Champion mare Dar Re Mi retired (06 Sep 2010)
Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber's British champion older mare of 2009, Dar Re Mi, has been retired from racing due to a number of minor injury issues.
A half-sister to 4 stakes-winners including Hong Kong champion River Dancer, Ranvet Stakes winner Darazari and this years Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Rewilding, Dar Re Mi retires with a record of 6 wins and 8 placings from only 17 starts. Three times a winner at the highest level, in the Yorkshire Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes in 2009 and early in 2010 in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, Dar Re Mi also was victorious in the Group 3 Prix Minerve at Deauville and the Listed Aphrodite Stakes at Newmarket and was 3 times Group 1 placed including a third in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf. Her dam is the Group 1 winner Darara, a half-sister to 3 other stakes-winners including Prix du Jockey Club winner and successful sire Darshaan.
Harbinger to stud in Japan (03 Sep 2010)
The highest-rated racehorse in the world in 2010, retired after suffering a fractured leg on the Newmarket gallops, will take up stud duties at Shadai Farm in 2011.
Harbinger was the winner of 6 of his 9 starts, including his devastating 11 length victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in late July, beating home the winners of the Epsom and Irish Derbys in the process. Prior to that run, Harbinger had won the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot and had opened the season with a couple of Group 3 victories at Newbury and Chester. By Dansili, a top class miler and son of Danehill, Harbinger is out of the stakes-winning Bering mare Penang Pearl.
Starspangledbanner may run Saturday (01 Sep 2010)
Coolmore-owned Starspangledbanner, coming off a second placing to 100-1 shot Sole Power in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York, is an outside chance to run on Saturday at Haydock.
The Betfred Sprint Cup, the last major Group 1 for the sprinting brigade in Great Britain for the year, could be the target for Starspangledbanner and a decision will be made after his work in the middle of this week. Upgraded to Group 1 in 1988, the Sprint Cup roll of honour includes Danehill, Sheikh Albadou, Dayjur, Invincible Spirit, Red Clubs and in 2009 Regal Parade, likely to line up again this year.
Bernardini has first stakes-winner (30 Aug 2010)
Darley freshman shuttle sire Bernardini celebrated his first stakes-winner when Theyskens' Theory made all of the running in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday.
After blitzing a maiden fillies contest at Newmarket in her second start, Theysken' Theory started a short-priced favourite and kicked strongly when challenged for a convincing win over the 7 furlong trip. Bernardini, the winner of 6 of his 8 starts including the Preakness Stakes and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, now has 5 two-year-old winners from his inaugural crop including stakes-placed A.Z. Warrior. He has covered 293 mares in his first 2 seasons in Australia and has yearlings to go through the salering in 2011. He stands at A$35,000 plus GST.
Scenic Blast to run in Del Mar Mile (28 Aug 2010)
Scenic Blast stretches out to a mile for only the second time in his career when he takes on 6 rivals in the Group 2 Del Mar Mile on Saturday.
Coming off a second place in the 6 furlong Group 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on the same track, Scenic Blast's third start in the USA is over a distance he has previously only run over once, a runner-up effort behind Weekend Hussler in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in 2007. Among is rivals are last start stakes-winners Bruce's Dream, Moudez and Blue Chagall.
Artie Schiller gets first winner (28 Aug 2010)
Two-year-old Anne's Beauty became the first winner for former shuttle stallion Artie Schiller when winning at Woodbine on Friday.
Artie Schiller stood three seasons in Australia, covering a total of 274 mares during that period. Among his ten victories on the track was the Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park. His oldest progeny in both hemispheres are now two-year-olds.
Scone Broodmare sale on Friday (26 Aug 2010)
Breeders will be presented with some outstanding opportunities to upgrade their broodmare bands at the Inglis Scone Broodmare Sale, to be held at White Park this Friday August 27.
28 supplementary lots have lifted the total to be offered to 174. The sale begins at noon and includes mares covered by Ad Valorem, Astronomer Royal, Aussie Rules, Authorized, Benicio, Domesday, Dubawi, Excellent Art, Flying Spur, Haradasun, Husson, Lonhro, Myboycharlie, Not a Single Doubt, Real Saga, Stratum, Trotamondo and War Pass.
Mercedes Broodmare of the Year Award (20 Aug 2010)
Four outstanding producers, Gin Player, Miss Jessie Jay, Pentamerous and Triassic, have been nominated for the 2009-10 Mercedes Broodmare of the Year Award.
Gin Player is the dam of dual Group 2 winner Zarita and Dubai Group 3 winner Joy and Fun while Miss Jessie Jay produced 2 Group 1 winners, the outstanding dual Group 1 winner Katie Lee and Diamond Stakes winner Banchee. Pentamerous left dual Randwick Group 1 winner Shoot Out and the final nominee Triassic is the dam of Cox Plate winner So You Think.
Starspangledbanner bids for Group 1 treble (20 Aug 2010)
With victories already tucked away in the Golden Jubilee at Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket, Starspangledbanner heads to York as favourite for the 5 furlong Nunthorpe Stakes looking to complete a unique sprinting treble
Drawing the outside barrier in a field of 13 shouldn't prove much of a hurdle as the stand side of the course has proved to be the favourite path so far this week at York. The connections of Equiano, runner-up in the July Cup after winning the Group 1 King's Stand at Ascot, are confident they can make a race of it with the favourite and Borderlescott, already twice the winner of the race, bids to become the first 3-time winner since Sharpo. Two two-year-olds line up in the race including Dinkum Diamond, a stakes-winning son of Coolmore shuttler Aussie Rules.
Inglis Melbourne sale starts Thursday (18 Aug 2010)
Oaklands Junction will host the first Inglis Melbourne sale of the new season when 391 lots, including 104 in the supplementary catalogue, are offered on Thursday and Friday.
The main catalogue includes 124 broodmares, 84 racing fillies and mares, 33 colts and geldings and 20 new season yearlings. A parade of newly retired Victorian-based stallions will precede the sale which begins at 11.00am.
