Dream keeping its Lustre for Spratt

Written by

Bren O'Brien

7 min read

Five years after purchasing Lustre Lodge, director Glen Spratt feels the vision of a broodmare farm which connects the joy of racing with the joy of breeding is becoming a reality.

Images courtesy of Lustre Lodge

Lustre Lodge, which offers a draft of four yearlings in the upcoming Inglis Classic Sale and is located at Alison, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, was purchased to form a bridge between Sydney-based clients and the breeding heartland of the Hunter Valley, with an eye of turning broodmare ownership into a real experience.

A little help goes a long way

Key to building up the broodmare band as well as sourcing quality fillies from the yearling sales, have been Astute Bloodstock's Louis Le Metayer and Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard.

Lustre Lodge purchased four fillies at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, by leading stallions Medaglia d'Oro (USA), Pierro, Snitzel and Deep Field, all in partnership.

Astute Bloodstock's Louis Le Metayer (pictured) and Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard have been key to building the broodmare band

"When we look for a filly, we want an athlete. It needs to be by the right stallion and it doesn't have to be a top end stallion, but we really want that strong female side of the pedigree," Spratt said.

"We always look forward a generation and start thinking who we can match that to, and how hard is it going to be to find the right mating for it. That's why we use Louis and Brett, because these guys are looking at horses every day. We can all read pedigrees, but we need the experts to select the right athlete and that's an important thing that buyers are looking for."

"We use Louis and Brett, because these guys are looking at horses every day. We can all read pedigrees, but we need the experts to select the right athlete and that's an important thing that buyers are looking for." - Glen Spratt

Operations Manager Paige Belsham is the other key person for Spratt and his fellow directors, David Knight and Peter Colley. Since recently joining Lustre Lodge, she has made a significant difference to the business according to Spratt.

"I couldn't be happier with what she is doing there. She brings a great deal of professionalism to the farm and gives me a lot of confidence that everything is ticked off daily," he said.

"It doesn't matter whether it is the horse business, or where I work in financial services, successful businesses have one thing in common and that's attention to detail. If you have that and take care, the rest normally looks after itself."

A mare at Lustre Lodge

Draft of four ready to impress

Lustre Lodge's best result at last year's Classic Sale was a Zoustar colt out of It's One (O'Reilly {NZ}), which fetched $220,000. His half-brother, by Starspangledbanner is offered as Lot 206 in this year's sale which starts on Sunday at the Riverside Stables and Spratt describes him as a very nice colt.

Spratt also has an opinion of Lot 188, the Deep Field colt out of Humble (Exceed And Excel), the blood-sister to stakes placed pair Seeking Attention (Exceed And Excel) and Exceed And Exalt (Exceed And Excel).

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"The Deep Field colt, I really like. He looks a real athlete out of a an Exceed And Excel mare. I'm sure he will be pretty popular out there," he said.

The Deep Field-Exceed And Excel nick has already produced the winners Bullet Fly and Sky Diamonds.

Lustre Lodge also offers Lot 628, a filly by Arrowfield's first season sire Shalaa (Ire) out of Bridle Lane (Street Cry {Ire}), who hails from the extended family of champion colt, sprinter and stallion Fastnet Rock, and Lot 804, a filly by Star Witness out of Annlea (Canny Lad), whose fourth dam is the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Midnight Fever (Luskin Star), which has been a prolific stakes performing family.

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Active as both a vendor and buyer, and with a 'day job' in financial services, Spratt keeps close tabs on the state of the market and said the current strength is not a surprise to him.

"I know a lot of people were worried about the market but being in financial services I was always confident the market will stay strong. Interest rates are low. We are in the mortgage business where there are a lot of people paying off ahead of time. I don’t think there is that doom and gloom that people have been talking about," he said.

"With increasing prizemoney, and all the incentives, and additional races, it all looks like it's heading in the right direction. Racing NSW and the administrators deserve a lot of credit for that. I know they don’t get credit all the time, but they are doing a terrific job."

Group 1 halo shines on for Classic vendors

Written by

Bren O'Brien

6 min read

The 2020 Inglis Classic Sale is just that little bit more special for the vendors of the four sale graduates to have won Group 1 races in the past 12 months.

