29/8/2010 Zebedee wins first
race of Tattersalls millions at Newmarket
The £1.75million Tattersalls Millions got underway today
at Newmarket Racecourse, with the first race in the eight
race series, the £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Auction
Stakes won by Zebedee for the Richard Hannon stable. Zebedee
was always travelling well over the 6f and came late to win
by a head from Button Moon. The colt was bought for 70,000gns
by agent Peter Doyle at last year’s October Sales, Book
1, and carries the familiar colours of Julie Wood. A son of
Invincible Spirit, Zebedee has won five of his six starts,
including the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood at the end
of last month and he is set to make the step up in class next
time, with the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster, the Group
2 Mill Reef at Newbury or the Group 1 Middle Park, at Newmarket
all options.
Button Moon, from the Ian Wood yard, finished a close second
at 40-1 and Mayhab was third for the Clive Brittain yard.
The colts were bought for 38,000gns and 80,000gns respectively.
The is another £1.65million on offer over the remaining
seven races in the Tattersalls Millions, with a further
two races in three weeks time.
29/8/2010 Lovetorn stars in
South Africa
Winner: Lovetorn (Giant's Causeway-Love All)
Race: Arlington Jockey Club Stakes LR (2000m)
Sold for: $60,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Coolmore Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Douglas Taft
Earnings: R218,505
Owner(s): Messrs DI Scott & Andy Williams
Trainer: Gavin Smith
Lovetorn sent her broodmare value soaring in South Africa
overnight when she steamed home to win the listed Jockey
Club Stakes (2000m) at Arlington.
An Australian bred mare by Giant's Causeway, Lovetorn finished
too well for the favourite Miss Scaramanga to win by a length
and a quarter.
Sent out one of the better chances after an excellent last
start win at Fairview, Lovetorn scored her maiden black
type success in great style.
Muzi Yeni was aboard the Gavin Smith trained mare in the
feature event for fillies and mares.
A $60,000 purchase for Douglas Taft at the 2007 Magic Millions
National Yearling Sale, Lovetorn is part owned by Magic
Millions' South African agent, World Wide Bloodstock's Andy
Williams.
Lovetorn is by Storm Cat's leading international sire son
Giant's Causeway and from the lightly raced Mt. Livermore
mare Love All.
Love All is the dam of four runners - three winners - two
stakes winners.
As well as Lovetorn she is the dam of the Group Three Newcastle
Spring Stakes winner Lovemelickarock - a daughter of Fastnet
Rock who was also second in a Sweet Embrace Stakes and third
in a Furious Stakes.
Further back the family is one of the most famous with
the likes of international stars Eagle Cafe, Joyeux Danseur,
Arazi, Noverre, Ajdal and Key Dancer.
28/8/2010 Update on International
runners bound for Oz
Meiner Kitz
Leading Japanese stayer Meiner Kitz has suffered an injury
setback and is now in doubt for the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival.
The 2009 Tenno Sho winner and 2010 runner-up was undergoing
a veterinary examination today to determine the extent of
the problem.
Racing Victoria is awaiting further notification on whether
the BMW Caulfield Cup and Emirates Melbourne Cup entrant
will travel to Australia on 20 September as planned.
Bauer
Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer’s long-awaited comeback
from injury has been put on hold owing to a wet track at
Goodwood, UK.
The Luca Cumani-trained stayer was nominated to make his
first appearance since the 2008 Cup in the Listed March
Stakes on Saturday night (AET), but was withdrawn owing
to the soft ground.
Bauer, who is 100% according to part-owner Terry Henderson,
is now likely to make his return to racing next week, possibly
at Salisbury (UK).
Stablemate Drunken Sailor, who along with Bauer is entered
for the BMW Caulfield Cup and Emirates Melbourne Cup, shapes
as the horse to beat in the March Stakes.
International Races
With AQIS working to grant final approval of the Werribee
International Horse Centre in the next week, the list of
international visitors for the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival
is continuing to take shape.
Whilst all eyes are on the big name locals in tomorrow’s
Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes at Caulfield,
please note that the following international Cups entrants
will be in action across this weekend;
Goodwood (UK) – Listed March Stakes (2800m)
Saturday, 11.30pm (AET) – Broadcast on Sky Racing
World
Drunken Sailor (Trainer Luca Cumani, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Golden Sword (Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, BMW Caulfield
Cup, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Windsor (UK) – Listed August Stakes (2300m)
Saturday night (AET) – No TV coverage
Pompeyano (Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Niigata (Japan) – Group 3 Niigata Kinen (2000m)
Sunday night (AET) – No TV coverage
Three Orion (Trainer Akira Murayama, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
White Pilgrim (Trainer Ippo Sameshima, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Deauville (France) – Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville
(2500m)
Sunday, 11.40pm (AET) – Broadcast on Sky Racing World
Eastern Aria (Trainer Mark Johnston, Emirates Melbourne
Cup)
Goodwood (UK) – Listed Alice Keppel Handicap (1800m)
Monday, 12.20am (AET) – Broadcast on Sky Racing World
Becqu Adoree (Trainer Luca Cumani, BMW Caulfield Cup, Emirates
Melbourne Cup)
26/8/2010 Singapore Australian-Bred
Champion and winning trainer to be honoured
Aushorse Marketing’s annual award night honouring the Singapore Australian-Bred
Champion will be held at an industry function at the Goodwood
Park hotel on Tuesday night the 7th of September with the
Australian High Commissioner Doug Chester as Guest of Honour.
The award recognises the highest performing Australian-bred
Thoroughbred in Singapore as judged by the board of Aushorse
Marketing.
Nominees for the award include Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m)
winner and 2009 Singapore Champion 3YO Sprinter, Rocket
Man and Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) winner and Singapore
Champion 2YO Colt in 2009, Better Than Ever.
Rocket Man’s trainer Patrick Shaw has successfully
taken him to win nine of his 12 starts, five being Group
1 races. His career prizemoney is now over A$1.8million.
He is owned by South African based Mr Fred Crabbia who is
a great supporter of Singapore racing.
Better Than Ever, trained by Laurie Laxon and owned by
Singapore local Mr Tang Weng Fei of Jupiter Stable has continued
his unbeaten career of 10 wins from 10 starts taking his
prizemoney to nearly A$900,000 in only 12 months of racing.
“Rocket Man and Better Than Ever are two great horses
of international standing and take Singapore racing to a
new level on the world stage.’ Aushorse Marketing
Chairman Antony Thompson said.
“These two champions can mix it with the best and
are a wonderful advertisement of all that Singapore racing
has to offer.” he said “Australia’s breeders
through Aushorse Marketing are proud to recognise and celebrate
their achievements.”
In addition to the Aushorse Marketing Australian-bred Champion
Award a new award category has been announced honouring
the Australian-Bred Winning Trainer. Contenders for the
award include current Premiership leader Steven Burridge
and third place-getter last season, Don Baertschiger.
“Both Steven and Don are avid buyers of Australian-bred
horses and their success speaks for itself. We like to think
that the Australian horses they train are as tough and resourceful
as Steven and Don are themselves. Both are held in the highest
regard in Singapore and Australia as outstanding horsemen
who are masters of their craft. It is no accident that horses
flourish in their care and carry the Australian banner to
numerous race successes.” Antony Thompson said.
The winning owner(s) and trainer of the 2010 Aushorse Marketing
Australian-bred Champion award and the Aushorse Marketing
Australian-Bred Winning Trainer will be presented with unique
cold cast bronze statuettes from renowned Australian artist
Mary Pinsent.
24/8/2010 First of the Tattersalls
Millions gets underway this Saturday
SATURDAY’S £100,000 Tattersalls Million Auction
Stakes at Newmarket, the first leg of the £1.75 million
Tattersalls Millions series, is set to feature a high-class
field following today’s five-day confirmation stage.
The Tattersalls Millions races are open only to horses
from Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling
Sale and among those entered for Saturday’s six-furlong
contest is the super-fast Zebedee, a 70,000gns purchase
who won the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood on his last
run.
The Invincible Spirit colt is one of seven entries from
trainer Richard Hannon, whose other representatives could
include recent winners Kalahaag, owned by Abba’s Benny
Andersson, and Tale Untold, who scored by five lengths on
her only start at Kempton last month.
Trainer Michael Jarvis is hoping that his exciting filly
Warm Breeze can continue an impressive start to her career
after the daughter of Oasis Dream, who was purchased for
80,000gns for Saif Ali and Saeed Altayer, romped to a five-length
debut victory at Nottingham on July 29.
“We have been aiming Warm Breeze at the Tattersalls
Million Auction Stakes race for quite some time now,”
revealed Jarvis. “It’s a race with a nice prize
over six furlongs and a lot of horses from Tattersalls Book
1 are bred to go a bit further. She’s getting a 5lb
sex allowance as well, which will hopefully help her cause.
“Our filly is a speedy sort and the manner of her
victory at Nottingham wasn’t surprising - she had
been working well at home and it looks like it was a pretty
ordinary race. Having said that, you can only beat what
is in front of you and she did it well.
“We also have the option of the other Tattersalls
races later in the season. Hopefully she can perform well
on Saturday and we can see what her optimum trip is. She
is certainly not short of pace and it remains to be seen
if she has a future over sprint distances or whether we
will step her up in distance.”
Those entered cover a full spectrum of prices from last
year’s 700,000gns sale topper Rudolf Valentino, one
of three entered by trainer Aidan O’Brien, through
to the Paul Cole-trained Child Bride, who was not sold at
5,000gns.
Other leading contenders include the Mark Johnston-trained
Malthouse, a 100,000gns German-bred yearling who created
a big impression when scoring at Ascot on July 25, and one
of four entered by his trainer.
The other legs of the £1.75 Tattersalls Millions
Series are:
£100,000 Tattersalls Millions Fillies’ Auction
Stakes, 6f fillies, 17th September 2010
£200,000 Tattersalls Millions Auction Trophy, 7f colts,
geldings and fillies, 18th September 2010
£500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy, 7f colts,
geldings and fillies, 2nd October 2010
£300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies’ Trophy,
7f fillies, 2nd October 2010
£250,000 Tattersalls Millions 3YO Trophy, 10f colts,
geldings and fillies, April 2011
£150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3YO Sprint, 6f colts,
geldings and fillies, April 2011
£150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3YO Cup, 10f colts,
geldings and fillies, June 2011.
23/8/2010 Better Than Ever (French
Deputy) confirms his superstar status
The Laurie Laxon-trained gelding won the Sgp-3 Jumbo Jet Trophy
(1400m) from stablemate Waikato (NZ) (Pins) by 3.5 lengths.
The 1 min 21.56 performance took his unbeaten record to 10
from 10.
As such, he has notably become the first horse on the Malayan
Racing Association circuit to establish a streak of 10 wins.
Better Than Ever was purchased on the advice of Bloodstock
Agent, Phil Cataldo by his trainer at the 2008 Premier Yearling
Sale in New
Zealand.
“He looked like a real athlete with a great walk. He
wasn?t perfect in front and he was highly strung and quite
aggressive,” recalled
Cataldo.
“His physical attributes outweighed his faults though
and after some convincing talking to Laurie, he was subsequently
purchased for $80,000.”
Better Than Ever was then sent to Brett McDonalds for 12 months.
“Brett did a great job harnessing his aggression, of
training his mind and getting him to two trials at Cambridge
and then safely to Singapore,” said Cataldo.
Having now won his ten races by a combined total of approx.
40 lengths , Better Than Ever is being widely lauded as one
of the best horses to have raced in Singapore.
“His total domination of the three-year-old?s last season
saw him start at odds of $1.20 to win in the Gr.1 Singapore
Guineas. The second favourite was paying over 200/1,”
added Cataldo.
“When winning the "Jumbo Jet Trophy" yesterday,
it was his first run as a 4yo and at WFA level.”
Looking ahead, Better Than Ever is likely to line up in the
Gr.1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on October 3 and later in the Gr.1
Raffles Cup (1800m) on October 24.
Better Than Ever’s dam Songfest has a Darci Brahma colt
bound for the 2011 Karaka Yearling Sales Series and is likely
to visit Medaglia d'Oro this season.
20/8/2010 Title defense on
agenda for Waikato (NZ)
Title defense is on the agenda for the Laurie Laxon trained
and owned galloper Waikato (NZ) (Pins) in the SG-3 Jumbo Jet
Trophy (1400m) on Sunday.
The Sgp-1 galloper won the race with a never say die effort
last year and will have to call on these fighting reserves
again, if to stave off his Jumbo Jet foes from barrier 10.
The leading danger to the 15-time winner is stablemate Better
Than Ever.
Better Than Ever is unbeaten in his nine career starts and
comes into the race off a last start win in the Sgp-1 Guineas
(1600m).
Big Maverick (NZ) (O’Reilly) is also a stablemate capable
of upsetting the applecart on Sunday.
Drawn the ace marble, Big Maverick (NZ) is a seven time winner,
who importantly counts five wins at 1400m.
Featuring prominently amongst these five wins is his 2008
victories in the Sgp-2 Three-Year-Old Challenge (2nd Leg)
and the Sgp-2 EW Barker Trophy and his 2007 win in the Sgp-3
Stewards' Cup.
Of Waikato’s remaining NZ-bred opposition, he will need
to keep a wary eye on Good Feel (NZ) (Hunza Court) and Powerful
Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler).
Good Feel (NZ) has won seven starts and like Big Maverick
(NZ), has achieved the lion share of these at 1400m.
The honest galloper Powerful Ruler (NZ) has struck just the
two wins at the trip, but is strongly recommended to the task
with runner-up performances over 1400m in the 2009 Sgp-2 Three-Year-Old
Challenge (2nd Leg) and in the 2008 Sgp-3 Stewards' Cup.
19/8/2010 Karaka graduates strike
again in South Africa
South African trainer Charles Laird's Karaka Premier Sale
purchase Galileo's Destiny produced a cracking run on debut
yesterday at Clairwood to win the UK Soccer 4 Maiden Plate
for three-year-olds over 1200m.
Following on from the recent Group 1 success in South Africa
by fellow Karaka graduate Gold Onyx (Black Minnaloushe),
the colt decisively beat hot-favourite Castlethorpe (Not
A Single Doubt) and left a further nine-and-a-quarter lengths
back to local-bred runner Umfutho (Malhub).
Laird recently finished third on the South African trainers'
premiership for 2009 - 10 behind Mike de Kock and Gold Onyx's
trainer, Sean Tarry.
Galileo's Destiny is the first foal from the well-related
mare Destined (Danehill) and was bred by Haunui Farm to
fetch $230,000 at Karaka in 2009 while her Karaka 2010 yearling,
a colt by Zabeel, sold to Rogerson Bloodstock for $380,000.
At the 2011 National Yearling Sales Series she will be represented
by a half-sister to Galileo's Destiny. Bred by Haunui Farm
and Frantic Bloodstock, the filly is by Haunui's young sire
Iffraaj.
To be represented by his first crop of yearlings at Karaka
in 2011, Iffraaj is a multiple winner at Group 2 level in
Europe and runner up in the 2006 edition of the Group 1
July Cup.
With 24 individual winners from his first Northern Hemisphere
crop Iffraaj is currently the leading first season sire
in Europe. His Southern Hemisphere progeny have been well
received, being the leading first season sire by average
at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Weanling Sale in May
with his youngsters selling up to $50,000.
Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale
of 2YOs are due this Monday 23 August. To request an entry
form email reception@nzb.co.nz or phone +64 9 298 0055
13/8/2010 Spring Racing Bulletin
- International Entrants in Action
The countdown to Victoria's 2010 Spring Racing Carnival is
on both locally and abroad this weekend with several international
entrants in action in the UK and France. The following are
two must watch races on Saturday night (AET).
Deauville (France) - Group 2 Prix De Pomone (2400m, Fillies
& Mares)
Saturday, 10.35pm (AET) - Broadcast on Sky Racing World
Eastern Aria (Trainer Mark Johnston, Emirates Melbourne
Cup)
Newbury (UK) - Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2600m)
Saturday, 11.30pm (AET) - Broadcast on Sky Racing World
Sans Frontieres (Trainer Jeremy Noseda, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Tatts Cox Plate, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Dangerous Midge (Trainer Brian Meehan, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Tatts Cox Plate, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Golden Sword (Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Pompeyano (Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
A number of international Spring Racing Carnival nominees
have been nominated to compete in feature races next week
at York (UK). These nominees are listed below with the fields
to be finalised on Monday night (AET).
York (UK) - Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3200m)
Wednesday, 18 August, 11.15pm (AET) - Broadcast on Sky Racing
World
Akmal (Trainer John Dunlop, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Darley Sun (Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Illustrious Blue (Trainer William Knight, BMW Caulfield
Cup, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
King Of Wands (Trainer John Gosden, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Pompeyano (Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Tactic (Trainer John Dunlop, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
York (UK) - Ebor Handicap (2800m)
Wednesday, 18 August, 12.25pm (AET) - Broadcast on Sky Racing
World
Dangerous Midge (Trainer Brian Meehan, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Tatts Cox Plate, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Darley Sun (Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Fortuni (Trainer Sir Mark Prescott, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Lady Eclair (Trainer Mark Johnston, Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Martyr (Trainer Richard Hannon, BMW Caulfield Cup, Emirates
Melbourne Cup)
Natural High (Trainer Dermot Weld, BMW Caulfield Cup, Emirates
Melbourne Cup)
Sopranist (Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, BMW Caulfield Cup,
Emirates Melbourne Cup)
Stanstill (Trainer Allan Swinbank, BMW Caulfield Cup, Emirates
Melbourne Cup)
13/8/2010 Major South African
award for Aussie bred
An Australian-bred was crowned champion South African Two
Year Old Filly of the 2009/10 season at the prestigious
Equus Awards last night in Johannesburg.
The well performed Mahbooba beat fellow finalist Australian-bred
Happy Archer and two local breds to take out the honours.
The Mike De Kock trained Mahbooba is by Galileo (IRE) out
of the Red Ransom mare Sogha and was bred in Australia by
her owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
After winning on debut at Greyville over 1200m, Mahbooba
finished third in the Debutant Stakes and fifth in the Allan
Robertson Championship at stakes level over 1200m before
winning the 1450m Group One Golden Slipper.
