Hampden And Strumming Highlight Racehorse Sale

The value of buying from the Williams family’s Hudson Conway Racing draft at Magic Millions sales was emphasised today with a pair if impressive wins within minutes of each other.

Savabeel three-year-old Hampden created a massive opinion when he strolled home at his first start for new connections when successful at the Sunshine Coast today.

Sent to the front from the inside barrier by Paul Hammersley, Hampden held that position throughout before bursting clear in the home straight to street his rivals.

The gelding had raced on just one occasion before being sold in January at the Gold Coast to Michael Milford for $36,000.

His new trainer Darryl Hansen went into today’s race with a great deal on confidence after his charge showed great ability in track work and when winning a trial on the Sunshine Coast track.

“I knew he had ability but to see him win like that is great,” Hansen said.

“He got out (of the barriers) good and he stayed there,” he added. “I’m very happy.”

Just moments later at Canterbury in Sydney another former Williams runner from Melbourne, Strumming showed plenty of fight in winning for the Gerald Ryan stable.

A winner at Moonee Valley, Strumming was sold at the Gold Coast in 2009 for $67,000 to Glenn Makauskas.

Today was his third win for his new connections and provided he finds more dry tracks that figure should rise.

“He appreciated being back on top of the ground the other day (when winning) at Hawkesbury,” Blake Ryan said after the win.

“And then Josh said he didn’t get through it the other day,” he added.

“He’s an honest little horse. Hopefully we can find another race like this for him.”

The Hudson Conway team have 35 top prospects to go under the hammer at next month’s Magic Millions National Racehorse Sale on June 8 as part of the annual dispersal at the Gold Coast.

Among the draft are lightly raced and promising gallopers by the likes of Zabeel, Galileo, Encosta de Lago, Selkirk, Reset, Danehill Dancer and Redoute’s Choice.

The entries include proven city winners Martial Law, Resetable, Rundle, Tintern and Upon.

Some 116 lots have been catalogued for the National Racehorse Sale – other quality drafts will be presented by the Heinrich Racing Stables, Patinack Farm and Darley.