Racing plans need to be adaptable. The story of race horse Arraignment illustrates how Leighton Howl’s syndicates can successfully evolve with patience and good planning.
Originally purchased with a Derby in mind, when that didn’t seem achievable the focus was shifted to racing a genuine syndicate horse that every owner wants, winning and placing on the big race days, and eventually winning in Sydney.
The punting was successful, and the owners were thrilled with the horse tipped to win at $81-1 at Te Aroha, $8-1 Tauranga, and a $10-1 at Hawkes Bay fresh up on the first day of the Spring Carnival.
The flashy black son of Nom de Jeu out of Bail Us Out was purchased by Howl from Book 2 at Karaka for $40,000 from Goodwood Stud, and placed with Matamata trainer Danica Guy.
Not raced at two he won a maiden 1600 event at his fourth start in his spring three-year-old. By Christmas it was apparent that he wouldn’t make a Derby contender, and he was given a long spell to grow and mature.
Returning as a stronger four-year-old he didn’t take long to return to the winner’s circle and proceed through the grades over the next two seasons winning twice more and placing six times and accruing $80,000.
With the gelding now a rising six-year-old with limited opportunities and stake money in New Zealand at an all-time low, thinking outside the square Howl thought the horse would have more chance of squaring the owners ledger in Sydney.
Part-owner Adon Brydon, originally went into Arraignment’s syndicate after he had tasted success in another Howl syndicate with Tomorrowland a dual stakes winning sprinter who won six races.
