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NewsPierro Crowned HTBA Champion Racehorse 17 May 2012 The
cream of Australian bloodstock was feted last night at the 21st Annual Hunter
Thoroughbred Breeders Association (HTBA) Awards Night. Breeders of Australian thoroughbred champions, including triple crown winning 2
year old Pierro and star filly Atlantic Jewel, were among those recognized at
the Awards night held at Scone, Australia's Horse Capital.
Blue Diamond winning Samaready took out the HTBA Champion 2 year old filly category
for her breeder Gerry Harvey of Baramul Stud. The award was sponsored by Scone
Race Club.
These award categories were sponsored by International Animal Health Products
and Goldner's Horse Transport respectively. Undefeated dual Group 1 winner Atlantic Jewel, bred at Vinery Stud by Greg
Perry, claimed the category of HTBA Champion 3 year old filly ahead of
outstanding filly Mosheen. This ultra‐competitive category was sponsored by Pages
Hire. Golden Rose winner, Manawanui, bred at Goodwood farm for Wayne Palmer, was
voted HTBA Champion 3 year old male, sponsored by Equilaw.
The title of HTBA Champion Broodmare, sponsored by Scone Equine Hospital, was claimed
by Samar in recognition of the achievements of her offspring Samaready and
NIghtwar, winner of Group 2 Karrakatta Plate. Samar is owned by Gerry Harvey's Baramul
Stud.
HTBA Champion first season sire, sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research and Barastoc,
was claimed by Patinack Farm's Casino‐Prince nudging out fellow Patinack resident
Husson. Coolmore Stud's Fastnet Rock capped off an outstanding season, including 4
Group 1 winners, to claim 2012 HTBA Champion Sire, sponsored by Inglis. The HTBA congratulates all award winners. The Hunter Valley has a proud and
rich history of producing champion bloodstock for nearly 200 years – a history
we wish to continue. The HTBA recognizes and thanks the sponsors of these award categories and all
other sponsors who support our activities and our future. Exciting Sire Prospect Retired 16 May 2012 This well bred colt has run his last race. After two
unsuccessful attempts to return four-year-old entire Needs Further to the
racetrack, the lightly raced Group 3 winning son of Champion Sire Encosta De
Lago has been retired.
Needs Further's racing career only spanned five lifetime starts.
"We think he is one of our [the Waterhouse stable's] top two-year-olds. He has
just improved with every gallop,'' Shinn said. ''He took a big step forward
after his first trial and surprised us a bit in his second trial. If he does
that again I think you will see a smart one.'' Needs Further (pictured) was to go on and finish an unlucky third to subsequent
Group 1 winner Skilled. When the first Golden Slipper markets were released
soon after this race, Needs Further was well in the markets with most bookies.
Unfortunately his Slipper campaign was prematurely abandoned due to shin soreness. On his return to Tulloch Lodge, Needs Further won a trial at Randwick in early
July. On face value it appeared he had come back better than ever, however, a
couple of weeks after the trial, some soreness appeared in a knee and on vet's
advice he was immediately spelled. Needs Further was next seen the following January at the Randwick trials.
Clinton Payne on the Racenet.com.au website wrote: "The Gai Waterhouse-trained Needs
Further has been off the scene for over 12-months but he's one that could make
his presence felt over the Autumn. He won his trial by 1-1/4 lengths in 43.00
seconds. Needs Further was always on the speed in the trial but he did his best
work over the final 200 metres when drawing away from his stablemate Master Of
Reality. Needs Further finished third behind Skilled and Top Drop at his only
start in January 2010 and I'm expecting him to storm through the grades. Black
Book him for his first-up run for sure.†Needs Further lined up twelve days
later in another Randwick trial and Clinton Payne was once again extremely
impressed writing, "The Gai Waterhouse
trained Needs Further was wide early before dropping in behind the leaders and
securing a good trail. In the straight, Needs Further was given a flick with
the stick and he changed gears and charged to the front in a few strides,
clearing out over the final 100 metres to win the heat by 2-1/4 lengths in
1.03.20. This is a horse that could charge through the grades in the Autumn. He
was asked to work in the trial but he accelerated like only good horses can.†First up Needs
Further did not let Clinton Payne and his supporters down. Sent to Kembla
Grange for what would hopefully be an easy kill, the $1.30 favourite didn't
give his connections or his backers one moment of concern. Leading all the way,
he kicked clear at the 300m. Under hands and heals riding from Neil Paine, the
colt was eased down near the line to blitz his rivals by 6 lengths over the
1200m. Second up Needs Further was back to Randwick. Once again an odds-on favourite,
firming from $1.90 into $1.65, he was able to salute over the 1400m. Gai
Waterhouse told the waiting press, "This is a very good horse in the making.
