DEPTH IN SEASON AHEAD FOR BALLYMORE MATAMATA

A great start to the new season for our Melbourne stable has already seen the Ballymore colours carried to black-type victory by the very promising Octavia in the Cockram Stakes, and with Marwood also showing her wares on the racetrack, we are gearing up for a lucrative season in Australia.

You also get the distinct feeling that it’s only a matter of time before our Matamata training operation is toasting that black-type wining feeling, when horses like the proven performers Le Choix and Kidwelly are waiting in the wings to kick-off their season campaigns, supported by a number of exciting debut runners.

Chad Ormsby, Ballymore Stables co-trainer who is based at our Matamata operation, is right across the potential that his 60-plus team have in producing the goods on the track this season.

“I couldn’t happier with the team I have to work with this season” said Ormsby.

“It is my second season with Mike and the horses we have on our books in New Zealand give me great confidence that we are definitely going to kick some goals on this side of the Tasman” he added.

One such team member highlighted by Ormsby is Le Choix.

Le Choix, a Group One performer and winner of two of his three raceday outings last season, is gearing up for a return to Ballymore Stables with pre-training preparation on the water walker at Gary Alton’s property in Cambridge. Chad visited the now for-year-old son of Choisir recently and was duly impressed with the progress he is making, eagerly awaiting his return to Ballymore Matamata.

“Le Choix is looking very well and is thriving on his work on the water walker reported Chad.

He is obviously one of the most talented and proven performers in the current Ballymore Matamata team and I am really looking forward to have him back in his box at the stable” added Chad.

Le Choix, who is bred and owned by Don and Rochelle McLaren is a son of the Generous mare Genebel, who was prepared by Ballymore Stables during her racing career to win five races including three in Australia.

Le Choix’s younger sibling Estelle is also in work at Ballymore and is progressing well towards her raceday debut.

Kidwelly, a Group Two performer in her three-year-old season is back in work at Ballymore and continues to please Chad with her progress.

“Kidwelly is another exciting member of the stable and I am really happy with the progress she is making this time in” said Chad.

“We are putting together a race plan for her but at this stage she is working up to fast work and we will be ready to jump out early October” Chad added.

Kidwelly, who is raced by long-time stable clients Dame Sian Elias & Hugh Fletcher, ran second in the Group Two Royal Stakes behind Fix last season and finished just behind the placegetters in the Group Two Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic two starts later.

Of his 2013/14 team it is evidently clear that Chad is eagerly anticipating dryer weather and more suitable tracks to really put the Ballymore Matamata training operation on the map this season.

“We have trialled a strong team of two-year-olds recently as well as our regular stable members and I could not be more excited about the depth of talent I have to work with” said Ormsby.

“Roll on the warmer weather and dryer tracks” he said.