Timaru trainer Stephanie Faulkner looks to have her hands on another exciting ex-Hong Kong galloper, with stakes winner Leedox (NZ) (Time Test) set to make his New Zealand return.
Faulkner had plenty of success with fellow former Hong Kong galloper Green Luck, who claimed last year’s Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) and North Canterbury Cup (2000m).
Following his retirement late last year, Faulkner was on the lookout for a replacement, and her connection with Green Luck led to Leedox joining her barn in March.
Initially trained by Andrew Forsman, Leedox won two of his eight starts in New Zealand, including the 2022 edition of the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m), before being sold to clients of Hong Kong trainer Mark Newnham.
He was unplaced in all nine of his starts in Hong Kong for Newnham and subsequently Chris So, with his last outing being in December last year.
A deal was brokered and he joined Faulkner’s barn earlier this year, and she has taken a quiet approach with his return. Her patience was rewarded at Ashburton’s trials on Tuesday where he pleased with his runner-up performance behind Group One performer Perfect Scenario in their 1000m heat.
“It was the tick to take him off the retired list from Hong Kong,” Faulkner said. “He has had a few foot issues and he had bled in Hong Kong as well, so we got the clearance with everything yesterday.”
Faulkner said Leedox is a lovely-natured horse and his gentle demeanour has made him a stable favourite in the short time he has been in her care.
“Leedox is the best tempered horse you would ever get, he is just a beautiful horse to have around and ride,” she said.
The six-year-old gelding has been in work since March, and Faulkner said he is now ready to make his return to the races after getting the green light on Tuesday.
“He came in late March. He didn’t have a lot of condition on him, so we just wanted to build him up,” she said.
“He has been in work the whole time. He has got a good grounding, so he can go and race anywhere now.
“He will prefer no better than a (Soft)6, he needs it a bit wetter underfoot because of his foot issues. He may just have one or two (starts) and go out until next autumn. We will take each day as it comes with him.
“I am quite excited. He ran a good trial yesterday, I thought he might be a wee bit further back than that, but he showed he still wants to be out there.”
Faulkner said she has been blessed with the former Hong Kong gallopers that have come into her care, and is hoping Leedox can return to stakes level, just like his stable predecessor Green Luck, who is now enjoying retirement.
“They (former Hong Kong gallopers) are really well handled and are just nice horses to have around in general,” Faulkner said.
“Green Luck is still babysitting horses for us. He had a suspensory injury, but he is happily in retirement. He is such a cool horse.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Richard Stomper also made an appearance at the trials, having an easy hit-out over 1000m.
“He is a big, burly horse and he is a bit of a lazy trackworker, hence the reason I took him to the trials, so he would do a bit more work,” Faulkner said.
“I was happy enough with him. He is one that needs blinkers on and I just sent him out with an open bridle yesterday and let him have a good hit-out. He knows when it is raceday.”
Richard Stomper is nominated for both the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), but Faulkner said he would have to win first-up to warrant the trip north.
“He would have to win fresh-up at Timaru over the mile to even look like getting in there,” she said. “It is a bit of a long shot, but we are allowed to dream. If he was good enough to win fresh-up at Timaru, we would definitely have a go.”
Looking ahead to spring and summer racing, Faulkner is excited about the prospects of several other stable runners.
“O’Riordan has just come back into work, she has had a couple of weeks now and has come back very well,” she said.
“He’s Tunza Grunt has just had a freshen-up and he will go for Christmas racing in the southern circuit, and possibly the West Coast.
“I will keep him away from Cup Week unless it is really wet. He is just not competitive on a firm track against those sorts of horses, but he has done a really good job over the last 12 months.
“And Smooth Operator is on a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) campaign and he will start fresh-up at Timaru, so hopefully he comes up.”