Mahbooba is from the last Australian-bred crop of foals
by outstanding sire Galileo and is the first foal of Australian-bred
Red Ransom (USA) mare Sogha, who was purchased for $300,000
by Tim Stakemire acting for the Sheikh at the 2004 Inglis
Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Sogha won three races at
Muswellbrook and Scone and is a three-parts sister to French
Group Three winner in Slew the Red.
Mahbooba's success follows the winning streak for Australian-breds
in South Africa over the past three years that has seen
them capture eight Group 1 races from only 4% of the racing
population.
Export numbers to South Africa have continued to rise over
the years attesting to the success of Australian horses
in South Africa.
12/8/2010 Aussies dominant in
Macau
The inaugural winner of the Macau Triple Crown emphasises
the domination of the Australian-bred horse in Macau. Luen
Yat Forever (AUS) took out the Macau Triple Crown of the Guineas
(1500m), Derby (1800m) and Gold Cup (1800m) this season. This
series was introduced in the 2007/08 season and Luen Yat Forever
is the first horse to take line honours in each of the series
races. Prepared by Steven Choi for owner Tony Chan, Luen Yat
Forever was purchased out of the 2006 Magic Millions National
Weanling Sale for $32,000. His 12 wins and nine placings in
23 starts have yielded the equivalent of $A825,000. (Macau
$6,051,325). He is a son of Honours List from the Langfuhr
mare Loisset and is a member of the esteemed ‘Leica’
family. Macau holds five domestically rated Gr1 races, and
Australian-breds took out four of these in 2009/10. The other
Australian-bred Macau Group 1 winner this season is Chairman’s
Challenge Cup (1200m) winner Golden Star, a son of Statue
Of Liberty from the family of Friday Creek. He was sold for
just $2,500 at the 2007 Adelaide Magic Millions and has now
won seven races and close to $A400,000 in prizemoney.
Australian-bred horses finished the season with a near
clean sweep of the 14 stakes races on offer in Macau, missing
out only once to a USA bred horse. This is an excellent
result, when compared to our opportunity, with only 49%
of runners in Macau being Australian-bred.
The domination of Australian horses reflects the strength
of the partnership between Australian breeders and Macau's
trainers and owners since the inception of racing in Macau
in 1989. All parties work together to acquire the fastest
and most adaptable horses for the Macau environment with
great success to date.
Australia sells approximately 120 horses every year from
the middle and lower ends of the Australian market which
are affordable and provide great value to Macau buyers.
Australian breeders will continue to work with Macau to
meet their needs and keep the winners flowing.
8/8/2010 Macau Champion heads
to Melbourne
Winner: Luen Yat Forever (Honours List-Loisset)
Race: Macau Cup G1 (1500m)
Sold for: $32,000
Sale: 2006 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Glenlogan Park Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Joseph Barnes
Earnings: HK$6,051,325 (A$848,741)
Owner(s): Tony Chan
Trainer: Steven Choi
Champion galloper Luen Yat Forever added yet another feature
race win to his outstanding record when he raced home to
win the Group Two Macau Cup (1500m) this evening.
Macau's undisputed star galloper, Luen Yat Forever raced
off the speed, but came home strongly under regular race
rider Manoel Nunes to win in his final run for an Australian
campaign.
The win continued a remarkable run in feature races for
the Steven Choi prepared gelding.
Last start he won the Star of the Sand Stakes and earlier
in his latest preparation he won the Macau triple crown
- the Guineas, Derby and Gold Cup.
In winning, Luen Yat Forever confirmed a trip to Melbourne
- he will enter quarantine immediately in Macau.
The star galloper will leave for Australia at the end of
the month and spend two weeks at the Werribee quarantine
centre before debuting in his country of birth.
Connections are planning on running him first up in Melbourne
in the Group One Sir Rupert Clark Stakes at Caulfield on
September 18.
Luen Yat Forever has not finished further back than second
at his past 13 starts.
A son of Honours List, Luen Yat Forever is trained for
owner Tony Chan by top horseman Steven Choi.
The gelding is turning into an incredible money maker considering
he cost just $32,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions National
Weanling Sale.
As it stands he's earned the equivalent of $848,741 from
his 12 wins and nine placings from just 23 starts.
Luen Yat Forever is one of two winners, from two runners,
for the Sydney winning Langfuhr mare Loisset.
A winner of four races up to 1400 metres, Loisset hails
from the famous Leica family.
Members of that family include the Group One winners Leica
Guv, Light Fantastic, Leica Planet, Pharaoh, Leica Show
and Leica Lover.
5/8/2010 Alverta set for Sunday's
G1 sprint at Deauville
Flying Spur's brilliant daughter Alverta is in excellent order
ahead of her third European start this Sunday 8 August at
Deauville, in the Prix Maurice de Gheest 1300m G1.
She worked very well at Newmarket on Saturday morning and
will travel to France on Friday evening, accompanied by
her trainer Paul Messara, and Louis Le Metayer from Arrowfield's
bloodstock team. Alverta, pictured with her groom Leah Gavranich,
will be stabled at the Head family's famous Haras du Quesnay.
Regular jockey Tye Angland, will fly to France to be re-united
with the six-year-old mare, who ran a splendid third in
the July Cup G1 and is the sole remaining overseas visitor
in Newmarket.
If all goes well on Sunday, Alverta will return to France
for the Prix de le Foret G1 at Longchamp on Arc day, Sunday
3 October, with the seven-furlong Doncaster Park S. G2 on
Saturday 11 September also a possibility.
2/8/2010 Gold Onyx (NZ) strikes
Gr.1 success in South Africa
Windsor Park Stud’s exceptional 2009/2010 season finished
in storybook fashion on Saturday.
Adding to the Gr.1 deeds of Monaco Consul (NZ), Military Move
(NZ), Beauty Flash (NZ), Windsor Park Stud registered a 4th
elite level
winner on the final day of the season thanks to Gold Onyx’s
(NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) slick performance in South Africa’s
Gr.1 Premiers
Champion Stakes (1600m) at Greyville.
The talented 2YO (now 3) gave rise to top shelf estimations
back in March with a debut win in the Gr.3 Turffontein Protea
Stakes (1100m), but with only one placed effort resulting
from his 3 subsequent efforts, support had disproportionately
waned to 33/1 on Saturday.
Clearly appreciating the step up in distance, Gold Onyx (NZ)
reasserted his superiority in emphatic style, motoring home
from last for Felix
Coetzee to win going away by a length.
Not surprisingly, the Sean Tarry- trained gelding is now being
lauded in South Africa as a „horse with a future’.
All up, Gold Onyx (NZ) has started 5 times for his owner,
Mr CJH van Niekerk and has rewarded him with 2 wins, a placing
and with NZ$89, 523 in stakes earnings.
As a yearling, the strongly built colt cost $80,000, successfully
selling on this occasion from Windsor Park Stud?s 2009 NZB
Premier Yearling Sale consignment to Mark Tarry.
Bred by Windsor Park Stud and Phil Newman, Gold Onyx (NZ)
combines the bloodlines of the former Windsor Park Stud shuttler
Black
Minnaloushe with the Kaapstad mare, Egoli Lass.
Egoli Lass (NZ) was a Listed stakes winner herself, who achieved
7 wins on the track at distances from 1400m-1600m.
Carrying on the bloodlines which include the Group winners
Amalfi, Rationale, Vigor and Vincent Mangano (NZ), Egoli Lass
has produced four winners from five to race and will be represented
by a High Chaparral colt at Karaka’s Yearling Sale Series
in 2011.
1/8/2010 Aussie Group One
success in South Africa
Happy Archer confirmed her status as one of the rising
stars of South African racing with a thrashing of her rivals
in Saturday night's Group One Durban Thekwini Stakes (1600m)
at Greyville.
Sent out the favourite after a pair on impressive wins
at her previous two outings on the track, the Dubawi filly
relished the extra journey in the feature two-year-old contest
and she cleared away for an easy win.
Star jockey Anton Marcus allowed Happy Archer to settle
back in the field, in between runners, before making his
move approaching the home turn.
Marcus was able to get the filly to the outside of runners
in the straight and from there she was able to reel in the
leaders and race to the front.
Happy Archer, a graduate of renowned Queensland thoroughbred
nursery Racetree and half sister to this season's Queensland
stakes winner Femina Fashion, is trained by Sean Tarry.
She was purchased for just $23,000 at last year's Magic
Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Tarry's brother and
regular Gold Coast buyer Mark.
The exciting youngster is the 12th individual stakes winner
for her sire - Dubawi, the Irish Two Thousand Guineas winning
son of Dubai Millennium.
Her dam So Tempted, a winner in Adelaide over 1250 metres,
is from the stakes performed and six time winning Semipalatinsk
mare Hutt Star.
So Tempted, by Melbourne Cup winner Jeune, is therefore
a full sister to Wakeful Stakes winner and VRC Oaks placegetter
Lolita Star and a half sister to Adelaide Guineas winner
Berezny.
So Tempted is doing a great job at stud and her two named
foals to date are both stakes winning fillies.
As well as Happy Archer she is the dam of the Gold Coast
Bracelet winner and Doomben Roses runner-up Femina Fashion.
Prepared at the Gold Coast by Trevor Whittington, Femina
Fashion is a winner from 1200 to 1800 metres and has already
earned her connections $189,800.
30/7/2010 Singapore: SG-2 Chairman's
Trophy preview
Champion trainer Laurie Laxon holds all the cards for an NZ
Bred victory in tonight’s Sgp-2 Chairman’s Trophy
(1800m) at Kranji.
Valued at $300,000 (approximately NZ$304,025), Laxon saddles
the two kiwi hopes, Waikato (NZ) (Pins) and Intercept (NZ)
(Zerpour) and expects each to be highly competitive in the
weight-for-age event.
Waikato (NZ) won the Sgp-3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m) at his
last start, prompting his trainer/owner to proclaim that the
6YO was still in the prime of his career.
Awarded the Champion Older Sprinter in Singapore in 2008 &
2009 & the Champion Older Miler in 2009, Waikato’s
(NZ) has to date won 15 races from 1200m-1600m.
Of these wins, the SG$1,865,966.56 earner has notably struck
the following black-type reward...
Sgp-1 STC Kranji Mile (1600m)
Sgp-3 Singapore 4YO Sprint (1200m)
Sgp-3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) (x2)
Sgp-3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m).
Laxon is confident that the horse’s increased maturity
and stronger constitution will help him see out tonight’s
1800m contest – a trip
that Waikato (NZ) has attempted just the once for a highly
creditable second in the Sgp-1 Raffles Cup.
Waikato (NZ) will be ridden from barrier 9 by Saimee Jumaat
and carries a 58kg hcp.
Stablemate Intercept (NZ), alternatively, makes his Chairman’s
Trophy bid from gate 4.
The smart 4YO won the Sgp-1 Patron's Bowl (1600m) two starts
back and will set sail for further stakes reward with 58kg
on his back
and the services of Joao Moreira aboard.
All told, Intercept (NZ) has won 7 starts and of his remaining
11 outings, he has placed on 9 occasions.
The super consistent galloper brings strong recent form into
the Sgp-2 feature, as was third at his last start in the Sgp-1
Singapore
Derby (2000m).
26/7/2010 Worldwide streak
for hit graduates
The barnstorming worldwide winning run of graduates of
Australia's leading breeze up style sale has continued over
the past week.
With entries for the 2010 Magic Millions National Horses
in Training Sale closing tomorrow, past graduates continued
to register impressive wins around the globe.
Fifteen Carat led the way for past graduates when on Saturday
the outstanding three-year-old beat the older horses in
the listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm.
A day later the Shamardal youngster Gingerbread Man continued
the run with an incredible victory in the Group Three Magic
Millions Juvenile Championship at Kranji in Singapore.
Gingerbread Man looks a rising star and his trainer Bruce
Marsh has no doubt he will be even further suited at longer
trips as a three-year-old next year.
The budding champion of Singapore wasn't the only Horses
in Training Sale graduate in the winner's stall at Kranji
on Sunday - there were four in all.
Seize the Day, a $130,000 purchase last October, cruised
home in his two and three-year-old event for Steven Burridge
and Ronnie Stewart.
The Happy Giggle gelding hails from the family of Intergaze
and was originally sold at the Adelaide Yearling Sale for
$30,000.
Trustee, a gelding by Irish Royal and graduate of the 2004
HIT sale, notched career win number seven when he scored
a thrilling win in the Class 5 event over 1400 metres.
Trained by Don Baertschiger and with John Powell in the
saddle, Trustee sent his earnings past the $200,000 barrier
with his latest success.
Completing the four win haul was Esteem Power, a $16,000
Adelaide Yearling and $70,000 Gold Coast HIT purchase, in
the last of 10 races.
Another member of the Steven Burridge stable, Esteem Power
is one of two winners produced by the Dolphin Street mare
Dolphin Miss.
At the corresponding meeting in Malaysia on Sunday another
three Horses in Training Sale graduates were winners.
Don't callme Uncle (Stromberg Carlson-Saljen; $42,000 at
2008 HIT sale), Glory Kingdom (King Cugat-Glory Girl; $47,500
at 2005 HIT sale) and Good Impression (Untouchable-La Beguine;
$46,000 at 2008 HIT sale) all had their connections cheering
with impressive wins.
"Over recent years the National Horses in Training
Sale has confirmed its status as the number one breeze up
style sale in the region - whether judged by vendor or buyers
numbers or by the success level of graduates," Magic
Millions Managing Director David Chester said.
"Our buyers at past sales will all be back in October
to compete for the top racetrack prospects being offered
this time around."
"Virtually every day of the week we see graduates
of this sale winning somewhere in the world - and you saw
on Sunday we had four winners in Singapore - three in Malaysia
and that came hot on the heels of a stakes winner in Brisbane
on Saturday."
"Buyers now know this sale is the leader of the field
and vendors also would be aware that this sale is the place
to be selling their quality athletes."
At the 2007 sale Laurence Eales bid to $64,000 to secure
a Street Cry colt from the draft of Washpool Lodge.
That colt is better known as Shocking and last November
he won Australia's richest and most famous race, the $5
million Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Shocking's trainer Mark Kavanagh reports that the entire
is back in work and will be aimed at defending his big two
mile win later in the year.
The sale has also produced the outstanding Macau galloper
Viva Pronto - a star galloper trainer by Gary Moore who
has notched numerous big wins in Macau and also popped across
to win at group level in Hong Kong.
Entry forms for the National Horses in Training Sale, as
well as the major 2011 Magic Millions Yearling Sales, are
available to be downloaded from the homepage of the Magic
Millions website.
Anyone requiring more information should contact the Bloodstock
Department of Magic Millions on 1300 MILLIONS or 07 5504
1200.
26/7/2010 New Zealand horses
added 8 wins to their 2010 Singapore tally over the weekend.
Constituting 38% of its horse population, the NZ-bred has
accounted for 189 races this term and have governed 50% of
its stakes races held (6 from 12).
Looking strictly to Friday and Saturday’s results, the
(NZ) winners were not in short supply for the six time Singapore
premiership winning trainer Laurie Laxon and for the Wellfield
Lodge sire, Handsome Ransom.
Currently sitting 8 wins in second behind Steven Burridge
on the 2010 premiership, Laxon enjoyed the three winners courtesy
of the Singapore darling Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad), East
Star (NZ) (Align) and the impressive stayer in the making,
Hazza (NZ) (King of Kings).
Asserting her supreme class for the 8th time in her 11 Singapore
start career, the 3YO filly, Mexican Rose (NZ), staved off
broodmare duties for a little longer yet with a gutsy win
in the SG $125,000 Shin Min Cup (1200m). “She’s
an absolute champion,” said Laxon to the Singapore Turf
Club afterwards. “She was already booked to
leave for Australia on August 23. I’ll need to have
a rethink about things but I think she may still have another
race left in her.”
For the Red Ransom stallion Handsome Ransom, the weekend’s
Singapore outcome sprung forth the two winners Lucky Rise
(NZ) and Fatkid (NZ).
All up, Handsome Ransom is represented by just four horses
in Singapore, with three of these already proving victorious.
26/7/2010 Gingerbread
Man a Singapore sensation
Winner: Gingerbread Man (Shamardal-Quaffle)
Race: SingTC Magic Millions Juvenile Championship G3 (1200m)
Sold for $30,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Rothwell Park
Buyer: Magic Millions as agent
Passed for $50,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Sunshine Coast Racing Lodge (As Agent)
Reserve: $100,000
Earnings: S$253,490
Owner(s): Gingerbread Stable
Trainer: Bruce Marsh (Kranji)
Gingerbread Man confirmed his status as Singapore's best
two-year-old with a stunning win in the $200,000 Group Three
Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m) this evening.
An Australian bred and sold youngster by Shamardal, Gingerbread
Man overcame the outside barrier and a torrid run to race
to the lead in the straight and then fly clear.
A $30,000 purchase for Joe Singh at last year's Magic Millions
Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Gingerbread Man not only swept
away with the first prize cheque - but also a $50,000 bonus
from Magic Millions.
Trainer Bruce Marsh, like most on course, was almost lost
for words after the dynamic performance.
"He was very impressive," Marsh said. "He's
a very good horse."
"It was always the plan to drop him back if the others
were quicker, but I have to say I was very concerned when
I saw him caught wide."
"But he gave such an extraordinary kick in the home
straight. It just smashed them - unbelievable!"
"I didn't really rate him as a sprinting type two-year-old
and we've always ridden him back a bit."
"He's a very good horse."
Marsh went into the race with a great deal of confidence,
knowing he had the favourite and the horse to beat.
"The way I look at it is in a way, he coming a little
down in class after than race in Open company," he
reported.
"Only the barrier was a concern but he's handled it
very well. He's deserved a little rest and his goal will
be the Three-Year-Old challenge next year."
"He's such a lovely laid back individual and I have
no doubt that he will be able to get more ground."
"The owner Joe Giovanni bought him at the Magic Millions
sale at the Gold Coast. I then helped him get a group of
people to get some shares in him."
Winning rider Barend Vorster couldn't help but be impressed
with the performance of Gingerbread Man.
"What can I say about this horse? He was put against
the wall and he's fought back to win in a style that speaks
volumes about his potential."
"I bouned him out well so I could make up my mind
if I could lead or ease back," Vorster added.