Rip van Winkle, Rewilding star at York's opening day (18 Aug 2010)
Rip van Winkle showed he was back to his devastating 2009 form with a last-gasp win in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and Rewilding continued his upwards climb in the three-year-old rankings with his victory in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.
With the benefit of an extremely patient Johnny Murtagh ride, Rip van Winkle swooped over the top of Khalid Abdulla's pair of Twice Over and Byword, who seemed to be about to fight out the finish, to record a half length victory. Twice a Group 1 winner last season at 3 over 1 mile, Rip van Winkle showed the step up in distance was no hindrance and his programme will probably see him head once again to the Breeders' Cup Classic, the race his 2009 season ended tamely in. Rewilding meanwhile scorched to a 4 length victory in the Great Voltigeur in his first start since running third in the Derby and now seems certain to start a short-priced favourite in the final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster in a little under 4 weeks time.
Arqana yearlings second day better than first (15 Aug 2010)
The second session of the Arqana August Yearling sale at Deauville provided the spark missing from the opening session but the sale still ended with reduced figures from 2009.
64 yearlings were sold in the session with the average up 1% on 2009. Overall the sale has grossed just over 18 million euros with the overall average down 18% and the median down 20%. A filly by Galileo topped the sale, being led out of the ring unsold but being subject to a private sale at 600,000 euros.
Iffraaj, Holy Roman Emperor head European Sires Lists (15 Aug 2010)
Haunui Farm's Iffraaj and Coolmore's Holy Roman Emperor head the Leading European First Season Sire tables by number of individual winners and prizemoney won.
Iffraaj, a multiple Group 2 winner at 4 and 5, has to date sired 24 individual winners in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy and Russia from only 50 runners. Included in this tally are 2 individual blacktype performers. Meanwhile Holy Roman Emperor, a dual Group 1 winning two-year-old, has a big lead in the prizemoney list thanks to his 4 blacktype horses headed by recent Epsom Woodcote Stakes winner High Award.
Gold Coast sale on Sunday (12 Aug 2010)
Magic Millions hold their first sale of the new season when 118 lots go under the hammer at the Gold Coast Sales Complex at Bundall.
Included in the catalogue are 29 racehorses, 50 broodmares, 13 two-year-olds and 4 yearlings. Also catalogued are 22 stallion nominations which have been donated by many studs and breeders around Australia to raise money for Jye Yeomans.
First up USA win for Late Cuddle (09 Aug 2010)
Former New Zealand mare Late Cuddle opened her stateside account for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer with a 6 1/4 length allowance victory at Del Mar on Sunday.
Formerly trained by Allan Sharrock, the daughter of Postponed and Embraced clocked 1.33.60 for the 1 mile trip on turf. The winner of 4 races with 8 further placings from only 14 starts in New Zealand, Late Cuddle exited her homeland off a second placing at Trentham on May 29. She is the only winner so far from her dam, a daughter of Westminster, and comes from the family of Group 1 winner Vitalic.
Zenyatta makes it 18 (08 Aug 2010)
Zenyatta took her record to 18 from 18, including 12 at Group 1 level, with a close but convincing win in the Clement L Hirsch S at Del Mar.
Winning the race for the second consecutive time Zenyatta had a neck to spare from Irish-bred Rinterval who ran a career-best performance with outsider Princess Taylor, a daughter of Singspiel, third.
Alverta entered in French Group 1 (05 Aug 2010)
The Prix Maurice de Gheest, to be run on Sunday at Deauville, is the next target for July Cup third Alverta according to trainer Paul Messara.
The daughter of Flying Spur has worked well at Newmarket since her run on that track and is scheduled to travel to France on Friday night. Other entries for the Group 1 1300m contest include Paco Boy, winner of the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, Group 1 Prix de la Foret winner Varenar and 2009 Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Regal Parade.
NZB South Island Sale on Friday (05 Aug 2010)
New Zealand Bloodstock hold their annual South Island Sale on Friday August 6. The 2010 catalogue has drawn 200 entries, 187 of them new season two-year-olds.
Progeny of 67 stallions are represented in the two-year-old section, including Captain Rio, Darci Brahma, Fastnet Rock, Keeper, O'Reilly, Perfectly Ready, Volksraad as well as large drafts from South Island stallions Coats Choice, Gallant Guru, My Halo, Remind, Sunray and Yamanin Vital. Group 1 winners Master O'Reilly, Second Coming, Super Kid and Hustler are recent graduates of the South Island Sale which begins at 10.00am.
Zabeel & Volksraad win NZ Stallion Awards (04 Aug 2010)
Zabeel has win his 14th Dewar Award and his first Centaine Award, and Volksraad's tally of Grosvenor Awards now stands at eight, at the end of the 2009-10 racing season.
In winning the Dewar Award, for combined Australian & New Zealand stakes earnings, Zabeel continues the father/son dynasty started right back in 1983 by his sire Sir Tristram. Between them, the 2 stallions have won 22 of the 28 Deward Awards awarded since then. Zabeel also won his first Centaine Award, for combined worldwide stakes earnings, holding off his great rival O'Reilly by just over $76,000. Volksraad made it eight Grosvenor Awards, for New Zealand stakes earnings, from the last 9 years, with Pins finishing just over $500,000 behind him.
Australasian Group 1 success in South Africa (02 Aug 2010)
Australia and New Zealand celebrated success in South Africa on the last day of the racing season with Happy Archer (Aus) and Gold Onyx (NZ) winning the 2 Group 1 two year old races on the Greyville card.
Happy Archer, a daughter of Dubawi and the Jeune mare So Tempted, took her record to 3 wins from 4 starts with a dominating win as favourite in the Durban Thekwini Stakes. She is a half-sister to Femina Fashion, winner in the 2009-10 season of the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet, and out of a sister to Group 2 winner Lolita Star. Gold Onyx, a son of former shuttler Black Minnaloushe and the stakes-winning Kaapstad mare Egoli Lass, started at 33 to 1 and overcame favourite Kavanagh in the last 50 metres to win the Premier's Champion Stakes. Already the winner of the Group 3 Protea Stakes at Turffontein, Gold Onyx took his record to 2 wins from 5 starts. His dam was a Listed winner in New Zealand and is a half-sister to the stakes-winner Wise Lass.
