Oscar Award tops latest Inglis Digital sale
Oscar Award (Sebring), the dam of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Inglis Digital graduate Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff), has topped the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale, purchased by Allam Racing in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $220,000. “Steve and Dan have got a really lovely, boutique broodmare band,” Kestrel Thoroughbreds’ Bruce Slade told inglis.com.au.
“Their mares are either stakes-performed or stakes producers, so Oscars Award fits that mould perfectly, she’s just done an incredible job with her first two foals. Oscar’s Fortune is a Group 3 winner and Group 1 runner-up in the Winterbottom and is racing tomorrow in the Listed Century Stakes at Flemington. Her second foal, Cleanemup, is a two-time winner as a 2-year-old and was narrowly beaten on her 3-year-old return and all our data says she is on track to be a black-type filly.
Oscar Award | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
“While her breeding record was a slight concern on paper at first, speaking to the Rushton Park and Davali Thoroughbreds team gave us plenty of confidence, as well as the fact she is in foal to Capitalist on her first cover.”
The Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale grossed more than $2.45 million, with four lots realising $100,000 or more, to bring the tally of six-figure lots for the year to 103.
Knights Choice receives Dubai invitiation
Trainer Sheila Laxon revealed Knight's Choice (Extreme Choice) has received an invitation for the $18 million Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan. “He never expends any energy, he didn't blow after that race (Melbourne Cup). I've never known a horse like him, he's a freak, and maybe he can go on and create history like Winx did and Phar Lap, who knows? The world might be his oyster, I'm really surprised how he's stepped up and he might just continue to step up,” Laxon told racenet.com.au.
Sheila Laxon and John Symons with Knight's Choice | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We'll sit down and work out what's going to be best for him in the long run. He's pulled up really well, really fit and done that on his ear, he's a freak horse, he really is. We got an invite for Dubai and maybe Hong Kong … we need to sit down and map out what we do with him now. He's stepped right up the ranks (ratings) and it's going to be harder for him, we thought that after the Winx Guineas it was going to be hard for him to step up to the open classes.
“You got to be really good to compete against open class horses and he's stepped up there and beyond.” Laxon also mentioned an ambition to win the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but it won’t be with Knights Choice, who is ineligible for the race being a gelding.
Melham to replace Bates on Pride Of Jenni
Ben Melham has been booked to ride Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Duba) in Saturday's G1 Champions' Mile, replacing regular jockey Declan Bates. “It has been a huge privilege to ride Pride of Jenni, one that has been the greatest experience of my riding career so far,” tweeted Bates.
“She certainly is a once in a lifetime horse. I wish her and Tony all the best for Saturday. I look forward to continuing my relationship with the Ottobre family in the future.”
Southport Tycoon announced for Widden Stud
When Widden Stud purchased a share in Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) following his G1 Australian Guineas win, it was a matter of when, not if, he would be announced to stand at the farm. “It's very exciting. As far as I am aware, he will stand in New South Wales,” managing owner Nathan Bennett told racing.com of the ‘life-changing’ deal.
Southport Tycoon | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's taken a long time, but we have got there. We're happy to get the deal done and have him stand at such a great stud in Widden. It feels pretty good and it's exciting for all the owners. In years to come, when he's got yearlings coming through, I'm sure we will be kids in a lolly store as they go through the Magic Millions.”
Winner of four of his 12 starts, the 4-year-old colt won the G1 Australian Guineas last season and opened his account this season with a win in the G1 Manikato S. He is trained by Ciaron Maher.
Hong Kong possibility for Recommendation
Trainer Ciaron Maher confirmed that a trip to Hong Kong is 'definitely on the agenda' for Recommendation (Shalaa {Ire}) if he runs well in Thursday’s Listed Century S. He is entered for the G1 Hong Kong Sprint, to be run over 1200m at Sha Tin on December 8.
Around The Nation: Wednesday’s winners
After Cup day, it was a relatively quiet day for racing on Wednesday with only three meetings. At Grafton, Donna Grisedale trained 3-year-old filly Seymour Stars (Cosmic Force) won on debut to become her sire’s 19th winner.
At Kyneton, 3-year-old filly Soft Love (Pierata) won on debut for trainer Matt Laurie, while in South Australia at Port Lincoln, training partnership John Dunn and Krystal Bishop enjoyed a treble with Innocent Sips (Shooting To Win), Nasdana (Not A Single Doubt), and Evening Bride (Bull Point).