With the Inglis Classic Sale producing four Group 1 winning graduates in the past 12 months, it is little wonder vendors and buyers are heading into the 2020 edition with a degree of confidence.

Class of 2020

Riversdale has a 15-strong draft of yearlings for the 2020 Classic Sale with Hodges confident in what his team will present across the three days in Sydney.

"We are really pleased with the draft we have got. We've got some really nice horses by the right sires and so we are looking forward to the sale," he said.

"We are really pleased with the draft we have got. We've got some really nice horses by the right sires and so we are looking forward to the sale." - Nick Hodges

"It’s all about type for Classic Sale. You have to have the right type. Generally, a racy sort, an early type helps but we have got a good spread right across the board."

That spread sees Riversdale present lots by 15 different sires, with a mixture of proven stallions, such as Testa Rossa, Artie Schiller (USA), Lonhro, Nicconi, Foxwedge and Choisir and younger stallions such as Dundeel (NZ), Kermadec (NZ), Vancouver, Rubick and Pride Of Dubai. There are also yearlings by first season sires Winning Rupert, Flying Artie, Star Turn and Sooboog.

Lot 461 - Sooboog x Silent Charades (colt)

The colt by Kitchwin Hills' Sooboog, Lot 461, is particularly well regarded by Hodges.

"He looks like a real sprinter and a real early comer," he said of the colt out of Silent Charades (Magic Albert), the half-sister to Group 2 winner Maitland Gold (Made Of Gold {USA}).

Lot 757, a colt by Winning Rupert out of stakes placed Shamardani (Shamardal {USA}), the half-sister to Group 1 winner Pillaging (Marauding {NZ}), will feature in the Day 3 Highway Session where Hodges believes he will make an impression.

Hodges also has plenty of time for Lot 263, a colt by Dundeel out of Lucky Thirteen (Red Ransom {USA}), who he said was a 'real racy type' and Lot 270, by Vancouver, who he said will 'do a job for his owners wherever he ends up.'

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Lot 254, a Kermadec colt from Lighthouse Flame (Fastnet Rock), the half-sister to Group 2 winners Lieutenant (Danehill Dancer {Ire)) and Count Encosta (Encosta De Lago) is a horse Riversdale also has plenty of faith in.

"He will develop into a really lovely horse. He has got a great walk and will get over a bit of ground," Hodges said.

Belief in the strength of the market

The market will of course be the ultimate judge of Riversdale's draft, but with the fundamentals of the industry in good health, Hodges sees no reason why it won't be positive at the Classic Sale.

"It was good up at the Magic Millions and hopefully it rolls into the Classic Sale. We are very lucky that the industry has got a very solid base to it, in that the prizemoney is good and the racing is good," he said.

"We are very lucky that the industry has got a very solid base to it, in that the prizemoney is good and the racing is good." - Nick Hodges

"We are in a great position that way and I think that the market can be as strong as it’s been. It won't go ahead in leaps and bounds, but I think the competition will be strong and the right horses will get the right money."

Bargain buy chases big payday in Inglis Sprint

3 min read

Written by Richard Edmunds

A talented field of 3-year-olds who were bought for a wide range of yearling prices will clash in Saturday’s $1 million Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm – from $750,000 for Strasbourg (I Am Invincible), all the way down to a mere $3000 for Condo’s Express (Rubick).

Condo’s Express is trained by Richard Laming, who bought him from Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s draft at the 2018 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale.

The gelding has already vastly exceeded his purchase price with $238,310 in stakes from eight starts to date. He won the Listed McKenzie S. at Moonee Valley in August, and finished second in the G3 1300 Australia S. and fourth in the $500,000 Blue Sapphire.

Condo’s Express as a yearling

“He’s been great, especially for a horse that only cost us three grand,” Laming said. “I wouldn’t mind a stable full of horses like him.”

“He’s been great, especially for a horse that only cost us three grand... I wouldn’t mind a stable full of horses like him.” - Richard Laming

In his first start since the spring, Condo’s Express finished fifth over 1100 metres at Flemington on January 18.

“I was very happy with that first-up run,” Laming said. “He had to carry a lot of weight (59.5kg), and the race wasn’t run to suit him at all – they went slowly in front and then sprinted late, which made the front-runners very difficult to catch.

“He also copped a decent check in the straight, which made it even harder for him to finish it off from the back.

