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MM Gold Coast March Yearling Sale - Day 1 Review

Written by
6 min read
While the Magic Millions 2019 March Yearling Sale hasn't hit the heights of last year, interest in local boom sires Spirit of Boom and Better Than Ready provided a solid opening day on the Gold Coast.

At A Glance

>> James Harron secured the top lot of the day, paying $220,000 for a Spirit of Boom colt, one of ten by the Eureka Stud sire which sold on the day

>> There were seven lots go for $100,000 or more on Day 1 as opposed to 15 in 2018, while there were just four in that bracket in 2017

>> Day 1 average was down from $43,399 last year to $32,872, but that is well up on the $29,880 of 2017

>> Median was a slightly flat $22,000, down on the $26,000 on Day 1 last year and down from the $23,000 of the year before

>> Clearance rate reached 73%, well short of the 77% at the conclusion of Day 1 last year

>> Aggregate sales at the half way point are $4.37 million, putting the sale on track to match the gross of two years ago

More Boom for Harron

James Harron secured the top lot for the day, purchasing Lot 144, the colt by Spirit of Boom out of Weekend Surprise (Rubiton) for $220,000 from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft after a hectic bidding war.

Lot 144 Spirit of Boom x Weekend Surprise colt

View Pedigree - Lot 144

The dam has produced nine horses to the track, all winners, including G3 MVRC Champagne S. winner Dan Baroness (Statue of Liberty (USA)}, while the second dam, Seaside Attraction (Godswalk {USA}) is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Pride of Rancho (Rancho Ruler).

It was Harron's only purchase for the day, having also bought just one horse, also by Spirit of Boom, at the sale last year.

"I was really taken with his attitude. He has a fantastic demeanour and was beautifully presented. He uses himself really well. He's a good, strong and robust early looking type," Harron said of the colt who will be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.

First Light seize Better chance

First Light Racing went to $120,000 to secure the top lot by Better Than Ready, a colt catalogued as Lot 78 and offered by Kynoch Thoroughbreds at Toowoomba.

Lot 78 Better Than Ready x Shine Bridge colt

View Pedigree - Lot 78

He is out of the Group 1 winning imported mare Shine Bridge (Arg) (Westbridge {USA}), the sister to two Argentine stakes winners, who has already had three winners to the track.

"Better Than Ready is obviously the leading first-season sire in Australia and he had another big winner on Saturday in the QTIS Jewel so he’s proving to be a phenomenal sire. We really wanted to get a Better Than Ready into the team and on type he’s a colt we absolutely loved," Ashleigh Dowley, First Light Racing's Bloodstock Manager, said.

"He’s strong, he’s quite forward and he’s very quiet as well so there’s a lot to like about him. You can see just by looking at him why we love him - he’s got a lot of strength about him, a lovely big girth, massive hindquarter and we think he’s one of the nicest colts on the ground here."

The colt will be prepared by new training partnership Chris Anderson and Robert Heathcote.

"He’s off to a great stable in Brisbane and we’re happy to be keeping him in Queensland and racing him with the team up here while chasing that QTIS prize money," Dowley said. "It’s a great scheme to be involved in and we’re really excited, we think he’ll be very popular."

Lot 78 will be prepared by new training partnership Chris Anderson and Robert Heathcote.

Anderson and Heathcote went on their own to secure the equal highest-priced filly of the day, Lot 24 by Rich Enuff, offered by the stallion's former home at Glenlogan Park.

Lot 24 Rich Enuff x Personal Guarantee filly

View Pedigree - Lot 24

She benefited from a pedigree boost from the talented filly Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), who won the G2 Phar Lap S. on Saturday. That filly and this one both descend from the mare Chalet Girl (Imposing), the half-sister to Danewin and Commands. Her daughter, Personal Guarantee (Danzero), the dam of this filly, has already produced the three-time winner Sure Deal (Real Saga).

Also going for $110,000 was Lot 83, a Spirit of Boom filly on offer from Eureka Stud. Chris Munce was the successful bidder having tasted terrific success with the progeny of the sire, including Boomsara, who won this year's Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

View Pedigree - Lot 83

Boomer Bloodstock, who bought the top lot at last year's March Sale, paid $110,000 for Lot 56, a Better Than Ready colt out of Rosaria (More Than Ready {USA}) from Deejay Bloodstock. The dam, a three-quarter sister to Rosa's Image, Rosa's Joy and Rosa's Path, has already produced two winners.

View Pedigree - Lot 56

The other two six-figure lots both went to Tony Gollan/John Foote. They were a Spill the Beans filly, Lot 37 from Lucas Bloodstock and Lot 195, an I Am Invincible colt from Aquis Farm from the family of Bentley Biscuit.

View Pedigree - Lot 37
View Pedigree - Lot 195

Boom, Ready dominant

It was no surprise that Spirit of Boom topped the first day sires' aggregates, selling 10 for a total of $723,000, while 13 Better Than Readys sold for an aggregate of $717,500 and an average of $55,192.