"When the other two horses on the inside proved faster,
I decided to drift and follow Strata Star, whom I know has
a good pace and could give me a good cart."
"But then he kept changing his legs at the home turn,
and I thought I was in trouble. But once he got on his left
leg and I asked the question, he just pulled away."
"I think in a funny sort of way, he's still very immature
but at the same time when he was able to get back on his
right leg, it showed he was mature as well," Vorster
summed up.
Gingerbread Man, a graduate of Rothwell Park, is by the
Darley shuttler Shamardal, and is from the lightly raced
Hurricane Sky mare Quaffle.
Quaffle, whose other runner is also a winner, is a half
sister to the stakes winning Unbridled's Song mare Golden
Snitch.
Gingerbread Man's third dam is Spyglass, the Group One
winning dam of Epsom Handicap hero Iron Horse.
24/7/2010 Five hunt $50,000
bonus in Singapore
Five exciting youngsters will be racing for a $50,000
bonus in Singapore on Sunday when the Group Three Magic
Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m) is run at Kranji.
Magic Millions will give the owner of the winner the bonus
if that horse is a graduate of one of their sales.
The eligible runners for the bonus are Gingerbread Man,
Biggest Secret, Strata Star, Top Venture and Aradea.
Gingerbread Man is set to start one of the favoured runners
in the feature stakes event after four excellent runs in
his career to date.
Prepared by Bruce Marsh, Gingerbread Man has two wins and
two seconds to date and locals are tipping him as the horse
to beat in the Championship.
A son of Shamardal, Gingerbread Man was knocked down to
Magic Millions Bloodstock Consultant James Dawson for $30,000
at last year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Dawson purchased the youngster for Joe Singh while on the
phone to the Singapore based owner.
Singh will be hoping the lucky run continues - having purchased
another four lots at the recent National Yearling Sale through
Dawson.
Michael Freedman saddled up Always Certain to finish second
in the Juvenile Championship last year and is hoping to
go one better with the unbeaten Biggest Secret.
By Secret Savings, Biggest Secret was purchased from last
year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $130,000. He's raced
twice - for two eye catching wins.
"He's a horse who has never stopped improving physically
since his debut win," Freedman said. "I would
say his second win was a much better effort than his first."
"Since then, he's been showing he was well within
himself and seems in good order going into Sunday's race."
"He has a nice temperament for a two-year-old and
he looks to have a nice future here."
Stratum has taken all before him in Australia this season
with the likes of Crystal Lily and on Sunday he will be
represented in Singapore's biggest juvenile race by Strata
Star.
A $70,000 purchase by trainer Michael Clements at last
year's National Horses in Training Sale, Strata Star has
raced just once.
At that outing, on July 2, he put up a big performance
to win on debut from an outside barrier in a 1200 metre
juvenile event.
Prior to his impressive debut win Strata Star looked an
exciting prospect with a pair of barrier trial victories.
Strata Star was a member of the Symphony Lodge draft at
the Horses in Training Sale last October - being sold on
behalf of well known Queensland based horseman Edward O'Dwyer.
First season trainer Theo Kieser will saddle up his first
black type runner in the Championship with promising youngster
Top Venture.
A Baramul Stud graduate, Top Venture ran second on debut
before racing away at his most recent outing for an eye
catching win.
The Flying Spur youngster was purchased by his trainer
for $80,000 at October's National Horses in Training Sale.
Kieser, a former South African, has spent a lifetime around
racing and is best known in recent years as the long time
foreman for Laurie Laxon.
"He's very lazy and laid back but puts it together
on raceday", Kieser said. "Around the stable you
can do anything with him."
"You can walk into his stable, pull his ears, move
around him without any problem."
"He switches on come raceday and has a really good
temperament for racing."
Rounding out the runners chasing the $50,000 bonus is the
John O'Hara trained Aradea.
A gelded son of Johannesburg, Aradea was purchased from
the draft of Holbrook Thoroughbreds for $65,000 at last
year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is a well bred youngster - his dam being the stakes
winning Beautiful Crown mare Bella Corona.
Aradea has raced on just one occasion and he finished third
behind Api Api on July 9.
The Magic Millions Juvenile Championship is the eighth
race at Kranji on Sunday and will jump at 7.40pm (AEST).
22/7/2010 Singapore partnership
continues with Championship
Singapore's best juveniles will go head to head on Sunday
when the Singapore Turf Club hosts the Group Three Magic
Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m) at Kranji.
An outstanding line up of 14 two-year-olds will contest
the race and be out to herald themself as the new star of
Singapore racing.
The excitement is building in Singapore as the time honoured
feature race nears.
Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive Mr Yu
Pang Fey said this week that his club was thrilled to be
linked the famous Australian based thoroughbred sales company.
"We are pleased to have Magic Millions sponsor the
juvenile championships once again."
"Magic Millions is one of the most coveted and innovative
thoroughbred auction companies in the region."
"Their quest for excellence is reflected in their
share of legends concreting their reputation in sales of
world-class thoroughbreds."
"We treasure this strategic partnership," he
summed up.
Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said his
company was delighted to continue a long and successful
relationship with the Singapore Turf Club.
"For over 30 years, Magic Millions has been associated
with the Singapore Turf Club going back to the days when
racing was held at Bukit Timah."
"Now, Singapore Turf Club based at Kranji is one of
the world's foremost clubs hosting international race meetings
and visitors from all over the world."
"It is a privilege for Magic Millions to continue
our close working relationship. Our company sponsors the
2YO Championship to say thankyou to local owners and trainers
for their support of Magic Millions sales in Australia."
"Once again, if the winning horse of the 2010 2YO
Championship is a graduate of any Magic Millions sale conducted
annually, the company will pay a bonus of S$50,000 to the
winning owner," Chester summed up.
Chester will be on hand to make the presentation to the
winning connections at Kranji on Sunday evening.
19/7/2010 Aussie bred sprint
star flies in France
Winner: War Artist (Orpen-Royal Solitaire)
Race: Maisons-Laffitte Prix de Ris-Orangis G3 (6f)
Sold for $57,500
Sale: 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Attunga Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: World Wide Bloodstock
Owner(s): R Plersch
Earnings: $720,000 (approx)
Trainer: Kevin Moses (Randwick)
Globetrotting sprinter War Artist will chase one of France's
feature sprints after he cruised to victory in the Group
Three Prix de Ris-Orangis at Maisons-Laffitte overnight.
An Australian bred Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate,
War Artist is one of the world's best and toughest sprinters
- having won group events in four countries.
Under champion French jockey Olivier Peslier, War Artist
lengthened over the concluding stages of the seven furlong
feature to win by a half length.
Sent out the 4/5 favourite after running an eye catching
fifth in the Golden Jubilee Stakes, War Artist led home
a quinella for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre with stablemate
Tiza second.
"War Artist is not yet at a peak and there is still
room for improvement," the trainer told Racing Post.com.
"He now goes for the (Group 1) Prix Maurice de Gheest
at Deauville where the extra half-furlong should not be
a problem."
Connections were impressed with how War Artist quickened
over the concluding stages considering he was giving weight
to all of his rivals.
Bred by Steve Kirkham, War Artist is by Orpen and from
the good producing Brocco mare Royal Solitaire.
His half sister Sashenka was Group One placed prior to
selling for $420,000 as a breeding prospect at the 2009
Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.War Artist himself
was purchased by Andy Williams' World Wide Bloodstock for
$57,500 from the 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling
Sale.
Having kicked away his career in South Africa, where he
won at Group One level, the gelding has won the equivalent
of over $700,000.
16/7/2010 Flying Supreme (NZ)
awarded HK$1 Mil ISG Bonus

Flying Supreme (NZ)
Beyond claiming the Hong Kong Class One finale with Perfect
Style (NZ) (Sandtrap) (aka Sanjura), Wednesday night provided
a particularly significant outcome for the O’Reilly
horse, Flying Supreme (NZ).
Assisted by his Class 3 win last Sunday, the Caspar Fownes-trained
3YO cemented his place as the leading stakes earning graduate
of Hong Kong’s 2008 International Sale.
As a consequence, Flying Supreme (NZ) has been awarded the
HK$1 million ISG bonus.
All told, Flying Supreme (NZ) has netted HK$3,756,750 (approx
NZ$ $420,651) in earnings through a ten start career yielding
four wins and two placings.
Owned by Tse Kwok Fai, Flying Supreme (NZ) follows directly
in the footsteps of the award’s NZ-bred winner Big
Profit (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit) last year.
Of his background information, Flying Supreme (NZ) was bred
by Garry Chittick and combines the bloodlines of O’Reilly
with the Danasinga mare, Saucy.
He was later sold through Waikato Stud’s 2008 NZB
Premier Yearling Sale consignment, with the Hong Kong Jockey
Club successfully securing the bay colt here for NZ$260,000.
Later at the 2008 Hong Kong International Sale, he was successfully
procured by owner Tse Kwok Fai for HK$4,200,000 (NZ$995,497).
12/7/2010 Singapore success
for Race Ahead and Waikato
It was a night for the Kiwis in Singapore on Sunday, with
the two feature races at the Group 1 Singapore Derby meeting
claimed by New Zealand produced gallopers.
Striking the top form that saw him win the Queen Elizabeth
II Cup (2000m) in April, Race Ahead (Al Akbar x Mertie Love)
completed a rare double with yesterday's dominant performance
in the feature S$1.15 million Group 1 Singapore Derby.
It has been 15 years since a QEII Cup winner has gone on
to win the Derby which was last achieved by Courtline Jester.
Race Ahead was on the pace all the way; positioned third
at the 600m he kicked as the field swung for home and hit
the lead to power down the long Kranji straight, holding
off New Rose Wood to take out the race by three quarters
of a length.
Applying blinkers proved to be the key to success for New
Zealand trainer Bruce Marsh after Race Ahead trialed well
in them on Tuesday. The future looks bright for the four-year-old
who has notched up nine wins from 20 starts for his owners
Race Ahead Stable.
Marsh brought current NZ jockey premiership leader Opie
Bosson out for the race and Bosson, who already has a Singapore
Gold Cup victory to his name (Recast, 2007), was delighted
with the strong performance from Race Ahead.
"This has to be up there with my biggest wins, both
here and back home," commented a jubilant Bosson.
Earlier in the evening at Kranji the Laurie Laxon trained
Waikato brought his impressive earnings to $1,492,774 when
taking out the S$200,000 Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m).
In what was his first start since finishing fourth in the
Group 1 Singapore Airlines Cup (2000m) in May, Waikato was
back to his favoured distance of 1400m scoring by a length
and a half over Lim's Fighter.
Out of Skywalker Wilkes and by Waikato Stud sire Pins,
the six-year-old gelding shares the same sire as New Zealand
Bloodstock reigning Filly of the Year Katie Lee. Bought
at the Karaka 2005 Premier Yearling Sale by Laurie Laxon
for $50,000 from Highview Stud, Waikato is owned by Silver
Fern Racing Stable.
Other NZB gallopers to win in Singapore on Sunday night:
Horse Breeding Race Breeder NZB Sale Details
Magic Leg St. Petersburg x Plex Class 4 (1400M) Grande Vue
Lodge Syndicate B: NZB, V: Carberry Farm, S: 06 South Island
Sale, P: $12,000
April's Knight Johar x It's Spring Again Maiden (1400m)
Highview Stud Ltd B: Mr H Forbes, V: Highview Stud, S: 08
Premier Sale, P: $57,500
Tolmon Nika High Chaparral x Matchplay Maiden (1400m) Huntington
Bloodstock Ltd B: Dr KC Tan, V: Curraghmore Stud, S: 08
Premier Sale, P: $120,000
Silver Element Pentire x L'Affair Kranji Stakes (2200M)
Mrs J M & T M Henderson & Ms M E Kent B: Kranji
Thoroughbreds Ltd, V: Bluegables Farm, S: 07 Select Sale,
P: $110,000
Chief Secretary Johar x Anakela Bay Initiation (1600m) P
J & P M Vela Ltd B: Wallace Thoroughbreds Ltd, V: Pencarrow
Stud, S: 08 Premier Sale, P: $80,000
12/7/2010 Able One (NZ) crowned
Champion Hong Kong Miler
The once injury plagued galloper Able One (NZ) was crowned
Champion Miler at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards
presentation yesterday.
According to the HKJC, the John Moore-trained galloper’s
career has been blighted by a series of stress fractures,
which prevented the Dr and Mrs Cornel Li Fook Kwan-owned
gelding from reaching his true potential after an upset
win in the 2007 Champions Mile, and it was only this season
as a 7YO that he has made a full recovery.It was in the
HKG2 Chairman's Trophy that he first showed he was back
to something like his very best, and he then followed up
in the G1 Champions Mile, which was won in exactly the same
fashion as that race with a dash of speed early in the straight
that no rival was able to pull back.
Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan of Cambridge
Stud, Able One (NZ) combines the bloodlines of Cape Cross
with the Danehill mare Gardenia, who has since visited Stravinsky
(x3), Lucky Unicorn (2008) and One Cool Cat (2009).
Placed into the care of Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park
as a yearling, Able One (NZ) was initially purchased by
Graeme Sanders on behalf of Sapphire Bloodstock at the 2004
New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sales at Karaka for
$190,000.
Later that year he was resold at the Ready-To-Run Sale,
successfully purchased on this occasion by Taupo bloodstock
agent Paul Beamish on behalf of John Moore for $270,000.Interestingly,
prior to his Hong Kong export, Able One (NZ) was first sent
to Sydney to join Graeme Begg's stable, where he won a 1250m
race at Rosehill in September 2005.
12/7/2010 Flying Spur juvenile
stars in Singapore
The winning run of graduates of the Magic Millions National
Horses in Training Sale in Singapore continued today when
promising juvenile Top Venture scored in style at Kranji.
Prepared by first season trainer Theo Kieser, Top Venture
raced clear in the straight for an almost three length win.
Kieser, a former South African who was a foreman for Laurie
Laxon, is now training in his own right and he's found a
likely type in Top Venture.
Top Venture, a son of Flying Spur, took the eye of Kieser
when he went through his paces when offered by Baramul Stud
at last year's National Horses in Training Sale.
He went to $80,000 to buy him when he went through the
ring last October.
"I liked him straight away when I saw him at the Ready
To Runs in the Gold Coast last year," Kieser said.
"I immediately rang Mr Chua and asked him if he was
interested and he agreed on the spot."
The gelding was having his second lifetime start following
an eye catching third on debut recently.
"At his debut I thought he was tailed off too far
back and got caught in too much traffic. I told Joao to
ride him a lot handier - once he gets him out, ride him
in midfield and it’s paid off."
"I think Joao also watched the video to get a better
idea how to ride him."
Top Venture is a chance of lining up in the Magic Millions
Juvenile Championship on July 25.
"He’s still a big baby but he’s definitely
not without ability. I am definitely considering the Juvenile
for him, but I’ll have to discuss with the owner first."
Moreira was impressed and suggested that longer trips
would suit the promising youngster.
"He was very green. I had to ride him out to keep
him rolling forward," Moreira said.
"That tells me he will be even better over long distance.
I’m not sure if how far he will go but he will definitely
win some more races here and that’s good news for
Theo."
Top Venture is a juvenile gelding by leading Arrowfield
Stud based sire Flying Spur - a Golden Slipper winner as
a racehorse and sire.
Dam Points, a lightly raced daughter of Canny Lad, is a
half sister to the stakes winners Pasta Express and Stella
Maree.
It is the same family as Australian stakes winners Twirled,
Noted, Classy Fella, Time Out, Legally Bay, Grand Connection,
Vestey, Rutherford Eagle, La Chatelaine and Ideal Planet.

11/7/2010 Starspangledbanner
to race on
Having become the first Australian bred winner of the G1
July Cup at Newmarket on Friday, it has been announced that
Starspangledbanner will miss the 2010 southern hemisphere
breeding season and will instead remain in training at Ballydoyle
with trainer Aidan O'Brien. Already the winner of four individual
G1 contests and the first horse to complete the Golden Jubilee/July
Cup double, Starspangledbanner will now pursue a campaign
that is likely to include some of the most prestigious sprint
races on the world stage. "Following extensive discussions,
it has been decided that Starspangledbanner will race on
this season, said Coolmore Australia General Manager Michael
Kirwan. “On the basis of his devastating wins in both
the G1 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and in the G1 July
Cup, it is evident that the horse is still improving. “He
has earned the right to be considered a great horse with
his efforts so far and it would seem premature to retire
a horse of this calibre at a time when he is proving himself
a dominant performer. “His feats to date mark him
down as a special horse and (trainer) Aidan O'Brien is keen
to pursue further opportunities with him. “Starspangledbanner
is a tremendous ambassador for Australian racing and breeding
and I hope that he can continue to enhance the increasingly
positive international perception of the Australian thoroughbred
as the season progresses".
11/7/2010 Aussies dominate July
cup
In one of the greatest triumphs for Australian breeding, Starspangledbanner
has franked his credentials as one of the World’s great
sprinters in taking the Group 1 July Cup overnight.
In a race previously rated a hoodoo for Australian horses,
Alverta rounded out the triumph when running perhaps the
race of her life to hold down third spot.
In winning, Starspangledbanner goes one better than his
sire Choisir, who ran second to Oasis Dream seven years
ago following his Royal Ascot double, where he paved the
way for Australian sprinters in Europe.
Sporting the Aushorse logo on his colours, Starspangledbanner
was taken to the far side rail by jockey Johnny Murtagh
and faced serious challenges from both runner-up Equiano
and Alverta before asserting his authority in the closing
stages.
Bred and sold by Tony Santic, the man who raced Makybe
Diva throughout her illustrious career, Starspangledbanner
is a $120,000 graduate of the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier
Sale, where he was purchased by Newmarc Bloodstock and the
Grange Partnership.
Under Leon Corstens, he compiled a superb record in Australia,
headed by wins in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and G1
Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
Coolmore Stud paid a reported $10million for his services
this year and he has justified that confidence in winning
a Group 1 double for Aidan O’Brien in the UK.
Both O’Brien and Murtagh were glowing in their praise
of Starspangledbanner following the win.
“It is very unusual for a horse to have so much speed
but to be so courageous at the same time,” O’Brien
said.
