Arcadia Angel tops Inglis online

A three-quarter-sister to Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen has topped the first bi-monthly Online Sale for Inglis Digital, selling for $160,000 to Graham and Linda Huddy of Peachester Lodge. "I was actually looking for a couple of mares to send to Preferment, who we raced and now stands at Brighthill Farm in New Zealand," Linda Huddy said.

"But I came across Arcadia Angel and thought it’s a lovely family to tap into, it really was too good of an opportunity to miss especially with Arcadia Queen’s Spring Carnival potential." A daughter of stakes winning mare Arcadia Rose, Arcadia Angel is also closely related to G2 Western Australian Derby winner Arcadia Dream (Domesday) and G3 winner Arcadia Prince (Pierro).

"I am looking at sending her to Exceed and Excel this season, as I really like the mating with the cross being a proven one."

All-Star pair to clash in Lawrence.

Mystic Journey (Needs Further) and Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) will resume their All-Star Mile rivalry in Saturday's G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield.

The Tasmanian mare will make her first racetrack appearance since her memorable success in the $5 million race at Flemington in March up against the horse she beat into second that day, as well as nine other rivals.

Hartnell, now a 9-year-old, won this race back in 2017, while Group 1 winners Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}), Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Kenedna (Not A Single Doubt) take their places.

Harlem is one of four Lindsay Park imports in the race, with Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Sikandarabad (Ire) (Dr Fong {USA}) and Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) also accepting.

Williams denies Macedon sale

Nick Williams has strongly denied that his father Lloyd Williams' property, Macedon Lodge, has been sold.

Williams said there were no current plans to sell the iconic property north of Melbourne, but said if an offer were forthcoming, it would be entertained.

“Is there any intention to sell? Absolutely not,” Nick Williams told RSN. “You never say never in these things."

“We’re obviously businessmen first and foremost, but we love Macedon Lodge."

“It’s a wonderful place. If a sheikh or someone came knocking on the door and offered us a massive price, then of course we’d consider it."

“It’s a superior training place and we’re not inclined to give away that edge.”

The property has been used to prepare several of Lloyd Williams' Melbourne Cup winners and is the current base of Williams' private trainer Liam Howley.

Aalaalune departure a setback for McKay

Group 1-placed filly Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) has been moved to Team Rogerson in a bitter blow for trainer Jacob McKay.

McKay admitted the loss of Aalaalune as well as Mr Universe (NZ) (Smart Missile), who was also owned by Lou Te Keeti and his wife Val, was tough to take on the brink of spring.

“It was a big kick in the guts to lose them, especially for a young person starting off in the game,” McKay said. “They were my stable stars and it was definitely hard getting out of bed this morning, that’s for sure."

"I know what it is like with horses moving and I don’t feel any animosity towards the Rogersons for taking the horses."

“It was nice to have had those horses and hopefully it is a case of one door closes and another one opens.”

Aalaalune ran second in the G1 Sistema S. and was also placed in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. and Listed Splice Construction S.

Butler joins Twin Hills as Sales and Marketing Manager

Katelyn Butler has joined Cootamundra-based Twin Hills Stud as its Sales and Marketing Manager.

Originally from Victoria and a graduate of La Trobe University, Butler has previously worked as a stud coordinator at Chatswood Stud, a stallion handler at Swettenham Stud and as well as with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing before becoming a member of the Godolphin Flying Start course.

“Katelyn is a fantastic addition to our team and along with driving our marketing efforts forward, she will provide an additional point of contact and advice for our clients. Katelyn has a fantastic background in the industry and has an energy and perspective that will be of great value to our operation,” said Olly Tait, the owner of Twin Hills.

Butler said she was delighted to join Twin Hills, which will stand Denman, Smart Missile and Odyssey Moon in 2019.

“After graduating from the Godolphin Flying Start, I am very excited to be returning to the Australian breeding industry to join the team at Twin Hills Stud. The family owned and operated stud has already achieved so much in such a short space of time and I look forward to working with the clients and helping the operation continue to grow," she said.

Wet track a mystery for Pike

Trainer Tony Pike admits he doesn't know how Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will handle the wet track in the G2 U S Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Pike said that while the 8-year-old has form on wet tracks in Europe, he had struggled when tested on heavy tracks in Australia.

"His form from Europe was quite good on heavier ground, but that was when he was a younger horse,” Pike said. “These older stallions, you don’t really know until they try it. We really don’t want a genuine heavy track."

“I am hoping the weather holds over the next two to three days and it comes back to a half reasonable surface.”

Endless Drama has drawn barrier two for Saturday’s race with favoured runners Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) (11), Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) (12) and Helena Baby (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}) (10) all drawing outside barriers.

Chois impresses on NZ debut

Imported galloper Red Chois (Ire) (Choisir) broke through for a maiden victory at her first New Zealand start over 1200m at Te Aroha.

Now trained by Stephen Autridge and owned by Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs, the 6-year-old mare proved too tough for her rivals on the Heavy 11 track to win by 1.3l under jockey Craig Grylls.

Red Chois was initially trained by Eoghan O'Neill and then went to William Jarvis before being sold to New Zealand agent Paul Moroney for 22,000 guineas at last year's Tatts July Sale.

Apprentice out for six months

Victorian apprentice Brandon Stockdale has been suspended until February after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board confirmed a six-month suspension on misconduct and false evidence charges.

The 20-year-old can not ride again until February 14, but is allowed to continue working in a racing stable during his suspension. He can also return to riding trackwork again from January 14.

He pleaded guilty to one charge under AR 228 (b) for misconduct, in that he entered a Cranbourne property and stole goods before damaging a CCTV camera. He also pleaded guilty under AR 232 (i) for later giving false evidence to stewards over the matter.