You'll certainly see him over the carnival and you'll certainly see some wins
from him. He's got a lovely cruising speed and a great turn of foot.â€
Not known for his
hyperbole when describing his mounts, Nash Rawiller was effusive in his praise
for Needs Further. "This is a really serious horse,†Rawiller told the milling
press on his return to scale.
"He has come a long
way in a short time and gives me a really good feel. I think this horse would
be the perfect horse now to just back right off and put him out and maybe bring
him back for something in the Spring because for the sake of Frank Packer
Plate, I think potentially he is a lot better horse than that.'' The always informative
Practical Punters Monthly commented post-race, "Gai Waterhouse reckons her Randwick winner Needs Further is a horse of the future and she's backed up by
jockey Nash Rawiller. He says the colt shapes like a serious spring contender.
They may be right. NF's Carbine Club Stakes win was impressive. Very
impressive. Gai says: 'He's a very exciting horse in the making. You don't go
through your grades from winning a maiden to midweek and then to a group race
if you're not a good horse.†ANZ Bloodstock News
in their weekly Sectional Times column wrote, "Needs Further looks a
progressive sort…..he ran home quicker than Black Caviar with a final 200m in
11.93. Needs Further ran the 1600m in 1:35.90 on a track rated a Dead (4) and
he was strong over the final 600m in 34.92 and last 400m in 23.21.†That
afternoon Black Caviar had appeared three races later in the Group 1 AJC TJ
Smith Stakes. This was the day she blasted past Hay List in the home straight to
defeat him by 2 ¾ lengths. You could say for a young horse having only their
fourth start and their first start in a black type race, Needs Further's effort
that day was simply quite stunning. Nash Rawiller didn't get his way and Needs Further was backed up two weeks
later in the Group 3 AJC Frank Packer Plate. Racing on a surface rated a Heavy
9, his first start in wet conditions, Needs Further led them to the 250m,
before losing his action in the very soft ground, with jockey Tim Clark letting
him coast to the line back in the pack. Needs Further was then sent to the
paddock. Gooree Stud's manager Andrew Baddock thought Needs Further was about to embark
on a four-year-old season that would include a Group 1 victory. He wasn't the
only one either. Knowledgeable form student Nathan Exelby wrote in Queensland's
Sunday Mail, "We already know Black Caviar,
More Joyous and Sepoy will be major players in the big Spring races. Classic winners Jimmy Choux, Shamrocker and
Scarlett Lady are high up in betting charts for the Cups and Cox Plate. But who
will be the new faces? Which horses have shown the potential to take the next
step and make an impact in the big races?†Nathan then listed five horses he thought
would make their presence felt in the Spring of 2011. Included in these five
was Needs Further. Nathan wrote, "Obviously not one to be backed on wet ground,
as he was tailed off in the Packer Plate, but his previous form pointed him to
being top shelf. Jockey Nash Rawiller earmarked him as a genuine big race
prospect after winning the Carbine Club Stakes. Behind him were subsequent
stakes winner Divorces and SA Derby surprise Shadows In The Sun. Having proven
himself over the Randwick mile, he is in the right stable to pick off a big
1600m race at the venue, so Gai Waterhouse may have him primed for an Epsom
tilt.†Racing can at times be a cruel game and in Needs Further's case his luck
suddenly deserted him with the onset of a joint condition which curtailed his
Spring campaign and then a subsequent Autumn campaign. Andrew Baddock explains,
"I really thought Needs Further was a Doncaster or an Epsom horse. He was a very good colt who I was confident had Group
1 ability if he had remained sound. It's such a tragedy that he'll never get to show the world just how good
we thought he was. "From birth he was always a bit of a stand out. He's a lovely
big strong type. He's best foal we've had to date from Crowned Glory, a
Danehill mare we bred and raced and was unlucky not to win a Golden Slipper. His
grand dam is by Bletchingly and she's a half-sister to Zabeel. When our better
colts retire from racing, for example Northern Meteor and Smart Missile, it is
our policy to retain an interest in them at stud. In Needs Further's case we
will also be doing exactly that. I have no doubt he can make the grade as a
sire.†Gai Waterhouse on hearing of Needs Further's retirement wrote, "Needs Further
was a quality colt from day one. He was a natural talent that found galloping
easy. It took Group 1 winner Skilled to beat him on debut at two. At three he
won the Group 3 Carbine Club, and this season he was to be my Doncaster
Handicap horse. "That's how highly I rate his ability as a racehorse.†No one
could question Gai in respect of knowing what type of horse it takes to win a
Doncaster, and as we now know, Gai in the end didn't require Needs Further's
services, as she was still able to pick up her seventh Doncaster with More
Joyous. Gai then finished up by adding, "He is a tremendous physical and I urge
all breeders to inspect Needs Further in the flesh. Seeing is believing.†A stud career now beckons Needs Further where he will now have the opportunity
to realise his true potential. Brett Howard from Randwick Bloodstock has been
appointed to handle the next phase of his career. Howard commented, "Everyone
who came into contact with Needs Further during his racing days thought he was
extra special. People like Andrew Baddock, Blake Shinn, Nash Rawiller and Gai
Waterhouse. These are people who have been involved with any number of top
class horses, so their words and opinions cannot be taken lightly. Racetrack
ability is one precursor with regards to whether a colt has a real chance to be
a success as a sire. The others are pedigree and physique. On the pedigree
front, Needs Further is hard to fault. A son of twice Champion Australian Sire
Encosta De Lago, out of a Golden Slipper placed daughter of nine times Champion
Australian Sire Danehill. His grand dam is by three times Champion Australian
Sire Bletchingly and a half-sister to twice Champion Australian Sire Zabeel (14
times Champion NZ Sire – Australian & NZ combined). In this day and age
most breeders are attempting to produce a good looking correct yearling. If Needs
Further can replicate himself in his foals, he'll make many a breeder very
happy.†Tenth Group I Winner for Fastnet Rock 14 May 2012 Red hot sire Fastnet Rock added a new Group I winner to his
burgeoning tally of equine superstars when lightly raced three year-old
filly Sea Siren smashed older rivals to win the Group I BTC Cup at
Doomben on Saturday. The John O'Shea trained Sea Siren defeated high class filly Streama to
win the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes at the start of the autumn and
then finished second to that filly in the Group II ATC Surround Stakes.