“He is just an incredible horse. When he first came
to Ballydoyle, we couldn’t believe he had won over
a mile in Australia. He just comes out of the gates and
goes into top gear. His reflex muscles are just so fast
- I think it must be genetic.”
Murtagh concurred, describing the colt as having “plenty
of guts” and “loads of speed.”
Starspangledbanner is a wonderful illustration of how the
great Australian thoroughbreds remain within reach of everyone.
He himself cost $120,000 as a yearling. His sire Choisir
was secured for just $55,000 out of the Inglis Classic Sale
in Sydney, while his dam Gold Anthem was a $40,000 purchase
out of the Adelaide Magic Millions.
He boasts a pedigree that has already been successful on
the international stage.
His second dam National Song (a daughter of the Golden
Slipper winner Vain) is a half-sister to Circles Of Gold
(a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Marscay), who in turn
became the dam of Dubai Group 1 winner Elvstroem and Royal
Ascot Group 1 winner Haradasun, who was also trained to
his European success by O’Brien after being secured
for stud duties by Coolmore.
Alverta, who was shunned as a yearling when bidding reached
just $20,000, is now one of the top broodmare prospects
in training. Winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Classic earlier
in the season, the daughter of Flying Spur has amassed more
than $1million in her four seasons of racing.

9/7/2010 Strong Aussie flavour
in leg 4
Victorian-trained Nicconi and ex-pat Starpsangledbanner will
be chasing their second wins in the lucrative Global Sprint
Challenge when they contest the fourth leg tonight (AET) in
the UK.
The sprint sensations will be joined by New South Wales mare
Alverta in the $A691,000 Darley July Cup which will be run
on the testing 1200-metre uphill course at Newmarket.
Nicconi claimed the first leg of the Challenge, the Coolmore
Lightning Stakes (1000m), at Flemington in January before
finishing a luckless fourth in the second, the King’s
Stand Stakes (1000m), at his UK debut on 15 June.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver, who was aboard in the Lightning
Stakes, reunites with the David Hayes-trained four-year-old
who has been backed into $11 with TAB Fixed Odds.
Starspangledbanner, who was this week named as a contender
for the 2010 Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the
Year title, is the $2.50 TAB Fixed Odds favourite.
A winner of this season’s The Age Caulfield Guineas
and Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate in Victoria, Starspangledbanner
won rave reviews when he blitzed his rivals in the third Challenge
leg, the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m), at Royal Ascot on
19 June.
Premier Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien was quick to declare
the former Leon Corstens-trained three-year-old the fastest
horse he’s ever trained after defeating a vintage line-up.
“We've known since soon after he arrived at Ballydoyle
that Starspangledbanner was a very, very quick horse and we
were delighted with what he showed when winning the Golden
Jubilee,” O’Brien told Racing Post overnight.
“We haven't done much with him since Royal Ascot, but
he seems to be fine. We are happy with him and we're all looking
forward to the race.”
Nicconi and Starspangledbanner, a graduate of the Inglis Melbourne
Premier Yearling Sale, will return to their homeland to commence
stud duties later this year.
Included amongst their rivals in tonight’s showdown
is Equiano, the UK-trained former Spanish speedster who lowered
the colours of Nicconi when winning his second King’s
Stand Stakes in three years.
Adding considerable depth to the field are the past two Darley
July Cup winners Fleeting Spirit (2009) and Marchand D’Or
(2008), whilst USA raider Kinsale King shapes as the x-factor
with the benefit of a third placing in the Golden Jubilee
Stakes at his first European appearance.
The Global Sprint Challenge next heads to Japan for the running
of the Group 2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) at Hanshin on 12 September
and the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama on 3
October, before returning to Australia for the Patinack Farm
Classic (1200m)
at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
The Darley July Cup will be broadcast live at 12.10am (AET)
tonight on TVN (Channel 522).
Notes:
The $US8m Global Sprint Challenge is a collection of the world’s
elite sprint races. It takes in eight races across four jurisdictions
– Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and Hong Kong.
Australia’s two legs of the 2010 Challenge are held
at Flemington – the $A500,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes
(1000m) on 30 January (won by Nicconi) and the $A500,000 Patinack
Farm Classic (1200m) on 6 November.
A bonus of $US1million is on offer for the connections of
any horse that can win Group 1 Challenge races in three different
countries in 2010.
9/7/2010 Nicconi flies flag
as Hayes clan enters a new era
CHRIS ROOTS
Highly talented sprinter Nicconi just may be the last Lindsay
Park-trained horse to land a group 1, writes Chris Roots.
Globetrotting trainer David Hayes will look to bring down
the curtain on the Lindsay Park era with success on the
other side of the world with Nicconi in the July Cup at
Newmarket tonight (Saturday, 12.10am AEST).
The sale of the famous training establishment in the Adelaide
Hills, a key component of the Hayes racing dynasty, came
through last week, with Hayes's stable foreman Tony McEvoy
and Wayne Mitchell to buy it.
The property set up by Hayes's father Colin, who prepared
98 group 1 winners using it as a base, has been at the centre
of Australian racing for more than 40 years with Hayes and
his brother Peter following in their father's footsteps.
It has been home to the winners of three Melbourne Cups,
three Caulfield Cups, six Cox Plates, two Golden Slippers,
and 10 Blue Diamonds but Nicconi will be trying to emulate
champion Better Loosen Up, which won the 1990 Japan Cup
for Hayes, as an international group 1 winner.
''It is the end of an era and it would be a great way to
finish it if Nicconi can win here at Newmarket,'' Hayes
said. ''I haven't really thought about it that much but
it would be the best way for us to go out of Lindsay Park.''
Hayes has had 76 group 1 winners in a career that has taken
him to Hong Kong for a successful stint, but travelling
and winning in England would rank near the top of his achievements.
He has always followed his father's philosophy that the
future belongs to those who plan for it, and it has served
him well. Their new training centre at Euroa in Victoria
is another step down that path.
''I will still be training from Lindsay Park for a while,''
Hayes said. ''We are a couple of months behind with the
track construction at Euroa. It won't be ready until after
the spring, and it looks like we will get in there around
Christmas.
''I won't be going there until I'm completely happy that
everything is ready to go.''
The meticulous Hayes has been pleased with Nicconi since
his fourth in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot a couple
of weeks ago. The dual group 1-winning sprinter has settled
into his new surroundings at Newmarket and improved with
every day.
''He is very bright and really enjoying it here,''' Hayes
said. ''He has improved and we are hopeful that he will
run a big race but it is tough when you're travelling a
horse.'' The undulating July course at Newmarket has found
out many Australian horses with Choisir's second in 2003
the best effort of the raiders despite Takeover Target and
Scenic Blast starting favourite in the July Cup. Once again
an Australian in Starspangledbanner is a short-priced favourite
for the July Cup, which usually crowns Europe's best sprinter.
Nicconi, which holds a victory over the boom sprinter in
the Lightning Stakes, and Paul Messara-trained mare Alverta
join Starspangledbanner, now trained by Aidan O'Brien, in
the ultimate test of speed and stamina.
''It is a different track to anything we have at home and
it is probably more like a 1400-metre race than 1200,''
Hayes said. ''That doesn't worry me with Nicconi because
he won over 1400 second-up as a three-year-old.''
Top hoop Damien Oliver has made his way to England to join
the Nicconi team for the July Cup and Hayes has drawn a
line through the form of Starspangledbanner for his sprinter.
''I thought our run in the King's Stand was probably a
bit better than Starspangledbanner's first run over here,''
he said.
''We saw how much he improved after that run and I can
tell Nicconi has improved as well, it's just a matter of
how much. We will be giving him [Starspangledbanner] a start
but we did that in the Lightning and ran past him and hopefully
[Nicconi] can do that again.''
Starspangledbanner towelled up the majority of the July
Cup field in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and
is the commanding favourite at $2.25 with TAB Sportsbet.
Last year's winner Fleeting Spirit, which will be ridden
by Frankie Dettori, is next in betting. She ran fourth in
the Golden Jubilee but was the first home on the flat side.
Nicconi is $11 with TAB Sportsbet, while Alverta is an
outsider between $26 and $41 with bookmakers.
5/7/2010 St Peters Gift timely
for NZB South Island sale
Lightly tried NZB graduate St Peters Gift downed some seasoned
opposition to win the Lisboa Challenge (1500m) on Saturday,
providing a timely update to the pedigree of his half-brother
entered in New Zealand Bloodstock's South Island Sale of Two-Year-Olds.

St Peters Gift streaks ahead in the Lisboa Challenge in
Macau on Saturday. Photo: Macau JC.
Trained by Joe Lau for Malaysian businessman Dato Yap
Kim San, St Peters Gift (St Petersburg x Royal Pass by Kingdom
Bay) met the higher rated horses at set weights, winning
by almost three lengths. In the hands of Matthew Gatt they
crossed the line in 1:26.9, just a fraction of a second
slower than the older Class 1 gallopers over 1500 metres
at Taipa.
Now with three wins and a third placing from six starts
he has NZ$103, 949 to his credit.
Commenting on the three-year-old, Lau said, "He always
been a lovely horse and he is just starting to mature, the
way he hit the line he looks like he will get further, and
I expect he will be better next season."
St Peters Gift himself was a $30,000 purchase at the 2008
South Island Sale before being pin-hooked at the Ready to
Run Sale where he was bought by New Zealand Bloodstock as
agent from Anzac Lodge for $100,000.
Everd Strauss' Leafland Stud will present a My Halo half-brother
to St Peters Gift at this year's South Island Sale.
With six lots entered for the Friday 6 August sale, Strauss
regards Lot 5 as his standout.
"I have a good batch prepared for this year's sale
and I'd say that Lot 5 is the pick of my draft. He's a bigger,
stronger, more athletic version of St Peters Gift at the
same stage with a lovely long stride."
With 12 starters for 12 winners in Macau, My Halo was crowned
leading general sire in the 2007-08 season with his progeny
including the country's Listed Derby winner Ka Lam Fortune.
The Berkley Stud sire will be represented by 14 youngsters
at this year's South Island Sale.
Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's Winter Mixed Bloodstock
Sale and South Island Sale are being posted today, contact
reception@nzb.co.nz to request copies.
5/7/2010 Captain rules as Millions
graduates trifecta Malaysian classic
Winner: Captain Obvious (Verglas-Shathor)
Race: Penang TC Astro Wah Lai Toi Sprint Trophy LR (1400m)
Sold for $24,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Alwyn Park Stud
Buyer: KL Chong
Owner(s): Milton Stable
Earnings: M$1,209,825
Trainer: KL Chong (Malaysia)
Captain Obvious stamped himself as the best sprinter in
Malaysia with an awesome twelve length win in the M$1 million
Astro Wah Lai Toi Sprint Trophy (1400m) in Penang today.
A member of the KL Chong stable, Captain Obvious led home
a trifecta clean sweep result for Australia's leading thoroughbred
sales company, Magic Millions.
The gelded son of Verglas beat home Happy Victory (King's
Best) and Impact (Eternity Range) in the classic sprint
contest.
Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester was at the
track to witness the most dominant Sprint Trophy win ever.
"Captain Obvious treated his rivals with contempt
- it was awesome stuff," Chester said. "It was
a remarkable performance and a great advertisement for the
Western Australian industry."
"Every placegetter was bred in Australia and sold
by Magic Millions - it was a great result to further confirm
our status as the region's leading exporter of quality bloodstock."
"KL Chong - a long time visitor to Perth for our annual
Yearling Sale - purchased Captain Obvious for $24,000 from
the 2007 sale."
He was bred and sold by Alwyn Park Stud, the property of
WABBA Vice-President John Andrew.
"John is here at the races today to see Captain Obvious
win and he's right now down at the trophy presentation -
he's delighted as you could imagine," Chester commented.
"When you convert Captain Obvious' earnings back he's
earned well over $440,000 - not bad for a $24,000 buy -
and he's only had 12 starts."
With Benny Woodworth in the saddle, Captain Obvious held
a twelve length margin on the line over Happy Victory (Samsir),
while Impact (Chavez) was another two and a half lengths
back.
Captain Obvious has now won eight of his 12 runs in Malaysia
and shot to prominence when earlier in his career he cruised
to victory in a Malaysian Magic Millions Classic.
By former smart French group winner Verglas, he is one
of three winners produced by the Tirol mare Shathor.
Shathor is a half sister to the Group One Karrakatta Plate
winner and sire Umah.
The race's runner-up Happy Victory was purchased for just
$21,000 from the draft of Collingrove Stud at the 2006 Magic
Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Third placegetter Impact, a Mungrup Stud graduate, cost
$22,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Perth Horses in Training
Sale.
4/7/2010 Hit graduates star
in Singapore
The winning streak of graduates of the Magic Millions
Horses in Training Sale continued in Singapore on Friday
night with a pair of brilliant winners.
Bionic Boy led the way with a track record breaking win
in the $125,000 Open Classic Stakes (1000m) on the Kranji
Polytrack.
The Stephen Burridge prepared son of Falvelon was caught
deep for much of the race, but under Mark Gallagher he picked
up strongly and hit the line first in a thrilling finish.
The winning time of 58.07 seconds took two tenths off Break
Free's track record.
A $35,000 purchase from the draft of Robyn Wise at the
2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale, Bionic
Boy has won five races from 14 starts and earned almost
$300,000.
Burridge was a happy man in the winner's stall - impressed
with the finishing burst from the Australian bred gelding.
"He probably needed the run last time after being caught
wide," Burridge said. "We thought he had some
chance tonight but again he was caught wide."
"But they went mad up in front and with him liking
it a bit further he was able to drive hard to the line."
Burridge said he would "keep raising the bar"
with Bionic Boy following his first success in open company.Earlier
in the night Australia's champion first season sire Stratum
was in the news when his promising juvenile Strata Star
won on debut.
Prepared by Michael Clements, Strata Star was a $70,000
purchase from last October's Horses in Training Sale, purchased
from the draft of Symphony Lodge.
Clements is aiming the speedy customer at the Group Three
Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m) on July 25.
"He has shown excellent trial form, winning two from
two, but he's obviously still very green."
"Joao (Moreira, rider) told me he kept jumping shadows,
and that was why he had to push him out early around the
home turn to get him away from the other horse."
"On that run he had to be serious contender for the
Juvenile. I bought him myself at the Magic Millions Breeze-Up
last October."
Bionic Boy and Strata Star weren't the only Magic Millions
graduates to impress at Kranji last night.Model Citizen
(Honours List), Golden Spirit (Saratoga Springs) and Summer
in the City (Great Dane) were also visitors to the winner's
stall.
2/7/2010 Aussies set to
dominate Malaysian Gr 1
Australia’s record year of group races in Malaysia
is set to continue with Sunday’s G1 Penang Sprint
Trophy (1400m) worth RM1,000,000 (approx: A$360,000).
Australia has won 57% of races in Malaysia this season
with New Zealand the closest country with 30% of races won.
Furthermore Australia has won three out of four Stakes races
run to date.
Aushorse Marketing the promotional arm of Australian Thoroughbred
Breeders, is a major sponsor of the Penang Turf Club which
will see the running of the Aushorse Marketing Trophy Race
for the first time prior to the Penang Sprint Trophy. A
large delegation of up to 40 Australian breeders, owners
and racing officials will be in Penang for this highlight
of the Malaysian racing calendar.
Aus-breds make up 10 of the 14 runners in the Penang Sprint
Trophy race. They are:
· BLESSWITHSPEED (Brahms), 27 starts, 5 wins, $15,000
Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
· CAPTAIN OBVIOUS (Verglas), 10 starts, 7 wins,
$24,000 Magic Millions Perth
· GOOD JUDGEMENT (Lonhro), 6 starts, 5 wins, $170,000
Inglis Easter
· HANDSOME NIC (Show A Heart), 24 starts, 6 wins,
Magic Millions Perth $40,000 and Magic Millions National
Weanling $27,500
· HAPPY VICTORY (King’s Best), 25 starts,
5 wins, $21,000 Magic Millions Adelaide
· IMPACT (Eternity Range), 17 starts, 7 wins, P$15,000
Magic Millions Perth
· MIGHTY TRIPLE ACE (Testa Rossa), 18 starts, 8
wins, Passed $47,500 Inglis Premier Sale
· PROFESSIONAL MAN (Royal Academy), 15 starts, 8
wins, NZB Select $40,000
· SINAR BINTANG (General Nediym), 10 starts, 4 wins,
Not Sold
· TRIPLE LUCK (Akhenaton), 30 starts, 11 wins,$15,000
Magic Millions Perth.
Good Judgement has won his past five starts on end, while
Captain Obvious has also built an imposing record. Triple
Luck also comes into this race off a last start win.
28/6/2010 Entrapment makes
it seven wins in a season in Hong Kong

Entrapment
Entrapment, a $16,000 bargain buy from the 2007 Magic Millions
National Weanling Sale, made history in Hong Kong today
when he cruised to victory in the HK$1.6 million The Juvenile
Sprint Trophy (1200m) at Sha Tin.
In winning Entrapment became the first horse in history
to win seven races during a season in Hong Kong.
Entrapment, sent out the red hot favourite, led home a trifecta
for Magic Millions graduates, beating home Horses in Training
Sale purchase Tai Sing Yeh by two lengths.
Another three parts of a length back in third place was
Danewin Tiger, a $50,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy.
The win was an effortless one and gave winning jockey Douglas
Whyte a huge buzz.
"No anxiety at all," said the delighted jockey.
"He's much too good for that!"
Winning trainer John Size was thrilled that the stable's
rising star was able to break the Hong Kong record and extend
his unbeaten run to seven.
"Obviously he's a horse of tremendous ability, but
he's also a genuine racehorse who really wants to win."
"As far as the mathematics of the seven races is concerned
one of the major reasons he'd done it it that he has the
ability to handle any type of track."
"He's won twice on the all weather. He's won on good
and he's won on the soft."
Winning owner Benson Lo Tak Wing made the trip back from
Japan to see the record breaking attempt.
"I had to come back because John Size told me there
was a great chance he'd win again, and of course this is
history in the making."
"I was a bit worried about the pace, but John told
me not to worry because Entrapment's form was so good, and
he was right."