Condo's Express winning the Listed Mitchell McKenzie S.

“But he needed a run to get him ready for the race this weekend, and I preferred to stay in Melbourne for that. It served its purpose, and the timing was right three weeks out from this race.

“Everything’s gone right with him since then, and he’s probably the best I’ve ever had him, which is what you need heading into a million-dollar race.

“He’s got a good draw (eight) and a top jockey on board (James McDonald) and should be very competitive. He won’t have any problem handling rain-affected ground.”

“He’s got a good draw (eight) and a top jockey on board (James McDonald) and should be very competitive. He won’t have any problem handling rain-affected ground.” - Richard Laming

Condo’s Express is part of a big weekend for Laming, who also has two runners in Sunday’s G3 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup.

Dogmatic (Domesday) was a fast-finishing third at Caulfield in his last start on January 25, while He Ekscels (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) was fourth in a Listed race at Caulfield first-up on Boxing Day before two unplaced finishes in January.

“I think Dogmatic is probably the pick of the two,” Laming said. “His work suggests that he’s about to peak. He put the writing on the wall with a very strong finish in his last start at Caulfield.

“He’s drawn 11, but I don’t see that as any problem. We’ll go back from there and try to have the last crack at them.

“The other horse just went too hard in front last start with an apprentice on him. He ran a very good race first-up, but he usually just takes a few runs to get into consistent form.

“He’s going to appreciate stepping out over a bit more distance this weekend, and also a bit of moisture in the ground will really suit him as well.”

Richard Laming

Busuttin and Young gear up for super Saturday

5 min read

Written by Richard Edmunds

Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are counting down to a massive day of racing in two states on Saturday.

The expat New Zealanders will saddle eight black type contenders on a big day at Caulfield, while Larimer Street (Brazen Beau) has ventured interstate to tackle the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm.

“We’ve got a pretty full-on day ahead of us on Saturday,” Busuttin told TDN AusNZ. “We’ll have some really nice chances and it’s exciting.”

At Caulfield, the pair’s big day begins with talented filly Acting (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G3 Kevin Hayes S.

Acting (NZ)

Letzbeglam (Snitzel) and Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will carry the stable’s hopes in the fillies’ and colts and geldings’ divisions of the Neds Blue Diamond Prelude, while promising staying 3-year-olds The Holy One (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Savvy Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) kick off their autumn campaigns in the G2 Hyland Race Colours Autumn S.

Caulfield Cup placegetter Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) gives Busuttin and Young a Group 1 runner in the Neds CF. Orr S., while Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Angelic Spirit (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) will line up in the Supergardens TS Carlyon Cup and Mud House Rose Bellmaine S. respectively.

Busuttin and Young have plenty to be excited about with their Blue Diamond contenders Letzbeglam and Tagaloa.

Letzbeglam has had one start for a stylish 2l win at Werribee, while Tagaloa finished third on debut in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington before winning at Moonee Valley on November 30.

“Letzbeglam won really well on debut, and we’ve got no complaints at all with how she’s been going since then,” Busuttin said. “Her work’s been very good and she’ll present in great order in the Prelude this weekend.

“Letzbeglam won really well on debut, and we’ve got no complaints at all with how she’s been going since then." - Trent Busuttin

“But obviously we’ve got a very tough assignment with the draw (12). It is what it is, and it’s out of our control. We’ve got a world-class jockey in Brett Prebble, and hopefully he can give her the best possible chance. But the draw makes it very tough.

“Tagaloa is going really well. He had a nice jump-out here at Cranbourne for fitness purposes, and he did an excellent job. We’re very happy with him, and we expect him to be a live chance in the race on Saturday.”

Tagaloa

Among the opposition in Saturday’s Preludes are the respective Preview winners from two weeks ago, A Beautiful Night (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the fillies’ division and undefeated Godolphin galloper Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) among the colts and geldings.

Letzbeglam carries the colours of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, while the colours of another of New Zealand’s major studs will be aboard Acting in the Kevin Hayes S.

Raced by Waikato Stud’s Garry and Mark Chittick, Acting returns to the races on Saturday after a spring campaign that featured three wins, culminating in the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude. She then finished fifth in the G1 Thousand Guineas in her most recent appearance.