Spirit of Boom

First-season sire Rich Enuff led overall sire averages with his three lots going for an average of $72,333, while Spill The Beans led first-season aggregates as well as overall volume, with 16 lots sold for a total of $457,000.

The homes of the two dominant stallions, Eureka Stud ($641,500) and Lyndhurst Stud ($506,500) were the leading vendors on aggregate, while KBL Thoroughbreds continued its terrific sales season with four lots sold at a vendor-leading average of $89,375.

The leading buyer on the day was Group 1 Pty Ltd, who bought nine yearlings for a total of $276,000, while Mishani Enterprises, Riyue Trading, Munce Racing and Michael Sherrin all bought four yearlings apiece on Day 1.

"Last year's sale broke all records and while this year's figures are down, the sale is tracking well when compared to the 2017 auction," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "We're hopeful the figures will continue to improve."

"Vendors as a whole are very willing to meet the market and for the buyers there is a huge opportunity for value."

"Given the bonus prizemoney available through the QTIS scheme and the amount of winners that this sale produces, buyers should be stepping in with confidence," Bowditch added.

Day 2 kicks off at 10am local time on Tuesday.

Leaderboard

Top Lots

144KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld (As Agent)CSpirit of Boom (AUS)Weekend Surprise (AUS)James Harron BloodstockNSW$220,000
78Kynoch Thoroughbreds, Toowoomba, QldCBetter Than Ready (AUS)Shine Bridge (ARG)First Light/Paul Willetts/Anderson Heathcote RcgVIC$120,000
83Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld (As Agent)FSpirit of Boom (AUS)Silva Nova (AUS)Munce RacingQLD$110,000
56DeeJay Bloodstock, Maroon, QldCBetter Than Ready (AUS)Rosaria (AUS)Brenden Mackay/Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA)NSW$110,000
24Glenlogan Park, Innisplain, QldFRich Enuff (AUS)Personal Guarantee (AUS)Anderson Heathcote RacingQLD$110,000
195Aquis Farm Operations, Murrurundi, NSW (As Agent for Aquis Farm)CI Am Invincible (AUS)Bikini Star (AUS)Gollan Racing/John Foote BloodstockQLD$100,000
37Lucas Bloodstock, Croftby, Qld (As Agent for G K Bell & L M Steven)FSpill the Beans (AUS)Precious Darl (AUS)Gollan Racing/John Foote BloodstockQLD$100,000
51Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, QldFBetter Than Ready (AUS)Ridolfi (AUS)Proven Thoroughbreds/Steven O'Dea RacingNSW$85,000
133Kenmore Lodge, Wyreema, Qld (As Agent for Embrook Stables)CWandjina (AUS)Upper Notch (AUS)Group 1 Pty LtdQLD$82,500
1Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld (As Agent)CDeep Field (AUS)Nakedindaspa (AUS)Anderson Heathcote Rcg/Morley BS/David GiesemannQLD$82,500

Top Sires by Average

Rich Enuff (AUS)7322$217,000$110,000$72,333
Spirit of Boom (AUS)161042$723,000$220,000$72,300
Better Than Ready (AUS)181341$717,500$120,000$55,192
Love Conquers All (AUS)13670$175,000$50,000$29,167
Spill the Beans (AUS)211632$457,000$100,000$28,563
Bel Esprit (AUS)9720$191,000$55,000$27,286
Casino Prince (AUS)4301$74,500$42,500$24,833
Holy Roman Emperor (IRE)8512$119,000$36,000$23,800
Jabali (AUS)3300$60,000$20,000$20,000
Whittington (AUS)13742$131,000$30,000$18,714

Top Sires by Aggregate

Spirit of Boom (AUS)161042$723,000$220,000$72,300
Better Than Ready (AUS)181341$717,500$120,000$55,192
Spill the Beans (AUS)211632$457,000$100,000$28,563
Rich Enuff (AUS)7322$217,000$110,000$72,333
Bel Esprit (AUS)9720$191,000$55,000$27,286
Love Conquers All (AUS)13670$175,000$50,000$29,167
Whittington (AUS)13742$131,000$30,000$18,714
Holy Roman Emperor (IRE)8512$119,000$36,000$23,800
Wandjina (AUS)2200$115,000$82,500$57,500
Star Witness (AUS)4211$107,500$60,000$53,750

Top Vendors by Average

Kynoch Thoroughbreds Toowoomba Qld2101$120,000$120,000$120,000
DeeJay Bloodstock Maroon Qld1100$110,000$110,000$110,000
Glenlogan Park Innisplain Qld6100$110,000$110,000$110,000
KBL Thoroughbreds Beaudesert Qld 17421$357,500$220,000$89,375
Roona Lodge Warwick Qld4300$157,500$80,000$52,500
Tipuana Farms Boonah Qld4100$50,000$50,000$50,000
Jorson Farm South Burnett Qld3200$87,000$60,000$43,500
Lyndhurst Stud Farm Warwick Qld 381241$506,500$85,000$42,208
Lucas Bloodstock Croftby Qld 7400$167,500$100,000$41,875
Kenmore Lodge Wyreema Qld17710$288,000$82,500$41,143

