Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) has been confirmed as Yulong Investments' foundation stallion at its Nagambie-based stud, with the dual Group 1 winner to begin his stud career in 2019.

The winner of the G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Makybe Diva S. will stand for an introductory fee of $13,750 inc. GST.

“It is tremendously exciting for Yulong’s stallion division to be launched with a dual-Group 1 miler the quality of Grunt,” Yulong Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray said.

“Many of the best stallions throughout history have excelled at a mile and we believe Grunt has the profile for success at stud."

“He is an outstanding looking horse and importantly for breeders, completely Danzig-free.”

Grunt was purchased out of Trelawney Stud’s draft at Karaka for NZ$220,000 by trainer Mick Price and bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke.

He is out of Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), is a half-sister to New Zealand Horse of The Year and promising sire Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park). The dam won twice and who has also produced stakes performer Addison (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and all three of her foals to race have been successful.

Like promising young stallion Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Grunt carries Zabeel (NZ) on his dam side and he is free of Danzig (USA) blood.

He is one of 13 Group 1 winners by dominant New Zealand sire O’Reilly, who whose sons Alamosa (NZ) and Shamexpress (NZ) have sired six Group winners including three at the elite level.

“On type and pedigree Grunt will suit a wide variety of mares, which is one of the major elements that attracted us to him,” Fairgray said.

“Yulong has strengthened its broodmare band over the last 12 months and we will be supporting Grunt in his first season with many of these mares.

“We will be active at the upcoming broodmare sales to ensure he has the best possible start to his stud career.”

Watch: Grunt winning the G1 Australian Guineas

Grunt finished third in his only 2-year-old appearance behind the subsequent Group 1 winner Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}).

He returned the following season to break at his maiden at his first appearance, two starts later he won the G3 CS Hayes S. and showed his quality next time out with victory in the G1 Australian Guineas.

“He's a magnificent specimen of a horse and he deserved a really strong Group 1 win like that,” regular rider Damien Oliver said after the Flemington feature."

The honour roll of the Australian Guineas includes such outstanding stallions as Zabeel (NZ), Flying Spur, Pins, Dash For Cash and Reset.

Grunt returned as a 4-year-old to impressively win the G1 Makybe Diva S. earlier this season by two lengths at Flemington, beating eight Group 1 winners in the process.

He retires with a Timeform rating of 123 as a 4-year old, ranking him as elite among his generation.

“An outstanding individual and brilliant 1600 metre horse,” Price said. “Grunt had a great temperament and I think he will make an excellent stallion.”

Sydney couple Rob and Donna Love have enjoyed Group 1 success as owners with their Oakleigh Plate winner Shamal Wind (Dubawi {Ire}) and they also share in the ownership of the Golden Slipper S. winner Capitalist (Written Tycoon).

They have built up a quality broodmare band with their interests managed by prominent bloodstock agent James Harron, who spoke about their association, with TDN AusNZ’s Paul Vettise.

TDN AusNZ: How long have you been managing Donna and Rob Love’s thoroughbred operation?

JH: The association with Donna and Rob goes back to the 2013 Magic Millions Broodmare sale.

TDN AusNZ: How did the association begin?

JH: They were a shareholder in a mare who was being sold and Bruce Slade put them in touch with me for some advice as they were thinking of buying her back as a broodmare. Our conversations led to us letting that mare go and instead Donna and Rob bought 2-year-old stakes winner Real Stolle (Elusive Quality {USA}) for $325,000 from Patinack.

She has been a great foundation mare for them. Her first foal was the Snitzel filly Nomothaj, who sold to Shadwell for $420,000, and was herself a 2-year-old stakes winner. Real Stolle's latest yearling was another Snitzel filly, who went to Jon Kelly and Reg Inglis for $380,000 and she has a particularly impressive Capitalist colt on the ground.

TDN AusNZ: What were the next steps?

JH: Following the purchase of Real Stolle we set about executing a strategy targeting fillies in training, with the aim of developing them further and eventually becoming breeding prospects. The first filly we bought in conjunction with these aims was Shamal Wind (Dubawi), who was a Listed winner at the time of purchase. She was a dream result as she went on to win the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate as a 5-year-old.

