Rockhampton racing’s rising star Astapor headed to Sydney trainer Joe Pride

Rockhampton racing’s latest rising star, last Saturday’s stunning Eagle Farm winner, is headed south to aa Sydney based trainer.

Astapor. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

Rockhampton racing’s latest rising star, last Saturday’s stunning Eagle Farm winner, the Clinton Taylor-trained Astapor is headed south to Sydney trainer Joe Pride.

Prolific Chinchilla owner Rodney Hay made the announcement late on Tuesday thereby ending speculation about Astapor’s immediate future.

Hay sourced Astapor (br c Tassort -Black Mink x Lonhro) from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale paying $38,000 which has proven to be a bargain.

Under Taylor’s astute tutorage, Astapor was a sensation right from the start last November.

Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography

He won the Breeder’s Plate (1050m) on debut at Rockhampton before scoring a runaway next start Doomben win a fortnight later.

That effortless three lengths win set tongues wagging and phone’s running hot with passionate country racing identity owner, breeder and country trainer Hay turning down a million dollar offer for Astapor.

From his six starts, apart from his three wins, Astapor has twice finished fourth, firstly in the GR 3 company behind Storm Boy and then to Megastar Heart in the LR Oxlade Stakes in Brisbane.

Resuming on Saturday, 35 days later from the Oxlade, Astapor stamped himself as a serious and rare talent lumping 60kg from the outside barrier to determinedly win over the 1200 metres at Eagle Farm.

All up Astapor, has accrued $235,100 in prize money.

In the process of Saturday’s win, Astapor virtually ruled himself out of upcoming Brisbane three-year-old races, by being very difficult to be placed to advantage in Queensland.

It is an opinion shared by owner Hay and trainer Taylor.

“He would be virtually impossible to place in Brisbane now as he would be asked to carry huge weights. I had a good talk to Clinton (Taylor) as well as some very other good racing judges and we agreed that the best decision was to give him a chance in Sydney. Astapor is still a colt and if for example he could win a Listed or GROUP race, his value would soar and possibly bring him under notice as a stallion proposition with breeders. He is still a colt and that is why he has not been gelded with that possible option in mind,” Hay explained.

A realist as well as being an astute judge of both horseflesh and pedigrees, Hay said he was not under any false illusions about Astapor.

“Look if he does not perform to expectations in Sydney, he will come back and be gelded and returned to Clinton in Rockhampton to prepare for the 2024 Magic Millions and QTIS 3YO races in Queensland. However, it is worth giving him a try in Sydney as he can always come home,” owner Hay elaborated.

Taylor, tight lipped since Saturday about Astapor is one hundred per cent behind Hay’s decision.

“He is tough and very talented young horse. It would have been impossible for me to continue campaigning with him in Brisbane or elsewhere presently as I have such a large stable of horses in work at Callaghan Park. It makes a lot of sense what Rodney is doing sending Astapor to Sydney,” Taylor said.

Hay said Astapor was presently enjoying R and R on a water walker at a Beaudesert equine property awaiting transportation to Joe Pride’s Warwick Farm stables later this week.

Joe Pride 43 is one of Australia’s top racehorse trainers and his CV is testimony to that.

Last year he earned colossus status winning the $20M Everest at Randwick and the $3M GR 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm with Think About It which is part owned by former Rockhampton racing and beef identity Ken McCaffrey.

Also, Pride has trained a string of top echelon racehorses including the GR 1 winners Vision and Power, Eduardo and Private Eye, just to name a few.

The eyes of Rockhampton racing will certainly now be on Pride and his latest acquisition Astapor.

In the meantime, Hay will continue to support the Clinton Taylor stable in Rockhampton with whom he currently has Thursday’s Mackay starter Maurice’s Medad in training.

“I also have some other yearlings that will be coming up to Clinton to train as two-year-olds,” Rodney Hay said.

For similar reason’s akin to the transfer of Astapor, Clinton Taylor’s career trained nine-time winner Chinny Boom ($691,000 in stakes) has been transferred to Melbourne training partnership of Peter Moody and Catherine Coleman.

On the back of a Callaghan Park winning double on Tuesday, next week Taylor will claim his second Rockhampton trainer’s premiership (first 2021/22).

His stellar season of 31 Rocky wins to date, including the recent Newmarket win with Honkytonk Diva, will conclude next Tuesday at Callaghan Park.

All up in Queensland, Clinton has prepared 63 winners (11th placing) during the 2023/24 season and that could be extended when he runs Honkytonk Diva and eight others at the Mackay TAB races this Thursday.

Originally published as Rockhampton racing’s rising star Astapor headed to Sydney trainer Joe Pride