Trainer Bryce Newman enjoyed a stellar day out at Wanganui on Saturday where he bagged a winning double that included a quinella with two of the promising three-year-olds he currently has in his Bulls stable.
Fablue (NZ) (Fabulous), who was having just her second raceday start, got the better of debutant Kronenbourg (NZ) (Vadamos) in a tight finish to the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden (1360m) where Newman thought the result may have gone the other way.
“They are both lovely young horses that we have been slowly getting ready for raceday over the past few months,” Newman said.
“I have always liked them both and I was keen to have them racing a little earlier in the season, but I didn’t want to rush either of them as I think they both have big futures ahead of them.
“Fablue is a homebred who is the first foal out of the mare, so to get a win with her is something very special.
“We bought Kronenbourg out of the Karaka sales back in 2020 and he has impressed from day one.
“He won a trial at Otaki in March and then we backed off him a bit and gave him a jumpout about ten days ago where he shone.
“Although Fablue had also won a trial at Foxton recently I expected Kronenbourg to get the better of her yesterday.
“When he came sailing down the outside, I thought he was home, then I could see the other one poking up through the middle and I thought holy hell we might run the quinella.
“She just had a little more professionalism in the end, but I don’t think he will take long to win a race and they both will win plenty more.”
Raced by the Fablue Syndicate, Fablue is by Fabulous, a son of High Chaparral who stands at Peter McKenzie’s Strathcarron Stud in Levin and is out of the Red Giant mare Ruby Woo.
Kronenbourg is a son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos who Newman purchased as a yearling for $45,000 for owner Wayne Kitching out of the Wentwood Grange draft during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in 2020.
Newman doubled his winning tally for the day when hardy five-year-old mare Amathusia (NZ) (Jakkalberry) outstayed Tramore (NZ) (Shocking) to take out the last race on the card, but admits the result was tinged with a degree of sadness with the tragic passing of Tramore’s trainer Jack Scott earlier in the week.
“It was great to get the win with Amathusia but I did feel for Jack’s family,” Newman said.
“Jack was such a wonderful man and his passing will be keenly felt by the racing community.
“I did think Amathusia was a good chance as she always gives of her best, whether it is on raceday or in training.
“She is just so tough and she gallops like an open handicapper in all of her work.
“It is her second win in 20 starts but she has also been placed second eight times and only out of the first four in four of her starts, so she is a model of consistency.
“She had her first start in this campaign back in September last year and she just keeps on thriving.
“She can have a break soon and I think she will be even better for her next campaign.”
Newman was also enthusiastic about the future prospects for talented four-year-old Love For All (Love Conquers All) who finished fourth in an open 1360m contest, ahead of stablemate Cruz Ramirez (Myboycharlie) who was near the rear in the same race after being affected by an incident in the home straight that saw race rival Stumpy (NZ) (O’Reilly) fall.
“Love For All is very aggressive and she just peaked a little yesterday after getting a bit keen during the run,” he said.
“As long as the tracks hold up, I’d like to target the Rangitikei Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m) at Trentham later in the month.
“Cruz Ramirez didn’t get much luck in the straight and she will need another run before she is at her best, but I expect her to excel once she is at her peak.”
The winning double made it 11 wins for Newman to equal his best result in a season that he set last year and he believes he has the young horses coming through to push that figure higher.
“I expect all of our runners from yesterday to be successful at short notice and we have some beautiful young horses still in the pipeline,” he said.
“I’m really excited for next season with the firepower we have, so it would be nice to attain a new seasons’ best this year and to hopefully extend it again next year.”
