Barbie is hot to head to Florida USA

Pint-sized filly Wasabi Barbie, a Rockhampton two-year-old bred in Comet and originally raced by Jesse Beak, could be destined for a career as a broodmare in America beyond next month’s $168,000 Capricornia 2YO Classic.

Wasabi Barbie has been purchased for an undisclosed sum by Rafael Weiss, a Florida-based commercial real estate manager at JW Advance, who breeds and races thoroughbred horses at his USA thoroughbred operation, Rosedown Racing.

Bloodstock agent Brian Wrigley facilitated the sale on behalf of Weiss after he liked what he saw when the filly won a Callaghan Park 2YO Maiden Handicap last December.

“We have some connections in Australia to the horse racing industry, and we broadcast our requirements internationally, we’re always looking to expand our brood mare band, thankfully Wasabi Barbie showed up, and we jumped on the opportunity,” Weiss told me when I messaged him this week.

Plans are afoot to get Wasabi Barbie back to the USA in the future, where she will likely head to Rosedown Racing’s training and breeding operation.

With years of breeding and racing under their belt, Rosedown Racing is Weiss’s elite horse racing and breeding stable in Florida. They race their horses in Kentucky, Florida, California and New York.

“But, while it suits her and she keeps on winning, I will keep her racing her in Australia,” Weiss said. “I want to fly out to Rockhampton myself to see her run!”

Rockhampton trainer Tom Smith prepared Wasabi Barbie, a $4,000 Capricornia Yearling Sale graduate, to win her maiden and to date she has a record of one win and two placings from just three race starts.

Wasabi Barbie makes her return to racing on Tuesday

The filly is set to return to racing on Tuesday in the 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Callaghan Park for her new trainer Jamie McConachy and if her Callaghan Park trial on Monday is any indicator she could be in for a good return.

Wasabi Barbie drew perfectly at gate two in the first race of the day and will be ridden by Chris McIver.

McIver rode her in the 1000m barrier trial last Monday, and Wasabi Barbie scored a four-length victory over the promising Clinton Taylor-trained Coal Seam with Smith’s Rocky Prince in third place. Her time of 59.71 (HT) was the fastest of the session.

Coal Seam will also start in this race and has drawn barrier 4 with Ryan Wiggins in the saddle. Smith saddles up Barbarian King (Adam Sewell). Cody Collis rode Barbarian King to victory over the 1100m at Callaghan Park in January.

McConachy said Tom Smith has done a great job with Wasabi Barbie and the reason he now has her is for her to be given her shot at the local 2YO Classic next month.

“She is eligible for the race, so a win or any prizemoney she picks up while she is still here will be a bonus,” McConachy said.

“I have been given the job of getting her ready. There is nothing of her, but she is calm, and a good doer, she eats more than any other horse in the stable. I just love her stride, a nice big stride.”

Export to USA a costly exercise for the CYS graduate

For Weiss to transport Wasabi Barbie to Florida it will cost around $36,000, and if she joins the Rosedown team in Florida her future will likely be restricted to the breeding barn.

Wasabi Barbie is an interesting filly, a real surprise packet.

She was presented late at the CYS auction held last year at the Rockhampton Showgrounds and she failed to command attention. Beak didn’t hesitate to buy her back.

The Rock Sturdy filly is the first living foal of Whitty Girl who was a Capricornia 2YO Classic runner-up. Good horses from Whitty Girl’s line include Ready to Mombo, who won 16 races in Australia and Macau, and the Group placed New Zealand gallopers Platinum Balos and Inmyshadow. She also has an American link with her fourth dam, Don’t Joke, by Shecky Greene, a winner of four races in the USA. Don’t Joke was also placed second in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Seven-race Callaghan Park program

The first of seven races at Callaghan Park on Tuesday 24 March starts at 1.45pm with the final race run at 5.20pm.

Unfortunately, the QTIS 3YO Handicap was deleted by Racing Queensland at acceptance time with five horses accepting for the race.

• David Aldred (CEO)