A largely consistent performer for the Moe stable since his racing debut in 2012, trainer Peter Gelagotis has revealed Hvasstan is close to being confirmed to stand at a Queensland-based stud and will likely transfer to a Brisbane stable for his final racing preparation.
Hvasstan will transfer to a stable in Brisbane for his final racing preparation. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Securing four wins and as many minor places over his 31 competitive starts so far, Hvasstan more than stamped his claims as a serious racing contender over his debut preparation; finishing outside the top three just once on his way to a credible fourth in the featured Group 1 Victoria Derby (2400m).
Having saddled the five-year-old to seven starts over the 2014 spring most recently, Gelagotis told Racing Ahead he is thrilled for the opportunities greeting Hvasstan and said he will likely be transferred to Queensland for a 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival preparation to display his worth to the local racing community.
“He was shipped off to Brisbane earlier in the week. He’s gone off to a water walker pre-trainer facility,”Gelagotis said.
“In the pipeline it looks like there’s a stud up there who is going to stand him so it’s really exciting for us and the connections.
“We thought in the best interests of the horse to promote him as a stallion it would be wise to campaign him up there so the Queensland can have a good look at him in the flesh.
“Hopefully he can perform credibly in some of the better races over the carnival there and that will enhance his chances to get a few mares to him.
“He’ll change to a different stable, I think it’s probably wise to get him into a system up there but the owners have got to decide on who trains him.”
Claiming back-to-back wins in minor events early in his maiden preparation, Hvasstan placed second to Vanilla in his maiden black type appearance the 2012 Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) before taking out the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) and finishing just over two lengths off the pace of Fiveandahalfstar and Super Cool in the Victoria Derby; beating home such names as It’s A Dundeel and Escado.
Unable to secure a race win over his most recent preparation, the Fastnet Rock stallion most notably delivered the Gelagotis stable a rare quinella when finishing second to stable mate Mourinho in the Sportingbet Handicap (1500m) on August 23rd.
