Zoustar makes it 60 in Listed Tails Stakes
Trainer Kurt Goldman’s 5-year-old mare Arts Object (Zoustar) picked up The Wave at odds in January this year, and on Saturday, she won the Listed Tails S. paying $41 for jockey Angela Jones, beating I Am Artie (Artie Schiller) by 0.02l. In third, 1l away was Captain Fenkel (Kermadec {NZ}). Ciaron Maher trained Junipal (Reset) was disqualified by stewards after the race.
The win took Arts Object’s record six wins from 28 starts with earnings over $600,000, and this was her first black type win, and becomes Zoustar’s 60th stakes winner. Purchased by her trainer from Widden Stud for $100,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was on-sold to Mitchell Bloodstock as part of the late Alan Cardy dispersal at the 2022 Inglis Digital December Sale for $55,000.
A half-sister to Listed Macau Derby winner Simon Fubuki (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Arts Object is out of unraced mare Ringhals (Street Cry {Ire}) who is a daughter of Group 1 winner Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}).
Danny’s St Darci adds Listed Just Now
All Too Hard added a new stakes winner when Matthew Dale trained 5-year-old mare Danny’s St Darci won the Listed Just Now S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Ridden by Ryan Maloney, she won by 0.57l from Chris Waller trained 4-year-old mare Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}) with Corey and Kylie Geran trained Mahbaby (Mahisara) 1l back in third.
Danny’s St Darci now has seven wins from 40 starts with earnings over $500,000 and becomes All Too Hard’s 27th stakes winner. Sold by Yarraman Park Stud for $70,000 to North Bloodstock at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Danny’s St Darci is a half-sister to G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies)-placed Unstoppabelle (I Am Invincible), out of winning mare Darcibelle (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who is a half-sister to G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. winner Twilight Royale (Testa Rossa), dam of last season’s G2 Sandown Guineas winner Serasana (Snitzel).
Trilogy and Blue Gum appoint McCullagh as Racing and Bloodstock Manager
Trilogy Racing and Blue Gum Farm have announced Colum McCullagh will commence as Racing and Bloodstock Manager from 2025. “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Trilogy Racing and Blue Gum Farm in 2025. Jason and Melanie, Sean and Cathy have the ambition to continue to grow as leaders in their field and I’m eager to contribute to that vision while working alongside such an experienced, talented and passionate team," said McCullagh.
Colum McCullagh
He was previously in a similar role for Snowden Racing. In his new role, McCullagh will launch Trilogy Racing's syndication business.
Listed GA Towton Cup won by Playhouse Patron
Trainer Bob McPherson’s 5-year-old gelding Playhouse Patron (Patronize) surprised punters paying $21 to win Saturday’s Listed GA Towton Cup at Ascot for jockey Joseph Azzopardi who lifted him over the line to win by 0.24l from favourite Diamond Scene (So You Think {NZ}). In Good Order (American Pharoah {USA}) was third.
Playhouse Patron became his sire’s fourth stakes winner, and he’d always showed something as his trainer ran him in the G2 Karrakatta Plate of 2022 won by Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}). Raced by his trainer in partnership with two others, Playhouse Patron is one of two winners for Playhouse Theatre (Racer’s Edge) who was a good juvenile winning in Perth. Her other winner is Just Handy (Galah) who has won eight races.
Around The Nation: Saturday’s notable achievements
Trainer Nathan Doyle’s pair remained unbeaten with 3-year-old colt Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) winning his third at Rosehill and 3-year-old filly Churchill’s Choice (Churchill {Ire}) made it two from two at Newcastle.
At Rosehill, Tim Clark rode a treble on exciting 3-year-old colt Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio) who now has three wins from four starts, Lulumon (Vancouver) and I’mintowin (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Jockey Angela Jones rode a treble at Eagle Farm aboard 2-year-old filly Formula Rossa (Spirit Of Boom), the Listed Tails S. on Arts Object (Zoustar), and Tavs (Dundeel {NZ}). Apprentice jockey Amy O’Driscoll rode a treble at Albury on Ossified (Hellbent), Swinging High (Trapeze Artist), and Altrove (Press Statement).
At Newcastle, 3-year-old filly Road To Paradise (The Autumn Sun) won on debut, and at Wangarrata Patrick and Michelle Payne trained 3-year-old gelding The Crooner (Stratosphere) won on debut. The Crooner was the first leg of a treble for jockey Will Gordon who also won on 3-year-old gelding Frontline Action (Highland Reel {Ire}) and Olivia’s Scandal (Exosphere).