Having her first run back from a break and taking on open company Group I sprinters for the first time, Sea Siren (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) proved well and truly up to the task.
She jumped well and travelled in second throughout for Jim Cassidy
before skipping clear in the straight to defeat former Australian Horse
of the Year Scenic Blast by a length and a quarter with another Group I
winner in Beaded finishing third. She scorched over the 1200 metres in a slick 1:08.10, running faster time than Black Caviar did in winning last year and not far outside Takeover Target's course record of 1:07.88.
"What a training performance, she's come from restricted class in
Sydney to take on Streama, and she was a Group 1 filly,â€Â Cassidy said.
"He (John O'Shea) set this filly for the Stradbroke instead of going through Sydney. "I was reading this morning there hasn't been a filly win this race for about 15 years. "I've had big wraps on her, this is only my third time on her today and
John O'Shea said to me he's got the best filly in the yard. She's owned
by my great mate which is even better.â€Â
A homebred for Keith Biggs, Sea Siren has won four races and placed twice from six starts and has won $460,730 in prizemoney. "It's a nice record,â€Â John O'Shea said.
"It's a credit to the sire, a credit to the family and a credit to the people that bred her.â€Â
Foaled and raised at Coolmore for her breeder, Sea Siren is a
half-sister to Group II winner Lady Dehere, Group III winner Oratorio
and stakes-winner Discorsi being one of seven winners from outstanding
producer Express a Smile. Sadly for Mr Biggs, Express a Smile died last year and leaves behind a
two year-old filly by Street Sense (USA) called Express Street.
Sea Siren is the tenth Group I winner for Fastnet Rock (pictured), who is currently leading the Australian General Sires List by earnings and stakes-winners. Fastnet Rock also had the runner-up in the Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap
in Adelaide with five year-old gelding We're Gonna Rock running the
race of his life to finish second beaten just over a length by Black
Caviar. Service Fee Set for Foxwedge 10 May 2012 Newgate Farm are pleased to announce the service fee for Foxwedge, the highest ever rated son of super sire Fastnet Rock .
"We have set the fee for Foxwedge at $33,000 (inc. GST) and have been
overwhelmed with enquiries since it was announced he would be coming to
Newgate, so breeders interested in making a booking need to get in touch
with either myself or Tony Williams,â€Ã‚ said Henry Field.
So far in his career, Foxwedge (pictured Racepix Vic) has earned just shy of $1million, winning the Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes (weight-for-age 1200 metres, defeating Hay List
and Buffering), Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes and Group III ATC San
Domenico Stakes, not to mention Group I placing's in the VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes and VRC Newmarket Handicap.
See him in action here. Foxwedge will have his final run the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot where he is currently the clear pre post favourite.
An outstanding type from the day he was born and a $925,000 Easter
yearling, Foxwedge is a truly outstanding physical specimen, standing
16HH with the quality, balance, muscle definition and action so
important in today's commercial marketplace. Commercial breeders that have the objective of making a profit should
not look past breeding to Foxwedge with their very best mares. Another attribute so imperative to the success of stallions in
Australia and Asia is constitution, toughness, temperament and
soundness. Foxwedge, like the best of the Danehill line, personifies
these very qualities. There were many sons of Danehill that retired to stud "boasting the ability to have been a Group 1 winning sprinterâ€Ã‚Â. The strike rate of those that not only had the ability to do so, but also the constitution is quite extraordinary. Danehill had only 6 Australian Group 1 winning sprinters (up to
1200M) retire to stud, the honour rollâ€Ã‚¦ 1) Fastnet Rock, 2)Redoute's
Choice, 3) Flying Spur 4) Exceed and Excel, 5) Catbird and 6) Danzero.
