By Garrick Knight
Former New Zealand Derby winner Locharburn will stand at stud in Canterbury this coming breeding season.
His co-owner and trainer, Kevin Chapman, confirmed this week that the son of Christian Cullen would stand at Phoebe Stud in Broadfield.
Locharburn recently returned from a short-lived Australian campaign, where he was once again injured, this time leading to his retirement.
“I had a look to see if there was anybody in Australia that wanted to stand him, but I hadn’t been able to find anyone,” said Chapman.
“So, I decided to look closer to home and ended up just ringing Grant Beckett out of the blue.
“I said I have a proposition for you from left field.”
Beckett was amenable and a deal was reached.
Chapman will do his part to get some numbers on the ground, though says his age is slowing him down.
“I’ve got five or six mares, including Twilight Rascal and a half to Franco Hat Trick that I will put to him.
“My intention is to breed those mares, take them through to the yearling stage and then give them away to trainers.
“Benny Hill, John Dickie and a few others. That will be my bit to try and get him off the ground.
“By the time they are two-year-olds, I’ll be 69 and I don’t really want to be training horses in to my 70s.
“I’m already trying to cut back and am down to one racehorse.”
Locharburn was a star youngster, winning his first six starts before clashing with Tiger Tara, among others, in the three-year-old classics.
“That was an exceptional crop that year; he beat Isaiah, Tiger Tara, Sky Major, Maxim and Messini in the Derby.
“I don’t care what anyone says, you won’t see a better run to win the New Zealand Derby against such a good field.
“It was a phenomenal effort after sitting three-wide.”
Locharburn would go on to win an Easter Cup and Maurice Holmes Vase as an older horse, and contest two New Zealand Cups, but multiple injury setbacks ultimately stymied his career.
“We had lots of really good moments with him, but it was just one of those things.
“What might have been if he had stayed sound?”
In a last-ditch effort to get Locharburn back firing, her was sent to Sydney where it was hoped the water walker utilised by trainers Shane and Lauren Tritton would resurrect him.
“He trialed in 1.52 but broke down again soon after.
“That was him though; he always tried so hard and gave his all.
“He did us proud. We think the world of him and he’ll always have a home here with us.”
Locharburn will stand for $2,000 plus GST alongside Phoebe Stud’s other stallions, Imperial Count and Royal Aspirations.
There is also an ‘early bird’ special of $1,500 plus GST, which expires at the end of September, as well as a multiple mare discount of 20%.
Original article here: https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/locharburn-to-stand-at-stud/