"Where the horse goes next depends completely on the
trainer's decision," the jubilant owner added.
Size said the record winning streak would not continue
this season.
"He's rated too high so there's no suitable race for
him," the champion trainer reported.
"He's done enough now. He'll be going straight to
group races next season."
The rising star Hong Kong performer has won seven races
from seven starts and earned over HK$4 million - the equivalent
of over A$610,000. That's not bad considering he cost just
$16,000 at the Gold Coast.
Entrapment is a gelded son of Southern Halo's group winning
son Halo Homewrecker and was produced by the Moonee Valley
winning Vettori mare Miabondialee.
She in turn is a daughter of an unraced Palace Music half
sister to the Group One Karrakatta Plate winner Umah as
well as the dam of the Malaysian Magic Millions Classic
winner Captain Obvious.
PICS - Hong Kong Jockey Club.
27/6/2010 Good Control stars
in Macau
Winner: Good Control (Fasliyev-Change of Control)
Race: MJC Summer Trophy G3 (1050m)
Sold for $25,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Jonel Park Thoroughbreds (As Agent)
Buyer: Patrick Lee
Earnings: $525,000
Owner(s): Lok Ho Ting
Trainer: Patrick Lee (Macau)
Quality Macau galloper Good Control doubled his stakes
race tally and won his 11th race in just 18 starts when
he swept away with the Group Three Summer Trophy (1050m)
today.
The reigning Horse of the Year of Macau, Good Control made
it two wins from two runs since returning from a Dubai campaign
by capturing the day's big event.
Prepared by Patrick Lee and ridden by Manoel Nunes, Good
Control cruised home to beat Joy and Pride by a length and
a quarter.
Another two and three quarter lengths back in third place
was Dr Zhivago.
The top class four-year-old is yet to miss a place in Macau
and as a three-year-old was that region's Horse of the Year.
As it stands he's an 11 time winner from just 17 starts
and he's earned the equivalent of A$525,000.
That's quite a haul considering he cost his trainer Patrick
Lee just $25,000 when purchased from the draft of Jonel
Park Thoroughbreds at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling
Sale at the Gold Coast.
Good Control is a son of Fasliyev - a former outstanding
two-year-old - who's gone on to sire no fewer than 30 individual
stakes winners around the globe.
His best performers have included Cheveley Park Stakes
winner Carry on Katie, while his Australian based stakes
winners include Ulysses.
Good Control's dam, the three time winning Marauding mare
Change of Control, is a daughter of the Tranquil Star Stakes
winner Majestic Dawn and is therefore a half sister to Gosford
Guineas placegetter Extagonal.
Further back his is the same family as Western Australian
Oaks winners India's Dream and Hasty Departure and outstanding
Singapore and Malaysian three-year-old Lim's Objective.
21/6/2010 Intercept (NZ) wins
Sing-1 Patrons Bowl

Intercept (NZ) getting up in Sgp-1 Patron's Bowl
Already successful this season with the Gr.3 winner and
Gr.1 performed galloper Cellarmaster (NZ) (Dubawi), Clapham
returned to black-type breeder ranks last night with the
Singapore Group 1 winner, Intercept (NZ) (Zerpour).
Improving on his last start second to Ghozi in the first
leg of the Singapore 4YO series – the Sgp-2 Stewards’
Cup (1400m), the Laurie Laxon-trained galloper thrived on
a rails ride from Joao Moreira, pulling out all the stops
for victory in the 4YO Series’ second leg, the Sing-1
Patron’s Bowl (1600m).
A proven commodity at the trip, Intercept (NZ) is the 1600m
(long course) record holder and on Sunday he went within
0.89 of a second of improving this, despite being deprived
of running room until late.
Trailing the pacemaker Powerful Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler)
throughout, Intercept (NZ) was blocked for racing room until
the 300m marker, but with the gap presenting itself on his
outside; he was able to hit top gear to steam home down
the centre of the track.
Not alone in his quest for victory, Intercept (NZ) was flanked
with aspirants, but at the post he had them at bay at the
line, forging clear by 0.3 lengths from New Rose Wood, with
Ghozi losing no admirers this margin away again in third.
With the game win, Laxon was afforded his fourth NZ-bred
winner in the event behind Dreyfuss (NZ) (Oregon) in 2004,
Royal Captain (NZ) (Carolingian) in 2005 and My Royal Captain
(NZ) (Zabeel) in 2007.
“His preparation since his last run has gone without
a hitch. He had trained on very well and was in an impeccable
order before today’s race,” Laxon told the Singapore
Turf Club
“He ran second in the Stewards’ Cup over 1400m,
won this one over 1600m. You would think he should be able
to see out the 2000m (Derby).
“The time was also very nice. There are plenty of
upsides from that run and if he pulls up okay, the Derby
should be right on target.”
The third and final Leg of the Singapore 4YO Challenge -
the $1.15 million Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby comes
up in three weeks’ time on July 11 and is run over
2000m at set weights.
Raced by the V-Day Stable, Intercept (NZ) has won 7 of his
17 starts from 1400-1600m and has performed with credit
with 8 additional placings.
Such a record has ensured an earnings figure of S$660,543.75
(approximately NZ$673,915)
With Saturday’s Sing-1 win, the son of the former
Westbury Stud sire Zerpour became the leading foal for dam
Haughty Miss – an unraced Heroicity half-sister to
the Gr.1 Victoria Derby and Wellington Cup winner, Second
Coming.
Haughty Miss (NZ) has had seven named foals to date for
four winners and was served by Keeper in the 2010 season.
20/6/2010 Aussie star flies
flag at Royal Ascot
The wonderful affinity Australian-bred horses have with
the famous Royal Ascot carnival continued last night, with
Starspangledbanner scoring a dominant win in the Group 1
Golden Jubilee Stakes.
He joins Scenic Blast, Haradasun, Miss Andretti and Takeover
Target as Aussie winners at the carnival since Choisir blazed
a trail for the colonial breds with his memorable double
in 2003.
Starspangledbanner was a fitting winner of the Golden Jubilee,
as he is a son of Choisir.
While the King’s Stand Stakes had been a race bountiful
with Australian success, the Golden Jubilee has been a tougher
nut to crack, with Choisir being the lone winner –
until last night.
Starspangledbanner was a $120,000 graduate of the 2008
Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, having been bred and sold
by Tony Santic’s Makybe operation.
He was secured as a yearling by Newmarc Bloodstock and
under the guidance of trainer Leon Corstens and his son
Troy, Starspangledbanner became a dual Group 1 winner of
the Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate this season.
Coolmore Stud moved to secure Starspangledbanner for stud
duties this year and at the conclusion of his autumn campaign,
he was transferred to the Ballydoyle stables of Aidan O’Brien.
Coolmore has done this with success in 2008, when Haradasun
won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and history
repeated itself last night.
Starspangledbanner’s ability to run a strong mile,
combined with his brilliant speed proved to be the perfect
ingredients for success up the tough Ascot 1200m straight.
He simply proved too fast and further underlined the brilliance
and toughness of sprinters bred in Australia.
He is expected to train on to the July Cup next month,
attempting to go one better than his sire Choisir, who ran
second at his final race start in 2003.
Starspangledbanner will begin stud duties at Coolmore Australia
later this year.
17/6/2010 Able One more than
able
NZB graduate Able One proved that he was more than able last
night leading home a NZB trifecta at Sha Tin in the HKG3 Prince
Jewellery Premier Cup (1400m).
The convincing one-and-a-half length victory is Able One's
third consecutive black type win after taking out the International
Group One Champion's Mile (1600m) and the HK2 Chairman's Trophy
(1600m) in April. It is the second time the John Moore-trained
seven-year-old has won the race, also claiming the title in
2008.
By former shuttle sire Cape Cross and out of Gardenia (Danehill)
Able One was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan at
their Cambridge Stud. Initially sold at the 2004 Karaka Select
Sale for $190,000 Able One was then pinhooked to top the 2004
Ready to Run Sale where he was snapped up by Paul Beamish
Bloodstock for $270,000 from Phoenix Park. Able One is owned
by Dr & Mrs Cornel Li Fook Kwan.
The Paul O'Sullivan-trained Aashiq (Viking Ruler x Join the
Fun) galloped home for second to bring his total earnings
to $546,222. Purchased by Lance O'Sullivan at the 2007 Karaka
Carnival Sale for $40,000 from Brighthill Farm, the four-year-old
is owned by Indian Horse Lovers Syndicate.
Aashiq is half-brother to smart Richard Collett trained three-year-old
Finderskeepers (Keeper), who was Group 2 Avondale Guineas
placed this season, with Aashiq's full-brother bought at the
Karaka Select Yearling Sale in February by Albizia Lodge for
$130,000 by Michael Stedman Bloodstock.
Completing a New Zealand trifecta Thumbs Up (Shinko King x
Regelle) came home for third. Prepared by Caspar Fownes and
ridden by Brett Doyle, this performance brings the four-year-old's
earnings tally to $2,840,635 for owner Leung Chung Shan.
17/6/2010 Nacho Man (NZ) on
track for Singapore debut
The exciting New Zealand Gr.1 winner Nacho Man (NZ) (Mr Nancho)
will make his Singapore raceday debut in next month’s
SG-3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m).
Part-owner Tom Murtagh of Esker Lodge told NZTM on Wednesday
that Nacho Man (NZ) was thriving in his new environment
at Kranji, and was progressing so well that his first raceday
appearance would come sooner than expected.
“He has been up in Singapore for about eight weeks
now and is doing extremely well,” Murtagh told NZTM.
“He had his first jump-out on Tuesday and got his
barrier ticket, so he will now push on to a trial in early
July, and then he will race on July 25th in the Singapore
Group Three Magic Millions Juvenile Championship.”
Nacho Man (NZ) is trained in Singapore by Michael Clements,
who owns the precocious son of Mr Nancho together with Murtagh
and his wife Shelley, Christopher Grace, and Singapore-based
businessman Paul Pang.
Murtagh reported that it was always the intention to send
Nacho Man (NZ) up to Singapore following his juvenile campaign
in New Zealand, but that original plans were centred on
the Singapore Three-Year-Old Championship, which kicks off
in March each year.
“With his Singapore ownership interests, there was
always the pull to send him up that way,” explained
Murtagh.
“Paul and Mike Moroney - who trained the horse in
New Zealand, did a wonderful job, particularly winning the
Gr.1 Sires’ and they were naturally very sad to see
the horse leave their stable.”

NACHO MAN (NZ) - winning the Gr.1 Sires' Produce Stakes
in April
Nacho Man (NZ) will make his Singapore debut with a race
record of three wins from five starts.
Winning impressively at Woodville in January at his first
outing, Nacho Man (NZ) scored his first win at black-type
level in the Listed Matamata Slipper two starts later. He
then went on to seal his top shelf estimation with a dominant
win in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
With NZ$133,493 in earnings banked, Nacho Man (NZ) has
well and truly repaid each of his earlier Karaka sale ring
invoices.
Offered at the 2008 NZB National Weanling Sale, the Twin
Pines draft member was initially sold to Mr BG & Mrs
A Henry for $15,000.
Returning to the Karaka sales arena as a yearling, he was
then purchased by the Murtaghs from the 2009 Festival Yearling
Sale consignment of Maara Grange for $27,000.
Subsequently sent to the Moroney’s Matamata stable,
Nacho Man (NZ) continued to impress all involved.
“He’s up there as one of the best 2YO’s
we’ve ever had,” said Paul Moroney following
Nacho Man’s Gr.1 Sires’ Produce Stakes win in
April.
“Happyanunoit was heads and shoulders the best 2YO
we had and maybe the best horse full stop. Jokers Wild was
a champion 2YO. He was a high class colt, who could run
both ways, so he didn’t have the chink in the armour
that this guy has.
“Nacho Man’s biggest asset though is his maturity.
He’s a big, strong, powerful horse.”
Bred by Stoney Bridge Thoroughbred Ltd, Nacho Man (NZ)
is the leading ambassador for his first season sire Mr Nancho
- the Champion Miler of Argentina in 2003/04.
Standing at Stoney Bridge Waikato for $4,500 in 2009/10,
Mr Nancho has only had the three runners to date; with his
oldest progeny being 2YO’s this season.
16/6/2010 Spaniard denies
Australia again in big Ascot sprint
The Australian challenge at Royal Ascot, UK got off to
a disappointing start last night (AET) with Nicconi and
Gold Trail finishing unplaced in the Group 1 King’s
Stand Stakes (1000m).
Australia’s expected flag bearer in the second leg
of the Global Sprint Challenge (GSC), Nicconi, made ground
to finish fourth without ever looking a winning hope, while
Gold Trail was always struggling and beat only two runners
home.
The $A520,000 King’s Stand went to the Barry Hills-trained
and Michael Hills-ridden Equiano who repeated his 2008 win
in the race and in doing so became the ninth multiple winner
of the prestigious sprint.
Hopes of an Australian-trained victory at Royal Ascot now
rest with the Paul Messaraprepared mare Alverta who takes
on a strong field in Saturday night’s (AET) Group
1 $A780,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) – the third
leg of the GSC.
Jockey Frankie Dettori said Nicconi, who started second
favourite on track at 10/3, was behind the eight-ball after
missing the start slightly and then found himself behind
two horses that took him nowhere.
“He was never travelling as well as he obviously did
when he won the Lightning (Stakes at Flemington) but he
was always chasing,” Dettori said.
Dettori said with a better run Nicconi “would have
finished a little closer, but he wouldn’t have weighed
in.”
Trainer David Hayes said Nicconi was “gallant in defeat”,
but he was obviously disappointed with the end result after
entering the race with lofty expectations.
“Unfortunately he missed the start which you cannot
afford to do in a 1000-metre race and then he copped a check
at the 300-metre mark which didn’t help,” Hayes
said.
“The horse ran the quickest last 400 (metres) and
finished off well for fourth, but it was a disappointing
result as we came here to win.
“He’s definitely looking for 1200 or 1400 metres
but at this stage he’s likely to be retired to stud
without having another race,” he added.
“It’s just unfortunate that, because of the
Australian quarantine laws, if he runs in the July Cup (at
Newmarket on 19 July) he would miss the start of our breeding
season.”
Nicconi will stand at Widden Stud (NSW) next season and
their representative Anthony Thompson said overnight that
he’d already taken bookings for 82 mares.
Hayes said he had enjoyed his first experience campaigning
a horse in the UK and would love to do it again.
“I’m also looking at buying a couple of horses
to race in Melbourne during the spring before I go home,
but it’s not easy finding the right ones,” he
explained.
There is a chance Equiano, who showed brilliant speed to
lead after a slight stumble at the start, could come to
Melbourne for next year’s Festival of Racing.
Hills wants to take the six-year-old to Hong Kong in December
for the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge and could
continue on to Melbourne for the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning
Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in early 2011.
Jockey Michael Rodd said Sydney galloper Gold Trail wanted
to get on the wrong leg from the start and he was fighting
against him all the way.
“It was also his first time racing on a straight track
and we know he is a better horse than that,” Rodd
said reflecting upon the horse’s below par performance.
He said there was still a chance that Gold Trail could race
again in England as long as he had taken no harm from the
race.
Even more disappointing than the Australian raiders was
the heavily-backed local favourite Kingsgate Native, who
firmed from 7/2 to 5/2, but never looked likely finishing
sixth.
Equiano (9/2), won by a length-and-a-half from Markab (14/1)
with Borderlescott (16/1) a neck away in third, three-quarters-of-a-length
ahead of Nicconi.
The race time of 59 seconds was the fastest since Australian
sprinter Miss Andretti raced to victory in 57.44sec in 2007.
Outside of the King’s Stand, the highlight of the
day came in the Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) when champion
French mare Goldikova, a dual US Breeders Cup winner, claimed
her ninth Group 1 victory holding off a late charge from
defending titleholder Paco Boy.
16/6/2010 HK-3 Premier Cup -
final Hong Kong Stakes Race for 2009/2010
Hong Kong stages the final stakes race of its 2009/2010
pattern calendar tonight.
Set to jump at Sha Tin at 4:40pm local time, the Hong Kong
Group 3 The Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup (1400m)
will be distinguished by 7 NZ-bred gallopers.
Not the least of these is the event's 2007 and 2008 winners
EGYPTIAN RA (NZ) (Woodborough) and ABLE ONE (NZ) (Cape Cross)
– horses rated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as the
ones to watch.
The pride of Tony Cruz’s stable, EGYPTIAN RA (NZ)
currently boasts a rating of 130 – the highest of
any horse in Hong Kong.
The bold 8YO frontrunner is an out-and-out 1400m galloper,
opening the season with success in the HK-3 National Day
Cup (1400m), before striking again 3 months later in the
HK-3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m).
The John Moore-trained ABLE ONE (NZ) has likewise delivered
some knock out performances this season.
Two starts back the 7YO gelding claimed the HK-2 Chairman’s
Trophy (1600m) and at last outing, he strode to his second
Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) win.
The complete NZ-Bred hand in tonight’s HK-3 feature
comprises:
HORSE BREEDING
EGYPTIAN RA (NZ) 8 ch g Woodborough x Egyptian Queen by
Karioi
ABLE ONE (NZ) 7 b g Cape Cross x Gardenia by Danehill
THUMBS UP (NZ) 5 b g Shinko King x Regelle by Exploding
Prospect
SPECIAL DAYS (NZ) 6 b g Keeper x Eva’s Belle by Grosvenor
ENTHUSED (NZ) 6 b g Centaine x Free As A Bird by Jugah
TUSCAN SPIRIT (NZ) 4b/br g Chianti x Fortelo by Armidale
AASHIQ (NZ) 4 b g Viking Ruler x Join The Fun by Rory’s
Jester
Small fields for Aussies to beat
by Tony Bourke
Monday, 14 June 2010
The smallest field in recent history will tackle the second
leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the $A520,000 King’s
Stand Stakes (1000m), at Royal Ascot, UK on Tuesday night
(AET).
When final payments were taken overnight only 12 horses
remained in contention for the Group 1 sprint, with Nicconi
and Gold Trail chasing Australia’s fourth win in five
years.
Formerly run on the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meeting,
the King’s Stand attracted a record field of 23 when
switched to the opening day in 2000. The smallest field
since was 13 in 2008.