The coupling of high class Australian Gr 1 winning sprinters and the
"Danehill dominanceâ€Ã‚ is a hugely effective formula for stallion success. Moody gives all clear for Caviar
8 May 2012
PETER Moody has squashed rumours Black Caviar is in any danger of
missing the Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday. The industry has been abuzz with whispers suggesting not all is well with the unbeaten superstar, but the trainer got on the front foot, emphatically denying there was anything wrong. "She's fine. All is in order with her but I'll gallop her on Tuesday and then I'll tick the Goodwood off after that,' ' Moody said in Hong Kong yesterday. "I've always planned to use it as her final gallop before going to England." Black Caviar brought up a record 20th straight victory in front of a packed Morphettville crowd of 30,000 last week and it's set to be a similar scenario when she attempts number 21. Less than 3000
general admission tickets remain for Saturday's meeting - the richest
day of racing on the South Australian calendar.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Recommended Coverage
Mighty Mare has nothing to prove
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. The South Australian Jockey Club expects to put up the "sold out" sign at some point today and is urging all those still wanting to attend to buy tickets first thing this morning. The club has already arranged a deal with the AFL, moving the Adelaide-Geelong game to a 12.45pm start, while pushing the Goodwood back to 4.20pm to give as many people as possible the chance to be there. After her effortless performance in the Group 1 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) last month, bookmakers consider Black Caviar a certainty to win her Australian farewell this weekend. The champion will strip fitter and take a lot of improvement from that run, TAB Sportsbet installing her a prohibitive odds-on favourite at $1.03 to take out the $500,000 event. The mare's task has already been made easier with Mornington trainer Jason Warren confirming on the weekend her main rival Bel Sprinter has gone to the paddock for a spell and will miss the race. Local speedsters are set to make up the majority of the field, with the likes of We're Gonna Rock, Go The Knuckle, Stirling Gove and Periduki on target to contest the event. Acceptances close at 9am tomorrow for the Goodwood,
with around 10 runners expected to line up. Black Caviar leaves for
England later this month to run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal
Ascot on June 23. CAVIAR TAKE TWO The Goodwood Morphettville, Saturday $500,000 GROUP 1 GOODWOOD (1200M) Black Caviar $1.03 We're Gonna Rock $15 Go The Knuckle $21 Stirling Grove $26 Outlandish Lad $26 Catapulted $26 Dusty Star $26 Rocking Force $35 Spacecraft $51 Streetcar Magic $51 Bonnie Mac $51 Liveandletdie $51 All others $71 or more *Market TAB Sportsbet Blue-Blooded Beauties 7 May 2012 When you are the most expensive yearling by a sire sold
in a particular year it stands to reason that you should be able to win a
race.
Second at two of her three previous starts, Soul Mama broke the ice when
taking the 1000 metre maiden by two lengths as favourite at her first
run back from a spell.
A $400,000 purchase for her trainer from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Soul Mama (pictured as a yearling)was the most expensive filly sired by Charge Forward sold in 2010.
Soul Mama is a half-sister to Group III winner Solar Charged and
stakes-winner Causeway Queen and is the fifth winner for Danehill (USA)
mare Soul Singer.
A $430,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Darley from the Newhaven Park draft, Harpers (pictured as a yearling) is the second winner for Group II winner Media, a half-sister to another Group II winner Timbourina. Harpers was the most expensive filly by Exceed and Excel sold in 2011 and is his ninth Australian two year-old winner this season. The stocking fits for Commands 6 May 2012 Commands mare wins the Listed Silk Stocking on the Gold Coast
Mascareri, a Darley homebred is out of a Grand Lodge mare Disguise who is also the mother of Commands most recent Stakes winner, the very talented G3 winner Appearance. Jockey Damian Brown had the mare perfectly poised at the top of the
straight and she relished the seven week break to win comfortably, the
win taking her prizemoney to in excess of $400,000. The mares eighth win was also the tenth individual Stakes winner for
Commands. Commands has sired more winners than any other stallion in
Australia or New Zealand this season, his total of 119 in Australia are
headed by the brilliant sprinter Rain Affair and this seasons Black Opal Stakes winner Epaulette. Darley recently announced that they will stand Command's G1- winning son Skilled
at stud for the 2012 season. Skilled was a three-time winner during his
juvenile season, twice at Stakes level, including a career-defining
victory in the G1 Champagne Stakes and with his striking looks, should
certainly appeal to local breeders. Commands will stand the forthcoming season at Darley Kelvinside at a
fee of $55,000 (inc. GST) while Skilled will stand at Darley Northwood
Park in Victoria for an attractive fee of $8,800 (inc. GST)
Second Win for Blue-Blood
6 May 2012 Blue-blooded
More Than Ready (USA) filly Dazzler made it two wins in as many starts when
bolting in at Flemington on Saturday. The Peter Snowden trained filly posted an easy three-length win on the Geelong synthetic
track on April 13 and repeated the effort at Flemington despite
rising in class as well as distance. Jockey Dean Yendall positioned Dazzler just off the speed before he eased the
two-year-old into clear running at the 350 metres and from that point it was
all over as she sped clear to take the 1400 metre event by nearly three lengths. "She began well out of the machines," Yendall said.
