Winner: Viva Pronto (Catcher in the Rye-Steel Shuffle)
Race: HKJC Hong Kong Macau Trophy G3 (1400m)
Sold for: $140,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Robyn Wise
Buyer: Scone Bloodstock Services
Earnings: HK$3.7 million
Owner(s): Dr S Ho
Trainer: Gary Moore (Macau)

Macau star Viva Pronto upstaged the locals in a brilliant all the way win in Saturday's Group Three HK$2.3 million The Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1400m) at Sha Tin.

Racing in Hong Kong for the first time, the outstanding Macau sprinter showed speed throughout as he got home to win the feature by a half length.

In the straight he looked a sitting shot for his rivals as the more fancied runners Aashiq and Yummy Spirits raced alongside - but under the urgings of Fausto Durso it was Viva Pronto who pulled clear again near the post.

The Gary Moore trained son of Catcher in the Rye notched up career win number nine at just his 15th start. He's earned over HK$3.7 million (A$525,017).

Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said Viva Pronto's win was a great result for not only the Gold Coast based sales company, but the Australian industry as a whole.

"Gary Moore rang me after the race and not surprisingly he's very excited," Chester said.

"We've been telling Australia about Viva Pronto for some time now and this result proves that he's a galloper of great quality."

"For a couple of years he's been the star of Macau and to win this big race in Hong Kong is a great result for Gary and his team."

"Viva Pronto was bred in Australia was sold through Magic Millions as a yearling and then as a Horses in Training two-year-old."

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 result 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.

"To have sold one of the best sprinters in Macau and one of the best stayers in Australia in the same draft is a great achievement," Chester summed up.

The highlight of the night for the kiwis was undoubtedly the sixth straight win for Brave Kid (Elusive City x Gordon's, by Kaapstad) who remained unbeaten after carrying 60.5kg to victory in the Step-Up Interest Account (1800m).

The John Size trained galloper showed his mettle in what looked to be a perfect Group 1 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) lead-up. Demonstrating his aptitude to tackle 2000m, Brave Kid was positioned in fifth place, one off the fence, by Douglas Whyte who chose to settle off a break-neck pace set by Deposer (Kheleyf).

The pace ensured the contest would go to the best stayer and Brave Kid came out on top after rolling strongly into the race and letting down to win by half a length from Above All (Dehere).

Brave Kid has earnings in excess of HK$3,400,000 for owners Mr and Mrs Matthew Lam Kin Hong who can now look forward to the HK$16,000,000Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby on 14 March.

Brave Kid was offered by Rodmor Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale where he represented the second crop of Haunui Farm stallion Elusive City. On the back of recent success, which included Brave Kid, Elusive City produced fireworks at Karaka 2010, averaging $77,000, with a top price of $260,000 paid for Lot 221, a half-brother to Group 1 Cox Plate winner So You Think (High Chaparral) who went to the bid of leading Victorian trainer Danny O'Brien.

John Size and Douglas Whyte also combined to see another Karaka graduate win at Sha Tin last night, when three-year-old Entrapment (Halo Homewrecker x Miabondialee, by Vettori) won at Class 3 level over 1200m.

Picked by renowned judge John Foote at the 2008 Karaka Carnival Yearling Sale for $45,000 from Seaton Park, this was Entrapment's second win from just two career starts. He looks to have a bright future for owner Benson Lo Tak Wing with HK$840,000 already in the bank.

Another with a bright future is St Didar (Keeper x Jazzmatazz, by Citidancer) who at $300,000 was the fourth top lot at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 Ready to Run Sale. There he was bought by Chris McAnulty on behalf of Richard Hui Chung Yee from Phoenix Park.

Now trained by David Ferraris, St Didar won on debut over 1000m in Hong Kong this season before placing twice at 1200m. Dropping back to 1000m last night St Didar got back to the winners' circle by half a length to take his earnings close to HK$1,000,000.

Highlighting the success of the 2008 Sale, amongst the other top ten lots is Group 2 placed King Raedwald (Red Ransom), a leading Group 1 NZ Derby contender, Group 1 placed juvenile St Fevre (Dehere), and the Lloyd Williams Stable's last start Group 2 winner Linton (Galileo).

Full list of NZB winners at Sha Tin last night:

Horse
Breeding Race Sale, Price Vendor Trainer Buyer
Sabina Keeper x J'abeel Class 5 (1800m) K2, $52,500 Cambridge Stud Almond Lee Richard Yuill
St Didar Keeper x Jazzmatazz Class 4 (1000m) RTR, $300,000 Phoenix Park David Ferraris Chris McAnulty
Forest Star Pins x Ever Clever Class 4 (1200m) K1, $130,000 Waikato Stud Tony Cruz HKJC
Entrapment Halo Homewrecker x Miabondialee Class 3 (1200m) Carn, $45,000 Seaton Park John Size John Foote
Eight Plus Nine Al Akbar x Mnemonic Class 4 (1400m) K3, $10,500 Grangewilliam Stud Almond Lee J Heasley
Brave Kid Elusive City x Gordon's Class 1 (1800m) K1, Psd Rodmor Stud John Size Not Applicable
Master Elite Van Nistelrooy x Pageant Class 3 (1600m) K1, $90,000 Fairdale Stud Michael Chang Michael Chang

Emerging as the headline act of the afternoon with a brilliant win in the Singapore Group Three Fortune Bowl (2000m), was the Stephen Gray-trained Goldschatz (NZ) (Pins).

Capturing Kranji’s feature event in dominant style, the six-year-old son of Pins recorded his fifth straight raceday success, and eighth career win to date.

“Im very proud of him” said an elated Stephen Gray to the Singapore Turf Club.

“It is a hard task to do what he has done – win five races in a row, especially being a stayer” he added.

GOLDSCHATZ (NZ) - Winning the Fortune Bowl at Kranji (SG3)

Goldschatz (NZ), who was bred by Marie Leicester, joined Gray’s Singapore stable in 2007 following a preparation by Stephen’s father Kevin, in New Zealand.

Now owned by Mr Stephan Herzog, the former Haunui Farm 2004 Weanling Sale graduate has earned almost S$600,000 in stakes for his Dubai-based owner. Gray reported after the race to the STC that he was considering the Gr.2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000m on April 23, and the Gr.1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (200m) on May 16, as future race targets.

“I’m not quite sure where to go with him now. The QEII Cup and the SIA Cup will now have to be given serious consideration” said Gray.

By Pins and out of the winning mare Centri Belle, Goldschatz (NZ) is yet another successful product of the Pins-Centaine cross, that has realised 15 percent stakes-winners to runners, including Gr 1 gallopers Legs (NZ Oaks, Kelt Capital Stakes) and Econsul (Caulfield Guineas).

Pins, the sire of the outstanding dual Group One winning filly Katie Lee, currently leads the Singapore General Sires premiership.

17/2/2010 Brave Kid remains unbeaten in Hong Kong

Most progressive Brave Kid (Elusive City x Gordon's, by Kaapstad) took his unbeaten record to five wins from as many starts in the Peach Blossom Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin last night.

His first start beyond 1400m never looked a worry, settling fourth on the fence for Douglas Whyte before taking over in the home straight and running out a length winner in 1.35.35.

Trained by John Size, four-year-old Brave Kid is in his derby year and looks likely to be given his shot at Hong Kong's most prestigious race on 14 March.

Being out of Group 2 Hawke's Bay Cup (2200m) and Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) winner Gordon's, Brave Kid has the pedigree to be competitive at the 2000m Hong Kong Derby distance.

Offered by Rodmor Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale, Brave Kid is now raced Mr and Mrs Matthew Lam Kin Hong for whom he has won over HK$2,500,000.

Paul O'Sullivan provided more Kiwi flavour to the Chinese New Year celebrations with his charge Aashiq (Viking Ruler x Join the Fun, by Rory's Jester) making it back to back wins after scoring by three-quarters of a length in the Kung Hei Handicap (1400m).

Also in his Derby year, Aashiq is a half-brother to smart Richard Collett trained three-year-old Finderskeepers (Keeper), who is Group 2 Avondale Guineas placed this season, with Aashiq's full-brother bought at the recent Karaka Select Yearling Sale by Albizia Lodge for $130,000 by Michael Stedman Bloodstock.

Aashiq himself has now won over HK$1,600,000 (NZ$) for the Indian Horse Lovers Syndicate after being purchased by Lance O'Sullivan from Brighthill Farm at the 2007 Karaka Carnival Sale for $40,000.

ADVENTUROUS Australian horsemen, not necessarily professional jockeys, could take up the challenge to ride in the Mongolian Derby in August, but they will need an iron constitution. It is billed as the toughest race in the world and is certainly the longest being run over1000 kilometers.

Some 25 riders, including12 females, started in the 2009 race and 23 finished.They used 700 horses and averaged 100 km a day.The event’s format for the Derby is based on the Chinngis Khan legendary postal system. More details can be found on mongolderby.com.

Horses in Asian Mongolio, by the way, out number its population seven to one and an increasing number were bred in Australia.

The winning run for promising young South Australian stallion Mugharreb stretched to Singapore on Friday night when his son Black Ice scored a sensational debut win.

On debut for the in form Steven Burridge stable, Black Ice came with a brilliant run in the straight to feel in the leaders and then race away for the easiest of two and a length wins.

He is the first runner in Singapore for his sire - the Willow Grove Stud based Mugharreb.

Black Ice was purchased in a private deal by Magic Millions' Singapore Representative Wade Burridge after showing promise in Victoria.

"We did pay a bit of money for him, but I think on that win we should recoup that moment," Steven Burridge said.

"Wade really liked the horse and we were able to buy him privately from the owner after he won a trial for Mick Kent."

"He's been a good doer and I was a little worried whether he was ready for this, but I wanted to get a run into him before we switched back to racing on the Polytrack."

"He's got plenty of score about him and he settled pretty well in the run, so I don't think he'll have any trouble getting a little further."

With his oldest crop just three, Mugharreb has already been represented by nine winners and five placegetters - impressive figures considering he's had only 23 runners to date.

His early flagbearers have included recent Adelaide winner Lipsting, Red Centre Classic winner Blueharreb, smart SA galloper and Adelaide placegetter Oakbank Rise and recent Victorian debut winner Rapt to Gogo.By champion sire Gone West, Mugharreb is a Newmarket stakes winning son of the former champion European filly Marling.

Mugharreb has a classy line up of 19 youngsters set to go under the hammer next month at the 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

Black Ice

A one-time sale ring reject is enjoying the last laugh from the very top of Hong Kong’s rating system this month.

Buoyed by his recent wins in October’s HK-3 National Day Cup (1400m) and New Years Day’s HK-3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m), Egyptian Ra (NZ) (Woodborough) has commandeered the top spot from the likes of Good Ba Ba (131) and Sacred Kingdom (129) with a rating of 134 (see table below).

Standing in stark contrast to this rating, the chestnut youngster was largely unwanted at the 2003 Select Colts Yearling Sale.

“He was passed in at $34,000 and his reserve was $35,000” said co-breeder Ken Rae.

“We thought it was pretty realistic given that his half-sister Egyptian Raine had won the Gr.1 Railway Hcp (1200m) a few weeks earlier and because we genuinely thought he was a nice individual,”

“He wasn’t always that way though. When I first saw him as a foal I thought ‘oh yuck – we’ll have to sell this one’. He looked like a palomino!” quipped Rae.

