Grangewilliam Stud offers August special
For the first month of the new season, the South Taranaki-based Grangewilliam Stud will offer a great incentive for New Zealand breeders, with all three of their stallions – Zed (NZ), Derryn, and The Bold One (NZ) – available for NZ$4000 (plus GST).
Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran said he was mindful of the financial pressures that have hit breeders.
“They are all proven stallions that are going really well,” Corcoran said.
Zed (NZ) | Standing at Grangewilliam Stud
“We wanted to do something to help breeders through these trying financial times as people are feeling the interest rates, dairy is down, and the beef and lamb schedules are down.
“At least things are a bit more positive in racing with the Entain deal and we just wanted to do our part.”
Both Derryn and Zed will return to their normal fees - NZ$7000 (plus GST) and NZ$6000 (plus GST) - respectively, from September 1.
Fairhill appoint Heffernan as stud manager
Hunter Valley nursery Fairhill Farm has appointed a new stud manager in Irish native Lynda Heffernan, who arrives after a seven-year stint at Coolmore Stud - having originally intended to merely serve out her 88 days of regional work for visa requirements.
“My time at Coolmore lasted a lot longer than 88-days and in those seven years I was lucky enough to gain fantastic knowledge and experience at one of the best farms in the world,” Heffernan said.
“I look forward to continuing and developing the good work that is already in place at Fairhill Farm.”
One race at a time for Nature Strip
Champion Trainer Chris Waller admits every race could be the last for rising 9-year-old Nature Strip (Nicconi).
The nine-time Group 1 hero went winless at his past four starts, but was far from disgraced.
Waller has earmarked the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick on September 2 for Nature Strip’s return.
“We won't say he's on an Everest path, he’s on a one-race path and I want to stress that,” Waller told News Corp.
Nature Strip | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We are only taking it one race at a time and then the obvious races unfold from there. That race will be the Concorde over 1000 metres.”
Waller gave the brilliant sprinter a lengthy spell following the autumn, however, Nature Strip has been back in his Rosehill Gardens yard since the middle of June to prepare for what may well be his final preparation.
“We needed to start from scratch, it’s as simple as that,” Waller added.
“It was his only chance to get (him) back so we will try it and if it works out well, you will see him run well and if he is not running to expectation, that will be it.”
Another 2-year-old winner for Better Than Ready
Aristella became Better Than Ready’s 19th individual juvenile winner of the season when the Danny Bougoure-trained filly was first home in Race 2 at Doomben.
Better Than Ready, who will stand this spring at Lyndhurst Stud Farm at $27,500 (inc GST), has 29 2-year-old wins to his credit in 2022/23, which is good enough for fourth in the premiership in that category.
Bred by The Ulandra Trust, Aristella was purchased by her trainer for $85,000 from the Lyndhurst Stud Farm draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
The filly is from the stakes performer Elitist (Stratum).
Juvenile success for Jane Chapple-Hyam at Sandown
England-based Australian trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam celebrated a 2-year-old victory as an owner on Wednesday, with her juvenile gelding Ambassadorial (Fiorente {Ire}) scoring a huge upset in Race 1 at Sandown-Hillside.
Ambassadorial, who was sent off at $91, won by 0.5l under Jordan Childs.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Ambassadorial was having his second start, after finishing seventh in a field of nine, at Sandown-Lakeside on July 12.
“I think natural progression from his first to his second start (helped him),” Childs told Racing.com. “Today (Wednesday), he was a lot more switched on and she was a lot more professional.”
Bred by Sun Bloodstock, Ambassadorial went through the ring as Lot 231 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was offered by Widden Stud, with Jane Chapple-Hyam going to $22,500 for him.
Ambassadorial is from the stakes performer Showcase (Big Brown {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Disposition and the stakes performer Final Hearing (Reset).
Fifth winner for Performer
The Scott Morrissey-trained Sonny Daze finally knocked off his maiden, and in doing so, the 2-year-old became the fifth winner for young stallion Performer. A Group 3 winner, Performer will stand this spring at Waylon J Stud, having spent four seasons at Aquis Farm.
Sonny Daze, who was lining up for his seventh start, took the opener at Doomben by 0.29l in the hands of apprentice Bailey Wheeler.
The gelding realised $210,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 2). Consigned by Hopetoun Farm, he was signed for by John Morrisey.
Red-letter day for Roll The Dice Racing
Prominent syndication company Roll The Dice Racing celebrated a winning double at Sandown-Hillside and went close to making it a treble on Wednesday.
Talented Shalaa (Ire) filly Anahita carried 59kg to take out Race 4, before Presser (Press Statement) posted a comprehensive victory in Race 6. In between those triumphs, Hughes (Russian Revolution) finished second in Race 5.
Antino’s Toorak shot
Tony Gollan has earmarked a Group 1 for his rising 5-year-old Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), who has a near-perfect record of eight wins for nine starts. Having brought home the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600 metres) by 3l on his last start, Antino may yet find himself in the G1 Toorak H. (1600 metres), should the progressive gelding continue where he left off.
“There are a couple of nice options for him in Melbourne,” Gollan told RSN.
Antino (NZ) | Image courtesy of Grant Peters
“There is a Listed race over 1400 metres (The Sofitel) at Flemington on Makybe Diva S. Day (September 16). That will be his first port of call. We will poke towards the Toorak H. with a race at Sandown in between.
“At this point in time I think he may fit a Toorak H. horse but we will just head to Melbourne and let his racing tell us exactly where we should go.”
Laurie mulls Nacho option
Picked up by his trainer “on a whim” for just $10,000 at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, 2-year-old gelding Archo Nacho (Sioux Nation {USA}) has been the subject of international interest after impressing in two starts this winter.
A debut winner, he was second last time out at Flemington and will this weekend feature in the opener at The Valley, where he could more than double his total prizemoney haul so far of $76,025.
“We've had a fair bit of interest from Hong Kong, but we're not committed to anything yet,” trainer Matt Laurie told Racing.com.
“We'll prepare him this weekend for a good VOBIS race and then we'll work out whether we race or we sell.
“It helps pay the bills, but you are in the game to race and to give horses a chance.
“I think he's a black-type horse, so we've got a bit of thinking to do.”
Kementari to make special Randwick appearance
This Saturday’s meeting at Royal Randwick will be an Industry Celebrations Day, and include a guest appearance from Godolphin retiree Kementari (Lonhro), who will lead the field as they parade ahead of Race 7, which is sponsored by Godolphin Lifetime Care (GLC).
A flagbearer for Godolphin’s welfare initiative, Kementari will be available for a ‘meet and greet’ in the tie-ups between 1.30-3.45pm, in what may be his final racecourse appearance before he heads for an off-the-track career.
Kementari | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“The flagbearer program promotes the thoroughbred breed, its versatility and life after racing which complements the GLC program’s objective of creating awareness, passion and care for the thoroughbred,” commented Godolphin Australia’s Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh.
“The thoroughbreds’ versatility has been gaining increased acknowledgment, evidenced by the recent announcement that the Thoroughbred breed will now be recognised in the starting lists and results beginning with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.”