Watch: Shamal Wind winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate

The next such purchase was My Poppette (Snippetson), who was also purchased as a Listed winner as a 2-year-old. She went on beautifully as a 3-year-old and won the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic. During this time, Donna and Rob also became an integral part of the JHB colt syndicate as a great way of racing a lovely group of horses, while hopefully producing stallion equity that can work in tandem with their broodmare band. As such, they're shareholders in champion 2-year-old Capitalist at Newgate, as well as the very exciting prospect at Arrowfield, Pariah (Redoute's Choice).

TDN AusNZ: What was the thought process about investing in New Zealand?

JH: We were at the yearling sales in New Zealand in 2017 and it became apparent that there was a bit of a gap in the market at that time. There seemed to be a huge emphasis from buyers on the colts at the sale and the well-bred fillies seemed to be a touch overlooked. I spoke to Donna and Rob about the possibility of trying to capitalise on this and we secured two fillies at Karaka that year.

Espresso Martini (NZ) was a NZ$150,000 purchase and was the first to hit the track, a daughter of High Chaparral (Ire) out of Group 1 winner Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keeper) , who is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}). For her to win a Listed race last preparation really cements the project as a success, as she is now a very valuable breeding prospect.

The other filly we bought for NZ$200,000 that year is named Caribbean Rose (NZ), a daughter of Tavistock (NZ) from the Eight Carat family. Since the sale her half-sister Crystal Fountain (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) has come out and got some black type, which all helps. Caribbean Rose herself was a very good second on debut this month and is one to look out for once she gets out to a mile. A big part of the project in New Zealand has been the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable. They are obviously a world-class operation and have done a tremendous job with these two fillies.

TDN AusNZ: Tell us a bit about their breeding operation?

JH: Donna and Rob currently have a broodmare band of thirteen quality mares, focussed on breeding for the commercial yearling market. So far this year, they have had a good year in the sales ring with a pair of Deep Field colts making $450,000 and $310,000 off $22,000 services, along with the previously mentioned Snitzel filly from Real Stolle who made $380,000.

As I mentioned earlier, we have also developed fillies purchased off the track into breeding prospects and they also take a long-term view to trading mares in and out of the portfolio as things evolve, as evidenced by their selling of Shamal Wind, in foal to Redoute’s Choice, for $1,200,000 to Gerry Harvey at Magic Millions last year. They retained Shamal Wind’s yearling colt by Redoute’s Choice, who is a stand-out colt to be offered at Inglis Easter next month.

TDN AusNZ: And your future aspirations?

JH: The aims are to always strive for an upgrade of the portfolio, both through strategic investment and management, and for the stallion equity produced by the colt syndicate and the broodmare band to work in synchrony to build into a world-class portfolio of quality bloodstock.

by Anthony Manton

Racing in New South Wales on Friday sees the running of the $100,000 Muswellbrook Cup and while it has brought together a quality field and a strong support card there will be no doubt who the best-bred horse racing on the day is when Angel Of Heaven (Redoute’s Choice) struts into the parade ring for race two.

Angel of Heaven is the second foal to race from Group 1 winning mare Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and she is resuming from a five-month break after an unbeaten first preparation.

It will be a low-key starting point for the filly as she heads towards the Group 1 Queensland Oaks as a long-term aim this preparation.

Lights Of Heaven, trained by Peter Moody won her first four races culminating in the 2011 Group 1 Schweppes Oaks over 2008 metres at Morphettville. In total, she won eight races, six at stakes-level and placed a further seven times in group-company earning prize money of $1.575 million.

Lights Of Heaven was bred and raced by the Wanless family and is the daughter of another mare the family raced and bred with I’m In Heaven (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) until her passing in 2016. I’m In Heaven was herself a multiple city-winning mare and half-sister to Group 1 winner Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and full-sister to stakes-winner Eloa (NZ) (Volksraad {NZ}).

Angel Of Heaven created a big impression at Scone on debut in October when heavily backed in betting and showing good acceleration the last 100 metres to finish strongly and win over 1300 metres. She then jumped straight from maiden company to class 2 which is never an easy task and effortlessly won again at Port Macquarie in November before she was spelled.

