Pair of Snitzel colts headline Te Akau’s juvenile crew
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will run two Snitzel colts in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge S. for 2-year-olds, being To Bravery Born (NZ) and Return To Conquer. “To Bravery Born has got the race day experience and he was very good at Wanganui and we gave him a short break after that. He has come back in really good order and has had a quiet trial, he is very professional and knows what it’s all about. He has certainly gone the right way since that win,” Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
“Return To Conquer has been impressive at the trials and we’ve always thought a lot of him. To go first-up in a stakes race is a bit of a gamble, but he is more than capable and certainly on his work we think he will be a really strong winning chance. They are hard to split because they have had different preparations, but off the trackwork you would probably lean to Return To Conquer, we think he is pretty sharp.”
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Halo Racing dispersal live on Inglis Digital November (Late) Sale
Bidding is now open in the latest Inglis Digital Sale with shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) and Saturday’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}). The three form part of a Halo Racing unreserved reduction, offered on behalf of the late Colin McKenna, who died last month.
“Colin McKenna, with his wife Janice, was an incredible patron of racing… the blue and green silks of Halo Racing are synonymous with top-class horses through the likes of Jameka, Gregers, Another Wil, Attrition and many others and no doubt will continue to be,” Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said.
“Halo Racing is a very significant owner both in terms of scale and quality, so the reduction sale, following the sad passing of the much-missed Colin, is a pragmatic step to manage stock numbers. There are a number of hugely desirable lots amongst the group and I’m sure the opportunity to invest in such stock will be greeted enthusiastically by buyers.”
Pike to ride Perth Cup winner in Railway
Jockey William Pike will ride Perth Cup winner Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) in the G1 Railway S. “I'm itching to win another one (Group 1 in Perth), they are not easy to win over here. There are generally only a select few chances. Even when you have got the right ride, they are still hard to win,” Pike told racenet.com.au.
“I am trying to make every one count and I'll be trying to make this one count. If I am perfectly honest, I have never been sold on this horse as a stayer. I think he won the Perth Cup because he is a good trier and he has that never say die attitude. But he has always sprinted too well at the start of his campaigns to think he is an out-and-out plugger.
William Pike and Casino Seventeen | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
He won the G2 Lee-Steere S. over 1400 metre at his most recent start. “That first-up win wasn't a surprise to us. With that in mind he will continue to sprint well, rather than switching tactics and changing to the longer distances.”
Brown aboard Saturday’s second favourites at Cranbourne
Jockey Ethan Brown rides second favourites Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) and Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in Saturday’s The Meteorite-Cranbourne Cup double-header at Cranbourne. “Nadal is on his way up. He's drawn a little bit sticky (barrier 10), but he's certainly got the ability and he's in the right camp (Ciaron Maher,” Brown told racenet.com.au.
Globe ran second last start in the Listed Chester Manifold. “He had to do a little bit of work the other day early. He'll really improve out of the run, his work was good on Tuesday, if he handles the warmer day I've got no doubt he'll run well.”
Versatility key to Pounding’s success
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Pounding (Exceed And Excel) goes into Saturday’s The Meteorite off a Sale Cup win, but part-owner Wylie Dalziel believes his versatility is the key to his success. “He wanted to use Pounding and rang and asked us 'What do you think, as he's a very versatile horse'?” Dalziel told racing.com.
“Moods owns the slot and he could have gone and found another horse. The fact he wanted to use Pounding for it, we were quite pleased.”
Port Lincoln abandoned due to stolen car
Friday’s meeting at Port Lincoln was abandoned after someone drove a stolen car on the track. “We had a track inspection just before 5am this morning, the team member who did the safety run of the track was the person who notified us,” Port Lincoln Racing Club general manager Eloise Dukalskis told racenet.com.au.
“The member of our team that was conducting this inspection had to notify police of the stolen vehicle that had made its way on to the track. The damage has been limited to one section of the track, which is a redeeming nature of the incident, because it is isolated to one section of the track, we're hopeful to undertake repairs, we'll definitely be up and racing again ahead of our next meeting.
