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West Coast completes iconic double with Northern Steeples victory

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskThe Letham Stud-bred West Coast cemented himself at the top of the steeplechasing ranks at Te Rapa on Sunday, the top-class jumper claiming the elusive National/Northern double when taking out the Ben and Ryan Foote Racing Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m).In a contest that was pitted as a match-race between two champions in Mark Oulaghan’s West Coast and Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal’s The Cossack, the favourites both carrying a tough 73kg eye...

West Coast takes testing Trentham feature

By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskA perfectly judged ride by Shaun Fannin helped pave the way for West Coast (Mettre En Jeu x Testament) to add another feature steeplechasing event to his blossoming career record when the pair took out the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham.In an exciting display of jumping set up by tearaway pacemaker Izymydaad, Fannin and second favourite West Coast ($2.50) sat back in the field of six as they covered all the moves of topweight...

West Coast all class in Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase victory

By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskRace favourite West Coast displayed all of his undoubted class over the fences when he made the AHD-Animal Health Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) a one-horse affair in the final stages, winning under a hold by more than 16 lengths.Rider Shaun Fannin bided his time in mid-field throughout as local runner Shackleton’s Edge set up the pace with stablemate Argyll, Izymydaad and Donardo in close attendance.Fannin commenced his move on the Mark...

Tried horse offerings fuel Unusual Suspect success

Whanganui-based stallion Unusual Suspect has proved a more than useful sire. Standing at the Auret family’s Letham Stud, the now 19-year-old stallion has produced a host of well-credentialed horses, including the stakes winner Unusual Countess and multiple Melbourne metropolitan winners So Unusual and Unusual Culture. The latter, who was a debut winner for Fraser Auret, has now won four of her past six outings for the in-form Ciaron Maher ...

Winning Culture continues

Unusual Culture continued her march through the grades after the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare scored her fourth win of the preparation at Flemington on Saturday when taking out the David Bourke (1620m).The Kiwi import was sent out an $8 chance after drawing out (9) but ended up in a perfect one-one spot before letting down powerfully in the straight, holding off favourite Brayden Star ($3) to prevail by three-quarters of a length.Stable representative Jack Turnbull was delighted w...

Unusual Culture continues hot form

Sandown has brought the very best out of New Zealand-bred mare Unusual Culture this autumn, and that formula proved to be a winner again in Saturday’s JRA Handicap (1600m) on the Hillside track.The A$130,000 race was the third win from the last four starts for the four-year-old mare, with all of those victories coming at Sandown on March 1, April 10 and on Saturday.Apprentice jockey Carleen Hefel has been in the saddle for those two most recent appearances, and she positioned Unusual Culture i...

Four in a row for So Unusual

There are bigger and better things in store for up-and-coming stayer So Unusual, who scored a remarkable come-from-behind win in Saturday’s A$150,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Tenders Open (2500m) at Flemington.It was the fourth win in a row for the New Zealand-bred gelding, who has now had a total of eight starts for five wins, two placings and A$276,505 in stakes.The four-year-old jumped from the inside gate on Saturday and enjoyed a comfortable midfield run under Dean Holland, but he appeare...

Cup Dream alive for So Unusual

Tony and Calvin McEvoy have a promising stayer on their hands in the form of Kiwi import So Unusual who proved too strong in the Premier Signs Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday. The son of Unusual Suspect was a winner at Woodville for Fraser Auret in April last year and has made a good impression from his five starts from his new quarters, winning his past three for the McEvoy team. Sent out the $3.60 favourite, So Unusual got back worse than midfield in a solidly run race, with ...

Great January for Unusual Suspect

27/01/2023Jackjack (AUS) 2016 (G. by Unusual Suspect-Miss Cha Ching)           1st TTC Cup Barrier Draw at Sporties P., A$25000 1600m earning A$1562526/01/2023Master at Arms (NZ) 2018 (G. by Unusual Suspect-Sent to Sea)       1st Murray Bridge RC Long's Sand & Metal Maiden P., A$22000 1000m earning A$1082522/01/2023Mariposa (AUS) 2017 (F. by Unusual Suspect-Love You)       4th TRC La...

Homebred colt sells well at Karaka

We were delighted to sell our homebred Per Incanto x Petite en Jeu colt to the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Karaka 2023.Hong Kong Jockey Club buying agent Craig Rounsefell commented:“Per Incanto is high on the hit list of sires we’re looking to target,” Rounsefell said.“We’re always looking in this sale, in particular, where there’s been some really nice ones. The two we’ve purchased we’re absolutely delighted with. They are the first two horses we’ve bid on during the sale and we�...

So Unusual scores at Sandown

Lightly-tried four-year-old So Unusual continued his roll good form when successful in the Shaun Morris Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday, advancing his career record to three wins from six starts.The son of Unusual Suspect was a winner at Woodville for Fraser Auret in April last year and has made a good impression with two wins from four starts from his new quarters with Tony and Calvin McEvoy.The gelding was roared home by a vocal group of owners, with jockey Dean Holland sporting the si...