NZB Winter Mixed Sale on Sunday (29 Jul 2010)
New Zealand Bloodstock celebrates the Southern Hemisphere birthday of all horses by conducting it's Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka on Sunday, August 1.
The main catalogue has 104 lots including 60 broodmares while a further 24 horses have been accepted in the supplementary catalogue. New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale follows on August 6, featuring 187 two-year-olds among the 200 lots.
Canford Cliffs confirms his briliance (29 Jul 2010)
Canford Cliffs made it 3 Group 1's from his last 3 starts with a consummate victory in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, beating home last year's winner Rip Van Winkle.
Under a sensational ride from Richard Hughes, Canford Cliffs was restrained to the rear early and then allowed to gradually make ground over the middle stages. After Rip Van Winkle went for home with under 2 furlongs to go, the odds on favourite was let loose and passed that horse in the last 100 yards to record an easy victory. After being beaten in his first 2 starts of 2010 the son of Tagula has recorded victories in the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and now the Sussex Stakes, all at 1 mile. Rip Van Winkle improved on his previous Ascot run while Premio Loco, supplemented into the race, stayed on for third.
Group 1 Sussex Stakes draws field of 8 (28 Jul 2010)
The first of the top level races to be run at glorious Goodwood for 2010 has drawn a field of 8, including 3 three-year-olds.
Run over 1 mile, Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Canford Cliffs is currently listed as an odds on favourite for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes. Ballydoyle has 3 runners entered including 2009 victor Rip Van Winkle and last year's Dewhurst Stakes winner Beethoven. Also highly favoured is the Prized gelding Premio Loco who is coming off 2 Group wins at Newmarket and Ascot. The other Group 1 event is the Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares run on the last day of the 5 day meeting.
Rachel Alexandra wins again (25 Jul 2010)
2009 USA Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra took her record to 13 wins from 18 starts with a facile win in the Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Trailing subsequent runner up Queen Martha for much of the race, Rachel Alexandra took over with 2 furlongs to go and won easing down by 3 lengths with 7 3/4 lengths to Ask the Moon in 3rd. The daughter of new Darley shuttler Medaglia d'Oro and Lotta Kim was beaten in her first 2 starts in 2010 after stringing together 9 straight culminating in her Horse of the Year honours over Zenyatta.
Harbinger destroys opposition at Ascot (25 Jul 2010)
The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot proved disastrous for this year's Derby winners with 4YO Harbinger annihilating his opposition by 11 lengths.
Sitting comfortably behind the pacemaking Confront and the two Derby winners at the final bend, Harbinger surged past in the straight to an extremely comfortable win. Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco held on for second, 11 lengths behind the winner, with Youmzain, in his 22nd straight Gr.1 race, holding on for third. Epsom Derby hero Workforce struggled, only beating home his stablemate and pacemaker Confront.
Harbinger, by Dansili out of the Bering mare Penang Pearl, raced 5 times as a 3YO just below top level, winning 2 races including the Goodwood Gordon S., Gr.2. As a 4YO, his form has blossomed, with the King George being his 4th win in as many starts following victories in the John Porter S., Gr.3, Ormonde S., Gr.2 and Hardwicke S., Gr.2.
Derby winners clash at Ascot (23 Jul 2010)
Epsom Derby winner Workforce and Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco meet for the second time in Saturday's running of the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
At their previous clash in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, Cape Blanco inflicted on Workforce his only defeat. Cape Blanco then disappointed in the French Derby before bouncing back to win the Irish Derby in style. Opposing them at Ascot will be just 4 older horses including Hardwicke Stakes winner Harbinger and twice Champion Older Horse and three times runner up in the Arc, Youmzain. Champion Older Mare Dar Re Mi has withdrawn from the race with a bruised heel.
Henny Hughes has first winner (22 Jul 2010)
Darley shuttler Henny Hughes recorded his first winner with 2YO Dalamar scoring on Wednesday.
Dalamar, closely related to Kentucky Derby winner and successful sire Fusaichi Pegasus, won over 5 furlongs at Delaware Park. Henny Hughes, whose first Southern Hemisphere crop will go through the yearling sales in 2011, has covered books of 126 and 88 in his first 2 seasons and has 86 live foals from his first crop. A son of Hennessy, Henny Hughes was twice a Grade 1 winner at 3 and won 6 of his 10 starts.
Shuttle stallions dominate European 1st Crop sire table (21 Jul 2010)
Stallions with their first Southern Hemisphere crops due to run in the new season dominate the top 4 positions on the European 1st Crop table, both by prize money won and individual winners.
Two Coolmore-owned sons of Danehill fill positions 1 and 3 by prize money. Holy Roman Emperor, thanks to his Epsom stakes winning son High Award, has a comfortable lead over Haunui Farm resident Iffraaj, who has sired 17 individual winners and leads that category. Aussie Rules fills the 3rd position with Darley-owned Librettist, now at Westbury Stud, following him.
War Artist wins French Group 3 (19 Jul 2010)
Australian-bred War Artist, having his first French outing for new trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, ran out a comfortable victor in the Group 3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at Maisons-Laffitte on Saturday.
Running the 1200m on turf in 1.11.60, War Artist was always handy to the lead and easily accounted for stablemate and last year's winner Tiza. War Artist now has 8 wins and 7 placings from 22 starts, having raced in 6 countries and won in 4. His wins include the Group 1 Mercury Sprint at Clairwood in South Africa as well as group victories at Baden-Baden, Longchamp and earlier this year at Meydan. Rated champion older male sprinter in Germany in 2009, War Artist is a son of Orpen and a half-brother to Group 1 placed Sashenka.
First winner for Bernardini (17 Jul 2010)
Darley shuttler Bernardini has recorded his first winner with A Z Warrior, a half-sister to 2 SW's, winning at Hollywood Park.
Running on the all-weather track, A Z Warrior, the 6-5 favourite, led all the way in her debut for a 1 1/2 length victory. Bernardini, winner of the Preakness Stakes, stands his third season in 2010 at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of A$38,500 including GST.
