19 Nov 2017
Precocious youngster Al Hasa earned lavish praise from champion jockey Opie Bosson following a spectacular display at Riccarton.
The handsome son of Exceed And Excel turned Saturday’s Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (1000m) into a procession and was hard held by the top jockey at the post.
“He’s a top class horse, one of the nicest two-year-olds I’ve sat on for quite a while,” Bosson said.
“He’s a Karaka Million horse and maybe even the Golden Slipper.”
The colt was offered at Karaka earlier this year through the draft of Cambridge Stud and Te Akau principal David Ellis went to $625,000 to secure the first foal of the Oasis Dream mare Oasis Rose, herself second to Sacred Falls in the Gr.1 2000 Guineas (1600m) in 2012.
Al Hasa was quickly into stride to lead one off the fence and Bosson sat quietly until well into the straight.
“He had a good look around and he’s only going to keep improving. Once I gave him a back hander he took off.”
They coasted to the line six lengths clear of Thunder Bay, who edged Patsys Lass for second money.
Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Al Hasa had performed well at the trials before he made his debut last month at Ellerslie, where he bucked out of the gates before finishing runner-up.
“Things didn’t go right at the start and he’s improved since then,” Richards said.
“He worked nicely last Monday morning and travelled down here well. We’ll take it one step at a time, it was a lovely win and he was really professional today.
“He can have a bit of time at Te Akau Stud now and then we’ll get him ready for the Karaka Million.”
Al Hasa was bred by Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan along with Gene Tsoi. – NZ Racing Desk