With co-breeder Malcom Barrett later opting out of the Woodborough youngster, Egyptian Ra (NZ) came to be syndicated amongst co-breeders Ken and Lisa Rae and Chris Ball along with outsiders Dr Bob Barton, Patricia Sapich, Marie Scot, and Ellie & Bruce Wootton. He must have been one of the most expensive maidens sold at the time!
Regarded as a breeze to break-in and a pleasure to handle, Rae’s good opinion of the horse continued to grow upon entry into his training stable.

“I said he could be as good as Cleo (Egyptian Raine) and they said you must be dreaming. I said well maybe,” said Rae.

“When he debuted for third we were offered $120,000, but he was that good, I told his co-owners not to sell.

“At his next start he finished a nose in second and at his third start he was second in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.

“At his fourth start, we put him in the Gr.1 Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes and he was very unlucky to be beaten by Iflooxcouldkill. It was at his next start when third in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes though that the big offers came.

“Rodney Lowry from Christchurch had been chasing the horse for while. When he offered us $800,000 on behalf of Hong Kong interests, we couldn’t say no”

“Egyptian Ra had placed in all five of this 2YO starts, but he was still a maiden. He must have been one of the most expensive maidens sold at the time!”

Surprisingly, this maiden status would not be debunked in Hong Kong until nearly three years and three trainers later.

In what was to become his trademark, the free striding chestnut strode straight to the front for Brett Prebble on this occasion and when flicked the rein, kicked 1.5 lengths clear, much to the relief of trainer David Hall and his patient owner Cheng Keung Fai.

With front running preference unearthed, Egyptian Ra (NZ) has subsequently landed 8 additional wins and has escalated his Hong Kong rating with successful stakes outings in the HK-1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), the HK-2 Hong Kong International Mile Trial (1600m), the HK-3 Premier Cup (1400m), the HK-3 National Day Cup (1400m) and in the HK-3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m).

All told, the remarkable eight-year-old now boasts approximately NZ$3,793,000 in earnings and with a view to this being his last season, his current trainer Tony Cruz is contemplating a fitting send off.

I'm thinking as this is probably his last season maybe we could try going somewhere else with him before he's retired," Cruz told the South China Morning Post in January.

"I think the Yasuda Kinen would be a terrific race for him. The track is firm there in Tokyo and he's that kind of horse - the faster the better for him."

Hong Kong’s Top Rated Horses as at 8/2/10

Rank Name Rating
1 EGYPTIAN RA (NZ) (Woodborough) 134
2 GOOD BA BA 131
3 SACRED KINGDOM 129
4 COLLECTION 127
4 HAPPY ZERO 127
6 VIVA PATACA 125
6 FELLOWSHIP (NZ) (O'Reilly) 125
8 THUMBS UP (NZ) (Shinko King) 124
8 JOY AND FUN (NZ) (Cullen) 124
8 PACKING WINNER (NZ) (Zabeel) 124
8 SIGHT WINNER (NZ) (Faltaat) 124

Kranji roared last night as Singapore's highest ever rated galloper Rocket Man made a scintillating return to the track after a serious leg injury.

The crowd favourite, racing for the first since his gallant second in the KrisFlyer International to Sacred Kingdom, treated his rivals with contempt, racing away to win by four and a half lengths.

And the margin could only have been bigger. He was sluggish out of the barriers and eased right down over the final furlong by regular rider Robbie Fradd.

"Thank goodness for sedatives," a relieved trainer Patrick Shaw said with a laugh after the win. "It has been a nerve wrecking week waiting for this race to come about."

"I am glad it is all over with now," he added.

Winning rider Robbie Fradd was delighted with how his star mount felt during the race and quickened up in the straight after a tardy getaway.

"He didn't jump well at all," Fradd commented. "There were a couple playing up a bit and they caught his attention."

"But he recovered quickly from that and he raced in his usual fashion."

"Everything felt really good with him. His action felt fine and he really put in when I asked him."

Fradd is bullish about Rocket Man's prospects with his coming big race features in mind.

"I'm really looking forward to having a rematch with Brett (Prebble) and Sacred Kingdom in the KrisFlyer."

"I've told Brett he won't beat me again."

Connections are aiming Rocket Man at the Group One Golden Shaheen in Dubai on World Cup night next month.

He would then return to Singapore for the KrisFlyer International Sprint in May.

A $60,000 purchase for Andy Williams' World Wide Bloodstock at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Rocket Man has turned into a great money spinner for his South African based owner Fred Crabbia.

As it stands the son of Viscount's record reads out at eight wins and a second placing from nine runs and has earned an imposing S$956,923.

The ever consistent O’Reilly gelding Fellowship (NZ) broke through for deserved HK-1 reward in the Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin last night.

Second in the event the year prior, Fellowship (NZ) carved his successful 2010 path from a slightly worse than midfield position in the running.

Occupying closer order turning for home, Fellowship (NZ) burst through to put his seal on the race with 200m to run, eventually shading out the fast finishing Thumbs Up (NZ) (Shinko King) to win by a head. Good Ba Ba finished third.

"I've been finishing second and third in Group 1 races so it is nice to win one for a change," Purton told the HKJC."I thought we had the race won some distance out but then he started to prick his ears when he heard the other horse coming and I had to shake him up a bit."

Trainer Paul O'Sullivan, who is attending the Yearling Sales in New Zealand, said in a long distance call he was more than delighted the horse had proved his Group credentials.

"I have said before he is a genuine Group horse but he kept running into an ultra fit Good Ba Ba," he said. "He's turned the tables this time."

O'Sullivan said Fellowship (NZ) will now be aimed at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup on 14 March and the Champions Mile on 25 April.

"He has run close to many Group One horses so he deserves this. I couldn't be happier as he has performed extremely well. Actually his bodyweight is the same as when he won the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial. He is a big horse but luckily he had a clear run," he added.

Fellowship (NZ) commenced his racing career in NZ as Walsburgs Pride, winning two of his three starts here for trainer Richard Coxon.

Subsequently exported to Hong Kong, Fellowship (NZ) has since distinguished himself with 7 additional wins (see full race record below) and with HK$16,964,500 in earnings.

Bred by G & Mrs LM Hodel, Fellowship is by the two time Champion HK sire, O’Reilly and is out of the Danzalion mare Mystical Flight.

Race Record: 26 Starts 9-6-3 9 wins from 1400m to 1800m, NZ$10,300, HK$16,964,500, to 2009-10, HKJC Stewards' Cup, HK-1, Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial, HK-2, National Day Cup, HK-3, Victoria Harbour H., Chek Keng H., Waikato RC Gaye McClunie H., HKJC Elgin H., Indigenous H., 2d HKJC Stewards' Cup, HK-1, Chairman's Trophy, HK-2, National Day Cup, HK-3, Premier P., HK-3, ATV Cup, Chevalier Lifts & Escalators H., 3d Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, Gr.1, HKJC Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, HK-1, Panasonic Cup.

Fuku Kitaru (NZ) wins again in Singapore
9:44 AM Monday Feb 01, 2010

Smart three-year-old sprinter Fuku Kitaru (NZ) scored three-in-a-row on Friday night when he emerged victorious in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C Canada Cup (1100m).

After dropping off the fast pace, the New Zealand-bred by Ishiguru was slipped more rein, and in one fell swoop, the Mohd Yusof-trained galloper hit the front and scooted clear to rally home by 2 ½ lengths.

“He’s been a good moneyspinner for us as he cost only NZ$37,500 as a two-year-old,” said Mohd Yusof to the STC.

“He’s got a big heart. He’s improving all the time,” he added.

Fuku Kitaru (NZ) was one of three NZ-bred gallopers to take line honours on Friday night, whilst the Karaka Yearling Sale-graduate Better Than Ever maintained his unbeaten record with a record breaking first-up victory in the $200,000 Group 3 Three Rings Trophy over 1400m.

Better Than Ever, who was bred by Helen-Gaye, Kylie, and Graham Bax, ran the 1400m journey in 1 min 21.34 secs, taking 0.17 seconds off the previous record on the short course.

The former Blandford Lodge yearling has won all six of his starts since arriving at the stables of trainer Laurie Laxon.

Laxon said he would give Better Than Ever a short break before returning for the Three-Year-Old Series of races which kicks off with the Group 3 Three-year-Old Sprint over 1200m on March 26, progressing to the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on April 18 and winds-up with the Group 1 Singapore Guineas over 1600m on May 14.

While reluctant to actually label Better Than Ever as his best galloper, Laxon doesn’t hide the fact that he believes the gelding is something out of the box.

“He is something special,” said Laxon. “I’ve been pretty lucky throughout my career to have trained quite a number of very good horses.

“He has to be right up there. We’ll let him finish his career before I can tell you where he actually sits.

“I’m getting a bit older now, so maybe my judgment is slightly clouded, but I would say that he is right up there with the best.”

Beauty Flash

The impressive Golan galloper Beauty Flash (NZ) looks well on track for bigger things ahead following a superlative win in the HK-1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin last night.

From the widest barrier 14, Beauty Flash (NZ) crossed easily to take the lead for Christopher Soumillon, and from this vantage it was game over for his chasers.

Skipping clear after the bend, Beauty Flash (NZ) was in a class of his own in the run to the line, ultimately landing post honours in what was the first leg of the 4YO series by 2 ¾ lengths.

Won by the NZ galloper Thumbs Up (NZ) (Shinko King) in a time of 1:35.65 in 2009, Beauty Flash (NZ) clocked 1.34.39 for his good track 2010 HK-1 Mile outing.

Beauty Flash (NZ) recieved his formative education with Lance Noble in New Zealand. After achieving one-win from three career starts, he was then exported to Tony Cruz’s Hong Kong stable in 2009 and since this time has added to his resume with 6 wins from 7 starts.

Following Sunday’s performance trainer Tony Cruz has declared Beauty Flash (NZ) will target the Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial (Feb 16) before heading to the highly prestigious Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Derby (Mar 14).

“With a horse like this, you have to go all the way, he’s a real beauty and he’s lived up to his name” Cruz told the HKJC.

Purchased for a moderate $65,000 by D O’Donnell from the Halidon Hill draft at the 2007 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Beauty Flash (NZ) has to date rewarded his Hong Kong owner Mr Kwok Siu-ming with HK$3,927,500 in earnings.

Classically Windsor Park Stud bred, Beauty Flash (NZ) combines the bloodlines of the stud’s resident stallion Golan with Wychwood Rose – a daughter of none other than their champion stallion Volksraad.

Sadly now deceased, Wychwood Rose produced two winners from as many runners and hailed from the family of the champion 2YO in New Zealand, Maroofity.

Best known for his Gr.1 Victoria Derby winning son Kibbutz, Golan is the sire of 10 stakes winners including the Group horses Le Baron, Regime, My Scotsgrey and Lady Alberton.

Golan will be represented by 5 horses at the Premier Yearling Sale, 10 at the Select and with a further 8 offspring at the Festival Yearling Sale.

22/1/2010 Williams to pilot Tuscan Spirit (NZ) in HK-1 attempt

The services of champion Melbourne jockey Craig Williams have been recruited by the connections of Tuscan Spirit (NZ) ahead of his HK-1 attempt in the Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on Sunday at Sha Tin.

By Te Runga Stud’s Danehill stallion Chianti, Tuscan Spirit (NZ) was the highest rated Hong Kong –based 3YO at the end of the 2008/09 season.

Trained by John Size, the rating followed a season comprising of four consecutive wins from 1000-1200m and a Hong Kong Gr.3 third in the HK Premier Bowl over 1200m.

