Ghaiyyath colt popular on Day 2 of Tatts Foal Sale
The Tattersalls December Foal Sale continued in robust fashion on the second day with a colt by the four-time Group 1-winning Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (Ire) from Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare School Run (Ire), realising 240,000gns (AU$430,000) to the bid of Church Farm and Horse Park Stud’s John Cullinan.
“I saw the horse yesterday and loved him,” said Cullinan. “We were keen to buy a Ghaiyyath, he is one of the stallions who has been on our mind as a first-crop sire. He looks to have very good stock, he was a brilliant racehorse and was the highest-rated racehorse in the world for a time, and he is by a sire of sires.
“This is a lovely individual. He vetted very well and we were at full stretch at that price, but nice horses are always hard to come by, and you have to pay a bit more for the ones you want.”
Leading the way on Day 2 was Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Havana Grey (GB) half-brother to the Group 1-performing sprinter Dragon Symbol (GB), who was knocked down to Philipp Stauffenberg for 250,000gns (AU$448,000).
The turnover, average and median all showed significant increases on last year’s corresponding session.
Rothfire ready to shine in the west
Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote knows a thing or two about winning the G1 Winterbottom S. - he has after all taken home that trophy on two occasions with his stable star Buffering (Mossman) proving too fast for his rivals in 2013 and again two years later.
And he hopes to again be cheering home the winner with Rothfire (Rothesay), from barrier three looking hard to beat in the $1.5 million 1200-metre contest that was first run in 1952.
“Ben Dorries from the Courier Mail called me before the draw and said, 'What barrier do you want?' and I said, 'Three'. And lo and behold that’s what we got. It's definitely an advantage and it opens up a few extra options for Ollie (Damien Oliver, jockey), depending on how much pressure is in the race.
“He has good gate speed and the way the draw has fallen it certainly favours us a bit. And if someone wants to take us on I wouldn’t be opposed to taking a trail.”
NZ Group 3 winner enters Kris Lees' stable
Last seen when finding bad luck finishing out of the placings in the G1 New Zealand Oaks in March, the G3 Sunline Vase winner Bellatrix Black (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and imported to Australia.
Formerly trained by Catherine Cameron and from now on by Kris Lees, she has had just six starts. Her Group 3 success came at the expense of the subsequent G1 Livamol Classic winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh).
“I think they were a good crop of 3-year-olds and she is right up there - potentially one of the better ones to come out of that crop,” Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett said.
Bellatrix Black (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
With the plans being to 'poke around in the autumn', Bellatrix Black has spring aims such as the G1 Caulfield Cup, that is when, Lovett said, “We will hopefully see the best of her.”
Raced in New Zealand by her breeders JR Alexander and NDR McKerchar, Bellatrix Black has plenty of stamina in her bloodlines with her relations including the G1 Perth Cup winner Rocket Racer (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}) and the G1 AJC Oaks heroine Starzaan (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}).
ATA reacts to Racing Victoria's non-acceptance fee
ATA president Robbie Griffiths expressed disappointment at Racing Victoria's announcement regarding the reinstatement of non-acceptance fees.
Victoria is currently the only state using the free nomination (apart from stakes races) system but, subject to an evaluation period kicking off in December, Racing Victoria is hoping to reintroduce the fees from April next year.
Much to Griffiths' disappointment, the Cranbourne-based trainer telling Racing.com that, “The ATA sees no advantages to the proposal.
“The current advantages for a non-acceptance fee are that they provide full fields and they give owners more options to have a runner whilst providing trainers with flexibility.”
Racing Victoria is concerned at Victoria's 31 per cent acceptance rate versus a national average of 70 per cent.
“While free non-acceptances benefit some trainers and owners some of the time, they create problems for other trainers and owners all of the time,” Racing Victoria's Executive GM Of Racing Matt Welsh noted at Racing.com.
“The programming of horses is challenging for stables due to high uncertainty whether they'll gain a start. The reintroduction of a non-acceptance fee would reduce the incentive to nominate horses in multiple races then fail to accept.”
VOBIS nominations closing
Breeders looking to sell their yearlings at next year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearlings have until Monday to lock in the Super VOBIS logo for the Inglis Premier Sale catalogue publication.