"She travelled up to them really nicely in the home straight. I released
the handbrake on her a little bit and I was pretty confident on her halfway up
the straight."
A homebred for Darley, Dazzler is by champion sire More Than Ready (pictured)and is the
first foal of Camarilla, who was bred by Darley but sold in their draft at the
2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Woodlands Stud for $900,000. When Darley purchased Woodlands in its entirety in 2008, Camarilla reverted
back to their ownership.
Camarilla was the best horse in Australia sired by Elusive Quality (USA) until
Champion 2YO Sepoy came along and ironically he is from the same family which
goes back to renowned Group I stars Canny Lad and Canny Lass. Camarilla is from Group I Queensland Derby winner Camarena, who is a full
sister to Watchful, the dam of Sepoy.
At stud, Camarilla has proven a good producer and coming along to follow
Dazzler are a filly by Exceed and Excel and a colt by Shamardal (USA), the
Group I winner now back in foal to Street Cry (IRE).
Master of Design to Swettenham Stud 5 May 2012 Victorian breeders will have access to a Group I winning
son of Redoute's Choice this spring with news that Swettenham Stud have
secured blue-blooded stallion Master of Design.
A $2.1 million Inglis Easter yearling purchase for Darley, bred and offered for sale by Arrowfield Stud, Master of Design (pictured) was later acquired by Australian Bloodstock at a fraction of his yearling price and has proven a sound investment. "We had a number of interested parties but felt the marketing behind Swettenham was exceptional and decided to accept their offer," Australian Bloodstock's spokesman Luke Murrell told Sydney Morning Herald. "He has a tremendous pedigree apart from being by Redoute's Choice. His
dam Urge to Merge is a daughter of Last Tycoon, and her female line
relates closely to Typhoon Tracy and South African Champion Tracy's
Element." Who's Hot? 4 May 2012 The Sydney Autumn Carnival has come to an end so we
thought it was a good time to take stock of where we are at in terms of
stallion talent, now that the breeding season is fast approaching, so
the Breednet Sire Prospect Tracker has been overhauled under the expert
eye of Brett Howard of Randwick Bloodstock. High profile locally performed horses set to embark on stud careers this
spring include So You Think, Foxwedge, Anacheeva, Benfica, Toorak Toff,
Skilled, Smart Missile, Shrapnel and Trusting, while horses like Group I
winners Master of Design, Ilovethiscity and Jimmy Choux have been
retired and are awaiting placement at stud.
Lonhro has gone on to be a Champion Sire and of course has the Golden Slipper winner Pierro on his tally of stakes-winners, so that initial assessment of him in terms of fee has proven correct.
Brett Howard offers his thoughts on So You Think – A very gifted horse with eight Group One wins in twenty-one starts. He won a Cox Plate at his fifth start and then another at his tenth start. He won three Group Ones in Europe in 2011 and finished the year ranked
in the World's top ten racehorses with a rating of 126, the equal of new
Emirates Park (NSW) sire Dream Ahead (five Group One wins in nine
starts – standing for $27,500), however, behind the 127 rating new Blue
Gum Stud sire Canford Cliffs received (five Group One wins in eleven
starts – standing for $19,250). It will be interesting to see how the market receives him at $66,000. Being a Group I winning sprinter by a powerhouse super sire is seen
by many as a sure fire recipe for sire success and two of the new
recruits for this year fit that profile in Foxwedge and Master of
Design, who are by Fastnet Rock and Redoute's Choice respectively. Brett Howard offers his thoughts on the pair – Both horses
have Group One WFA 1200m wins beside their names. In most instances I
would be quite bullish on any stallion prospect who won one of these
races, however, in Foxwedge's case I have my doubts as to whether Hay List
was at or near the top of his game in the William Reid, while the field
that lined up against Master of Design in the TJ Smith was not a
stellar collection of Group One performers, and in my opinion the race
had more of a Group Two feel about it. However, they are by Danehill's
two best sire sons, and this cannot be ignored.
Pierro (pictured) is the best performed two year-old colt since Luskin Star, whose race record he broke when winning the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes over 1400 metres. While Luskin Star pressed on to the Brisbane Winter Carnival, where he
won both the Group I QTC Sires Produce and Marlborough Stakes (now TJ
Smith), Pierro is enjoying a well-earned rest, while stud-masters mull
over his worth and potential.