Mr Size provided the written undertaking on behalf of Tuscan Spirit’s owners Mr George Wong Kin Wah & Ms Susie Wong Li Chia.

Williams has also accepted the engagements on Tuscan Spirit (NZ) in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial (HK Group 2, Sha Tin, 16 February 2010) and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (HK Group 1, Sha Tin, 14 March 2010), provided the horse is included in the field for those races.

New Zealand’s four other entries for Sunday’s HK-1 event comprise of Beauty Flash (NZ) (Golan), Beauty Legend (NZ) (Volksraad), Appreciation (NZ) (Danasinga) and Moonwalk (NZ) (Traditionally).

Serving as the top rated horse in field, Beauty Flash (NZ) has won 5 of his 6 Hong Kong starts from 1200-1400m and is the obvious class horse heading into Sunday’s assignment.

Formerly known as Izonit (NZ) in New Zealand where he won the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), Beauty Flash (NZ) is a brother to the Gr.1 winner Dezigna and of his two Hong Kong starts, he counts a last start win over 1600m.

A winner of both of his first two starts in Hong Kong in 2009 Appreciation (NZ) has gone on with the job this season with a further three wins ranging from 1400-1800m.

Like Tuscan Spirit and Appreciation, Moonwalk (NZ) is another from the John Size stable.

Moonwalk (NZ) was successful on debut in Australia before his Hong Kong export, where he has since had four starts for two wins (1400m-1600m).

Cheyenne Dancer has been announced as the winner of the Group One Raffles Cup in Singapore following the disqualification on Tuesday of the horse first past the post, Big Maverick.

Big Maverick returned a swab irregularity and connections of that galloper elected to have the referee sample tested. It also revealed the presence of a prohibited substance.

On Tuesday stewards from the Singapore Turf Club officially disqualified Big Maverick as winner of the S$517,250 race and fined his trainer Laurie Laxon S$25,000.

Cheyenne Dancer, sold by Magic Millions as a weanling and yearling, is now the winner of the time honoured feature for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Danny Beasley.

A high class galloper in both Malaysia and Singapore the son of Indian Danehill has earned the equivalent of A$819,000.

From just 25 starts the classy gelding has won 10 races and been placed on seven other occasions.

Prior to joining the stables of Freedman, Cheyenne Dancer proved his class in Malaysia where he was crowned their Horse of the Year for 2008.

The Raffles Cup win is a timely boost to Cheyenne Dancer's three quarter sister set to go under the hammer at next week's Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale,

Catalogued as lot number 427, the filly by Magic of Sydney is a member of a quality draft being prepared by Avoca Park Stud & Agistment.

Also in the draft are quality youngsters by sires including Singspiel, Flying Pegasus, Charge Forward, Elvstroem, Testa Rossa, Snitzel, Beautiful Crown and Hurricane Sky.

The 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale kicks away on Wednesday with the first of four sessions at the Belmont Park Sales Complex.

All of the races, run both this year and next over distances from six to 10 furlongs, will take place at Newmarket and the Tattersalls Millions is the most extensive sales race series ever run in the Northern Hemisphere.

The races are only open to horses from Book 1 of the 2009 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and owners will pay a total of £4,000 for their horses to run.

The first race, the £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Fillies’ Auction Stakes, will be run over six furlongs at Newmarket’s July Course on 28th August while the eighth and final race in the series takes place over 10 furlongs at the end of June, 2011.

Among those targeting the series are the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate, who have six entries including a 150,000 guineas Mr Greeley colt out of the Prix Marcel Boussac winner Sulk.

“I think that expanding the series to eight races is a great help to owners - it gives more opportunities, especially for the three-year-olds - and the variety of distances is also a great incentive,” said Harry Herbert, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Managing Director.

“The Mr Greeley colt that is going to Sir Michael Stoute was one our most expensive yearlings last year but he is out of a Group One-winning mare. He is a very imposing horse who is currently being broken with Malcolm Bastard before heading off to Sir Michael in around two or three weeks time.

“He’s actually quite a strong looking horse - I suspect that he is going to be more of an autumn two-year-old because he looks a good-sized horse with plenty of improvement on him.”

Highclere’s entries also include a 110,000 guineas Danehill Dancer filly with Jeremy Noseda, a 100,000 guineas Cadeaux Genereux colt with William Haggas, a 95,000 guineas son of Cacique trained by Michael Jarvis, a 72,000 guineas Danehill Dancer filly with Richard Hannon and a Haggas-trained son of Oasis Dream who was bought privately.

“I think that Cacique only had 28 foals due to fertility issues but this colt looks a really good-looking prospect and is very much a three-year-old in the making. He is going the right way but he should be a late summer starter who won’t be seen at his best until next year,” continued Herbert.

“On the other hand, our Oasis Dream colt out of Wyola looks very precocious and he looks a real two-year-old in the making - neat, strong, very athletic. He is already skipping up Warren Hill for William Haggas and he is most likely to be seen to best effect as a juvenile.

“We also have a Cadeaux Genereux colt with William and he’s a bigger horse who is more likely to be seen well into the second half of the season. He’s quite a strong and imposing individual with a similar stamp to Bonus, who was a useful sprinter for us with Richard Hannon.

“The two Danehill Dancer fillies that we have entered both look very forward - the one we have sent to Jeremy Noseda is particularly precocious - she is bright in her skin and could be our first juvenile runner of the season. I was very taken with her when I saw her last week and she could be a filly for Royal Ascot at the moment.

“It was tough to buy at Book 1 last year and it was nice to be able to get yearlings by stallions like Mr Greeley and Danehill Dancer at a decent price. I am hopeful that one or two of them will be able to run in one or more of the Tattersalls Millions races.

“We have been fortunate to win Tattersalls sales races with Tiger Eye and Tamarisk in the past and they are great to have a crack at. The fact that there are now eight races makes the concept even more appealing.”

The 700,000 guineas Book 1 sale-topper, an Oasis Dream colt trained by Aidan O’Brien for Derrick Smith, is the dearest entry although those engaged cover a full spectrum of prices.

George Washington’s as yet unnamed only foal, a filly bought for 320,000 guineas by owner Julie Wood and in training with Richard Hannon, has been entered. Meanwhile, also engaged is a Danehill Dancer three-parts brother to George Washington in training with William Haggas.

Footballer Michael Owen has several entries trained at his Cheshire stable by Tom Dascombe, including a 200,000 guineas Cadeaux Genereux filly he shares with Betfair founder Andrew Black.

Sir Robert Ogden has expanded his team of Flat trainers this year and a 650,000 guineas Galileo colt named Olympiad, bought by the owner, has joined Dermot Weld. Appropriately Weld’s mother Gita bred the colt.

As well as Jeremy Noseda, who previously oversaw the bulk of Ogden’s Flat string, he also has Tattersalls Millions entries trained by Richard Fahey, Brian Meehan, Sir Michael Stoute and David Wachman.

The Maktoum family are well represented among the entries while Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, from the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, has three entered, all trained by Henry Cecil. These include the 475,000 guineas colt Durante Alighieri and a 350,000 guineas Danehill Dancer filly.

Gerard Augustin-Normand, who raced last season’s French Derby winner Le Havre, has 11 entries including the 180,000 guineas filly Arromanches, from the final crop of Sadler’s Wells.

Meanwhile another significant buyer at last year’s sale was Andrew Tinkler, CEO of the Eddie Stobart haulage firm, who has three entries in Shamdarley (90,000 guineas), Well Sharp (80,000 guineas) and Firstknight (80,000 guineas) split between Michael Dods and Tom Dascombe.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“We are delighted with the number of entries for the £1,750,000 Tattersalls Millions. To have more than 400 entries is a wonderful endorsement of the all new Tattersalls Millions which is the best value sales race series ever devised in Europe.

“When we made the changes to the Tattersalls Millions last year we were aiming to produce a series which allowed horses from all levels of Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale to compete for six figure prize money and it is terrific that owners have supported it so wholeheartedly.”

Newmarket's Director of Racing Michael Prosser said: "I am thrilled by the initial entry for the Tattersalls Millions series, which is open to all horses that were catalogued in Book 1 of last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sales.

"The increase in numbers is especially satisfying and indicates that the new formula has captured the imagination of owners and trainers alike.

"The series, which was first staged in 2008, has evolved to offer substantial prize funds over a number of different stages.

"I am particularly excited about the inaugural £150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3yo Trophy, which will be held at the 2011 Craven meeting.

"This valuable race offers three-year-old sprinters an ideal starting-point for their campaigns and I'm sure will be a very useful addition to the programme book."

Fast approaching the half way mark in the Hong Kong season, Inglis’ golden run of success in the racing mecca has been further enhanced by the remarkable 24 per cent winning strike rate notched by sale graduates to date this season.

The latest winner was the John Moore trained CRAIG’S DRAGON ($150,000 2006 Easter, 5g Catbird-Steam Heat) who chalked up the 73rd win in Hong Kong this season for Inglis when winning the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at Sha Tin on Sunday.

He joins G1 International Sprint winner Sacred Kingdom, Happy Zero and Inspiration as Inglis graduates to win Group races in Hong Kong this season.

"To win a quarter of the races so far this season is a phenomenal statistic given the competitive racing population derived from highly credentialed tried horses and yearling purchases from all major racing centres across the globe," said Inglis Commercial Development Manager Matt Rudolph.

"The most pleasing aspect is that our best graduates in Hong Kong such as Fairy King Prawn, Lucky Owners, Silent Witness and the above mentioned were all specifically bought for Hong Kong from the sale ring which means our clients are being rewarded for their judgement on yearlings."

While Easter is where the bulk of Inglis’ best performers in Hong Kong have originated, all of the major Inglis yearling sales have produced Champions in Hong Kong in recent years. Silent Witness was a $55,000 purchase at Sydney Classic and Sacred Kingdom was purchased for $200,000 out of Melbourne Premier.

Inglis remains the only company to have sold a winner of the Hong Kong International Sprint, starting with inaugural winner Fairy King Prawn and continuing through the likes of Silent Witness, Inspiration and Sacred Kingdom.

Yesterday’s release of the Thoroughbred World Rankings further underlined Inglis’ reputation.

Sacred Kingdom was rated the top sprinter in the world for the third year running and of the Australian trained runners, Inglis graduates filled five places in the top 10, with Whobegotyou, All Silent, Takeover Target, Maldivian and Racing To Win all highly regarded by the International handicapping panel.

The Inglis Yearling Sale Series for 2010 commences with the Sydney Classic Yearling Sale at Newmarket on January 24 & 25.

13/1/2010 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings

The 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings have been released by the International Federation of Horse Authorities with a record Australian-trained contingent featuring within.
To merit inclusion, a horse must have been rated at 115 or above in the period under review by the World Thoroughbred Rankings Conference.
Of the 333 horses making the listings 50 were Australian-trained, up from 36 in 2008, which represents a record in any World Thoroughbred Rankings over a 12 month period.
This is the second year the Rankings list all performances throughout the world in the calendar year, irrespective of where individual horses raced or were trained.
The Rankings therefore represent a comprehensive list of the best individual performances by the world’s racing elite during 2009.

SEA THE STARS HEADS RANKINGS
The top rated horse for 2009 at 136 was the recently retired champion Irish three-year-old Sea The Stars (IRE).
Trained by John Oxx, Sea The Stars was undefeated during the year culminating in a brilliant win in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over 2400m at Longchamp in October.
Sea The Stars is the highest rated horse since Peintre Celebre (137) in 1997.
Brilliant French mare Goldikova (130) was next in the rankings, ahead of Rip Van Winkle (129), with Fame And Glory and unbeaten USA mare Zenyatta both on 128.