This time-in Angel Of Heaven has been given two quiet barrier trials at Newcastle and Wyong and the 1450 metres at Muswellbrook is a good starting point for the filly who will progressively step-up in distance deeper into her campaign.

Trainer Kris Lees is in Dubai to oversee the campaign of Brave Smash (JPN) (Tosen Phantom {JPN}) who runs in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint 1200 metres at Meydan on Saturday night, however Lees’ Racing Manager Lucas Miller says while the filly hasn’t been an eye-catcher at the trials as evident in her first preparation she reserves her best for race day.

“She is a lovely relaxed filly and very casual about her work but as we saw in her first preparation she knows when it’s race-day and seems to perform at her best under race conditions,” said Kris Lees’ Racing Manager Lucas Miller.

“1450m is obviously going to be short of her best distance but we’d just like to see her hitting the line and although she isn’t fully at her peak she has the class to win first-up,” said Miller.

The Lees stable is very fortunate to have a handful of high-class 3-year old fillies in the stable including El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) and Frankely Awesome (Frankel {GB}) both running Saturday at Rosehill in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes 2000 metres and headed towards the Group 1 Australian Oaks on April 13.

The intention with Angel Of Heaven has been to separate her from the other fillies who are more seasoned at Group racing and aim her towards the Queensland Oaks.

“We’re very lucky in the stable to have some high-class 3-year-old fillies and Queensland has always been the aim with this filly as she is just a little bit behind the others at this stage."

“Her dam (Lights Of Heaven) won an Oaks in South Australia in her first preparation so we believe it’s a very realistic goal for this filly."

“She is a very well-bred filly and if she could match the achievements of her dam on the track she makes herself a very valuable broodmare and it would be lovely to continue the family legacy and race her progeny,” said Miller.

Angel Of Heaven’s half-brother Road To Heaven (High Chaparral {IRE}) has also accepted to run over the weekend and is the first emergency for the $150,000 Provincial Championship Qualifier at Wyong on Saturday as he chases a start in the $500,000 Provincial Championship Final at Randwick on April 13, a race the Wanless family won last year with Serene Miss (Northern Meteor).

From Thoroughbred Daily News USA

The fifth renewal of the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale proved to be one for the record books on Wednesday, with record average and median with the auction’s highest gross since moving to Gulfstream in 2015.

Six horses brought final seven-figure bids, led by a Curlin (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}) colt who sold for US$3.65 million to Jamie McCalmont and Donato Lanni, as agents for Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier and undisclosed partners, after a protracted bidding duel with an unidentified phone bidder.

“He was such a stand-out this horse,” McCalmont said. “He has a stallion’s pedigree and is by a great stallion. He was the obvious sales topper. Once a horse goes over $2 million, it can go anywhere. It is very exciting to be involved with a horse like this.”

It was the most paid for a North American juvenile since 2006. The juvenile was consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm.

Coolmore took home four of the top six horses either acting alone or in partnership. Their new additions include Lot 142, a $1.65 million American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) colt; Lot 119, a $1.3-million Curlin filly; and Lot 15, a $1-million Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday {USA}) colt.

It was no surprise to see a colt from the first crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah summon $1.65 million and it was even less of a surprise to see that the winning bid came from the Coolmore contingent, who stands the three-time Eclipse winner and has been quite active at the sales for his progeny. Jamie McCalmont signed the ticket on behalf of M.V. Magnier, who was in attendance earlier in the session, but was not in sight when the hammer fell on Lot 142.

“He didn’t do the fastest time [:10 2/5], but his gallop out was one of the fastest gallop outs. He just kept going at the same pace. He comes from a great place to buy horses with Eddie Woods. Let’s hope he can be somewhere close to where his father was.”

Watch: Lot 142 American Pharoah x Spice Island breeze

Bred in Florida by CESA Farm, he is out of GSW Spice Island (USA) (Tabasco Cat {USA}), which makes him a half-sibling to GI Florida Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box (USA) (Pulpit {USA}). The bay was purchased by Woods’s pinhooking partnership Quarter Pole Enterprises for $215,000 at Keeneland September.

