NZ Bloodstock Select Sale ends with slight average and aggregate increases (03 Feb 2012)
The 2012 Select session of the NZ National Yearling Sales ended with positive final figures and a top price of NZ$230,000 for a Pentire colt purchased by Hawkes Racing.
Offered by Haunui Farm, who ended as leading vendor by Aggregate, the colt is a half-brother to 3 winners and descends from the family of Auckland Cup winner Miltak. A filly by No Excuse Needed from a group placed sister to Group 3 winner Dating finished as equal second top lot and top filly, being knocked down for NZ$200,000 to NZ trainer Lisa Latta. Equalling that price was a colt by Dubawi from a half-sister to Group 1 winner LOrd Majestic which was purchased by Magus Equine of Hong Kong.
Igugu wins the J & B Metropolitan in South Africa (30 Jan 2012)
Australian-bred Igugu took her record to 10 wins and 2 placings from 12 starts with a last gasp win in the Group 1 J & B Metropolitan at Kenilworth.
The daughter of Galileo, overcoming her isolation in the Kenilworth quarantine centre, was expected to lead but instead settled in fifth position for most of the trip. Only in the last 100 metres did she respond to jockey Anthony Delpach's riding to gain a narrow victory over Bravura with 3YO Gimmethegreenlight 3/4 length back in third. A graduate of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Igugu, the reigning South African Horse of the Year, descends from the family of European Horse of the Year Zarkava. Igugu sold from the draft of her breeders Kia Ora Stud for A$65,000.
New Zealand Bloodstock 86th National Yearling Sale Series begins Monday (29 Jan 2012)
1444 lots have been catalogued for the NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sales with 516 in the Premier catalogue, 620 in Select and 308 in the Festival session.
Progeny of New Zealand based first season sires Alamosa, Danfive, El Hermano, Fully Fledged, Guillotine, Mettre en Jeu, Rios, Sakhee's Secret and Sir Percy as well as offerings from the likes of Authorized, Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, New Approach and Northern Meteor will vie with established sires such as Zabeel, Encosta de Lago, Fastnet Rock, High Chaparral, O'Reilly, Pentire, Pins, Savabeel and Thorn Park for salering glory. Day 1 commences at 10.00am on Monday.
Aussie invader takes the Karaka Million (29 Jan 2012)
Ockhams Razor, a NZ$170,000 yearling purchase, unwound late to win the Restricted Listed Karaka Million at Ellerslie from Silk Pins and Warhorse.
Offered by Matamata's Rich Hill Stud and by their resident sire Any Suggestion, Ockhams Razor entered the race after a first start second at Caulfield. Trained by Anthony Freedman, the colt is the fourth foal of the Japanese bred Shadow Ray and is a half-brother to Bonecrusher Stakes winner Jungle Juice. A full sister to Ockhams Razor will be offered as Lot 1034 in the Select session of the 2012 NZ Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.
South Africa's Cape Yearling Sale day 2 produces four R2 million yearlings (27 Jan 2012)
A colt by recently deceased leading sire Jet Master from the blacktype winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Our Table Mountain topped the sale, selling for R2.8 million to trainer Mike Bass.
Jet Master figured as the sire of 3 of the 4 yearlings to break the R2 million barrier. One of them was the top priced filly, a half-sister to globe-trotting star Jay Peg who sold to agent John Freeman for R2.2 million. Overall the sale grossed R106 million with an average of R403,151 and a median of R300,000 from 238 yearlings sold.
Globetrotting Musir takes Group 2 Meydan Al Rashidya (27 Jan 2012)
The son of Redoute's Choice and the Listed placed Dizzy de Lago took his record to 8 wins and 5 placings from 14 starts with his second blacktype victory in Dubai for 2012.
After beginning his career in South Africa, where his record as a 2YO of 2 wins including the Group 1 Golden Horseshoe and a second from 3 starts earned him the Champion 2YO Colt title in 2009, Musir was transferred to Dubai by trainer Mike de Kock where he racked up 3 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts over the next 2 seasons including the Group 2 UAE Derby and Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas. Voted Champion UAE 3YO Miler in 2010, Musir's globetrotting odyssey reached new heights with a third in the Group 1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong, a third in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in England and finally a Group 2 success in Turkey in the Topkapi Trophy.
Dubai World Cup meeting attracts entries from 24 countries (26 Jan 2012)
The Dubai World Cup meeting to be held at Meydan on March 31 has attracted 5 Breeders' Cup winners, 4 Eclipse Award champions, champion sprinter Black Caviar, Golden Slipper winner Sepoy and multiple Group 1 winner So You Think.
Other notables entered include Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, Irish Oaks and 1000 Guineas victor Blue Bunting, Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, Champion Stakes winner Cirrus des Aigles and Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame and Glory. 8 Group races, including 5 at Group 1 level, worth a total of US$27 million will be run on the night.
Inglis Classic ends on high note (25 Jan 2012)
The 2012 version of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale ended on a high note when Lot 560, a Hussonet colt, sold for A$140,000.
A brother to Listed placed Red Dress Marley and half-brother to recent Listed placed 2YO Snitzerland, the colt, offered by Arrowfield Stud as agent, was knocked down to Mauro Poletti. The highest price filly in the session was Lot 427, a daughter of Dubawi and the Redoute's Choice mare Greta's Yarn. From the immediate family of Canny Lad and Sepoy, she was puchased by Inglis as agent for a New Zealand based client. After 3 days of selling 424 yearlings found new homes for an aggregate of A$12.8 million with an average of A$30,200 (down 9.9%) and a median of A$25,000 (down 3.8%).
Lightning strikes again for Thorn Park (23 Jan 2012)
Windsor Park's Thorn Park, runaway winner of the 2010-11 NZ General Sire Premiership, looks to have another topliner when Ocean Park ran away with the Group 3 Wellington Guineas.
Ocean Park, a NZ$150,000 yearling out of the NZB Select sale, has now raced 4 times for 3 wins and an unlucky last start second in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas. Out of the Zabeel mare Sayyida, Ocean Park will look to emulate his paternal relation Jimmy Choux in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby in March.
Inglis Classic sale off to solid start (23 Jan 2012)
The Inglis Classic Yearling Sale got off to a solid start with 2 six figure lots and comparative figures to 2010.
140 yearlings were offered on day 1 with 110 selling for A$3,494,727 providing an average of A$31,770 and a median of A$27,500. All of these figures were slightly down from 2010 however the auctioneers considered the opening day satisfactory. The 2 six figure lots were both purchased by syndicators with Star Thoroughbreds signing for the Beautiful Crown half-brother to Kontiki Park and Topline Thoroughbreds picking up a Fastnet Rock filly out of a half-sister to North American Grade 2 winner Conserve.
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale begins Sunday (20 Jan 2012)
The Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, producer of champions Choisir, Silent Witness and Whobegotyou, begins Sunday with 572 lots catalogued to be sold over 3 days.
22 First season sires are represented including Henrythenavigator with 19 lots, Northern Meteor with 14, Duke Of Marmalade 12 and Murtajill, Mutawaajid and War Pass who each have 10 entries. 428 of the 519 offered in 2011 sold for an aggregate of A$14,342,000 with an average of A$33,509 and a median of A$26,000.
Darley shuttler Any Given Saturday celebrates first Australian winner (19 Jan 2012)
Any Given Saturday, who stands at Darley's Northwood Park property in Seymour, Victoria, got his career off the mark in Australia when Saturday Skies was successful at Ascot in WA.
Standing at a fee of A$13,750, Any Given Saturday has at present 11 winners in the northern hemisphere, where his oldest have just turned 3, including blacktype placed Sunday's Child. The winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, beating Hard Spun and Curlin, Any Given Saturday retired to stud as the winner of 6 races from 11 starts. A son of Distorted Humor, he is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Bohemian Lady.
Triple Grade 1 winner Havre de Grace voted 2011 North American Horse of the Year (17 Jan 2012)
Havre de Grace, a daughter of Saint Liam, became the third straight female after Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and Zenyatta in 2010 to be voted North American Horse of the Year.
The winner of 5 of her 7 starts in 2011 including the Grade 1s Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn and the Beldame Stakes at Belmont, Havre de Grace ended the year with a fourth place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic behind Drosselmeyer. Other winners were Hansen (champion 2YO male), My Miss Aurelia (champion 2YO female), Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (champion 3YO male), Royal Delta (champion 3YO female), Acclamation (champion older male), Amazombie (champion male sprinter), Musical Romance (champion female sprinter), Galileo's Cape Blanco (champion male turf horse) and Stacelita (champion female turf horse).
Phar Lap arrives in USA - January 16, 1932 (16 Jan 2012)
New Zealand bred, Australian trained champion Phar Lap arrived in San Francisco on route to Agua Caliente in Mexico 80 years ago today.
The winner of 36 of his 50 starts in Australia, Phar Lap would go on to convincingly win the Agua Caliente Handicap on March 20, 1932 before mysteriously dying not long after.
Cambridge Stud's evergreen champion Zabeel now making his mark as broodmare sire (13 Jan 2012)
Turning the corner into 2012 Cambridge Stud's Zabeel is now making his mark as a broodmare sire by leading both the Australian and New Zealand Broodmare Sire tables.
Already the winner of General Sire Premierships in both countries, as well as being Champion New Zealand Sire by combined earnings in Australia and New Zealand 14 times, the 25yo heads the New Zealand Broodmare Sire table through the deeds of 1000 Guineas and Eight Carat Classic winner Planet Rock. He is the broodmare sire of 5 other blacktype winners including the Group 2 winners Silent Achiever and Singled Minded. He leads the NZ table over perennial rival Centaine with his paternal brother Grosvenor in third and his sire Sir Tristram in fourth. In Australia Zabeel and his great rival Danehill have streeted the rest of the field in the battle for leading Australian Broodmare Sire. Zabeel has 8 blacktype winners headed by Caulfield Cup heroine Southern Speed and the unbeaten Atlantic Jewel while Danehill trails him by 1, his 7 blacktype winners headed by champion Sepoy.
Steady trading on Day 1 of Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (12 Jan 2012)
Day 1 of the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale ended with slight falls in both aggregate and average but a rise in the median price.
Redoute's Choice provided significant assistance to the day 1 figures with 4 of the top 6 lots being by the Arrowfield stallion. Lot 36, a colt from the Listed winner I Got Chills, started the ball rolling being knocked down to Gai Waterhouse and James Herron Bloodstock for A$450,000. Equalling this price was the half-brother to Group 3 winners Miss Judgement and Fifth Avenue Lady, selling outside the ring to Segenhoe Stud. The Hong Kong Jockey Club bought the next 2 highest priced yearlings, an Exceed and Excel colt from former Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Mirror Mirror for A$350,000 and an Encosta de Lago colt from Group 3 winner Maslin's Beach for A$325,000. Top priced filly was from the first crop of Widden resident Northern Meteor, a daughter of Magic Millions 2YO Classic placegetter High Roll'n Woman. Leading the sire averages after day 1, for stallions with 2 or more sales, is Redoute's Choice, selling all 4 to be offered for an average of A$375,000. Encosta de Lago had 7 sales for an average of A$187,143 while Myboycharlie headed the first season sires with 2 sold for an average of A$147,500.
Frankel, Black Caviar head 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings (11 Jan 2012)
Mercurial British 3YO Frankel and champion Australian sprinter Black Caviar head the male and female listings on the final 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings.
With a rating of 136, achieved in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and equalled in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October, Frankel finished 4 ratings points ahead of Black Caviar who was awarded her rating in the Newmarket at Flemington in March. Ascot Champion Stakes winner Cirrus des Aigles and Arc winner Danedream tied for third on 128. Black Caviar was rated the world's champion sprinter while Sepoy, champion turf sprint 3YO, Atlantic Jewel, rated champion 3YO female over the intermediate distance and Rocket Man, rated champion older sprinter on dirt, were other Australian-breds to head their respective categories.
Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale kicks off 2012 sale calendar (10 Jan 2012)
The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale begins Wednesday, kicking off the 2012 yearling sales series with 892 lots to be offered in Book 1.
The 515 lots sold in Sessions 1 to 4 in 2011 grossed A$63,669,000 with an average of A$123,629 and a median of A$90,000. Three sons and 1 daughter of Redoute's Choice topped the sale with the filly, now named No Looking Back, a starter in the A$2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the weekend.
Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) wins Group 1 Queen's Plate in South Africa (09 Jan 2012)
Gimmethegreenlight became More Than Ready's tenth Group/Grade 1 winner worldwide when winning the R1 million Queen's Plate at Kenilworth.
Gimmethegreenlight, a A$155,000 purchase from the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale by Hassen Adams, took his record to 5 wins from 10 starts and earnings of over R1 million with his victory. A half-brother to 2 other blacktype performers including Listed winner Ofcourseican, Gimmethegreenlight becomes the second Group winner bred on the More Than Ready/Canny Lad after Group 2 winner Fritz's Princess.
First Australasian Group 1 event of 2012 to Aussie raider Atomic Force (04 Jan 2012)
Atomic Force became the second Australian trained Railway winner in 3 years with a convincing performance in the Ellerslie feature.
A son of Danehill Dancer and previously the winner of the Group 1 Galaxy in 2011, Atomic Force relished the soft track conditions to overcome The Hombre with Twilight Savings surging home for third. Trained at Newcastle by Dareen Smith, Atomic Force took his winning total to 11 wins from 36 starts with earnings of just under A$900,000. Unlucky to miss being selected to run in the Hong Kong Sprint, Atomic Force may now attempt the Group 1 New Zealand sprint double by lining up in the Telegraph at Trentham in late January.
Champion sire Volksraad put down (04 Jan 2012)
Eight-time New Zealand General Sires premiership winner Volksraad has been put down after breaking his shoulder in a paddock accident, just short of his 24th birthday.
Sire of 58 blacktype winners including 14 at Group 1 level, Volksraad entered stud at Windsor Park Stud Cambridge, where he was to remain for his full stud career, in 1993. From his first crop came Oakleigh Plate winner Dantelah while November's Levin Classic winner Distill represents his 15th crop to make it to the track. Probably Volksraad's best known performer is Sir Slick, the winner of 22 races including 6 at Group 1 level. His group 1 winners won from 1100m to 3200m. As a broodmare sire he already has 19 blacktype winners beside his name including Group 1 winners Beauty Flash and Lights of Heaven.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS (22 Dec 2011)
The management and staff of Arion Pedigrees would like to wish all of our valued customers a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2012.
Coolmore's Fastnet Rock having stellar year with his 3YOs (21 Dec 2011)
Fastnet Rock, currently sitting 2nd and 4th on the Australian and New Zealand General Sires tables respectively, leads the 3YO Sires tables by earnings in both countries.
In Australia, his 17 winners include blacktype winners Mosheen (G1 VRC Oaks), the unbeaten Atlantic Jewel (G1 VATC 1000 Guineas), Group 2 winner Foxwedge, Group 3 winner Smart Missile and Listed winner Amah Rock. He also has 5 other blacktype performers. In New Zealand he has produced only 2 winners but was a significant pair. In the space of week Fastnet Rock produced the winners of the New Zealand 2000 and 1000 Guineas, Rock 'n' Pop the former and Planet Rock the latter. He currently leads the Australian 3YO table by nearly A$900,000 over Darley's Elusive Quality and Waikato Stud's Savabeel while in New Zealand his lead is nearly NZ$250,000 over Windsor Park's Volksraad and Waikato Stud's Pins.
Blacktype winner number 164 for Royal Academy (18 Dec 2011)
Noogoora Burr became blacktype winner number 164 for his sire Royal Academy when winning the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Ridden in his Breeders' Cup Mile victory by Lester Piggott, Royal Academy began his stud career in Ireland in 1991 before shuttling to Australia 1994. In the years since he has visited Japan, Great Britain, the USA and Brazil before becoming a permanent resident at Coolmore Australia. His tally of 164 blacktype winners includes 86 at Group/Graded level and 22 at Group/Grade 1 level. He has sired blacktype winners in 13 different countries including Australia (44), USA (42), Brazil (20), Great Britain (18), France and Ireland (14 each) and Germany (9). He was Champion Sire in Brazil in 2005 and 2006. His best sire sons include Bel Esprit (13 blacktype winners including champion mare Black Caviar), Val Royal and Ali-Royal. He is also the broodmare sire of 93 blacktype winners, including 40 at Group/Graded level, among them Group 1 winners Fastnet Rock, Finsceal Beo, Dabirsim, Heart of Dreams, Rabiya, Rule of Law and The Party Stand.
First Australian winner for Henny Hughes - first winner for Zizou (16 Dec 2011)
Darley shuttler Henny Hughes and Turangga Farm's Zizou both kicked off their respective stallion careers with recent winners, Henny Hughes with Bertie's Bells at Launceston and Zizou with You're Mine on the Gold Coast.
Henny Hughes, a multiple Grade 1 winning son of Hennessy, stood the 2011 season at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of A$16,500. He is the sire of 72 winners worldwide and 5 blacktype winners including 2011 group winners She Digs Me and Henny Hound. Zizou, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus and runner-up to Forensics in the Golden Slipper, stood for A$11,000 in 2011.
9YO Able One (NZ) wins Hong Kong Mile (12 Dec 2011)
Evergreen Able One added another Group 1 to his 2 Champions Mile wins with a devasting victory in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile.
Leading the field up to the pacemaker, Able One surged away entering the straight and just had enough gas left in the tank to hold off British visitor Cityscape with favourite Xtension finishing third. Able One had shown little form since his Group 2 Jockey Club Mile over 12 months ago. The New Zealand-bred, a gelded son of Cape Cross and Gardenia, by Danehill, took his record to 11 wins from 41 starts and earnings of over HK$37 million. He is a brother to Listed winner Florilegium and after selling for NZ$190,000 at the 2004 Karaka Yearling Sales was resold at the 2004 NZ Bloodstock Horses in Training sale where he realised NZ$270,000.
First blacktype winner for Strada - first Australian winner for Excellent Art (11 Dec 2011)
Charm's Honour became Strada's first blacktype winner when victorious in the Listed Mode Plate at Doomben while Coolmore shuttler Excellent Art celebrated his first winner downunder.
Charm's Honour to her record to 4 wins with her victory for Scone trainer Greg Bennett. Earning blacktype as a 2YO when running second in the Keith Mackay Stakes, Charm's Honour will now be spelled until the autumn. At Morphettville, Family Portrait, an A$60,000 yearling purchase from the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, gave Excellent Art his first southern hemisphere winner when winning over 1000m.
Barrier draws done for Hong Kong International meeting (09 Dec 2011)
Barrier draws have been completed for the 4 Group 1 races on the card at the International meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday.
In the 1200m Sprint, favoured Rocket Man and grand old campaigner Sacred Kingdom have drawn the 2 outside barriers while British visitor Society Rock, winner of this years Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, has drawn favourably at gate 2. In the Mile, Australasia's only representative Jimmy Choux came out with barrier 2 while local favourite Xtension, one of 3 John Moore runners, goes from barrier 5. A field of 10 will face the starter in the Hong Kong Cup with Champion Stakes winner Cirrus des Aigles drawing barrier 2. The Hong Kong Vase over 2400m is the first of the Group 1's to go with Godolphin's Campanologist, to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, the like favourite.
Aus-bred South African Horse of the Year returns with a vengeance (06 Dec 2011)
Reigning South African Horse of the Year Igugu took her record to 9 wins and 2 seconds from only 11 starts when she returned to the track at Turffontein.
Having her first start since completing a streak of 5 consecutive wins, 3 at Group 1 level, in the Durban July Handicap at Greyville in the middle of the year, Igugu blitzed her rivals by 5 1/4 lengths in the Group 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein. Igugu, a daughter of Galileo and the Irish-bred mare Zarinia, was bred by Kia Ora Stud and sold for A$65,000 at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Century of blacktype winners for Montjeu (28 Nov 2011)
Former Windsor Park Stud shuttler Montjeu brought his tally of blacktype winners to 100 when Gorongosa won the Group 3 Racing Association Handicap at Turffontein.
The Irish-bred mare was winning her sixth race from only 9 starts and previously had been Listed placed in the Java Handicap at Turffontein. A sister or half-sister to 4 other winners, Gorongosa descends from the family of Group 1 winners Lycius and Eddington.
Redemption for Buena Vista in Japan Cup (28 Nov 2011)
After being controversally relegated to second in the 2010 Cup, Buena Vista gained her reward with a neck victory over Tosen Jordan with Jaguar Mail finishing third.
With a record that now stands at 9 wins and 11 placings from 22 starts, Buena Vista is scheduled to face the starter only once more in Japan, that being in the Arima Kinen in December, before a planned international campaign. Previously the winner of the Group 1's Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Victoria Mile, Buena Vista has already shown she is up to international Group 1 level when running second in the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2010. A daughter of Japan Cup winner Special Week, himself a son of Sunday Silence, Buena Vista is one of 7 winners and 4 blacktype winners from the 1995 Japanese Champion 2YO Filly Biwa Heidi. Both the runner-up and third placegetter were sired by former Rich Hill Stud shuttler Jungle Pocket.
Record breaking Goffs November Foal Sale (19 Nov 2011)
The 2 day Goffs November Foal Sale concluded with record breaking figures, largely helped by the first crop of champion Sea The Stars.
Top price among the foals was for a half-brother by Sea The Stars to champion 3YO Soldier of Fortune, winner of the Irish Derby and Coronation Cup at Epsom, out of the blacktype winning mare Affianced. He was knocked down for 850,000 euros which was 50,000 euros more than the second top price, a filly by Sea The Stars from champion 2YO Finsceal Beo. Another Sea The Stars made an identical figure, this filly a half-sister to Group 3 winner Cuis Ghaire. The 2 day aggregate increased by 42.3%, the average by 14.5% and the median rose 6.7%.