Hong Kong Champion Awards announced (15 Jul 2010)
Sacred Kingdom was crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year for the 2009-10 season at the HKJC Champion Awards presentation on July 11.
A triple Group 1 winner during the season, Sacred Kingdom also earned the title of Champion Sprinter for the third successive year. The son of Encosta de Lago was a product of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Champions Mile winner Able One was named Champion Miler, Hong Kong Gold Cup winner Collection earned Champion Middle-Distance horse honours, Mr Medici was named Champion Stayer and the unbeaten Entrapment was declared Champion Griffin.
Zeditave euthanised at age of 24 (10 Jul 2010)
The winner of 5 Group 1 races, Zeditave retired to stud in 1989 and currently has sired 35 stakes-winners, 19 at Group level.
A long-time resident of Newhaven Park Stud, his 7 Group 1 winners were headed by siblings Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass, Typhoon Zed, Strategic, Chlorophyll, Ruffles and Sports. The damsire of 20 stakes-winners including Group 1 winners Reset and Sacred Kingdom, Zeditave's sire sons include Strategic (21 SW's), Magic Albert (9 SW's) and Zedrich (8 SW's).
Big day for Coolmore at Newmarket (10 Jul 2010)
The worldwide Coolmore operation celebrated dual success at Newmarket with the Darley July Cup falling to sire-in-waiting Starspangledbanner and Oratorio having his first European stakes-winner from his second crop with King Torus scoring in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.
Staking his claim as the world's best sprinter, Starspangledbanner crossed to the rail soon after the start and after trailing Equiano for much of the race, challenged and beat off that horse up the final furlong incline at Newmarket for the win. Equiano fought on gallantly for second and the Arrowfield team's Alverta, after being handy all of the way, fought on gamely for third. The winner completed the Group 1 sprint double of the Golden Jubilee Stakes and July Cup, going one better than his sire Choisir who came up 1 1/2 lengths short in the July Cup behind Oasis Dream. Two races earlier King Torus continued the remarkable run of Richard Hannon with a tough win in the 7 furlong Superlative Stakes and in doing so became the first European stakes-winner from Oratorio's second crop. Oratorio's first crop of SH runners are just completing their two year season and include New Zealand Group 1 winner Banchee.
First Group winner for Librettist (09 Jul 2010)
Westbury Stud resident Librettist recorded his first Group winner with Libranno scoring an all the way victory in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket.
After scoring a course and distance win in late May, Libranno went off as third pick in the 5 horse field but easily accounted for Godolphin's Neebras with Australian-bred favourite Elzaam third. The first foal of the Singspiel winning mare Annabelle Ja, Libranno was paased in at the Tattersall's October Yearling Sale and retained by his breeder and continues the wonderful run of form for trainer Richard Hannon and pilot Ryan Moore.
NH Yearling Sales kick off (07 Jul 2010)
The first of the major Northern Hemisphere yearling sales kick off in July & August with Fasig Tipton holding 3 sales and the annual JBBA yearling and foal sale in Japan.
In North America, Lexington is the first port of call with Fasig Tipton July Select Yearling Sale being held on the 13th and 14th. 407 lots are scheduled to be offered over the 2 days. In August the show moves to Saratoga, firstly for the Saratoga Selected Yearlings comprising 202 lots and finally for the 175 lot NY-bred Yearling catalogue. Among the new sires with progeny on offer are 4 we have seen in Australia, Any Given Saturday, Hard Spun, Hat Trick and Street Sense. In Japan, the annual yearling and foal sale runs over 2 days on July 12 & 13. Among the small number with maternal links to Australasia are 2 yearlings by Fuji Kiseki, the first out of My Best Star, a half-sister to SW's Isca (VRC Newmarket H., Gr.1), Star Alight, Sadalbari and Slapstick and the second from Mistral Green, a half-sister to recent WA stakes-placegetter Werd. Foals by Neo Universe from Aussie Company, a half-sister to stakes-placed Akebono; a Symboli Kris S filly out of Choral Chimes, dam of 3 current SH winners; a Durandal colt out of the Group 1 winning Pompeii Court mare Derobe and a Fuji Kiseki colt from Yoren, dam of dual Australian winner You're On, give the foal section a small SH flavour.
Mahbooba (Aus) wins South African Group 1 (04 Jul 2010)
Mahbooba, a two-year-old daughter of Galileo and Sogha, claimed her 2nd Group and first Group 1 victory in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Clairwood.
Bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the Mike de Kock trained youngster scored a comfortable 2 3/4 length victory. An even money favourite, Mahbooba took her record to 3 wins and 1 third from only 4 starts, her other major victory being the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at Scottsville. Mahbooba is the first foal of her dam, a 3-time winning daughter of Red Ransom. Progeny of Galileo also featured among the placegetters in the other 2 Group 1 events at Clairwood. Australian-bred Galileo's Galaxy, a half-brother to AJC Summer Cup winner Solid Billing, finished 2nd to Orbison in the Champions Cup while The Assayer, conceived in Australia but foaled in South Africa, finished 3rd in the Golden Horseshoe for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Singspiel, Black Tie Affair euthanised (03 Jul 2010)
International racing star and sire Singspiel and 1991 USA Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair were both euthanised during the past week, Singspiel at Dalham Hall in Newmarket and Black Tie Affair at Old Friends Retirement Facility in Kentucky, both suffering from laminitis.
Singspiel won Group/Grade 1 races in 4 countries and sired 73 black-type winners, 12 of them at Group 1 level. He shuttled to Australia in 2001 for 1 season and from that crop sired Group 1 winner Rewaaya and Group 3 winners A Country Girl, Belmonte and Operettas Lass. A son of In the Wings and Glorios Song, Singspiel was a half-brother to champion sire Rahy. Black Tie Affair, an Irish-bred son of Miswaki and Hat Tab Girl, won the 1991 Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs and retired to stud at Vinery USA in 1992. The sire of 33 black-type winners including Grade 1 winners Formal Gold and Evening Attire, Black Tie Affair is probably best known down under as the damsire of new Windsor Park Stud resident Mastercraftsman.