AUSTRALIANS SHINE
The highest rated Australian-trained horses on 122 were world class sprinter Scenic Blast and the Bart Cummings-trained pair So You Think and Viewed.
Scenic Blast is the equal Champion Sprinter in the world in 2009 along with Australian-bred and Hong Kong-trained star Sacred Kingdom (122) who achieved his rating in winning the Kris Flyer Sprint in Singapore and the year-ending Hong Kong International Sprint in
December.
This marks the third consecutive year that Sacred Kingdom has been ranked Champion Sprinter, either outright or in partnership, over the past three years.
Australian-bred horses again dominated the world sprinting ranks with Singapore trained star Rocket Man (121) the highest rated three-year-old sprinter in the world for his second placing behind Sacred Kingdom in the Kris Flyer Sprint.
A further four Australian-bred and internationally trained horses joined Sacred Kingdom and Rocket Man in the 2009 Rankings. They were South African trained Our Giant (a half brother to Rocket Man), rising Hong Kong star Happy Zero, One World and War Artist.
SCENIC BLAST (122)

Trained by Dan Morton in Western Australia, Scenic Blast achieved a rating of 122 in winning both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March where he carried top weight of 57kg and again when he scorched down the Royal Ascot straight to win the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) in June.
SO YOU THINK (122)

So You Think achieved a rating of 122 in his all-the-way win in the Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October and again when second in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November where he carried 1.5kg over Weight-For-Age.
VIEWED (122)

Viewed achieved his rating when winning the BMW Caulfield Cup over 2400m in October. He carried the top weight of 57kg and conceded weight to all his rivals in a two length win over Roman Emperor and Vigor.
Whobegotyou came next in the Australian listings on 120 for his wins in the Dato Tan Chin Nam (Feehan) Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley in September and the Yalumba (Caulfield) Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield in October.
Typhoon Tracy was the highest rated Australian filly or mare achieving a rating of 118 in her devastating five length victory in the Myer (Empire Rose) Classic over 1600m during Flemington’s Melbourne Cup Carnival in November.
A notable omission from the listings is 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Shocking. While he joined the honour roll of winners of Australia’s most famous race, Shocking was lightly weighted (51kg) and received weight from the second, third and fourth placegetters in Crime Scene, Mourilyan and Master O’Reilly. Shocking was rated 114 in winning the race.
Greg Carpenter, Chairman of the ANZ Classifications Committee and Australia’s representative on the WTR Committee, said “The 2009 listings again illustrate the dominance of world sprinting by Australian-bred horses with Scenic Blast and Sacred Kingdom heading
the older sprint category and Rocket Man the highest rated three-year-old sprinter in the world.
“The performances of our top three-year-old So You Think and leading stayer Viewed were also considered world class and the record number of Australian horses in the listings provide ample proof of the growing influence on world racing of the Australian racing and
breeding industry.”
Total Number of Australian Trained Horses Rated 115+
2009 50
2008 36
2007/08 33
2006/07 29
2005/06 16
2004/05 9

8/1/2010 Danroad mare wins in America

The New Zealand-bred mare Kazroad (Danroad ex Karen’s Heart, by Peintre Celebre) was a winner at Santa Anita in America on the 28th of December.

It was the mare’s second run in the United States, having formerly been prepared by Mike and Paul Moroney at Matamata in New Zealand.

“She won by four-and-a-half lengths over 1100 metres on dirt,” co-owner Chris McAnulty reported to NZTM.

“She was shipped to LA after bleeding at her fifth NZ start.”

Kazroad is a four-year-old daughter of Highview Stud’s Danehill horse Danroad. According to figures provided by Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz), Danroad is the sire of 27 winners from 54 runners to date.

The dam is the unraced Peintre Celebre mare Karen’s Heart, while the second dam is Sauvignon Valley, a Listed Race winner and Group One-placed in Western Australia.

Plans are for Kazroad to contest a Grade Three mile early in the New Year.

Quality Macau galloper Luen Yat Forever doubled his stakes win count when he cruised to victory in Sunday's Group Three Winter Trophy (1800m).

An Australian bred and sold gelding by Honours List, Luen Yat Forever led home former Sydney stakes winner (Golden) Pistols by a length and three quarters.

A $32,000 bargain buy for connections at the 2006 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Luen Yat Forever was purchased from the draft of Glenlogan Park.

The Steven Choi trained performer had previously shot to prominence when he won the Group Three Lisboa Challenge in July.

His impressive record now reads out at six wins and six placings from just 14 starts and he's earned the equivalent of $278,537.

Luen Yat Forever, by Honours List, is the only runner to date for his dam Loisset.

A daughter of Langfuhr, Loisset won four races during her career, including two in Sydney, for earnings of almost $100,000.

She is from a winning Don't Say Halo half sister to Group One winner Leica Planet and is from the famous Leica family.

Other Group One winners in the pedigree include Leica Show, Leica Guv, Light Fantastic and Pharaoh.

The win of Luen Yat Forever wraps up an outstanding few days for Magic Millions graduates on the international circuit with stakes winners in no fewer than four countries over the weekend.

There were 20 Magic Millions graduates win around Australia on Saturday include the feature Australian race quinella in the $50,000 Bairnsdale Cup (Encroacher and Escape Artist).

Top class four-year-old Oracy will head to one of South Africa's biggest races after he easily won Sunday's Group Three London News Stakes at Turffontein.

A $400,000 purchase for trainer Charles Laird from the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Oracy beat the locally bred Captain Scott and fellow Gold Coast graduate Dan De Lago.

The result was a real family affair with Laird preparing the winner and third placegetter, while splitting the pair with the runner-up was Laird's cousin Alec.

Oracy sat just behind the leader Fenerbahce until turning for home when he made with his run with Captain Scott.

In the run the line Oracy, with Piere Strydom aboard, had a length and a quarter to spare of Captain Scott.

Both Oracy and Dan De Lago, an Aussie bred son of Encosta de Lago, will most likely next clash in the Group One J & B Met at Cape Town.

Laird told reporters after the race that he expected both to be hard to beat in the J & B Met and thought Dan De Lago had more improvement with Oracy have a clear edge in fitness this time around.

Oracy's win was the sixth in seven starts for the star entire. His only defeat came at his most recent start when he missed a place in the Group One Summer Cup.

Earlier on he had won the Gauteng Guineas and Dingaans Handicap, both at Group Two level.

Dan De Lago, who is from The Golden Dane, has five wins and four minor placings from his 10 starts and he is a proven Group Two winner and Group One placegetter already.

Oracy, by champion Cambridge Stud sire Zabeel, is one of two stakes winners this season from two runners from the group winner Lady Dehere.

A group two winner in her own right, Lady Dehere is also the dam of this season's New Zealand stakes winning juvenile The Lady.

Lady Dehere is a half sister to Oratorio - a winner of the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic who is now standing at Mungrup Stud in Western Australia.

Oratorio, a group winning son of Stravinsky, is one of Australia's hottest second season sires and his stakes winning stars include the likes of Clueless Angel, Waratah's Secret and Gold Rocks.

Grand international galloper Raul rounded out a memorable weekend of success for Magic Millions graduates when he won the Group One Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup (2200m) in Malaysia on Sunday.

Raul cruised to the line three parts of a length clear of Worth the Wait, while fellow Magic Millions graduate Free Spirit was not far back in third place.

A former outstanding galloper in Singapore, Raul, now a spritely 10-year-old, has headed to Malaysia and this year alone has won four more races for trainer Evert van Breukelen.

All up the gelding has won 12 races and placed on 29 other occasions and earned the equivalent of A$1.565 million.

The all the way win was the biggest and most significant in the career of MRA apprentice Lou Ho.

"It's the best feeling winning the most prestigious race," he said. "It feels like a dream."

Raul was sold twice by Magic Millions - Australia's leading supplier of international winners.

He was originally purchased by Barely a Moment's breeder Dick Vincent for $5,250 from the 2000 Magic Millions St Jude Dispersal Sale.

Vincent, through his De Grey Park draft, sold Raul at the 2001 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale where he was snapped up by leading bloodstock agent John Chalmers for $12,000.

Earlier in his illustrious career Raul proved himself one of the best gallopers in Singapore by winning the Gold Cup in 2004.

He also won the first leg of the Tiger Beer Triple Challenge in 2003 over 1200 metres.

Prior to his win in the Malaysian Group One on Sunday, Raul had captured the Astro Wah Lai Toi Charity Cup over 2000 metres on November 22.

He had also won his start before over 1700 metres at Penang.

Raul, by L'Enjoleur's half brother Hideyoshi, is one of his six winners from his dam, the twice raced Beau Sovereign mare Whisper to Me.

Whisper to Me is a half sister to Perth stakes winner My Judy (dam of SP Centrepiece and grandam of Singapore star The Hornet and Perth stakes winner Parc D'amour) and the stakes placed Premier Gossip.

Further back it is the family of stakes winners including Irish Peace, Olive Branch, Scimitar and Brash Son.

22/12/09 NZB claims half in Hong Kong

On Saturday night at Sha Tin, half the racecard went the way of the Kiwis, with New Zealand Bloodstock sale graduates claiming five winners on the ten-race card, including the feature Gome Cup (1400m).

Amigo Wins Gome Cup
Raced as Kabalevsky in New Zealand from the Stephen Marsh stable, Amigo (Giant's Causeway x Lucrative Dame, by Zeditave) scored by seven lengths in his NZ debut at Waverly over 1200m before finding his way to the Michael Chang stable in Hong Kong.

Amigo flashes down the outside in the Gome Cup

photo: HKJC

A notable strong finisher, Amigo scored on debut in Hong Kong from what seemed an impossible position on the home turn. Amigo came so far wide in the home straight that he was missed by the camera man completely, only coming into view when running past all rivals in the final 50 metres.

The HK$1,150,000 Gome Cup on Saturday drew a field of 14 and Amigo, ridden by Jeff Lloyd, was asked to sit three wide in transit with cover.

Into the home straight Amigo found himself wide again, with the benefit being that he could find his full stride in plenty of space and on Saturday his stretch proved superior for a second time in Hong Kong.

Amigo was purchased by Michael Chang for $170,000 from Curraghmore Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale. The son of the 'iron-horse' Giant's Causeway and stakes-placed mare Lucrative Dame has now won HK$1,500,000 for his owners the Michael Chang Syndicate.

Curraghmore Stud will present 31 yearlings at Karaka Premier 2010 including yearlings by Zabeel, Encosta De Lago, Redoute's Choice, Flying Spur, Dansili, Fastnet Rock, Stravinsky, Darci Brahama, Dehere, Charge Forward, Rock of Gibraltar, Royal Academy, and Fusaichi Pegasus.

Brave Kid
Elusive City seems to have produced a very smart gelding in the form of the John Size trained Brave Kid (ex Gordons, by Kaapstad).

Now the winner of two races from just the two starts, Brave Kid drew wide on Saturday, sat back, then flew past his rivals to claim victory in the Hisense Handicap (1400m) with Douglas Whyte aboard.

His victory by a neck was most impressive given the fact he was bumped severely and carted wide on the home turn by runners inside him.

The four-year-old son of Group 2 Hawke's Bay Cup winner Gordon's knuckled down in the final 300m and looks a very capable type.