Keeneland November Sale concludes having surpassed expectations (18 Nov 2011)
The 11 day sale, where over 3,000 lots went through the sale ring, ended with large increases in turnover, average and median.
The average climbed 62.2% to US$81,641, the median 41.1% to US$24,000 and the turnover for the 11 days ended at just over US$208 million, up US$61 million from 2010. Twenty three lots sold for US$1 million or more with the top price being realised by Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic winner Royal Delta who was finally knocked down for US$8.5 million.
Snow Fairy returns to plunder. (15 Nov 2011)
The Queen of the East from last season, Snow Fairy, has returned East to capture the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto for the second year.
After a luckless 2011, during which she faced the best but came up short each time, Snow Fairy (Intikhab) finally returned to form. Seconds in the Nassau and Irish Champion Stakes, and thirds in the Arc and Champion Stakes to horses of the calibre of So You Think, Midday, Danedream and Cirrus des Aigles marked her season before returning to Japan and victory. The former Irish and Epsom Oaks winner has now won 11 races and over £3.5 million.
NZ 1000/2000 Guineas double to Coolmore's Fastnet Rock (14 Nov 2011)
Fastnet Rock took his tally of Group 1 winners to 8 when Planet Rock scored in the NZ 1000 Guineas, giving him the Guineas double after Rock 'n' Pop was successful in the NZ 2000 Guineas, propelling him to the top of the NZ General Sires premiership.
The first foal of the Zabeel mare Akris, Planet Rock took her record to 3 wins from 7 starts with her victory. Her dam is a half-sister to Listed winner Gorky Park. Her third dam is the imported Persian Bold mare Karman Gal, a Listed winner in the USA. Planet Rock sold for NZ$290,000 at the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale and was bred by Bill Gleeson at Wellfield Lodge. Her now 2YO sister was purchased by Mike Breslin at the 2011 sale for NZ$150,000 and a yealing half-brother by Wellfield resident sire Alamosa will be offered at the 2012 NZ sales.
Napatap claims his first win in the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton (12 Nov 2011)
In so doing his sire, Brighthill based stallion Patapan, became the first of the Australasian First Season sire to have left a blacktype winner this season.
A son of Stravinsky, Patapan was Champion Older Sprinter in Italy where he won 16 races and over €300,000. His dam Papa Reale was the Champion Older Female Sprinter of her year, and he is a half-brother to Per Incanto who was Joint Champion 3YO Sprinter and who nows stands at Little Avondale Stud in Masterton. He descends from the 1000 Guineas winner Waterloo. Napatap was a NZ$6000 purchase at the Karaka Sales. His grandam is a sister to Frank Packer Plate winner Never Quit.
Frankel hot favourite to win UK's Cartier Horse of the Year award (11 Nov 2011)
Undefeated sensation Frankel heads the list of 5 for the supreme Cartier Horse of the Year award when nominations were announced, his challengers being Cirrus des Aigles, Danedream, Goldikova and NZ-bred So You Think.
Frankel also heads the Cartier 3YO colt list while Arc winner Danedream is also nominated in the 3YO filly section. Goldikova, Cirrus des Aigles and So You Think will battle with Canford Cliffs and St Nicholas Abbey in the older horse category. Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden is 1 of 5 champion stayer nominations while potential Melbourne visitor Prohibit heads the champion sprinter list together with 3YO Dream Ahead. The winners will be announced on November 15.
Premio Roma taken out by German raider Zazou (09 Nov 2011)
The Premio Roma is the penultimate Group One race of the European racing calendar and was captured this season by last year's German 3YO Champion, Zazou (Shamardal).
Zazou is a son of French Derby winner and Darley shuttler Shamardal, whose previous group one winners have included Lope de Vega (French Derby and French 2000 Guineas),
Faint Perfume (VRC Oaks) and Captain Sonador (Epsom H.). His dam is the leading 3YO German filly Zaza Top and his third dam is a full-sister to former Cambridge Stud stallion Danzatore. The last group one of the 2011 European calendar is the Criterium de Saint-Cloud this coming weekend.
St Nicholas Abbey back to his best (08 Nov 2011)
A son of shuttler Montjeu and a past Champion 2YO, St Nicholas Abbey's victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Stakes showed that he is one of the best despite a somewhat up-and-down season.
St Nicholas Abbey was unbeaten at 2, winning a couple of races in Ireland before snaring the last 2YO group one race of the British season, the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, a performance which saw him crowned Champion 2YO Colt of Europe. Unfortunately, his 3YO career was limited to only the one start, a somewhat disappointing sixth in the Two Thousand Guineas in what has proved to be a strong field, with the placegetters being the highly regarded Makfi, Dick Turpin and Canford Cliffs. He commenced his 4YO career with a third placing in Ireland in the Spring before capturing the Ormonde Stakes and Coronation Cup. Disappointment followed with a below par performances in The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Prix Foy and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Taken to USA, he has the redeemed his season with victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Stakes. A son of leading sire Montjeu, he is a half-brother to Sunset Handicap winner Grammarian. His dam is a half-sister to 3 group one winners including Canadian International winner Ballingarry, He descends from the famous broodmare Lea Lark.
Distorted Humor assumes lead on the NA sire premiership (08 Nov 2011)
Drosselmeyer pushed his sire, former shuttler Distorted Humor, to the top with victory in the Breeders Cup Classic in a race which saw So You Think well beaten.
Previous leader Tapit was not without his chances to retain his lead. His son Hansen captured the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and he had two runners in the Breeders Cup Classic. Neither featured leaving the way open for Distorted Humor through his son Drosselmeyer. One of over 100 stakes winners for his sire, Drosselmeyer had previously won the Belmont Stakes last season. Amongst Distorted Humor's other major winners are the Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, Haskell winner Any Given Saturday and Australasian Oaks winner Rinky Dink.
Royally bred Rock n Pop snares NZ 2000 Guineas (05 Nov 2011)
Rock n Pop, by Fastnet Rock out of NZ Derby winner Popsy, and who sold at the 2010 Karaka yearling sales for $1,000,000 reclaimed some of that cost in the Guineas at Riccarton.
In a field full of promise, Rock n Pop secured a great run to hand dual group one winning and outstanding filly Anabandana (Anabaa) her second successive defeat. The much raced Dollario (Captain Rio) was third.
Breeders Cup at Churchill Downs on Saturday (02 Nov 2011)
The Breeders Cup meeting on Saturday features ten Group races, drawing together some of the best racehorses from around the world including NZ-breds So You Think and Hoofit.
So You Think competes in the Breeders' Cup Classic over his favoured distance of 2000m. Opposing him are 12 USA-breds, 8 of which are winners at group one level, including two sons of current leading sire Tapit (in Rattlesnake Bridge and Headache) and one son by leading second season sire Bernardini (in Stay Thirsty). He is also strongly opposed by 4YO mare Havre de Grace (only once beaten this season) and leading 3YOs Prayer for Relief and Uncle Mo. Hoofit (Mossman) lines up in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Stakes against 13 rivals, only one of which has previously won at group one level. Included amongst those rivals is Havelock, a son of the Spectacular Love mare Piconeach. In other highlights, European champion mare Goldikova seeks to repeat her win in the Breeders' Cup Mile while St Nicholas Abbey and Sarafina seek to improve on their Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe performances in the Breeders' Cup Turf Stakes.
Montjeu showing promise as broodmare sire (02 Nov 2011)
Restiadargent, who won the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, Gr,2 at the weekend, is the fourth 2YO stakes winner out of a Montjeu mare this season, and follows on from Parish Hall's victory in Britain's premier 2YO race.
Parish Hall (Teofilio) is the first foal out of the winning Montjeu mare Halla Siamsa. He captured the Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes in early October. Restiadargent (Kendargent) is the first foal of the unraced Montjeu mare Restiva. His victory in the Gr.2 Criterim de Maisons-Laffitte added to his earlier victory in the Prix d'Arenberg, Gr.3. The third of his performers is Dear Lavinia (Grand Slam), who captured the Grand Criterium de Bordeaux in mid October. She is due to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at the weekend. Rounding off his quartet of performers is Murano (Whipper), who ran 5th to Restiadargent and who had earlier won the listed Maisons-Laffitte Prix Saraca.
Melbourne Cup winner has obscure background (02 Nov 2011)
Dunaden, who triumphed in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, is one of only five winners by his sire, and the only stakes winner in the first five removes of his pedigree.
A group and listed winner in his home country France, Dunaden signalled that he was capable of claiming the big race when he won the Geelong Cup, a race won by Americain immediately prior to his success last year. But his step up to the highest of company flies in the face of a poor pedigree. He is from the first crop of his sire Nicobar (Indian Ridge), who raced seven seasons in four countries, winning the Sandown Mile, Gr.2 & Premio Emilio Turati, Gr.2. But his first five crops of racing age have only produced 12 runners for 4 winners other winners, none up to Dunaden's standard. On his female line, his is directly descended from the 1966 Prix de Malleret winner Si Sage. Further back, he descends from a half-sister to 1913 Grand Prix de Paris winner and successful sire Bruleur.
First blacktype winner for Darley's Street Sense (01 Nov 2011)
Motor City, a two-year-old gelded son of Darley shuttle Street Sense, became his sires first blacktype winner with his victory in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.
A half-brother to 7 winners including Ascot Listed winner Satulagi, Motor City is from a sister to Group 3 winner Star of Gdansk and a half-sister to North American blacktype winners W.D. Jacks and Emptress Jackie and was registering his second win from 5 starts. Street Sense shuttles to Darley NSW where he stands at a fee of A$38,500. His oldest Australian-bred progeny are two-years-old this season.
Cosmopolitan look to final Melbourne Cup field (30 Oct 2011)
Seven different countries serve as breeding grounds for the 24 acceptors for the 2011 Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington on Tuesday.
Ireland has easily the greatest representation with 10 runners followed by Australia and New Zealand with 3 each and France, Great Britain, USA and Germany, each with 2. Eleven of the runners are foreign trained and for the first time in a number of years no New Zealand-trained horses have made the final cut. To check out the full field go to our Data Centre for detailed information.
First blacktype winner for Rich Hill's Sir Percy (30 Oct 2011)
Shuttle stallion Sir Percy, winner of the English Derby and Dewhurst Stakes at the highest level, sired his first blacktype winner when his daughter Coquet took out the Listed Montrose Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Newmarket.
Out of the Nashwan mare One So Marvellous, a sister to Group 1 winner One So Wonderful and a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Alnasr Alwasheek, Coquet took her record to 2 wins from 3 starts. Sir Percy has sired 11 winners from his first two-year-old crop to race in the Northern Hemisphere and has his first crop of yearlings through the ring in 2012 in Australasia. He stands for a fee of NZ$15,000 at Rich Hill Stud in Matamata, New Zealand.
Victoria Derby highlight of 9 Group races at Flemington (28 Oct 2011)
The A$1.5 million AAMI Victoria Derby heads a card of 4 Group 1, 2 Group 2 and 3 Group 3 races on the first day of the VRC Spring Carnival meeting.
Contesting favouritism in the Derby is the Sydney colt Manawanui, a son of Oratorio, and the Darley owned Elusive Quality colt Induna. The other Group 1 events on the card are the A$500,000 Myer Classic for fillies and mares over 1600m where More Joyous, by Vinery's More Than Ready, is an overwhelming favourite ahead of the daughter of Fasnet Rock in Mosheen. The Coolmore Stud, over 1200m for three-year-olds, again has a short-priced favourite in the Darley colour-bearer Sepoy who is chasing his 10th win in only 11 starts. The final Group 1 event, which may have some influence on the final Melbourne Cup field, is the LKS Mackinnon Stakes over 2000m. Heading the betting is Cox Plate third Rekindled Interest, a son of Redoute's Choice, ahead of the imports Foreteller, Glass Harmonium and Midas Touch. Other events on the card are the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes for three-year-old fillies and the Seppelt Salinger over 1200m and the Group 3 Inglis Carbine Club for three-years-olds over 1600m, The Lexus at 2500m and the TAB.com.au Stakes over 1400m.
Hong Kong champion Vengeance of Rain dies (26 Oct 2011)
The 2006-07 Hong Kong Horse of the Year passed away at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand at the age of 11 after his retirement in 2008.
The winner of 10 of his 27 starts including the Group 1's the Hong Kong Cup, Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic, Vengeance of Rain ended his career with stake earnings of just over A$11 million. Beginning his career in Australia named Subscribe, Vengeance of Rain won the Listed Veuve Cliquot Chairman's Stakes at 2 as well as running third in the Talindert Stakes. Reappearing after a year's break in Hong Kong, now renamed Vengeance of Rain, he took 5 starts to get his first victory. He was successful in 9 blacktype events and placed in a further 4. A son of Zabeel, Vengeance of Rain was out of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Danelagh, a daughter of Danehill and a half-sister to Listed winner Bernicia.
Montjeu's son assumes Derby favouritism (23 Oct 2011)
Camelot scored an easy win in the Doncaster Racing Post Trophy, the last Group One 2YO race of the British season, and became his sire Montjeu's 99th blacktype winner.
Entering the race as the winner of his only previous start, a maiden at Leopardstown, Camelot started as 10/11 favourite and easily justified that confidence. He is out of the Group three winning Kingmambo mare Tarfah. He is the first Group One winner from the family since Polygamy won The Oaks in 1974.
Superb Cox Plate meeting at Moonee Valley (22 Oct 2011)
A 15th win for unbeaten Black Caviar, a slashing Melbourne Cup trial for last year's winner Americain and Pinker Pinker (Reset) snatching the WS Cox Plate were the highlights.
In a disappointingly small field, Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) made no race of it remaining unbeaten after 15 starts taking her career earnings to over $A3.7 million. In the Moonee Valley Cup, Americain (Dynaformer) dispatched his rivals with disdain to probably cement favouritism for this year's Cup. And in the Cox Plate packed with group one winners, group two winner Pinker Pinker (Reset) ran down Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) to claim the prize.
Hong Kong International meeting attracts 88 Group 1 winners (20 Oct 2011)
A record 88 Group 1 winners are among the 311 nominations for the Hong Kong International meeting to be held at Sha Tin racecourse on December 11.
Standout performers include Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream, British Champion Stakes winner Cirrus des Aigles, Oaks winner Dancing Rain, Dubai World Cup victor Victoire Pisa and Rocket Man, winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen and Krisflyer International Sprint. The 4 races that make up the international card are the Hong Kong Cup over 2000m, Hong Kong Mile at 1600m, Hong Kong Vase at 2400m and the Hong Kong Sprint over 1200m.
First winners for freshman sires Any Suggestion and Iffraaj (18 Oct 2011)
Any Suggestion set the ball rolling with Killa Question scoring at Pukekohe on Friday while Liberating opened Iffraaj's account on Saturday at Wanganui.
Any Suggestion, a resident at Rich Hill Stud in Matamata, was a Listed winner at Doomben over 1100m and ran second to Miss Andretti in the Group 1 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. He stands for a fee of NZ$6,500. Iffraaj on the other hand celebrated a very successful freshman year in Europe in 2010 where he left Group 1 winner Wootton Bassett. He is now the sire of 4 blacktype winners in the Northern Hemisphere. A multiple Group 2 winner, Iffraaj shuttles to Haunui Farm where he stands for NZ$17,500.
Grade 1 double for Montjeu fillies in Canada (18 Oct 2011)
Montjeu took his tally of Group/Grade 1 winners to 24 when Sarah Lynx and Miss Keller took 2 of the 3 Grade 1's at Woodbine while fellow Coolmore barnmate Galileo celebrated his own Group/Grade 1 double.
In her first start outside of Europe, Sarah Lynx, the only filly in the field, scored by 4 lengths in the Canadian International Stakes over 1 1/2 miles with Joshua Tree, also by Montjeu, second ahead of Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach, by Galileo, in third. In the 10 furlong EP Taylor Stakes, Miss Keller gained her first win of the calender year with a photo finish victory over fellow Irish-bred fillies I'm a Dreamer and Dream Peace. Not to be outdone Galileo had his own "royal" double with superstar Frankel cleaning up a quality field in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket and Ballydoyle filly Together, in her third start in 22 days, taking the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
Zabeel shining as a broodmare sire (17 Oct 2011)
The Caulfield meeting in Melbourne has highlighted the strength of Zabeel as a broodmare sire, with his granddaughters claiming the Caulfield Cup and Thousand Guineas.
Southern Speed's effort in winning the Caulfield Cup and Atlantic Jewel's win in the Thousand Guineas takes his tally to 15 group one winners out of his mares. Other prominent performers are Darci Brahma and Samantha Miss.
Brilliant Ascot meeting (17 Oct 2011)
The inaugural Champions Meeting at Ascot on Saturday provided a host of great racing highlighted by the unbeaten Frankel.
The Champions meeting was conceived as providing a climax to the British flat racing season, and so it proved in its first year. With The Champion Stakes relocated from Newmarket and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes dropped back from September, the meeting provided a host of excellent racing for a gross stake of over 3 millions pounds. Frankel's performance in winning the QE II Stakes was the highlight, as one again he showed his class. So You Think again found the competition too tough. Fame and Glory finally regained some form and Dancing Rain showed why she is the best 3YO filly in Britain.
Caulfield Cup draws a field from around the world. (14 Oct 2011)
With a field which includes winners from Britain, France, Ireland, USA, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, the Caulfield Cup is a truly international affair this season.
The USA-raced Unusual Suspect is a most interesting runner. He is out of the NZ-bred Crested Wave mare Penpont who won in USA, herself a grand-daughter of champion NZ racemare Black Willow, and his sire is the Nureyev stallion Unusual Heat. At his last USA start he won the Hollywood Turf Cup over the same distance as the Caulfield Cup, making him one of only four group one winners in the race. The other group one winners are Queensland Derby winner Shootoff (Duelled), last start Turnbull Stakes winner December Draw (Medecis) and Australian Oaks winner Absolutely (Redoute's Choice). Returning for second tilt at the race is the French bred Manighar whose efforts of running 5th, followed by a 7th in the Melbourne Cup belie the fact that he hasn't won for two years.
Climax of British Season at Ascot on Saturday (14 Oct 2011)
The revamped British racing calendar culminates with the Champions meeting at Ascot headed by the Champion Stakes, formerly raced at Newmarket.
The Champion Stakes has drawn an excellent field, headed by So You Think (High Chaparral) and ably supported by Twice Over (Observatory), Midday (Oasis Dream), Snow Fairy (Intikhab) and Nathaniel (Galileo). The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, moved from its historic September date, has drawn the unbeaten Frankel (Galileo) whose 7 opponents include Dubawi Gold, Excelebration and Dick Turpin. Also on the card are teh Champion Sprint, Champion Long Distance and the Champion Mares & Fillies Stakes
Parish Hall takes Dewhurst (09 Oct 2011)
Parish Hall, from the first crop of Darley shuttler Teofilo, emulated his sire by capturing the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
Parish Hall joins three other black type winners from former champion 2YO Teofilo's first crop including Tyros Stakes winner Remember Alexandra. Parish Hall's pedigree features a 3x3 cross in Sadler's Wells, he being out of a mare by Montjeu.
Helmet joins Caulfield Guineas roll of honour (07 Oct 2011)
The Caulfield Guineas, won on Saturday by Helmet, has left an impressive list of winners including champion sires Vain, Grosvenor and Luskin Star, along with the champion sires of the past two seasons in Lonhro and Redoute's Choice.
Racing by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by Peter Snowden, the son of Exceed and Excel was a leading 2YO, winning the ATC Champagne and Sires' Produce S. He has hit form since arriving in Melbourne, taking the Guineas Prelude a fortnight ago before capturing the Guineas itself.
German victory in the Arc - So You Think fourth (03 Oct 2011)
German three-year-old filly Danedream, already twice a Group 1 winner at the distance and under an inspired ride from Andrasch Starke, blitzed the Arc field in race record time.
Becoming the 15th three-year-old in the last 18 years to take the event, Danedream, supplemented into the race earlier in the week, had 5 lengths over Shareta with Snow Fairy a neck back in third and So You Think, battling home gallantly from second last on the hometurn, a further half length back in fourth. Danedream is one of 44 blacktype winners for her sire Lomitas, a son of Niniski, and is from the unraced Danehill mare Danedrop.
Patinack's Husson gets SH blacktype winner with first runner (02 Oct 2011)
Patinack Farm resident Husson, a son of Hussonet, began his SH career with a bang when Hussousa took out the Breeders' Plate at Randwick, giving him a blacktype winner with his first runner.
Already the sire of blacktype winner Lady Hussy in his native Argentina, Husson, a multiple group winner in that country, has 85 live foals in his first Australian crop, now 2YOs, and stands at a fee of A$22,000 at Patinack Farm.
Champion So You Think has 15 rivals in Arc (02 Oct 2011)
So You Think (NZ) will face 15 rivals in his quest to capture the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, including 2010 winner Workforce.
So You Think will line up in barrier 14, 1 outside of current favourite Sarafina. Others lining up in the event include 2010 winner Workforce and runnerup Nakayama Festa, 2011 Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey, dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy, 2011 Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach, 2011 Prix du Jockey Club winner Reliable Man, 2011 St Leger winner Masked Marvel plus recent Prix Vermeille winner and Goldikova's little sister in Galikova.
