Stallion back in work
A lack of support from breeders has resulted in Aquis Farm sending Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) back into training.
The 5-year-old attracted too few mares at the operation’s Victorian base and will be prepared by Kacy Fogden, who trains out of Aquis’ Canungra facility in North Queensland.
Siege Of Quebec has won four of his 18 starts, including the G3 Bill Ritchie H. at Randwick, where he accounted for The Everest contender Pierata (Pierro).
Siege Of Quebec when winning the G3 Bill Ritchie H. at Randwick
He also placed in the G1 Toorak H. at Caulfield and last raced when third in the G1 All Aged S. in the autumn.
Siege Of Quebec was a foundation sire at Aquis’ Victorian base where he stood alongside Lean Mean Machine, who has been heavily supported.
Group 1 focus
A Group 1 win is top of Toby and Trent Edmonds’ wish list with Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt).
She will resume in Friday night's G1 Moir S. and then run in the G1 Manikato S. back at The Valley on October 25.
Winter Bride will resume in Friday night's G1 Moir S.
"This is the right race to start her off in bearing in mind she's better at 1200 metres than she is at the 1000 metres," Toby Edmonds said.
"If she runs well getting home nicely, and comes out of it in good order, we can target the Manikato S. after that.
"She's got really good numbers and form all around her so hopefully this season we can pinch a Group 1 with her.”
Hero in trainer’s eyes
Trainer Mark Newnham has the utmost confidence in the staying ability of Shadow Hero (Pierro), who steps up to 1800 metres in Saturday's G3 Gloaming S. at Rosehill.
He is aiming Shadow Hero at the G1 Spring Champion S. at Randwick ahead of the G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.
Mark Newnham has the utmost confidence in the staying ability of Shadow Hero
"He's got more promise than any horse in my stable, I'd imagine," Newnham said. "He's just a really good staying 3-year-old.
"He's still got a bit of improvement to come going into Saturday and 1800 metres at Rosehill, I'm not sure if that's his right distance.
"I'd say he will improve again after Saturday but once he gets to 2000 metres at Randwick and to Flemington over a mile and a-half, that's where his best runs will be."
Star to follow suit
Enticing Star (Testa Rossa) will attempt to follow the lead of stablemate Arcadia Queen (Pierro) by winning at Group 2 level in her Sydney debut.
Perth owner Bob Peters has sent the mares from the west to Rosehill trainer Chris Waller and both have secured starts in the $14 million Everest on October 19.
Arcadia Queen made an immediate impression in Sydney with her win in the G2 Theo Marks S. and Enticing Star runs in Saturday's G2 Golden Pendant.
Enticing Star will attempt to win at Group 2 level in her Sydney debut
"Enticing Star has had almost an identical preparation to Arcadia Queen, who obviously resumed a fortnight ago in similar type conditions," Waller said.
"Enticing Star is a very good horse in her own right and James McDonald has done a lot of work on her and has ridden her in a trial.”
Smart 3YO to HK
Unbeaten 3-year-old Cooga Doon (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) will continue his racing career in Asia after his seven-figure sale to Hong Kong interests on Thursday.
He won the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas by 9l last start and trainer Fraser Auret said the phone has been red hot since then.
“There was a huge amount of interest in him from agents from many different countries. It was quite overwhelming the interest that was in the horse.
“It was Brian Hedley in partnership with Greg Zarra from Australasian Bloodstock that got the deal done. He is a very relaxed type of horse that really does enjoy the stable environment.
“He’s a good level-headed type and is a very good eater. I believe from that perspective he ticks those boxes for Hong Kong. He’s just so untapped, he had very good ability right from day one.
Partnership to end
The Brisbane training partnership between Robert Heathcote and Chris Anderson is to be dissolved.
Anderson said the two have agreed to an amicable split after joining forces in May and hopes the paperwork will be finalised by October 1 to return to individual stables.
"Rob and I have agreed to go our own ways," Anderson told RadioTAB. "The good thing is we will still be the best of mates. It's all about business structure. Acting as individuals suits us better.
"We will dissolve it quite quickly. We spoke about it and if we're going to dissolve it, now's the time."
Beer buys a dazzler
Albury trainer Mitch Beer has purchased last season’s Listed Wanganui Guineas winner Bobby Dazzler (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) from the stable of Stephen Marsh and is looking forward to training his latest Kiwi import.
The 4-year-old has won three of his 14 starts in New Zealand and Beer said he would cost around AU$40,000, including transport, by the time he arrives at his country New South Wales base.
“He has obviously proven himself at a very good level. I find ratings wise, if a 3-year-old had won a Listed race in Australia they really have to measure up or they’re hard to place for the next two years.
“Having purchased a few tried horses from New Zealand, they get in quite well at the ratings, which is a big plus.”
Date changes
Both Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton have pushed back the starts of their respective November breeding sales by one day to allow participants extra time to travel from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 1 and 2 at Santa Anita to Kentucky.
Fasig-Tipton’s one day November sale will now be held on November 5 while Keeneland’s sale will now be held from November 6-17.
“We listen to our customers and we respond, that’s what Keeneland does. We adjusted the September Sale format based on feedback from horsemen and produced the fifth-highest gross in that sale’s history,” Keeneland President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Thomason said.
Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said his company had advocated for this schedule change for a number of years. “Buyers will be able to enjoy the Breeders’ Cup and then have ample time to work through The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton, the world’s premier breeding stock event.”
Tattersalls trade steady
Another day of steady business on Wednesday brought proceedings to a close at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.
With a reduced catalogue, matching last year’s turnover was always going to be a challenge and coupled with the absence of some big ticket lots the aggregate of €9,415,500 (AU$15, 276,924) for the two days came in a bit shy of the 2018 figure of €10,488,000 (AU$17,017,086).
However the clearance rate was quite encouraging and came in at 86 per cent overall and was indicative of the general current healthy demand .
Mick Kinane hasn’t wasted any time making his mark in his new role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and having bought the top lot on Tuesday he again held sway on Wednesday when paying €165,000 (AU$267,747) for a colt by Coolmore shuttle stallion No Nay Never (USA), the overall sale topper.
Lot 467 was offered by the Hore family’s Mount Eaton Stud out of Rio’s Pearl (GB) (Captain Rio {GB}). “He is by an exciting sire in No Nay Never and he is a lovely big horse, but one that will need time. It’s nice to be able to buy one by the sire,” Kinane said.
