Brilliant son of The Pandersosa to stand at stud 'Down Under'

Home |

Shadow Play to stand 'Down Under'

Harnesslink News Room 12:14 PM 02-Dec-2008 NZT

COMMENTS(0)

TRACKBACKS(0)

Dr. Ian Moore - One of the top horseman in the host province

Shadow Play

The New Zealand and Australian breeding industry will receive a huge shot in the arm when one of North America's best standardbreds will provide a shuttle service "Down Under" in 2010.

Shadow Play, the reigning World Record holder over a five-eighths mile track (1:48.2) and two-heat World Record holder over the half-mile oval (3:40.1), will stand at stud in either New Zealand or Australia in two years. This was confirmed today (December 2) by the stunning 3-year-old colt's trainer and co-owner, Dr Ian Moore.

Speaking from Canada Dr Moore said the gifted son of The Panderosa was undergoing a fertility test at Blue Chip Farms to finalise the ‘2010 Down Under deal'.

"The horse is currently getting a fertility test right as we speak. Agent David James intends taking him ‘Down Under' in our off season and your breeding season. We still need to finalise the deal, but no matter what happens he will, definitely be retired at the end of his 2009 racing season," Dr Moore said.

"At this stage I can not say whether it will be New Zealand or Australia," he added.Dr Moore confirmed the brilliant black colt had had his last race in 2008. That was on Saturday when finishing runner-up to Somebeachsomewhere in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Final at The Meadowlands on Saturday night.

"That is it for 2008. He will have a couple of months off before returning in May. He was sore on Saturday in his (right) front hoof, the same one that needed patching between the Little Brown jug heats, but raced extremely well.

"I'm not saying we would have beaten ‘Somebeach' but every time we have raced him this years, which has been three or four times, we have either had issues or bad draws."After today's fertility test Dr Moore said Shadow Play would head home for a party on his home track.

"We will be taking him home on Tuesday in his newly bought trailer and the Charlotte Driving Park is having a ‘Shadow Play day' on Saturday afternoon. We are pitching in with some purse money and giveaways. It should be a great day," Dr Moore said.

The experienced veterinarian has never been off the North American continent and didn't discount travelling to the southern hemisphere one day.

"I would love to come for a visit ‘Down Under. Your industry is very progressive and a lot of your horses compete well up here. It's something I have always wanted to do," said Prince Edward Island based Moore.

Shadow Play is out of a Matts Scooter mare named Matts Filly. Unbelievably Dr Moore and his co-owners paid just $16,000 for him at the 2006 Harrisburg Yearling Sales. Now some 25 months later he is one of North America's best pacers behind Somebeachsomewhere having won 17 of his 38 starts and placed in 10 others for $1.2m.

"I've been involved in harness racing since I was 12 and that's over 40 years ago and this fella is easily the best racehorse I have trained or owned. Second and third best would be Astronimical and Impeccable who won $1.2 between them," Dr Moore said.

Dr Moore has always had one or two horses in work, even throughout his University days but in the last six years an increase in breeding as seen his team grow. His closest track is Charlottetown Driving Park on the East Coast of Canada.

Shadow Play was fourth-fastest and fourth-richest sophomore pacing colt of 2008, where four seasonal millionaires were recorded for the first time - Somebeachsomewhere ($2.5 million and counting), Art Official ($1.5 million) and Badlands Nitro ($1.4 million).

Shadow Play 1:48.2 POCONO $50,000 2008 ADIOS ELIM