Big weekend of Group 1 racing (30 Sep 2011)
Friday night sees the running of the Manikato Stakes, 4 Group 1's are to be run at Randwick and 1 at Hawke's Bay on Saturday and Sunday sees the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Sepoy and More Joyous offer a mouth-watering opening to the weekend when they meet in the Manikato over 1200m at Moonee Valley. Sincero is topweight for the A$505,000 Epsom over 1600m and he meets a hot field including Chris Waller's import Foreteller. The Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m sees the first staying test for the three-year-olds and Darci be Good, Ambidexter and Rekindled Alliance head the betting. The Coolmore Flight for fillies sees Melbourne visitor Hallowell Belle take on the best Sydney fillies and the final race of the day is the time-honoured Metropolitan over 2400m. In New Zaland, Jimmy Choux is an odds on favourite to take the third leg of the Hawke's Bay triple crown, the Spring Classic. And to round out the weekend, a field of 14 will face the starter in the Turnbull, with the impressive December Draw sure to start as favourite.
Goffs Orby Yearling Sale finishes with similar figures to 2010 (30 Sep 2011)
Steady without being spectacular were the thoughts of the sale company after sale returns roughly matched the 2010 result.
Top price was 350,000 euros for a New Approach half-sister to Group 3 winner Future Generation.
Keeneland September Yearlings closes with solid gains (26 Sep 2011)
After 2 weeks of selling, the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale closed with solid increases in turnover and average and a reduced buy back rate.
A total of 3,689 yearlings were offered with 2,921 sold for a gross turnover of US$223,487,800, an average of US$76,511 (up 11%) and a steady median price of US$30,000. Importantly the buyback rate dropped from 26.5% in 2010 to 20.7% this year. Six yearlings made US$1 million or more, headed by the A. P. Indy colt from Malka which made US$1,400,000.
Mahbooba (Aus) wins Listed Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket (25 Sep 2011)
Globe-trotting Mahbooba became the winner of blacktype races in 3 countries when taking the 1 1/2 mile Godolphin Stakes, a Listed event at Newmarket in Great Britain.
A Group 1 winner in South Africa, where she was rated Champion 2YO Filly of the 2009-10 season, Mahbooba was successful in the UAE One Thousand Guineas earlier in the year before running 2nd in the UAE Oaks and 3rd in the UAE Derby. She took her record to 5 wins and 5 placings from only 11 starts with her 6 length victory over Group 1 winner Al Shemali with All the Aces 2 lengths back in third. A daughter of Galileo, Mahbooba is from the winning Red Ransom mare Sogha, a three-quarter-sister to Grade 3 winner Slew the Red
Toorak Toff wins Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke at Caulfield (25 Sep 2011)
Regaining the form that won him last years Group 1 Golden Rose in Sydney, Toorak Toff ran out a convincing 1.5 length winner from stablemate Pinnacles with pacemaker Master of Design hanging on for third.
Ridden by Craig Williams for trainer Rick Hore-Lacy, Toorak Toff, having only his second run back since an unplaced effort in the Goodwood in Adelaide in May, took his record to 6 wins and 1 second from 14 starts and his stake-earnings to A$1,271,020. Sold for A$135,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Glenlogan Park, Toorak Toff is by Show a Heart from the unraced Grand Lodge mare Orong, a sister to Listed winner Avilde. Show a Heart is the sire of 14 blacktype winners, his other Group 1 winner being Australian Guineas and Underwood Stakes victor Heart of Dreams.
First Australian 2YO race for the season this weekend (22 Sep 2011)
The Fitton Insurance Hopeful Plate, to be run at Toowoomba, opens two-year-old racing for the 2011-12 season in Australia on Saturday.
A field of 16 has accepted, including the progeny of 5 freshman sires, these being colts by Haradasun and Court Command and fillies by Casino Prince, St Averil and The Hammer. Twelve of the 16 acceptors went through sales. Among the high priced horses sold were Crown of Coureuse, a daughter of Beautiful Crown, purchased by Patinack Farm as a weanling in Sydney. Canningly, a son of Canny Lad, made $50,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Huxtable, a son of Choisir, made $45,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Black Caviar named 2011 Australian Horse of the Year (19 Sep 2011)
Unsurprisingly, unbeaten champion sprinter Black Caviar has been voted the 2011 Australian Horse of the Year, also winning the Champion Sprinter and Most Popular Racehorse categories.
Other category winners were Sepoy as Champion 2YO, Shamrocker Champion 3YO Filly, Star Witness Champion 3YO Male, So You Think Champion Middle Distance Performer, Americain Champion Stayer, Black and Bent Champion Jumper and Rocket Man as Champion International Australian-bred.
A trio of four-year-olds claimed the 3 Group 1 races run in Australia and New Zealand (18 Sep 2011)
With the spring carnivals hotting up on both sides of the Tasman, Sincero, Lion Tamer and Jimmy Choux all stamped their previous season's Group 1 winning form by opening their four-year-old accounts at the highest level.
Stradbroke winner Sincero took his record to 11 wins from 15 starts with a strong win the George Main Stakes at Rosehill. After sitting 3 wide for most of the trip, Sincero was too powerful for Ilovethiscity and Triple Elegance over the 1500m journey. Lion Tamer, in only his second run since winning last years Victoria Derby, was too strong for a classy field in the Underwood Stakes and had 1.3 lengths to spare over Southern Speed and Midas Touch. And in New Zealand, 2010 Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux turned the tables on Mufhasa with a dominant win in the Windsor Park Plate. Settling in midfield, Jimmy Choux made his run entering the straight and had 3/4 length on the runner-up at the post with Hold It Harvey in third.
Week 1 at Keeneland sees significant increases (18 Sep 2011)
Significant increases in turnover, average and median, boosted by 6 million dollar yearlings, highlighted week 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The first 5 days comprising Book's 1 & 2 saw 753 horses sold for a turnover of US$145,216,500, an average of US$192,851 and a median price of US$150,000. In 2010, Book's 1 & 2 comprised of 6 days selling against 5 in 2011, however this year has seen the average up over 27% and the median rise 50%. Awesome Again leads the sire average with 7 sold for an average of US$452,143 ahead of A. P. Indy and War Front while Curlin leads the first season sires.
So You Think confirmed for Arc (16 Sep 2011)
Trainer Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that his NZ-bred superstar So You Think will have his next start in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 2.
O'Brien, whose sole Arc victory came in 2007 with Coolmore shuttle stallion Dylan Thomas, has also left the horse in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in case the ground conditions in France are not suitable.
Darci Brahma's three-quarter-brother wins first time out (14 Sep 2011)
On the same day as Darci Brahma celebrated his first Group winner with Darci Be Good in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle, his three-quarter-brother Burgundy stepped out for the first time and saluted the judge at Taupo.
A NZ$1.3 million yearling sale purchase by David Ellis and Team Te Akau, Burgundy had warmed up for his first raceday start with 2 trial wins. By Redoute's Choice from the Group 1 SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux, Burgundy is also a brother to recent Paxton Park retiree Prince Conti and a half-brother to blacktype placed Saperavi who stands at Willow Glen Stud.
New report for Broodmare owners (01 Sep 2011)
Check out our new
Mare Book Pedigree. Developed with broodmare owners in mind, this pedigree highlights the subject mares race and produce record at the top of the page.
Situated in the Pedigree section of the website, this report is used by some of Australasia's major studs as an additional tool when planning matings for their broodmare bands. An added bonus are the sales results which are found under the mares produce record and in the first dam of the pedigree.
Aus-bred Starcraft filly wins first time out in GB (31 Aug 2011)
Paul Makin, the man behind making Starcraft an international racehorse, was rewarded at Southwell with Three Sugars (Aus), a daughter of Starcraft, saluting in her first trip to the races.
A half-sister to French Listed winner Kissing the Camera, Three Sugars scored by 3/4 length over the 6f trip for trainer Jeremy Noseda. Out of the Canadian Grade 3 winner Hoh Dear, Three Sugars is closely related to Wigmore Hill, the winner of the Group 2 Jebel Hatta S. at Meydan.
Jimmy Choux NZ Horse of the Year (30 Aug 2011)
Thorn Park gelding Jimmy Choux was crowned NZ Horse of the Year and Champion 3YO for 2010-11 at the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Awards.
He won 3 Group 1 events during the season including the New Zealand Derby and Rosehill Guineas. Dual Group 1 winner Anabandana was awarded the Champion 2YO title, 6-time Group 1 winner Mufhasa the title of Champion Sprinter, Wall Street Champion Middle Distance Horse and Showcause Champion Stayer.
Champion mare Horlicks dies (26 Aug 2011)
Japan Cup winner Horlicks, a multiple Group 1 winner and dam of group winners Brew and Bubble, has died at the age of 28.
The winner of 17 races including the Ellerslie Group 1's the DB Draught Classic twice and the New Zealand Stakes, also twice as well as the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington, Horlicks won the 1989 Japan Cup in record time and was rated top filly on the 1989-90 Australasian older horse classification. Retired to the broodmare barn in 1990, Horlicks has been represented by 13 named foals, 8 of which have raced for 6 winners. Among the 6 winners are the 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Brew, Avondale Guineas winner Bubble as well as the dams of BMW Stakes winner Fiumicino and Group 2 winners Tusker and Solo Flyer. Horlicks last foal, a One Cool Cat gelding called Tiger, was successful twice in New Zealand in the 2010-11 season.
Mufhasa snaffles the Makfi Challenge Stakes (25 Aug 2011)
The Challenge Stakes, won in recent years by the likes of Seachange, Princess Coup, Daffodil and Wall Street, was won by the 7YO Pentire gelding Mufhasa.
2009 NZ Horse of the Year Mufhasa won well, with last year's champion 3YO Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) a fast finishing and very promising second.
First European Group One winner for Exceed and Excel (20 Aug 2011)
Margot Did (Exceed and Excel) captured the Nunthorpe Stakes at the Ebor Meeting at York on Friday, giving her sire his third group one winner and first in Europe.
Darley stallion Exceed and Excel has shuttled between Britain and Australia since retiring to stud in 2004, during which time he has sired 40 stakes winners of over A$28 million. Previously represented by five European group two winners including this season's Hungerford Stakes winner Excelebration, Margot Did takes him one step further in joining Reward For Effort and Helmet as his group one winners.
Leading sire Green Desert pensioned (20 Aug 2011)
Green Desert, a leading sire of the last 3 decades, has been pensioned after failing to get any mares in foal this NH breeding season.
A lodger at Shadwell Stud since his retirement from racing 25 years ago, Green Desert was an influential sire leaving 24 Group 1 winners including Cape Cross, Sheikh Albadou, Oasis Dream and Heat Haze. His tally of blacktype winners currently stands at 91 while his tally as a damsire stands at 80. Green Desert won 5 of his 14 starts including the Group 1 July Cup and Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.
100 blacktype winners for Coolmore's Giant's Causeway (17 Aug 2011)
Former shuttler Giant's Causeway recorded his 100th blacktype winner worldwide when his son Northern Causeway scored in the Richmond Derby Trial at Hastings Park in Canada.
Twice head of the US General Sires list, Giant's Causeway stands at Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He currently is the sire of 19 Group 1 winners, including Australian-breds Giant Oak and Juste Momente.
Immortal Verse too good for Goldikova in Prix Jacques Le Marois (15 Aug 2011)
Coming off a last start win in the Coronation S. at the Royal Ascot meeting, Immortal Verse (Pivotal) showed a superb turn of foot to score by 1 length in the Group 1 event.
In her first start against older horses, jockey Gerald Mosse took a run towards the rails which proved the telling factor in the result. Champion mare Goldikova, looking for her 15th Group 1 victory and aided by 2 pacemakers, was gallant in defeat but had no answer to the final sprint of the three-year-old.
Darley's Any Given Saturday sires first winner (15 Aug 2011)
Any Given Saturday opened his account as a sire when his daughter Ittasal, a member of the Godolphin team, saluted the judge at Kempton Park in England.
A son of Distorted Humor, who recently racked up blacktype winner number 102, Any Given Saturday was a Grade 1 winner at 3 in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park as well as scoring in a couple of Grade 2 events at Belmont Park. He also ran third in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Standing at Darley in Victoria at a 2011 service fee of A$13,750, Any Given Saturday has his first crop of two-year-olds run this season.
Irish Derby winners pounce at Arlington (14 Aug 2011)
Last year's Irish Derby winner, Cape Blanco, and this year's winner, Treasure Beach, captured group one races at Arlington, adding further success for their sire Galileo and Baldoyle Stables.
Cape Blanco secured his second victory in two North American starts, again defeating American Turf champion Gio Ponti. Its a fine reversal of form for Cape Blanco who had been struggling to recapture the form that brought him success in the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes last season. Prior to arriving in North American, his 2011 form had seen defeats in Dubai, Paris and Royal Ascot. In the Secretariat Stakes, Treasure Beach justified his favouritism to build on his win in the Irish Derby and second in the Epsom Derby in his last two starts. In a great day for the Europeans, 2009 French Oaks winner Stacelita (Monsun) captured their third group one win with victory in the Beverley S. Stakes.
Secretariat Stakes holds interest (12 Aug 2011)
Treasure Beach (Galileo), winner of this season's Irish Derby and narrowly beaten by Pour Moi in the Epsom Derby, contests the Secretariat Stakes.
Opposing him are the American Derby winner Willcox Inn (Harlan's Holiday) and the American Turf Stakes winner Banned (Kitten's Joy). Across from France comes the Prix Daphnis winner Ziyarid (Desert Style).
Arlington Million on Saturday (12 Aug 2011)
Irish Derby winner Capo Blanco (Galileo) and American champion Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) resume battle in the Arlington Million.
Gio Ponti, winner of this race in 2009 and second to Debussy in 2010, surrendered his grip on the Man o'War Stakes to Capo Blanco at their previous meeting in July. He will be seeking to regain form which has seen him winless since last October, during which he has been beaten by fellow runner Mission Approved in the Manhattan and by champion mare Goldikova in the Breeders Cup Mile.
South Island sale in Christchurch on Friday (11 Aug 2011)
New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale, a proven producer of quality horses, will be held in Christchurch on Friday August 12 beginning at 11am NZ time.
153 lots, including 136 two-year-olds, have been catalogued for the sale. Last year's sale saw a new record price paid for a two-year-old, with trainer John Bell going to NZ$220,000 for an O'Reilly colt. Group 1 winners Master O'Reilly, Hustler and Second Coming are graduates of the sale with last season blacktype winners Blood Brotha, Inferno, Milo and St Peters Gift also being recent entries.
Saratoga Select yearling ends on high note (11 Aug 2011)
The 2011 Saratoga Select Yearling Sale ended 2 nights of selling with vastly improved figures over the 2010 sale, with increases in turnover, average and median.
With reduced numgers being offered for sale over the 2 sessions, 103 of the 132 offered lots changed hands for US$32.8 million. The average of US$319,340 was 15.9% up on 2010 and the median increased US$10,000 or 4.2% to US$250,000. Top price of US$1.2 million was shared by 2 colts sired by Darley shuttlers, a Medaglia d'Oro half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and a Bernardini half-brother to Group 1 winner Havre de Grace. The highest-priced filly was another of the Bernardini's, the first live foal of Group 1 Santa Maria H. winner Sugar Shake bringing US$950,000.
More blacktype for Our Nautique (Pins) in USA (09 Aug 2011)
The Pins gelding took his North American record to 6 wins and 5 placings from 13 starts with a 2 length win in the Listed Joseph T Grace Stakes at Santa Rosa Park.
After scoring his first blacktype win in the Group 3 San Francisco Mile at the end of April, Our Nautique was fifth in the Group 3 Berkeley Stakes before his latest victory. He is a half-brother to the dam of this year's Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore (Savabeel) and descends from a strong Canadian blacktype family.
Rain Affair steps up in class (07 Aug 2011)
Rain Affair (Commands) captured his seventh win from eight starts in taking out the ATC Missile Stakes, Gr.3 on Saturday.
Beaten into second once, in his second start of his career in February, Rain Affair has since forged an impressive record, and stamped that form in his first attempt at group company. By the Darley stallion Commands, who set a record for number of winners last season, he is out to the Octagonal mare I Believe. Rain Affair is inbred 3x3 to the outstanding broodmare Eight Carat.
La Collina defeats Power in Phoenix Stakes. (07 Aug 2011)
Previously unbeaten Power (Oasis Dream) was beaten by the Strategic Prince filly La Collina in the first group one 2-year-old race of the GB/Irish racing season.
La Collina is a daughter of first season sire Strategic Prince (Dansili), a dual group two winner and third in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Her dam is an unraced mare by champion Galileo.
Canford Cliffs retired (05 Aug 2011)
Canford Cliffs has been retired to stud after falling victim to a leg injury coming out of his defeat at the hands of Frankel in the Sussex S. at Goodwood.
The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old retires with a record of 7 wins and 4 placings from 11 starts, 5 of those wins at Group 1 level and in succession. After winning the Group 2 Coventry S. at Ascot and finishing third in the Group 1 Prix Morny at 2, Canford Cliffs opened his three-year-old campaign with placings in the Greenham S. at Newbury and the English 2000 Guineas before finishing the season in style with wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace S. at the Royal meeting at Ascot and the Sussex S. at Goodwood. This season was highlighted with his victory over champion mare Goldikova in the Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, this after opening his account in 2011 with a crushing display at Newbury in the Lockinge S. Canford Cliffs, a son of Tagula, by Taufan, is the second winning foals from a Marju half-sister to black-type winner Pina Colada, a Listed winner in USA. Canford Cliffs will stand in 2012 at Coolmore Stud in Ireland
Group 1 no. 14 for Goldikova (01 Aug 2011)
Champion French mare Goldikova took her Group 1 tally to 14 and became the first horse since the introduction of the European Pattern in 1971 to win the same Group 1 race 4 times in France with a facile victory in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville.
Under an extremely kind ride from usual pilot Olivier Peslier, Goldikova cruised to an easy victory over Sahpresa with Timepiece third. Already the winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile 3 times, Goldikova looks likely to follow her traditional path in an attempt to make it 4 victories in that race. Trainer Freddy Head has either the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois in 2 weeks or the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in early September as her next outing and then the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp as her final trial before heading back to the USA. The daughter of the former Widden Stud shuttler Anabaa and the Blushing Groom mare Born Gold now boasts a record of 17 wins and 6 placings from 24 starts and with her latest victory has cracked the 5 million euro mark in prizemoney.
Thorn Park cracks NZ$3 million barrier (29 Jul 2011)
Thorn Park broke through the NZ$3 million in New Zealand progeny earnings with one day to spare in the 2010-11 season.
Crown of Thorns' victory in the Taumarunui RC Highbury Park Stud H. in heavy conditions gained Thorn Park an extra $12,500 taking his season's tally to $3,003,063. Windsor Stud based Thorn Park had already established a record for season's earnings.
Arrowfield's Redoute's Choice has success at Goodwood (29 Jul 2011)
Debutante Rakasa (GB), a two-year-old daughter of Arrowfield Stud's Redoute's Choice and the Seeking the Gold mare Danse Arabe, opened her account for the Godolphin team with a soft win at Goodwood.
Racing in the rear early on in the 6 furlong contest, Rakasa (GB) made good progress from halfway and asserted herself to win by a head. Out of a half-sister to Group 1 winners Sense of Style and Valentine Waltz, Rakasa (GB) is a half-sister to Rakasa (Aus) who has been placed twice in the current season in Australia.
Frankel (25 Jul 2011)
Frankel stamped himself as one of the best with a devastating display in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.
Frankel (Galileo) who was unbeaten in seven starts including the Dewhurst at two and the Two Thousand Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes at three, was putting his reputation on the line against the outstanding Canford Cliffs (Tagula) in the Goodwood Sussex Stakes. Leading throughout, when Frankel was asked the question, he sprinted clear with his rivals left in his wake.
New Australian record for Commands (25 Jul 2011)
Darley's Commands has established a new Australian record for the number of individual winners in a season with 4 new winners over the weekend.
The Patinack Farm-owned Transporter, who saluted at Caloundra on Sunday, became Commands 150th winner for the season. The old mark of 147 was held by Coolmore's Encosta de Lago who to date is in second place on the table with 140 individual winners. He is followed by Lonhro with 127, Testa Rossa with 122 and Redoute's Choice with 120. With 1 week of the racing season to go, 11 stallions have sire in excess of 100 individual winners.
Tragedy in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (22 Jul 2011)
The sole three-year-old in the field, Nathaniel (Galileo) stole the prize at Ascot on Saturday in a race marred by the tragic death of So You Think's conqueror Rewilding.
Debussy made the pace and in the straight Nathaniel surged clear. As Debussy faded, Workforce made his challenge but his efforts were ruined as he veered wide towards the stands. St Nicholas Abbey also surged entering the final furlong but came to then end of his run. Rewilding broke down in the straight, robbing him of the chance of cementing his place as the leading middle distance horse in Britain this season. By champion sire Galileo, Nathaniel is the seventh stakes winners from his dam Magnificent Style.
Godolphin's Blue Bunting wins Darley Irish Oaks (19 Jul 2011)
English 1000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting, fourth last time out in The Oaks at Epsom, made amends with a last stride swoop to claim victory.
In a blanket finish with less than a length separating the first four home, Blue Bunting had a short head advantage over Ribblesdale S. winner Banimpire with favourite and Epsom Oaks runner-up Wonder of Wonders a half length back in third. The winner, one of 20 Group 1 winners by Dynaformer, now has 4 wins and a second from 6 starts and could be next seen out in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks in mid August.
