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Redwood's (High Chaparral) progeny are proving to be versatile performers within the Australasian racing scene.

Photo credit \ Lesley Warwick

Redwood Continues to Make Presence Felt

High Chaparral’s sons have made a profound impact on Australasian racing and among his success stories is Westbury Stud’s own Redwood.

A Group 1 producer whose progeny have proved versatile performers, Redwood enjoyed another rewarding weekend with Tuchel continuing his march through the grades in Hong Kong with his latest success.

Sons Hyperion Tree and Columbus County also produced bold showings at Sha Tin while on the domestic scene, Dr Hank was a dashing winner of the Waikato Hurdles with further major prizes awaiting him through the winter.

Hyperion Tree finished runner-up in the opening event over 2000 metres while the genuine Columbus County, who has a third placing in the G1 Hong Kong Vase to his credit, was a sound fourth in the G3 Premier Plate over 1800 metres.

Prepared by champion trainer John Size, Tuchel is unbeaten in his last two starts and on Sunday evening the progressive three-year-old was into the clear at the top of the straight before powering away under rider Zac Purton.

They hit the line with 2.25l to spare and clocked a swift 1.22.06s for the 1400 metres with a rise in trip and the transition from Happy Valley to Sha Tin key factors in bringing out the best in the Gerry Harvey homebred.

“His first two runs were promising, he ran well both times and then when he got to a little bit more distance (1400 metres) and a bigger track (Sha Tin), he was able to win quite well,” Size said. “He’s got a good temperament so he should keep improving.”

Tuchel was bought out of Westbury’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $130,000 by Simple Bloodstock Services.

He is a son of the Testa Rossa mare Trista Rossa, successful on three occasions, who is a daughter of the Stakes winner and the Group placegetter Altrista.

Trista Rossa has produced three multiple winners and has a yearling filly by Redwood and is back in foal to the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes winner.

Redwood’s best representative to date has been the G1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Rock On Wood with stakes winners from 1300 metres to 2400 metres.

His tally includes this season’s G3 Sunline Vase Stakes heroines Bellatrix Black and Communique, two-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart, successful in the Listed Champagne Stakes, runner-up in the Listed The Phoenix and fourth in the G1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm recently.

Meanwhile, Dr Hank has now won four of his six starts over the smaller fences and looms as a top chance to one better in the Great Northern Hurdle following his runner-up finish last year.

“We were pleasantly surprised with him last year as he just kept stepping up after he won his maiden jumping start,” trainer Harvey Wilson said.

“This year he really looks to have furnished nicely and we think he could be in for another good campaign.”

Wilson and his wife Ann are the majority owners in the horse after taking him over from breeders Peter Hollinshead and his son Darrell, who had prepared him to win twice on the flat.

“The Great Northern Hurdle in September is our main target this season, so we will put together a plan to get him to that race over the next couple of months,” Wilson said.

The Waverley-based horseman has no plans to travel Dr Hank further field, content to chase the premier domestic jumping prizes.

“We’re not thinking of Australia as I’m over seventy these days and we are quite happy staying here at home and chasing the bigger races as the money is still very good and it makes life a lot easier without having to work out the logistics to go over there,” he said.