NZ-bred mare in US Group 2 (02 Jul 2010)
Windsor Park Stud-bred Exquisite, a daughter of Golan, holds an entry for Saturdays Group 2 Royal Heroine Mile to be run on the turf at Hollywood Park.
Exquisite, the winner of 2 races in New Zealand before continuing her career in the USA where she has also won twice, comes off a 4th placing in the Listed Redondo Beach Stakes at the same track. Three times 4th placegetter in group races in New Zealand including the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, Exquisite is a half-sister to stakes-placed Syndrome, by Ishiguru.
2009/10 NZ Stallion Awards (30 Jun 2010)
The 3 major New Zealand Stallion Awards enter the final month of the season with familiar names heading them.
Zabeel, a 13-time winner already of the Dewar Award which measures Australian and New Zealand combined stakes earnings, holds a healthy advantage of $1.5 million over High Chaparral. Just under $400,000 back in 3rd place is Pentire. In the Grosvenor Award, awarded to the leading sire of stakes earnings in New Zealand only, Volksraad looks like adding to his 7 awards by holding a $500,000 advantage over Pins and Zabeel. The Centaine Award, debuting last season and won by O'Reilly, sees Zabeel holding a $440,000 advantage over that horse with Pins back in 3rd place.
Scenic Blast finishes 4th in US debut (28 Jun 2010)
Scenic Blast ran home strongly to finish 4th in the Robert K Kerlan Memorial at Hollywood Park in his first outing in the USA.
Trailing the field early in the 6 furlong contest, Scenic Blast was pulled wide turning for home and ran home to finish just behind the placegetters. The race, won by My Summer Slew, was cut out in 1.08.4 on a firm Hollywood turf surface. Scenic Blast was having his first outing since an unplaced run in the Hong Kong Sprint in December.
Cape Blanco captures Irish Derby (28 Jun 2010)
Dante Stakes winner Cape Blanco secured a second Irish Derby for his sire Galileo on Sunday as Aidan O'Brien trained the first three home.
In winning the Irish Derby, Cape Blanco has taken his record to 5 wins in 6 starts including a defeat of the Epsom Derby winner Workforce in the Dante Stakes, with his only blemish being a dismal flop in the French Derby 3 weeks ago. He becomes the second Irish Derby winner by his sire Galileo following Soldier of Fortune's win two years ago. Galileo has also sired the Epsom Derby winner New Approach, who stands at Darley Australia, and Italian Derby winner Cima de Triomphe. The favourite Monterosso disappointed in finishing fourth.
Redoute's Choice new leader (27 Jun 2010)
With his progeny winning 2 of the 3 Group races run at Eagle Farm on Saturday Redoute's Choice has overtaken longtime Australian General Sire Premiership leader Encosta de Lago.
Redoute's Choice will take a $200,000 lead into the last month of the 2009-10 racing season after victories by Melito and Mirrasalo. Melito followed up her win in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in April by scoring in the last Group 1 race of the season, the Winter Stakes by 3/4 length from New Zealand mare Wealth Princess with the Darley entry Beaded in third place. Two races earlier, three year old Mirrasalo sprang a minor upset by downing the older horses in the Group 3 Tattersall's Cup. A scrap is also ensuing for third place on the Sire Premiership with Street Cry holding a $24,000 lead over his barnmate Lonhro.
Monterosso tackles The Irish Derby (26 Jun 2010)
Monterosso , the son of Dubawi out of the Coolmore Classic winner Porto Roca, attempts the rare double of the "Ascot" and Irish Derbys on Sunday night, at the same time seeking to be Dubawi's second Classic winner from his first crop.
Not since Shareef Dancer won the double in 1983 has the winner of the Royal Ascot King Edward VII S. gone on to Classic glory. Monterosso attempts that feat early on Monday morning when he lines up against 10 other hopefuls in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh. While the connections of the Epsom Derby winner, Workforce, have elected to bypass the Irish classic, there are four runners from the Epsom classic including runner up At First Sight and 4th placed Jan Vermeer. Adding interest are the Dante S. winner Capo Blanco and Carraiglawn, a half-brother to previous Irish Derby winner Soldier of Fortune. Monterosso dam, the Barathea mare Porto Roca, won the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
Final Australasian Group 1 (25 Jun 2010)
The final Group 1 race to be run in Australia and New Zealand in the 2009/10 season takes place at Eagle Farm tomorrow
The fillies & mares Winter Stakes, run at 1400m, has drawn a field of 13 runners with 3YOs Melito and Set to Fame sharing favouritism with older mares Wealth Princess and Beaded. Earlier in the day 13 runners also line up for the Group 3 Tattersall's Cup and sandwiched in between is the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes.
Starspangledbanner flies high at Ascot (20 Jun 2010)
Starspangledbanner emulated his sire Choisir and continued the fine tradition of Australian sprinters at Ascot with an impressive victory in the Golden Jubilee S. on Saturday.
The previous winner of the Caulfield Guineas, Gr,1 and Oakleigh Plate, Gr.1, Starspangledbanner blitzed his 23 opponents to win the British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. In so doing, he emulated the feat of his sire Choisir who won the race in 2003. Choisir followed up that victory by taking out the July S. at Newmarket - a target Starspangledbanner will aimed at. Starspangledbanner is a close relative of Haradasum, who also claimed victory for Australia at Royal Ascot in winning the Queen Anne S., Gr.1, and Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem.
Porto Roca's son fulfills his promise (19 Jun 2010)
Monterosso, the son of Dubawi out of the Coolmore Classic winner Porto Roca, confirmed his promise with an easy win in the King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot.
The winner of four of his last five starts in lesser company, Monterosso reveled in the step up in class to defeat his 7 rivals. The St Leger is tipped to be his main Autumn target. His dam, Porto Roca, won 5 races including the Coolmore Classic, Gr.1 and ran third in the Futurity, Gr.1 and Australasian Oaks, Gr.1. She had four foals in Australia before being relocated to Britain. She is a half-sister to Waikato International winner Bluebird the Word.