Nominated horses can race for in excess of $13 million worth of bonuses over 840+ metropolitan and country races each season, including bonuses exclusively for nominators. Eligible races offer bonuses of up to $7000 for nominators, and the chance to share in the exclusive $10,000 nominators’ only bonus offered on eligible Group and Listed races.
Meanwhile, the Inglis 2023 Preview Magazine was launched online, beginning the build-up to the 2023 Inglis Yearling Sales Series which kicks off at Riverside with Inglis Classic Yearling Sale being held from February 12 to 14.
Damian Lane hoping to take Asia by storm
Globe-trotting jockey Damian Lane has busy times ahead.
In Tokyo riding Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup, Lane then heads to Hong Kong where he is due to partner the Japanese runners Gendarme (USA) (Kitten's Joy {USA}) in the G1 International Sprint and Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in the G1 International Vase.
“Both horses are in great form and I think they are both winning chances, especially Win Marilyn,” Lane said.
Damian Lane | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Weltreisende meanwhile, who he describes as 'a really nice progressive horse', is a chance at double-figure odds, Lane explaining that whilst his latest run was 'a little disappointing', he had had a long time off due to injury.
Lane does not think it a vintage edition of the Japan Cup, noting that, “A lot of the better horses are skipping it and going straight to the G1 Arima Kinen, so I think that brings my horse in with a chance.”
NZ Governor General visits Cambridge Stud
Cambridge Stud hosted a visit from the New Zealand Governor General this week, the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO and her husband Dr Richard Davies guests of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association as they toured the world-famous nursery.
“It was a privilege sharing Cambridge Stud's history with Dame Cindy and Dr Davies,” the farm's newsletter reported, noting that Dame Cindy shared stories of Queen Elizabeth II's love of horses.
It was not the couple's first visit to Cambridge Stud, also visiting farm when it was still in the ownership of Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.
This time posing for photographs with Almanzor (Fr), last time around they were in the auspicious company of the late, great Zabeel (NZ).
Second runner for Brave Smash
After accepting with debutant Kimochi at both the Gold Coast and Rosehill tomorrow, Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli has elected to kick off the promising Brave Smash (Jpn) filly's career in Race 1 at Rosehill.
A $21,000 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale purchase for Hall of Fame Bloodstock Hong Kong, Kimochi was a strong-finishing second behind the regally related Waterhouse and Bott-trained Excess (son of Snitzel and Overreach by Exceed And Excel).
Brave Smash (Jpn) | Standing at Aquis Farm
Aquis Farm's Jonathan Davies is delighted with the start Brave Smash has made to his career, buoyed by the fact that many of those sending mares to the good-looking bay are return visitors - “He once again meets with very solid support with a notable part of that being by owners, trainers and agents who have Brave Smash 2-year-olds.
“I think that bodes very well for what we will see from them on the track this season.”
Aaron Bullock's big day out
It was a big day out For Aaron Bullock at Muswellbrook on Friday, the Newcastle-based jockey from his eight rides kicking home five winners as well as two thirds and a fourth.
Bullock's winners all came for different trainers - Paul Messara, Stephen Jones, Richard and Will Freedman, Kristen Buchanan and Lou Mary.
Messara-trained double
It was also a good day for trainer Paul Messara at Muswellbrook who saddled up the first two winners, also successful with the promising Mauricette (Maurice {Jpn}) whose dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning stallion Road To Rock.
Class 1 winner Seahaven (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) is particuarly well-bred, as a grandson of Alinghi (Encosta De Lago).
Rich Strike's attempt at history
First run in 1875 the historic G1 Clark S. takes place on Saturday and racing fans will be paying keen attention with the rare treat of the nine-furlong event being contested by the reigning G1 Kentucky Derby champ.
Not since 1997 has a Kentucky Derby winner - Silver Charm (USA) (Silver Buck {USA}) - won the race and in that case, it was a year later, that popular grey returning as a 4-year-old to claim victory.
Friday sees Rich Strike (USA) (Keen Ice {USA}) attempt the double. He is favourite having run well without the best of luck in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic won in such sensational style by Flightline (USA), a son of Tapit (USA).
“It might be a good omen that it's been a long time since someone has pulled this off,” trainer Eric Reed said in a Churchill Downs media release - “Especially with what happened in the Derby; being the second-longest-priced horse to ever win.”
