Champion trainer Chris Waller is usually preparing a quality two-year-old in Brisbane at this time of year, but he has unveiled an exciting New Zealand-bred colt at Rosehill Gardens in the Bowermans Handicap (1300m) on Saturday.
Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) proved too strong for his rivals in the opening race of the card defeating the more highly fancied stablemate Madame Pommery (No Nay Never) by a widening three- and three-quarter lengths.
After having his first trial in January on the Gold Coast, the $160,000 Karaka yearling purchase had been tuned up for this with two solid recent Rosehill trials.
Stable representative Damien Fitton was full of praise for his team’s juvenile, saying that he had been a great example of the breed all the way along.
“He’s been a lovely colt from day one and the stable has a nice wrap on him, so it was great to see him get the job done on debut,” Fitton told Sky Racing’s Gavin Carmody post-race.
“He’s a typical Pierro, they take a bit of time so we just looked after him early days and brought him back in. He’s strengthened up and matured a lot.
“He’s still got a lot of growing to do but he’s a lovely colt moving forward and I’m sure the ownership group are going to have a really nice time ahead.”
Jockey Josh Parr echoed Fitton’s sentiments and believes there could be bigger fish to fry down the road.
“So typical of the Pierro breed, I’ve had a lot of luck with them,” Parr said.
“He’s the perfect Pierro type, he’s got a lovely big stride. He’s got a good attitude, albeit a little bit green today, but he could make the grade.”
Bred by Kevin Hickman, Osipenko was purchased out of Valachi Downs’ 2021 Book 1 draft at Karaka.
His dam Raskova, a stakes performed daughter of Henrythenavigator, is from the family of champion sires Shamardal and Street Cry. She will be offered in foal to Darci Brahma later this month on Gavelhouse Plus as part of Valachi Downs’ dispersal sale following the Matamata-based operation being sold to Lib and Katrina Petagna.
Meanwhile kiwi-breds won a further three races on the Rosehill card. Niffler (NZ) (Tavistock) was an impressive winner in the Farewell Nevesh Ramdhani Handicap (1400m) racing away from her rivals to win by over two and a half lengths. It was the fourth win for the four-year-old mare who was purchased by Woppitt Bloodstock out of Cambridge Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft for $200,000.
Next up was Per Inaway (NZ) (Per Incanto) who claimed her fourth win from six starts, her second in Australia. She was a two-time winner in New Zealand for New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock and was purchased by Australian Bloodstock after splitting smart pair Mohawk Brave (Extreme Choice) and Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy) over 1400m at Hawke’s Bay.
Per Inaway is out of the Danasinga mare Inertia (NZ), a daughter of Upstage (Quest For Fame) who is the dam of multiple Group One winner and successful Cambridge Stud sire Tavistock.
A daughter of Little Avondale Stud’s high-class stallion Per Incanto, Per Inaway was purchased for $26,000 as a yearling by Sharrock from the draft of Brighthill Farm and was bred by Bloomsbury Stud.
Rounding out the winning quartet was Mach Schnell (NZ) (Zacinto) who headed off Dhakuri (NZ) (Contributer) to win the Ranvet Handicap (1500m). A winner in New Zealand for Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, Mach Schnell has now won two of his four starts since joining the Warwick Farm stable of Joseph Pride.
