Pride Of Jenni retired
Owner Tony Ottobre has retired Horse of the Year 7-year-old mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) after she bled in Saturday’s G1 Champions Mile. “Yes she is retired. We could come back in the autumn, but she's won $10 million. Now she can enjoy her time in my house paddock. I love Equinox as a sire and if we can, that's where she will go,” Ottobre told racing.com.
2023/24 Horse Of The Year Pride of Jenni has won eight of her 35 starts, with a further 12 placings, with earnings over $10 million. She won the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., G1 Cantala S., and G1 Empire Rose S. with a further five Group 1 placings.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The first foal of Sancerre (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who won four races, Pride Of Jenni has a winning 4-year-old half-brother named Awatere (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and an unraced 2-year-old half-sister named Pouilly Fume (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Sancerre is a daughter of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Cape Schnack Stud purchased Pride Of Jenni from Segenhoe Stud for $100,000 at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Lee-Steere Stakes won by Casino Seventeen
Trainers Grant and Alana Williams combined with jockey William Pike to win Perth’s G2 Lee-Steere S. with 7-year-old gelding Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) by 0.28l from Group 1-winning 5-year-old gelding Bustler (Playing God) and 6-year-old gelding Magnificent Andy (Magnus) in third.
Having his first start since June, Casino Seventeen previously won the 2024 G2 Perth Cup and two other country cups among his 10 wins from 43 starts, with earnings over $1.3 million. Sold by Widden Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $9,000 to J Hardy, he was on-sold at the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale by Clare Park Thoroughbreds to Kennewell Racing for $45,000. One of 24 stakes winners for his sire, Casino Seventeen is the second foal of Tikal (Denman) who now has five named foals all winners, including 3-year-old filly Husk (Calyx {GB}) who was a winner last season at two.
Tattersalls/Inglis offer mares in foal to Too Darn Hot on SH time
A trio of Southern Hemisphere-covered mares head the initial entries for the Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital December Sale. The Southern Hemisphere Session, which is scheduled to take place on Tattersalls Online on December 11 and 13, offers mares covered on Southern Hemisphere time.
The mares are confirmed in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), sire of Champion Australian 2-Year-old and triple Group 1 winner Broadsiding, Irish 1000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel (GB) and the Group 1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB).
“Too Darn Hot has made an extraordinary start to his career at stud, particularly in Australia and given he is covering a limited book to Southern Hemisphere time, opportunities to acquire a mare in foal to him are very scarce,” Tattersalls Online Sales Manager Katherine Sheridan said.
The trio of mares are led by the Group 3-placed Know Thyself (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Group 2-placed Sedaka (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and the lightly raced Crimson Coronet (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) also looks set to attract international interest.
Listed Keith Noud goes to Lees trained Bubba's Bay
Kris Lees trained 5-year-old mare Bubba’s Bay (Cable Bay {Ire}) came into the Listed Keith Noud S. off a strong win and made it three in succession with a 0.06l win over Paul Wallace trained Ned’s Gully (Bel Esprit) with Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) in close by in third. This was her first stakes win and she becomes the 11th stakes winner for her sire.
Purchased by Gwenda Markwell at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $130,000 from Bowness Stud, Bubba’s Bay has now won ten of her 23 starts and over $500,000. She is one of four winners, from as many to race, for unraced mare Lift All Boats (Commands).
New stakes winner for So You Think in Listed Lucky Gray Stakes
So You Think (NZ) gained a new stakes winner when 5-year-old gelding Diamond Scene won the Listed Lucky Gray S. at Ascot on Saturday. Trained by Michael Grantham and ridden by Steven Parnham, he won by 0.66l from Peter Fernie trained Sentimental Hero (Al Maher) with Susan Olive trained Red Sun Sensation (Awesome Rock) a length further back in third.
So You Think now has 59 stakes winners, and Diamond Scene now has seven wins from 14 starts with earnings over $365,000. Owned by Peters Investments, Diamond Scene is the second stakes winner for Listed Belmont Oaks-placed winner Jewelled (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who earlier produced Listed Ascot One Thousand Guineas winner Adornment (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Playing God gains new stakes winner with September Born
Neville Parnham trained 3-year-old colt September Born (Playing God) looks very exciting in winning the Listed Fairetha S. at Ascot on Saturday to make it two wins from three starts. A winner on debut at two, he was second in the Listed Belgravia S. last start when first up at three.
Ridden by Brad Parnham, September Born won by 0.49l from Susan Olive trained 3-year-old gelding Exceed The Planet (Exceedance) with Michael Grantham trained previously unbeaten 3-year-old gelding Olympic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in third.
Playing God now has 21 stakes winners from 202 runners, and September Born is a full brother to Group 1 winner Kay Cee, out of Flirt ‘n’ Hope (McFlirt) who is a daughter of Group 3 winner Lizzy Long Legs (Steel Glow).
