Where’s Wally mightily impressive
By Jonny Turner
Ghibellines 3yr-old Where's Wally looked both mighty and powerful when producing an impressive debut win at Riccarton last weekend.
The Andrew Carston trained galloper looked like a horse with a big future when running away from his opposition to score by four and a half lengths over 1200m.
With just one trial and one race day appearance under his belt, there should be a stack of improvement in Where's Wally.
"It was a really nice win by Where's Wally, he's a pretty nice horse," Carston told NZ Racing Desk.
"There's a lot of upside to him - he has only had one trial leading into that, but he was pretty dominant."
The way Where's Wally attacked the finishing line suggests he would relish more distance.
That should come as no surprise after seeing his pedigree.
The son of Ghibellines and Carnegie mare, Car Key, is from the star studded family of Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner Might And Power.
Where's Wally's grand dam, Key Of Future, is a Saddlers' Hall half-sister to Might and Power's dam, Benediction.
The 3yr-old is bred and raced by White Robe Lodge clients, Donald and Jose Arthur and David and Hazel Voice.
The Voices have another Ghibellines colt from Car Key, a yearling who was the mare's last foal before she died.
The Canterbury couple are no strangers to success with the stock of White Robe Lodge stallions.
They bred the recently retired top class Australian stayer Yogi.
By Raise The Flag from Grand Lodge mare, Malozza, Yogi won eight races including two at listed level.
The listed Sandown Cup and listed Port Adelaide Cup winner racked up a bankroll of A$671,438 in prize money.
Following his impressive debut win, Carston will take a patient approach with Where's Wally.
The Riccarton trainer plans to give the untapped 3yr-old one more run before sending him for a spell.
"We will go again in three weeks' time and see if he can do the same thing,"
"I would imagine he is going to be a better horse again next preparation.
"He seemed to cope with the wet track the other day, so I think you are silly not to have another go at a wet track and just give him a bit more experience.
"We will probably give him one more run and then reassess."
Last Saturday's meeting was also a successful one for White Robe Lodge jockey, Courtney Barnes.
She was quickly back in to the winner's circle in the second South Island meeting after lockdown when riding Oceans Away to victory for trainer Paul Harris.