18 Jun 2017
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Cambridge Stud sire Power opened his Australian account on Saturday when blueblood Hulme raced away to a three-length debut win on Wodonga.
Bred by Pencarrow Stud's Sir Peter Vela, Hulme is out of Montjeu mare Madam Echezeaux, a half-sister to Darci Brahma and emerging Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy.
He was sold for $100,000 at the premier yearling sale at Karaka, knocked down to Peter Moody before joining the stable of Mick Price in Melbourne.
Hulme is just the third runner for Power in Australia and follows in the footsteps of the likes of Gift Of Power, who claimed the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham earlier this season, as exciting three-year-old prospects next season for the Oasis Dream stallion, whose oldest Southern Hemisphere crop are two-year-olds now.
Power has now had 30 individual winners worldwide, among them five stakes winners, and his reputation continues to grow in Europe with I'vegotthepower scoring at Goodwood on Saturday (NZ time) over a mile.
Power has had three stakes performers in New Zealand this season, the most recent of those the Kevin Gray-trained Satin Belt, who finished third to Burgundy gelding Hard Merchandize in this month's Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui.
Gift Of Power has returned to training with Graeme and Debbie Rogerson and will target three-year-old filly features in the new season, with the Gr.1 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November a likely target.
Cambridge Stud boss Sir Patrick Hogan was rapt with Power's successful start.
"It was great to see him crack Australia with that winner over the weekend," Sir Patrick said.
"His first crop of Southern Hemisphere two-year-olds have made a really encouraging start, especially as on Power's pedigree, they should be even better as three-year-olds.
"Trainers are telling us they have been more precocious than they expected and they are loving training the Power two-year-olds they have - and that's showing in his results.
"He had another stakes performer the other week and his Northern Hemisphere results are really encouraging too.
"He's proving really popular with breeders too and we'd only expect that interest to increase as we get closer to the breeding season."
Power stands at $12,500 plus GST plus a live foal guarantee.
Another point of interest for Hulme's win on Saturday was that he was the horse that gave expat New Zealand jockey Linda Meech her 112th win for the season, breaking the record for most wins for a female rider in a season in Australia.