Walk in the Park for West Coast

Classy jumper West Coast looked like he was out for a Sunday stroll in the park as he ambled his way to victory in Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 147th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton. Sent to the lead from barrier rise by rider Shaun Fannin, the Letham Stud-bred seven-year-old gelding set a leisurely pace throughout, virtually walking the first lap before increasing the tempo starting the final round of the Riccarton circuit. With 1000m to run it looked like West C...

Runaway Australian double for Unusual Suspect

Letham Stud-based sire Unusual Suspect was represented by two runaway winners in Queensland on Saturday.  Our Spider was the super impressive winner of the Farm Protectors Benchmark 60 Handicap (1805m) under the lights at Toowoomba.  Sent out the $2.40 favourite, Our Spider settled back in the field from barrier six, a long way off the leaders before weaving his way through the field from the 600m to run away an all too easy four-length victory.  The six-year-old gelding was ridde...

West Coast takes first day jumping honours at Riccarton

Promising steeplechaser West Coast looks to have attained the favourite’s tag for next Saturday’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 147th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) with a dashing display to take out the traditional lead-up event at Riccarton on Saturday. Facing just three rivals in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), the Mark Oulaghan-trained seven-year-old put in a proficient display in the hands of Shaun Fannin to defeat last start Te Rapa winner Carn...

Unusual Culture showing promise in Australia

Former Kiwi filly Unusual Culture is showing plenty of promise in Australia for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.The daughter of Unusual Suspect ran third at Caulfield over 1200m in her Australian debut last month and she will return to the Melbourne track on Saturday to run over 1400m.While her trainers are expecting a bold run over further ground, they believe she is still one run away from hitting peak fitness.“We like her, I think she is one to follow,” Eustace told RacingHQ....

Easter double for Unusual Suspect

Letham Stud's Unusual Suspect was credited with two winners over the Easter weekend.First on the board was Fandazzle ( x Fantastic Carat), winner at Geraldton over 1627m on Saturday. It was the third career win for the five-year-old mare who was second up this preparation after finishing fifth at the same track last month.On Monday So Unusual (x Highland Rose) cleared maiden ranks at just his second start. The three-year-old gelding finished third on debut at Waverley earlier this month and stor...

Auret savouring grassroots racing adventure

Fraser Auret is loving his West Coast adventure.The Marton trainer has 16 horses campaigning on the coast circuit, which began with racing at Greymouth on Monday, continued with the Reefton meeting on Wednesday and culminates with Saturday’s Kumara fixture.But it’s not just a big team of horses Auret is travelling with. He is part of a 16-strong touring party along with his wife and three children, extended family, staff and owners.“You watch the West Coast races every year and it’s a tr...

Leviathan Australian owner secures smart filly

The curtain is likely to come down on Unusual Culture’s (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) brief New Zealand career when she takes on a competitive age group line-up in the three-year-old feature at Otaki on Thursday.Off the back of a lead-up trial placing, the Fraser Auret-trained filly overcame a slow start to score effortlessly when she made her debut on the course earlier this month.That performance saw prominent owner Ozzie Kheir come calling and she will carry his colours in the Gr.3 Lucia...

Auspicious day for Auret family

Several days have passed since recording a black-type double at Riccarton, but Nigel Auret is still lost for words when asked about the achievement. His son, Fraser, had travelled south from his Marton base with Unusual Countess (Unusual Suspect x Countessofdelgatie) and Streak of Power (Power x Stracile) and duly delivered with the pair winning the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Listed Easter Stakes (1400m) respectively.  “It was just a fantastic day, that is all I can say,” Nigel...

Auret captures stakes double at Riccarton

Marton trainer Fraser Auret made it a red-letter day for the Auret family on Saturday when he captured both feature races at Riccarton. Two-year-old debutant Unusual Countess made a stunning racetrack debut when she took out the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m), before lightly raced four-year-old Streak Of Power outlasted his rivals to win the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Easter Stakes (1600m). Both horses are raced by Auret’s parents Nigel and Adaire, who stand Gr.1 Hollywood Tur...

UNUSUAL SUSPECTS FIRST FOALS ARRIVE

Exciting times at Letham Stud as the first crop of New Zealand bred foals hit the ground. His quality is really showing through in his offspring.  They are well muscled, have very correct legs and unbelievable temperaments.  (Note pictured foals are all aged between 1-7 days)...

UNUSUAL SUSPECT HEAVILY SUPPORTED FOR FIRST NZ STUD DUTIES

Although Unusual Suspect was not secured and imported until part way through the breeding season, he still managed to receive a book of almost 50 mares. This includes some very good black type performers and multiple winners. His first booking came from top judge Kevin Myers who loved the horse and sent 11 win CARAMAC, who is now successfully in foal. The support around the Central Districts is very encouraging, and breeders are very excited to have a top group one winner of this class standing ...

Letham Stud secure Unsual Suspect

An international Group One winner is on his way to the Auret family’s thoroughbred operation on the outskirts of Wanganui. The well-performed Unusual Suspect has been purchased for stud duty at Letham Thoroughbreds, where he will stand at $5000 + GST.“We had been keeping an eye out for another horse and one that we could send all our mares to,” Nigel Auret said.“We weren’t going to take anything just for the sake of it. We wanted the real deal and we had all but given up when this hors...