Written Tycoon & Perfectly Ready - Champion First Season Sires-in-waiting (18 Jul 2011)
Eliza Park's Written Tycoon and Brighthill Farm's Perfectly Ready are poised to capture the First Season Sire titles in their respective countries.
Written Tycoon goes in to the last 2 weeks of the season with a A$139,000 lead over the Darley pair of Ad Valorem and Nadeem with Heytesbury Thoroughbred's Saxon and Eureka Stud's Red Dazzler filling the next 2 places. In New Zealand Perfectly Ready and The Oaks Stud's Darci Brahma have staged a 2 horse contest with the former holding a NZ$23,500 lead over the latter. Cambridge Stud resident Lucky Unicorn and Waikato Stud's Fast 'n' Famous are next.
Derby winners upstaged in Grand Prix de Paris by Andre Fabre's Meandre (15 Jul 2011)
Going into the race as a last start winner of the Listed Prix de l'Avre, Meandre took a massive leap forward with a decisive victory over Seville with even money favourite Reliable Man in third.
Giving trainer Andre Fabre his 11th win in the race, Meandre, who's sire Slickly was successful in this race in 1999, is the first foal of the blacktype placed Penne, herself Listed placed at Longchamp and Toulouse. He is also a three-quarter-brother to Saint-Cloud Listed winner Gris Tendre. Two of the three-strong Aidan O'Brien team, Seville and Treasure Beach, made the pace for the first 10 furlongs of the race. After beating off Reliable Man, Seville was hailed the winner until Meandre, who had raced in third all of the trip, hit top gear and quickly picked up the pacemaker and raced away for a comfortable 1 1/2 length victory. Seville held second ahead of Reliable Man who was never a winning contender with Treasure Beach wilting to fourth.
JRHA Select Sale ends with large increases (13 Jul 2011)
Both the yearling and foal sessions of the 2011 JRHA Select sale ended with increases in turnover, average and median, reversing 4 years of decline.
Top price in the yearling session was a filly by Deep Impact from the Japanese Oaks winner Air Groove, a daughter of Tony Bin. The filly is a half-sister to 3 blacktype winners including Admire Groove and sold for a Japanese yearling record price of 360 million yen. A King Kamehameha colt was the most expensive male sold, the half-brother to Horse of the Year Admire Moon being finally knocked down for 260 million yen. In the foal session, the Neo Universe colt out of Wind in Her Hair, dam of 4 blacktype winners including Deep Impact, came out on top when selling for 250 million yen. Overall, the yearling average increased by 31.5% with the median up by 23.3%. The foal average jumped 16.6% and the median 17.6%.
Irish and French Derby winners met in G.P. de Paris (13 Jul 2011)
French Derby winner Reliable Man (Dalakhani) will meet Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach (Galileo) in the Longchamp Grand Prix de Paris, Gr.1 on Thursday.
Adding interest to the contest is the appearance of the second placed horses in both races - Bubble Chic (Chichicastenango) who was second to Reliable Man, and Seville (Galileo) who was second to Treasure Beach. Completing the small field is Kreem (Hurricane Run), a recent winner of the Prix du Lys, Gr3, Meandre (Slickly), a listed race winner in May and Royal Ascot disappointment Marksmanship (Galileo).
First winners for Darley shuttle stallion Street Sense (12 Jul 2011)
Street Sense, currently the only winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile/Kentucky Derby double, recorded his first 2 winners on the same weekend, one in Japan and the other in USA.
Street Hunter, a son of Street Sense and Hollywood Park 2YO Listed winner and Group 1 placed Quick Little Miss, opened the sire's account by winning over 1200m at Kyoto for trainer Katsuhiko Sumi. At Arlington Park in Chicago, Sweet and Lowdown broke her maiden with an effortless win over 5 1/2 furlongs for trainer Wesley Ward. She is a daughter of a half-sister to Group 2 winner Funistrada. Street Sense stands for A$38,500 at Darley's Hunter Valley property and will be represented by his first crop of Southern Hemisphere 2YOs in 2011-12.
Pins wins Hong Kong Sire title, Ambitious Dragon Horse of the Year (11 Jul 2011)
Waikato Stud's Pins was crowned Champion Hong Kong sire and his son Ambitious Dragon Horse of the Year when the 2010-11 Hong Kong racing season ended on Sunday.
Pins ended the season with stake earnings of just under HK$32 million, HK$5.5 million ahead of Danehill Dancer with another Coolmore stallion Encosta de Lago third. His main earner was Ambitious Dragon, winner of 7 of his 8 starts this season including the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Cup, both local Group 1's. Pins is also having a stellar year in Australasia, leading the Centaine award, the General Sires table by winners, wins and blacktype winners and currently second by earnings. Pins, who retired to stud in 2000, shortly starts his twelfth season at Garry & Mark Chittick's Waikato Stud at Matamata.
Cape Blanco scores in New York (10 Jul 2011)
Last year's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco (Galileo) landed the Belmont Man O'War Stakes, Gr.1 on Sunday.
In so doing, he beat Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), winner of the race in 2009 and 2010. Third was Boisterous (Distorted Humour), with the Manhattan Handicap winner and pacesetter Mission Approved (With Approval) unplaced. The win for Cape Blanco follows a disappointing period in which he had not won since taking out the Irish Champion Stakes, Gr.1 last September. Comprehensively beaten by Canford Cliffs in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in his last start, following on from poor performances in the Arc and French Derby last season, there was a question mark over his ability. The son of highflying Galileo is a half-brother to Mr O'Brien who won the Belmont Kelso Handicap, Gr.2. Trainer Aidan O'Brien has suggested that he may next tackle the Arlington Million.
Dream Ahead takes the July Cup (10 Jul 2011)
Rated alongside Frankel as a leading 2YO last season, Dream Ahead (Diktat) secured his third group one win with a storming victory in the July Cup at Newmarket.
Winner of the Deauville Prix Morny and Newmarket Middle Park Stakes last season, Dream Ahead has subsequently twice been outclassed by Frankel, firstly in the Dewhurst as a 2YO and then the St James's Palace Stakes last month. Without his main rival present, Dream Ahead won relatively easily from Bated Breath (Dansli) and Hitchens (Acclamation). Fellow 3YO Libranno ran fourth. The victory for Dream Ahead becomes the third for 3YOs in the July Cup in the past 10 years following victories by Sakhee's Secret and Oasis Dream. The Australian-bred challenge wilted, with War Artist the best coming in seventh.
Man O'War Stakes and Darley July Cup dominate weekends racing (08 Jul 2011)
The Darley July Cup at Newmarket has drawn a strong contingent of Australian breds, while at Belmont Cape Blanco seeks to redeem his season in the Man O'War Stakes.
Dream Ahead (Diktat), a leading 2YO last season with wins in the Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny, and old warhorse Regal Parade (Pivotal), winner last season of the Prix Maurice de Gheest, are the sole British group one winners facing the Australian-bred challenge for the July Cup at Newmarket. That attack, headed by Star Witness (Starcraft) and Elzaam (Redoute's Choice), is seeking to repeat the performance of Starspangledbanner in the race last season. Backing up the British defence is Delegator (Dansili), runner-up to Sea the Stars in the Two Thousand Guineas two seasons ago, with good placings behind Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle since, and winner of his only start to date this season. Another interesting runner is Libranno, by Westbury Stud shuttler Librettist, who has taken time to find his form in 2011 after picking up two group two races as a 2YO last season - his last start resulting in a win in the Criterion Stakes, Gr.2 at Newmarket two weeks ago.
In New York, last season's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco (Galileo) seeks his first win since September in the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont. His last start was a disappointing 6th behind Canford Cliffs at Royal Ascot. Defending are Mission Approved (With Approval), last start winner of the Manhattan Handicap, Gr.1, and Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), winner of this race in the past two seasons.
Darley stallions lead General, 3YO and 2YO Australian Sire Premierships (07 Jul 2011)
It looks like a trifecta for Darley stallions with only 3 weeks of the 2010-11 racing season to go.
After a productive Queensland winter carnival, Lonhro holds an A$1.2 million lead on the General list over Coolmore's High Chaparral with Arrowfield Stud's Redoute's Choice just shading Vinery's More Than Ready. Lonhro also leads the 3YO sire list, but only by A$14,000 from his barnmate Commands with Redoute's Choice third. On the 2YO sire list, Elusive Quality, thanks to Slipper winner Sepoy , holds an A$800,000 lead over Arrowfield stallion Not a Single Doubt with Exceed and Excel third.
Australian-bred Group 1 treble in South Africa (04 Jul 2011)
Three of the four Group 1 events run at Greyville were won by Australian-breds with the fourth being claimed by a direct descendent of champion New Zealand filly Silver Liner.
Igugu, a daughter of Galileo, stamped her claims as South Africa's best horse with her victory in the country's most prestigious contest, the Durban July over 2200m. Travelling handy all of the way she was game in the straight to hold out Pierre Jourdan with English Garden third. In the fiilies and mares Garden Province S. over 1600m, Happy Archer, a daughter of Dubawi and bred in Queensland by Racetree, raced home from midfield to claim the event over Beach Beauty and Dance With Al. A half-sister to Gold Coast Bracelet winner Femina Fashion, she took her record to 5 wins and 3 placings from 13 starts with the victory. In the two-year-old colts and geldings contest, Fighting Warrior, a son of Magic Albert and bred by Brian Nutt's Attunga Stud, claimed his first blacktype victory with a head victory over fellow Australian-bred Mushreq, a son of Flying Spur.
Unbeaten Dubawi colt takes German Derby (04 Jul 2011)
Waldpark (Dubawi) went one step better than his half-brother Waldvogel by following up his German Derby Trial victory with a win in the German Derby on Sunday.
Unbeaten in his four races to date, Waldmark's victory in beating Earl of Tinsdal (Black Sam Bellamy) completed a quinella for their trainer. Waldmark is the sixth group one winner for his sire Dubawi and the first from his second crop. Dubawi is also sire of Makfi (Two Thousand Guineas) and Poet's Voice (Ascot Queen Elizabeth II S.) from his first crop, now four-year-olds.
Eclipse Stakes highlight of weekends racing (01 Jul 2011)
So You Think restored his reputation with victory over last season's Derby and Arc winner Workforce in the Coral Eclipse Stakes.
In a small field of five, Workforce took the lead from his pacemaker with 1/2 mile to run with So You Think tucked in behind. With a furlong to run, So You Think was hooked out and strode past Workforce to win comfortably. Last year's third, Sri Putra, repeated that performance, with Oaks winner Snow Fairy failing to flatter in her first start of 2011. So You Think's future targets have not been firmly declared, with his owners being unwilling to run him against their other leading horses.
First blacktype winner for Coolmore shuttler Excellent Art (27 Jun 2011)
Experience became Excellent Art's first blacktype and group winner with a comfortable victory in the Group 3 Balanchine S. at the Curragh.
Trained for the Coolmore trio of Smith, Magnier and Tabor by David Wachman, the filly, a half-sister to Italian Listed winner Tellovoi, justified her even money price with a length and 3/4 margin over Somasach and Naseem Sea. Excellent Art, the Group 1 winning son of Pivotal, has his first Southern Hemisphere crop of two years old set to run in 2011-12. He will stand at Coolmore in 2011 for a fee of A$11,000.
Thorn Park close to $3 million mark (26 Jun 2011)
Thorn Park, already assured of winning the 2010-11 New Zealand General Sires Premiership, needs only $28,488, to break the NZ$3 million barrier.
Aided by multiple Group 1 and Derby winner Jimmy Choux, Thorn Park has also been represented by Group 1 winners The Party Stand and Veyron as well as Listed winner Magic Briar. Thorn Park has a NZ$1.5 million lead over current Centaine Award leader Pins with Pentire and Keeper next on the list.
Last Group One race of the season in Australia this weekend (24 Jun 2011)
The Winter Stakes, to be run at the Tatt's meeting in Brisbane, is the last group one race of the Australian racing calendar, and the last realistic chance of Lonhro being caught for the premiership.
Defending Lonhro's lead is Beaded, who has enjoyed a very successful Winter carnival with a win in the Doomben Ten Thousand and a second in the Stradbroke. Redoute's Choice, currently in third on the premiership, is represented by three contenders, including lightly raced but promising Varenna Miss and Zingaling. The race includes 10 group winners in a field of 15 acceptances.
Midnight Interlude back on song in Tsunami Slew S. (21 Jun 2011)
Midnight Interlude, the son of War Chant and New Zealand Oaks-third Midnight Kiss (NZ), rebounded from 2 disappointing Triple Crown outings to take the Listed Tsunami Slew S. on the turf at Hollywood Park.
After winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at only his fourth start, Midnight Interlude disappointed in the Kentucky Derby when 16th and again in the Preakness when finishing 13th. Back on turf he started favourite and was never troubled to win by aneck over Dubawi's son Surrey Star. Midnight Interlude now has 3 wins from 7 starts and earnings of US$692,910.
Galileo and Montjeu lead British/Irish Sire Premiership (20 Jun 2011)
With the completion of the Royal Ascot meeting, Galileo holds a £200,000 lead over Montjeu on the British/Irish General Premiership.
Guineas winner Frankel is Galileo's main contributor amongst his six stakes winners to date, while Derby winner Pour Moi is one of Montjeu's seven stakes winners. In the Europe-wide figures, the situation is the same, with Galileo heading Montjeu and Dalakhani. Leading first season sire at this early point of the season is Dark Angel (Acclamation).
Another Gold Cup for Aidan O'Brien - day 3 at Royal Ascot (17 Jun 2011)
Fame and Glory justified a massive betting plunge with a convincing 3 length win in the Group 1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot while Holy Roman Emperor was represented by Banimpire who won her second group race in 4 days when successful in the Group 2 Ribblesdale S.
Starting at 11 to 8 favourite, Fame and Glory travelled well throughout the race and after taking up the running with 2 furlongs to go held off Godolphin's Opinion Poll with French raider Brigantin staying on late for third. In the Ribblesdale, Banimpire battled with long time leader Field of Miracles over the last 2 furlongs before getting the upper hand right on the post. Dorcas Lne, although beaten 7 lengths, stayed on well for third after being well back in the field and receiving a chequered run. Bapak Chinta, an American-bred son of Speightstown, took his record to 2 from 2 with a driving win in the Group 2 Norfolk S. The winner was too strong for Boomerang Bob, by Aussie Rules, with Crown Dependency third. American-breds won their second group race of the day when Pisco Sour, a son of Belmont S. winner Lemon Drop Kid, improved on his ninth place finish in The Derby to hold off High Chaparral's son Alkimos in the Group 3 Tercentenary S.
So You Think just beaten and a good day for shuttle stallions - day 2 at Royal Ascot (16 Jun 2011)
Rewilding burst the So You Think bubble by snatching victory from the Australasian star in the last stride of the Group 1 Prince of Wales's S. on day 2 at Royal Ascot.
Under an inspired ride from Frankie Dettori, who copped a 9 day suspension for excessive use of the whip, the son of Tiger Hill followed up his Dubai Sheema Classic win in March with his second Group 1 victory of 2011. Elsewhere on the card, Coolmore shuttler Oratorio supplied the winner of the Group 2 Windsor Forest S. with Lolly For Dolly who came with the last run to pip Chachamaidee, by Footstepsinthesand. In the Group 2 Queen Mary S. for two-year-olds, Best Terms, by Exceed and Excel, kept her unbeaten record with a short head victory over short-priced favourite Shumoos. And the final group event of the day, the Group 3 Jersey S. was taken out by Rahy's son Strong Suit who beat Codemaster, by Choisir, by 1/2 length.
Group double for Oasis Dream and Frankel wins a thriller - the rest of Day 1 at Royal Ascot (15 Jun 2011)
A group double for Oasis Dream, including Prohibit in the Group 1 King's Stand S. and Frankel edging out Zoffany in the St James's Palace S. - day 1 at Royal Ascot.
The St James's Palace was an enthralling contest with Frankel, after being held up early and then let go to slide to the front with 4 furlongs to go, having just enough left in the tank to hold off the flying Zoffany with German 2000 Guineas winner Excelebration staying on for third. In the King's Stand, Prohibit and Aussie raider Star Witness ran down long time leader Sweet Sanette in the last 50 yards with Prohibit getting the verdict by a 1/2 length. Oasis Dream's other group winner was the Aidan O'Brien trained Power who maintained his unbeaten record in the Group 2 Coventry S. for two-year-olds. In the other two-year-old event, the Listed Windsor Castle S., favourite Frederick Engels became the second black type winner for Iceman with a dominant victory. And it wouldn't be Royal Ascot without the recently deceased Sadler's Wells featuring. The marathon Ascot S., run over 20 furlongs, was won by Nicky Henderson's Veiled, earlier in the year a winner at Cheltenham over hurdles.
Superb clash opens Royal Ascot (14 Jun 2011)
Last season's winner Goldikova (Anabaa) failed to hold off Lockinge winner Canford Cliffs (Tagula) in the Queen Anne S. in a stirring struggle to open the Royal Ascot meeting.
Canford Cliffs, winner of the St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot last season and easy winner of the Lockinge S. at his first start in 2011, tracked Goldikova and her pacemaker before pulling out and easing past the mare. Goldikova, the winner of 16 of her 22 previous starts including 13 group one races in France, England and the USA, was trying to repeat her performance of 2010 when she just held on to beat the fast finishing Waikato Stud shuttler Paco Boy (Desert Style).
Ruler On Ice upsets favourites in Belmont S. (12 Jun 2011)
On a sloppy Belmont track, Ruler On Ice stalked Preakness winner Shackleford all the way before taking the lead in the stretch and holding off all challengers in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Ruler On Ice had a 3/4 length margin over Stay Thirsty with Brilliant Speed completing a long-priced trifecta. Pacemaker Shackleford weakened to finish fifth, just in front of favourite Animal Kingdom who stumbled badly at the start. Animal Kingdom raced in the rear all of the way, made a big run on the final turn before wilting in the last furlong to end up in sixth position. The winner, a gelded son of Roman Ruler, himself a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, is a half-brother to 9 winners including dual 2010 Group 1 winner Champagne d'Oro. He is out of the black type winning Saratoga Six mare Champagne Glow, a half-sister to Group 1 winners Jurado and Grand Canyon. Ruler On Ice entered the Belmont off a last start second in the Federico Tesio S. at Pimlico and prior to that had run third in the Sunland Derby, the Belmont being his first black type victory. His sire Roman Ruler won the Group 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth in his 3YO season.
Lonhro consolidates Premiership lead (11 Jun 2011)
Benfica's win in the TJ Smith Stakes and Beaded's second in the Stradbroke have skipped their sire Lonhro $600,000 clear of his closest rival on the Australian Sires Premiership.
With only one Group One race remaining in Australia this season, the Darley stallion Lonhro appears to have sewn up the Sires Premiership with his oldest progeny just five-year-olds, and building on his third place position last season. Lonhro has a highly impressive record of 70% winners to starters and earnings to date of over $20 million including 26 stakes winners including Denman.
Clean sweep of Australian Group 1 2YOs for Darley (11 Jun 2011)
Benfica's win in the TJ Smith S. at Eagle Farm has given the Darley empire a clean sweep of Australian Group 1 2YO races held in the 2010-11 season.
Sepoy started the ball rolling in February with his victory in the Blue Diamond at Caulfield and 5 weeks later crowned his season with a dominant Golden Slipper win. The other 2 legs of the Sydney 2YO triple crown, the Sires' Produce S. and Champagne S. were won by Exceed and Excel's son Helmet.
Weekend's racing may decide Champion Aust. Sire for 2010-11 (11 Jun 2011)
With three Group 1 races plus the Brisbane Cup and over A$3.5 million on offer, this weekend's racing may sort out a closely contested race for the Australian General Sires premiership.
Lonhro holds a slender lead of only A$150,000 over his nearest challenger High Chaparral, with Redoute's Choice, More Than Ready, Commands, Bel Esprit and Encosta de Lago all within A$1 million of his total. Lonhro will be represented by Group 1 winner Beaded in the Stradbroke, where his rivals include Raffaelo (Encosta de Lago), and by Benfica in the TJ Smith S., where his rivals include Largo da Barra (Encosta de Lago). Encosta de Lago is also represented in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup by lightweight Mancuso. High Chaparral's hopes of overhauling Lonhro rest with Single in the Queensland Derby which also includes Diamond Jim (Encosta de Lago).
First black type winner for Darley shuttler Teofilo (08 Jun 2011)
Teolane became the first black type winner for freshman sire Teofilo with a superior performance in the Fillies' Sprint S. at Naas.
Bred and trained by Jim Bolger who also trained Teofilo, the winner led from start to finish, her margin at the end a convincing 2 1/2 lengths. The winner, from the immediate family of Royal Ascot Bessborough S. winner Spin of a Coin, is likely to travel across to Ascot for the Group 3 Albany S. Teofilo, whose 2011 fee is advertised at A$22,000, has had his first crop of weanlings sell over the last couple of months and will be represented for the first time at the 2012 yearling sales.
Third Epsom Derby winner for Montjeu (05 Jun 2011)
Pour Moi became the third Epsom Derby winner for Montjeu and his ninth Classic winner overall with his victory at The Downs yesterday.
Pour Moi joins Motivator in 2005 and Authorized in 2007 as victors of the famous race. Montjeu also has sired the winner of 3 Irish Derbys, Hurricane Run in 2005, Frozen Fire in 2008 and Fame and Glory in 2009, the English St Leger winner Scorpion in 2005 and Australian Derby winners Nom de Jeu in 2008 and Roman Emperor in 2009. He is now the sire of 21 Group 1 winners among his 90 black type winners, remarkedly made up of 19 males and only 2 females. The Derby winner is a three-quarter-brother to dual Group 3 winner Gagnoa and descends from a wonderful female family which has already brought us Derby winner Lammtarra and other Group 1 winners such as Hector Protector, Snow Bride, Act One, Bosra Sham, Shanghai, Ciro and Red Giant.
