Zambora Brockie Heads To Sires On Ice

LEADING trainer Anthony Azzopardi's unwavering belief that his multiple group 1 winning galloper Zambora Brockie has all the ingredients to make it as a successful stud dog has paid immediate dividends, with his first litter to hit the ground – bred by Azzopardi and partner Kylee Osborne – creating a big impression.

Winner of 31 races and over half-a-million in prizemoney during a career that netted Group 1 wins in a Vic Peters Classic (Wentworth Park) and Winter Carnival Cup (Albion Park), Azzopardi was the first to move on the son of Nitro Burst and Flying Liddy at stud, putting a bitch named Anastasia to the star chaser midway through 2017.

Anastasia, a daughter of Magic Sprite and Group 1 winner Daydream, is a sister to retired star Ultimate Magic and half-sister to the freakishly talented galloper Hay Fergus, who had what promised to be a lucrative career of racing cut short through injury after just five starts, producing four devastating victories.

And with a three month lag between Zambora Brockie's first litter to Anastasia hitting the ground and the next, early success was always going to prove pivotal for the star chaser's future stud prospects, where it's now fair to say the three pups produced thus far have more than held up their end of the bargain.

Leading that charge is the unbeaten Seal The Deal, the brindle flyer going through the recent GRV Vic Breeders Maiden Series (450m) at Warrnambool undefeated, including a sizzling semi-final triumph in a scorching 24.97.

Also showing immense promise is No Vacancy, who after landing a heat and semi-final of that maiden series in impressive fashion, was never out of bother in the final, while another from the litter, Neil's Girl, has shown ability at her two starts, including an eye-catching second on debut at Shepparton.

"Seal The Deal broke in well above average but there's a bitch in the litter that actually broke in even quicker that's out injured at the moment," Azzopardi told the Recorder recently.

So far the litter has raced on eight occasions for five slick victories and another two placings – a great advertisement for Brockie's future stud claims.

From this week, Zambora Brockie will call Sires On Ice home, with Tony Wiseman standing him at $2,200 frozen or $2,800 natural.

And with about 25 litters on the ground, all eyes will be on the next wave of ‘Brockie's' coming through in the coming months, with the reports more than encouraging for the son of Nitro Burst – his stud credentials expected to only heighten from here.