11 Dec 2021Andalus showed he had the talent to match his good looks when he became Almanzor’s first Southern Hemisphere black-type performer at Te Rapa this afternoon.
The colt by our shuttle stallion was on debut in the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and enjoyed a good run near the pace on the fence and fought on gallantly to finish third.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in the horse. He’s not a dead-set two-year-old type, but he has got the best temperament you could ever ask for and he’s just done everything so well,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“He’s a beautiful colt and the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes will be his main target.”
The handsome Andalus was bought out of breeder Waikato Stud’s Karaka draft for $420,000 by agent Bruce Perry on behalf of prominent owner Lib Petagna.
Among Almanzor’s eight individual winners are the Northern Hemisphere stakes performers Saving Grace and Queen Trezy.