Banking on imports: Trainer Kim Waugh with one of her Wyong based team. Picture: Robert Mckell
Source: The Daily Telegraph
AFTER the famous Melbourne Cup wins of Americain and Dunaden,
trainer Kim Waugh is hoping to tap into the successful French formula
with new stable acquisition Sheniyan.
Waugh revealed stable client Rob Roulston has successfully
negotiated the purchase of Sheniyan from the Aga Khan earlier this year.
The
promising stayer, a son of the legendary stallion Sadler's Wells and
winner of two of his five starts, is in quarantine and will join Waugh's
team at Wyong next week. Sheniyan was previously trained at Chantilly
by Alain de Royer-Dupre, who prepared Americain to win the Melbourne Cup
last year.
Americain was attempting a second Melbourne Cup triumph last month when he ran fourth behind another French stayer, Dunaden.
"Sheniyan's former trainer told us this horse has the ability to win good races here," Waugh said.
"He's
been in quarantine and put on 30kg which is a really encouraging. He
will come to our stables next week and we are looking to get him ready
for the autumn. He's an exciting young stayer."
Waugh is banking on Sheniyan's arrival signalling a change of fortune for her stable.
The
trainer said "this year can't end soon enough" after a virus swept
through her stable during spring, affecting 14 of the 18 horses she had
in work at the time, and in an unrelated incident, boom young galloper
Valdhez nearly lost his life through illness.
Valdhez, winner of
two of his four starts earlier this year, was being prepared for a
Melbourne spring campaign when he became seriously ill.
"He
nearly died," Waugh said. "But he has turned the corner now and when I
checked on him last week, the horse looked fantastic, he's back to his
'fighting' weight of 540kg.
