Enquare to go through standalone Inglis Digital Sale
High-quality producer Enquare (Stratum) will be offered in isolation as part of a special Inglis Digital sale next week. The mare is being offered on an early cover to Capitalist.
The Group 3 winner boasts a perfect record of three winners as a broodmare.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
Enquare’s best-performed foal is the G3 Ming Dynasty H. winner Encap (Capatilst), who went on to place second in the G1 Golden Rose.
“Mares of this quality carrying siblings to genuine Group 1 performers like Encap very rarely come onto the market,” Inglis’ Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said.
“A purchase of a mare like this, given her age, has the capacity to serve a number of purposes to a buyer and the scope for upside is significant.
Encap | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Enquare was a very good racemare in her own right, she was very quick and her form was strong.
“She has had three runners to date for three winners, including Encap, she has a full-brother 2-year-old to Encap in training with Waterhouse and Bott and is carrying another full sibling to Encap so the family is only going to get stronger and stronger.”
Bidding will open at 9am AEDT on November 27, with the final countdown of bidding to begin from 4pm AEDT on November 28.
Mills eyes ultimate success with Roots
Bloodstock agent and owner Sheamus Mills is hoping his talented mare Roots (Press Statement) can tick the final box in Saturday’s G1 Railway S. at Ascot. The 5-year-old boasts a couple of Group 2 triumphs, but is yet to score in top company.
“If she’s going to win a Group 1 anywhere in the country, we thought it was the Tatt’s Tiara, if it’s not there, we think this is her second-best chance,” Mills told Racenet.
Roots, winner of the G2 Hot Danish S. at Rosehill last start | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It’s the last thing to tick off, she has done everything we have asked of her.”
The Chris Waller-trained Roots will carry 54kg under Tommy Berry in Saturday’s Group 1.
McNeil seeks to honour Lester
Talented jockey Jye McNeil, who won the 2020 G1 Melbourne Cup aboard Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), is seeking a special victory at Saturday’s Cranbourne meeting.
He is striving to win the inaugural running of ‘The Lester’ a race in tribute to respected media personality Deane Lester, who passed away earlier this year.
Deane Lester | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
McNeil saw Lester as a mentor, and is striving to win the BM84 H. named in his honour on Saturday, partnering promising import Gregolimo (Fr) (Galiway {GB}). Speaking to Newscorp, McNeil said, “It would be great to win that race (The Lester).
“He's a horse in good form and going well so I'm grateful to get the opportunity.”
On The Bubbles retired
Group 1-winning gelding On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) has been retired by Te Akau Racing, finishing his career a seven-time winner.
The winner of the G1 Sistema S. and G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. as a 2-year-old, the talented son of Brazen Beau trained on to win the Listed Uncle Remus S. and Listed Mufhasa S. as a 3-year-old, the latter the last of his victories. Trainer Mark Walker told NZ Racing News, “He was a very good horse. Obviously the underlying condition he developed, two separate wind operations, just finally caught up with him.
On The Bubbles | Image courtesy Race Images
“But he retired sound, healthy, will make a lovely showing horse, and he deserves a really happy retirement.”
Paddington nomination to be auctioned to help injured jockey
Coolmore is auctioning a service nomination to its star colt Paddington (GB), with all funds going to injured Irish jockey Graham Lee.
Paddington (GB) | Image courtesy of Racing Fotos
Lee, who has won an Ascot Gold Cup, has been in hospital in England after a serious fall on November 10.
International Jockeys’ Championship lineup confirmed
Karis Teetan, Vincent Ho and Lyle Hewitson will compete in the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on December 6. The trio punched their tickets to the series at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Karis Teetan | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
In the absence of injured Australian rider Hugh Bowman (21 wins), Teetan (20) qualified as the next best-performed rider behind Bowman’s countryman Zac Purton (31), while Vincent Ho (13) claimed his place as the leading homegrown rider from Matthew Chadwick (seven).
Hewitson edged Aussie Brenton Avdulla via a countback to secure the final spot.
The Astrologist back to Dubai
Having traversed the globe in 2023, more travel could be on the agenda next year for The Astrologist (Zoustar), according to co-trainer Troy Corstens.
Speaking to Racing.com, Corstens outlined his current plan for the 7-year-old gelding, which involves starts in both Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
“We’re looking at Dubai at this stage, so that is an option,” he said.
The Astrologist | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’re going to probably head first-up for the Christmas S., second-up into the Standish and then we’ll make plans after that.”
It’s been a busy 12 months for The Astrologist, who won the G3 Gold Rush in December 2022 at Ascot in Perth, before going on to compete at Group-level in both the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Ghaiyyath’s full brother tops Goffs
Day 3 of the Goffs November Foal Sale produced a head-turning result, with Lot 767 selling for a price of €700,000 (AU$1,165,500). The colt is by Dubawi (Ire) out of Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), making him a full brother to exciting stallion Ghaiyyath (Ire).
Bought by Lucky Vega, the colt is by far the most expensive purchase from the three days completed at the sale so far, eclipsing the €200,000 (AU$333,000) spent on a colt by Ghaiyyath on Day 2.
Numbers for Day 3 were down on the corresponding day from last year, the €12,360,500 (AU$20,580,400) transacted a 19 per cent drop on 2022.