Brave Kid was offered by Rodmor Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale and he has now won HK$840,000 for his owners Mr and Mrs Matthew Lam Kin Hong.

Haunui Farm's Elusive City has sired quality racing stock in both hemispheres including Group 1 French 1000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave and in New Zealand last season's Listed Ryder Stakes winner Lamington Vegas.

The Group 1 winning juvenile is represented by 37 yearlings (Premier, Select, and Festival) at the 2010 National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka in February.

These include Premier colts:

Lot 155 - Elusive City x Shahiid (Pentire) - Little Avondale Stud

· Out of a full-sister to New Zealand's 2006/07 Champion Stayer Pentathon who won a New Zealand Cup and placed in both the Group 1 Sydney and Group 1 Doomben Cups.

Lot 221 - Elusive City x Triassic (Tights) - Windsor Park Stud

· From Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic winner Triassic, this colt is a half-brother to this season's Group 1 Cox Plate winner, sensational three-year-old So You Think (High Chaparral).

Lot 241 - Elusive City x Woodini (Woodman) - Te Mania Thoroughbreds

· This colt is a half-brother to Group 3 Wonderful World Stakes winner Millbank (Keeper).

Other NZB graduates to win in Hong Kong include:

Horse Breeding Race Sale, Price Vendor Buyer
Wind Damper Stravinsky x New Brew Class 4 (1000m) K2, $95,000 Seaton Park Ricky Yiu
Super Family Lord of Warriors x Floresta Class 5 (1400m) SI, $16,000 Selwyn River Stud Yu Yan Yung
Moonglow Colombia x Kings Bride Class 4 (1400m) K3, $10,000 Paramount Lodge Graeme Rogerson

Catalogues can be viewed online at http://www.nzb.co.nz/. To order your hard-copy contact reception@nzb.co.nz. For hospitality and travel enquiries please contact Hospitality Coordinator Victoria Vela (victoria.vela@nzb.co.nz).

Champion trainer Laurie Laxon lifted his sixth consecutive Singapore Trainers’ Premiership title on Sunday in Singapore, with a 2009 season tally of 95 wins.
Appropriately it was the NZ-bred galloper Pacino (NZ) (Shinko King) who brought Laxon’s prolific season to an end, with the former Melbourne Cup trainer having saddled the Class 4 winner in Big Minako (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) earlier in the night.
“It’s been a great season for me. I’m very happy with the way things have turned out, never mind the century,” said Laxon to the Singapore Turf Club.

“Of course it helps to have horses like Ace Aliado, who by himself won seven races, and of course Better Than Ever.

“It’s again been a wonderful team effort, not to mention the support of our owners who invest a lot of their time and money in quality horses.”

One of Laxon’s stand-out performers this season has been the Towkay four-year-old Ace Aliado (NZ), who has won all of his seven starts since January 18 2009. Similarly Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad), a three-year-old filly who Laxon owns and trains, completed her first season in Singapore with a five-straight win haul.

In 2004, Laxon became the first person in the history of Singapore racing to train 100 winners in a season. He emulated this effort in 2007 with 104 winners.
Fellow ex-patriot trainers Stephen Gray and Bruce Marsh closed the 2009 season with 49 and 35 wins respectively.

Viscount gelding Happy Gladiator has emerged as the shooting star in Macau racing, making it seven wins from as many starts when easily beating the highly touted Good Control overnight.

In winning by two and three quarter lengths, Happy Gladiator lowered Macau’s sand track 1300m course record.

HAPPY GLADIATOR ($57,500 2008 Scone, 3g Viscount-Church On Sunday) only began his career in June of this year, but has quickly made his way through the grades for trainer Gary Moore, with his earnings this season now approaching M$1.4million (A$195,000).

Taking up his customary front running role, Happy Gladiator set a cracking pace in front last night and when challenged by Good Control, found another gear to race clear over the concluding stages.

“He’s a very exciting horse,” Moore said. “He’s lowered the track record and easily beaten Good Control, who is a horse they have earmarked for Dubai, so he’s really stamping himself as one of our top horses here.”

He was offered for sale by Woodlands Stud as agent at the 2008 HTBA Scone Yearling Sale and looks another rising star on the international stage for Viscount.

His dam Church On Sunday is a daughter of Bubble Gum Fellow from the top mare Will Fly, who won nine races – including five at Group level – and at stud has also produced the Group winners Sanziro and Flying Object

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Noble Manor streaks ahead in the
Kranji Stakes A on Friday. Photo: Singapore Turf Club

Scorching down the outside of the field, Noble Manor (Stravinsky x Sarwatch by Jetball) reeled in a gallant Why Be (Success Express x Charybdis by Royal Academy) to win by one-and-a-half lengths.

Not only did the race provide a Karaka quinella, but also one for leading trainer Laurie Laxon who heads into the last few meetings of the Singapore season the clear leader of the Trainers' Premiership with 93 winners.

Now the winner of seven, four-year-old Noble Manor is aimed at the Group 3 Three Rings Trophy (1400m) on 29 January.

Purchased by prominent New Zealand buyer, David Ellis, at the 2007 Premier Sale for $380,000 from his breeders Peter and Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud, Noble Manor's New Zealand performances included running an unlucky fourth in the inaugural Karaka Million in January 2008.

His Redoute's Choice half-brother will be offered at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale at Lot 146 while his half-sister, Pertinacious (Montjeu), has her first foal, a bay colt by Keeper, set to go under the hammer at Lot 93.

Bursting onto the scene in 2005 winning his Maiden over 1000 metres, the now seven-year-old Why Be has been a grand campaigner at Kranji and finished out of the money only twice in his first 30 starts that included 21 wins. With over S$2 million to his name he was just a $26,000 purchase by Bruce Wallace at the 2004 Select Sale from Chequers Stud.

Other NZB winners in Singapore over the weekend included: Horse Breeding Race Sale, Price Vendor Buyer
Street Ruffian Bertolini x Tip Top Showgirl Maiden 1200m K3, $16,000 Walnut Hill Farms J & I BLOODSTOCK
What Todo Howbaddouwantit x Sky Mist Initiation 1200m K1, $80,000 Fairdale Stud MR SB MARSH
Riviera Star Riviera x Evensong Class 4 - 1900m K3, $14,000 Ardsley Stud NZB as agent
Radasca Danroad x Barbados Maiden 1220m RTR, $40,000 Harley Park NZB as agent
Supremacy Steel Rossini x Lickity Split Class 5 - 1100m RTR, $20,000 Chesterfields NZB as agent
Fuku Kitaru Ishiguru x Southern Jewel 3YO H - 1200m RTR, $37,500 Chequers Stud MR SOON HOCK LEE

New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series will take place at Karaka from 1 to 8 February 2010. For catalogues or travel information, contact reception@nzb.co.nz.

As the six-year-old romped to his second success in the race in three years, Australian contenders Apache Cat and All Silent finished midfield, with horse of the year Scenic Blast bleeding and finishing last.

Jockey Damien Oliver quickly jumped off Apache Cat after the post as the seven-year-old pulled up sore. ''He was just feeling a leg and I didn't want to take any chances,'' he said. ''I don't think it is life-threatening and I didn't feel it until after the post.''

All Silent's trainer, Grahame Begg, was left to rue a ''chequered passage'' as his star was never able to hit top gear and ran eighth, just behind Apache Cat, as jockey Nick Hall searched for inside runs.

''It was always going to be difficult,'' Begg said. ''I told him [Hall] not to be out wide on the turn and he took short cuts and ran into a chequered passage in the straight. It hasn't been a good day for Australia with the other two pulling up with problems, but what can you do?

''My horse is fine and we'll just go home and look for another race.''

While the Australian horses floundered, expat jockeys Brett Prebble and Darren Beadman took the quinella in the race.

Prebble, the leading rider in Hong Kong this season, was supremely confident with Sacred Kingdom ($2.50 fav) and rode him like a good thing. ''I expected this,'' he said. ''Sometimes when it's unexpected it is a bit more of a buzz, but I expected [to win] and it all went to plan.''

The race worked out perfectly for Sacred Kingdom, the Australian-bred son of Encosta De Lago, as he scored a half-length win from One World ($10) with Joy And Fun ($21) a neck away in third.

Prebble settled Sacred Kingdom fifth as US hope California Flag was driven mad by Japan's Laurel Guerreiro in front and coming to the turn he would have been laughing.

''I just had to bide my time,'' he said. ''He's the best sprinter in the world, as long as he has got one to run down he is right. When I got off their backs [in the straight] I thought, 'Just count to 10, count to 10,' then I went and nothing was going to catch me.''

Sacred Kingdom, which was beaten in the International Sprint Trial three weeks ago, had overcome legs problems to return a two-time sprint champion after winning in 2007. ''It is a great team effort: the vets, me and [trainer] Ricky [Yiu] put on our thinking caps and we came up with the right result,'' Prebble said.

''I thought after his last start he would take the step forward and after his last piece of work I thought the only thing that would beat him was getting there [to the lead] too soon.''

Earlier, French filly Daryakana remained unbeaten when she won the Hong Kong Vase, 2400m, at only her fifth start with a late charge down the centre of the track.

She claimed favourite Spanish Moon on the line to win by a short head with another French stayer, Kasbah Bliss, only a neck back in third. Daryakana became the second three-year-old filly after Vallee Enchantee in 2003 to win the Vase in its 16-year history and the eighth winner from France.

13/12/09 Australians work on how to bang gong in Hong Kong
CHRIS ROOTS

THEY billed it as the greatest show on turf but the Hong Kong International meet is much more than that.

It is an amazing mix of the racing world with horses from Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia travelling to take on the locals at Sha Tin today.

It's a coming together, an end-of-year convention, a racing jamboree.

''It's exciting just to be here,'' Sydney trainer John O'Shea said.

''I can only hope that I have a horse which is good enough to come back every year. The buzz when you walk into this place is amazing.''

O'Shea has Racing To Win in the Hong Kong Mile, one of four races that have developed into a premier racing event.

Winners from Royal Ascot, Dubai, Melbourne and the Breeders Cup are among the fields for the Sprint, Mile, Cup and Vase, which are always the most diverse of the year - the Cup alone has produced winners from 10 different countries over its 22 runnings.

The Sprint is the highlight of the afternoon with nine group 1 winners, three of which were successful at the highest level at their last starts: All Silent, Total Gallery and Japan's Laurel Guerreiro. Australia's Scenic Blast and Apache Cat have also made the trip.

Scenic Blast chases a $US1 million bonus after winning the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap in Melbourne earlier this year before taking out the King's Stand at Royal Ascot.

''It is just exciting to be part of something like [the bonus],'' Scenic Blast's trainer, Dan Morton, said.

''I'd like to think he's not far off where he was in England, but having said that he has been up for a long time now and we have to remember that.''

Apache Cat returns to Sha Tin after running third to Inspiration and Green Birdie, which are both backing up in the race this year. However, Patinack Farm Classic winner All Silent is probably the best hope of an Australian victory, with the six-year-old in career-best form.

He was simply devastating in Melbourne and has arrived in similar order. His trainer, Grahame Begg, has already taken out the Bowl, a forerunner to this day, twice with Monopolize in 1995 and 1996.

''He is the same as we had him in Melbourne,'' Begg said. ''The barrier [14] doesn't help but he was always going to get back and we just have to hope for a clear run, so he can show his best.''