Stakes treble for Spratt in New Zealand
Before jockey Sam Spratt won the G1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas on Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), she added a stakes double at Riccarton in New Zealand when winning the Listed Pegasus S. on Ken Rae trained 4-year-old mare Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) and the Listed Metropolitan Trophy on Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained 4-year-old mare Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
Sam Spratt sent Illicit Dreams straight to the lead and dominated the race from there, kicking hard in the straight and keeping herself out of reach of the highly rated Australian import South Of Houston (Deep Field). Illicit Dreams was still a half-neck in front of that rival at the finish line, with the same margin back to Tikki (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in third. Illicit Dreams now has five wins from 19 starts and earnings over NZ$180. This was her second win at stakes level.
“This horse was ready to run today, they said she’d been working beautifully down here. Kenny (Rae) told me that she might be a step slow away, but once she gets up and running, she’s off. We managed to get the kick right today, and I was pretty happy once we did that. She cruised along at a really nice speed,” Spratt told Loveracing.nz.
In the Listed Metropolitan, Spratt pushed Mehzebeen forward from her inside gate and dictated terms with an uncontested lead down the back straight, then kicked hard at the top of the straight. Mehzebeen won by 0.5l to Beavertown Boy (NZ) (Shocking) with another 2.75l to third placed Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop).
“She felt really good today,” Spratt said. “We drew gate one. I was originally planning to sit in the trail, but nothing else went forward, so I thought, ‘Bugger it, we’ll take up the lead ourselves.’ She tootled along and got pretty easy sectionals in front. It was like a track gallop. She kicked off the corner nicely. Halfway up the straight, I was waiting for another horse to come up to her and give her something to compete against. It was a very good win.” She will be set for the G3 New Zealand Cup next.
Spratt also won on Mazzucato (NZ) (Tivaci) to make it four wins for the day.
Three-times a Group 1 bridesmaid, Babylon Berlin adds Listed win
Ben and Ryan Foote-trained 6-year-old mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) has won the Listed Waikato Sprint Handicap for the second year in a row at Te Rapa on Saturday. “I just wasn’t sure if she wanted to be back but that proves the point (she does),” Ben Foote told Loveracing.nz.
“When you see other mares like Atishu and Bella Nipotina winning as 7-year-olds it puts a spring in your step, but you never know until they step out again. She didn’t turn her coat until a couple of weeks ago and in the back of my mind I had that thought about whether she wanted to be there. She deserves to win a Group 1 but we will want to see how she comes through this one first before we get too far ahead although the sprint series is an obvious target.”
Six of her nine wins have been in stakes company, and in 2023, she ran second to super sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in both the G1 Waikato Sprint, and the G1 NZ Railway S. She also ran second in the G1 Telegraph Handicap.
Bred by Bloodstock Resources Ltd, Babylon Berlin wasn’t offered at auction and is raced by her trainer and partners. She has earnings over $NZ660,000. A half-sister to Group 3 winner Darci Be Good (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), she is out of winning mare You Can’t Say That (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), a half-sister to Group 2 winner Only Words (End Sweep {USA}) and Listed winner Gibraltar Campion (NZ) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Sprinters sent for a spell
Following Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint, both Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) will be spelled. “If she was to go to a breeding barn, it’s too late now so she’ll have a break and then come back, I’d imagine, for the autumn,” Bella Nipotina’s part-owner Michael Christian told racing.com. “It’s entirely up to Ciaron in terms of where she goes, there’s a few options open next year for her, so we’ll wait and discuss that down the track, but it’ll be up to him.”
“I think we'll target up at the TJ (Smith S.), then the All Aged Stakes again, which he won last year,” Giga Kick’s trainer Clayton Douglas told racing.com.
Around The Nation: Saturday’s highlights
Saturday saw 18 race meetings around Australia, and away from the stakes races, there were several other highlights. The Everest winner Classique Legend’s 3-year-old half-sister Candlewick (Pierro) won on debut at Wyong for owners Tyreel Stud. At Goulburn, 3-year-old filly Tenner (Magna Grecia {Ire}) won on debut for trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald. At Broken Hill, jockey Stacey Metcalfe won half the six race card aboard O’Whatapicture (O’Lonhro), Bull Sluice (Rubick), and Rocket Boy (Pierro).
Geelong saw 3-year-old gelding Deployed (Toronado {Ire}) win on debut. In Queensland, the seven races at Cooktown were won by jockeys Nathan Day (with three wins) and Lacey Morrison (with four wins). Power (GB) sired the first two winners at Moranbah, including debutant 3-year-old colt Mississippi Morn.
Jockey Manoel Nunes rode a treble at Morphettville on Jacks On Ice (Valentia), Fleurieu Flipper (Host {Chi}), and Mighty Sapphire (Russian Revolution).
Boomer buys at Keeneland, sale remains strong
The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continued to produce strong results as the nine-day auction continued into its Book 3 section Friday with double-digit gains over last year's corresponding session.
