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Racehorse Profile
This gelding was bought at the Tattersalls in-training sale in October 2023. He was previously trained by Ed Walker and ran four times as a 2YO. He is set to race for Ownaracehorse in the south through 2024 and is trained by Group 1 winning trainer Adam West.
Hello Cotai is a sprint-bred 2YO who will race as a 3YO in the 2024 season. He was highly tried in his opening season, racing almost exclusively in Class 4 sprinting events. The handicapper recognised he had ability, giving him a starting handicap mark in the upper sixties. Like many two-year-olds, he ran very 'green' on his first outing, but improved for his second. He finished his season off with a fair run in a 0-78 rated handicap when drawn the widest of the field.
That first handicap Hello Cotai ran in at the back-end of the season (on rain-softened ground) has subsequently turned out to be a very decent bit of form. He raced off a mark of 69 that day at Pontefract, and all of the four horses in front of him have since either won or been placed in similar events. Pontefract is a difficult track for juveniles, and Hello Cotai did well in the circumstances.
Adam told us "I liked this chap as soon as I saw him. I think he will make up into a proper three-year-old as he is still a bit tall and gangly at the moment." that's shown in his races to date, with him needing time to get organised.
'I've already gelded him, he was racing as a colt in 2023, and he's settled in well to his new life in Epsom and I'm looking forward to getting to know him intimately over the winter. It seems to me that, like his father, he will be a horse who continues to improve and take his racing well. He's a good size and has a nice pedigree. His half-brother is a decent handicapper, and I think this fellow can show he's just as good,' added Adam.
In terms of distance, Adam is quite keen to keep Hello Cotai at six furlongs at first, but said he will probably give him a spin over seven on the turf.
As a 2YO he raced like a horse who was getting slightly outpaced when the pace lifted over two out. It could just be that another winter on his back will sort that, strengthening him up, or it could be pointing to him really needing seven furlongs. We'll see how he works on the Epsom gallops in spring and see where we go from there.' said Adam.
If everything goes to plan, Adam will be looking to pick off handicaps with him and aim for two or three bigger prizes with him during the 2024 season. Hello Cotai has the build, and the profile of a racehorse who could easily improve from two to three. He has a nice starting mark of 65, which will allow Adam to be flexible with where he sends him and the sort of races for which he can qualify. In terms of ground conditions, he appears to act on both good and soft, and he hasn't been tried yet on the All-Weather.
Adam West is particularly good at training and placing these sorts of older horses, and we are looking forward to seeing how Hello Cotai foes through 2024. Coming from a big yard, hello Cotai will now get plenty of attention from Adam, as this is how he operates, and if anyone will get this gelding sparked up as a 3YO, Adam will.
Hello Cotai will have a two-month break before Adam gets the gelding ready for his 2024 season. Adam is keen to ensure 'Hello' can be placed to potentially benefit from higher prize-money this season, and he should be racing around the London area at tracks such as Brighton, Lingfield, Windsor, Kempton, Bath, and maybe as far as Leicester, Newmarket, Nottingham and Yarmouth.
We will report on the gelding's progress for shareholders on an ad-hoc basis in early 2024, reporting on the major breakthroughs with his training - and we will provide regular updates on his progress on the gallops in detail from March onward. During the heart of the season, we publish update reports every 7-10 days, and more regularly when Hello actively starts racing in spring.
This is an opportunity to become involved in a horse who has already shown a fair level of ability. He comes from a family known for its robust nature, and he is a good-looking horse too. We expect to contest handicap races, and if he shows improvement we are hopeful he may be entered for races at the quality racetracks such as Newmarket and Ascot.
Form & Race Plans
The race plans for this gelding will be determined by his level of ability shown at home and on the course in 2024. At the moment he is likely to start racing in late April or May over six furlongs.
Hello Cotai is currently rated in the sixtes. However, we are expecting he will climb up the ratings with Adam West in charge of his training. The gelding will start the season on a mark of 65 and will race at tracks such as Windsor, Brighton, Bath, Sandown, Lingfield, Bath, Sandown, Kempton, Nottingham, Brighton, Chelmsford, and Leicester.
Your online Racehorse Manager will provide full details of all developments in terms of the horse's progress and race planning as the season progresses.
Hello Cotai 2024 Guarantee
We expect to get 3-8 runs and sometimes more from all our 3YO horses per share period, however, you should expect periods of no racing as a result of recuperation from injury or training setbacks.
This share period will start on April 1st 2024 or when the gelding has his first run, and will finish on November 1st 2024, however, we will be reporting on the horse before the share period starts should we have anything of importance to share with shareholders. If the gelding should race before the official start of the share period we will bring the start of the season forward for shareholders as an added benefit.
During the season the horse may be rested or have time away from the track to recover and it is quite normal for a flat horse to have periods of 3-6 weeks rest between races. All horses are susceptible to sore shins, bone chips, breathing issues, and growing pains, and can need time to recover between races.
We provide guarantees with all our racehorses. If this horse has a season-ending injury and has not already RACED TWICE during the share period, we will replace him with an alternative horse for the remainder of the season. Replacement horses may not be of the same quality, are provided with no further guarantees and no alternative choice can be provided. Prizemoney cannot be paid on any replacements, but all other benefits such as yard visits and race day badges are available.
As a shareholder you MUST UNDERSTAND that we cannot guarantee your horse's performance, a specific volume of runs (beyond our minimum guarantee) or that runs will be evenly spaced throughout the share period. This is the chance you take when owning any racehorse and participating in this ownership experience. If you will be disappointed with only 2-3 runs from your racehorse during the season then please DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS OR ANY OTHER RACEHORSE, as you may be disappointed. We believe in being crystal clear with our shareholders - any participation in racehorse ownership is a risk, and we are unable to make any refunds due to share periods that finish early as a result of injury or retirement - as training and livery fees for the horse still remain whether they are racing or not. Please also be aware that a portion of your lease payment covers the build-up to the horse's season.
By buying a share you accept the risks outlined above. They represent the chance we and all our shareholders take when participating in the ownership of a racehorse.