French raider Pour Moi win The Derby at Epsom (05 Jun 2011)
With a scintillating last to first gallop, Pour Moi became the first French-trained winner of The Derby since 1976 with a storming win under Mickael Barzalona at Epsom.
Racing in the navy blue colours of Sue Magnier, who shares ownership of the colt with Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Pour Moi settled in the rear of the field while up front one of the Aidan O'Brien runners Memphis Tennessee set a merry pace. Rounding Tattenham Corner, the leader kicked clear under Joseph O'Brien with stablemate Treasure Beach the first to challenge. Treasure Beach eventually got the upper hand and looked likely to hold out the Queen's Carlton House who had made a big run from the back of the pack. Inside the last furlong Pour Moi, pulled out wide by Barzalona inched his way to the leader and grabbed victory on the post from Treasure Beach with Carlton House third.
Carlton House not certain to start in the Derby (02 Jun 2011)
Carlton House, seeking to become the ruling Monarch's first Derby winner since Minoru in 1909, has suffered a minor ankle injury which has put his bid for Derby stardom in jeopardy.
Not since Church Parade ran fifth behind Sherger 30 years ago has The Queen had a Derby runner, and it was Coronation Year, 1953, when her champion Aureole was beaten into second by Sir Gordon Richards on Pinza. Carlton House faces a critical test on Thursday to confirm his fitness to race. In his absence, French contender Pour Moi (Montjeu), winner of Prix Greffuhle, G2, would become the favourite to win.
Group 1 success in South Africa for Encosta de Lago and Gerry Harvey (30 May 2011)
Delago Deluxe, now unbeaten in 4 starts, justified his favouritism with a commanding win in the Group 1 Tsongo Sun Maverick Medallion at Scottsville.
Bred by Gerry Harvey at his Baramul Stud, Delago Deluxe sold for A$550,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale to trainer Charles Laird. Already a Group 2 and Group 3 winner, Delago Deluxe is out of a 3-time winning half-sister to Group 1 winners Excites and Duporth and Group 2 winner Tickets. Trainer Laird also trains and purchased the runnerup Tennessee Strategy, a son of Stratum sold by Patinack Farm.
Last year's Derby winner tunes up for clash with So You Think (27 May 2011)
Workforce, Joint Champion 3YO colt in Europe last season and winner of The Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe signalled he will be force as a 4YO with victory in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes.
A son of King's Best out of a sister to St Leger winner Brian Boru, Workforce was having his first start as a 4YO, and despite conceding 1/2 stone to his rivals he won comfortably from frontrunning Poet (Pivotal) with Jan Vemeer (Montjeu) a distant third. His ultimate target this season is to repeat his Arc success, with starts in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Eclipse Stakes as possibilities. With So You Think also entered for all 3 races, a clash between the pair is most likely before seasons end.
Galileo scores fourth European Guineas win of 2011 (25 May 2011)
Galileo's progeny extended their superb form in the 2011 Guineas races when three of his daughters finished in the first four places in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the weekend.
Last seasons Champion 2YO filly, Misty For Me (Galileo - Butterfly Cove), won the race from Together (Galileo) and Laughing Lashes (Mr Greeley), with Claiomh Solais (Galileo) fourth. It was Misty For Me's third Group one victory following her successes last season in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Moyglare Stud Stakes, and atones for her disappointing performance in The 1000 Guineas earlier in the month. She is out of an unraced half-sister to Champion 2YO and former shuttler Fasliyev.
German 2000 Guineas winner for Darley shuttler Exceed and Excel (24 May 2011)
Excelebration became Exceed and Excel's first classic winner and his 34th black-type winner worldwide with a runaway 7 length victory in the Mehl Mulhens Rennen, the German 2000 Guineas, at Cologne.
Starting favourite after running superstar Frankel to a respectable 4 lengths in the Group 3 Greenham S. at Newbury, Excelebration travelled in the rear of the field early. After fighting his way through the traffic early in the run home he raced away for an emphatic win in the Group 2 event, beating home 2 locals including the previously unbeaten Gereon. Royal Ascot could be the next stop for the son of the Indian Ridge mare Sun Shower, herself a daughter of Miss Kemble, now a resident in Australia. This is the family of Group 1 winners Sarah Siddons, Princess Pati and Leggara.
So You Think (NZ) makes it 2 from 2 in Europe (24 May 2011)
The So You Think juggernaut continued at the Curragh with another dominant winning performance, this time at Group 1 level.
Despite the field for the Tattersall's Gold Cup lacking in depth and numbers, So You Think gave a strong performance for first time pilot Ryan Moore. Trailing his pacemaker until 3 furlongs from home, So You Think took up the running and surged away inside the last furlong, beating dual Group 1 winner Campanologist by 4 1/2 lengths with a further 2 1/2 lengths back to multiple group winner Famous Name in third. The Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting at Ascot on June 15 looks to be his next target.
No US Triple Crown winner for 2011 (22 May 2011)
Shackleford stalked the pace most of the way before battling gamely to hold off Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and record a debut Grade 1 victory in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the second leg of the US Triple Crown.
After setting the pace for most the Derby trip, Shackleford weakened late to finish fourth behind Animal Kingdom. In the Preakness, he sat just off the pacemaking Flashpoint who set up a solid clip before racing to the lead in the stretch and having enough in reserve to hold out the hard-charging Animal Kingdom with Astrology third. The winner is a son of King's Bishop Stakes winner Forestry and becomes his first Triple Crown race winner. Shackleford is a half-brother to Grade 1 Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne and Indiana Oaks winner Baghdaria.
Galileo - Danehill cross strikes again (22 May 2011)
Roderic O'Connor defeated his seven opponents to take out the Irish 2000 Guineas, a third classic victory for the Galileo - Danehill cross this season.
Roderic O'Connor's win followed on from the performances of Frankel (The 2000 Guineas) and Golden Lilac (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches). In each case, they were by Galileo out of a black type winning Danehill mare. In Roderic O'Connor's case, his dam won stakes in England and USA and is a granddaughter of champion filly Durtal. It was Roderic's second Group One victory, having won the Saint-Cloud Criterim International at 2.
First winner for Rich Hill shuttler Sir Percy (20 May 2011)
Debut runner Percy Jackson has given Derby and Dewhurst Stakes winner Sir Percy his first winner when successful in a 6f event at Bath this week.
Soon to be serving his third season at Rich Hill Stud in Matamata, Sir Percy has covered, according to NZTR statistics, an average of 75 mares in his first 2 seasons. Percy Jackson is a half-brother to 3 winners and comes from the family of Group 1 winner and sire Cetewayo.
Canford Cliffs stamps class in Lockinge. (18 May 2011)
Last seasons champion 3YO miler Canford Cliffs scored impressively on his 4YO debut in the weekend's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Canford Cliffs is now a winner of six of his nine starts, including four at group one level including the Sussex Stakes, St James's Palace Stakes and Irish Two Thousand Guinease. In winning the Lockinge he exacted revenge on the well performed Dick Turpin who had beat him in the Greenham last season before running second to Makfi with Canford Cliffs third in the Two Thousand Guineas. Canford Cliffs is the first group one winner for his sire Tagula (Prix Morny).
Golden Lilac continues unbeaten run (18 May 2011)
Golden Lilac stamped herself as the leading French 3YO filly with victory in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last weekend.
By champion stallion Galileo out of the group one winning Danehill mare Grey Lilas, Golden Lilac is bred on the same cross as current British super horse Frankel, young Darley stallion Teofilo (National S), Roderic O'Connor (Criterium International) and Cima de Triomphe (Italian Derby).
Queen's horse assumes Derby favouritism (13 May 2011)
Carlton House's easy victory in the traditional Derby trial, the Dante Stakes at York, has raised hopes of only the second ever Royal Derby winner.
In 1909, King Edward VII's colt Minoru became the first Derby winner for a reigning British Monarch. Carlton House carries hopes of repeating that performance, assisted by the non-entry of super horse Frankel who is aiming for Royal Ascot. Carlton House is a son of leading International sire Street Cry whose principal winners include champions Zenyatta, Street Sense, Whobegotyou and Shocking out of the Sun Chariot Stakes winner Talented.
Animal Kingdom wins the 2011 Kentucky Derby (08 May 2011)
Having his first start on the dirt, Team Valor's Animal Kingdom surged to the lead halfway down the stretch to win the 137th running of the famous race, watched by a record crowd of 164,000.
Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by John Velazquez, Animal Kingdom raced in the pack for most of the 10 furlong event before being switched wide at the top of the straight and racing away for a winning margin of 2 3/4 lengths over Nehro with Mucho Macho Man finishing well to take third off the pacemaking Shackleford. A son of Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux, a three-time Group 1 winner in the USA, Animal Kingdom is the first foal of the German-bred mare Dalicia, winner of the Group 3 Preis der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe at Baden-Baden, giving him a truly international pedigree. Bred in Kentucky by Team Valor International, Animal Kingdom was having only his fifth start and his first on dirt. After debuting at Arlington with a second in a maiden, he ended his two-year-old season with a win over 9 furlongs on the all weather track at Keeneland. Opening 2011 with another second in an allowance at Gulfstram, Animal Kingdom came from last to win the 9 furlong Group 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in late March, his final run before the Derby.
First winner for Darley shuttler Hard Spun (08 May 2011)
Group 1 winning Hard Spun sired his first winner when Mabroor, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, comfortably opened his account at Haydock over 6 furlongs.
Mabroor, a half-brother to blacktype-placed Angels in Arms, raced handily for jockey Silvestre de Sousa before picking up the tempo inside the final furlong to record a 3/4 length victory for trainer Mark Johnston. The colt is from a twice winning half-sister to 4 blacktype winners including Group 2 winner Penny's Reshoot, successful in the Prioress Stakes at Belmont and is from the family of reigning Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Shared Account.
So You Think (NZ) opens his NH account with ease (03 May 2011)
So You Think made an authorative debut for Aidan O'Brien with a 10 length victory in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes over 10 furlongs at The Curragh.
After sitting third for most of the trip, So You Think raced past early pacemaker and stablemate Windsor Palace before picking up Bob le Beau and racing away for a facile victory. While the quality of the field suggested beforehand that anything less than a Frankel-like performance would be disappointing, So You Think's manner of victory suggested huge improvement in the horse. Trainer O'Brien commented that the Tattersall's Gold Cup could be So You Think's next target.
International Group double takes Pins to top of Centaine Award leaderboard (03 May 2011)
Wins by Ambitious Dragon in the Group 1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Our Nautique in the Group 3 San Francisco Mile have lifted Pins to first place in the race for the Centaine Award.
Awarded to the stallion whose New Zealand conceived progeny accumulate the most prizemoney worldwide, Pins nows leads the standings by just under NZ$60,000 from long-time leader High Chaparral. Ambitious Dragon followed up his Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Cup victories with a strong victory in the QE II Cup, defeating California Memory by 3/4 length. In California, Our Nautique became Pins' 40th individual blacktype winner, landing a minor upset in the Group 3 event at Golden Gate Fields. The winner of 2 from 13 in Australia and New Zealand when trained by Richard Otto, Our Nautique now has 5 wins and 5 placings from 11 starts in the USA. The loss of an eye after a winter campaign in Queensland prompted his owners to move the horse to the care of Jerry Hollendorfer where he has thrived.
Awesome Frankel blows away 2000 Guineas field (01 May 2011)
In an electrifying display of power running, super colt Frankel left his rivals struggling in his wake in The Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, being eased to win by a conservative 6 lengths.
After jumping smartly from barrier 1, Frankel quickly burnt off the field, including his supposed pacemaker Rerouted and at the halfway point was over 7 lengths clear of his rivals, led by the under pressure Casamento. After being given a breather climbing the rise at the 3 furlong marker, jockey Tom Queally was able to coax him home with plenty to spare, leaving Dubawi Gold, who dwelt at the start, to run into second place with Native Khan third. It was a performance which left you with only one thought....Wow.
First winner for Coolmore shuttler Excellent Art (01 May 2011)
Boris Grigoriev improved on his debut second to become the first winner for Excellent Art, winning over 5 furlongs at Tipperary for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
After finishing 7 lengths behind Tough As Nails on the course 11 days previously, Boris Grigoriev was ridden out by jockey Joseph O'Brien for a length victory. He is a half-brother to Justaroundmidnight, winner of the Group 3 Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January. Excellent Art will stand for a fee of A$11,000 in 2011.
Our Nautique (NZ) takes on Golden Gate Group 3 on Saturday (29 Apr 2011)
Pins gelding Our Nautique, the winner of 4 from 10 starts since arriving the USA, has 8 rivals in Saturday's Group 3 San Francisco Mile run on the turf at Golden Gate Fields.
The winner of 2 races in New Zealand and Group 3 placed back in November at Golden Gate Fields, Our Nautique is 1 of 2 runners for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Favourite Bold Chieftain, winner of this contest in 2010 when the race was a Group 2 event, is back and comes off a last start allowance second. Also favoured is Testa Rossa's son Blue Chagall, a last start second in the Group 2 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita.
Legendary sire Sadler's Wells dies (27 Apr 2011)
Sadler's Wells, one of the most influential sires of all time, has died at the age of 30, at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, of natural causes.
Champion sire in Great Britain and Ireland a record 14 times, his influence has been felt not only on the track, with a total of 293 blacktype winners to date including 73 Group 1 winners, but also in the breeding shed where his sire sons include Montjeu (86 SW), Galileo (83 SW), Barathea (77 SW), El Prado (76 SW), Scenic (73 SW), Fort Wood, In the Wings and Dushyantor. A son of the legendary Northern Dancer, Sadler's Wells was a 3 time Group 1 winner of the Irish Two Thousand Guineas, Sandown Eclipse Stakes and Phoenix Champion Stakes. He retired to Coolmore at the end of his 3YO season where he has reigned supreme since.
Genius Beast stakes Derby claim (26 Apr 2011)
The son of Kingmambo showed he was a serious Derby contender with a win in the Sandown Classic Trial S. Gr3 at the weekend.
A winner and twice placed in his 3 starts as a 2YO, including a third to champion 2YO Frankel on debut, Genius Beast has the breeding to succeed at the classic distance. By champion sire Kingmambo, sire of classic winners Divine Proportions, Henrythenavigator, etc, he is the first foal out of the Irish Oaks & Prix Vermeille winner Shawanda, winner of 5 of her 7 starts and placed 6th in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Inglis Autumn Yearling & Magic Millions QTIS Yearling both finish down on 2010 figures (19 Apr 2011)
Both yearling sales concluded their respective 2-day run with figures down on 2010.
The Autumn Yearling sale finished with 81% of the 304 lots offered sold at an average of A$11,511, down 5.9%. The median fell 16.7% to A$7,500. Top price of A$80,000 was paid for a Written Tycoon filly. On the Gold Coast, the QTIS sale finished with 347 lots sold for an average of A$19,287, down 13%. The clearance rate of 71% was disappointing however, considering the impact natural disasters have played in the state, understandable. Gold Coast agent Grant Morgan paid the highest price at the sale, A$120,000, for a Jet Spur colt.
Frankel favourite for Guineas (17 Apr 2011)
Last year's European Champion 2YO Frankel (Galileo) cruised to a 4 length win in the Greenham S. at Newbury, cementing his place as favourite for the 2000 Guineas in two weeks time.
By champion sire Galileo out of the stakes winning Danehill mare Kind and a half-brother to last year's Lingfield Derby Trial winner Bullet Train, Frankel always had the pedigree to succeed. With a perfect 2YO record including the Gr.1 Newmarket Dewhurst S., Frankel was the Winter favourite for the 2000 Guineas and his performance in his debut start as a 3YO in the Greenham S. has reinforced that standing.
Allez Wonder breaks the 7 figure barrier (14 Apr 2011)
Patinack Farm continued adding to its broomare band with top quality mares by outlaying A$1 million for Group 1 winner Allez Wonder on Day 2 of the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.
The winner of the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield, the daughter of Redoute's Choice and Perth Cup winner Luna Tudor goes to stud as the winner of 3 races and A$506,863. James Bester paid the second top price, going to A$800,000 to buy Banc de Fortune after she was passed through the ring. A stakes-winning Galileo daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Danendri, Banc de Fortune was sold with a positive test to Redoute's Choice. New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless, in foal to Pins, was the third highest sale, being knocked down to Paul Willetts for A$700,000.
Santa Anita Derby winner with New Zealand connection (12 Apr 2011)
Saturday's Group 1 Santa Anita Derby, a major prep for the Kentucky Derby, was taken out by a fast improving colt out of a mare with the (NZ) suffix.
Midnight Interlude, a son of War Chant, scored his first blacktype success with a head victory and becomes one of three leading chances in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Bob Baffert. His dam, Midnight Kiss, a daughter of Groom Dancer, was bred in New Zealand by Forhomes Furnishings & Flooring and after a 4 race career which included wins at Tauranga and Rotorua and culminated with a third in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks, was acquired by American Arnold Zetcher who bred Midnight Interlude from her. The dam of Midnight Kiss, Midnight Assembly, was imported to New Zealand by Ra Ora Stud but unfortunately died after leaving only 5 foals, 2 of them fillies.
Inglis Easter Broodmare starts today (12 Apr 2011)
The Easter Broodmare sale begins today with a total of 613 lots to go under the hammer over the next 3 days.
Catalogue highlights include Oceanfast, dam of multiple Group 1 winner Alinghi, Temple of Peace, dam of Whobegotyou, Toorak winner Allez Wonder and Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel, entered in the supplementary. Previous sale results have included Helsinge, now dam of Black Caviar, Triassic, dam of So You Think and in 2009 Watchful, now dam of Sepoy.
Easter Yearling closes with increases in average and median (08 Apr 2011)
The 2011 version of the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale closed with a 9% rise in the average and a 12.5% increase in the median price.
The 310 horses sold over the 3 days in Session 1 grossed A$74,240,000 at an average of A$239,484. The final median reached A$180,000. Topping the sale was the Casino Prince half-brother to superstar Black Caviar, being knocked down to Hawkes racing for A$1,025,000. Session 2 finished with 76 lots sold for A$5,843,364 at an average of A$76,886. Topping that session was the Street Sense colt from Desert Ibis which eclipsed the previous Session2 record by selling for A$320,000.
Sepoy too strong in Slipper (03 Apr 2011)
Sheikh Mohammed's Sepoy confirmed his favouritism with a dominant win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.
The son of Elusive Quality and the Danehill mare Watchful took his record to five wins from 6 starts including the Blue Diamond/Golden Slipper double. He is from a sister to Group 1 winner Camarena, herself the dam of the Group 1 winning daughter of Elusive Quality in Camarilla.
Favourite Rocket Man wins Dubai Golden Shaheen (29 Mar 2011)
Starting odds on, Rocket Man took his record to 14 wins and 4 seconds from 18 starts with a 2 1/4 length victory in the Group 1 Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan.
The reigning Singapore Horse of the Year made short work of a top class field in registering his first international Group 1 victory. After sitting just behind the pacemaking Euroears, Rocket Man raced past the American horse at the 100 metres for a well-deserved victory at the highest level. Euroears held on for second ahead of the Hong Kong pair of Sunny King and Green Birdie. Rocket Man is the best progeny of Group 1 winner Viscount and is a half-brother to Our Giant, winner of 2 Group 1 events in South Africa. He is from the McGinty mare Macrosa, winner of the Listed Toy Show handicap at Randwick and herself a half-sister to champion 3YO Ebony Grosve. Rocket Man was sold for A$60,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
Australian-bred Igugu wins South African Group 1 (29 Mar 2011)
Igugu opened her Group 1 account with a 10 length victory in the South African Fillies Classic at Turffontein.
Starting a short-priced favourite at odds of 1 to 5, the daughter of Galileo took her record to 5 wins and 2 seconds from 7 starts with a devastating victory. Igugu is from the Aga Khan family that has recently brought us champion filly Zarkava, the European Horse of the Year in 2008, and was sold for A$65,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
A dozen Australasian-breds down to run at Dubai World Cup meeting (24 Mar 2011)
Ten Australian-breds and 2 from New Zealand are spread across 6 Group races to be run at Meydan racecourse this weekend.
In the main event, the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, last year's UAE Derby winner Musir, by Redoute's Choice, takes on a hot field including US Champ Gio Ponti, twice Newmarket Champion Stakes winner Twice Over, Japan's Buena Vista and 2010 Irish Derby victor Cape Blanco. The Group 1 Golden Shaheen, run over 1200m, features Hong Kong's Dynamic Blitz, by Elusive Quality, and Green Birdie, a son of Catbird and Singapore champ and last years runner-up Rocket Man, by Viscout. In the other Group 1 race featuring Australasian-breds, the 1800m Dubai Duty Free, Tony Cruz lines up Hong Kong Mile winner Beauty Flash, a son of Golan, Laurie Laxon travels over from Singapore with Better Than Ever, the winner of 14 from 15 and 2010 UAE Oaks winner Raihana represents Mike de Kock. Better Be the One and War Artist represent Australia in the Group 2 Al Quoz Sprint, Le Drakkar runs in the Godolphin Mile and Mike de Kock lines up 2 daughters of Galileo in the Group 2 UAE Derby.
