Bargain Buy Impressive In Azzopardi Double

LUKE Azzopardi had an inkling it might happen … it almost always does.

He bred a Barcia Bale and Intuitiv Emgrand litter early last year and hoped for the best.

Luke had every reason to believe the litter would produce quality gallopers.

Intuitiv Emgrand (Mogambo-Fantasy Royale) had already produced Group 2 Richmond Derby runner-up Royal Emgrand to Barcia Bale's son Shima Bar.

“She had just one bitch pup,” lamented Luke. “Which meant I had to go and find something to rear with her.”

He paid $2000 to buy an Ando's Mac-Rosa's Revenge pup.

“The Barcia Bale experiment was costly,” said Luke. “And, as almost always happens, the other pup is the better.”

That pup, Major Ando, made his race debut at Richmond on the straight on Saturday and scored by three lengths in 17.96.

“I've got my money back on him straight away,” said Luke.

“He went really good at Richmond and is a likely improver for sure.”

He was the second of a winning double for Azzopardi who won the opening race with Emgrand Express a beautifully bred son of Pindari Express and the Group class stayer Mrs Emgrand a granddaughter of legend Miata.

“It's a nice litter,” said Luke of the Emgrand Express litter.

“Mrs Emgrand has nine pups by Collision about 10 months old and we really like them too.”

Luke grabbed a bargain when he bought Major Ando for $2000.

The dam raced 79 times for 23 wins and 26 placings.