Racing: Miss Potential off to stud

SYDNEY - Top class New Zealand mare Miss Potential will be served by Red Ransom at Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley this week.

Her owner-trainer Bill Borrie said Red Ransom was a proven international sire who should suit Miss Potential.

"It's probably the right sort of cross for her and there were a couple of things in the pedigree I liked," Borrie told NZPA.

But it was the quality of Red Ransom's progeny that impressed him most. Charge Forward, Halibery, Face Value, Noble Red and Red Dazzler are among his best performers in Australia.

"He gets them going early and she was a late developing mare so we might get some oomph there."

The progeny can not only sprint, but also stay.

Red Ransom stands for A$55,000 ($61,104).

Some might be surprised he didn't go for a more high-profile sire for a mare who has won three group one races, but Borrie said he wanted to start off with a moderately priced stallion.

"If the [foal's] legs are on straight and pointing in the right direction we might go for a more expensive sire next year. Or we might go back to Red Ransom."

Borrie hopes she will finish her racing career in Melbourne on a high note in the next month.

"It depends on how the serving business goes, then we will work out when we will race. There's a race over 1400m that would suit her on Caulfield Cup day [October 15] but if that is too early there are plenty of other races.

Borrie hopes the mare will finish her career in the Flemington race she won last year, the A$500,000 group one Nestle Peters Classic over 1600m.

"It would be wonderful if we could have a crack at that race again," he said.

- NZPA