“This club has had a bumpy couple of years coming out of covid, we've had some really great growth this season, big membership numbers and lots of businesses coming in to support us by having their Christmas meetings on site. To have to call off the meeting the day of is a tragic outcome for the club and all the businesses that were really looking to celebrate the start of the silly season after a pretty tight year.”
Rain affects Queensland meetings
Doomben’s Saturday meeting has been moved to next Wednesday due to rain affecting the track, while the Sunshine Coast meeting on Sunday will move to the polytrack with new races announced to replace the turf ones.
Noble’s quintet for Cambridge Stud on Saturday
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five runners at the Counties meeting. “It’s been a really good spring for the Cambridge Stud-owned racehorses as well as the stallions,” Noble told Loveracing.nz.
Luberon (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) will shoot for back-to-back feature sprint wins when she lines up in Saturday’s G3 Counties Bowl. “She’s been doing very well since the Sweynesse (win).” Jaarfi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) will run in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., and Terra Mitica (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) will run in the G3 Counties Cup.
Trio of stakes runners for Foote team
Ben and Ryan Foote will have three runners in three stakes races at Counties on Saturday, opening with Vega For Luck (Lucky Vega {Ire}) in the Listed Counties Challenge S., followed by Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) in the G3 Counties Bowl and The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) in the G3 Counties Cup. “(Vega For Luck)’s done a good job in those first two starts,” Foote told Loveracing.nz.
“We planned to tip him out for a brief spell, but he made it pretty clear that he wanted to be back in work. He seems to just thrive on it. Experience is always an asset in these early 2-year-old races, so we think he’ll be quite a good chance this weekend. It was a good trial the other day. We just sent him there to cruise around and have a bit of a day out, but he won his heat well and seemed to have plenty up his sleeve.”
Shinn thrilled with Hong Kong rides
Jockey Blake Shinn with ride Group 1 winners Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) in December’s Hong Kong International meeting. “(Antino) brings strong Australian form. That last run was against the best milers that we have to offer in Australia and he acquitted himself exceptionally well,” Shinn told scmp.com.
“Mr Brightside has proven season after season to be one of the top weight-for-age horses around. To run close to him is a great performance in itself and I think that’s the measure of the horse you need to be right up there against some of the world’s best in Hong Kong. If he can produce that run when he gets there, that will hold him in good stead.”
Blake Shinn
Equinox, Kitasan Black and Kizuna top Shadai Stallion Station roster
Globetrotting wunderkind Equinox (Jpn), his sire Kitasan Black (Jpn) and Kizuna (Jpn) co-lead the Shadai Stallion Station roster at ¥20,000,000 (AU$198,000) apiece next year.
Equinox, who has his first foals arriving next year, and Kitasan Black (11 stakes winners) have had their fees remain at their 2024 levels, while Kizuna has had his fee increased from €12,000,000 (AU$119,000). The last-named horse has fired in 14 stakes winners in 2024 alone, among them G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese St Leger) hero Justin Milano (Jpn).
Right under the leading trio is Japanese Triple Crown Winner Contrail (Jpn) at ¥18,000,000 (AU$179,000). His first 2-year-olds will grace the racecourse in 2025. Japanese Champion First-Season Sire Suave Richard (Jpn) remains at ¥15,000,000 (AU$149,000). His first crop now features G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese Fillies St Leger) hero Urban Chic (Jpn).
Turnover up 26 per cent at Goffs November foals
The November Foal Sale at Goffs closed on Thursday with turnover up by 26 per cent to €32,640,000 (AU$52.6 million), the average by 34 per cent to €48,717 (AU$78,500) and the median by 21 per cent to €29,000 (AU$47,000). Those are the types of figures that compare favourably to even Book 1 of the Orby and they left Goffs chief Henry Beeby understandably delighted at close of play on Thursday.
