Host (Chi) continues to go from strength-to-strength after a ground-breaking season in 2012-13.
The Swettenham Stud sire finished in the Top 5 on the Australian second-season premiership with feature winners Philippi, Hosting and Host Of The Party leading the way.
Hosting returned this season for explosive victories at Sandown and Rosehill. Trainer Greg Eurell has targeted the $100,000 Emirates Airline Plate (1400m) for his next run at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Ciaron Maher is another trainer with a stakes winner in waiting by Host. His promising galloper Name The Day scored a front-running victory last time out on Geelong Cup day and there’s a nice race in him this prep.
In Sydney, Gerald Ryan is confident his Host filly Anfitriona will pay her way this season. “She’s learning how to settle and relax and should be ready to trial in about a fortnight,” Ryan said this week. “We gave her a light campaign as a two year-old and I’ve been very happy with her progress since coming back in.”
Anfitriona (3f Host – Rambling River by Rubiton) is from a half-sister to stakes winning speedster Kulgrinda and made $90,000 at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
“She was very green and wanted to over-race in both her starts down at Kembla Grange,” Ryan recalled. “She finished second first-up and then got beaten by a colt who came out and won at Rosehill.”
Host’s first-crop star Philippi is poised for his debut in Hong Kong for trainer Casper Fownes and owner Edmond Siu Kim Ping.
Originally with Mick Kent in Australia, he won the G2 Tulloch Stakes and was runner-up to It’s A Dundeel in the G1 Australian Derby before heading off-shore.
Renamed Vanilla, he trialled over 1000m at Sha Tin on October 8 clocking 59.68s. He finished midfield in the hit-out and Zac Purton had him under a tight hold all the way down the straight.
In Singapore, Host flyer Super Kenny is firing on all cylinders at Kranji. He is heading for a hat-trick of wins and is getting stronger all the time for trainer Brian Dean.
Meanwhile, Host Of The Party is marking time before returning to action next year. He finished last season winning the Darwin Guineas and Northern Territory Derby but missed a spring campaign due to knee surgery.
Trainer Steve Brown reports the operation was a success and, after leaving the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, he is now recovering with Dwayne Dunn.
Host (Hussonet) stands for a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee and, for further information, broodmare owners should contact Adam Sangster (0418 543 633) or Chris Belli (0417 514 552).