Son of Scaredee Cat just pipped in USA Group 3 (22 Mar 2011)
Having his first start in a black-type race and starting favourite, Dahoud, a son of Scaredee Cat, made all the pace and was run down late in the San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita.
Moved off the grass and therefore downgraded from Group 2 to Group 3, Dahoud made all of the running in the 1 1/2 mile event. Kicking clear entering the straight, the winner Juniper Pass only inched past Dahoud in the final strides. Dahoud was coming off a last start 1 mile Allowance win on the same track and clearly appreciated the marathon trip. He is out of the Krona mare Aiglette, herself twice a winner at 2000m and a half-sister to the Group 3 SAJC Christmas Handicap winner Corregidor.
Record average at 2011 Hong Kong International Sale (20 Mar 2011)
An O'Reilly colt, purchased at the 2009 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$230,000 (HK$1,710,000), sold for a sale-equalling top price of HK$7.5 million to help the 2011 sale achieve record figures.
Twenty lots went under the hammer, 3 being withdrawn, and they sold for a total of HK$94 million, averaging HK$4,705,000. Second top price was HK$7 million for a son of Fastnet Rock bought out of the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale while an Irish-bred son of Hawk Wing, purchased from the 2009 Goffs Orby Sale, made HK$6 million.
Rocket Man 2010 Singapore Horse of the Year (20 Mar 2011)
In a decision that surprised no-one, Rocket Man was crowned the 2010 Singapore Horse of the Year as well as Champion Sprinter and Champion 4YO at the Singapore Racing Awards.
Two other horses were multiple winners, Better Than Ever being successful in the Champion Miler and Champion 3YO category while Risky Business took the Champion Stayer and Champion Older Horse awards. Other winners on the night were Gingerbread Man, crowned Champion 2YO, and Escamonda who took the Champion Polytrack Horse title.
More Than Ready colt tops Magic Millions Adelaide (16 Mar 2011)
A More Than Ready colt from a winning half-sister to Hong Kong Derby winner Super Satin, offered by Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud, topped day 1 of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Selling as Lot 116, the colt was knocked down to Adelaide trainer, and former trainer of Super Satin, Philip Stokes for A$210,000. A Stratum half-brother to stakes-placed Mr President fetched the second top price, selling to Mark Riley for A$140,000. Overall, the sale average jumped 29% to A$34,570 while the clearance rate hit 81%.
Breathtaking Black Caviar (14 Mar 2011)
Peter Moody's super mare Black Caviar left no doubt she is a superstar with a crushing win in the Group 1 Newmarket at Flemington, running just 0.2 seconds outside the race record in the process.
Carrying 58kg, a weight not carried to victory by a mare for 105 years, Black Caviar made the field containing Australia's best sprinters look average as she coasted to a 3 length victory. A daughter of Eliza Park's dual Group 1 winner Bel Esprit, Black Caviar descends from the 1979 Danish Oaks winner Love Song who was imported into Australia on retirement from the racetrack. Love Song herself didn't exactly cover herself in glory in the breeding barn, being the dam of 4 named foals of which only 2 raced, neither winning. Two of her daughters however had more success as broodmares, Song of Kingston being the dam of Group 2 Hill Stakes winner and Victoria Derby second Muirfield Village while Song of Norway, a daughter of Vain, has proved very successful. Song of Norway left 12 foals, 11 of which raced and all won. They include Listed winners Frosty the Snowman, Midnight Sun and Russian Tea Room while Scandinavia has proved to be the best of them all winning the Group 2 QTC Cup at Eagle Farm. She in turn is the dam of Group 1 winning sprinter Magnus and group 2 winner Wilander and is now the grandam of the best sprinter we have had the pleasure to see for a very long time. The William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in a couple of weeks, won 5 times by champion sprinter Manikato, is Black Caviars next assignment.
Magic Millions Adelaide yearlings start Tuesday (14 Mar 2011)
The yearling sale caravan moves west from Victoria to South Australia with the 393 lot Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale starting Tuesday.
The catalogue contains yearlings by proven sires Choisir, Elusive Quality, More Than Ready and Testa Rossa as well as representatives of 24 first season sires. The 2010 sale averaged A$27,500 for 131 sold in session 1.
Titch becomes 13th Group 1 winner for Lord Ballina (10 Mar 2011)
Titch became stakes-winner number 44 and Group 1 winner number 13 for his sire with his victory in the NZ$1 million Auckland Cup.
After finishing second in his only other try at 3200m, in November's New Zealand Cup behind Showcause, Titch reversed the placings from that race to score a comfortable victory with Castle Heights in 3rd place. The winner is a true Ardsley Stud breed, being a brother to 10-time winner and Group 3 placed Soph and descending from the family that gave us Australian Cup winner Kip and his half-brother Boktisan. Titch now has 13 wins from 33 starts, including 3 over hurdles. His sire, the deceased Lord Ballina, has left a variety of Group 1 performers including Telegraph & Captain Cook Stakes winner Lord Tridan, 2 Kelt Capital winners in Cent Home and Balmuse, George Ryder winner and sire Bureaucracy, Sydney Cup winner Count Chivas, Easter Handicap winner Carson's Cash and Winfield Classic winner Acushla Marie.
Jimmy Choux outruns his pedigree in magnificent NZ Derby victory (05 Mar 2011)
Jimmy Choux stamped himself as one of the very best 3YOs seen in New Zealand for a long time with a dominant win in the Derby.
On a drenched Ellerslie track, Jimmy Choux, aided by a masterful Jonathan Riddell ride, took control of the Derby on the home turn and always had the field covered in the straight to record a 2 length victory over Historian, by Choisir, with Align's son On the Level in third. Jimmy Choux now boasts 9 wins from only 16 starts and NZ$2.2 million including 6 from 8 this season, all at group level. His only poor run was in the Levin Classic when it was reported afterwards that a heart problem has contributed to him finishing 53 lengths behind the winner. The Derby was his second at Group 1 level after winning the 2000 Guineas back in November. The son of the Stradbroke winner Thorn Park from an unplaced mare by Centaine, Jimmy Choux's immediate pedigree suggested that a middle distance, especially one on testing ground would be beyond him. His second dam, the Castletown Stakes winner Gale, by Wild Rampage, only won up to 1200m although her half-brother Danamite did win the Avondale Guineas at 2000m and ran third in the Australian Derby and fifth in the NZ Derby in his only 2 attempts at 2400m.
Danleigh & Shamrocker win Australian Group 1's (05 Mar 2011)
Danleigh won his fourth Group 1 and first at a mile in the Chipping Norton at Warwick Farm while in Melbourne Shamrocker gained her maiden Group 1 win in the Australian Guineas at Flemington.
Danleigh was having his ninth start at 1600m and did enough to deny Thorn Park an Australasian Group 1 double when getting home in the Chipping Norton Stakes by a neck from Centennial Park. Successful at the highest level at 1200m, 1400m and 1500m, the 7YO gelded son of Mujahid, himself by Danzig, took his record to 9 wins and over A$2.1 million from 41 starts. In Melbourne, Shamrocker took advantage of an inspired Glen Boss ride to upset the favourites in the Australian Guineas, becoming only the third filly after Triscay and Miss Finland to win the race since its first running at Group 1 level in 1987. The daughter of O'Reilly was a NZ$65,000 NZ Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale purchase and is the only foal to race out of her dam, the 5-time winning Blues Traveller mare Bohemian Blues, herself a half-sister to 2 blacktype winners in Fairy Tale and Juryman.
Saturdays NZ Derby big influence on NZ Sires Premiership (03 Mar 2011)
With a stake of NZ$2.2 million, Saturdays running of the Group 1 New Zealand Derby will have a major influence on the 2010-11 NZ General Sires race.
The current top 3 leading sires, Pentire, Thorn Park and Pins, all have runners with major chances of success. Current premiership leader Pentire, a resident at Rich Hill Stud, supplies 2000 Guineas runner-up He's Remarkable, Windsor Park's Thorn Park has long-time Derby favourite Jimmy Choux while Waikato Stud's Pins has 2 runners including Avondale Guineas winner Icepin. O'Reilly, another resident at Waikato Stud and currently eighth on the sires table, supplies second favourite O'Reilly's Prize and if successful would catapult his sire to the top of the prizemoney list.
Darley's Blue Diamond winner - a nick starting to click (03 Mar 2011)
Sepoy, one of the most impressive Blue Diamond winners we have seen, is bred on a cross having some success in Australia.
By Elusive Quality, Gone West's most successful producer of blacktype winners, Sepoy is from a non-winning daughter of champion sire Danehill. This Elusive Quality-Danehill cross has also produced Group 1 Sires' Produce winner Camarilla, Bart Cummings's Hawkesbury Guineas winner Related and Guy Walter's multiple stakeswinner Bernicia as well as 9 further blacktype performers.
Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale starts Monday (27 Feb 2011)
The sale that gave the Australian racing industry Black Caviar, Starspangledbanner and Weekend Hussler takes central stage beginning Monday.
725 lots have been assembled in the catalogue, 568 in Session 1 selling Monday through to Wednesday and another 157 in Session 2 being offered on Thursday. The array of stallions with yearlings on display is large, with all of the current top 10 sires on the Australian General Sires Premiership who stand in Australia having representatives.
Champion Typhoon Tracy to visit Darley's Street Cry (25 Feb 2011)
Recently retired Typhoon Tracy, who ended her racing career with a victory in the Group 1 CF Orr at Caulfied, begins her breeding career with a visit to Street Cry.
Typhoon Tracy was the winner of 11 of her 20 starts, including 6 at Group 1 level, tasting success at the highest level in the Coolmore Classic and Queen of the Turf in Sydney and the Myer Classic, Futurity and CF Orr twice in Melbourne. A daughter of Vinery's Red Ransom, Typhoon Tracy is a sister to Listed winner Red Element. She is out of the champion South African mare Tracey's Element, the winner of 4 at the highest level, and a sister or half-sister to 4 group winners, the Group 1 winner and successful sire Danasinga, South African Group 2 winner Topasannah and Group 3 winners and sires Towkay and Cullen.
Big weekend for Waikato Stud's Pins (21 Feb 2011)
Pins had blacktype winners aged 2, 3 and 4 to take his tally of stakeswinners to 37 with victories by Antonio Lombardo, Icepins and Ambitious Dragon.
Two-year-old Antonio Lombardo started the ball rolling with his victory in the Group 3 Taranaki RC Waikato Stud 2YO Classic at New Plymouth, taking his record to 3 wins from 7 starts for trainer Peter McKay. 20 minutes later Icepins caused a minor upset with his victory in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas, run this year at Ellerlsie. Ironically, Icepins won his first blacktype race in the 2010 version of the Taranaki RC 2YO Classic. In Hong Kong on Sunday Ambitious Dragon scored his first blacktype win with a 1 3/4 length victory in the HK-Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800m. He now boasts a record of 5 wins from 6 starts this season.
2 of India's leading sires die in a week (21 Feb 2011)
India has lost 2 of its most influential sires within 1 week with the death of Razeen and Placerville.
Razeen, a son of Northern Dancer and a brother to Group 3 winner and sire Warrshan and a half-brother to Group 1 winner and sire Assatis, won the Listed Predominate Stakes at Goodwood among his 3 wins and retired to stud in 1992. He is the sire of 101 blacktype winners and has sire-sons Star Supreme and Indictment at stud in India. Placerville, by Mr Prospector and the winner of the Group 2 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, retired to stud in India in 1994. The son of multiple Group 1 winner Classy Cathy currently has 80 blacktype winners to his name.
Zarkava produces colt by Sea the Stars (15 Feb 2011)
2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava has produced a colt to 2009 Arc winner Sea the Stars in France.
The Aga Khan's Zarkava, unbeaten in 7 starts including 4 at Group 1 level, foaled the colt, her second, at Haras de Bonneval on February 11. Her first foal is a filly by another Arc winner in Dalakhani. Sea the Stars, beaten only once in 9 starts, won 6 at Group 1 level including the Derby at Epsom, the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket as well as the Arc.
Berkley Stud stallion Coats Choice shining (15 Feb 2011)
Leading Southern 3YO Milo’s wins in the Dunedin and Gore Guineas, plus recent wins for Five Coats and No Choice, put the spotlight on their sire Coats Choice.
Milo, Five Coats and No Choice are all from Coats Choice’s first NZ-bred crop. And technically, Coats Choice would be the leading NZ-based second season stallion if it were not for the fact that he had a season at stud in Australia prior to his arrival to Berkley Stud - a season which proved disastrous where only 2 foals resulted from the 21 mares he covered. Any such problems quickly disappeared on his arrival in NZ, where he had 78 foals from his first crop here. A son of leading sire Redoute's Choice, he is a half-brother to Gr.3 winner Pillar of Hercules, Coats Choice is out of a half-sister to sires Catbird and Danbird and closely related to Maizcay.
First 2 days of Perth Yearling Sale hold steady (11 Feb 2011)
A filly by Street Sense from the Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel has topped the sale to date, bringing a final bid of $200,000 from agent Justin Bahen.
The filly, sold early on day 1 as Lot 4, will enter the stable of Mark Kavanagh. Day 2's top price was $180,000 for a son of Oratorio (Aus), purchased by WA trainer David Harrison. With 1 day of the select session to go, Magic Millions management expressed their satisfaction after 2 days of selling. At the same stage as 2010, the average was up 6.9% on 178 lots sold however the selling rate sat at only 67%.
Son of Darley's Street Cry wins UAE 2000 Guineas (11 Feb 2011)
Splash Point put up the best performance of his 5 race career to win the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan.
Raced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum, the son of Street Cry and the stakes-winning Danehill mare Dianehill forged to the lead in the final 200 metres to record a length victory over the South African-bred Zanzamar. Elsewhere on the Meydan card Redoute's Choice's son Musir (Aus) finished a close second in the Listed Firebreak Stakes and last years UAE Oaks winner Raihana (Aus), by Elusive Quality, scored over 1800 metres.
Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale starts Wednesday (08 Feb 2011)
The action moves to the west with 4 days of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale commencing on Wednesday.
686 lots have been catalogued, an increase of just under 10% on 2010 numbers. The 2011 Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic and 3YO Trophy will be run on Saturday.
NZB Select Sale finishes on high (07 Feb 2011)
The sale of the top-priced yearling highlighted the final day of the three day Select Sale.
Selling at Lot 1009, the half-brother to recent Group 1 winner Fears Nothing by first season sire Excellent Art was purchased for $250,000 by Tom Magnier of Coolmore and Adrian Nicholl of BBA Ireland. After 3 days of selling the Select sale returned down on the 2010 sale result but significantly higher than 2009. The average ended at $45,711 with the middle market contributing to a median of $39,000, just shy of last years figure of $40,000. Haunui Farm, boosted by the wonderful results from the stock of Iffraaj, headed the vendor section by aggregate, NZ Bloodstock were leading buyers and Excellent Art the leading sire and first season sire by average.
First Singapore Golden Horseshoe Series bonus won (07 Feb 2011)
The opening Singapore 2YO race of the season, part of the Golden Horseshoe Series of 7 2YO events, was run and won during the weekend by Kaiser who picked up a $25,000 bonus for his connections.
The bonuses are paid to connections of winning horses bred in Australia and sold at an Australian sale. Kaiser, a son of Seidnazar, was sold at the Inglis Classic yearling sale for $11,000 and then resold at the Magic Millions Horses in Training sale for $80,000. From a half-sister to stakes-placed Cancanelle, Kaiser directly descends from the Listed winner Rich Habit and came from the yearling draft of Riverdene Stud at Wagga Wagga.
Dual success for Australian-breds at Meydan (04 Feb 2011)
Dynamic Blitz in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint and Mahbooba in the Listed UAE One Thousand Guineas provided the Australian breeding industry with success in 2 of the 3 blacktype races on the Meydan card.
Hong Kong raider Dynamic Blitz, who won 3 races in Australia as Stage Presence, set a new race record with a 2 1/4 length victory under jockey Olivier Doleuze. Trained by Ricky Yiu, Dynamic Blitz, a 5 time winner in Hong Kong, was having his first run since a third place finish at Sha Tin on November 14. Previously unplaced in 3 Group 3 Hong Kong events in 2010, Dynamic Blaze was sent off as an outsider at 14 to 1. Favourite Our Giant, an Australian-bred son of Giant's Causeway, finished fourth. In the One Thousand Guineas, Mahbooba reversed the result from the 1000 Guineas Trial and overtook her stablemate Reem to give Galileo a 1-2 finish with an easy victory. A Group 1 winner at 2 in South Africa, Mahbooba now boasts a race record of 4 wins, 3 at group level, and 2 placings from 6 starts.
Karaka Premier ends on high (31 Jan 2011)
The bids kept coming as the 2 day New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Premier Yearling Sale ended on an extremely positive note.
When the gavel fell on the last lot of the sale, 375 lots had changed hands over the 2 days for an aggregate of $65,574,000, just one $150,000 bid down on 2010 figures. The average of $174,864 was down only 4% but remarkably the median price rose $5,000 to $140,000. Rick Connolly overtook David Ellis as leading buyer, spending just over $5 million on 16 lots while Ellis spent $4.4 million on 25 yearlings. Cambridge Stud were again leading vendor by aggregate, selling 43 for $10,285,000 while Belvedere Farm were leading vendor by average. Champion sire Zabeel is the leading sire by average, 27 sold for an average of $346,111, ahead of Red Ransom and Encosta de Lago. Champion European first season sire and Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj made a huge impression with 10 of his progeny averaging $208,500, ahead of Darley's Bernardini and Patinack Farm's Casino Prince.
Beauty Flash (NZ) wins HKJC Stewards' Cup (31 Jan 2011)
Windsor Park Stud bred Beauty Flash, a son of Golan, continued his winning run of form with a fighting win in the HK Group 1 Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin, the first leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
A last start winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, Beauty Flash took his record to 9 wins from 19 starts and stakemoney of just under HK$25 million by holding off favourite Sunny King with Irian close up in third. Beauty Flash will now be targeted at the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan in March but may line up in the Hong Kong Gold Cup, the second leg of the Triple Crown before then.
New Zealand Bloodstock yearlings starts Monday (30 Jan 2011)
The yearling sale focus switches to Karaka beginning Monday when the New Zealand Bloodtock 85th National Yearling Sale series opens with its Premier Sale.
A total of 1622 yearlings have been catalogued for the 3 sales, 503 in Premier, 627 in the Select Sale and 492 in the Festival Sale which finishes on February 7.
Zenyatta to visit Bernardini (27 Jan 2011)
North American 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, recently retired after a career totalling 19 wins from 20 starts, will visit Bernardini in 2011.
Already the sire of 2 Group/Grade 1 winners from his first crop, Darley's Bernardini, a son of A.P. Indy, stands for a fee of US$75,000. His first crop of yearlings sell in the Southern Hemisphere in 2011.
Inglis Classic sale ends on positive note (25 Jan 2011)
An increase in aggregate, average and median were the statistical highlights when the curtain was drawn on the 2011 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Inglis Bloodstock Director Jonathan D'Arcy was very pleased with the results after 3 days of selling, with the aggregate improving 11.7%, the average 3.2% and the all-important median rising 4%. The highlight of the final day was appearance in the sale ring of a filly by first season sire Magnus from a grand-daughter of Group 1 winner and producer Joie Denise, herself a daughter of Denise's Joy. Julian Blaxland of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds made the successful bid of $170,000 for the filly who will join the stable of Paul Messara. Top colt on the day and the second highest price for the sale was Lot 565, just 10 lots from the end of the catalogue. The son of Snitzel and stakes-winner Hello Pamela sold for $135,000.
First stakes-winner for Henny Hughes (21 Jan 2011)
Darley shuttler Henny Hughes left his first stakes-winner when Fort Hughes ran away with the Listed Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct.
Fort Hughes took his record to 2 wins and a second from 3 starts with his 4 3/4 length victory running the 6 furlongs in 1.08.2. With his first Southern Hemisphere crop selling in 2011, it was a timely boost for Henny Hughes, a son of Hennessy, whose North American 2YO crop of 2010 contained 20 individual winners including the stakes-placed Wealthy Aviator. Henny Hughes covered 298 mares in his first 3 seasons at stud in Australia and stood for A$17,500 plus GST in 2010.
Zenyatta North American Horse of the Year (19 Jan 2011)
Controversially overlooked in the 2009, Zenyatta capped her final year on the racetrack by winning the Horse of the Year title, scoring 128 votes to the 102 recorded for her Breeders' Cup conqueror Blame.
The winner of 5 of her 6 starts in 2010, her only loss coming in her final start in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Zenyatta retires to the broodmare barn with a record of 19 wins, 13 at Group 1 level. Other big winners on the night were 2YO Breeders' Cup winners Uncle Mo & Awesome Feather, Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky and Kentucky Oaks victor Blind Luck in the 3YO section, Blame and Zenyatta as older male and female, Big Drama and Dubai Majesty as male and female sprinters and Gio Ponti and Goldikova as male and female turf horses.
100 Stakes-winners for Red Ransom (16 Jan 2011)
Former Vinery Stud shuttler Red Ransom, who died in September 2009, clocked up his 100th stakes-winner when Emmrooz ran away with the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes in UAE on Friday.
