it satisfies the competitive instinct to identify underpriced yearlings that may not command the spotlight, but possess the athleticism and pedigree to outperform their price bracket.
Turning those horses over successfully can be commercially rewarding and deeply satisfying.
“My relationship with Hannover Lodge has been built over several seasons and multiple horses,” said Unwala.
“Hinnerk and Jade are just so lovely to deal with, and it makes doing business with them just pleasurable. We have enjoyed good success together trading horses.
“They trust my judgement in selecting the right type; in turn, I trust their process in developing and presenting the horse at the sales. There is no need to change a winning formula. When alignment exists, outcomes like Hard Kick become possible.”
Given the incredible prizemoney on offer in Australia, one may wonder if Jimmy Unwala harbours any regret about not hanging on to a horse that has quickly translated potential into stakes success.
“No, I am a trader and this is what I do,” he reflected.
“My model is not built around racing every horse purchased. It is built around discipline.
“Whether it is weanlings, mares, yearlings, or Ready-to-Run horses, the approach remains consistent — acquire well, sell better, move forward. Emotion cannot override structure.
“Over the last year or so, some may have noticed that I have been more selective in the marketplace. I have deliberately scaled back the volume of horses and broodmare shares to remove unnecessary complexity and refined the structure of my business.
“It was a strategic reset not a retreat. With a clearer long-term direction now firmly established for Avesta Bloodstock, the focus is sharper and the model more streamlined.”
Hard Kick was not an obvious juvenile star on pedigree face value, despite his sire All Too Hard actually winning the Talindert Stakes back in 2012, before hitting his straps at three to win four G1 races - Caulfield Guineas, All Aged Stakes, CF Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes.
Hard Kick was the fifth foal of an unplaced mare, whose previous three foals to race had produced one winner Harderthantherest (full sister to Hard Kick), who won four country races in NSW from 24 starts and is now retired, whereabouts unknown.
“Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing horses I have sold do well for others commercially or on the track,” Unwala added.
“Whether it is a Ready-to-Run graduate like Hard Kick winning at Stakes level, or a weanling that goes on to deliver a profitable pinhooking result for its new owner, the principle remains the same: leave something on the bone. When everyone in the chain profits, the ecosystem works. That is sustainable trading in my opinion”.
Hard Kick’s stakes victory is not just a headline result it is validation of a disciplined commercial model, strong partnerships, and an eye for value. And as the upcoming yearling sales approach, Jimmy Unwala’s focus remains unchanged: identify the right horse, trust the process, and back judgement.
There is always another diamond in the rough to be found.