The average price dropped to €71,864 (AU$119,700), also a fall of 19 per cent, while the median decreased 10 per cent to sit at €52,000 (AU$86,600).
Street Boss juvenile a debut winner
The Henry Dwyer-trained Macocha (NZ) (Street Boss {USA}) started the outsider in the field of four in Race 1 at Ballarat, but the 2-year-old filly proved the punters wrong, scoring a determined victory under Mitchell Aitken.
Macocha was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and made $180,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was offered by Fernrigg Farm and bought by Henry Dwyer Racing.
Macocha (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The filly is from the nine-time winner and Listed placegetter Bright Abyss (USA) (Royal Academy {USA}), making her a half-sister to the Group 2 scorer Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Top apprentice hopes to strike in The Gong
Leading apprentice Dylan Gibbons is excited to partner the Kris Lees-trained Spangler (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) at Kembla Grange on Saturday, where the pair will compete for $1 million in prizemoney when running in The Gong.
The last-start winner of the $750,000 Little Dance on November 7, Gibbons has faith in his mount to continue his winning ways, telling Racing NSW, “Every challenge Kris has set him he’s knocked on the head so he’s earned his way into these races and he couldn’t have done much more for his owners.
Spangler (Ire), winning the $750,000 Little Dance at Randwick on November 7 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Now it’s (time to) see if we can get a cherry on top.
“It always helps to draw well but if he gets a bit of luck early he’s absolutely flying and has no weight. It’s not ideal but he’s the type of horse that can overcome it.”
Allocated barrier 17 of 20, Spangler has found himself well-weighted, with just 53 kilograms to carry.
King Magnus to Kilmore
Owing to a heel bruise, King Magnus (Magnus) will not defend his Listed Cranbourne Cup title on Saturday, instead heading to Kilmore on Sunday for the Kilmore Cup.
The $200,000 feature has drawn a strong set of acceptors, including the likes of Ascension (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Keats (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Dashing (Magnus). Winner of the 2022 G2 Perth Cup, Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}), will make his debut for Te Akau Racing, with Blaike McDougall booked for the ride.
Kilmore completes a succession of three consecutive cups meetings across Victoria, with the Wodonga Cup on Friday joining the aforementioned Cranbourne and Kilmore Cups over the period.
Savatoxl a surprise Perth arrival
Amidst the fanfare and hype of some top-quality thoroughbred stars arriving on Monday for the Perth carnival, Group 1-winner Savatoxl (Kuroshio) has also made his way west.
Trained by Will Savage, who operates out of Alice Springs, has brought his evergreen galloper to contest the G1 Winterbottom S. on December 2, and the G3 Gold Rush on December 16.
Savatoxl | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The winner of the G1 Goodwood S. in South Australia will be partnered by Holly Watson in his campaign. He faces some stiff opposition from locals and raiders alike, Overpass (Vancouver) has returned to Western Australia to attempt to claim a second feature sprint, while 3-year-olds Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff) and Ripcord (Written By) put forward their cases in a thrilling tussle on Saturday in the Listed Placid Ark S.
Our Alley Cat poised to pounce at Pukekohe
Atlante mare Our Alley Cat (NZ) will be looking to keep her stakes-winning momentum going when she heads to Pukekohe on Saturday for the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
The 7-year-old was an impressive last-start winner of the G3 Spring Sprint at Hastings in October and has continued to please trainer Vicki Prendergast.
Our Alley Cat (NZ), winner of the G3 Spring Sprint at Hastings on October 14 | Image courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
“She has had six weeks between races, which is a tad long, but we missed out on a trial the other week because the ground dried out a bit too much,” Prendergast told loveracing.co.nz.
“It is always a fitness question when she has sat around for six weeks, but I think we have done enough work with her and I am pretty confident she will be on task.”
Foote’s eyes another stakes success with All Too Hard mare
Ben Foote, who trains with son Ryan, is confident quality mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) can once again get the job done in Saturday’s G3 Counties Bowl at Pukekohe.
The 6-year-old successfully resumed earlier this month in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint at Te Rapa where she capitalised on a tidy run in the trail to account for the well-performed Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
“I was pretty stoked, she’s never raced in behind them like that before, so it was really good to see,” Foote told loveracing.nz.
Babylon Berlin | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“Even though she was on the fresh side, she took a sit and that was very pleasing going forward.”
Foote’s confidence has been further enhanced by the booking of champion jockey Opie Bosson.
“I’ve got the best on her on Saturday, so I don’t really have to tell him what to do,” he said.
Following her run on Saturday, Babylon Berlin will be aimed towards the G1 Railway Stakes, a race she has twice placed in, as well as the G1 Telegraph and G1 Waikato Sprint.
Japan Cup final field announced
Billed as the ‘race of the year’ by some pockets of the industry, the 2023 edition of the G1 Japan Cup has attracted a top-quality field.
Adding to the intrigue is the proximity of three of the most revered current-day Japanese horses from the barrier draw, with Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) all drawing next to each other with the inside three gates.
Defending champion Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}) will jump from barrier nine for British jockey Hollie Doyle, while Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) will have to navigate barrier 14 on his quest for a maiden Group 1.
The Japan Cup will be run at 5.40pm AEDT on Sunday.