Global Sprint Challenge Series (19 Jun 2010)
The British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge is held on Saturday at Ascot with the running of the Golden Jubilee S. There are currently 3 A'asian horses due to line up.
Hong Kong based horses Happy Zero (Danzero) and Joy and Fun (Cullen), along with Caulfield Guineas winner Starspangledbanner currently remain in the field of 24 for the Ascot Golden Jubilee S. Happy Zero won the HKJC Silver Jubilee Cup and Joy and Fun won the Meydan Al Quoz Sprint, both in March. More recently they met in the Singapore Krisflyer Sprint, where Happy Zero finished 3rd and Joy and Fun 6th. Starspangledbanner has raced just once since arriving in England, finishing 5th in Duke of York S.
Highlights abound on first day of Royal Ascot (16 Jun 2010)
Equiano scored his second win in the King's Stand S., repeating his effort on 2008, while Canford Cliffs reprised his Irish 2000 Guineas win in the St James's Palace S.
Equiano, who in 2008 defeated Takeover Target to win, regained the King's Stand S. crown that he conceded to Scenic Crown last year. Following a dismal season last year when he raced 9 times for just one placing, Equiano has now bounced back to top form in 2010, with 3 wins and a second in 4 starts. Canford Cliffs built on his win in the Irish 2000 Guineas and third in the Newmarket classic with a classy win in the St James's Palace S. And in the Coventry S., Australian-bred Elzaam (by Redoute's Choice) was edged out by a nose by Strong Suit.
Royal Ascot starts on Tuesday (13 Jun 2010)
The first day of Royal Ascot features the King's Stand S. with Australian-breds seeking their fourth victory in five years.
Galaxy & Lightning S. winner Nicconi and Railway H. winner Gold Trail are currently set to contest the premier sprint to the Royal Ascot meeting on Tomorrow. They are looking to follow in the footsteps of previous winners Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast. But Australian interest is not restricted to the King's Stand S., with the Coventry S. featured Australian bred 2YO Elzaam, a son of Redoute's Choice.
A weekend of Group 1 racing (07 Jun 2010)
The Derby & Oaks at Epsom, the French Derby at Chantilly, The Queensland Oaks At Eagle Farm and the Belmont Stakes in New York highlighted a weekend of Group 1 racing.
To Epsom Downs first where Snow Fairy, only supplemented into the race after winning her previous start at Goodwood, appreciated the mile and a half journey in capturing The Oaks. A daughter of Intikhab, Snow Fairy is from a half-sister to German Group 3 winner Big Bad Bob. The following day saw a dominant record breaking performance from Workforce in The Derby. Having only his third start Workforce rounded up longtime pacesetter At First Sight and careered away for a 7 length victory. By former shuttle sire King's Best, now the sire of 31 stakeswinners, only 2 of which were conceived in the Southern Hemisphere, Workforce is from a sister to The St Leger and Racing Post Trophy winner Brian Boru. At Chantilly the Prix du Jockey Club was won by the smart son of Shamardal in Lope de Vega, already the winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. A half-brother to Listed winner Bal de la Rose, he is from the Group 3 winning two year old Lady Vettori. With his oldest crops in both hemispheres only three, Shamardal is already the sire of 12 stakeswinners including VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume. In New York Drosselmeyer staged a minor upset with his victory in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Stepping up from a runner up effort in the Group 2 Dwyer Stakes, Drosselmeyer provided WinStar Farm with their second Triple Crown victory of the year. A son of Distorted Humor, now the sire of 10 Group 1 winners including Australasian Oaks winner Rinky Dink, Drosselmeyer is a half-brother to Listed winner Stage Luck and from the multiple Group 1 winner Golden Ballet. And finally to Eagle Farm where 30 to 1 shot Miss Keepsake, a daughter of Cambridge Stud resident Keeper, now the sire of 5 Group 1 winning fillies, was victorious in the Queensland Oaks. She is a member of the family that has in recent years produced Group 1 winners Grosvenor, Lonhro, National Gallery, Mahaya and Niello.
NH maiden winners with SH links (07 Jun 2010)
A pair of maiden winners, one at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles and the other at Listowel in Ireland, both have links with the Southern Hemisphere.
Deo's Secret, a daughter of Sea of Secrets and the Volksraad mare Volente Deo, is the Hollywood two year old maiden winner. Volente Deo, a sister to stakes placed Shadowfax Babe and Fancy That, won a maiden mile at Avondale and although not winning in the USA, was placed 8 times including at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. At Listowel, Roches Cross, a two year son of Whipper and the Danehill mare Danemarque also won first time out. Danemarque was unplaced in 3 starts in NSW and is a half-sister to stakes winners Lady Shipley and Ellie Ardensky. She is also a half-sister to the dam of the dual Oaks winner Serenade Rose and a half-sister to the grandam of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Viva Pataca.
Shuttle stallions feature (04 Jun 2010)
A trio of freshman shuttle stallions featured among recent European racing.
In Italy Darley's Ad Valorem recorded his first stakeswinner when his daughter Samaden scored in the Listed Premio Alessandro Perrone in Rome. Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj had 2 winners on Wednesday with Forjatt winning on debut at Nottingham and Waltz Darling, also a debut runner, being successful at Ripon. And Coolmore resident Holy Roman Emperor recorded his sixth individual 2YO winner when Crying Lightening scored at Leicester on Tuesday.
Plenty of Group One racing over weekend (04 Jun 2010)
Group 1 racing with an emphasis on the Classics dominate the weekend racing. The Oaks and The Derby highlight 2 days at Epsom. In New York the Belmont Stakes is run and the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm headlines the major meeting in Australasia.
The Oaks at Epsom begins the weekends Classics and in an open race Henry Cecil's Musidora Stakes winning daughter of Dansili, Aviate, owned by Khalid Abdullah is favourite.
Only a smallish field of 12 will line up in The Derby. Current favourite Jan Vermeer, one of 2 runners by Montjeu, heads the 3 pronged attack of Aidan O'Brien. Another from that stable and 1 of 2 Galileo's to run, Midas Touch, shares the second line of betting with Workforce, a son of King's Best and also representing the ownership of Khalid Abdullah.