Racing To Win has been the king of the mile in Sydney for many years with successes in the Doncaster, Epsom and George Ryder Stakes, but comes to Hong Kong trying to crown his career as a seven-year-old.

O'Shea believes he has him right for the assignment but admits he won't know until after this afternoon's race if he has travelled well.

''All you can do is get them ready the best you can in Australia and then hope they travel,'' O'Shea said.

''He has arrived a very fit horse but these international races are about the horse that travels the best and arrives in a condition to produce their best.''

The best chance of a home-town win is in the Mile. Hong Kong's horse of the year, Good Ba Ba, is shooting for a hat-trick in the race.

His main danger is emerging star Happy Zero, which Darren Beadman will ride for John Moore.

The five-year-old has won both his runs this preparation, winning the Sprint Trial last start.

''In his two races over 1000m and 1200m this time in, he has been off the bit but produced explosive finishes in the last furlong,'' Beadman said. ''At a mile he is the kind of horse that can take up a position and hopefully produce the same finish.''

The Beadman-Moore combination also has the favourite for the Cup in Hong Kong Derby winner Collection. He is also a last-start winner over the 2000m at Sha Tin.

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Prepared by Australian John Moore, whose Hong Kong stable has Beadman on retainer, Happy Zero is the trainer's leading contender for Sunday's rich international meeting at Sha Tin.

And Moore and Beadman are gearing up for a serious assault. The trainer has multiple runners in a couple of the four group 1 races, which carry a prizemoney tally of $HK62 million ($8.83m).

Happy Zero could well be something special. After blowing rivals away for the seventh time in eight starts, the son of Danzero had a minor adjustment to his program, with Moore taking Beadman's advice and opting for Sunday's Hong Kong Mile instead of the Hong Kong Sprint.

''He is not a mad sprinter,'' Beadman said this week. ''Last season he was running over 1400 metres and was handling that well.

''The form just stands up around him every which way. The way he felt to me the other day and the way he was trialling leading up to the race, he had the mind of a miler now.

''He jumped like a miler the other day. He was off the bit until he got into the straight. It was a pretty tidy effort considering I was half niggling at him to keep him where he was.''

It was following that scintillating performance to claim the International Sprint Trial that Beadman made mention of one of his Melbourne Cup winners.

''I said when I won on him the other day he has got a similar stride to Saintly,'' he said. ''Not as big size-wise as Saintly but he has a massive stride, covers a lot of ground.

''When you think what time you have run and then look at the clock you go, 'Oh'. He is a bit deceiving in that respect, which is always the sign of a good horse.''

Happy Zero, yet another Australian-bred to dominate in Hong Kong, is lightly raced when considering the horse is five years of age. ''He had colic and had to have an operation on his stomach so he missed a lot of racing,'' Beadman said. ''Then equine influenza hit, he was stuck in Australia, there was a whole lot of things holding him back from getting to Hong Kong but once he got here he certainly made his presence felt.

''He has always been a bit of a quirky horse and didn't settle in that well when he first arrived.

''He was whipping around, that sort of stuff, his mind was always going 100 miles per hour, trying to get it over and done real quick.

''Everything was upside down, we've been trying to get his mind right and he has really come round.''

Awaiting Happy Zero on Sunday is another local star in Good Ba Ba, which is out to win the Hong Kong Mile for the third straight year.

Also in the 1600m race is Sydney's five-time group 1 winner Racing To Win, which will be ridden by Hugh Bowman. Trainer John O'Shea opted to take on the mile instead of the 2000m of the Hong Kong Cup.

''Good Ba Ba is taking on some handy horses,'' Beadman said. ''Racing To Win, if back near his best, is right in it. I've ridden against him, I know what type of horse you need to beat him and I think our bloke is pretty much up to that.''

Beadman has no doubt the mile is ''much easier'' than the sprint, in which the Australian trio of All Silent, Scenic Blast and Apache Cat, which finished third in the race last year, seem capable of filling the trifecta.

Beadman won the sprint on Moore's galloper Inspiration last year but has opted to ride stablemate One World this time around.

''Inspiration had an internal bleed after his last start,'' he said. ''There is a little bit of a question mark over that, he never did it last year leading into the race.''

Inspiration has galloped to the satisfaction of Moore and Beadman.

''One World's run was enormous the other day,'' Beadman said. ''Obviously he is going up a notch, like Inspiration last year, but One World has been running pretty good sectionals.''

Beadman knows only too well the form surrounding the Australian three but the jockey makes mention of another local. ''You've got Sacred Kingdom, who is the reigning world champion sprinter,'' he said.

In the Hong Kong Cup Beadman rides Collection, while the ride on favoured galloper Viva Pataca awaits in the 2400m Vase; both are trained by Moore.

''I won the Hong Kong Derby on Collection earlier in the year,'' he said. ''He has had the two runs this time in and won over 2000 metres last start, won the Cup Trial convincingly. He looks to have trained on well since and he has beaten our [Hong Kong] horses pretty much every time he has gone round.

''The [rival] horse that has been here and performed is Presvis.''

Viva Pataca was crowned Hong Kong's champion thoroughbred last year. ''He has been a really good horse to me,'' Beadman said. ''He has earned about $10 million Australian in prizemoney. First-up he probably ran too well. The other day he was a bit flat but he feels great on the training track, feels super.''

In summing up, Beadman said: ''I've got a pretty good string. John [Moore], I think he has 17 runners on the day, he is loaded up.''

Happy days indeed.

Mixed bag for Aussie sprinters
Hong Kong International Update with Tony Bourke
11 December 2009

There were mixed results for Australia’s three representatives in Sunday’s $1.8 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint at today’s barrier draw at Sha Tin racecourse.
While the connections of Apache Cat (barrier 9) and Scenic Blast (3) were satisfied, Grahame Begg, trainer of the highly fancied All Silent, who drew the outside of the field of 14, said he would have preferred a “softer” draw.
“I know he usually gets back in his races, but now we have no option and he has never been up against a field of this calibre before,” Begg said.
Local champion and 2007 winner Sacred Kingdom (7) is the current favourite at 11/4 with London-based bookmaker William Hill ahead of All Silent at 7/2.
Scenic Blast, Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, has eased slightly from 6/1 to 7/1 and Apache Cat, who was favourite when he finished third in the race last year, is an 8/1 chance.
Scenic Blast stands to collect a $US1 million bonus on Sunday if he can win his third Global Sprint Challenge race of the season.
Trainer Danny Morton said although Scenic Blast had had his share of problems in recent months, he believed the five-year-old was now in as good as shape as when he won the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at the Royal Ascot carnival in June.
“I would have liked to have started him in the Sprint Trial at Sha Tin a couple of weeks back but it didn’t really fit in with his preparation,” he said today.
Morton rode Scenic Blast in an easy work-out on the all-weather track at Sha Tin this morning and said he would have a gallop on the course proper tomorrow (Friday).
All Silent also worked on the all-weather track while Apache Cat, ridden by Danielle Ellet, looked a picture of fitness when he galloped on the course proper this morning.
Trainer Greg Eurell said Apache Cat had freshened up really well since his last start fourth behind All Silent in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington and he believed the seven-yearold was in better shape than at this stage last year.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said at the barrier draw that he believed the Hong Kong Sprint field, which includes nine individual group 1 winners, was the best assembled anywhere in the world in the past 20 years.

7/12/09 Double for Gray at Kranji

A winning double for former NZ-trainer Stephen Gray was completed when the Pins galloper Goldschatz (NZ) took out the SG3 Proinn Construct Stakes (1700m) on Friday night.

His fifth career win from 26 starts, Goldschatz (NZ) made it back-to-back victories having previously been successful over 1600m on the turf back on November 13.
The black-type success also represented Gray’s 46th individual winner for the season - to which there are just four race meetings remaining.

Bred by Mrs NM Leicester, Goldschatz (NZ) is one of two winners to race for the winning Centaine mare Centri Belle, a daughter of the former New Zealand Filly of the Year Tri Belle (Sir Tristram).
With not a lot left on the radar for the year, Gray said he would consider sending Goldschatz (NZ) up to Malaysia to contest the Penang Gold Cup over 2200m on December 27.
“He stays pretty well and I think he will run the 2200m without any problem,” said Gray.
“It is something I’ll give serious consideration.”
Goldschatz (NZ) which means ‘Gold Chest” in German, is owned by the German-born Stephan Herzog, a regional manager for cosmetic brand Estee Lauder, who has banked S$330,000 courtesy of his NZ-bred gallopers winning efforts on the track.
Goldschatz (NZ) became the 31st individual stakes winner for his Waikato Stud sire Pins, who has 45 Yearlings bound for the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale in 2010

30/11/09 Laxon trains treble in Singapore

Former New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon cemented his place at the top of the Trainers' Premiership table with a winning NZ-bred treble at Kranji on Saturday.

Kicking the day off with the Align gelding World Famousman (NZ), Laxon followed up three races later when Nicholson (NZ) (High Chaparral) took out the Restricted Maiden over 1200m, before Good Daddy (NZ) (Ishiguru) followed suite in the Novice mile.

Laxon has now prepared 90 winners for the season, 36 more than his nearest rivals in Don Baertschiger and Michael Freedman.

Interestingly all three New Zealand-bred/Laxon-trained winners were purchased at a New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale.
The four-year-old, World Famousman (NZ) was a NZ$26,000 yearling purchase, Nicholson (NZ) was knocked down for $50,000, and Good Daddy (NZ) was a $70,000 buy at Karaka in 2008.
With Saturday’s victory under his belt, World Famousman (NZ) took his prizemoney to around the $70,000 for the Top Champ Stable
“I’ve had a few of the Align stock over the years and they have proven good honest horses,” said Laxon of World Famousman (NZ).

“I wouldn’t mind a few more.”

Laxon’s second winner on the day, Nicholson (NZ) is by Windsor Park shuttler High Chaparral – the proven Gr.1 sire of the VRC Derby winner Monaco Consul and the Gr.1 Cox Plate hero So You Think (NZ).

Nicholson (NZ) has returned around $40,000 for the Oscar Racing Stable in his two starts to date.

Similarly in honest form, Good Daddy (NZ) has now won two of his six starts with a further second and three thirds taking his prizemoney to around the $100,000 mark for Kings Stable.

Laxon’s treble contributed to a total of nine NZ-bred winners in Singapore this weekend.

29/11/09 Fastnet Rock colt stars for Laird

Charles Laird's incredible feature race run with Magic Millions graduates continued at Turffontein this morning when Fastnet Rock colt Curved Ball raced to victory in the Group Two The Dingaans (1600m).

Racing for just the third time, the last start winner dashed past his stablemate, the previously unbeaten Aussie bred Galileo's Galaxy in the straight before cruising home.

Bred by Bart Cummings' Princes Farm in partnership with the Wyllie Group, Curved Ball was purchased by Laird for $200,000 from the draft of Stud Consultants at last year's Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

The colt is by Danehill's hot young sire son Fastnet Rock - a former star sprinter, whose progeny are performing with great distinction right around the country.

Curved Ball is the first international stakes winner for Fastnet Rock. His Aussie stars are headlined by the recent Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights.

The latest Aussie bred star unearthed in South Africa is one of two stakes performed produced by his dam, the winning Zabeel mare Curvaceous.

Curvaceous, a half sister to the Singapore stakes performer First Touch as well as the dam of Group One winner Grout (Raider in HK), had previously produced the Millie Fox Stakes placegetter and twice Sydney winner Swissac.

