ARMED FOR SUCCESS

Armory, a champion son of the legendary Galileo is a promising young sire starting to make a name for himself with a number of exciting racing prospects throughout the two year-old trials this season.

Orient Sixty was the first to showcase his natural ability with a 6-length demolition job at the Pukekohe Trials beating home the stakes winning Lassified. The impressive trial performance caught the attention of leading Australian trainer Mick Price and the stable moved swiftly to purchase the strapping son of Armory who has now joined their Cranbourne stables. Orient Sixty proved to be an astute purchase for Mr Y Li who bought the colt for $30,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale.

Shackles, another exciting 2 year-old was bred by our partners in Armory - Windsor Park Stud and they showed their strong faith in him taking him to the trials where he displayed his natural speed and ability. The phone was ringing quickly after his latest performance and a deal has been struck with Brad Spicer and he will now race in his famous yellow and blue silks in Australia.

On Tuesday at Avondale, another bright prospect was unveiled in the Windsor Park Stud colours when Staunch Connection trialled for the first time for leading New Zealand trainers Roger James & Robert Wellwood. Staunch Connection was eased in behind them approaching the turn and finished off strongly over the concluding stages impressing with a beautiful loose action. Out of the Thorn Park mare Tequila Sunrise, the ownership group has decided to retain the talented 2 year-old with eyes set on the early 3 year-old stakes races.

Across the Tasman, a 2 year-old gelding in the Matt Laurie stable has already stuck his hand up with an emphatic trial win at Mornington. Out of the Showcasing mare Showmeware, the colt was a $45,000 purchase of the New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Sale in 2024.

Popular Victorian trainer Trent Busuttin has shown plenty of early faith in Armory securing two first crop colts at last years New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, most notably fighting off stiff competition to purchase the $625,000 colt with Cameron Cooke Bloodstock.

On the racetrack in New Zealand, Armory has been represented by dominant 6 length debut winner Silhouette and the talented Swift Thinker who both have group races as targets in the spring of their 3 year-old seasons.

The Armorer trialed up very well behind Belle Rebelle, a debut winner who finished 2nd in the Listed Star Way Stakes and he ran extremely well on debut finishing a close 2nd in the 2 year-old event at Hawera.

Armory has clearly built some early momentum with his first crop of 2 year-olds and it has started to translate into the sales ring where one of his colts out his 2nd crop topped the New Zealand Bloodstock Summer Sale selling for $130,000.

With Armory being a Champion son of Galileo, we are looking forward to seeing the heights his offspring can reach as they enter their 3 year-old classic season later this year. Standing at Mapperley Stud for $10,000+gst, the excitement with his 2 year-olds is starting to show on the track and 2026 will offer breeders an excellent opportunity to breed to a promising young stallion starting on his upward trajectory.