In New York, Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box, a son of Pulpit, heads the betting in the Belmont Stakes. Preakness Stakes runner-up First Dude, by Stephen Got Even, is also favoured along with recent Dwyer Stakes winner Fly Down, a son of Mineshaft.
At Eagle Farm a full field of 18 will contest the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Sure to be among the favourites are the Doomben Roses trifecta of Marheta by Al Maher, Femina Fashion by Shamardal and Dariana by Redoute's Choice.
Miss Sivivatu's sister wins Italian Oaks. (01 Jun 2010)
Contredanse, a full-sister to the imported Miss Sivivatu, won the Italian Oaks at Milan on Saturday remaining unbeaten as a 3-year-old.
Miss Sivivatu was placed twice from 3 starts in Ireland before being imported to New Zealand. She won two races in the Spring of 2009 before being mated with High Chaparral. Contredanse and Miss Sivivatu are sisters to leading Canadian filly Callwood Dancer who won over $760,000 including Woodbine Nassau S., Gr.2.
Son of Forum Floozie (NZ) wins French Listed race (30 May 2010)
Lawbreaker, a British-bred son of Singspiel and Forum Floozie (NZ) captured his first black type race with a win in the 154th running of the Derby du Midi at Bordeaux, taking his race record to 2 wins from 4 starts.
Lawbreaker's dam Forum Floozie, a daughter of Danasinga and a half-sister to Group 1 winner and now successful sire Starcaft, won the Listed Wiggle Handicap at Randwick and was 3 times Group 1 placed including a second in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Her half-brother Starcraft won 11 races including 5 Group 1's in 4 countries. His oldest Australian-bred progeny are now two year olds and includes Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness. Their dam Flying Floozie was 3 times New Zealand Broodmare of the Year and is also the dam of Group 2 placed Pin Up.
Australian-bred two year old third in South African Group 1 (30 May 2010)
Australian-bred Mahbooba, a daughter of Galileo and the Red Ransom mare Sogha, suffered her first defeat but franked her ability at the highest level with a third placing in the Group 1 Allan Robertson Championship Stakes at Scottsville.
Mahbooba was the winner of her first 2 starts including the Group 2 Scottsville Debutante Stakes. Her dam is a three-quarter-sister to Group 3 winner Slew the Red and from the family of USA Horse of the Year Lady's Secret, the winner of 25 races including 11 at Group 1 level.
Aussie Rules records first stakes-winner (28 May 2010)
Irish bred colt Dinkum Diamond became the first stakes winner for Coolmore shuttler Aussie Rules with his win in the National Stakes at Sandown.
Dinkum Diamond remains unbeaten from 2 starts with his win in the Listed event over 5 furlongs. He beat home Chilworth Lad, by Diktat, with Cape to Rio, a son of Captain Rio, finishing third.
Magic Millions weanlings continue to sell well (28 May 2010)
Although not matching the highs of day 1 trading, the second session of the National Weanling Sale concluded with positive results across the board.
Top price on day 2 was $180,000 given for the Starcraft-Bird Sanctuary colt from Kulani Park, the successful bidder being Kylie Fawcett of Oxford Thoroughbreds in New Zealand. Patinack Farm went to $170,000 to secure the second top priced lot, a Shamardal colt from Jackie. After the completion of 2 days selling 368 weanlings have changed hands for $13,823,250 with an average of $37,563. The gross is up 66.6% and the average 68.4%.
Magic Millions National Weanlings open with across the board increases (27 May 2010)
Opening day of the 2010 version of Magic Million's National Weanling showed major increases on the corresponding session in 2009. A 50.5% jump in average, an extraordinary 93% leap in gross and a selling rate touching 89% made for an extremely successful day.
Champion Encosta de Lago featured as sire of 5 of the top 10 lots, including the top priced weanling of the day, a son of Group 2 winning mare Sharp which sold for $300,000 to Magic Millions as agent. He was also responsible for the second top lot, a son of stakes placed Coast to the Post who was knocked down to Colm Santry Bloodstock for $200,000. Judy Marheine's Stratheden Stud dispersal of weanlings bought a total of almost $1 million and were the next 3 highest prices. They were a Fastnet Rock colt from Tivoli Dancer who sold for $170,000 to Curraghmore Stud and the days equal top priced fillies, the first a daughter of Lonhro and Assertive Sound, who sold to Paul Willetts, and the second a daughter of More Than Ready and Galway Lass who was knocked down to Graeme Gathercole. Both fillies made $150,000.
Montjeu's incredible Derby record set to continue. (24 May 2010)
Already the sire of 5 English and Irish Derby winners from his first 5 crops, Montjeu's incredible record looks set to continue with St Nicholas Abbey in the 2010 running of the Epsom classic.
The winner of his 3 starts at 2, all at 1 mile, including the Doncaster Racing Post Trophy, Gr.1, St Nicholas Abbey was rated Champion 2YO colt in Europe last season. A beaten favourite in his only start at 3 in the Two Thousand Guineas, St Nicholas Abbey remains a warm favourite for the June 5th event. If he should win, he will enhance an already impressive by his sire, Montjeu, who has sired 5 English and Irish Derbys in his first five crops: Authorized and Motivator at Epsom and Fame and Glory, Hurricane Run and Frozen Fire at the Curragh, plus the Australian Derby winners Roman Emperor and Nom du Jeu. To back St Nicholas Abbey up, Montjeu has 2 further runners: the Criterium International winner Jan Vermeer and the Dante placed Coordinated Cut, plus his Derby winning son Motivator has the Lingfield Derby Trial placegetter Hot Prospect from his first crop.
Montjeu is represented by seven sons at stud in Australia and New Zealand this season. Epsom Derby winner Authorized returns to Darley Australia for a second season and Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor commences stud duties at Princes Farm. In New Zealand, Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu retires to stud at Fairdale, dual Gr.1 winner Tavistock retires to stud at Cambridge Stud, Guillotine stands his second season at Windsor Park, Gallant Guru his second season at White Robe Lodge and Mettre en Jeu his second season at Leatham.