Earlier on the Turffontein card Laird saddled up the talented General Nediym filly Generous Anna to a gallant second placing in the Group Three Fillies Mile (1600m).

27/11/09 Oracy (NZ) star attraction in SA Grade 1

The unbeaten record of the exciting South African dual Grade 2 winner Oracy (NZ) (Zabeel) is to be put to the litmus test in the Grade 1 Sansui Summer Cup (2000m) at Turffontein this Saturday.

Bred by Maroal Services Ltd (Ron and the late Margaret Saunders) together with Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Oracy (NZ) sealed his reputation as one of the best three-year-old’s in South Africa last season with 4 wins coming from as many outings.

Of these 1450m-1600m wins, the class of the Charles Laird–trained Zabeel colt was seen to best advantage in November 2008’s Grade 2 Turffontein Dingaans (1600m) and in February’s Grade 2 Turffontein Gauteng Guineas (1600m).

Having spelled since this Guineas outing, the $400,000 Cambridge Stud graduate opened his 4YO account in October, winning for the 4th time over the 1600m trip.

Billed as the field’s star attraction on Saturday, Oracy (NZ) is to make his 2000m debut from barrier 5 and will carry 58kg for owners Mrs I Jooste and MJ Jooste.

Should Oracy (NZ) prove successful, he will represent the 40th individual Gr.1 winner for the superlative Cambridge Stud, sire Zabeel (NZ).

Zabeel has already enjoyed the limelight in South Africa courtesy of the 2004 champion 3YO Classic Colt, Greys Inn.

The star colt’s black-type partiality is also recommended by his pedigree’s bottom line.

Oracy (NZ) is out of Lady Dehere – a Gr.2 winner, who has already produced the two stakes winners from four to race in Oracy (NZ) and The Lady (NZ).

26/11/09 Tai Sing Yeh impresses in Hong Kong debut

Tai Sing Yeh, one of the most admired lots of the 2008 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale, made a barnstorming start to his racing career with a win at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday night.

Tai Sing Yeh, a son of Arrowfield Stud's exciting young Redoute's Choice sire Not a Single Doubt, sat just off the speed in the Hamilton Handicap (1200m) before racing to the front in the straight.

Under star Hong Kong rider Douglas Whyte, Tai Sing Yeh raced clear over the concluding stages to beat Danabaa by a length and three quarters. The rest of the field was another length back.

Tai Sing Yeh, purchased by his trainer Manfred Man for $125,000 at the Gold Coast, is one of two winners from the stakes performed Ashkalani mare Precious Lass.

The unbeaten three-year-old was a successful Yearling Sale pin hook for Hilton Thoroughbreds who purchased him from the draft of Oaklands Stud for $17,000 at the Gold Coast earlier last year.

Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said the win was yet another for a graduate of Australia's premier style racehorse and breeze up style sale.

"The graduates of this sale are performing with great distinction right around the world and I specially watched the race tonight from Hong Kong to see Tai Sing Yeh's debut," Chester said."We were told at our recent Horses in Training Sale that he was showing great things in his lead up gallops and he showed on the track he was a quality performer."

"Let's not forget the Melbourne Cup hero Shocking is a graduate of the sale along with Macau sprint sensation Viva Pronto."

Ganbaria made it an early double for Magic Millions graduates when he cruised home in the Hamilton Class 4 Handicap (1200m).

By Hennessy and from the Danzero mare Doldrums, Ganbaria was purchased for just $20,000 from the 2004 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

Now the winner of five races, Ganbaria is a half brother to the multiple Sydney winner Calm Seas.

23/11/09 Fellowship (NZ) too good in Cathay Pacific Mile Trial (1600m)


Fellowship (NZ)Gr.1 HK Mile bound

The O’Reilly 7YO Fellowship (NZ) made his competitive intent known for the world’s richest turf mile race –the HK$16 mil Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, last night.
Haven showcased his wares in the event’s HK-2 precursor, Fellowship (NZ) heads for the internationally revered meeting on December 13 with a strong win in the Cathay Pacific Mile Trial (1600m) under his belt.
Coming from slightly worse than midfield, Fellowship (NZ) rallied strongly when pulled wide by Zac Purton, drawing clear in the final stages to score by ¾’s from the NZ horse Sight Winner (NZ) (Faltaat) and 1 ½ lengths from Good Ba Ba.
Trained by Paul O’Sullivan, Fellowship (NZ) had earlier franked his black-type worth in the mile trial field with success in last October’s HK- 3 National Day Cup (1400m).
At the mile, strong runner-up performances were also registered behind Good Ba Ba and More Bountiful in the HK-1 Stewards Cup (1600m) and the HK-2 Chairman’s Trophy respectively."He has been a very honest performer and he has competed at the top level for a season and a half now but he has often found one or two too good for him on the big day. Today, though, he got a nice run under Zac, the pace was good and he deserved a big win," trainer Paul O'Sullivan reported to the HKJC. Fellowship (NZ) commenced his racing career in NZ as Walsburgs Pride, winning two of his three starts here for trainer Richard Coxon.
Subsequently exported to Hong Kong, Fellowship (NZ) has since distinguished himself with 5 additional wins and with HK$10,804,500 in earnings.
Bred by G & Mrs LM Hodel, Fellowship is by the two time Champion HK sire, O’Reilly and is out of the Danzalion mare Mystical Flight.
Placed on the racetrack, Mystical Flight (NZ) is a half-sister to the stakes winner Last Flight and has produced two winners from four to race.

23/11/09 Kiko's Return (NZ) wins Mal Gr.1 RM$700,000 Coronation Cup (1600m)

The 2008 Malaysian-Gr.1* Perak Derby (2400m) hero Kiko’s Return (NZ) (Minardi) was back in the Perak spotlight on Sunday, racing home for career win number 9 in the Gr.1* Coronation Cup (1600m).

Prepared by BT Lam, Kiko’s Return (NZ) burst into Malaysian reckoning in 2007/08, stringing together seven consecutive wins.

Successful at Malayan Gr.1* level in the Perak Derby, the Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) and again in Sunday’s Coronation Cup, Kiko’s Return has silenced his NZ$20,000 2005 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase with RGT1,735,442 in earnings.

Bred by Mrs M A Brown, Glenmorgan Farm Ltd & Est late A J Brown, Kiko’s Return (NZ) and is out of the deceased Amalgam mare Joe's Girl.

An unraced half-sister to the Listed Soliloquy Stakes winner Leigh Filou (Sky Filou), Joe's Girl (NZ) distinguished herself in the breeding department with the Gr.2 winning racemare Rijeka (Sound Reason) and with the additional winners Southern Man (Personal Escort) and Joe Leigh (Personal Escort).

* Domestic rated

18/11/09 So You Think and Viewed included in World top 50

The Bart Cummings trained pair of SO YOU THINK and VIEWED have been included in the list of the World’s best 50 racehorses in the latest release of the World Thoroughbred Rankings.
SO YOU THINK was rated 122 for his brilliant front running win in the group 1 Tatts Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct 24 and was given the same rating carrying 1.5kg over WFA when 2nd to ALL AMERICAN in the Emirates Stakes on the final day of the VRC Carnival.
VIEWED also achieved a rating of 122 for his win under top weight of 57kg in the BMW Caulfield Cup over 2400m on October 17.
SO YOU THINK and VIEWED join SCENIC BLAST as the highest rated Australian trained horses on 122 and are ranked equal 17th on the listings.
SCENIC BLAST continues his overseas campaign when he runs in the Hong Kong Sprint Trial (1200m) at Sha Tin this Sunday, where he will meet Australian bred Sprinter SACRED KINGDOM who is also rated 122 in the world listings.
The Mark Kavanagh trained 4yo WHOBEGOTYOU improved his standing in the listings moving to 120 for his win in the Yalumba Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield on Oct 10 where he beat HEART OF DREAMS.
The World listings are again headed by the Irish champion SEA THE STARS on 135, who has been retired to Stud following his victory in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

15/11/09 Laird charge streets rivals in Group 2

Eight Street continued the remarkable run of South African feature race wins for champion trainer Charles Laird with a thrashing of his rivals in this morning's Group Two Victory Moon Stakes (1800m) at Turffontein.

Ridden patiently by Anton Marcus, Eight Street settled off the speed before coming with a brilliant finishing burst in the home straight.

So quick was he finishing that by the time the post was reached Eight Street held a two length margin over Rudi Rocks, while Killaridge was third.

The win was the second at group level for the Aussie bred. Last season he won the Group Three Clairwood Cup Trial.

He was spelled following that group win and showed he was on track for this latest feature event when he ran a slashing first up fifth in stakes company at Turffontein on October 10.

Laird has a number of other Gold Coast sold stars including Oracy, Dan De Lago and Flying Princess primed for feature races over the next couple of weeks.

Eight Street is turning into an incredible money spinner for his connections considering Laird paid just $40,000 for him from the draft of Southern Cross Breeders at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.

Despite having purchased horses elsewhere in Australia, it is the Gold Coast where Laird has purchased all of his star Aussie breds.

"Charles has an eye for quality and an eye for value - there's no wonder he loves shopping for yearlings at the Gold Coast," Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said.

"All of his best horses purchased in Australia have been sold at the Gold Coast - we're delighted such a champion international horseman can see the same quality we do when assembling our catalogues."

"I'm looking forward to catching up with Charles and Nordean and their team when they arrive at the Gold Coast in January looking for their next star galloper," Chester added.

While Eight Street was one of the cheapest Laird has signed for from the Magic Millions it is interesting to note his most expensive from the Gold Coast ring is a Group One winner.

The win of Eight Street continued the incredible international run of progeny by star Machiavellian sire Street Cry.

In the past two week's his daughter Zenyatta starred at the Breeders' Cup, while his star Aussie son Shocking won the Melbourne Cup.

Eight Street is from a lightly raced mare by Octagonal who's both runners are winners.

The other, the lightly raced Lion Heart filly French Lion, is a winner in Victoria this season for top trainer Mark Kavanagh.

15/11/09 Passion for Gold wins Group 1

Godolphin star as short as 10-1 for 2010 Derby.

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation recorded their second Group 1 victory in the space of a week with a graduate of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when PASSION FOR GOLD raced away to win the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in France today. The son of MEDAGLIA D'ORO, who was the sale topper at the 2009 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale at 260,000 guineas, recorded an emphatic six-length victory under Frankie Dettori and is as short as 10-1 for next year's Derby at Epsom, behind another Tattersalls graduate in ST NICHOLAS ABBEY.

The win of PASSION FOR GOLD was the third victory at the highest level for Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up graduates in 2009 in what has been a vintage year for the sale. There have been a remarkable 20 Group/Listed winners from the sale this year, including Godolphin's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner VALE OF YORK and the Group 1 July Cup winner FLEETING SPIRIT. The Godolphin team also purchased the Group 2 Flying Childers winner SAND VIXEN at this year's sale.

By MEDAGLIA D'ORO out of the Grade 2 winning THUNDER GULCH mare C'EST L'AMOUR, PASSION FOR GOLD was consigned to the 2009 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale by Gay O'Callaghan's Yeomanstown Stud where he was purchased by agent Richard O'Gorman on behalf of Godolphin.

The next chance to purchase at Tattersalls comes with the December Sale comprised of the December Yearling Sale (November 23), December Foal Sale (November 25-28) and the December Breeding Stock Sale (November 30 – December 3). Catalogues are out now and available from Tattersalls and Tattersalls representatives as well as on the Tattersalls website at www.tattersalls.com.

