Blood headed to Melbourne

Boom galloper Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) will campaign in Melbourne and contest both the G1 Australian Guineas and the All-Star Mile.

Trainer David Vandyke confirmed that the 3-year-old, a winner of eight of his nine starts, would continue on his campaign after his recent victory in the Restricted Listed Magic Millions 3YO Classic, and target the G3 CS Hayes S. at Flemington on February 15 before the Guineas and the All-Star Mile.

"It wasn’t a tough call after all as he’s in great shape and he’s ready for what we’ve got in mind for him," Vandyke said.

Alligator Blood currently leads the popular vote for the All-Star Mile on over 4700 votes, clear of Star Missile (Smart Missile).

Osborne Bulls retired

Five-time Group 1 placegetter and three-time stakes winner Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) has been retired.

The talented 6-year-old sprinter, a winner of nine of his 20 starts, will enter Godolphin’s Lifetime Care Program with a specific role to be decided in the near future.

“Osborne Bulls is a testament to our people and the Godolphin way,” Godolphin Australia General Manager Vin Cox said.

“From the team at Woodlands who foaled him down to the team at Kelvinside who educate our young horses, to the racing team, everyone had a soft spot for him. There were extensive efforts at rehabilitation that occurred at Osborne Park, Twin Hills and Kelvinside that allowed him to overcome his issues. It is no secret that he faced much adversity throughout his life, but he always fought back.”

Trainer James Cummings also paid tribute to Osborne Bulls, who was runner-up in five consecutive Group 1 sprints from February to May last year.

"I’d have loved to see him get a G1 win for his sake, but five second placings at that level show he deserved to be regarded among the elite sprinters of his generation,” Cummings said.

“There’s no doubt he was a superior racehorse, his record shows that. But to be confident you were going to get the complete effort every time you put a saddle on his back is what will characterise him.”

Microphone ready for Valley test

Trainer James Cummings is confident Group 1 winning colt Microphone (Exceed And Excel) can make an impression against a very strong field in Friday's G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley.

There are five Group 1 winners in the nine-horse field for the 1200 metre race, with Microphone joined by Scales Of Justice (Not A Single Doubt), Be Good Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Hey Doc (Duporth) and Manuel (Commands).

“He has enjoyed a good break where he returned to the farm for a foundation of strength and fitness, then onto Melbourne for some serious gallops,” Cummings said of Microphone.

“A recent trip to Moonee Valley will be beneficial and a slick closing trial at Flemington should have him close to spot on for this assignment.”

Scully leaves Valachi Downs

Valachi Downs has announced that Jonathan Scully has resigned as General Manager.

Scully, who joined Valachi Downs in 2014, will return to New South Wales to spend some time with his family and to pursue other opportunities.

Owners Kevin and Joanna Hickman thanked Scully for his six years of service, in particular for his role in overseeing the expansion to the business to stand stallions Zacinto (GB), Savile Row (NZ) and U S Navy Flag (USA) as well as acquiring and establishing a private training facility and managing growth in its broodmare band.

Super Seth on way back

G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}) is closing on a racetrack return after winning a jumpout at Mornington on Wednesday.

The Anthony Freedman-trained colt was given a strong hit-out over the 900 metres and proved too strong late, impressing the trainer's son Sam.

"He won his trial really well, so all things being well, we'll head to the races next Saturday in the Manfred Stakes over 1200 metres and its looking like we might have Groundswell and Super Seth in the same race," Freedman told RSN.

"With the Randwick Guineas a week after the Australian Guineas, we'll map a path for both of them for which path they'll take but Super Seth is looking the most likely Australian Guineas candidate for us.

"Horses like Chenier and Groundswell probably have to improve a touch but there is the option to go up to Sydney for the Randwick Guineas for them."

Blinkers off for Catalyst

Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) will return to the track at Ellerslie on Saturday without blinkers for the second time in his career.

The boom 3-year-old, a last start winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, will tackle the Henley Park Mr Tiz Trophy with the top weight of 60.5kg, but without the headgear.

"We trialled him last week (at Matamata) with the blinkers off and he did everything spot on," trainer Clayton Chipperfield said.

"He took the gap and ended up out in the open with his ears pricked and did everything spot-on and so we thought we might as well take them off for this campaign.

"We only put them on because we were scratching our heads after his first start when he went so bad."

Easter sale-topper to debut

Peter and Paul Snowden will take the covers off last year's most expensive yearling, Mount Fuji (Snitzel), in Saturday's Inglis Millennium In 14 Days H. at Randwick.

James Harron Bloodstock paid $2.8 million for Mount Fuji at last year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on behalf of clients and he will debut in Harron's colours.

Bred by Corumbene Stud, the colt is out of G2 Magic Night S. winner Ichihara (General Nediym), making him a blood brother to highly rated Menari. He was second in a recent Rosehill barrier trial.

The Snowdens will also debut $900,000 Magic Millions purchase Rulership (I Am invincible) in the same race.

Strong trading at Goffs UK January Sale

National Hunt mares and short yearlings took to the ring at Doncaster for the first of two sessions of the Goffs UK January Sale.

The session returned increases across the board, with the average up 22 per cent to £11,551 (AU$22,044) and the median soaring 42 per cent to £8500 (AU$16,221). The clearance rate for the 108 horses sold was 68 per cent. The 82 yearlings sold returned the second-highest average ever for the sale at £12,560 (AU$23,969).

Taking top billing was Mill House Stud’s yearling colt by Blue Bresil (Fr) (Lot 71), who was picked up by B.A.A. Bloodstock for £55,000 (AU$104,960). He is from the family of Morley Street (GB) and Granville Again (GB). The top in-foal mare, the six-time winner Rattlin (GB) (Bollin Eric {GB}) (Lot 141), was sold in foal to Blue Bresil for £25,000 (AU$47,710) to Brendan Bashford.

Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said, “We are delighted with the level of trade shown throughout the day today. We had very positive feedback following the publication of the catalogue and a lot of vendors reported that they were far busier yesterday than at the same stage last year. This was complemented with more buyers arriving this morning which has resulted in a buoyant trade with increases across the board."

Medication reforms at US Sales

Officials from Keeneland Association, Fasig-Tipton Company Inc. and Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) Company Inc. have jointly announced significant changes to policies regarding medication, including restriction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and a ban on bronchodilators at all 2-year-old sales, and limited use of riding crops at under-tack shows. The revised Conditions of Sale for each sales company take effect March 2020.

These proactive measures demonstrate continued uniformity among the United States’ three largest Thoroughbred auction houses and are the latest round of leadership reforms undertaken in recent years, following action in 2009 to ban the use of anabolic steroids in sales horses and last year’s ban on the off-label use of bisphosphonates in horses younger than 4-years old.

Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason, Fasig-Tipton President Boyd T. Browning Jr. and OBS President Tom Ventura said in a joint statement: “We continue to refine and adapt our policies with the overriding goal of protecting both the human and equine athletes while providing our customers the best opportunity for success at the racetrack.”

First foal for Lightning Spear

Group 1 winner Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) celebrated his first foal, a colt, born at Crimbourne Stud in Marlborough.

The chestnut is out of the winning Moonlight Rhapsody (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G2 Queen Elizabeth S. hero Fantastic Love (USA) (Peintre Celebre {USA}). Under the second dam is champion sprinter and sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best {Ire}).

Tweenhills, in light of Lightning Spear’s early sub-fertility issues, is offering 2020 seasons at £5000 (AU$9540).