Top Vendors by Aggregate

Eureka Stud Cambooya Qld 421663$641,500$110,000$40,094
Lyndhurst Stud Farm Warwick Qld 381241$506,500$85,000$42,208
KBL Thoroughbreds Beaudesert Qld 17421$357,500$220,000$89,375
Kenmore Lodge Wyreema Qld17710$288,000$82,500$41,143
Aquis Farm Operations Murrurundi NSW 16731$217,000$100,000$31,000
Raheen Stud Darling Downs Qld 29734$185,500$47,500$26,500
Lucas Bloodstock Croftby Qld 7400$167,500$100,000$41,875
Oakwood Farm Haigslea Qld 20644$158,000$50,000$26,333
Roona Lodge Warwick Qld4300$157,500$80,000$52,500
Gleeson Thoroughbred Connections Chinchilla Qld6410$129,000$80,000$32,250

Top Buyers

James Harron Bloodstock1$220,000$220,000$220,000
First Light/Paul Willetts/Anderson Heathcote Rcg2$164,000$120,000$82,000
Munce Racing4$252,500$110,000$63,125
Brenden Mackay/Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA)2$160,000$110,000$80,000
Anderson Heathcote Racing1$110,000$110,000$110,000
Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock2$200,000$100,000$100,000
Proven Thoroughbreds/Steven O'Dea Racing4$217,000$85,000$54,250
Group 1 Pty Ltd9$276,000$82,500$30,667
Anderson Heathcote Rcg/Morley BS/David Giesemann1$82,500$82,500$82,500
Toby Edmonds & Aquis Farm1$80,000$80,000$80,000

Kementari follows in sire's shoes

Written by
5 min read
While the remarkable stallion career of Lonhro rolls on, Darley feels that it is well placed to continue his legacy into the next generation.

Darley confirmed on Monday that Kementari, the G1 Randwick Guineas winner, would become the fourth of Lonhro's sons to join their stallion roster in the coming season.

The 4-year-old will retire immediately and stand his first season at Kelvinside this coming spring for a price of $33,000 (inc GST).

In doing so he joins his own sire, the seemingly indefatigable Lonhro, who has had three 2-year-old stakes-winners already this season, as well as three other sons, Denman, Exosphere and Impending.

"Obviously we are delighted to have him," Darley's Head of Sales Alastair Pulford told TDN AusNZ.

"He's a son of Lonhro, who is having a new lease of life himself. Lonhro just keeps getting more and more better horses. His 2-year-olds this year are going great guns, but he has proven himself to be such a good stallion over such a long period."

"In terms of his sons, Pierro is well established as a sire now and there are plenty of others on their way. It looks like his legacy is going to continue well into and beyond the next generation."

Kementari

"What really attracts me to Kementari is that he has got the class and presence of his father. He is such a beautiful horse that he is certainly one that you would hope would be one to carry on that Lonhro legacy."

Kementari has a racetrack resume to match any of the sire sons of Lonhro with the exception of Coolmore's Pierro, who is proving a terrific stallion in his own right.

Kementari was a winner at two and was then second in a G1 Caulfield Guineas in the early part of his 3-year-old season. He returned in the autumn to win the G3 Eskimo Prince S. and the G2 Hobartville S. before a career peak in the Randwick Guineas.

"His win in the Randwick Guineas was just awesome," Pulford said.

"He was absolutely dominant in the 3-year old division this time last year. He ran a race-record time and he won by the widest margin that the Randwick Guineas has been won by."

Behind him that day were subsequent Group 1 winners Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) and D'Argento (So You Think {NZ}) as well as G1 Victoria Derby winner Ace High (High Chaparral {Ire})

"His win in the Randwick Guineas was just awesome," Alastair Pulford

"He really smashed a high-class field. Trapeze Artist is no slouch. He put paid to him a couple of times and he was absolutely dominant," Pulford said.

Kementari didn’t win another race after that point, but was placed in the G1 George Ryder, and then as a 4-year-old in the G1 Memsie S., G1 Manikato S. and the G1 CF Orr S.

"As a 4-year old, we didn’t miss him at all. We campaigned him in the very best company. He was just touched off a couple of times in Group 1 weight-for-age races. He certainly showed he had the ability to compete with the very best of them," Pulford said.

Easy to match on type

Pulford said as a stallion, Kementari presented an excellent physical match for the majority of mares.

"He won't be a difficult horse to match physically, because he is such a good looker himself," he said.

