Promising Kiwi Colt Sought After Joins Peter Moody’s Stable

New Zealand’s rising three-year-old colt Sought After is set to take on new challenges in Australia, with the talented runner joining the Pakenham stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman next week. The move presents an opportunity for the Tivaci colt, who has already shown strong potential in his short racing career.

Sought After has performed well on the New Zealand racing scene, winning two of his six starts and placing once. His most recent effort saw him finish fourth in The NZB Kiwi (1500m) despite some setbacks during preparation. With limited immediate racing options available in New Zealand, connections have decided to send him to Australia for suitable races and tougher competition.

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick confirmed the decision, stating that it was made in collaboration with trainer Lance O’Sullivan and other key stakeholders.

“He will follow the same pathway and go over to Peter and Katherine for a bit. Between Lance and I, we looked at things, and there weren’t many options here in the immediate future,” Chittick said. “All parties agreed that we would give him the opportunity over there and see whether he measures up.”

While expectations remain measured, his connections are keen to see how he competes against Australian opposition. His performances in the coming months will determine whether he stays in Australia long-term or returns to compete in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

Sought After’s relocation to Australia follows a path similar to that of Waikato Stud’s champion galloper, I Wish I Win. Trained by Peter Moody, I Wish I Win made a name for himself in Australia with wins in the Golden Eagle and a second placing in The Everest, earning A$12.5 million.

Under Peter Moody’s aegis, Sought After’s preparations prompt high expectations for his Australian racing future. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing fans will closely monitor his progress as he seeks to prove himself at the elite level. Whether he stays in Australia or returns to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, his success under Peter Moody will shape his career.

His pedigree and youthful performances suggest that Sought After is on his way to becoming a high-level competitor although not fully developed.

Bred at Waikato Stud, Sought After is out of the Savabeel mare Popular, and thus belongs to a very strong racing line that includes the late Sacred Falls, a four-time Group 1 winner. This pedigree not only provides reason to believe he will continue to improve with experience and a change of environment.

The move to Australia presents an opportunity to race in competitive company while benefiting from the expertise of Moody and Coleman, a training duo known for their success with elite-level horses.

Sought After will settle into his new stable in the coming weeks before his team maps out a race program. If he acclimates well, he may contest some of the more prominent three-year-old races in Australia. However, another option may be he’d be shipped back to New Zealand for the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) next year if the adjustment was not fruitful.

The next few months will be key in shaping the colt’s future, and racing enthusiasts will be watching closely to see how he performs on Australian tracks.