(NZ) suffix on show at Arlington Park (24 May 2010)
The globalisation of thoroughbred racing was fully on show at Chicago's Arlington Park on Saturday with 2 of the winners have direct links to New Zealand.
Xpectation, a daughter of Towkay from the Woodborough mare Wooden Doll and a maiden winner at Trentham in the latter part of 2008, scored her third win and her second at Arlington Park over 1 mile on the turf. Five races earlier, Havelock, a three year old son of the Spectacular Love mare Piconeach scored his second win from only 4 starts over 5 furlongs. Piconeach, a Wanganui maiden winner, won also twice in the USA and was Listed placed at Ellis Park in Kentucky.
Battle Paint to Chequers Stud (21 May 2010)
Chequers Stud have announced that Group 1 placed Battle Paint, a son of Tale of the Cat, will commence service in the 2010 breeding season.
Battle Paint was a winner of 3 races from 1200m to 1400m and was twice group placed. He finished a meritorious second behind Holy Roman Emperor in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium at Longchamp and ended the season as second ranked French trained two year old. A son of prolific sire Tale of the Cat, sire in the Southern Hemisphere of group winners such as Glamour Puss, Tell a Tale, Falkirk and Trusting and also the sire of promising young stallion Lion Heart, Battle Paint is a half-brother to 2 stakeswinners and is from a half-sister to successful sire Dynaformer, himself only 2 from cracking the 100 stakeswinners mark. Battle Paint will stand for a fee of $5,000 plus GST.
Melbourne weanlings exceed expectations (20 May 2010)
The weanling section of the Inglis Great Southern Sale concluded on Tuesday with big increases in gross and average, finishing a whopping 60 per cent up on the former and 23 per cent up on the latter.
The sale grossed $3,412,750 with a final average of $10,731. Overall the clearance rate was a highly respectable 86 per cent. Darley resident Lonhro provided the most expensive colt and filly, the colt from the metropolitan winning Iris in the Glen, a half-sister to Group 2 winner Zazzman bringing a final bid of $110,000 from Boomer Bloodstock. New Zealand agent Paul Willetts signed for the top-priced filly, a $73,000 purchase out of the Sadler's Wells mare Theatre School, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Lend a Hand. Damon Gabbedy's Belmont Bloodstock emerged as leading buyer by gross, Darley as leading vendor by gross and Commands, with 3 to sell for an average of $54,000, finished as leading sire by average.
First winner for Iffraaj (18 May 2010)
Haunui Farm resident Iffraaj recorded his first winner when Irish-bred colt Nasharra saluted at Leicester over 5 furlongs on Monday.
The winner of three group 2 races including the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and runner up to Les Arcs, beating home Takeover Target and Falkirk, in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket, Iffraaj stands for a fee of $10,000 plus GST alongside Don Eduardo and Elusive City.
Group 1 winner Road to Rock to Wellfield (18 May 2010)
Multiple Group 1 winner Road to Rock (Encosta de Lago-Trewornan) will take up stud duties at Wellfield Lodge, Palmerston North in 2010.
The winner of two Group 1's at Randwick this season, the George Main Stakes at 1600m and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 2000m, Road to Rock is expected to have his final start in this weekend's Group 1 Doomben Cup. The winner of 6 races in total from 1500m to 2000m, Road to Rock was a gallant second behind Pentire's Rangirangdoo in the Group 1 Doncaster and also was Group 1 placed in the Epsom during the 2009 Sydney Spring Carnival. He will stand for NZ$12,500 plus GST with a live foal guarantee and joins Alamosa and Handsome Ransom at stud.
Website Upgrade (11 May 2010)
This morning, Tuesday 11th, the second release of the new website was put live.
This release addresses issues raised by clients over the past 5 days since the new website was released.
It also addresses issues regarding Annual, Auction and Press clients.
Website Upgrade - Important Notice (05 May 2010)
If you were a user of our old website, your previous log-in and password details will no longer work on the new website.
Annual account users
By now, you or your account holder will have received details of your new log-in and password. Please refer to the emails sent our last week advising of the changes.
Casual Account users
If you were a casual user of the website, your log-in and password details will no longer work. You must Register afresh on the new website. Upon doing so, you will be sent a confirmation email which provides details of how to proceed.
Why?
The old website was more than 12 years old and could no longer cope with the number of users for whom we held accounts. It was necessary to move to a system of ensuring unique log-ins, and utilising the industry standard of client's email addresses was deemed the best means of doing that. Please refer to our Privacy Policy regarding the details we hold.
New General Manager for Arion (12 Apr 2010)
Kyla Johnston has been appointed General Manager of Arion Pedigrees Ltd.
In the first major change to the structure of Arion Pedigrees since its creation in 1996, Kyla Johnston has assumed the role of General Manager. Kyla, who has worked at Arion for the past two years, comes with an extensive background in the equine industry along with considerable IT expertise.
Her appointment to the role comes as Arion begins to move its focus more firmly towards the provision of services via the internet, both to enhance the service to its existing cataloguing house clients and in a more targetted way to the major thoroughbred studs.
Former Managing Director, Geoff Powell, continues to work for Arion in the role of Director of Business Development.
New Arion Website Launched (12 Apr 2010)
Arion have launched their new website, featured a greatly increased range of reports from their extensive database.
In late April 2010, Arion Pedigrees in conjunction with their developers, Datacom Systems, launched phase one of its new website. This initial release provides all the services present in the previous website, but with the potential to greatly enhance the service as time progresses.
The new website features an improved range of pedigrees, race records and sire reports, including pedigrees in pdf & rtf format and direct email of reports generated. The stallion roster has been extended to cover every current stallion in Australasia, with their data updated nightly. And the payments system is now based on the internationally recognised standard Paypal.
Arion manage the cataloguing database on behalf of New Zealand Bloodstock. It contains the records of over 4 million thoroughbred horses, and is updated daily with racing from more than 60 countries worldwide.