"He's got the most beautiful head, that's the first thing you see. He has got this great presence about him. He is taller than Lonhro, he's correct but he is built in that same mould. He is a beautiful moving horse and of course he is that dark black colour that his father is."

"He won't be a difficult horse to match physically, because he is such a good looker himself,"- Alastair Pulford

While he is out of a Redoute's Choice mare in Yavanna, Pulford doesn't think that will significantly impact the Danehill-line mares that might go to him.

"You are getting Danehill back in the fourth generation, so I'd think for most people these days, the fourth generation is not a big issue. He's from such a good family and Lonhro is a great outcross and works well with that Danehill line," he said.

He pointed to Group 1 winning filly Alizee, who is by Sepoy out of a Danehill-line mare, as an example of a top line horse with a Danehill cross on the fourth line.

Price is right

At $33,000, Kementari is priced lower than future barnmates Astern and Shooting To Win were in their first seasons in recent times.

"I think he's extremely well priced. He's a good horse's price in the Hunter Valley, but if you compare him with similarly performed horses who have retired in the past couple of years, he's competitively priced," Pulford said.

Pulford said Newgate pair Extreme Choice and Flying Artie had stood for $38,500 in their first seasons in 2017, while first-season pair Russian Revolution (Newgate) and Merchant Navy (Coolmore) had stood for $55,000 last season.

"We think he's extremely attractively priced. My phone has been running hot all this morning," he said.

Eminent equestrian relishing return to thoroughbred code

Written by
7 min read
Challenges have forever been part and parcel of dual-Olympic gold medal winner Sir Mark Todd’s sporting life and with remarkable regularity he has successfully surmounted them in the international equestrian arena.

The iconic New Zealand horseman’s CV is a long and highly decorated one and outside of his supreme eventing accomplishments, Sir Mark Todd also found time to make his mark at the highest level in the thoroughbred code.

From Sir Mark’s then Cambridge base at Rivermonte Farm, he trained a small string and won the 2003 G1 New Zealand Oaks with Bramble Rose (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}), who also finished runner-up in the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. and third in the G1 Australian Oaks.

Sir Mark Todd

Willy Smith (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) was to follow and he claimed the 2007 G1 Wellington Cup and ran second in the G1 Zabeel Classic.

Sir Mark held a training licence for eight seasons and prepared 57 winners before retirement, temporary as it now happens, before focusing his efforts once again on the equestrian pursuits from his current base in England at Badgerstown in Wiltshire.

Golden days

Sir Mark’s Group 1 winning achievements in the thoroughbred code aside, his longevity at the top end of the equestrian world is remarkable.

When he won his fifth Olympic medal in 2012, he equalled the Olympic record for the longest gap between first and last medals - 28 years.

Sir Mark won individual gold medals at Los Angeles and Seoul with his famous horse Charisma, the Burghley Horse Trials five times and the Badminton Horse Trials on four occasions. He will be in action in May at Badminton in Gloucester, England, aiming to claim another victory and beat his own 2011 record as the event's oldest winner.

Sir Mark Todd and his famous eventing horse Charisma

He was New Zealand’s Sportsman of the Year in 1988, inducted the same year into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and as a member of New Zealand’s Eventing team he also won gold medals at the World Championships in 1990 and 1998. He was voted rider of the 20th century by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.

Knighted in 2013, Sir Mark may not be finished yet either as the 63-year-old is still considering competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He helped New Zealand qualify an eventing team when seventh at the FEI World Equestrian Championships last September.

"I do have that other side of my life at the moment. How long I keep going at that I don't know," he said.

Sir Mark Todd & Charisma

Change of tack

Eventing has been his main focus for the last decade. That is until New Zealand Bloodstock principal Sir Peter Vela, who has had eventing horses with Todd, approached him to take charge of his beautifully-related European Group winner Eminent (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

“Sir Peter and (bloodstock agent) Hubie de Burgh bought Martyn Meade out of the horse with the plan for him to go to New Zealand to stud,” Sir Mark said.

“They sent him to me to play around with him for a bit before he got on the plane. Then they decided to have one last go and try and win a Group 1 in Australia on the way home.

Eminent arrived in Australia at the start of March

“For various reasons the flights didn’t work out and he was going to go over to an Australian trainer. Then they suggested to me that I trained the horse and bring him over.

“I’m always up for a challenge and he’s just a lovely horse. He did a bit of dressage, hacking out around the hills and jumping before he got on the plane.

“I’m always up for a challenge and he’s just a lovely horse.” – Sir Mark Todd.

“We’ve progressed from there and he’s travelled well and has come through everything really well.”

Eminent will make his Australian debut in the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill on Saturday and, all going well, progress on to the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick.

The 5-year-old made his last race day appearance for Meade in August, 2018, when fifth in the G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood.

“I don’t really know the horse that well and I’ve never had him at the races,” Sir Mark said.

“Obviously, his form as a 3-year-old was very, very good before it tailed off last year.”