Marsh has two for NZ 2000 Guineas
Trainer Stephen Marsh will have two runners in the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas with filly Love Poem (Snitzel) and gelding Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}). “They have both done super jobs, I think it will come down to luck in the running. It wasn’t always the plan to run her, but we thought it would be a small field and for the last few weeks we’ve come closer to running her, she’s been going so well,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
“(Kiwi Skyhawk) was just totally inconvenienced on that really wet track the other day, it was as heavy as you could get, but he’s taken no harm from it and back on a good track he’s right in play. He’s well and just hasn’t missed a beat since that last race. Michael McNab will take the reins, he’s back and in fine form.”
Debutant winner set for NZ Oaks
An Oaks path is being tipped for 3-year-old filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) following her debut win at New Plymouth on Wednesday. "She is a filly that has always shown us a lot. When she was a 2-year-old she had to have a bone chip taken out of her knee, so it has just taken a while to get her here. She has got Oaks written all over her, she is a lovely filly,” trainer Robbie Patterson told Loveracing.nz.
Leica Lucy (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“She trialled up really nicely on a Good track the other day. She is a real rangy filly who is going to take a little bit of time. She doesn’t carry a lot of weight, so we will just look after her and pick our way through the grades.”
Strong line up for International Jockeys Championship in Hong Kong
A strong line up of jockeys have been announced for the 2024 Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Vincent Ho, who won this contest in 2023, and seven-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Zac Purton, a three-time IJC winner (2017, 2020, 2021) will contend against both home-based rivals and eight international rivals, Ryan Moore, James McDonald, Mickael Barzalona, Yuga Kawada, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, William Buick and Colin Keane.
Dubawi to stand for £350,000 again
Darley has released its stud fees for the upcoming breeding season, with Dubawi (Ire), who remains at £350,000 (AU$689,000) for the third consecutive year, retaining his position as the joint most expensive stallion standing in Europe alongside Frankel (GB).
Dubawi (Ire) | Standing at Dalham Hall Stud
This year Dubawi was responsible for a pair of British Classic winners in 2,000 Guineas scorer Notable Speech (GB) and Oaks heroine Ezeliya (Fr), plus Group-winning juveniles such as Ancient Truth (Ire) and Delacroix (Ire). Now 22, Dubawi covered 106 mares this season and is set to receive a reduced number again in 2025.
Of the other stallions based at Dalham Hall Stud, Too Darn Hot (GB) has had his fee increased to £90,000 (AU$177,000) from £65,000 (AU$128,000).
City of Troy priced at €75,000, Wootton Bassett up to €300,000
Wootton Bassett (GB) has had his fee increased to €300,000 (AU$492,000) as he prepares to embark on his fifth season at Coolmore Stud in 2025, while European champion two-year-old and Derby winner City Of Troy (USA) has been introduced at €75,000 (AU$123,000).
This year Wootton Bassett's first crop of Irish-bred 2-year-olds have swept all before them, featuring four individual top-level winners in G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Camille Pissarro (Ire), G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Tennessee Stud (Ire), G1 Criterium International hero Twain (Ire) and G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henry Matisse (Ire). This season Wootton Bassett covered 223 mares.
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore
“Coolmore are delighted to welcome three outstanding new prospects for 2025,” said David O'Loughlin, Coolmore's director of sales. “City Of Troy has long been the apple of Aidan O'Brien's eye who couldn't be more positive on his sire Justify. He was an outstanding two-year-old and again proved by far the best of his generation this year.
“Auguste Rodin must be the best value horse in Europe at €30,000 and is a fantastic-looking individual. Six Group 1 successes at two, three and four years, he's by a sensational stallion in Deep Impact while his first three dams all performed at the highest level over a mile or less.
“Henry Longfellow also offers tremendous value at just €15,000. Like his sire Dubawi, he went unbeaten in three starts at two including the Group 1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, and he's arguably his best-looking son ever to retire to stud. He showed top class form over a mile this season most notably when going down by just a neck to Rosallion in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes. And to cap it all, he's out of one of the best Galileo mares of all time and bred on the same cross as Night Of Thunder.”