9/11/09 Ace Aliado (NZ) wins SG-2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m)


Ace Aliado (NZ) (inside)

The perfect record of the Towkay gelding Ace Aliado (NZ) added a 7th notch to its belt in the SG2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) at Kranji on Sunday.

After receiving the run of the race tucked in behind the pacemaker, Ace Aliado (NZ) put his seal on the race shortly after straightening, but was not to have it all his way, challenged late by stablemate Good Feel.

Winning by 0.2 of a length in a time of 1.20.8, Ace Aliado (NZ) held strong and shaved a full second off the previous best time on the outer course of Exchequer and Big Maverick (NZ).

Full of praise, jockey Saimee Jumaat reported to the Singapore Turf Club after the win that there would not be a more brave horse racing in Singapore than Ace Aliado.

“The sky is the limit with this horse,” he said. “He doesn’t win by much but he certainly knows how to win”

“He is such a fighter and the way he is racing he can go onto bigger and better things.”

Thrilled with the efforts of his stable charges, expat trainer, Laurie Laxon later signalled that the horse would now head to the spelling paddock.

“He can head-up to the new spelling station here at Kranji when it finally opens and have a month off before I can get to work on him again,” Laxon told the STC.

Owned by the Ace & Midas Touch Stable, Ace Aliado (NZ) has to date achieved S$428,000 with his 7/7 race record in Singapore.

Bred by Christopher Grace, Ace Aliado (NZ) matches the bloodlines of the Little Avondale Last Tycoon sire Towkay with the Dance Floor mare, Waikawa.

Towkay, the sire of some 59.06 % winners-to-runners and 10 stakeswinners, stands for $6,500 this season.

9/11/09 Pronto stars as Washppol's weeks gets bigger

Five days after the stunning Melbourne Cup success of Shocking, another graduate of the Washpool Lodge draft at the 2007 Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale has cruised home in a major race.

This time it was the Macau sensation Viva Pronto who took the spoils, thumping a crack field in the HK$1 million Macau Jockey Club 20th Anniversary Cup (1200m) at Taipa today.

A son of Catcher in the Rye, Viva Pronto was able to make it win number eight at start 11 as he led home fellow Magic Millions graduate and reigning Macau Horse of the Year Good Control.

Despite having to work hard early in the race to cross from an outside barrier, Viva Pronto was able to corner quickly and when called upon by rider Louis Corrales he sprinted magnificently.

At the post Viva Pronto held a three and a half length margin over Good Control, while former classy Australian galloper Eclair Fantastic was another three parts of a length behind in third place.

Viva Pronto ran the 1200 metre journey in a sizzling 1 minute 8.4 seconds.

Viva Pronto was purchased for owner Dr. Stanley Ho and trainer Gary Moore by renowned New South Wales agent John Hutchinson from the 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale for $140,000.

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.He was expertly prepared by the Thomas family's Washpool Lodge operation - who successfully pin-hooked him for $20,000 from the draft of Robyn Wise (as agent) at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale earlier that year.

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.

The latest yearling from Steel Shuffle, a colt by Antonius Pius, is heading to the Gold Coast in January and will be sold as lot number 888 during the fifth session of the country's favourite auction.

He is being prepared for the sale by Robyn Wise on behalf of New South Wales breeder Kirk Elliot.

"He's a really nice colt," Wise reported. "He's a grey and a very neat youngster."

"He's a short coupled, running style youngster - a real Magic Millions style yearling," she added.

As well as selling Viva Pronto at the 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale, Washpool Lodge also prepared Australia's newest pin up stayer Shocking.A member of the red hot Mark Kavanagh stable, Shocking won two group races in three days last week including the race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup.

Laurence Eales selected and purchased Shocking for $64,000 from the same sale - at last count the star had earned $3,882,525.

7/11/09 Breeders Cup 2009

This weekend is the biggest weekend for sports betting until the Superbowl. On Saturday you have a full day of Breeders’ Cup 2009 action from Oak Tree Santa Anita. The Breeders' Cup Races are recognized as one of the ultimate tests of a thoroughbred, showcasing horse racing at the highest level of international competition.

The race ends in royal fashion with the Breeder’s Cup Classic at 6:45pm EST available to view on ESPN. Breeders’ Cup 2009 will offer horseplayers plenty of opportunity for profits. Horseplayers, though, should try not to get sucked into betting short-priced favorites that either have no shot or could be vulnerable to a higher-priced horse.

Just over an hour after the race you have the premier of a heavyweight bought between Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers in a mixed martial arts bout. Fedor is a -500 to +350 favorite in the fight going into Saturday. The fight is for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Title. The best sports book is definitely BetUS.com

6/11/09 Singapore Gr.1 glory up for grabs

SG1 Singapore Gold Cup (2200m)

October’s Singapore Gr.1 Raffles Cup (1800m) winner Big Maverick (NZ) (O’Reilly) returns for further SG-1 reward on Sunday.

One of 7 Gr.1 NZ horses in the event, the Laurie Laxon-trained 5YO should have no problem getting the trip, however with a weight toll of 58kg, he will need to draw strongly on the class that has seen him prevail 8 times from 1200-1800m.

Plenty of attention will also mark the first start for the former Malaysian based NZ-bred New Kuala Dipang (NZ) (Faltaat) in the event.

A proven commodity at the distance, New Kuala Dipang (NZ) won the 2007 Listed Yang di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup (2200m).

Now aged 8, New Kuala Dipang (NZ) has won 6 starts from 1200-2200m.

New Zealand’s remaining contingent comprises...

Big Valour (NZ) (Faltaat): 7YO winner of 6 starts from 1400m-1800m
Waipapa (NZ) (Align): 4YO winner of 4 starts from 1200m-1600m
Imperial Green (NZ) (Senor Pete): 5YO winner of 5 starts from 1200-1800m
Win In (NZ) (Drama Critic):5YO winner of 5 starts from 1600m-1800m.
Royal Star (NZ) (Danske): 6YO winner of 4 starts from 1200-1600m.

SG2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m)

The perfect 6/6 record of the Towkay 4YO Ace Aliado (NZ) will be put to the test in the SG2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) this Sunday.

Having what will be his first black-type attempt, Ace Aliado (NZ) strikes a formidable foe in the shape of the fellow NZ bred galloper Waikato (NZ) (Pins), who recently took out the Listed Kranji Mile.

Other NZ horses looking to add to their Singapore records comprise of the inform Good Feel (Hunza Court), the regally bred Noble Manor, Sunday’s dual accepted Singapore Gold Cup nominee Royal Star (NZ) (Danske) and Huat Chai (NZ) (D’Cash) the winner of February’s Listed Three Rings Trophy (1400m).

2/11/09 Five-straight for Laxon-trained filly

Class New Zealand-bred filly Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad) maintained her unbeaten record in Singapore on Friday, giving her older rivals a galloping lesson in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1200m.
The Laurie Laxon-trained three-year-old has now graced the starter in Singapore on five occasions, registering five victories, including success in the SG3 Juvenile Championship in July.
Formerly trained in New Zealand by Bruce Wallace, Mexican Rose (NZ) was exported to Singapore as the winner of two of her three starts, her only defeat coming in the NZ$1,000,000 Karaka Millions back in January.
Laxon said it was his intention to give Mexican Rose (NZ) a spell, with future race plans possibly including the Singapore Sprint series.
“A break would do her the world of good. She can then come back to racing next year and we would look at the Sprint Series with her, ending with the KrisFlyer (International Sprint) in May” said Laxon to the STC.
Laxon said for a three-year-old filly to remain unbeaten against quality opposition puts her among the class performers racing in Singapore.
“In my time here in Singapore I haven’t seen a three-year-old filly come up here and do what she has,” said Laxon.
Laxon secured the talented daughter of Volksraad from the Chesterfields draft at the 2008 Select Yearling Sale for $85,000.
Bred by Carolyn and Mark Todd, & Watership Down Stud of Rangiora, Mexican Rose (NZ) made this outlay a distant memory with Friday’s effort, with the net effect of this outing taking her earnings to approximately NZ$330,000.

27/10/09 Black Mamba (NZ) strikes more US Success in Listed Dowager Stakes (2400m)

New Zealand’s US Grade 1 winner, Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) returned to the stakes fold in a most timely fashion on Sunday.In what could potentially have been her last start, Black Mamba (NZ) strode to victory in the Listed Dowager Stakes (3YO+F&M, 2400m), ultimately winning with 1 1/2 lengths to spare.

As reported by ThoroughbredTimes.com, the six-year-old Black Minnaloushe mare is to be offered as a broodmare or racing prospect at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected November mixed sale on November 10.

Sure to be an attractive proposition, the John Sadler-trained mare will enter the ring with a career record reading US$980,763 in earnings from seven wins and 11 placings (30 starts).

Shining brightly amongst these wins is her victory in last Augusts Grade 1 John C. Mabee Handicap (1800m).

Additional black-type print will also be included thanks to the classy mare’s two dominant outings in the Gr.2 Hollywood Beverly Hills Hcp (2000m), and with her Listed wins in the Del Mar CTT and thoroughbred Owners of California Hcp (2200m) and the Dowager Stakes (1400m).

Bred by Hawke's Bay businessman Sam Kelt and Sue Foote of Keltern Stud, Black Mamba (NZ) combines the bloodlines of Black Minnaloushe with the stakes winning Grosvenor mare Sneetch – a super broodmare who could well increase Black Mamba’s sale ring value with the intended Melbourne Cup outing of her Gr.1 AJC Derby winning grandson, Roman Emperor (Montjeu)

Black Mamba (NZ) was initially sold as a yearling by Trelawney Stud at the Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$120,000 and after 10 starts in New Zealand was later sold to Doubledown Stables.

25/10/09 Taverner's star quality on show again

Taverner confirmed his status as one of Hong Kong's brightest prospects by making it two brilliant wins from as many starts at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon.

An Australian bred son of Flying Spur, Taverner sat on the speed throughout before bursting clear about a furlong from home and recording an outstanding win in the HK$850,000 Hsin Chong Construction Handicap (1000m).

The David Hall trained excitement machine was sent out the hot favourite after romping home in his debut run at the track on September 20.

With Brett Prebble aboard, the four-year-old stopped the clock in a slick 56.23 lengths.

While runner-up Shy Baldy tried hard over the concluding stages he was no match for Taverner, who boasted a two and a quarter length margin on the line.

Taverner was selected and purchased from the draft of Palmaday Stud by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He cost $170,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.

He was then snapped up by owner Sidney Chui at the Hong Kong International Sale.

Taverner looms as another top prospect for Danehill's Golden Slipper winning son Flying Spur.

The Arrowfield Stud based star, who was the Champion Australian Sire of the 2006-07 season, is best known in Hong Kong through the exploits of his star sprinting son Inspiration.Taverner is the first runner for his dam Atom Angel, a four time New Zealand winning daughter of leading broodmare sire Defensive Play.

Atom Angel, who won races from 1400 to 2200 metres, is a daughter of the group performed Grosvenor mare Sky Angel.

Sky Angel in turn is a half sister to two group winners - Just a Dream and Forfar. It is also the family of the Group One winner Imperial Angel.

It was an early double on the Sha Tin card for Magic Millions graduates following the win of My Melody in the HK$485,000 Mission Hills Group Handicap (1200m).

Under Douglas Whyte the son of Universal Prince won by a length and a quarter.

From the Danehill-Sunline mare Song of Songs, My Melody was purchased for just $37,500 at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.