“Obviously, his form as a 3-year-old was very, very good before it tailed off last year.” – Sir Mark Todd.

In his Classic year, Eminent won the G3 Prix Guillame D’Ornano and the G3 Craven S.

In his Classic year, Eminent won the G3 Prix Guillame D’Ornano and the G3 Craven S. and was third in the Irish Champion S. and fourth in the G1 English Derby. He was unplaced in four runs in his following season.

“All I can say is the horse is fit, relaxed, happy and healthy,” Sir Mark said. “In an ideal world it would have been nice to have had a run under our belt before we took on a Group 1, but it didn’t pan out like that.

“Also, in England there were a few difficult challenges with firstly the snow and Lambourn closed down and then the equine flu.

“Before he came to me he hadn’t worked with another horse for four or five weeks and then he was in quarantine in England and Australia.”

“In England there were a few difficult challenges with firstly the snow and Lambourn closed down and then the equine flu.” – Sir Mark Todd.

Those difficulties aside, Sir Mark is more than happy with Eminent’s condition and his progress since arriving in Sydney.

“He had a good gallop on Wednesday morning and James McDonald rode him and he went very nicely,” he said. “James was happy with him. There are still a lot of questions to be answered, but we remain very happy with the horse.

Eminent will make his Australian debut this Saturday

“The plan has been made a bit as we go along. He’ll definitely run in the Ranvet and provided he runs well we will crack on to the Queen Elizabeth.”

McDonald has been booked for the ride in the Ranvet and Sir Mark said he would relish the opportunity to be part of the Queen Elizabeth S., the goal for Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).

“Winx is not just an Australian icon, she’s worldwide. It would be an amazing occasion to be a part of.”

“Winx is not just an Australian icon, she’s worldwide. It would be an amazing occasion to be a part of.” – Sir Mark Todd.

The Eminent venture has also allowed Todd to renew a successful association with former New Zealand jockey Bruce Herd, who partnered Bramble Rose four times for a win and two Group 2 placings.

“Bruce was meant to have ridden her in the Oaks, but he injured himself a couple of races before,” he said.

“Sir Peter organised Bruce to come to England and he was with the horse in quarantine and then came on down here. Obviously, he’s a very good rider and he’s been a great help.”

The intention is to subsequently retire Eminent to stud in New Zealand, the location yet to be determined, and he will have widespread appeal as a son of the unbeaten superstar Frankel.

Pedigree notes

A 150,000 guineas purchase at the Tatts October Yearling Sale, Eminent is out of You’ll Be Mine (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), a winner who also placed in the G1 Ascot Fillies’ Mile.

The dam is a daughter of the three-time Group 1 winner Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), who is a half-sister to the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and a sister to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Te Akau hoping filly has a sprinting advantage

4 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Last season’s champion New Zealand 2-year-old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) has headed to Australia to take them on at what they do best.

Te Akau appreciates the enormity of the task ahead of the filly, but she is a specialist short course performer and was sent to Sydney on Monday afternoon to see how she measures up.

“We all know how difficult it is to go over there and compete against the Australian horses over the shorter distances, but that is what she is and we’ll have a go,” trainer Jamie Richards said.

Avantage has headed to Australia

“She will either run in the Birthday Card S. on Saturday or the Darby Munro, we’ll make a call on that a little later in the week.”

“There’s the Arrowfield Sprint, but she would need to win on Saturday to progress toward a race like that.” - Jamie Richards.

The G3 Birthday Card S. is worth $160,000 and the Listed Darby Munro S. will be run for $140,000 with both races at Rosehill over 1200 metres.

The future direction of Avantage’s autumn campaign will be determined by her performance at the weekend.

“There’s the Arrowfield Sprint, but she would need to win on Saturday to progress toward a race like that,” Richards said.

She will be ridden by stable jockey Opie Bosson, who will also take the mount aboard the Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Ranvet S.

Avantage will be ridden by stable jockey Opie Bosson

Group 1 success

Avantage won the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and the Karaka Million last season and the G3 Gold Trail S. when resuming this term. She was then side-lined by a muscle issue and has returned for two trials, winning the latest of them this month over 1000 metres at Avondale.

She was bred by Willie and Karen Calder and sold by them through The Oaks Stud draft for NZ$210,000 to Te Akau at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka.

She is a daughter of Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who won three races from John and Karen Parsons’ stable, including the Listed Warstep S. and she finished third in the G1 Waikato International S.

Willie & Karen Calder with Avantage's 3/4 sister Puysegur

Sibling pins Cup

Asavant is a half-sister to the G1 Centenary Cup Sprint winner D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who was a NZ$200,000 yearling. Their dam Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ) was also prepared by the Parsons to win six times, including the G3 White Robe Lodge H.

The Calders made a commercial decision in 2017 to sell Asavant and they tragically lost Pins ‘N’ Needles a short time later.