Brett Howard offers his thoughts on Pierro – Freakish
racetrack performance. If someone had suggested to me in this day and
age it was possible for a horse to win the Breeder's Plate, Silver
Slipper, Todman Slipper Trial, Golden Slipper, Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes
and remain undefeated I would have given you very generous odds. His
breeding suggests he should come back better as a three-year-old. Can't
wait.
While All Too Hard is the obvious next best colt on the horizon,
Brett Howard pinpoints which others we should be watching for and why – In the older horse brigade it will be interesting to see if Americain's owners will be tempted to have another run at the Melbourne Cup or will they take the money on offer for him to retire to stud this season? We will also be monitoring closely the Northern Hemisphere careers of
Darley pair Sepoy and Helmet. Hopefully both can redeem themselves after
lacklustre performances in Dubai.
Across the ditch, NZ's only Group One two-year-old races were won by
Australian bred colts Warhorse (General Nediym) and Choice Bro
(Choisir). One would think we might see one or both back "home" during
the next twelve months. One to Watch at Kembla 2 May 2012 He is a three-quarter brother to a Group I winner and leading young sire, so this winner at Kembla on Tuesday is well worth noting. The John Thompson trained Redoute's Choice colt Reflectance opened his winning account with a neck win in the 1200 metre juvenile maiden at his second start.
While Patinack Farm paid a whopping $2.2 million for Metallurgical back in 2008, they purchased Reflectance (pictured as a yearling) for a comparative bargain price of $625,000 in 2011 at Magic Millions from the draft of Baramul Stud. Lady Capel had no yearling for the sales this year, but does have a weanling filly by High Chaparral (IRE) and is in foal to Vinery shuttler Congrats (USA). Champion sire Redoute's Choice scored a winning double at Kembla. Breaking her maiden in good style at Kembla on Tuesday for Torryburn Stud was blue-blooded mare Kentucky Belle. The Gerald Ryan trained four year-old daughter of Redoute's Choice has been thereabouts on many occasions, but finally got the cash when taking the Benchmark 60 event over 1200 metres by a length and a half. Bred and retained to race by Torryburn Stud, Kentucky Belle is the first Australian winner for Becky's Ransom (USA), a winning half-sister by Red Ransom to champion sire and Group I winner More Than Ready and three-quarter sister-in-blood to US Group I winner Bail Out Becky. Becky's Ransom had no yearling for the sales this year, but does have a weanling colt by Starcraft and is in foal to Denman. Pierro Takes Triple Crown 29 April 2012 All conquering juvenile Pierro confirmed his status as one of the
greatest two-year-olds ever to have raced in Australia with a stunning win in
today's Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. In winning the colt by Lonhro completed the juvenile triple crown having
already this preparation captured both the Golden Slipper Stakes and ATC Sires'
Produce Stakes.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse was again rolling out the superlatives as the
outstanding colt streaked clear of his rivals again. "Outstanding, absolutely outstanding," the champion Hall of Famer
beamed from the mounting enclosure.
"It is a privilege to
see a horse as a good as him. Colts just don't do what he's done." "I have trained plenty of good two-year-olds and they rarely win races
like this and the triple crown."
"This horse is truly outstanding," she added.
Regular rider Nash Rawiller likewise was beaming from the winner's stall. "He has just been a phenomenal ride," the delighted hoop said. "He's been arrogant today, there is no other word to describe it." "He is just a magnificent horse."
"You can push the button on him then get him to come back under you at any
stage of the race."
"He has continued to raise the bar and it has been more than my dreams
could have imagined - it's been unbelievable."