He commented, “The cream of the Irish foal crop is our proud boast and I think we can say without fear of contradiction that our buyers agreed as we have witnessed a sale of true strength and depth that was, at times, simply extraordinary. The early signs were good with packed car parks and yards from first thing Saturday which led to a sale on Monday that kicked us off in some style with a trade of real vibrancy from start to finish. That vibe continued on Tuesday as we stepped up a gear although nothing could have prepared us for Wednesday's truly electric and historic sale.
“A seven-figure foal is always a big deal, and we are indebted to both vendor and purchaser, as well as the notable underbidder, for their faith in a stunning young colt. He was by no means the only showstopper though as foal after foal attracted proper bidding duels as all the leading pinhookers battled with several significant end users for stunning colt after superb filly as the day progressed. Indeed, the growth recorded in every statistic was simply mind blowing by Wednesday evening and firmly cemented Goffs November as the first choice for the best Irish foals once again as so many vendors were more than happy to acclaim the sale as the best there is for the category.”
Jan Brueghel to miss Hong Kong
Classic winner Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will not participate in the Longines Hong Kong International Races and will instead be prepared for a start in Saudi Arabia next year. Coolmore posted the news on X on Thursday.
The Coolmore partners' 2024 G1 St Leger hero was forced to miss an intended start in the G1 Melbourne Cup due to a failed vet check. However, his preparation for Hong Kong was deemed insufficient by connections and he will likely resurface in the Middle East early in the new year.
“He had a long journey back from Australia and was restricted to only trotting while over there. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to prepare him properly for Hong Kong so we will revisit his plans. We may aim for a race in Saudi early next year,” trainer Aidan O'Brien said.
All Hong Kong Group 1s added to World Pool
All 12 Hong Kong Group 1 contests during the 2024/2025 season will be part of World Pool, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Thursday.
This is the first time races in Hong Kong have been incorporated into the World Pool schedule. Hong Kong will become the ninth jurisdiction to host World Pool races, joining the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Argentina. Over 25 jurisdictions and 70 partners bet into both the Hong Kong pools and World Pool and, in season 2024/25, 84 of the IFHA Top 100 Group 1 races will be part of World Pool.
Group 3 winner added to Inglis Digital USA
Last year's G3 Iroquois Stakes winner West Saratoga (USA) (Exaggerator {USA}), who also has placed in three black-type events in 2024 and started in the GI Kentucky Derby, has been catalogued to the Inglis Digital USA December Sale. Bidding will take place Wednesday, Dec. 4. West Saratoga has been nominated to the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup, which will be held Feb. 22.
“West Saratoga has plenty of upside going forward, with the potential to compete in some of the world's biggest races,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Liza Hendriks. “His profile makes him an exciting prospect for any owner looking to make an immediate impact domestically or internationally.”
Listed winner tops Tatts Online
Havana Grey (GB)'s Cuban Tiger (GB) brought a sale-topping 72,000gns (AU$146,000) from FMQ Stables to top the Tattersalls Online November Sale on Thursday. Consigned by Spigot Lodge Stables, Lot 29 is out of Shirley's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) and won the Listed Burradon Stakes in March.
Of the 197 horses catalogued, 181 were offered and 77 were sold (43 per cent). The gross was 602,300gns (AU$1.2 million), while the average was 7822gns (AU$15,800) and the median was 2600gns (AU$5273).
Tattersalls Online Sales manager Katherine Sheridan said, “We witnessed a record number of entries this month and the continued growth of our Tattersalls Online monthly sales reflects the trust and confidence of our vendors, for which we are very grateful. The catalogue received strong support from England, Ireland and France and attracted a diverse collection of buyers both domestically and internationally. The top-priced lot, as well as many others in the sale, being purchased for international connections highlights the unique reach of Tattersalls Online in this market. We now look forward to the Tattersalls Online December Sale which will feature the highly anticipated Southern Hemisphere Session.”