Letzbeglam

Acting faces a classy line-up in Saturday’s Kevin Hayes, featuring Thousand Guineas placegetter Southbank (Fastnet Rock) and the unbeaten How Womantic (The Wow Signal {Ire}).

“Acting has come back better and more mature this time in,” Busuttin said. “She’s jumped out very nicely and has been working very well. We expect her to be competitive first-up.”

“Acting has come back better and more mature this time in... She’s jumped out very nicely and has been working very well. We expect her to be competitive first-up.” - Trent Busuttin

Busuttin expects the 1400 metres of the Autumn S. to be too short for the G2 Stutt S. winner The Holy One and his promising stablemate Savvy Lad.

“They’re both just kicking off their autumn campaigns,” he said. “They’ll both get up over more ground later on. This is going to be a bit short for them, but we expect them to be running on nicely at the end.”

Mirage Dancer (GB)

Expectations are similar for Mirage Dancer, who ran third in the Caulfield Cup before a midfield finish in the Melbourne Cup.

“This is obviously going to be well short of his best distance,” Busuttin said. “As long as he’s hitting the line well at the end, we’ll be happy and it’s something we can build from for the rest of his campaign.

“As for our other two runners at Caulfield, Angelic Spirit is racing well out of her grade in the Bellmaine. She’s coming up to the end of her career now, so we just wanted to have a crack at some black type with her. She’s probably going to be at quite long odds.

“Inverloch is coming back from a spell and looking good. He could run a cheeky race fresh in the Carlyon Cup.”

Larimer Street as a yearling

Meanwhile, Busuttin and Young’s Inglis Millennium hopes rest with Larimer Street, a $450,000 yearling purchase who finished second at Moonee Valley in his only start to date.

“We’re extremely happy with this horse,” Busuttin said. “He travelled up to Sydney really well and is going into the race in fantastic order. The big query is going to be whether he can perform to his best on rain-affected ground. We’re just going to have to wait and see on that.”

Kaakit Akit shines on debut

3 min read

Written by Richard Edmunds

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott unveiled a potential black type contender in Wednesday’s Astern @ Darley 2YO Plate on Randwick’s Kensington track.

Kaakit Akit (Artie Schiller {USA}) made her debut in the 1100 metre race and was sent out as the $1.75 favourite, having won her only trial at Randwick on January 23.

With Nash Rawiller in the saddle, Kaakit Akit dominated the race from the front and produced a potent kick in the straight. She scored by 1.25l from Tommy Gold (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Pressita (Press Statement).

Watch: Kaakit Akit win at Kensington

Bott was pleased to see Kaakit Akit begin her career on a winning note.

“That was a very professional performance,” he said.

“There is certainly a lot of upside and improvement from that. She has only had the one short trial and came home quite quickly today.

“We backed her ability. Gooree Park Stud (owner-breeders) have been great supporters of the stable, and she is very typical of the horses they breed up there, so I am sure there is a lot of improvement in her after today.

"Gooree Park Stud (owner-breeders) have been great supporters of the stable, and she is very typical of the horses they breed up there, so I am sure there is a lot of improvement in her after today." - Adrian Bott

“She is a natural 2-year-old, and we want to test her in stakes company next start. It is the only opportunity you really get for them this time around and we want to take full advantage of that. A race like the Sweet Embrace (next start) or something like that potentially. We will see.”

The G2 Sweet Embrace S. at Randwick on February 29 carries a stake of $200,000, which could launch Kaakit Akit into contention for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 21.

Kaakit Akit is by Artie Schiller (USA), who is the sire of 685 winners from 957 runners. He has been a regular shuttler to Australia and stood for a fee of $11,000 at Stockwell Thoroughbreds in 2019.

Artie Schiller (USA), sire of Kaakit Akit

From his 10 Australian crops, Artie Schiller has sired 278 winners from 410 runners with 16 individual stakes winners. His standout performers include the Group 1 winners Flying Artie and Laser Hawk.

Kaakit Akit’s dam is Above Perfection, a winning daughter of Encosta De Lago who placed in the G3 Adrian Knox S. and the Listed Keith F. Nolan Classic.

Above Perfection is now the dam of six winners from six foals to race, headed by Tactical Advantage (Bel Esprit), who won 10 races including the Listed MSS Security Sprint and Takeover Target H. and placed in another three black type races.

