Azevedo returns to Victoria

Azevedo has returned home to stand his first season back in Victoria.

The Group 1 sprinter arrived at Malcolm Boyd’s Bullarook Park Stud last week.  The Avenel property is already home to Lucas Cranach (Ger) and Strategic Maneuver.

Azevedo (Helissio) was trained by Robbie Laing and, in his first preparation, won at Moonee Valley and was beaten a nose by seasoned sprinter Super Elegant in the G3 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield.

He also finished third to Choisir and Spinning Hill in the G1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington at just his seventh start.  “We were offered big money for him at that stage,” Laing recalled.  “But we knocked it back because he had so much potential.”

A colic attack interrupted the colt’s career, however, he came back to complete a hat-trick of Sandown sprints and was runner-up to Super Elegant again in the LR Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.

Azevedo started at stud with a 100% strike-rate in his initial crop.  Appropriately, Laing got him off the mark with talented filly Serene Tanie at Caulfield and Moonee Valley.

Being based in Tasmania meant Azevedo’s opportunities were restricted – there have been 11 winners from just 22 starters in his first three crops.

“He’s proved he can sire winners from very limited numbers,” Boyd said.  “All he needs is a proper book of mares.”

Azevedo is a son of former Widden Stud shuttler Helissio (Fr).  The only other son of the Arc de Triomphe winner to stand at stud in Australia was Helenus and he sired Group 1 winners Cedarberg (BMW Stakes) and Ethiopia (Australian Derby).

Boyd stands Azevedo in conjunction with long-time client John Fiteni for a $2,200 (inc gst) service fee.  He can be contacted on 0407 342 291  or  bullarookpark@bigpond.com