Griffiths, de Kock join forces

Robbie Griffiths has entered into a training partnership with Mathew de Kock, the son of 126-time Group 1-winning South African trainer Mike de Kock.

Racing Victoria officially approved the partnership this week, with the pair to be based at Griffiths’ Cranbourne facility.

“We’re so excited to be joining in partnership and really think it’s a perfect opportunity for both of us moving forward,” Griffiths said. "In these modern times with racing 24/7, partnerships have proved very successful here in Australia and we hope we can be the next pair to make an impact.”

The 29-year-old de Kock has been based in Australia since March and had initially intended to train in his own right at Cranbourne until Griffiths presented him with the partnership opportunity a few months ago.

He has been assistant trainer to his father since 2010, with responsibilities including travelling a number of Group 1-winning horses to race all around the world.

“I’m so excited about getting the opportunity to join a trainer with the experience that Robbie has had and to train at a world-class facility like Cranbourne,” de Kock said.

“My business will be separate from dad’s over in South Africa and Dubai, but I’m definitely hoping we’ll be able to bring out a couple of the good horses from Dubai to really get Robbie and I up and running.”

Cummings delighted

James Cummings is delighted with the condition of his $15 million The Everest contender Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) and his G1 Caulfield Cup hope Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

“Bivouac is right where we want him. It’s now a matter of maintaining their fitness and, at the same time, preserving his freshness,” he said. “Glen (Boss) gave Bivouac the perfect barrier trial at Warwick Farm last Friday.

“The Newmarket was his peak performance and it’s worth noting he had Gytrash, Libertini and Tofane behind him there.”

Cummings said he couldn’t fault last-start runner-up Avilius either.

“He’s sailing along beautifully and he’s highly likely to produce the best run of his campaign. We suspect he’s coming from an excellent form race in the Hill S.

“The sight of Avilius storming home in the Caulfield Cup would bring great pride to the stable. He has been a top-class multiple Group 1 winner, but that has now pushed him close to the top of the weight scale in this handicap. He has earned a berth to tackle these stayers in Australia’s premier mile and a-half handicap.”

Inside draw a boost

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) has snuck into the G1 Caulfield Cup for the second year in a row.

The Group 2-winning stayer finished ninth in last year’s Cup after drawing barrier 18, but this year will start from a much more favourable barrier two.

“The inside draw means he doesn’t have to get so far back and he doesn’t have to try and come around the field, which when you have 17 other horses of that calibre is pretty tough,” Forsman said.

“The plan will be to be as handy as possible without over-doing it and hopefully he gets a bit of luck in the run.

“Back to a handicap, with blinkers on, I think he is a horse that appreciates Flemington as opposed to Caulfield, but the key is a good draw. If he gets a bit of luck then there is no reason why he can’t be competitive.”

Capitalist colt stars

Breeze ups have been finalised and inspections are underway at Riverside as preparations for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale head into overdrive.

A total of 12 horses participated in Friday morning’s alternate breeze session at Warwick Farm, with a Capitalist colt, Lot 186, of Blake Ryan Racing clocking the fastest time of 10.20s.

“He’s just a neat, compact, fast, early 2-year-old,’’ Ryan said. “He’s got the shape of his father and the colour of his dam sire (Exceed And Excel) so it’s a pretty nice mix. "

Vision of the breeze-up action will be available on the Inglis website by Saturday morning.

Inspections continue Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with the sale to begin at 10am AEDT Tuesday.

Sunday morning will see the annual Veuve Clicquot Ready2Race Parade at Riverside from 11am AEDT, where a strong selection of the catalogue will be paraded for buyers while they enjoy a complimentary brunch on behalf of Inglis. The parade will be live streamed onto the Inglis website for those unable to attend.

Favourite out

Front Page (Magnus) has been scratched after a float incident on the way to Sydney for the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko.

“Trainer Geoff Duryea has reported to Racing NSW Stewards that Front Page has sustained injuries to the near side eye and off hind leg when the gelding became fractious whilst being floated," a Racing NSW stewards report read.

"Mr Duryea’s stable veterinarian has certified that Front Page is not suitable to start in The Kosciuszko and accordingly the gelding has been scratched from the race."

Market rally continues

Like a cyclist who has been struggling into a bitter headwind, only to find himself suddenly towed along by the slipstream of a juggernaut, Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale opened with all the startling momentum achieved, against every temperate expectation, in Book 2.

Once again, the masks around the ring concealed gapes of incredulity as a brisk trade maintained all indices almost precisely in step with the returns last year, when the wider world was so very different a place.