A gelded 6YO son of the Stakes-placed Danehill mare Nasmatt, Emmrooz is closely related to champion Australian sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur. Red Ransom, who retired to stud in USA in 1991 and first visited Australian shores in 1999 is the sire of 16 Group 1 winners including Coolmore Classic winner Typhoon Tracy, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Perfect Sting, Dubai World Cup victor Electrocutionist and champion sprinter Red Clubs. His sire sons include Sri Pekan (38 SW), Intikhab (17 SW) and China Visit (9 SW). Sons of Red Ransom at stud in Australasia include Charge Forward, Domesday, Face Value, Handsome Ransom, All American, Ekraar, Duporth, Markane, Red Dazzler and Onemorenomore. Red Ransom won both his starts at 2 and was retired when suffering an injury after his lone start at 3. He was crowned Champion First Season Sire in USA in 1994.
Magic Millions Select Sessions finish strongly (14 Jan 2011)
After 4 days of selling, the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale has produced figures close to 2010 sale levels.
With the aggregate, average and median all down but all by less than 10%, the sale figures have held up reasonably well under trying conditions. The aggregate tallied $62.5 million, a slight drop of 6.1%. The average of $124,403 was down 3.9% and the median of $90,000 was down 5.3%. The clearance rate sits at 81.4%.
Iffraaj, Holy Roman Emperor & Bernardini Champion First Season Sires (10 Jan 2011)
Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj, in Great Britain and France, Coolmore's Holy Roman Emperor in Ireland and Darley's Bernardini in Italy headed their respective country's First Season Sire lists for 2010.
Iffraaj, with 38 individual 2YO winners, was overall European Champion First Season Sire by prizemoney, winners and wins. Headed by Group 1 winner Wootton Bassett, his progeny included 6 other blacktype horses. Holy Roman Emperor numbered 6 blacktype horses among his 23 individual winners, High Award winning a Listed event at Epsom, and he has already opened his Southern Hemisphere account with 2 winners from 3 runners in Australia and New Zealand. Bernardini only supplied 1 runner in Italy but that colt, Biondetti, ended the season as a Group 1 winner. Among his 13 winners worldwide were A.Z. Warrior, the Group 1 Belmont Frizette Stakes winner, To Honor and Serve, a Group 2 winner at Aqueduct and Theyskens' Theory, a Group 3 winner at Goodwood. Other shuttle stallions who tasted success included Aussie Rules, the sire of 20 individual winners including 4 stakes-winners, the most by any European first season sire, Librettist, who left Group 2 winner Libranno among his 13 individual winners and Ad Valorem, the sire of 15 individual winners including Italian stakes-winner Samaden.
Double stakes success for Llanhennock Trust (04 Jan 2011)
The Hawkins family's Llanhennock Trust, fresh from their victory in the Group 1 Railway at Ellerslie had further blacktype success with Little Bridge at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.
Little Bridge took his record to 6 wins - the first 5 in succession - and a third, in the Group 2 Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Sprint, with a half-length win in the Hong Kong Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup. Sold for $9000 at the 2007 NZB National Weanling Sale under their Wentwood Grange banner, Little Bridge is a direct descendant of the wonderful mare Grable, dam of 4 stakes-winners including My Evita and grandam of the Group 1 winner Vitalic. Earlier that day the Llanhennock Trust bred and owned Miss Raggedy Ann scored an upset victory in the Railway Handicap, giving the mare her first blacktype victory. Both Miss Raggedy Ann and Little Bridge are out of mares by Gold Brose, now the damsire of 3 Group 1 winners, all of them mares.
More Than Ready Champion 2YO Sire in North America (31 Dec 2010)
Twice champion sire of 2YOs in Australia, Vinery Stud resident More Than Ready has added the 2010 USA/Canada 2YO Sire title to his record.
More Than Ready is currently the sire of 78 stakeswinners, 29 at Group level including 6 Group 1 winners. These 6, all from his Southern Hemisphere crops, include Golden Slipper winners Sebring and Phelan Ready, Victoria Derby winner Benicio and multiple group 1 winning mare More Joyous. More Than Ready sired both 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winners, Pluck and More Than Real as well as Group 3 winner Major Gain.
Booming wins last NZ Group 1 of 2010 (27 Dec 2010)
Booming became Don Eduardo's first Group 1 winner when winning the Zabeel Classic at Ellerlie on Boxing Day, the final Group 1 event for 2010 in New Zealand.
Becoming the first grandson of Zabeel to win the event, Booming became the second successive winner for trainer Jeff Lynds after current New Zealand Horse of the Year Vosne Romanee's victory in the 2009 renewal. A maternal grandson of Group 3 Wellington Stakes winner Syrian Sea, Booming hails from the family of dual Group 1 winner Electronic. The 2 favourites, Red Ruler and Ginga Dude, filled the minor placings.
Merry Christmas (23 Dec 2010)
Kyla, Geoff, Chas, Denise, Jacqui, Lisa & Andrew wish all of our clients a very Merry Christmas and a great 2011.
Our phones are always turned on so if you need to contact us during the holiday break don't hesitate to call Andrew on NZ 21)864226 or Kyla on NZ 21)864224.
No Preakness Stakes in 2011? (23 Dec 2010)
The Maryland Racing Commission has rejected a heavily conditioned proposal from the owners of Laurel Park and Pimlico Racecourse to run 146 days of live racing in 2011.
This decision could see no live racing in Maryland in 2011, meaning no running of the second leg of the Triple Crown, first run in 1873 and watched oncourse by over 95,000 fans in 2010. The out-of-state track owners, MI Developments and Penn National Gaming Corp., were seeking increased financial incentives and control of simulcasting rights in their proposal.
Australian-bred victorious in Japanese Group 2 (21 Dec 2010)
Australian-bred Kinshasa No Kiseki (Fuji Kiseki) became a two time winner of the Group 2 Hanshin Cup over 1400m on Saturday.
Running a fast time of 1.20.3, the 7-year-old came from just off the pace to run down the pacemaking Red Spada (Taiki Shuttle) by a neck with a gap back to third-placed Meiner Fogo (Star of Cozzene). Kinshasa No Kiseki, bred by the Arrowleave Joint Venture and racing in the colours of prominent owner Kazumi Yoshida, took his record to 11 wins from 29 starts including the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo earlier in the year.
Greys dominate the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (16 Dec 2010)
Reve d'Essor (Agnes Tachyon) remained unbeaten in winning the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Gr.1 at the weekend, with fellow greys Whale Capture (Kurofune) and Rice Terrace (Song of Wind) taking the minor placings.
Reve d'Essor was having only her third start and justified her favouritism in the same race that her half-sister Reve d'Amour (Falbrav) ran second in three years earlier. Their dam, Reve d'Oscar (Highest Honor) was raced in France and Italy by her breeder Kazuko Yoshida, winning the Prix Saint-Alary, Gr.1 and being placed 2nd in 3 other group one races, and is herself a half-sister to the dam of this years Irish 1000 Guineas winner Bethrah (Marju). Reve d'Essor is by the Japanese 2000 Guineas winner, Agnes Tachyon, an unbeaten son of Sunday Silence.
All Bar One sets the early pace (15 Dec 2010)
Oaklands Stud stallion All Bar One (Hennessy) became the first new-season stallion to leave a stakes winner when I'm the One scored in Brisbane at the weekend.
In a meeting shortened by bad weather, I'm the One won the BRC Phelan Ready S., L. ahead of Internal Revenue (Exceed and Excel) and Double Impact (Mossman). I'm the One is the second winner for his sire, with Peterhof having won at Toowoomba at the end of October. All Bar One has also left trials winners Bench Star, Publican and All the Torque. Over the same weekend, Brighthill Farm's new-season stallion Perfectly Ready gained his third 2YO winner with Queen Boudicca scoring at Ellerslie.
Snow Fairy is Queen of Hong Kong (12 Dec 2010)
British 3YO filly Snow Fairy (Intikhab) capped a fine year which included wins in the Epsom & Irish Oaks with a superb win the the Hong Kong Cup, Gr.1.
Snow Fairy won her previous start in the Kyoto Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, Gr.1, defeating Japanese champion Arapane, and that form has continued when she decisively beat a classy field to take out the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, Gr.1. The ex-German Irian (Tertullian) ran second, with NZ-bred Packing Winner (Zabeel) just holding on for third. Top-weight and last year's winner, Vision d'Etat, ran fourth.
Beauty Flash takes the Mile (12 Dec 2010)
New Zealand-bred Beauty Flash (Golan) held off the run by promising 3YO and Prix Daniel Wldenstein, Gr.2 winner Royal Bench (Whipper) to claim the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, Gr.1.
Beauty Flash won at Waikato before being relocated to Hong Kong where he won six of his first seven starts culminating in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, HK-1 in January this year. Since then it's been a barren time, with 3rds, 4ths and 5ths in Group races interspersed with a disappointing 11th in the Tokyo Yasuda Kinen, Gr.1. The result of the Hong Kong Mile is a welcome return to winning form for his connections. Beauty Flash is a close relative of champion NZ 2YO Maroofity.
JJ the Jet Plane captures the Sprint (12 Dec 2010)
South African champion JJ the Jet Plane (Jet Master) edged out Rocket Man (Viscount) and Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago) to claim the Hong King Sprint, Gr.1.
JJ the Jet Plane claimed his third group one in succession, his sixth overall, and remains unbeaten in 2010 when just getting up to edge Rocket Man in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase.
Mastery claims The Vase (12 Dec 2010)
Frankie Dettori guided the Godolphin owned Mastery (Sulamani) to an easy win in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase, Gr.1 defeating Melbourne Cup winner Americain.
The first of the Group One races at the Cathay Pacific meeting in Hong Kong was won easily by Mastery. A winner of the St Leger, Gr.1 and Italian Derby, Gr.1 at 3 in 2009, Mastery has had a quiet 2010, with the Vase being only his fourth start.
Bruce Almighty - Cups specialist (11 Dec 2010)
Bruce Almighty (Deputy Governor) claimed his sixth Cup win in 2010 in winning the Waikato Gold Cup, Gr.2, taking his record to 14 wins and $336,988.
Already the winner of the group 3 Canterbury and Taranaki Gold Cups, plus the Marlborough, Gore and Greymouth Cups with a third in the Feilding Gold Cup and fifth in the Wellington Cup, Gr.2 in 2010, the Manning trained Bruce Almighty showed he was the one to beat in the Waikato Gold Cup, Gr.2. Chasing him home were the grey mare Dawn Ghost (Pyrus) and top-weight Tinseltown (Pentire). Tinseltown is also somewhat of a cups specialist, having previously taken out the Avondale Gold Cup, Gr.2, Counties Cup, Gr.2, Rotorua Cup, Gr.3 and Te Aroha Cup. Bruce Almighty is out of a half-sister to the Cranbourne Cup winner Emerald Jack, with his grand-dam being a Sir Tristram half-sister to the champion Beau Zam.
Hong Kong Mile attracts a classy International field (10 Dec 2010)
Last year's winner Good Baba (Lear fan) faces a strong competition in his attempt to capture the 17th win of his career and second Hong Kong Mile, Gr.1.
A winner of group one races in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Good Baba has not won since winning this race last year. Heading the competition is this season's Lockinge S., Gr.1 winner Paco Boy, whose last start performance was a 4th to champion Goldikova in the Breeders Cup Mile and before that second to the same horse in the Prix de la Foret. From Japan comes A Shan Forward (Forest Wildcat), last start winner of the Kyoto Mile Championship, Gr.1, and from Britain come last year's Dewhurst S., Gr.1 winner Beethoven (Oratario) and dual Sun Chariot S., Gr.1 winner Sahpresa (Sahm). The local competition features Able One (Cape Cross - Champions Mile, twice), Fellowship (O'Reilly - Stewards Cup), Slight Winner (Faltaat - Champions Mile) and the last two Hong Kong Classic Mile winners Beauty Flash (Golan) and Thumbs Up (Shinko King).
Hong Kong dominates the weekend's racing (09 Dec 2010)
With no Group One racing in Australia or New Zealand this weekend, the Cathay Pacific meeting at Hong Kong dominates with the Group One Cup, Sprint, Mile and Vase.
In the Hong Kong Cup, two lone NZ-breds, Hong Kong Derby winner Super Satin (Danehill Dancer) and Champions & Chater Cup winner Packing Winner (Zabeel) are set to take on eleven European-breds. Heading the list of opponents is French Derby winner and last years Hong Kong Cup winner Vision d'Etat (Chichicastenango), who is ably supported by English & Irish Oaks winner, Snow Fairy (Intikhab), French Oaks winner Stacelia (Monsun) and EP Taylor S. winner Reggane (Red Ransom). Of the remainder, Hong Kong Gold Cup winner Collection (Peintre Celebre) is the pick of the locally trained entries.
Playing God strikes in Perth (06 Dec 2010)
With Railway S., Gr.1 winner Gathering not competing, the path was left for Playing God (Blackfriars) to claim the Kingston Town Classic, Gr.1 in Perth on Saturday.
The winner of the Western Australian Guineas, Gr.2 in November, Playing God emulated the feat of the NZ filly We Can Say It Now in beating the older brigade. His is a son of Durham Lodge's Danehill stallion Blackfriars, a winner of the Victoria Derby, Gr.1, out of the SP Rubiton mare Dolly Will Do, making him a full-brother to WATC Sires' Produce S., Gr.3 winner God Has Spoken.
We can Say It Now defeats the big boys in the Captain Cook S. (02 Dec 2010)
Leading 3YO filly and Levin Classic, Gr.1, winner We Can Say It Now (Starcraft) trounced the older brigade when winning the Captain Cook S., Gr.1 on Saturday.
The decisive winner of the Levin Classic, Gr.1, at her last start, We Can Say It Now further enhanced her reputation and become the first 3YO since Just Call Me Sir in 1998 to win an open class Group one race before the New Year of their 3YO career when winning the Captain Cook S., Gr.1 by 4 lengths. In the process she defeated a field which included six Gr.1 winners including Vosne Romanee, Sir Slick, Maco'reilly and Fritzy Boy.
Rose Kingdom wins Japan Cup, Gr.1. (30 Nov 2010)
Rose Kingdom (King Kamehameha) secured his 5th win from 9 starts when winning the Japan Cup, G1 at the weekend following disappointing performances by the foreign raiders.
Rose Kingdom, Champion 2YO last season when he won his only three starts, had raced consistantly at 3 including running second in the Japanese Derby, Gr.1 and Japanese St Leger, Gr.1. He is out of the Sunday Silence mare Rosebud (2d Japan Oaks, Gr.1), herself a daughter of the Shirley Heights mare Rose Colour (Daily Hai Juvenile S.). His sire King Kamehameha further enhanced his position at the head of the Japanese General Sires List as a result of this performance. The best of the foreign contingent was this season's Prix Dollar winner Cirrus des Aigles who finished 9th ahead of Canadian International S. winner Joshua Tree.
Fillies carry the day at Levin (26 Nov 2010)
We Can Say It Now (Starcraft) headed home Blinding (Black Minnalousche), Lady Kipling (Savabeel) and Queen of Pop (Pins) as the fillies blitzed the colts in the Levin Classic, Gr.1.
We Can Say It Now is by the Australian Derby winner and Arrowfield stallion Starcraft, being his second Group One winner, alongside Star Witness (MRC Blue Diamond S., Gr.1), from his first Australia crop. She is a grand-daughter of ARC Champion S. winner Courtalista. The disappointment of the race was favourite and NZ 2000 Guineas winner Jimmy Choux who tailed off.
Ortensia disqualified from The Galaxy (24 Nov 2010)
Testa Rossa mare Ortensia, first past the post in the $300,000 AJC Galaxy S., Gr.1 in April, has been disqualified after returning a positive test to a prohibited substance.
The Dane Shadow colt Shellscrape, previously the winner of the Roman Consul S., Gr.2 & San Domenico S., Gr.3, now becomes the winner of the race, taking his record to 6 wins and $723,000. Swift Alliance (Don Eduardo) and Stryker (Fastnet Rock) take the minor places. Ortensia retains her group-winning status, having previous won the QTC Cup, Gr.2.
Iffraaj sets new European record (23 Nov 2010)
Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj established a new European record for first crop winners when Dixlesion won at Madrid in Spain on Sunday.
Surpassing the old record of 35 set in 2006 by Invincible Spirit, Iffraaj, a son of Zafonic, has 36 winners and 15 placegetters from 72 runners including Group 1 winner Wootton Bassett, Group 3 winner Espirita and 5 other blacktype performers. He has 57 yearlings from his first Southern Hemisphere crop catalogued in the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka sale, including 11 in the Premier session.
Upgraded Hong Kong meeting rewarded with fine performances (22 Nov 2010)
Sunday's Hong Kong meeting featured two races which had been upgraded from local group two status to Internationally recognised Group Two status, and the results ratified that decision.
The Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Sprint, Gr.2 over 1200m for HK$3 million resulted in a deadheat between Australian-breds One World (Danehill Dancer, Hurricane Sky) and Champion Singapore Sprinter Rocket Man (Viscount, McGinty), with the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Mile, Gr.2, also for HK$3 million, snared by current HK Champion Miler Able One (Cape Cross, Danehill) beating off fellow kiwi Thumbs Up (Shinko King, Exploding Prospect).
Patinack raider Gathering takes Railway S. in Perth (20 Nov 2010)
The Tale of the Cat gelding Gathering collected the lion's share of the $1,000,000 prizemoney in winning the WATC Railway S., Gr.1 for Patinack Farm.
Gathering gained the best win of his career after showing considerable promise as a 3YO last season when he ran second to Monaco Consul in the AJC Spring Champion S., Gr.1. Out of a winning Peintre Celebre mare, he is closely related to champion sire Redoute's Choice and to Umatilla, Hurricane Sky and Platinum Scissors. Chasing Gathering home were the Danetime duo of Famous Roman and Megatic.
Japanese Leading Sires with Australasian connections (18 Nov 2010)
With six weeks of the season left, Kingmambo stallion King Kamehameha heads the Japanese General sires table on the back of his Triple Crown winner Apapane.
King Kamehameha was the champion 3YO of his year, winning the Japan Derby. He is a brother to Santa Anita Derby winner The Deputy. Kingmambo is represented by 3 sons in Australia; Coolmore's Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator and Emirates' Eavesdropper, and in New Zealand by Windsor Park's Thewayyouare. Shuttler Zenno Rob Roy is the leading second season stallion, and features in the leading 15 stallions overall. And in the first season sire race, Snitzel is fourth behind three sons of champion sire Sunday Silence.
Oaks winner Snow Fairy shines in Japan (17 Nov 2010)
Snow Fairy, winner of this year's Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks, collected her third group one win of the season in winning the Kyoto Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at the weekend.
In a decisive win beating the Japanese Triple Crown winner Apapane, Snow Fairy helped jockey Ryan Moore cap a memorable season during which he won The Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Workforce. Snow Fairy is the daughter of the Red Ransom stallion Intikhab out of a Charnwood Forest mare, herself out of a Marju mare.
Galileo dominates in Europe (16 Nov 2010)
Galileo holds a dominating lead as Champion European Stallion for 2010, with Dubawi shining as leading second season sire and Iffraaj the leading first season sire.
Galileo, sire of Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco, is comfortably holding off a challenge from King's Best, sire of Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce with Oasis Dream third. Fourth overall and leading second season stallion is Dubawi, sire of Italian Derby winner Worthadd along with 15 other black type winners. The Zafonic stallion Iffraaj is well clear of a chasing pack of Danehill sons as leading first season stallion. He has sired 35 winners of 52 races in his first crop including Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere winner Wootton Bassett.
Risky Business takes Singapore Gold Cup (15 Nov 2010)
Magic Millions graduate Risky Business bursts Better Than Ever's bubble to take out the Singapore Gold Cup.
Better Than Ever, bidding to extend his unbeaten run to 13, finished down the track, beaten by the distance and track conditions in the Singapore Gold Cup, Sgp-1. The race was won by lightweight Risky Business, taking out his eighth win and first black type win in 43 starts.
Zipping joins select group by 4th Sandown Classic win. (14 Nov 2010)
In winning his fourth successive Sandown Classic, Gr.2, Zipping joined a select group of Australian and New Zealand gallopers to have achieved or bettered this feat.
The stand-out repeat performer was the champion Manikato, whose 29 wins include five MVRC William Reid S., Gr.2 and four VATC Futurity, Gr.1. His five wins of the William Reid is only equalled by the outstanding USA champion Kelso (five Jockey Club Gold Cup, Gr.1), the English stayer Further Flight (five Doncaster Cups) and New York galloper Irish Linnet. Other Australasian gallopers to record 4 wins in a race are Gloaming (twice), Sleepy Fox, Lord, Black Rod, Battle Eve and most recently Tie the Knot.
Better Than Ever seeks to extend his unbeaten run (11 Nov 2010)
The Singapore Gold Cup is run on Sunday, with the unbeaten Better Than Ever endeavouring to extend his unbeaten run to 13 by stepping up to the 2200m distance.
Better Than Ever was sold by Blandford Lodge at the Karaka Yearling Sales for $80,000 to Laurie Laxon. He won a trial at Cambridge before being relocated to Singapore where he has done all of his racing. His 13 wins to date have included 8 local group races, including group one wins in the Kranji Mile, Singapore Guineas and the Raffles Cup at his last start.
Americain (USA) wins 2010 Melbourne Cup (02 Nov 2010)
Bred in the United States, trained in France and owned by Australians, Americain relished the conditions and race distance to win the 150th running of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Americain is a five-year-old entire by Dynaformer, sire of 103 stakes-winners including the ill-fated Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, out of the Irish-bred mare America, a daughter of Arazi. America won twice at group level in France including the Prix de Malleret, a group 2 event at Longchamp, and as well as Americain has produced 2 other French stakes-placegetters. She is a half-sister to Majorien, also a group 2 winner in France. Now the winner of 8 from 20 starts, Americain led home Mayluckyday and So You Think with Zipping running home for fourth.