Nimble Nimbus might surprise in Hong Kong Cup
Trainer Ricky Yiu thinks his galloper Nimble Nimbus (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) can run well in Sunday's G1 Hong Kong Cup. “I liked his pedigree, especially the sire, Sacred Falls, and unfortunately, he passed away. I thought he would develop into a very good-looking horse. I liked the way he walked, I can still remember that he walked with a lot of determination and was eager,” Yiu told Loveracing.nz.
“We have got a pretty decent draw. He is running against one of the best in the world (Romantic Warrior) over the trip. If my horse finishes in the first three I will be happy, the competition is very strong.”
General Assembly wins his way into Devonport Cup
A strong win in the Friday night’s Golden Mile at Devonport saw General Assembly (More Than Ready {USA}) win his way into the upcoming Devonport Cup. “He just wasn’t performing, and his last start was terrible, so I had him scoped and he had some mucus on his lungs, so we gave him a little spell, fixed that up and it worked a treat,” trainer Angela Brakey told tasracing.com.au.
“He’s been really good in his work, really strong and after that performance, as long as he stays fine that’s where we will head.”
USA wagering up 1 per cent in November
Wagering on US races was higher, and both available and paid purses saw increases when compared to a year ago in November, while the number of race days and races themselves saw an uptick during the month, according to information released by Equibase on Friday.
Total wagering of $921,122,693 (AU$1.4 billion) on races during the month represented a 1.18 per cent increase over the same period from 2023, while available purses of almost US$128 million (AU$200 million) were up by 3.93 per cent.
World Pool Moment won by City Of Troy’s Derby
The G1 Derby win of City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) at Epsom in the spring was voted the World Pool Moment of the Year by the public. A total of 48 per cent votes were received for the moment. The £4000 (AU$7970) prize goes to City Of Troy's groom, David Hickey, who has received–along with three friends–a VIP trip to Hong Kong in 2025.
City Of Troy (USA) | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Hickey said, “Winning the £4000 World Pool Moment of the Day was a huge reward, so to be named Moment of the Year is even more special and I'm now looking forward to a trip to Hong Kong. I think I'll head out there in March for the Derby, so it should be great fun.”
“(The Derby was) a fantastic day that I'll never forget. He's the most genuine horse that you could ever have anything to do with. I'm mad about him and it's been a pleasure looking after him.”
Former Kiwi shuttler Ten Sovereigns sold to Turkey
Former New Zealand shuttle sire Ten Sovereigns (Ire) will stand at Turkey's Celikoglu Stud beginning in 2025. The 8-year-old son of No Nay Never (USA) was purchased by bloodstock agent Cem Ozbelge on behalf of Turkish owner/breeder Ali Celikoglu. Ozbelge also purchased Broome (Ire) last year.
Ten Sovereigns (Ire) | Image courtesy PA Images
A winner of the G1 Middle Park S. at two and the G1 July Cup at three, Ten Sovereigns has sired 81 winners from 177 runners with six stakes winners. He shuttled to Valachi Downs.
Arrow Stud fees for 2025 set
Byerley Turk-line stallion Pearl Secret (GB) has been sold to stand at Arrow Stud in Japan beginning next year. The 2025 Arrow Stud roster and fees were released by JS Company on Friday.
The son of Compton Place (GB) will stand for ¥500,000 (AU$5212). With his eldest foals 6-year-olds, the chestnut has sired 35 winners from small crops, with the stakes horse Tears Of A Clown (GB) the best of the bunch. The 2015 G2 Temple S. hero and G1 King's Stand S. third stood for £2000 (AU$3980) at Norton Grove Stud this year.
Sinister Minister (USA) | Image courtesy of JBIS Search
Topping the roster is dirt specialist Sinister Minister (USA) at ¥8,000,000 (AU$83,400). The Seattle Slew-line horse has sired 16 stakes winners, with the best of them, T O Keynes (Jpn) standing for ¥2,500,000 (AU$26,000) alongside his sire. A pair of stallions have had their fees set at ¥3,000,000 (AU$31,000) including Yulong shuttle sire Panthalassa (Jpn), who will be standing his second season, and Big Arthur (Jpn). Two-time American Horse of the Year California Chrome is priced at ¥2,000,000 (AU$20,850), while Café Pharaoh will stand for ¥1,800,000 (AU$18,800).
