Racing: Plenty to holler about if juvenile wins

Photo / Thinkstock

The odds were against What A Hoot being foaled let alone making his debut at today's Moonee Valley meeting.

What A Hoot is a son of former Hong Kong galloper Danfive, who won his first five starts in the Asian racing centre before injury ended his career prematurely.

Danfive went to stand at Grangewilliam Stud in New Zealand, but poor fertility ensured the stallion was shunted off to chase mares around in a Wanganui paddock.

Seven of Danfive's progeny have raced without success.

"We actually had a great response to him and a really good book of mares but, unfortunately, he only ended up with about a dozen mares in foal out of 80 or 90 mares served," Grangewilliam Stud master Mark Corcoran said. "He's a lovely horse but his sperm just didn't stay alive long enough to get mares in foal, which was a real shame."

What A Hoot's dam Hoot N' Holler was one of the few mares Danfive succeeded getting in foal with the colt catching the eye of Melbourne syndicator Brad Spicer at a sale in New Zealand last year.

Spicer paid $44,000 for the grey colt but he and trainer Troy Corstens intended to sell the then yearling for a quick profit before What A Hoot's rapid development forced a rethink. "He was a terrific yearling, really striking and a big, strong horse so Troy Corstens and I bought him to do as a ready-to-run horse," Spicer said. "We had him broken in but he broke in too well so I said to Troy it was a waste to send him to the ready-to-run sales and I would syndicate him."

Spicer sent What A Hoot to Leon Corstens and the 2-year-old has pleased connections with his progress in three unofficial trials.

Spicer said What A Hoot was unlikely to produce a debut victory but would acquit himself well in the Slickpix Sprint (1200m). "Saturday will be too short for him, I would imagine, so if he could be midfield, he'll certainly be on track for where we think he's at. Once he gets out over a mile or further as a 3-year-old, I think he'll make quite a nice horse."

- AAP