 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 2009
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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Doug Gale had his eye on one particular horse when he stood ringside at Karaka last year. At that stage the colt's name was Star Vista, but more important to Gale was the youngster's mum and dad - not to mention the end result that he believed such a cross would produce.
"I wanted a McArdle colt out of a Soky's Stom mare," Gale said. "I've got my ideas about breeding, and the theory is a bit too long to explain in a wee story like this, but I just thought that as far as McArdle was concerned - this was the most likely way to get a very nice horse." Gale hadn't been to see Star Vista at preparer Frank Cooney's place prior to the Sale, but after liking the colt in the Parade he also ticked a lot of Gale's boxes afterwards when he took a closer look. "He fitted all the criteria...he had looks, type, attitude; it wasn't a hard decision. We budgeted for $25,000, and he cost a little bit more at $31,000 but I don't think Graham's regretting it now."
Graham is Graham Beirne, a long time client of Gale's who, as is usually the case, later changed the name of his purchase that he now races in partnership with Gale's wife Wendy. Now known as Five Star Anvil, the 2-year-old tore away with the richest plumb of the season when taking out last Saturday's $300,000 PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Series Final at Addington.
It was the colt's third win from nine outings thus far, and with over $215,000 already banked Five Star Anvil is looking an auspicious purchase - especially when his Helensville trainer considers anything he does this season to be a bonus. "Body-wise, he's just not a natural 2-year-old," Gale claims. "He hasn't matured or developed as quick as I thought he would. To look at him, not much has changed since he was a yearling."
"He wasn't the best gaited horse early on either, and still isn't. But he's relaxed, has got a considerable amount of speed, and can stay. In fact, if you'd have asked me a month ago what his forte was I would've said it was more his staying ability than speed - but I think he's actually started to develop a bit of the latter. Plus he's only just learning to race, now. You still have to ask him to run, but in time he will figure out what it's all about."
Five Star Anvil went through a patch soon after Christmas when his health wasn't at its best, and Gale believes he is still not 'tip-top' yet. "He got some sort of virus and his blood wasn't right at all - probably only about eighty percent," he said. "I've been testing him since January, and just before he won the Sires' Stakes Heat at Addington was the first sign of any improvement. He's been able to handle it though, and we've been careful with him. But he's still not perfect, and he probably won't be until these last two events are out of the way and he gets the chance to have a decent spell. He's okay though; I just keep an eye on his blood and make sure it doesn't deteriorate in any way."
Two more targets remain for Five Star Anvil this season...the Sires' Stakes Final at Addington this Friday night, and the Jewels at Ashburton a fortnight later. "Because of his gait he tends to get a bit rocky on the bends at Alexandra Park, so Addington suits him a bit better and Ashburton should too. Kotare Mach is obviously going to be the hardest to beat - I haven't seen him even look like being pressured yet. With no bad luck my guy can compete with anything else, so I just hope that he can step up one more little notch. He won't mind how quick they go though."
Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 13 May09