Dehere Colt Impresses
23rd January 2008
Statuesque colt Absent Friends (3c Dehere - Lafy Mulan, by Bigstone) ran right up to his eye-catching good looks when he burst from the pack to score an impressive win at Randwick on Wednesday in the 1300 metre maiden.
Resuming from a spell of 44 weeks after an unplaced debut in the Group Two STC Pago Pago Stakes last autumn, Absent Friends was backed into favouritism and despite racing greenly for much of the race, he showed a brilliant turn of foot over the last 100 metres to win by nearly two lengths after looking no hope on the turn.
“Before the race when I was saddling him up I thought he was the prettiest horse I’ve ever trained and after seeing that, he may also be the best horse I’ve trained,” said winning trainer Gary Portelli.
“I was a bit worried about the 1300 first up and the soft track, but when they have the pedigree and the ability like he does, they don’t take much training.”
Absent Friends is raced by Mr and Mrs Geoff and Mary Grimish having been secured for them by astute Sydney bloodstock agent Vin Cox at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $600,000.
Bred by John Madgwick and foaled and raised at Willow Park Stud, Absent Friends is the second foal of former top class racemare Lady Mulan (NZ), a Group Two winner of the AJC Light Fingers Stakes and twice placed in Group One company.
Her first foal Hollaback (by Fusaichi Pegasus) is a smart metropolitan winner in the John O’Shea stable and her third foal, a filly by Lonhro fetched $350,000 at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and has gone to leading Rosehill trainer Tim Martin.
“Lady Mulan has thrown some outstanding looking horses and Absent Friends was magnificent. He’d be one of the best horses we’ve ever bred here on type,” said Glenn Burrows of Willow Park.
“She has an Encosta de Lago filly for Easter this year that will be one of the highlights of our draft .”
Dehere is now back at Ashford Stud in Kentucky after spending a busy season at Coolmore Australia where he covered 122 mares last spring.