Trainer David Hayes was particularly pleased with his backmarker
Nicconi having fewer rivals to reel in over the concluding
stages, while Gary Portelli was just as happy as the smaller
field gives Gold Trail a better chance of controlling the
tempo up on the speed.
The barrier draw, which was conducted overnight also, carried
less importance for connections because of the small field.
That said, Nicconi (barrier eight) and Gold Trail (four)
were well served, as was the horse they have to beat, Kingsgate
Native, who drew seven.
Hayes, who is preparing his first UK starter, has been keeping
a close eye on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Kingsgate
Native in his gallops at Newmarket.
“I’ve seen him work a couple of times now and
he is a likely type, but I could not be more satisfied with
how my horse is going,” he said.
Hayes is adding a visor rather than blinkers, as reported
previously, to Nicconi’s gear in the King’s
Stand and remains adamant they can prove the difference
between winning and losing.
In the updated local betting markets after the draw, Kingsgate
Native is now challenging Nicconi for favouritism. While
Nicconi remains steady at $4, Kingsgate Native has firmed
from $6 to $4.50 with Gold Trail kept safe at $13.
Notes:
The Global Sprint Challenge is a collection of the world’s
elite sprint races. It takes in eight races across four
jurisdictions – Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and
Hong Kong.
Australia’s two legs of the 2010 Challenge are held
at Flemington – the $500,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes
(1000m) on 30 January (won by Nicconi) and the $500,000
Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on 6 November.
A bonus of $US1million is on offer for the connections of
any horse that can win Group 1 Challenge races in three
different countries in 2010.
Rodd hot on trail of more glory at Ascot
CHRIS ROOTS
June 14, 2010
MICHAEL RODD puts riding at Royal Ascot just below the
Melbourne Cup but is excited about the chances of Gold Trail
in the King's Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting on Tuesday
(12.05am, Wednesday, Sydney time).
The 28-year-old left for England with high expectations
after winning the Queensland Derby with Dariana at Eagle
Farm on Saturday.
''Glenn Morton, one of Gold Trail's owners, texted me when
he got there, and he is not easily impressed and he said,
'This place [Ascot] will blow your mind','' Rodd said. ''I
can't wait to see it. I have seen it on TV but that never
does anything justice. I'll go over there with a bit of
confidence after Dariana and it would be great to win another
group 1 on the other side of the world in a couple of days.
''It's obvious that Melbourne Cups are a career highlight
but it's a feather in my hat to be going over there and
riding at a meeting that has so much history.''
The Gary Portelli-prepared Gold Trail is one of a trio
of Australian runners, which also includes favourite Nicconi
and Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate winner Starspangledbanner,
which is now trained by Irish master Aidan O'Brien.
Rodd won the Railway Stakes with Gold Trail in New Zealand
on New Year's Day and his Ascot preparation started with
a gutsy sixth in Ortensia's The Galaxy despite being run
off the track.
The five-year-old stopped off in Singapore where he led
into the straight in the Krisflyer Sprint on a heavy track
before hanging on for fourth.
''He keeps improving and what he did in Singapore was his
best run so far,'' Rodd said. ''If he can take that form
over to Royal Ascot at 1000 metres, which is his distance
at that level, I think we are going to give it a real shake
and be there [in front] for a long time.
''Nicconi is obviously the class runner in the race but
he can mix his form, while their best sprinter, Kingsgate
Native, won very well over 1000 metres last start and I
have watched it on video. He just sat back and went crash
but we will give them something to catch.''
Gold Trail is Rodd's only ride at Royal Ascot but the experienced
hoop, who has ridden around the world, was not worried about
not having ridden at Ascot.''It's 1000 metres down the straight
- I don't think I can get that lost,'' he said. ''His pattern
is to be in front and we won't be changing everything.''
Meanwhile, young jockey Tye Angland will head off for his
Royal Ascot adventure tomorrow and will spend a month in
Europe.
He will ride Coolmore Classic winner Alverta in the Golden
Jubilee next Saturday and July Cup at Newmarket and described
it as a dream trip. ''I think everyone wants to go to a
place like Ascot and ride and it has come a bit earlier
than I thought it would in my career,'' Angland said. ''This
is just a massive thrill.''
Angland could meet the Queen if successful on Alverta as
she traditionally presents the trophy in the Golden Jubilee.
Not bad for someone just out of his apprenticeship after
starting to ride racehorses only five years ago, giving
up a promising career as a bull rider.
''I won an Australian title [as a bull rider], so I had
a bit of luck,'' he said. ''But this is a long way from
that and I am looking to taking in the whole experience.''
13/6/2010 More magic for Laird
in South Africa
Winner: Flying Tristram (Flying Spur-My Southern Bell)
Race: Clairwood Cup Trial G3 (1800m)
Sold for $280,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Brooklyn Lodge
Buyer: Charles Laird
Owner(s): Mrs I & Mr MJ Jooste
Trainer: Charles Laird
Flying Tristram provided star South African horseman Charles
Laird with yet another big race winner when he scored an
impressive victory in the Group Three Cup Trial (1800m)
at Clairwood overnight.
A $280,000 purchase by Laird from the 2008 Magic Millions
Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast, Flying Tristram sat on
the pace and finished too well for his rivals to score in
great fashion.
The Brooklyn Lodge graduate is a great advertisement for
the Australian thoroughbred industry being by Flying Spur
and from a mare by Octagonal.
He joins a long line of stakes winners purchased by Laird
for the Jooste family from the famous Gold Coast sales ring.
Flying Tristram's dam My Southern Bell was a winner in
Sydney over a staying trip. She is a half sister to the
stakes performer Star of the Seas.
Another of her half sisters, the lightly raced Machen,
is the dam of the former outstanding juvenile and Magic
Millions Perth Classic winner Wolfe Dreams.
Further back it is the same family as trail blazing Magic
Millions graduate Dance Hero - the only horse to have won
the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January before sweeping
the Sydney juvenile triple crown.
Flying Tristram notched a milestone for popular Arrowfield
Stud based sire Flying Spur - his 75th individual stakes
winner.
11/6/2010 Royal Ascot update
by Tony Bourke
It’s all systems go for next week’s Royal Ascot
meeting in the UK after the final preliminaries for most of
the overseas contenders on the famous Newmarket heath overnight
(AET).
Royal Ascot hosts the second and third legs of the rich Global
Sprint Challenge and Australian hopes Nicconi, Gold Trail
and Alverta were among several visiting horses to take advantage
of the marvellous training conditions at Newmarket.
As the winner of the opening leg, the Coolmore Lightning Stakes
(1000m) at Flemington on 30 January, the David Hayes-trained
Nicconi currently leads the GSC points table. He will run
in Tuesday’s Group 1 $A520,000 King’s Stand Stakes
(1000m).
Gold Trail, trained by Gary Portelli, also runs in the King’s
Stand while the Paul Messaratrained Alverta is being reserved
for the third leg of the Challenge, the Group 1 $A780,000
Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week.
At a media conference overnight, Hayes said he was looking
forward to Nicconi racing in blinkers for the first time in
the King’s Stand.
“I’ve wanted to put them on for two years (but)
he’s usually raced so well that I’ve waited until
now,” Hayes said.
“When he wins, he wins well but he can put in a shocker,”
he said, referring to Nicconi’s two unplaced runs since
his victory in the Lightning Stakes.
At the same time, Hayes said Nicconi’s run in the Newmarket
Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on 6 March should be overlooked
because of the storm that was brewing and hit shortly after
the completion of the Group 1.
“It’s only a theory, but I think that horses,
being herd animals, tend to follow the leader during storms
because he wasn’t the only one to run badly in the Newmarket,”
he explained.
Hayes said that Nicconi also raced best when he was fresh
stating, “he’s unbeaten first-up and also unbeaten
at his four starts over 1000 metres.”
Nicconi, ridden by his handler Lizzie Jelfs, had an easy workout
over 800 metres in front of the UK media on the Lime Kilns
gallops track and Hayes marvelled at the lush turf which looked
like it had never had a horse on it for the past 400 years.
“You could hardly even hear him hit the ground when
they went by,” he said.
Frankie Dettori, who rides Nicconi in the King’s Stand,
“let him go” for 300 metres in trackwork on Tuesday
and Hayes said that was all he needed as far as fast work
was concerned.
“I’m happy with his condition going into the race.
He only lost about 10kg on the trip over and his eating routine
is just about back to normal,” he explained Hayes said,
at this stage, there were no plans for Nicconi to go on to
the Darley July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket, which is the fourth
leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
“A lot of the Aussie horses have bombed out in the July
Cup and he’s going to stand at Widden Stud (in NSW)
next season so we’re concentrating on the King’s
Stand,” Hayes said.
Hayes said he thought it was a good omen that Nicconi was
staying at the Newmarket stables where Jeune, the 1984 Melbourne
Cup winner trained by his late father Colin, came from.
Portelli said Gold Trail, who will be ridden by Michael Rodd,
may have a couple of more starts in England after the King’s
Stand and the Darley July Cup.
“He seems to take on a better class every start and
his best runs are when he can sprint off a fast pace which
there’s going to be in the King’s Stand,”
Portelli said at the conference.
At his last start on 16 May, Gold Trail was not suited by
a deluge of rain that fell just before the Group 1 Krisflyer
Sprint (1200m) at Kranji, Singapore in which he finished fourth
behind Hong Kong speedster Green Birdie.
“I know he’s handled the wet but nothing like
that,” Portelli said. “It was a good run under
the circumstances.”
Messara told the media that Alverta was steadily getting back
to normal after losing nearly 40kg in a 45 hour journey to
England which started with a 14 hour float trip from his Scone
base to Melbourne.
“She’s put back on 15 to 20 kilograms and I expect
she’ll be almost back to normal by Saturday week,”
Messara said.
As of Thursday (UK time), Ascot track manager Chris Nicholls
said the going for the Carnival should be good to firm although
there is the prospect of some rain over the next day or two.
7/6/2010 $1 Million Singapore
Golden Horseshoe Series
As an incentive for horse owners to buy an Australian bred
youngster, a series of two-year-old races will be introduced
next year.
Backed by three Australian companies – Aushorse (which
represents the breeders of Australia) and leading sales
companies Inglis and Magic Millions – two-year-olds
in Singapore will next year be running in a series of races
worth a total of S$1 million.
Six lead-up races, beginning in February and continuing
through until the end of April will be followed by the Group
2 Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe over 1200m in middle
May.
Commented Peter McGuaran, CEO Aushorse Marketing: “The
progress of Singapore racing to world status has been as
rapid as it has been exciting. The STC takes its place now
amongst the world's leading racing jurisdictions renowned
for its standards of integrity, innovativeness and excellence.
Australian breeders are proud to join in partnership with
the STC to bring racegoers an exciting new development with
the launch of a Two-Year-Old race series culminating in
the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe.
“Aushorse Marketing, as the Australian breeders marketing
and promotions body, congratulates the STC on its newest
racing attraction. We have found the STC to be deeply committed
to bringing patrons a first class racing entertainment experience
which will appeal to one and all. Australian breeders embrace
the STC culture of continuous improvement and expansion
in the interests of trainers, owners, stakeholders and racegoers.”
Commented Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive
Yu Pang Fey: “We are delighted to join forces with
Aushorse in developing this great initiative for a series
of two-year-old races next year. With a number of Singapore's
best performed racehorses over the years, including current
stars Rocket Man and Better Than Ever, being Australian
bred we can look forward to watching future stars from this
new batch of young horses on our shores for many years to
come.”
Magic Millions and Inglis will each sponsor two of the
lead-up races with Aushorse arranging sponsorship of the
remaining two with each race having a bonus attached.
The six races will be open to all two-year-olds trained
in Singapore, but only Australian sired horses offered for
sale through one of the two auction houses will be in contention
for any of the bonus' on offer.
Total sum for the series will be S$1 million made up as
follows:
a) Inglis race in February - S$100,000 (S$75,000 base stake
plus S$25,000 Bonus) over 1000 metres on Polytrack
b) Magic Millions race in February - S$100,000 (S$75,000
base stake plus S$25,000 Bonus) over 1000 metres on Polytrack
c) Inglis race in March - S$75,000 (S$55,000 base stake
plus S$20,000 Bonus) over 1100 metres on Polytrack
d) Magic Millions race in March - S$75,000 (S$55,000 base
stake plus S$20,000 Bonus) over 1100 metres on Polytrack
e) Australian sponsored race in April - S$125,000 (S$95,000
base stake plus S$30,000 Bonus) over 1200 metres on Turf
f) Australian sponsored race in April - S$125,000 (S$95,000
base stake plus S$30,000 Bonus) over 1200 metres on Turf
g) Singapore Group 2 Aushorse Singapore Golden Horseshoe
in May - S$400,000 (S$325,000 base stake plus S$75,000 Bonus)
over 1200 metres on Turf
If a non-Australian sired or sold horse wins any of the
six lead-up races, the bonus will then jackpot to the Aushorse
Singapore Golden Horseshoe.
Should a non-Australian sired or sold horse win the Aushorse
Singapore Golden Horseshoe then the remaining bonus money,
taking in any previous bonus prizemoney not having been
paid-out, will then be paid to the connections of the Australian
sired and sold horse that won the greatest amount of prizemoney
during the series.
4/6/2010 Fellowship (NZ), Sight
Winner (NZ) and Beauty Flash (NZ) to fly NZ flag in International
Gr.1
This weekend's Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) from Japan will
feature three NZ-bred gallopers who will represent their
Hong Kong racing base.
Leading trainer John Size has taken Sight Winner (NZ) to
Japan for his second Yasuda Kinen, while former champion
jockey and veteran trainer Anthony Cruz fields Beauty Flash
(NZ). The third of the NZ-bred representatives, Fellowship
(NZ), is prepared by New Zealander Paul O'Sullivan.
The NZ-bred trio top the 18-strong Yasuda lineup in the
ratings.
Hong Kong-trained horses have traditionally fared well
in the Yasuda Kinen, going back to 1998 runner-up Oriental
Express and 2000 champion Fairy King Prawn.
FELLOWSHIP (NZ) (O'Reilly x Mystical Flight)
Bred by G & L Hodel
The 8-year-old Fellowship (NZ), the oldest of the NZ-bred
representatives, tops the ratings with a hefty 118.
He closed 2009 with an excellent run behind Hong Kong's
beloved miler Good Ba Ba and finished only 0.1 seconds off
the star in third in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin.
He won the Stewards' Cup (HK,G1) in January, followed by
a second place in the 1,400-meter Queen's Silver Jubilee
Cup, another Hong Kong G1. His most recent outing in the
Champions Mile (Int'l G1), saw him turn in a fine second-place
run 3/4 length off the winner, Able One (NZ).
Fellowship was ridden in the Champions Mile by Zac Purton,
who will take the reins on Sunday.
SIGHT WINNER (NZ) (Faltaat x Kinjinette)
Bred by Westbury Stud Ltd
Source: 2005 NZB Premier Sale (NZ$60,000 on account of Westbury
Stud)
Sight Winner (NZ), rated at 117, will be racing abroad
for his second time after last year's Yasuda Kinen, in which
he finished in sixth place - 4 lengths from the winner,
Vodka.
The Faltaat-sired Sight Winner, won the 2009 Champions
Mile (G1) in Hong Kong, and enters Sunday's Gr.1 assignment
coming off a fourth-place behind Able One (NZ) in the April
25 Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
Sight Winner is owned by Wing Kun Tam, and is trained by
Bookmaker-turned-trainer John Size, 55, who moved to Hong
Kong in 2001 after a successful career as a trainer in Australia.
BEAUTY FLASH (NZ) (Golan x Wychwood Rose)
Bred by Windsor Park Stud Ltd
Source: 2007 NZB Select Yearling Sale (NZ$65,000 on account
of Halidon Farm)
The Golan-sired Beauty Flash (NZ) isa 5-year-old who boasts
a formline of 7 wins from 14 starts. He is currently rated
at 116.
Beauty Flash (NZ) finished in third place at his last outing
in the Hong Kong Champions Mile (G1) - a length and a half
off the winner.
Beauty Flash (NZ) won the Hong Kong Classic Mile (HKG1)
in January and has had two third-place finishes in this
year's five starts.
Riding Beauty Flash (NZ) on Sunday will be veteran rider
Felix Coetzee, 51.
Beauty Flash (NZ) is trained by the former champion globe-trotting
jockey Anthony Cruz, 53.
3/6/2010 Three NZ Gallopers
ranked among World's Top 25 Racehorses
The three New Zealand-bred gallopers Able One (NZ) (Cape
Cross), Egyptian Ra (NZ) (Woodborough) and Rangirangdoo
(NZ) (Pentire) have been strongly distinguished within the
recent release of World Thoroughbred Rankings.
Compiled by the International Federation of Horse Racing
Authorities (IFHA), these three ambassadors escalated their
international rating to 119 with performances recorded between
Dec 1 2009 to May 23, 2010.
Such a rating effectively sealed a shared international
rank of 22, some seven points behind the world revered top
rater, Quality Road (USA).
Rangirangdoo (NZ) - Ranked 22nd in the World!
Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross) advanced his previous place
on the board with his win in April’s Gr.1 Champions
Mile in Hong Kong.
Fellow Hong Kong-based galloper Egyptian Ra (NZ) (Woodborough)
improved his stance with his all-the-way January win in
the HK-3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m).
Rangirangdoo (NZ) (Pentire) – the highest rated of
all Australian-trained horses, made his meteoric rise on
the list with his success in the Gr.1 Emirates Doncaster
Mile (1600m).
Other NZ horses to feature on the world thoroughbred rankings
include the Hong Kong-trained horses Fellowship (NZ) (O’Reilly),
Green Birdie (NZ) (Catbird) and Joy and Fun (NZ) (Cullen).
31/5/2010 Powerful Ruler
just that
Kiwi gallopers took out seven of 11 races at Kranji on Friday
night with Powerful Ruler continuing to live up to his apt
moniker, winning the Class 1 over 1400 metres en route to
the Group 1 Singapore Derby.

Karaka Select Sale graduate Powerful Ruler. Photo: STC
In the hands of Saimee Jumaat, Powerful Ruler (Viking Ruler
x Capsimation by Kaapstad) called on his trademark fighting
spirit to emerge the victor over pacemaker Golden Number
(Jeune).