Pierro(pictured as a yearling) , whose six wins have all been at stakes level, was bred and sold by
Darley for $115,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. He was purchased there by David Kobritz and then prepared by the Musk Creek
Farm team for last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he made
$230,000 to the bid of Gai Waterhouse. One of 32 classy stakes winners for Lonhro, Pierro is from the Sydney winning
Daylami mare Miss Right Note. Miss Right Note is a half sister to the Group One winner Laverock - a close
relation to Pierro being a son of Octagonal - the sire of Lonhro. Black Caviar white-hot favourite to win at Morphetville 26 April 2012
BLACK Caviar, the closest racing has had to a sure thing, will start the
shortest favourite in a Group 1 race in more than 50 years at
Morphettville on Saturday. The mighty mare with the magical unbeaten streak has been rated at $1.04 by TAB Sportsbet fixed odds to win her 20th race, the $400,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m). She is the hottest favourite in a major since Valerius won the 1961 Chipping Norton Stakes at $1.03 (33/1 on).It seems only bad luck can beat Black Caviar when she races for history as: SHE tries to maintain her unbeaten record and break the record for most consecutive wins held by Desert Gold and Gloaming since 1921; SHE is set to become only the second mare to win at least 10 Group 1 races after Sunline (13 majors); SHE will start from barrier three against only nine rivals with Lone Rock next in betting at $16; and ALL remaining tickets for a capacity 30,000 crowd at Morphettville were sold yesterday. The world's greatest sprinter has started at $1.05 in four of her wins, including twice at Group 1 level in the Orr Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic, but the $1.04 TAB Sportsbet fixed odds is offering about the mare for Saturday's is the most prohibitive odds of her celebrated career. "We started betting on the Robert Sangster Stakes a week ago and had Black Caviar at $1.05 and I would say punters who started backing her then will have got the best odds," TAB spokesman Adam Hamilton said. Black Caviar hasn't raced since her brilliant Lightning Stakes win at Flemington nine weeks ago but trainer Peter Moody fine-tuned the mare's Sangster Stakes preparation with a solid hitout at Caulfield yesterday morning. With race jockey Luke Nolen in the saddle, Black Caviar worked comfortably over 800m in 50.96sec, running home the last 600m in 36.94 on the course proper. "That tops her off nicely, she's ready to race now," Moody said. Black Caviar is likely to have two starts in Adelaide including the Group 1 The Goodwood on May 12 before leaving later next month for England where she is being set for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 23. Meanwhile, Sydney's crack colt Foxwedge has recovered from a throat infection but is unlikely to race again until Royal Ascot, trainer John O'Shea has confirmed. "He'll have a barrier trial now before flying out on the 13th (of May)," O'Shea said of Foxwedge, who is being prepared for the King's Stand Stakes on June 18. The Galaxy winner Temple Of Boom could also join Black Caviar, Foxwedge and Ortensia in England. Trainer Tony Gollan confirmed he has received an approach from Royal Ascot officials to race the Queensland sprinter in the King's Stand Stakes. "If we go over he won't be running against Black Caviar -
no way," Gollan said. "Black Caviar is running in the Diamond Jubilee so
if we do head over we won't be meeting her." Gollan hopes to make the
decision this week. Smart Win for Blue-Blood 26 April 2012 She's the aunt of Black Caviar if we look at it in human terms, which is why there is considerable in the progress of this filly by Flying Spur who scored at Flemington on Anzac Day. A homebred for Robert Crabtree prepared by Mick Price, Arctic Flight scored her third win from six starts when leading throughout to win over 1200 metres. "She's a big raw sort of filly, but she has good ability and we've just got to get some Black Type with her now," said Mick Price.
Arctic Flight(pictured Racepix Vic) is a full sister to Group I AJC The Galaxy winner Magnus and three-quarter sister to Group II winner Wilander being one of four winners from former brilliant Snippets sprinter Scandinavia. Scandinavia has achieved lasting fame through another of her daughters in unraced Helsinge, who is the dam of world champion sprinter Black Caviar and this season's Group II winning juvenile All Too Hard, not to mention that Redoute's Choice yearling filly that topped the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when selling for $2.6 million. Now aged 17, Scandinavia has a yearling filly by
Fastnet Rock, a weanling colt by Redoute's Choice and is back in foal to
Fastnet Rock. Morphettville a sellout to witness Black Caviar's record bid 25 April, 2012
BLACK Caviar will bid for Australian sporting history in front of a sellout crowd at Morphettville. All remaining tickets for the capacity 30,000 crowd were sold yesterday for Saturday's meeting, where Black Caviar will chase consecutive win No. 20 in the Sportingbet Classic. Black Caviar is big news in Adelaide as she aims to go past Desert Gold and Gloaming - who have held held the Australasian mark of 19 successive wins for more than 90 years - and American mare Zenyatta, who won her first 19 starts. Jockey Nathan Rose, booked to ride $301 outsider Tabulated, took to Twitter after yesterday's barrier draw to gush that his mare had drawn alongside "the mighty mare". Rose, lining up for his first Group 1 ride,
then added cheekily: "Might track her around, then go past her ... on
the way to the gates." Trainer Peter Moody gave Black Caviar her final hitout at Caulfield yesterday. She covered 800m in heavy conditions on the course proper in 50.96sec, running home the last 600m in 36.94. "That just tops her off nicely," Moody said. TAB Sportsbet wound in Black Caviar from $1.05 to $1.04 after she drew barrier three in a field of 10. Morphettville was rated a Slow 6 yesterday, but improving weather is forecast. Black Caviar has not raced on a track worse than a Dead 4. Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths has Spurcific in today's 1200m Auckland Racing Handicap at Flemington, but said the mare would head to Adelaide for the Sportingbet Classic in the hope she could run third and gain some black type. Griffiths said the Robert Smerdon-trained Lone Rock looked a moral to run second behind Black Caviar. Moody will also head to Adelaide with My Girl Tess, entered in the Group 1 Oaks, and So Pristine, in the mile race for mares. Moody said there was no way he would miss the historic day. That will force him to miss the Sydney carnival day at Randwick, where his charge Manighar will attempt to make it four Group 1 wins in a row in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). The import already has saluted in the Australian Cup, Ranvet Stakes and BMW and a win on Saturday would cap off a remarkable training effort as Moody has transformed the former dour stayer into the weight-for-age champ in the nation. With Luke Nolen to ride Black Caviar in Adelaide, Damien Oliver will take the ride on Manighar. Moody also has Huegill running in the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) in Sydney, and will put King's Rose on a flight to Hong Kong tonight for a major race there. He also has six runners at Caulfield in what will be a massive weekend for the premier trainer. Waller unsure Permit deserves favouritism for Sydney Cup 25 April, 2012
CHRIS Waller feels Permit needs to lift to another level if he is to
win the Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Bookmakers have the European import as the $3.60 favourite for the
Group 1 staying feature thanks to his Chairman's Handicap win but Waller
is not totally convinced, believing the horses returning from the
weight-for-age contests deserve top billing. "I think Niwot
($4.40) and Drunken Sailor ($6.50) have the form on the board and Permit
needs to go to a new level to be competitive against them," he said.