During Friday's session, 244 head grossed US$18,195,500 (AU$27 million) for an average of US$74,572 (AU$113,000) and a median of US$60,000 (AU$91,000). The average increased 20.71 per cent and the median was up 20 per cent from last year's Book 3 opener when 243 horses sold for US$15,012,500 (AU$22.8 million) for an average of US$61,780 (AU$93,900) and a median of US$50,000 (AU$76,000).
Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm made the top bid of Friday's session when paying US$600,000 (AU$912,000) to acquire the 3-year-old broodmare prospect Adoptable (USA) (Curlin {USA}) from the Claiborne Farm consignment. Wimberley Bloodstock made the session's second highest bid when going to US$375,000 (AU$570,000) to acquire graded-placed Unsung Melody (USA) (Maclean's Music {USA}) from the Grovendale Sales consignment.
Australian Boomer Bloodstock purchased Killshave Beauty (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) on behalf of American breeder Murray Thoroughbreds for US$110,000 (AU$167,000).
Acclamation retired from stud duty aged 25
Group 2 winner and Group 1 sire Acclamation (GB) has been pensioned from stallion duties at Rathbarry Stud. Bred by Tedwood Bloodstock and partners, the son of Princess Athena (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}) won the G2 Diadem Stakes and was placed in both the G2 King's Stand Stakes prior to it being elevated to Group 1 level and the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes for Gerald Cottrell.
The sire of 155 stakes horses internationally and 68 lifetime stakes winners, the bay got his stallion career off to a great start, with G1 Middle Park Stakes hero and future Champion Sire elect Dark Angel (Ire) and fellow top-level winner Equiano (Fr) in his first crop, good enough to be named Leading First-Season Sire in 2007. Overall, he is the sire of seven winners at the highest table led by Romantic Warrior (Ire).
Acclamation is also making his mark as a sire-of-sires, with Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas (Ire) and the aforementioned Dark Angel at stud in Ireland among numerous sire sons. His daughters have foaled 38 stakes winners to date, 19 of them at group level with G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and G1 Commonwealth Cup victor Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) the best of them.
Rathbarry Stud's owner Paul Cashman said, “Acclamation has been our flag bearer here at Rathbarry since 2004 and with such a brilliant temperament he has been a pleasure to deal with. His progeny came up trumps every year both on the racetrack and in the sales ring bringing good fortune to all his investors. We really regard him as one of the family as does our stallion man, Clive Cox, who has done an amazing job caring for him. We hope he will have a long and healthy retirement here at the stud.”
Mehmas to stand for €70,000
Mehmas (Ire) will head the Tally-Ho Stud roster for 2025 at €70,000 (AU$114,000). A statement from the stud released on Friday read, “Mehmas will stand for €70,000 following another outstanding season on the track. Europe's leading 2yo sire by winners with 60–and counting–Mehmas is responsible for eight 2yo European stakes winners this year led by the Group 1 winners Scorthy Champ (National Stakes), Vertical Blue (Prix Marcel Boussac) and Magnum Force (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf). He is the sire of 12 stakes winners in Europe overall.
Mehmas (Ire) | Standing at Tally-Ho Stud
“Mehmas has also had an excellent year in the sale ring headed by the 1,000,000gns sale of a colt out of Sagely to Godolphin at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale.”
“Stalwart Kodiac will stand for €25,000. Kodiac hit a significant milestone this season when surpassing 100 stakes winners. On the track, he has been as prolific as ever with a new 2-year-old Group 1 winner in Babouche, who defeated colts to take the Phoenix Stakes, and Group 2-winning sprinter Star Of Mystery among his stakes winners. Already renowned as a sire of sires thanks to the likes of Ardad, Kodi Bear and Hello Youmzain, Kodiac has also made his presence felt this year as a damsire via the top-class performers Charyn, Powerful Glory and Believing among others.”
Bradsell's fee set at £10,000
Group 1 winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) has arrived at The National Stud and will stand for £10,000 (AU$19,600) in 2025, the stud announced on Friday.
A winner of the King's Stand S., Nunthorpe S. beating Asfoora (Flying Artie), and Flying Five S. at the highest level, the bay, who raced for Shaikh Nasser's Victorious Racing, will stand alongside charismatic stayer Stradivarius (Ire). The son of Sea The Stars (Ire) is also set to stand for £10,000 (AU$19,600), unchanged from this year. He covered 100 mares this term.
Top juvenile Vertical Blue for sale
Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) has been added to the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owners Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, the Mehmas (Ire) filly is the highest-rated juvenile in France.
Graffard commented, “I've loved Vertical Blue since she arrived and I was delighted that she was able to show that on the track. Physically she has plenty of scope to improve and her turn of foot, as well as her great attitude, have us all excited about what she can achieve going forward.”
French racing protests result in no tax changes
The proposed amendment to increase taxation on horse racing betting was withdrawn by the French government from the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) which is currently tabled in the French Senate, the Jour de Galop reported on Friday.
Racing on Thursday was cancelled due to planned protests by participants.