Aggregate turnover of 5,092,700 gns (AU$9,678,676), through the first of two sessions, was marginally down from 5,211,500 gns (AU$9,849,735); but with slightly fewer lots into the ring, that translated to an average of 21,488 gns (AU$42,868), virtually pegged against 21,805 gns (AU$41,440) last year. The median held static at 16,000 gns (AU$30,408).

Four lots shared top billing with the first of them a Mehmas (Ire) filly going to Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock for 130,000 gns (AU$247,065) from Loughmore Stables draft.

That mark was shared by a Churchill (Ire) filly bought by Joe Foley from Keith Harte, a Farrh (GB) colt from Car Colston Hall Stud that went to Matt Coleman and a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt offered by Hazelwood Stud was purchased by Grove Stud.

Weigh In returns

New Zealand’s only television show dedicated to news and reviews of the thoroughbred industry returns on Monday.

Weigh In will screen live at 8pm NZDT on Monday after a new 30-program series was commissioned by some of the biggest names in New Zealand racing.

TAB NZ no longer makes racing magazine shows as their mandate has changed to primarily driving turnover to maximise profits to return to the industry.

But the thoroughbred racing industry will now have weekly review shows through the support of those involved in the industry, a family of sponsors put together through the work of Te Akau’s David Ellis.

Weigh In will be hosted by Emily Bosson along with regular panellist Michael Guerin, but will also see the return to television screens of respected presenter Luke Radich as well as expert panellists and guests.

War Front fee drops

Claiborne Farm has released stud fees for the majority of its stallions who will stand at its Paris, Kentucky-based farm during the upcoming 2021 breeding season, which included a significant reduction in price for its international super-sire War Front (USA).

Among Claiborne’s 13 stallions, War Front leads the charge with a stud fee of US$150,000 (AU$211,830). He previously stood for US$250,000 (AU$353,215), which was the highest advertised fee in North America.

Flatter (USA) will stand for US$35,000 (AU$49,435) while Mastery (USA), the undefeated Grade 1-winning son of Candy Ride (Arg), will remain at US$25,000 (AU$35,325).

Catholic Boy (USA) and Demarchelier (GB), who both stood their first seasons at Claiborne in 2020, will remain unchanged at US$25,000 (AU$35,325) and US$5000 (AU$7000), respectively.

First Samurai (USA) will stand for US$15,000 (AU$21,200). Stud fees for Eclipse Champion Runhappy (USA) and War Of Will (USA) will be announced following the G1 Breeders’ Cup.

Not This Time hike

Not This Time (USA), whose record-setting, undefeated daughter Princess Noor (USA) is a leading candidate for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, will stand the 2021 breeding season for a fee of US$40,000 (AU$56,500) at Taylor Made.

He commanded an advertised fee of US$12,500 (AU$17,660) in 2020. Instagrand (USA) is new to the Taylor Made roster and enters stud at US$7500 (AU$10,600). Midnight Storm (USA) and Mshawish (USA) have been reduced from to US$7500 (AU$10,600), while Chilean import Daddy Long Legs (USA) will command a fee of US$5000 (AU$7000).

Breeze-ups online

New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual Ready to Run Sale breeze-ups saw more than 250 2-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa this week.

With significant importance placed on footage for buyers this year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, NZB made the decision to lengthen their traditional clip format and offer vision of the mounting yard prior to horses breezing.

The clips were also extended to include additional footage near the 600 metre mark and horses also had the last 200 metres of their work individually timed.

All videos are now available to view online. Breeze-ups will also be broadcast lot-by-lot on Trackside in New Zealand, Racing.com and Sky Racing in Australia, and can be viewed at the following times:

Trackside - October 22 at 7am (NZT), October 25 at 10am (NZT) and October 26 at 9pm (NZT); Racing.com - October 28 at 6am (AEDT) and November 17 at 6am (AEDT) and the Sky Racing schedule to be confirmed.

Busy time for Pitman

It’s been a whirlwind week for Matthew Pitman with the Riccarton trainer welcoming his second child on Tuesday and he has also been in the process of moving into his family’s new home.

Pitman may be a bit sleep deprived when he heads to Ashburton on Sunday to line-up a 10-strong team with his father and training partner Michael, but he is excited about the prospects of a number of runners.

“We have got a good team in,” he said. “The team is racing well at the moment and I think we can be pretty competitive all day long.”

His team will be headlined by last-start winner Watchmaker (NZ) (Pins), who will jump from barrier seven in the G3 Barneswood Farm S. 3YO.

“It’s exciting to see if Watchmaker can go on from what he did the other day where he was pretty impressive,” Pitman said. “We have always known he is capable of doing that. He has been screaming out for 1400 metres and even a mile.”