Trained by Brian Dean, the honest galloper has raced in
top company throughout his career with Rocket Man and Given
Vision amongst his list of adversaries. Despite this, he
has won eight starts with nine seconds and a third from
20 starts for the No Limit Stable.
Powerful Ruler will now head to the Patron's Bowl (1600m)
on 16 June before the S$1,000,000 Derby on 11 July. Last
year's Singapore Derby winner was the exceptional Japanese
mare, Jolie's Shinju, while in recent years the race has
been won by NZ gallopers Lim's Prestige, Dreyfuss, Hello
and Goodbye and Bocelli.
Bred by Les Temple, Powerful Ruler is from the Kaapstad
mare Capsimation and the family of outstanding gallopers
Gurner's Lane and Sovereign Red. Dean Wiles, a regular buyer
at Karaka for Asian markets, purchased him at the 2007 Karaka
Select Sale for $52,000.
With his impressive, consistent record in Singapore, Powerful
Ruler is one of the better performed sons of Cambridge Stud's
Viking Ruler who is also the sire of last year's Queensland
Derby winner Court Ruler.
New Zealand Bloodstock is the leading supplier of stakes
winners to Singapore, with Karaka graduates Better Than
Ever (French Deputy), Green Birdie (Catbird) and Mexican
Rose (Volksraad) notching up seven stakes race wins to date
this season.
Other NZB Graduates to win in Singapore over the weekend:
Horse Breeding Race Breeder NZB Sale Details
HIS MY IDOL His Royal Highness x Dubliner Maiden (1200m)
Strathcarron Stud Limited B: B McDonald, V: Strathcarron
Stud, S: 08 Festival Sale, P: $10,000
ZAC BEAT IT I Conquer x Dance to My Beat Kranji Stakes C
(1600m) A W Jones & Mrs E W Morris B: Pitman Racing,
V: Berkley Stud, S: 07 South Island Sale, P: $16,000
DARING TOURIST Occidental Tourist x Dressed in Black Class
5 (1700m) Miss K M Beuth B: Mr Kah Wui Lim, V: Westmeath
Farm, S: 07 Ready to Run Sale, P: $28,000
POWERFUL RULER Viking Ruler x Capsimation Class 1 (1400m)
L E Temple B: DR Wiles, V: Phoenix Park, S: 07 Select Sale,
P: $52,000
STREET RUFFIAN Bertolini x Tip Top Showgirl Class 4 (1000m)
S Veall B: J & I Bloodstock, V: Walnut Hill Farm, S:
08 Festival Sale, P: $16,000
CAIYAYA Colombia x Pesaro Class 4 (1100m) F Lee B: BG Hedley,
V: Mana Park, S: 08 Ready to Run Sale, P: $20,000
EXCELLENT LUCK Strategic Image x Honeyimhome Maiden (1400m)
R K & Mrs S L Davies B: Phill Cataldo, V: Te Runga Stud,
S: 07 Festival Sale, P: $36,000
NORTHERN LION Ishiguru x Capebay Kranji Stakes C (1000m)
J W Campin B: NZB, V: Chequers Stud, S: 08 Ready to Run
Sale, P: $65,000
HAPPY MORE Untouchable x Pricess Joal Maiden (1400m) Mr
W Jolly P/I $48,000, R $50,000
ZAC DETONATOR Danzero x Lakeside Wedding Class 4 (1600m)
Mr D Guihot B: NZB, V: Lyndhurst Farm, S 08 Ready to Run
Sale, P: $60,000
28/5/2010 Packing Winner (NZ)
seeks second win in HK1 feature
Packing Winner (NZ) (Zabeel) will face some formidable
foes this Sunday in his quest to claim his second title
in the HK.1 The Citi Champions & Chater Cup (2400m)
at Sha Tin.
Notably amongst these is Hong Kong’s champion galloper
Viva Pataca.
Whilst the ledger shows in favour of Viva Pataca at 2000m,
Packing Winner (NZ) holds the advantage at 2400m, with the
extra distance finding ½ a length in his favour after
the 2008 running of The Citi Champions & Chater Cup.
Packing Winner (NZ) was triumphant in the HK3 Sha Tin Trophy
over 1600m earlier this season, and at his most recent outing
placed fifth to Collection and Thumbs Up (NZ) (Shinko King)
in the HK1 Citibank Gold Cup on Feb 28.
Not to be overlooked in the race is the second of the NZ-bred
runners in Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer).
Considered to be one of Hong Kong's rising stars, Super
Satin (NZ) won the HK.1 Mercedes-Benz Derby in March, and
since this time has added to his reputation with a third
placing in the Gr.1 HKJC Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth
II Cup (2000m) in April.
The Citi Champions and Chater Cup has proved kind to the
NZ bred galloper in the past, with Super Kid (NZ) (Gaius),
Vengeance of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel) and Packing Winner (NZ)
all dominating its last 6 renewals.
24/5/2010 Aussie bred bags Macau
Gold cup and bonus
Winner: Luen Yat Forever (Honours List-Loisset)
Race: Macau Gold Cup G1 (1800m)
Sold for: $32,000
Sale: 2006 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Glenlogan Park Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Joseph Barnes
Earnings: $821,019
Owner(s): Chan Chi Ming
Trainer: P Choi
Australian bred and sold sensation Luen Yat Forever confirmed
his star qualities by thumping his rivals to win Saturday's
Group One Macau Gold Cup (1800m).
In winning the time honoured feature event, Luen Yat Forever
was able to win a HK$300,000 bonus for winning all three
legs of the Macau Triple Crown.
In the Gold Cup, Luen Yat Forever was positioned just off
the speed before making his move approaching the turn.
He was sent to the front shortly after by regular rider
Manoel Nunes and the result was then never in doubt. At
the post the winning margin was an impressive three lengths.
"He is an outstanding horse," Nunes said. "There
is something really special about him."
A son of Honours List, Luen Yat Forever is trained by owner
Tony Chan by top horseman Steven Choi.
The gelding is turning into an incredible money maker considering
he cost just $32,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions National
Weanling Sale.
As it stands he's earned the equivalent of $821,019 from
his 10 wins and eight placings from just 20 starts.
He completed the triple crown of Macau features after winning
the Guineas and Derby in his previous two outings.
The gelding had already raced to stakes success on two
other occasions earlier in his career with victory in the
Winter Trophy and Lisboa Challenge.
Luen Yat Forever is one of two winners, from two runners,
for the Sydney winning Langfuhr mare Loisset.
A winner of four races up to 1400 metres, Loisset hails
from the famous Leica family.Members of that family include
the Group One winners Leica Guv, Light Fantastic, Leica
Planet, Pharaoh, Leica Show and Leica Lover.
21/5/2010 The Gr.1* Macau Gold
Cup preview
The Postponed gelding Farson (NZ) (ex Lady Gesine by Grosvenor)
will head a five-strong NZ-bred contingent as he sets out
to claim a second Gr.1* Macau Gold Cup (1800m) at Taipa on
Saturday.
Farson (NZ) blitzed his rival in the 2008 running of the Cup
feature, the win completing a treble of major race wins in
Macau.
In total, Farson’s (NZ) black-type win haul comprises:
the Gr.1* Macau Gold Cup, the Gr.1* Macau Derby, and the Gr.3*
Macau Derby Trial.
Flanking Farson (NZ) at the start of Saturday’s Gr.1*
will be the four capable NZ-bred comrades:
Unionlucky Power (NZ) (Diamond Express) – Won the Listed
Macau Sprint Trophy in July 2009. Steps up over 1800 for the
first time on Saturday.
Best Jade Horse (NZ) (Ebony Grosve) - Crossed the line for
black-type honours in the Macau Winter Trophy (1800m) in January
2009.
Ka Lam Fortune (NZ) (My Halo) – Won the Gr.1* Macau
Derby as a four-year-old.
Flaming Sword (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) – Has won 5 from
20 to date, including a victory at 1800m.
* Macau rated
17/5/2010 Green Birdie (NZ)
grabs International Gr1. Sprint

Green Birdie (NZ)
A pearler of a ride from kiwi hoop Mark du Plessis assisted
the Whakanui Stud-bred galloper Green Birdie (NZ) to international
Gr.1 sprint acclaim last night.
Sent out at odds of 73–1, Green Birdie (NZ) conquered
some of the world’s very best sprinters in the Gr.1
SG$1 mil KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) at Kranji
in Singapore.
Capitalising on barrier one, the 7YO son of Catbird settled
handier than usual in 4th and when a gap presented itself
turning for home, the Hong Kong representative drove through
along the inner to collar the ‘Singapore Flyer’
Rocket Man in the final 100m.
Strong to the line, Green Birdie (NZ) scored by a neck over
Rocket Man with Happy Zero grabbing third two-and-a-half
lengths away.
Green Birdie (NZ), who is raced by Hong Kong owner Roger
Li Ka Chun and trained by Hong Kong trainer Caspar Fownes,
clocked a time of 1 min 09.62 secs for the 1200m outing.
“It was just great to see him get the Gr.1 win. He’s
been there or thereabouts on a number of occasions and it
hasn’t helped that he was coming up against a horse
like Sacred Kingdom,” said Whakanui Stud’s Tim
Bodle.
Plagued by laminitis for the last 18 months, the win not
only represented a career high for the horse, but a deserved
reward for the extreme patience and recuperative efforts
afforded by connections.
"Last time in the Sprint Cup at Sha Tin was the first
time he's been able to run on his own hooves without having
them built up, and he did it really well," Fownes reported
to the HKJC of the horse’s last start second.
"This time he was even better. The recovery from laminitis
has made the big difference.
“We'll probably go for a race in Australia now. I'm
not sure which one. I'll have to have a look at the calendar
to see what's best for him."
Green Birdie (NZ) has bankrolled A$145,150, S$513,000 and
HK$11,634,000 in earnings thanks to 6 career wins.
Of these, the horse’s finest performances have comprised
of the Gr.1 Singapore TC KrisFlyer International Sprint,
HK-2 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial (1800m) and the
HK-3HKJC Premier Bowl (1200m).
The talented New Zealand-bred galloper arrived in Hong Kong
in 2007 with a big reputation, largely based on his second
to Australia's champion sprinter, Miss Andretti in the Gr.2
Schillaci Stakes over 1000m at Caulfield.
Orchestrated by Whakanui Stud, Green Birdie (NZ) is a son
of Catbird and is out of the Last Tycoon mare, Mrs. Squillionaire
– a winner at 1400m.
“We bought the dam Mrs. Squillionaire at the Easter
Sale a few years back because she was from a very good family,”
explained Bodle.
“Her sister was Bob Emery’s Palia and she won
the Gr.3 Emancipation Stakes. It was also the family of
Just Awesome and Lady Capel.
“It’s a great family that has since produced
horses like Onemorenomore and Casino Prince.”
The fortuitous purchase would immediately reward with the
2003 arrival of Green Birdie (NZ).
“He was a nice yearling. His sire wasn’t the
flavour of the month though when we sold him at the Premier
Yearling Sale in 2005, but he was a strong athletic type
and we were pleased with the $230,000 that Willie Leung
paid for him,’ said Bodle.
Currently enjoying the pasture at Whakanui Stud’s
Hamilton base, Mrs Squillionaire has a number of exciting
racing propositions in the mix.
“She has an Exceed and Excel 2YO filly called Exceedingly
Rich, who has won two trials about to step out for her first
start in the next couple of weeks,"he said.
“She also has a Elusive Quality filly, who is a yearling
and at the moment she has a Encosta de Lago weanling filly
and is in foal to that sire again.”
17/5/2010 Lookin At Lucky bounces
back with Preakness victory
BALTIMORE, Maryland: Lookin At Lucky won the Preakness
Stakes on Saturday, dooming the Triple Crown bid of Kentucky
Derby winner Super Saver and giving jockey-switching trainer
Bob Baffert a historic triumph.
Still 12 days shy of his third birthday, Lookin At Lucky
charged into contention on the outside in the final turn
then held off First Dude to win the 1900-metre race in 1:55.47.
''This horse has so much heart,'' Baffert said. ''I didn't
feel confident until I saw those colours and him cruising.
Turning for home I just thought, 'Please nobody run me down'.''
First Dude was three-quarters of a length back with Jackson
Bend third and Yawanna Twist fourth.
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver finished a woeful eighth
in the 12-horse field at Pimlico after challenging on the
final turn but fading, foiling jockey Calvin Borel's prediction
of a Triple Crown sweep for the colt.
''When I asked him [to challenge], he just kind of folded
up. It happens,'' Borel said. ''Perfect trip. I wouldn't
have changed it for nothing in the world. He just come up
empty.''
No horse has swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont
Stakes since Affirmed in 1978.
Lookin At Lucky took a measure of redemption for a shock
sixth place in the Kentucky Derby, one that prompted Baffert
to switch jockeys from Garrett Gomez to Martin Garcia, a
25-year-old rider who won in his Preakness debut.
''This means a lot for me,'' Garcia said. ''I tried to
get out of trouble and he felt really good. I tried to save
him in the first turn and after that, do whatever he wanted.
''He responded when I asked him to go. When I had a chance
I went for it.''
Garcia's victory meant Baffert avoided those who would
have second-guessed the decision to switch from a veteran
jockey to a relative newcomer in the wake of the Derby defeat.
''He came out to ride,'' Baffert said. ''He's so young.
He doesn't realise the importance of this race.''
Lookin at Lucky nudged even with Super Saver as equal favourite
just before the start. Super Saver's trainer Todd Pletcher
fell to 0-5 in the Preakness as his horse finished unplaced
for only the second time in eight starts.
AFP
13/5/2010 Joy and Fun, Mexican
Rose & Green Birdie step out in S$1m KrisFlyer International
by Adrian Clark
The New Zealand-bred Joy and Fun (Cullen ex Gin Player,
by Defensive Play) will be looking to achieve black type
in three countries when he steps out in Sunday’s S$1m
KrisFlyer International Sprint-Gr.1.
The Hong Kong-trained half-brother to the dual Australian
Group One winner Zarita has won two black type races from
his home base so far – the Chinese Club Challenge
Cup-HKG3 and Premier Cup-HKG3. More recently trainer Derek
Cruz ventured to the newly-built Meydan racetrack in Dubai
at the end of March and landed the Gr.3 Al Quoz Sprint.
Joy and Fun was ridden by Brett Doyle when successful in
Dubai and the same rider takes the mount this Sunday. The
barrier draw for the 1200 metres event happens today in
Singapore.

Joy and Fun (NZ) winning in Group Three company on Dubai
World Cup Day.
The Laurie Laxon-trained Mexican Rose (Volksraad ex Down
View, by Gone West) adds real interest to the KrisFlyer.
For a start, she is the only female in the race and at three
years, the youngest contender.
Originally trained in New Zealand where she won 2 of 3 three
starts, Mexican Rose has been a sensation since arriving
in Singapore. She won her first five races straight before
a third placing. This calendar year she’s added a
pair of Singapore Group Three races and the most recent
start in SG1 company brought a fourth placing behind Rocket
Man in the Lion City Cup.
The third of the kiwi-bred runners, Green Birdie (Catbird
ex Mrs Squillionaire, by Last Tycoon), is another Hong Kong-trained
horse making the trip to Kranji for the S$1m purse and Mark
Du Plessis does the riding.
The winner of 5 of his 29 starts, Green Birdie is a HKG2
& HKG3 winner. He also has International Group One form,
having been placed second in the Hong Kong International
Sprint-Gr.1.
12/5/2010 Starspangledbanner
set to make UK debut
Boom Australian colt Starspangledbanner will make his
UK debut for champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien
at York tonight (Melbourne time).
The dual Group 1 winner steps out in the Group 2 Duke Of
York Stakes (1200m) at 12.10am (AET) after being purchased
by global giant Coolmore for $10 million earlier this year.
The former Leon Corstens-trained colt carries the topweight
of 62.5kg in the $A96,000 feature and jumps from barrier
three in a 12 horse field.
UK betting shops have the Northern Hemisphere four-year-old
third favourite behind 2009 Darley July Cup runner-up, the
Sir Michael Stoute-trained Main Aim, and three-year-old
Showcasing.
O'Brien told Racing Post that Starpsangledbanner is “a
sound horse with a very good attitude”, adding that
he's impressed by the horse's speed.
"We haven't asked him to do a lot but he certainly
isn't slow,” he said.
“In fact,he looks very quick and I've told Johnny
[Murtagh] that he will need a neck brace and a parachute
riding him.”
The Duke Of York is being used as a stepping stone by connections
who are eager to land a Group 1 victory in Europe to enhance
the horse's value as a dual hemisphere stallion.He has been
nominated for four upcoming Group 1 races in the UK with
O'Brien yet to confirm which path he'll tread.
On the opening day of the Royal Ascot Carnival on 15 June,
the horse has been nominated for both the King's Stand Stakes
over 1000m and the Queen Anne Stakes over 1600m.
He's also been nominated for the Golden Jubilee Stakes
(1200m) at Royal Ascot four days later and the July Cup
(1200m) at Newmarket on 9 July.
The horse's UK racing career will be limited though, with
Coolmore Australia announcing that the son of Choisir will
stand at their Hunter Valley stud later this year for an
introductory fee of $33,000.
12/5/2010 Goldschatz &
Waikato carry the NZ flag in S$3m Singapore Airlines International
Cup
by Adrian Clark
Waikato Stud's Snippets horse Pins currently leads the
Singapore Stallion Premiership (season runs the calendar
year) and will have two representatives - both NZ-bred -
in Sunday's S$3m Singapore Airlines International Cup-Gr.1.
Goldschatz (NZ) and Waikato (NZ) are the two Pins horses
carrying the hopes of New Zealand in Singapore.
Goldschatz (Pins ex Centri Belle, by Centaine) was bred
by Marie Leicester and had three trials from the stable
of Kevin Gray before joining his son, Stephen, during 2007.
To date the 6YO has won 8 times & been placed on 12
occasions from 31 starts - earning prize money of S$537,139.
He won five races on the trot from November through to February
and it included a pair of SG3 wins at 2000 metres, the distance
of Sunday's International Group One feature.
