Prominent owner Daniel Nakhle could have another exciting horse on his hands, with his well-related juvenile Armagh (NZ) (Brazen Beau) impressing with his debut trial win at Avondale on Tuesday.
The son of Brazen Beau is out of Nakhle’s broodmare gem Irish Colleen, who has been a prolific producer, with her progeny including Group One performer Crosshaven, Group Three winner Killarney, and two-win mare Gracehill, the dam of Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto).
The latter has put Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable up in lights over the past couple of seasons, and they are hopeful his close relation has a bright future instore.
The South Auckland trainers were confident of a nice trial from the youngster and were duly pleased with his front-running display, holding out Group Three performer He Who Dares to win by a head.
“He is a nice colt who goes well,” Walker said. “It’s (trial) basically what we expected. He showed a fair bit when he was in work last time, but we have just had to wait for him.
“This little fella is pretty precocious. He has done nothing wrong yet and he has got untold ability. He is showing a lot of potential.”
Walker isn’t any rush with his promising colt and has yet to make any concrete spring plans.
“We will probably give him another trial before he goes to the races. He will learn a lot from that,” he said.
“We will just see (about his spring preparation), we will plan it out as we go along.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Walker will have one runner at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting in Jurisprudence (Justify), who will contest the Onyx Restaurant 1300.
Walker is unsure of how the Justify entire will handle the surface, but is confident of a bold showing.
“If he cops the synthetic, he will be thereabouts,” he said.
TAB bookmakers agree with Walker’s assessment, installing the four-year-old a $3.20 favourite ahead of Bonifleur at $3.90.
Meanwhile, Walker said stable apprentice Triston Moodley is recuperating well from surgery after being kicked in the head at the Waipa trials a fortnight ago.
“He is improving day-by-day,” Walker said. “It is going to be a little while, but he is improving, so that is the main thing.”