24 Dec 2008
The Heckler, (Lucky Owners- Comedy Cafe) part-owned by Cambridge Stud's Sir Patrick Hogan, was an impressive all-the-way winner on debut at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in the $30,000 Countdown To Karaka 2YO.
Having scored a trials win at Cambridge on November 27 there were high hopes that The Heckler would make a smart debut at the races.
He certainly didn't let his supporters down as he strode to a fine win in the 1100m event and signalled he will be a top chance in the $1 million Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 25.
The Heckler is trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker who have enjoyed a great run this season. Murray Baker described The Heckler as a "very promising" horse.
The Heckler is owned by Peter Walker, Alastair Sutherland, and Tony Timpson, the trio who race last year's Diamond Stakes winner Fully Fledged, along with Sir Patrick.
Walker, Sutherland and Timpson bought The Heckler at the Karaka Select Sale earlier this year for $70,000. Sir Patrick came in as a partner at a later stage, reported NZPA.
Alan and Galene Tait of Woodridge Farm in Matamata, had bought him as a weanling at the Select Weanling Sale in Australia the year before for $A26,000 ($NZ31,477).
His dam, Comedy Cafe, was a stakes-placed two-year-old in Australia and he comes from a family which produced the Group One-winning Australian sprinters Alishan and Grandiose.