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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.''

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.''

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.