That prompted the Southland couple to go to NZ$550,000 at Karaka last year to buy out a foal share agreement in Avantage’s three-quarter sister Puysegur. Trained by Richards, she hasn’t been seen out since she won on debut at Riccarton.

Meanwhile, the G1 Sires’ Produce S. has been confirmed as the target for talented stablemate Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished in behind the major players in Saturday’s G3 Magic Night S. in her Australian debut at Rosehill.

“You don’t go there to run sixth, but all things considered it was still a good run,” Richards said. “It’s three weeks to the Sires’ and that’s ideal.”

“You don’t go there to run sixth, but all things considered it was still a good run.” – Jamie Richards.

Probabeel

Probabeel’s domestic form has been outstanding with three wins from four appearances and bolted away with the Karaka Million.

The filly was bred and offered at Karaka by breeders Waikato Stud and the Lindsay’s initially lost a bidding duel with David Ellis, who had the final say at NZ$380,000, but later reached agreement with the Te Akau principal to secure her.

Probabeel is the first live foal produced by the multiple winner and Group performer Far Fetched (NZ) (Pins). She is a three-quarter sister to the Group winners Legless Veuve (NZ) (Pins) and Tootsie (NZ).

TIC supporting major school event

3 min read

The show must go on and indeed it will this year with Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) stepping in as the major sponsor of a major inter-high school riding event that draws hundreds of competitors from far and wide.

The North West Equestrian Expo at Coonabarabran typically attracts more than 600 students from across New South Wales and is staged at the heart of an area seriously struck by drought.

With TIC’s aid, organisers can now provide financial support for those worst affected.

“The event was started by the local high school years ago and its grown into this enormous event,” TIC Chief Executive Officer Lindy Maurice said.

The North West Equestrian Expo at Coonabarabran attracts more than 600 students

“It’s held at the local showground and it’s quite extraordinary. It’s got a population of about 2000 and is quite literally in the middle of nowhere and the heart of the drought area. It’s desperate.

“That’s why we want to support it. It’s an event like no other and we’re chipping in to help to make it viable.

“It’s for 12 to 18 year-olds and these kids come from all over the State with their horses.”

“The event was started by the local high school years ago and its grown into this enormous event.” – Lindy Maurice.

TIC is a non-profit organisation aiming to promote careers in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry.

“Riding is everything to these kids and it’s important that they continue to have opportunities to compete in the sport they love,” Maurice said.

“The North West Equestrian Expo gives them something to focus on, to train for and to hopefully offer some respite from the ever-present reality of drought that is impacting their rural communities.

TIC is funded by the biggest names and organisations in the thoroughbred industry

“TIC is funded by the biggest names and organisations in the thoroughbred industry, including the likes of the Australian Turf Club, Gai Waterhouse Racing, Chris Waller, Godolphin, Arrowfield Stud, David Hayes and Tony McEvoy and they are all very keen to ensure that young people can still pursue their passion for horses.”

TIC is also guaranteeing four places for students competing at The North West Equestrian Expo in their 2020 Explorer Cadetship Programme, a 12 month stable and stud horsemanship programme in the thoroughbred industry.

“Drought has forced the cancellation of so many equine events - country shows, campdrafting and cross-country events so we were determined to ensure the North West Equestrian Expo could go ahead,” event secretary Rebecca Moxham said.

“The kids need it, the town needs it and thanks to the support of sponsors we hope to have strong numbers again in 2019.” – Rebecca Moxham.

“The kids need it, the town needs it and thanks to the support of sponsors we hope to have strong numbers again in 2019.

“It’s a seriously great event bringing together hundreds of riders from across the state. They camp out in swags, they rise in the winter darkness to prepare their horses, and they ride all day, talk around the campfire at night and create memories that will last a lifetime.

The event brings hundreds of riders together from across the state

“In times of hardship, it’s never more important to have events like this so we’re more grateful than ever to our sponsors for providing the support that will enable the North Western Equestrian Expo to continue in 2019.”

The North West Equestrian Expo runs from Friday, May 31 to Tuesday, June 4 and applications for the subsidy can be made while completing the entry form for the event below.

View entry form

International TDN News

2 min read

Trending In TDN Europe

1. Video: After The Finish Line with Kingsgate Native (Ire).

2. Pedigree Insights: Andrew Caulfield on Dream Castle (GB) and his sire, Frankel (GB).

"Dream Castle therefore adds weight to the argument that Frankel–like Galileo–is ideally well suited by fast and precocious mares. The truth is that father and son can also sire top winners from middle-distance mares, but it is their progeny out of fast mares which appeal most to breeders and buyers."

Read full article

3. Video: Gary King chats to Coolmore's David O'Loughlin about U S Navy Flag (USA).

"Danehill didn’t win it [G1 July Cup], but he nearly won it. Anabaa, Starspangledbanner, Mozart, and Oasis Dream all won it. So it’s always been a very good race and it’s a great meeting; with a huge amount of breeders there so a horse always has a good profile after winning it."