Waikato (Pins ex Skywalker Wilkes, by Skywalker) was bred
by Amadi Park Ltd & purchased by trainer Laurie Laxon
at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale for $50,000.
Waikato is from the same 2003 Pins crop and to date has
won 14 races and been placed 11 times from 36 starts. In
September of last year Waikato won the Kranji Mile-SG1,
his best win to date & one of four in black type company.
8/5/2010 Tropical Empire sweeps
South African group two
Outstanding South African galloper Tropical Empire captured
his second Group Two race when he bolted home in the Drill
Hall Stakes (1400m) at Greyville on Friday night.
The consistent galloper, second in last year's edition
of the race, came with his usual barnstorming finish in
the straight to raced clear of his rivals.
At the post Tropical Empire and his rider Stuart Randolph
held a three and a quarter length margin over Braggadacio
(Anthony Delpech) and Imperial Gesture (Anton Marcus).
Tropical Empire has won 10 of his 33 starts and has placed
in a further nine events. He's earned his connections over
R1 million.
Prepared by Duncan Howells, Tropical Empire is a son of
Second Empire bred in Western Australian by Heytesbury Thoroughbreds.
He caught the eye of senior part owner Richard "Chips"
Pennells at the 2004 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
and went to $17,000 to buy him from the draft of Canardly
Stud.
Tropical Empire is one of six winners produced by his dam
- the stakes performed Tropical Touch.
A daughter of former star juvenile Pago Pago, Tropical
Touch won nine races, including six in Perth, and was third
in a Group Two Champion Fillies Stakes.
As well as being the dam of Tropical Empire, Tropical Touch
has produced the dual winner Tropical Minx - the dam of
five time stakes placegetter and eight time winner Vain
Raider.
7/5/2010 Unique Jewellery (NZ)
calling on classic bloodlines
The John Size trained 5YO gelding tackles the HK-3 The Queen
Mother Memorial Cup (Hcp, 2400m) – an outing that will
be his first test beyond 2000m.
Suitability to the task, however, can be found on the bottom
line of his pedigree.
Unique Jewellery’s 2nd dam (Its) Candide (NZ) (Sound
Reason) won at the distance in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks and
the Gr.2 Great Northern Oaks.
Unique Jewellery (NZ) - a winner of 7 and of $1,141,167 in
stakes, will be guided from the ace marble by Brett Prebble
on Saturday.
Notably jumping outside him is the event’s defending
champion Mr Medici and the Tony Cruz-trained NZ horses Gallant
Champion (NZ) (Keeper) and Interchina Star (NZ) (Postponed).
Four starts back Gallant Champion (NZ) won a class one event
over 2000m.
Interchina Star (NZ), alternatively, showed his best form
last June with a Class 2 win over 1650m.
7/5/2010 Japanese success for
Magic Millions
Craig Williams wasn't the only Aussie in the winner's
stall at the famous Tenno Sho meeting at Kyoto in Japan
on Sunday.
Jacaranda Terrace, a Redoute's Choice filly bred and sold
in Australia, scored an impressive win in the fourth race
on the card.
The $700,000 purchase from the draft of Coolmore Stud at
last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale cruised
home under Shinji Fujita to beat the hot favourite Hero
by a length and a half.
The Kazuhide Sasada prepared filly is raced by Chizu Yoshida,
the wife of Shadai Farm owner Teruya Yoshida.
Jacaranda Terrace caught the eyes of the Yoshidas who were
at the time attending their first ever horse sale in Australia.
Sent to Japan, the filly immediately showed she had above
average ability and on Sunday at just her second start she
broke through in the ¥9,550,000 (A$111,350) event.
She led throughout in the three-year-old event over 1600
metres - a great achievement with her being the only Southern
Hemisphere bred in the race and giving age to her rivals.
Jacaranda Terrace, by Arrowfield Stud's champion sire Redoute's
Choice, is from the former outstanding racemare Unearthly.
A daughter of Zabeel, Unearthly scored her most famous
win in the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick for David
Payne.
She also won a Group Two Chelmsford Stakes and was second
in a Group Two Tea Rose Stakes.
Unearthly is a daughter of the stakes winning Snippets
mare Snippets' Crown and hails from the family of Australian
Group One winners Innocent King, Our Planet and Ideal Planet.
Jacaranda Terrace wasn't the only Aussie bred racing with
great distinction over the weekend in Japan.
On Sunday at Niigata the classy galloper Oceania Boss (Red
Ransom-Touched by God by Sunday Silence) ran a half length
second in the listed Tanigawadake Stakes (1600m).
A graduate of the Strawberry Hill Stud, Oceania Boss was
purchased from the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling
Sale for $250,000.
Oceania Boss, who's won of placed in 16 of his 20 lifetime
starts, has earned the equivalent of A$1,352,237.
Raced by Masaji Kitagawa's Grand Prix Co. Ltd stable, Oceania
Boss is trained by Yoshito Yahagi and was ridden on Sunday
by Hayato Yoshida.
4/5/2010 Viva Pronto stars
in Macau again
Winner: Viva Pronto (Catcher in the Rye-Steel Shuffle)
Race: MJC Macau Sprint Trophy G3 (1200m)
Sold for: $140,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Robyn Wise
Buyer: Scone Bloodstock Services
Earnings: HK$4,286,450
Owner(s): Dr S Ho
Trainer: Gary Moore (Macau)
Outstanding Macau sprinter Viva Pronto added another feature
win to his first class racing record when he romped to victory
in Sunday's HK$750,000 Group Three Macau Sprint Trophy (1200m).
Prepared by master horseman Gary Moore, Viva Pronto didn't
give his rivals a look in - bolting away under Fausto Durso
to win handsomely.
At the post the classy four-year-old held a three and a
quarter length margin over Wealthy Man, while Golden Star
was another neck back in third place.
Viva Pronto made headlines two runs back when he won the
Group Three HK$2.3 million Hong Kong Macau Trophy in Hong
Kong.
He returned to Macau and last start beat all but Golden
Star in the Chairman's Challenge Cup.
Viva Pronto is the winner of 10 of his 17 starts and the
gelded son of Catcher in the Rye has earned over HK$4.28
million (approx A$600,000).
Moore, through his good friend and leading Sydney based
bloodstock agent John Hutchinson, purchased Viva Pronto
for $140,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Horses
in Training Sale at the Gold Coast.
The youngster ran the fastest breeze up of all lots in
the auction. He was timed to run 200 metres in a blistering
10.15 seconds.
Viva Pronto is another great advertisement to the team
at Washpool Thoroughbreds, who purchased Viva Pronto for
$20,000 from the draft of Robyn Wise at the 2007 Magic Millions
Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
When they resold him at the country's premier breeze up
style sale they also sold a son of Street Cry for $64,000.
Purchased by Laurence Eales, the son of Street Cry is Shocking
- November's famous Melbourne Cup winner.
Viva Pronto's dam, the 12 time Steel Blade winning mare
Steel Shuffle, is a 100 per cent winner producer.
Her four named foals are all winners - aside from Viva
Pronto her three other winners have been successful over
sprint trips in Australia.
3/5/2010 Mail delivers
Williams a group 1 in Japan
CHRIS ROOTS
Australian jockey Craig Williams scored one of the biggest
wins of his career when he won ''Japan's Melbourne Cup''
on Jaguar Mail in Kyoto yesterday.
Williams is on a six-week riding contract in Japan and
gave up the plum ride on Ortensia during the Brisbane winter
carnival to take up the offer to ride for Noriyuki Hori.
It was only his second day of riding in Japan and his victory
on the Hori-trained Jaguar Mail in the Tenno Sho confirmed
he had made the right decision.
''This is Japan's Melbourne Cup and to win it is amazing,''
Williams said. ''When I came over here Jaguar Mail was one
the rides I knew I had and I was excited because I had seen
him in Hong Kong for past couple of years.
''He gave me a beautiful ride through the race and won
really well. He was very strong at the end of the two miles
and is a very exciting horse.''
Jaguar Mail raced away to score by three-quarter of a length
from Meiner Kitz with Meisho Dontaku five lengths away in
third.
It was Williams 23rd group 1 win, with his most recent
in Australia on Ortensia in The Galaxy last month.
The well-travelled hoop had never experienced anything
like a win in a group 1 in Japan.
''After the last [race], they got us up to the end of the
straight, where they had an amphitheatre set up with fans
to ask the jockeys question,'' Williams said.
''It was quite unbelievable. It made it even more exciting.''
Williams rode a double on yesterday's card after winning
the last race on Saturday.
Japan is the fourth country where Williams has won a group
1. He has also won the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamps
in Paris and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Tobougg
in 2000.
Williams's victory capped a great weekend for Australian
jockeys overseas, Darren Beadman riding four winners at
Sha Tin in Honk Kong on Saturday and Zac Purton and Brett
Prebble also successful on the 11-race card.
Prebble's win on Perfect Sprint took him equal with Douglas
Whyte at the top of the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership,
with the season to conclude next month.
Meanwhile, Calvin Borel rode his third Kentucky Derby winner
in four years when he steered Super Saver to victory in
the Run For The Roses at Churchill Downs yesterday, to give
trainer Todd Pletcher his first win in the race after 24
fruitless attempts.
26/4/2010 Able One leads NZ Trifecta
in Champions Mile
The gallant Able One proved a popular winner at Sha Tin last
night, leading home a NZ-bred trifecta in the Hong Kong Champions
Mile.
Winning the prestigious race for the second time in his
career, three years after he initially won it, Able One
(Cape Cross x Gardenia by Danehill) bounced out of the starting
gates to be fourth one back and one of the rails with Darren
Beadman in the saddle.
After straightening, he unleashed his devastating sprint
to haul in the leaders and race away to a comfortable win
in a smashing time of 1:33.66. Filling the minor places
were the Kiwi pair Fellowship (O'Reilly x Mystical Flight
by Danzalion) for trainer Paul O'Sullivan with Beauty Flash
(Golan x Wychwood Rose by Volksraad) third.
Able One heralded his return to form earlier this month,
winning the HKJC Chairman's Trophy with trainer John Moore
commenting yesterday that he felt his charge is as sound
as ever and will now head to the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen in
Japan on Sunday 6 June.
The mile specialist was initially sold through at the 2004
Karaka Select Sale for $190,000 and was pinhooked to the
Ready to Run Sale where he was snapped up by Paul Beamish
Bloodstock for $270,000 from Phoenix Park. He travelled
to Australia where he won his first start before continuing
on to Hong Kong to finish second on debut. In his next start,
he went one better to notch up his first win on Hong Kong
soil and just over a year later he proved his purchase price
winning his first Champions Mile.
Winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile in January,
Beauty Flash was a $65,000 purchase by Hong Kong-based agent
Dan O'Donnell from Halidon Hill at the 2007 Karaka Select
Sale. Entered in the National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed
Bloodstock Sale next week is a close relation to Beauty
Flash at Lot 245 while Fellowship's second provides an update
to Lot 489's pedigree.
26/4/2010 Red hot Rocket
Man stars in Lion City cup
Winner: Rocket Man (Viscount-Macrosa)
Race: SingTC Lion City Cup G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $60,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud
Buyer: World Wide Bloodstock
Earnings: $1,394,648
Owner(s): Fred Crabbia
Trainer: Patrick Shaw (Singapore)
Rocket Man confirmed his status as one of the world's great
sprinters with a scintillating performance in tonight's
Group One Lion City Cup (1200m) at Kranji.
The Singapore champion led from start to finish in a truly
dominant performance.
The son of Viscount, narrowly beaten at his most recent
run in the Golden Shaheen in Dubai, bounced back to his
brilliant best.
Under regular rider Robbie Fradd, Rocket Man cruised home
to beat Waikato by two and a quarter lengths, while Cheyenne
Dancer was another three quarters of a length away in third
place.
For Fradd the result was welcomed after what was described
in Singapore as a "debacle" when he rode Rocket
Man off the speed at the Dubai World Cup meeting.
"It's not a monkey off my back - it's a gorilla,"
Fradd said.
"There was a bit of pressure on me after Dubai. There
was a bit of a hiccup and it was my fault."
"I have to thank Pat (Shaw) and Fred (Crabbia, owner)
for sticking by me - this horse means the world to me."
"I've ridden a lot of good horses over my time. It
is hard to judge horses over different distances, but I
have no hesitation in declaring this horse as the best sprinter
I have ridden."
"He has a really high cruising speed. He just breaks
their hearts which he did today."
Patrick Shaw was almost lost for words after the race.
"What more can I say about him," a proud trainer
beamed. "He's a superstar!"
"He's back on track and the KrisFlyer is right on
target."
"That's the way to ride him and he's proven yet again
he is one class above."
South African based owner Fred Crabbia said connections
had options at Royal Ascot and Hong Kong later in the year,
but the priority for now is the KrisFlyer International
on May 16.
Last year Rocket Man beat all but Sacred Kingdom in the
KrisFlyer and connections are determined to go one better
in the $1 million feature in 2010.
Rocket Man is turning into a great advertisement to the
Australian thoroughbred industry - being bred in New South
Wales, by a West Australian based stallion and sold in Queensland.
He was purchased by leading South African based bloodstock
agent Andy Williams for $60,000 from the draft of Tyreel
Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
He's earned the equivalent of about $1.4 million already.
Rocket Man is from the twice stakes winning McGinty mare
Macrosa and is a half brother to the multiple Group One
winning South African star Our Giant - another Magic Millions
graduate.
This year's Magic Millions National Yearling Sale will
be held at the Gold Coast from June 6.
26/4/2010 Perak Derby victory
for Generous Tycoon
Mirroring the success of Kiko's Return in 2008, Generous Tycoon
became the second Karaka Ready to Run Sale graduate to win
the Listed Perak Derby (2400m) yesterday.
In his first start over 2400m, the five-year-old gelding
claimed the race in a narrow victory ahead of the 12-horse
field.
Generous Tycoon (Generous x Assizes by Kenmare) caught
the eye of Malaysia-based Mr Tiang Kim Choi who purchased
the two-year-old for $30,000 in 2006. Bred by Stuart Hope's
Protech Design Trust, Generous Tycoon was offered at the
sale by Challenge Thoroughbreds.Graduates of the NZB Ready
to Run Sale continue to impress throughout Asia with the
growing list of stakes-winners including the likes of Perak
Derby winner Kiko's Return, Hong Kong Champions Mile winner
Able One, two-time Listed Singapore TC Paititi Gold Trophy
winner Lim's Grand and Listed Singapore Derby winner Lim's
Prestige.
Assizes is a half-sister to Group 3 and Listed race winner
Verocative, who also produced the multiple stakes-winner
and sire Jet Spur.
Fellow Karaka graduate Kiwi Maestro, also by Generous,
clinched victory in Race 1 (1600m). Out of Group 2 winning
Morning Rise (Straight Strike) the five-year-old gelding
was purchased by Dean Wiles at the 2006 Karaka Select Yearling
Sale for $13,000 from Sir James Lodge.
Other New Zealand-bred winners on the night were East Camp
(Diamond Dane x Masterkova by Hereward the Wake) in Race
2 (1600m) and Billy Boy (O'Reilly x Gilded Saint by St Hilarion)
in Race 10 (1200m).
20/4/2010 Lloyd wins Mile crack
Hong Kong-based jockey Jeff Lloyd has picked up the ride
on Team Hawkes's Dao Dao in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin
on Sunday.
Dao Dao will race with Michael Hawkes as the trainer in
Hong Kong as the rules there don't allow training partnerships,
and he was pleased to book Lloyd. "[Jeff] rode for
us in Australia so there's an existing relationship,'' he
said. ''He's practically a local in Hong Kong so he knows
the track.''
Dao Dao ran third to Sight Winner in the Champions Mile
last year and Hawkes is confident the six-year-old will
at least match that effort, saying: "I'd say he travelled
a little better this year and has settled in a little better.''
20/4/2010 Better Than Ever
Keeping his perfect record intact, Karaka Premier Sale graduate
Better Than Ever gave the Group 2 Singapore TC Singapore 3YO
Classic (1400m) field a schooling in how to gallop with an
ultra-impressive seven length win at Kranji on Sunday night.

Better Than Ever in front again. Photo: STC
In the hands of regular race-day rider Saimee Jumaat, Better
Than Ever (French Deputy x Songfest by Unbridled's Song)
took his win tally to eight from eight and now has the first
two legs of the Singapore 3YO Challenge firmly sealed away.
Raced by Tang Weng Fei's Jupiter Stables, trainer Laurie
Laxon will now aim him for the last race in the prestigious
series, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on 14 May.
Jumaat was bursting with praise for the Singapore star
after the race.
"He is definitely one of the best gallopers I have
ridden. He's still a three-year-old growing up but he is
already a world class horse."
Better Than Ever's dam Songfest is by the imposing grey
stallion Unbridled's Song who also sired the dam of Saturday's
Group 1 AJC Oaks winner Once Were Wild (Johannesburg). Woodbine
Farm will offer a broodmare, Lot 484, by the sire at NZB's
May Sale.
Otaki-based bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo identified Better
Than Ever as a prospective purchase for trainer Laurie Laxon
at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale, with Laxon eventually bidding
to $80,000 to secure him from Blandford Lodge.
The weekend proved a successful one for the Cataldo who
also privately secured Listed winner Herculian Prince (Yamanin
Vital) for the Waterhouse stable.
Earlier in the night NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Daring
Junior (Drama Critic x Letty by Touching Wood) was impressive
in winning the Maiden over 1400m. Despite racing greenly
he knuckled down to win by over three lengths off the back
of a narrow defeat for second on debut.

Daring Junior stretching out to win the Maiden 1400. Photo:
STC
The three-year-old is trained by Cliff Brown and raced
by Sunny Lim of the Lucky Rich Stable, with the combination
already enjoying success with the family, originally owning
the dam and successfully racing Daring Junior's half-brother
Daring Commander (The Commander) for seven wins.
While Lim mentioned a possible tilt at the Singapore Guineas,
in which he'd meet Better Than Ever, Brown commented.
"He's a very nice horse. He's still doing a lot wrong
but I think he has plenty of scope"
Daring Junior was bred by Kaiwaka-based breeders John and
Jan Hargreaves to be sold by Durham Farm at the 2008 Ready
to Run Sale for $20,000.
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