Racing: Rios for Australia after share sold to stud

Waikato Stud has bought into big winner Rios and the horse's racing future will be in Australia.

Rios was yesterday transferred from the Cambridge stable of Murray and Bjorn Baker and moved to Waikato Stud at Matamata for a winter spell.

He will later be transferred to the Melbourne stable of Danny O'Brien who has a strong link to Waikato Stud.

"At this stage we can say we've bought a racing interest in Rios, said Waikato Stud's Mark Chittick last night.

"We're really excited about that."

Clearly Waikato Stud will look to find group one form for Rios in Australia, which would assure a stud career.

"We are looking forward to racing the horse in the next eight months," said Chittick.

"We've always looked for lovely types with breeding and a turn of foot and he's got all of those.

"We were rapt when he arrived here this afternoon. Murray and Bjorn have done a great job with him."

Racing for Hong Kong owner Andy Chan and fellow local owner Stuart Hale, Rios downed subsequent Australian group one winner Alamosa in the Wellington Guineas and has always looked a potential topliner.