Trending In TDN America

1. Feature: Ciaran Dunne believes Lane's End's Liam's Map (USA) will be leading first-season sire.

“I am going to go with Liam’s Map. We’ve got several of them and they are all different shapes and sizes, but they all look like they have speed."

Read full article

2. Feature: Sid Fernando details Candy Ride's (Arg) success at stud.

"Candy Ride started his career at Hill ‘n’ Dale for $10,000 in 2005 and had three first-crop Grade l winners, two of which were from Storm Cat-line mares. So far there are 21 unrestricted black type winners bred on the Storm Cat cross, which is almost a quarter of the stallion’s 83 black type winners to date, and five of his 14 Grade l winners are also from Storm Cat-line mares."

Read full article

The Daily Wrap

6 min read

Messara to be honoured

Industry leader John Messara is to receive the 2019 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit, which recognizes distinguished horsemen and horsewomen for lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing.

He will be honoured during a ceremony Thursday, April 11 in advance of the G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes two days later.

Industry leader John Messara

Messara has been a key figure in Australian racing for more than three decades, and he is the owner and Chairman of Arrowfield Stud. Founded in 1985, it was home to breed-shaping sire Danehill (USA) and currently stands his champion sire son Redoute’s Choice and his champion grandson Snitzel.

Messara has served as Chairman of Racing New South Wales (December 2011- December 2016), inaugural Chairman of Racing Australia (January 2014-December 2016), Vice-Chairman of the Asian Racing Conference (2014-2016), President of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (2007-2008), and inaugural Chairman of Aushorse (2001-2008).

Previous accolades include Life Membership of the Australian Turf Club (2016), the Thoroughbred Breeders’ NSW inaugural Heroic Award (2011) and appointment by the Australian government in 2008 as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Filly lights up the Valley

Sunlight (Zoustar) has thrilled trainer Tony McEvoy in a gallop at Moonee Valley ahead of the G1 William Reid S.

McEvoy took advantage of the opportunity to gallop the G1 Newmarket H. winner at the course ahead of Friday night's feature.

Sunlight

"I came into Melbourne on Sunday and went to the stable and looked at her and she looked like she had been to the bakery again," McEvoy said.

"She looked so full and well, you wouldn't have known she'd had a contest last week.

"So we gave her a bit of work and Luke (Currie) said she needed it. She had a good blow but then recovered very well."

Sydney's autumn weather will determine whether Sunlight heads north after Friday night or is saved for the Adelaide carnival at Morphettville.

Rain no issue

Ciaron Maher is considering adding blinkers to the gear of Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) as he chases victory in the G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill.

Maher, who trains in partnership with Dave Eustace, said the 2-year-old was likely to wear the headgear in a gallop on Tuesday, after which he will decide whether he will race in them on Saturday.

Dubious

"He's pretty focused, but if they can give him an extra half-length, that little one per cent, that's what we're looking for," Maher said. "If it's wet and you're travelling through the ground, it usually holds you in better stead than if you're floundering."

Stablemate Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) won on debut at Caulfield before running sixth in the Blue Diamond Stakes and has since won a Randwick barrier trial.

"Dubious is by Not A Single Doubt and the breed usually handle it, but fitness counts for a lot," Maher said. “Loving Gaby got a little taste of it at Randwick and seemed to handle it OK.”

Fillies share title

Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) and Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) will share the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title.

They were locked on 18 points going into the final leg, the G1 New Zealand Oaks, and both were unplaced.

The winner Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) finished third in the series with 16 points following an earlier placing in the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic.

Bred to Win returns

Bred To Win is back on Tuesday night at 9pm on Sky Thoroughbred Central Ch 528 at 9pm with a look back at some of the changes to the Inglis Classic and Premier Yearling sales and how both sales were received.

The latest bloodstock news and the breeding background to the major race winners from the weekend will be featured, as well as Arrowfield Stud's The Horse Who Made You Love Racing featuring Victoria's Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter, and a new segment Inglis Sales' stories with Trevor Lobb telling a tale about weighing up the X-ray risks and an Easter 2 Graduate who went on to win a Golden Slipper.

9pm Sky Thoroughbred Central and streamed live on:

racing.nsw.com.au

Replay times:

Tuesday 11pm

Wednesday 7am

Thursday 7am

Saturday 9pm

Sunday morning 8.30am

Milestone awaits

Leading South Australian rider Raquel Clark can reach 100 winners in a season for the first time if she wins the National Apprentices’ Challenge heat at Doomben on Wednesday.

Clark is sitting on 99 after a treble at Port Lincoln on Sunday.

Apprentice rider Raquel Clark

A former Tasmanian rider now based in South Australia, Clark's best effort to date was 98 wins last season.

Apprenticed to Adelaide trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, she is currently second on the Adelaide metropolitan premiership, one win behind Jamie Kah who has moved to Victoria.

