Golden Slipper a possibility for Te Akau Stud winner Al Hasa
THE 2017 Welcome Stakes was a one-horse affair as punters had predicted at Riccarton on Saturday.
$1.40 favourite Al Hasa made easy work of its four rivals in the $50,000 two-year-old affair and now the Te Akau team could target the Karaka Million before possibly heading to the Golden Slipper across the Tasman.
The royally-bred colt by Exceed and Excel x. Oasis Rose finished a narrow second on debut at Ellerslie after bucking early, but there were no such dramas on Saturday as a professional display was put on show.
Co-trainer Jamie Richards made comment about looking for potential stud for the promising colt, but it will likely head to the Karaka Million first before planning an assault on the Australian two-year-old features.
“He came down here today to make him,” Richards said. “He’s now got time to go home at Te Akau Stud, take a break and get ready for the Karaka Million.
“Big thanks to Dave (Ellis) for buying him. Hopefully a win like this as a two-year-old is what the breeders are looking for and hopefully we can find him somewhere to stand at stud.”
Before going to stud, Al Hasa has come group one races to contest and Richards is happy to see a more professional run from the highly-considered colt.
“It was a lovely win, a professional win,” he said. “It was good to see. Just to get him through those immaturity issues – full credit to the team down here and he’s fronted up today.”
Winning jockey Opie Bosson was quick to mention the Golden Slipper, in which Al Hasa has firmed into $34 with Sportsbet.com.au.
“This will be the horse for the big races, the Karaka Million and even the Golden Slipper,” Bosson said. “He’s going to keep improving and he gave me a huge feel, he’s top class.”
The field of five wasn’t tough to manage for Bosson, who sent the punters’ elect forward from the barriers and it was never headed in the run to the line.
“He had a look around today, but when I gave him a backhander he took off,” he said. “He’s on the up and he’s improving all the time.”