With last week’s impressive Rotorua winner Lady Lira (Per Incanto-Miss Moneytree by Pins) lifting to nine the number of individual 2YO winners this season either raised and or sold off the farm and another seven placed, some may be excused for thinking that the Masterton nursery Little Avondale have shifted their focus away from raising classic and middle distance performers to more precocious types, however studmaster Sam Williams puts it more down to a simple case of genetics and some tweaks he’s made to his management style.

“While this season’s results have confirmed my thoughts that Per Incanto’s stock get better as older horses, their natural athleticism and temperament allow many of them to run early. We’ve also made some judicious Australian mating decisions and broodmare purchases, as have some of our clients, all of which have bought some early maturity into our horses,” said Williams.

Stakes winner and Group 1 placed Nadeem colt Sir Nate has the exposed form but several lightly tried types also look capable of taking the step to black-type racing next season. Per Incanto colt Star Performance who won his only start, Te Akau’s Savabeel colt Byzantine and Lisa Latta’s Snitzel filly Princess Amelie all have classic engagements locked in.

In Australia the city winning Per Incanto filly Trilli and the unbeaten Savabeel colt Tee Train are both earmarked for Melbourne Spring Carnival targets.

Add to the mix, the promising place getters Dublin Rose, the Sebring pair of My Sunny Girl and Mighty Connor, along with the Stratum filly Miss Earth, and its little wonder that the team at LA are eagerly anticipating next seasons Australasian 3YO racing.