"We only get 2kg off Niwot, a horse who has won a Lexus Quality and ran
well in a Melbourne Cup, and Drunken Sailor has been very consistent
this preparation and ran third behind Manighar and Americain last
start." Despite concerns about the quality of his opponents,
Waller was delighted to draw an inside barrier yesterday as it gives the
horse the best opportunity to find a position where he can conserve
energy early. "Barrier three is perfect, just what we wanted," Waller
said. "He has come from restricted grade to a Group 1 in one preparation
and is holding his condition." Melbourne Cup winner Efficient accepted for the Sydney Cup and will
carry the top weight of 58kg with Michael Rodd in the saddle. Kerrin McEvoy will ride Permit, who will now carry 53.5kg with the weights raised 1.5kg yesterday. Waller also has Hawk Island and defending champ Stand To Gain in the Sydney Cup. "Hawk Island is racing like an out-and-out stayer so you could imagine the 3200m will suit him," he said. This Cross is Working 24 April 2012 When seven of the 20 winners bred on a
particular cross are stakes-winners we should probably take note.
|
Star juvenille Pierro (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) , bred by Darley, achieved a first, claiming both the HTBA
Champion 2 year old colt and beating the older horses to win the HTBA Champion racehorse
category. 
At his first
and only two-year-old start, the Sydney Morning Herald wrote pre-race, "Blake Shinn believes Needs Further will stake a claim as a Golden
Slipper contender when he debuts in the Pagewood Handicap at Randwick today. 
True to her word, Waterhouse lined Needs Further up three weeks later on first
day of the AJC Autumn Carnival in the Group 3 AJC Carbine Club Stakes over
1600m. Heavily backed from $3.80 into a $2.70 favourite, Needs Further was yet
again slowly away and was then pushed hard early to take a forward position
just behind leader Shadows In The Sun. On straightening, Nash Rawiller pushed
the button and Needs Further sprinted past the subsequent Group 1 winner, with
the smart Group 3 winner Divorces battling on gamely past Shadows In The Sun to
take second place. 
While Streama pressed on to win the Group I ATC Australian Oaks, Sea Siren was sent to the paddock with the aim of winning the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane during the winter, a plan that now looks a very good one indeed. 
"Every time I've asked her to do something she's really stepped up to the plate. 
A
precocious two year-old with an electric turn of foot, Foxwedge trained
on to be the dominant sprinting three year-old colt of his generation. 
Opening
her winning account at Sale on Sunday for the Peter Moody stable was
three year-old filly Soul Mama, a full sister to former brilliant
juvenile Solar Charged. 
Scoring at her second start on the Geelong
synthetic track was the Peter Snowden trained Exceed and Excel filly
Harpers, who was a market drifter, but still won the 1100 metre juvenile
maiden easily by two and three-quarter lengths. 
Mascareri, a five-year-old mare by Commands claimed her first Stakes-victory by winning the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast over 1200m on May 5. 
"She possied up nicely but she just got a bit keen for a few strides when
they did slacken the pace off. 
The six year-old closed out his career on a high with a Group I victory over Rain Affair in the ATC TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick over 1200 metres. 
Priced at $66,000, So You Think (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) is
the most expensive first season sire this year and the most expensive
locally performed first season sire since Lonhro went to stud in 2004 at
a fee of $60,000. 
A
full brother to recent stakes-winner Metallurgical, Reflectance is the
sixth winner from star producer Lady Capel, who is also the dam of Group
I winner Casino Prince and stakes-winners Tagus and Law of the Land.
"There was never
a worry in the world - he was too good." 
"She
can't get past 1200 metres, so I'll be keeping her at that trip and
we'll look at a race like the Listed Proud Miss Stakes over in
Adelaide."
