Probably "second half of this year"??
Tuesday, 8 January 2008: Blue Gum Farm has seemingly pulled off a great coup by acquiring outstanding South African juvenile galloper of last season Argonaut as a racing and future stallion prospect.
South Africa's Equus Champion Two-year-old Argonaut was purchased by Blue Gum's Philip Campbell who put together a syndicate of existing clients with current American owners Mr and Mrs Robert Muir also joining the group.
Argonaut has been devastating in just four racetrack appearances in South Africa winning three times and being narrowly defeated on the other occasion.
The flashy son of Western Winter is regarded as the best galloper to emerge from South Africa since Horse Chestnut eight years ago and in some quarters is even being spoken about in the same terms as other international group performers Ipi Tombe, Irridescence, Perfect Promise, Hoeberg and London News.
A close but unlucky second in the Group 1 Gold Medallion Stakes over 1200m at Scottsville followed an effortless win on debut at Turffontein in March of last year, but then the colt asserted his quality with two resounding Group One victories.
The first of those was in the Schweppes Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Durban's biggest raceday, with the Geoff Woodruff-trained youngster treating his 14 rivals with contempt running out an easy winner by almost three lengths.
His last and final race appearance in South Africa was just as awesome. The race was the Group One Meydan Premier's Champion Stakes over 1600m at Clairwood. Despite his rider Michael Khan losing his stirrup iron soon after the jump, Argonaut simply got on with the task at hand, pulling his way to the lead and was never troubled thereafter.
Argonaut romped home by five lengths in the slick race time of 1.34:48, prompting many pundits to hail a new champion galloper for South Africa.
While immediate racing plans are still to be decided as is an Australian trainer, Argonaut comes down under with an imposing race record.
According to Campbell, Argonaut has only just come out of quarantine in Melbourne and will rest before returning to racing in "the second half of this year". The 2009 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night is one goal mentioned but first Argonaut must reproduce his outstanding South African form in Australia.
Right now it looks very much like South Africa's loss is definitely Australia's gain as we wait for this impressive galloper to make his Aussie race track debut.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Topic Author