Clark has been allocated premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan's horse Dream Kisses (Dream Ahead {USA}) in the Apprentices’ Challenge.

"She is a stakes-winning jockey and very experienced. Hopefully the weather holds but even if the track stays heavy, Dream Kisses has been placed four times on bog tracks," Gollan said.

"To ride 100 winners in a season is a great achievement and it would be good to be part of it."

More hopeful than confident

Heath Conners had a fairytale farewell from metropolitan racing, but he is not so sure it’ll be a similar story at Bendigo on Tuesday.

The Geelong horseman will saddle his final runner as a trainer when Neurotic (Nicconi) runs in the Smartline Rising Stars BM64 H.

"She’s first-up and she probably needs the run,” he said. “She’s a Blue Sky horse and they’ve been fantastic to me.”

In recent years, Conners has become disenchanted with the 24/7 nature of the racing industry and is giving away training to spend more time with his wife and children.

“These three beautiful kids that we’ve got, I want to watch them grow up the next 15 years,” he told RSN.

No matter what happens at Bendigo, the 45-year-old is leaving training with a lifetime memory thanks to Villa Sarchi (Written Tycoon).

He made Conners’ last city runner a winner when he won the last race on the inaugural All-Star Mile programme at Flemington.

Looking Ahead - March 19

3 min read

Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

On Tuesday, a filly from the family of Group 1 winner Maid Of Heaven debuts at Murwillumbah, while Mick Kent presents another promising staying filly at Bendigo, while a regally bred member of Redoute's Choice's family makes her bow for Anthony Freedman.

Murwillumbah Race 1, 1:15pm AEDT, Kingy Bowls 2YO Hcp, $22,000, 1100m

Zac Attack (I Am Invincible) was a $320,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions buy and makes her debut for Toby Edmonds. She boasts an interesting pedigree being the first foal out of Hussy By Choice (Hussonet {USA}), who was a Listed winner in WA.

Her dam Little Flower (Redoute's Choice) is not only the full sister to stakes winner Mirrasalo but is the half sister to G1 Spring Champion S. winner Maid of Heaven (Smart Missile) and recent Inglis Millennium winner Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}). Further back, it is the family of star galloper Planet Ruler.

This filly has had one trial, finishing second at the Gold Coast in February.

Zac Attack pictured as a yearling

Bendigo Race 1, 1:30pm AEDT, Tysons Reef Mdn, $35,000, 2200m

Mick Kent has been having a great time with these staying 3-year-old fillies of late, with two of them winning at Yarra Valley on Sunday. Anna Mae (NZ) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) presents as a likely Oaks type after a close-up third over 2200m last time at just her second start.

She was a $150,000 NZB Ready To Run buy, out of an unraced Starcraft mare called Startina. She is a half sister to Miss Bussell (Danzero), who was precocious enough to win a Listed Widden S. but also ran third in a G1 Queensland Derby and produced Miss Darcey (Hussonet {Ire}), who won a G3 Adrian Knox S. Another sister produced Hurried Choice (Choisir), who was a multiple stakes-winning sprinter.

Bendigo Race 2, 2:00pm AEDT, National Hotel 2YO Fillies Mdn, $35,000, 1100m

Plenty of interesting 2-year-olds on debut in this race, but the pedigree of Meuse (Snitzel) makes for the most intrigue. She is by Snitzel, of course a son of Redoute's Choice, out of Precious Lorraine (Encosta De Lago), who is out of the full sister to Redoute's in Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}).

Not surprisingly, it’s a pedigree page with a stack of black type, including Precious Lorraine herself, who was a three-time stakes winner and a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winners Manhattan Rain and Rubick. Meuse, a $500,000 Easter Sale purchase, is the first foal out of the mare to make it to the track and showed enough when third at a recent Balnarring jumpout to suggest she can make an impression on debut.

Meuse pictured as a yearling

NSW Race Results

Scone

Queanbeyan

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000+)

2YO & 3YO winners by sire

AUS 2yo Sire Premiership

NZ General Sire Premiership

Thanks for reading!

1 min read

We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TDN AusNZ. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

TDN AusNZ Team & Contacts

President - Gary King | gary@tdnausnz.com.au

Managing Director - Vicky Leonard | vicky@tdnausnz.com.au

Editorial | editorial@tdnausnz.com.au

Australian Editorial - Bren O'Brien | bren@tdnausnz.com.au

New Zealand Editorial - Paul Vettise | paul@tdnausnz.com.au

Advertising | advertising@tdnausnz.com.au

Advertising & Accounts - Eliza Quinn | eliza@tdnausnz.com.au

Content Coordinator - Melissa Gillis | melissa@tdnausnz.com.au

Photography is largely supplied by The Image is Everything - Bronwen Healy and Darren Tindale, and complemented by Sportpix, Trish Dunell (NZ), Racing.com Photos and Western Racepix.