“Did I think he’d bring that? Not in my wildest dreams,” said Woods, who sold last year’s $1.2-million co-topper Instagrand (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}). “I’m thrilled.”

Woods continued, “He is a Phaorah. They have style, they move, they have class, they are quiet. This horse was beautiful. He has a head on him you’d kill for. He went in :10 2/5, but it is not the work. That is the thing. You see, the :9 4/5 don’t win Derbies. They win first time out and might win something going around one turn. The good horses are the ones that gallop on out and are the big, free-moving horses with pedigree.”

In all, Fasig-Tipton sold 59 juveniles for a total of US$29,115,000. The average was US$493,475 and the median was US$375,000. During the 2018 auction, 61 horses sold for US$23,495,000. The average was US$385,164 and the median was US$295,000.

“I think we saw the marketplace today that we were hoping for in many regards,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “The upper end of the market was obviously fantastic, there was great competition and great depth of buyers and bidders on a large number of horses today. So, overall, we were very pleased with the vibrancy of the market.”

There were 188 juveniles catalogued for Wednesday’s boutique auction, with 100 ultimately going through the ring and 41 of those failing to find buyers.

“It was a 2-year-old in training sale,” Browning said. “So the RNA (pass-in) rate and the scratch (withdrawal) rate is a little higher than you would hope for. There are a lot of evaluative tools that go into buying at a 2-year-old sale. That’s why the horses that jump through all the hoops bring a significant premium. And right now, the consignors have other alternatives, so they are not forced to sell. We’ll see a lot of these horses at later sales and you’ll see some of them on the racetrack.”

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 Friday, we like the chances at Muswellbrook of a promising 3-year-old returning to action, a lightly-tried maiden contender from the family of the great Saintly (Sky Chase {NZ}) and a filly at Ipswich whose pedigree is littered with Group 1 winners.

Muswellbrook Race 4, 3.40pm, Prime 7 H., $30,000, 1000m

A $420,000 purchase at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, The Runner (Snitzel) is a son of Femina Fashion (Shamardal {USA}), who won on six occasions including the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and was runner-up in the G3 Doomben Roses. She is a half-sister to the two-time South African G1 winner Happy Archer (Dubawi {Ire}). It is also the family of the G3 Wakeful S. winner and G1 VRC Oaks placegetter Lolita Star (Jeune {GB}) and the G3 Adelaide Guineas winner Berezny (Bellotto {USA}).

The Runner is trained by Bjorn Baker and made an immediate impression when he was successful at Nowra first time out followed by a third at Wyong before he was freshened. He is a recent trial winner on his home track at Warwick Farm and from a perfect gate can double his winning tally.

Warrnambool Race 2, 3.00pm, Fabriweld Constructions Maiden, 1400m

Saint Peter (Pierro) was extensively trialled by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace before he went to Ararat for his first outing and performed soundly to finish fifth when well-supported. With the benefit of that outing under his belt it may pay to follow the money with Harry Coffey to stick with the 3-year-old.

The gelding has an interesting pedigree and is a son of Messenger (Choisir), who was good enough to claim two black type titles and is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Guineas winner God’s Own (Redoute’s Choice). Their dam Angel In Disguise (NZ) (Sky Chase {NZ}) is a three-quarter sister to the former Australian Horse of the Year Saintly, top-flight winner of the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup and the Orr S.

Ipswich Race 5, 4.07pm, Schweppes Maiden, 1200m

Lucky Spirit (Show A Heart) was three lengths off the winner when she ran fifth on debut for Toby Edmonds over this course and distance earlier this month. The filly went out at short odds after performing well at the trials and, with the benefit of race day experience, she looks set to go close from a good gate.

The 3-year-old is a sister to the black type winner Discreet with their dam Lady Danzero (Danzero) a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Masked Party (Marscay) and Festal (Vain). Wandjina (Snitzel), Inspiration (Flying Spur), Dracula (Quest For Fame {GB}), Complacent (Authorized {Ire}) and Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) are other family members to have triumphed at the highest level.

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.