Aga Khan horses popular at Goffs
The Aga Khan's recent Dundalk winner Ridhaz (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) highlighted what proved to be a strong horses-in-training section of the Autumn Sale at Goffs at €220,000 (AU$361,000) to BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe. Of the 94 horses offered, 82 sold at a clearance rate of 87 per cent. Turnover climbed by 13 per cent to €1,447,950 (AU$2.3 million) while the average was also up 27 per cent to €17,658 (AU$29,000). However, the median fell by 20 per cent to €6,000 (AU$9850).
The Aga Khan draft was by far the most popular offering during the horses-in-training sale with nine lots selling for a combined sum of €624,000 (AU$1 million), including the Johnny Murtagh-trained Masoun (Fr) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock at €105,000 (AU$172,000). Meanwhile, the Denis Hogan-trained chaser Thecompanysergeant (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) became the third horse of that sale to clear six figures when knocked down to Kevin and Anna Ross on behalf of Gavin Cromwell for €110,000 (AU$180,000).
Goffs chief Henry Beeby commented, “We've said it before, many times, and we'll say it again: send us the horses and we will deliver. Every year we comment on the size of our HIT entry as we reflect on a good trade for the catalogue and demonstrate that what we offer has sold well.”
The horses-in-training trade was swiftly followed by the opening session of the four-day Autumn Yearling Sale, which got off to a reasonable start with 81 lots selling for an average of €9521 (AU$15,600) while the median nestled at €4000 (AU$6560).
Cogburn’s American fee announced
North American track record-setter Cogburn (USA) will stand at WinStar Farm for an opening fee of US$30,000 (AU$46,000) S&N, the farm announced Tuesday. He will shuttle to Widden Stud next spring.
Charyn to stand for €35,000
Dark Angel (Ire)'s Charyn (Ire) will stand for €35,000 (AU$57,000) during his first season at Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Preaux in 2025, Nurlan Bizakov's operation announced on Tuesday. A winner of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes all in 2024, the classy miler is now bound for a final start in Japan's G1 Mile Championship on Nov. 17.
Hello Youmzain increased to €40,000
Hello Youmzain (Fr), the leading first-season sire in France this year, has had his fee increased to €40,000 (AU$66,000) as he prepares to stand his fifth season at Haras d'Etreham in 2025.
Hello Youmzain (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
The sire of two black-type winners from his first crop, namely the G3 Prix des Chenes winner Misunderstood (Fr)–who also finished third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere–and G3 Prix Eclipse scorer Electrolyte (Ire), Hello Youmzain was introduced at a fee of €25,000 (AU$41,000) back in 2021.
French participants protest government changes
Racing will be cancelled in France at Fontainebleau and Croise-Laroche on Thursday, Nov. 7, France Galop announced on Tuesday. The cancellation resulted after an emergency meeting of the France Galop board of directors at the request of France Galop president Guillaume de Saint-Seine. The Monday meeting analysed the consequences of a potential strike and mobilisation of the associations and socio-professional unions of the Galop and Trot on Thursday, Nov. 7 against the French government's plan to tax horse racing betting, included in the Social Security Finance Bill, currently being discussed by Parliament.
“In this context, as was the case at the SETF board of directors earlier in the day, the board of directors of France Galop, which was held at the end of the afternoon on Monday 4 November, decided to cancel the two race meetings mentioned. This decision is based on the following considerations: the risk of disturbing public order, the lack of fairness between the professionals mobilized for this day and the risks of irregularity of the events due to a limited number of starters.
“In addition, the administrators of France Galop have taken note of the call for demonstrations issued by the professional associations and unions of the Galop and Trot, to obtain firstly the withdrawal of any measure to increase the tax on horse racing betting and secondly the support of the government for the development of new horse racing games. They declared their total solidarity with the objectives of this movement and called on all members of Le Galop and all actors in the equine sector to join this demonstration.”
Zarak share to be sold online
The catalogue for the Arqana Online November Sale is now available, with 13 lots features either breeding rights or stallion shares that will go under the hammer on November 26 from 5-7pm local time.
Lot 1 is a 1/50th share in rising French sire Zarak (Fr). The sire of multiple Group 1 winners including G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains Metropolitan (Fr), Zarak's share will entitle the buyer to one covering per year, plus an additional covering every other year.
