Wolfwhistle Loving Life After Racing

Loving Life after Racing - our beautiful Wolfwhistle - we shed a tear over this story ... it's a beautiful as the boy himself - thank you Julia for allowing us to share it!

Legs (Pins) was a tremendous racehorse, winning the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) at just her second start and the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) to become Joint Top Filly. At four, she won the Kelt Capital Stakes (Gr. 1, 2040m) when diving along the rail under Lisa Cropp.

Her first colt foal was Wolfwhistle (O'Reilly), purchased by David Ellis CNZM at Karaka, who won five races (from 14 starts) up to 2000 metres before bagging the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) among a hat-trick of victories.

We recently focussed on retired racehorse Chambord (Zabeel), runner-up to Atlante (Fastnet Rock) in the 2000 Guineas and a multiple Group placed and stakes' winner.  He is showing his joy and finesse in both the show-jumping arena and hunting field - now in the forever-care of our Te Akau apprentice Chelsea Burdan who simply adores him.

Wolfwhistle too is making his mark off the track.

Julia Jones, Head of Analytics (specializing in agriculture) at NZX (stock exchange), has Wolfwhistle at her property.

“He's a giant character, to say
the least, and we can put tiny little kids on him and he walks around with
them,” Jones said. “He's quite quirky, here for life, and ridiculously loved.

“I work out of Auckland quite a bit, so I have a babysitter come in twice a day and she has an autistic son Vic and he and Wolfwhistle are great friends. He's a very special horse and he's become the love of my life. He'll stand there for ages with kids on his back and lets them ride him.”

In fact it's often difficult to
get the children to get off Wolfwhistle, he endears himself to them so much -
it's as if he instinctively knows they are learning about him.

“He doesn't like coloured horses or anything that doesn't look prestigious.  He's not over excited about the ponies but has grown to accept they are not thoroughbreds - well most days! He's a bit of a snob who loves being spotted and enjoys prestige. I met Lance O'Sullivan at a wedding and he told me that he won on his dad (O'Reilly) and that Wolfwhistle was a lovely horse.

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“He's been dressage and show-jump trained, and he'll do a couple of shows this year, but he has low grade cataracts so can't jump too high. When you do get him in the arena he is actually quite fancy. I rode track work when I was 16 in Otaki, and I put my stirrups up and track work him around the paddock. He holds his coat really well, has a good sheen and in good nick but I do pander to him. He's got his own stable and likes spending time in there.

“He obviously loved racing and he's really at peace if you get on him and bowl along at a nice steady canter. It's his comfort zone. He comes with me on holiday at Christmas over to Waihi Beach, enjoys the change of scenery and stays at an orchard with 10 small riding ponies and his adopted brothers. 

“He likes to be kept in the loop with what's happening with the other animals and he will take it upon himself to release the other horses by opening gates and letting tape down.   He's a Houdini that can unlatch the gate and go and let other horses out of their paddocks too and he's thinks it's hilarious. He has a large horse ball that he plays with all the time.   

“I'm really proud of him and think he's such a cool and elegant horse. He has a strong sense of self. He is a very special boy and I'm very grateful that our paths crossed. THANK YOU for raising such a beautiful confident horse, it's obvious he had the finer things in life and lots of care given to him when he was with you, he loves humans and is an absolute treasure.   He knows he has his forever home full of love.”    

 Enjoy the video of Wolfwhistle playing
with his very best friend “Landshark”!

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