Starspangledbanner, Super Saver both retired (29 Oct 2010)
Multiple Group 1 winner Starpangledbanner and 2010 Kentucky Derby victor have both been retired and will enter stud in 2011.
Australian-bred Starspangledbanner, winner in the northern hemisphere of the Golden Jubilee S. and July Cup to go with his Oakleigh Plate and Caulfield Guineas successes, will retire to Coolmore in Ireland. The winner of 7 from 17 starts, his last start produced a fifth placing in the Sprint Cup at Haydock to end his UK campaign with 2 wins and 2 placings from 5 starts. A son of Choisir, Starspangledbanner is closely related to champions Elvstroem and Haradasun. Meanwhile in the USA, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver has been retired to WinStar Farm in Kentucky. A WinStar homebred, Super Saver won the Derby at his seventh start, beating home Ice Box and Paddy O'Prado. His 3 subsequent runs have produced unplaced finishes in the Preakness, Haskell Invitational and Travers, all group 1 events. A son of Maria's Mon, also sire of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, Super Saver is closely related to group 1 winners Bluegrass Cat, Rhythm, Dance Number and Frost Giant.
Breeders' Cup pre-entries total 184 (28 Oct 2010)
The 2 day Breeders' Cup Championships, to be run on November 5 & 6, have drawn 184 pre-entered horses including 26 non-USA entries.
Unbeaten Zenyatta heads the entries for the US$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. She will face leader older horses Quality Road and Blame as well as top 3YO Looking at Lucky. British champion 3YO Workforce heads the entries for the Turf stayers contest while French mare Goldikova will no doubt run favourite in the Turf Mile.
Superstar So You Think (NZ) wins second Cox Plate (23 Oct 2010)
In only his tenth raceday start, So You Think confirmed his champion status with a dominant win in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Starting an odds on favourite, So You Think lobbed along outside leader More Joyous until the 600m when jockey Steven Arnold let loose and he quickly bounded away for a 2 length victory over the evergreen Zipping with Whobegotyou third. So You Think, a NZ$110,000 yearling purchase at the 2008 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale from the Windsor Park Stud draft, now has 7 wins and 2 seconds from his 10 starts with earnings of just under A$4 million. Next stop, the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
European champion Rip Van Winkle retired (21 Oct 2010)
Rip Van Winkle, the 2009 European Champion 3YO Miler, has been forced into retirement while preparing for another trip to the Breeders' Cup.
The son of Galileo, winner of 5 of his 14 starts, was looking to redeem himself after an inglorious performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year where he beat only 2 runners home. The winner of 2 of his 3 starts at 2, Rip Van Winkle opened his three-year-old season with 3 consecutive stakes-earning performances behind champion Sea The Stars before winning the Group 1 Sussex S. at Goodwood and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot prior to his Breeders' Cup run. After an unplaced run at Royal Ascot to open his four-year-old season, Rip Van Winkle ran in 4 consecutive Group 1 races, winning the Juddmonte International at York and running second in the Sussex S., Queen Elizabeth II S. and Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. It has been announced that he will retire to stud at Coolmore in Ireland.
Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Trials get upgrades (21 Oct 2010)
The 3 Cathay Pacific International Trials, lead in races to the Hong Kong international meeting in December, have all received black-type status upgrades.
Formerly known as the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial, Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial and Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial, the three races will now have international Group 2 status, replacing the previous rating of Hong Kong Group 2. They have all also been renamed, now being known as the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Sprint, Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Mile and Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Cup. The winners of the 3 trials last year were Collection in the Cup Trial, Fellowship in the Mile Trial and Happy Zero in the Sprint Trial. Collection went on to run second in the Hong Kong Gold Cup to French champion Vision d'Etat, Fellowship finished third in the Hong Kong MIle to Good Ba Ba and Happy Zero, who stepped up to the mile distance.
Descarado heads NZ-bred & Coolmore stallion trifecta in Caulfield Cup (18 Oct 2010)
Descarado gave trainer Gai Waterhouse her first win in the race when leading home a New Zealand-bred and Coolmore stallion trifecta in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
Run on a heavy track, Descarado was given the perfect ride by Chris Munce and after taking the lead early in the straight held off the challenges of Harris Tweed and Monaco Consul to record a length victory. After starting his racing career in New Zealand, where he recorded 2 wins from 5 starts and finished second in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas, Descarado was purchased by clients of the Waterhouse stable. His record in Australia now stands at 2 wins and 3 placings from 9 starts and as well as Saturday's win includes the Group 2 Hill S. and placings last season in the Australian Derby, Tulloch S. and Phar Lap S. By High Chaparral, also sire of third placed Monaco Consul, Descarado is from the Lord Ballina mare Karamea Lady. He is a half-brother to 9 winners including Group 3 Grafton Cup winner Simigan, Group 2 placed Matiri King and Group 3 placed Carey Grant.
Perfectly Ready opens his account (16 Oct 2010)
Perfectly Ready became the first New Zealand-based first season stallion to sire a winner with Brackenwood opening his account at Wanganui.
Brackenwood, a NZ$26,000 purchase by trainer Lisa Latta at the 2010 NZ Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, is a half-sister to the stakes-winner Russian Conquest, successful in the Listed Great Northern Foal S. at Ellerslie. Perfectly Ready stands at Nick & Anne-Marie King's Brighthill Farm at Cambridge for a fee of NZ$12,000 and won the Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville among his 4 victories.
First winners for First Season Sires (15 Oct 2010)
Three stallions, Chateau Istana, Flying Pegasus and Nadeem, all celebrated their first winners last Saturday in Australia.
Over in Western Australia, Absolute Cracker, a daughter of Touchstone Farm resident Flying Pegasus, scored in the WATC Westspeed 2YO P. She was a A$50,000 purchase at the 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and is a half-sister to 5 winners including stakes-placed Mighty Mak. Flying Pegasus, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus and winner of the Group 2 Royal Sovereign S. stands for A$8,800. At Toowoomba, Chateau Istana's daughter Daydreamer recorded her victory in the XXXX Gold 2YO Maiden P. Sold for A$9,500 at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Daydreamer is a half-sister to 3-time winner Warrego and from the family of Caulfield Cup winner Gay Icarus. Chateau Istana was a Group 2 winning juvenile and the son of Grand Lodge stands for A$7,700 at Oaklands Stud. And in central NSW, Bengal Angel became the first winner for Darley resident Nadeem when winning the John Oxley Motors 2YO Country P. at Port Macquarie. A half-sister to 4-race winner Athenas Gift, Bengal Angel is closely related to Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars. Nadeem, winner of the Group 1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield, stands for a fee of A$22,000.
Group 1 double for Bernardini (12 Oct 2010)
Biondetti and A.Z. Warrior won Group 1 races in Europe and the United States respectively to become the first Group 1 winners for Darley shuttler Bernardini.
Biondetti started a short-priced favourite in the Gran Criterium in Milan and settled in the middle of the 8 runner field before being produced 400 metres from home by jockey Ahmed Ajtebi for a 1/2 length victory. The colt, trained for Godolphin by Mahmood Al Zarooni, is the 10th foal of his dam, the Group 2 Goodwood Nassau S. winner Lyphard's Delta. He is a half-brother to 9 winners including Indy Five Hundred, winner of the Group 1 Garden City H. at Belmont and the multiple Group 3 winner Delta Princess. Across the Atlantic at Belmont Park, A.Z. Warrior, trained by Bob Baffert, raced on or near the pace all of the way before pulling away for a 1 3/4 length victory in the Frizette S. A half-sister to 4 winners including stakes-winners E.Z. Warrior and J.Z. Warrior, A.Z. Warrior took her record to 2 wins from 4 starts.
Yir Tiz remembered in Japanese Group 3 winner's pedigree (12 Oct 2010)
The win by All As One in the Nisai S. at Sapporo recently brought back into prominence the deeds of high class two-year-old Yir Tiz.
Yir Tiz raced 17 times at 2 in New Zealand, winning 11 and finishing 2nd or 3rd in the other 6. Included in her wins were the Group 1 Ellerslie Sires' Produce S., dead-heating with Our Paddy Boy and the Group 2 Eclipse S., also at Ellerslie. Among her placings was a second in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S. to eventual NZ Champion 2YO Summer Haze. Yir Tiz raced exclusively in Australia at 3 and 4, winning another 4 races including the Listed Newmarket H. at Newcastle and running Group 1 placings in the Stradbroke and Oakleigh P. Retired to stud in Australia in 1982, her first 3 foals were all winners including the champion sprinter Mr Tiz, winner of 17 races, 7 at Group 1 level, including 3 Railway's at Ellerslie and The Galaxy at Randwick. After not producing another live foal, Yir Tiz was exported to Japan in 1992 where she produced another 2 winners, her only live foals in that country. One of those foals was Cinderella Road who in turn produced Toho Progress, a daughter of Japanese Derby winner Narita Brian. After herself winning twice, Toho Progress is now the dam of All As One. Finishing 2nd first up in a newcomers race, All As One won his 2nd start, a Sapporo maiden before his victory in the 14 runner Nisai Stakes over 1800m. He is a son of Neo Universe, also a Japanese Derby winner, and already the sire of 7 stakes-winners from his first 3 crops of racing age.
Iffraaj gets first Group 1 winner (08 Oct 2010)
Wootton Bassett maintained his unbeaten record and provided Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj with his first blacktype winner when winning the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc day.
Already the sire of 5 other blacktype performers, Iffraaj currently has 31 individual two-year-old winners in Europe, making him the leading first season sire by winners, wins and prizemoney. A multiple Group 2 winner at 4 & 5, Iffraaj stands at Haunui Farm for a fee of NZ$10,000. He is a son of Zafonic and is out of a half-sister to champion sire Cape Cross.
Australian-bred quinella in Japanese Group 1 (07 Oct 2010)
Hong Kong-trained Ultra Fantasy gained his first win at the highest level with a nose victory in the Sprinters S. at Nakayama, the 6th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
After taking 7 starts to win his maiden, over 1200m at Ballarat, Ultra Fantasy, who raced as Quay Lago in Australia, has compiled a record of 7 wins from 37 starts in Hong Kong, including the Group 2 Sprint Cup back in May, before his Japanese victory. After finishing unplaced in the Sha Tin Vase, Ultra Fantasy came off a 4 month break to nose out Dasher Go Go (later relegated to 4th) with another Australian-bred Kinshasa No Kiseki third (promoted to 2nd). Stopping the clock at 1.07.4, Ultra Fantasy becomes Encosta de Lago's 17th Group 1 winner. He is out of a North American winning Sir Ivor mare and is a half-brother to the dam of Launceston Cup winner Precise Timing.
Derby winner Workforce wins in Arc thriller (04 Oct 2010)
Workforce gave trainer Sir Michael Stoute and jockey Ryan Moore their first victories in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, scoring after a titanic battle with Japanese raider Nakayama Festa.
Becoming the third consecutive three-year-old to win the race, after Sea the Stars last year and Zarkava in 2008, Workforce spent much of the race on the fence near the rear of the field. Gradually working his way forward as the field entered the home straight, Moore, with a brilliant ride, worked the colt into the clear with 2 furlongs to go and saw off the other horse by a head with 2 1/2 lengths back to Prix de Diane winner Sarafina in third. Close up were favourites Behkabad and Fame and Glory, the latter a touch unlucky after suffering an interrupted run up the home straight.
Champion mares Zenyatta & Goldikova win (04 Oct 2010)
In a weekend of many highlights, the performances of 2 champion mares stood out, 1 recording her 19th straight win and the other her 11th Group 1 victory.
Both mares now head to the Breeders' Cup meet at Churchill Downs but unfortunately are headed for different races, Zenyatta the US$5 million BC Classic and Goldikova the BC Mile. Zenyatta now has 13 Grade 1 victories and will set a modern day victory should she be successful at Churchill Downs. She sat well off the pace in the Lady's Secret S. and charged home for a half-length victory. Goldikova, with her 11th Group 1 score, broke the European record for wins at the highest level with a powerful performance in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp. After leading early, Goldikova was restrained until Olivier Peslier gave her her head and she forged clear to beat Richard Hannon's pair of Paco Boy and Dick Turpin.
Saturdays Group 1 sires (02 Oct 2010)
Commands, Dubawi, Shamardal & Yamanin Vital added to their Group 1 totals after Saturdays Australian racing.
Commands took his total to 6 Group 1 winners among his 32 stakeswinners when Erewhon was too strong for his stablemate Retrieve in the Spring Champion S. at Randwick. One race earlier, Secret Admirer became the first Group 1 winner for Dubawi in Australia, and the fourth overall, by winning the Flight S. over short-priced favourite More Strawberries. In the big mile, the Epsom, Captain Sonador became the third Group 1 winner for Shamardal and the 20th stakeswinner overall for the Darley shuttler. In the Metropolitan H., Herculian Prince staged a form reversal when becoming the third Group 1 winner for his sire Yamanin Vital and credited trainer Gai Waterhouse with her 100th Group 1 victory.
Oak Tree moves to Hollywood Park (01 Oct 2010)
After 41 years association with Santa Anita, the Oak Tree meeting moves to Hollywood Park for the first time, and features Zenyatta endeavouring to extend her unbeaten run to 19 races.
The Oak Tree meeting, set up in 1968 to provide quality Autumn racing in Southern California, said goodbye to Santa Anita, its home since inception, and has moved to Hollywood Park. Highlighting their first weekend is the return of Zenyatta, endeavouring to win the Lady's Secret S., Gr.1 for the third year in succession and so extend her unbeaten run to a record breaking 19.
From the first crop of the Darley stallion Street Cry, sire also of the Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Zenyatta has suffered "defeat" only once when losing out to Rachel Alexandra as 2009 Horse of the Year.
Sacred Kingdom returns to track on Friday (30 Sep 2010)
Six months since suffering a near-fatal attack of colic on the tarmac of Chep Lap Kok Airport on his way to Japan, Sacred Kingdom returns to racing in Friday's HK Group 3 Sha Tin Trophy over 1000m.
Sacred Kingdom, the winner of 15 of his 23 races, makes his first start since winning the Chairman's Sprint Prize, a domestic Group 1 event, on February 21. The son of Encosta de Lago announced his readiness for the engagement on Friday with a strong second in a barrier trial, finishing just behind fellow Group 1 winner Able One. Friday's event is the first of 2 likely lead-up races in his attempt to land his third Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint in December.
Rachel Alexandra retired, Kingmambo pensioned (30 Sep 2010)
Reigning USA Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has been retired and will visit Curlin in 2011 while Lanes End Farm have announced that leading sire KIngmambo has been pensioned.
Rachel Alexandra, the winner of 13 of her 19 starts, has not returned to her scintillating form of 2009 which saw her go unbeaten in 8 starts. Three times a winner at 2 including the Group 2 Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra dominated both sexes at 3, winning the Group 1's Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose S. against her own sex and then against the boys in the Preakness S., Haskell Invitational and Woodward S. In 2010, her final season, she has scored twice from 5 starts. Twenty-year-old Kingmambo, the winner of 5 from 13 including 3 at Group 1 level, stamped himself as a sire of international appeal when triple Group 1 winner El Condor Pasa emerged from his first crop. Among his 21 Grade/Group 1 winners are successful sires Lemon Drop Kid, King's Best, Okawango, Dubai Destination and recent new southern hemisphere shuttlers Henrythenavigator and Thewayyouare.
Ascot to hold "British Champions' Day" in 2011 (28 Sep 2010)
A 6 race card featuring 5 Group races will highlight Britain's richest raceday, to be held at Ascot on October 15 2011.
The Group 1 Champion S. will be transferred from Newmarket as will the Group 2 Pride S. and Group 3 Jockey Club Cup to join the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and the Group 2 Diadem S. A week earlier at Newmarket the Group 1 Dewhurst S. and Group 1 Middle Park S. for two-year-olds will be held on the same card for the first time, together with the Group 2 Rockfel S., the Group 2 Challenge S. and from Ascot, the Group 3 Autumn S.
Positive results at conclusion of Keeneland September yearlings (28 Sep 2010)
The 2 week Keeneland September yearling sale concluded on Sunday with the sale aggregate, average and median all heading in the right direction.
A massive 3059 yearlings (3159 in 2009) were sold at an average of US$64,811, up 6.7% on 2009 figures. The median rose 13.6% from US$22,000 to US$25,000 with the RNA's falling to 26.7%. For the seventh straight year, Taylor Made Sales Agency led the consignors list with 341 lots sold for just under US$29 million. Shadwell Estate were the leading buyer, signing for 22 lots totalling US$8,230,000.
Dubawi's success continues (27 Sep 2010)
Dubawi's promising start at stud continues with Poet's Voice nudging out Rip Van Winkle in the Ascot Queen Elizabeth II S., Gr.1.
Poet's Voice, last start winner of the Goodwood Celebration Mile, Gr.2, stepped up a level to win a keenly contested Queen Elizabeth S., Gr.1 at the weekend, defeating last year's winner Rip Van Winkle. In so doing, he joined Two Thousand Guineas winner, Makfi, as group one winners from Dubawi's first NH crop. In all, with two NH crops and one SH crop, he has sired 18 stakes winners for 27 stakes wins including Happy Archer (Greyville Thekwini S., Gr.1) and Worthadd (Italian Derby, Gr.2).
Big weekend for shuttle & former shuttle stallions (20 Sep 2010)
High Chaparral, Montjeu, Stravinsky, More Than Ready and Dubawi all ended the weekend with multiple stakeswinners worldwide.
High Chaparral took the prize with 2 Group 1 winners, So You Think in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield and Redwood in todays Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine. Montjeu's haul included Wall Street in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings and Miss Keller, also just run today, in the Group 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine. Firebolt became a new Group 2 winner for Stravinsky with his win in the Shannon at Rosehill while he also scored with Violon Sacre in Listed company in the USA. More Than Ready also struck gold in 2 countries, More Strawberries winning the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes at Rosehill and Pluck taking a Grade 3 race at Woodbine. Lastly but by no means least Dubawi had a Group 3 treble on Saturday with Majestic Dubawi winning the Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr, Astrophysical Jet the World Trophy at Newbury and in France Prince Bishop taking the Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp.
Keeneland continues to hold steady (20 Sep 2010)
With the change in format, comparing 2010 sale figures with those from 2009 is a difficult exercise but the feeling around Keeneland is that the change has assisted in making the first week a successful one.
To use 1 small example of the steady state of play, at the end of 6 days selling this year 941 yearlings have found new homes - after 5 days selling in 2009 941 yearlings had also found a new home. Less yearlings have gone through the ring this year meaning the selling rate and average are up slightly as well as the gross and the median figure is exactly the same, sitting at US$100,000. With another 3,300 yearlings still to go through the sale ring over the next 8 days there is a feeling of cautious optimism.
Keeneland yearlings - day 3 & 4 (16 Sep 2010)
The first 2 days of Book 2 of the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale produced strong returns for consignors.
Combined sales for the 2 days reached US$51,151,000 for 400 lots sold at an average of US$127,877. The highlight from selling on Tuesday was the US$1 million paid for the Smart Strike colt from the Group 3 winning Seattle Slew mare Ask Me No Secrets. On Wednesday, a daughter of Malibu Moon and stakes-placed Erhu topped the session at US$700,000. Overall, from 4 days selling, 527 yearlings have found new homes at an average of US$181,131 and a median of US$120,000.
Green Birdie just beaten in Japan Group 2 (13 Sep 2010)
Whakanui Stud-bred Green Birdie, a gelded son of Catbird, rushed home late to be beaten only a neck in the Group 2 Centaur Stakes at Hanshin.
Ridden by New Zealand jockey Mark du Plessis, Green Birdie settled back in the field before being set alight upon entering the home straight, going down by only a small margin to Dasher Go Go. Trainer Caspar Fownes was thrilled with the performance of the 7 year old, the winner of the Group 1 Krisflyer International Sprint in Singapore in May and a previous group winner in Hong Kong and now almost certain to go on and contest the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes in early October.
Always Certain wins Singapore Committee's Prize (13 Sep 2010)
Always Certain, from the first crop of Not A Single Doubt, gained his first black type success in winning the Singapore Committee's Prize, Sgp-3 on the weekend.
A previous placegetter in four other black type races including second in the Singapore Guineas, Sgp-1, Always Certain broke through for his first black type win to move his record to five wins and 7 placings from just 14 starts. He is the fourth stakes winner for the Redoute's Choice son Not A Single Doubt, who stands at Arrowfield Stud. Out of the stakes winning Akaaber mare Akarana, he is closely related to Omnicorp.
GB & Irish St Leger's run this weekend (10 Sep 2010)
Doncaster and Curragh will play host to the final legs of the British and Irish Triple Crown races with the running of their respective St Leger's on Saturday.
At Doncaster, a field of 10 three-year-olds will face the starter with Godolphin's Rewilding, a half-brother to recently retired Dar Re Mi, set to run as favourite under Frankie Dettori. A last start winner of the Great Voltigeur at York after previously running third in The Derby, Rewilding will do battle with the sole filly acceptor Snow Fairy, winner of both the English and Irish Oaks as well as the Ballydoyle duo of Midas Touch and Joshua Tree who finished in the placings behind Rewilding at York. Meanwhile, in Ireland a field of 8 is set to face the starter in the Irish version, open to all ages. Possible Melbourne Cup starter Profound Beauty is a short-priced favourite in the early markets with the 2 three-year-olds in the field, both trained by Aidan O'Brien, slated as her main rivals.
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.