Second dam Actress (Snippets) won the Listed Keith Mackay Hcp. and Reginald Allen Hcp. and finished fourth in the G1 Flight S. She is the dam of six winners, and she is a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 stars Desert War (Desert King {Ire}) and Kaakit Akit’s close relative Laser Hawk.

Surooj soars to debut win

2 min read

Written by Richard Edmunds

Promising filly Surooj (Sebring) kicked off her career with a powerful come-from-behind victory in Wednesday’s Bet365 2YO Maiden P. at Bendigo.

Trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig for owner-breeder Shadwell Stud, Surooj dropped back to third-last in the 1100 metre race before unleashing a strong finishing burst.

With Luke Nolen in the saddle, Surooj swept to victory by a 1.5l from the Godolphin pair of Amateurish (Brazen Beau) and Favell (Street Boss {USA}).

“It was a really good performance,” Ben Hayes said.

“She’d shown a lot of promise at the trials and jump-outs, including against Frederick the Dane (Danerich), who placed in the Chairman’s S. at Caulfield on debut the other day. It was good to see that form hold up on raceday, and she did very well against quite a competitive field.

“We think she’s going to be even better when we get her up over a longer trip. Once she’s up around 1200 to 1400 metres, hopefully we might be able to pick up a bit of black type with her.”

"We think she’s going to be even better when we get her up over a longer trip." - Ben Hayes

Surooj is by top-class stallion Sebring, and her dam is the Redoute’s Choice mare Shaaheq, who won the G3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and placed in the G1 Blue Diamond and Listed Ottawa S., Merson Cooper S. and Blue Diamond Preview.

Shaaheq is the dam of two winners from two foals to race, with Toorsinaa (I Am Invincible) winning as a 2-year-old last season. Since producing Surooj in 2017, she has had colt foals by I Am Invincible and Written Tycoon.

Surooj

Second dam Damaschino (Last Tycoon {Ire}) was a stakes winner on both sides of the Tasman, including the Matriarch S. at Flemington, and placed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks. Damaschino is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Bawalaksana (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).

The family also features more than half a dozen other black type performers including Arbeitsam (Snitzel), the winner of the G3 Neville Sellwood S. and placegetter in the G1 Doncaster H. and Listed Rowley Mile and Magic Millions Cup.

Pedigree Boosters - Inglis Classic Sale

2 min read

In the build up to the Inglis Classic Sale at the Riverside Stables, we will pick out three yearlings each day who have had substantial pedigree updates in the past couple of months.

Today, we look at a colt whose half-brother is on a winning streak, a half-sister to a recent city winner and a colt from the family of the ruling G1 New Zealand Derby favourite.

Lot 25 - Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Bright Abyss (USA) (Royal Academy {USA}) - On Account Of Valiant Stud

View Pedigree: Lot 25 - Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Bright Abyss (USA)

This colt's half-brother Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) has been in sizzling form in Hong Kong of late, winning three races on end by clear margins, the latest when leading all the way in a Class 2 at Happy Valley last Wednesday.

Lot 25 - Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Bright Abyss (USA) (colt)

It adds further to a pedigree which is already strong thanks to the Turn Me Loose colt's stakes placed dam, Bright Abyss, who is out of a half-sister to multiple American Grade 1 winner Snow Chief (USA) (Reflected Glory {USA}) and G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Mujaazif (USA) (Alydar {USA}).

Lot 36 - Your Song x Calaluna (Mujahid {USA}) - On Account Of Fairview Park Stud

View Pedigree: Lot 36 - Your Song x Calaluna

This filly's dam, Calaluna, has now produced six winners from seven foals to the track thanks to the impressive victory of Spokesman (Press Statement) at Canterbury last Friday night for Chris Waller.

Lot 36 - Your Song x Calaluna (filly)

Calaluna was also a city-winning 2-year-old who is a half-sister to the stakes placed Kyros (Snowland) and from the family of multiple Group 1 winning filly Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee {USA}) and her Group 1 winning grandson Shadow Hero (Pierro).

Lot 170 - Dissident x Hanami (Sepoy) - On Account Of Holbrook Thoroughbreds

View Pedigree: Lot 170 - Dissident x Hanami (colt)

This colt is if the first foal from Hanami, who is a half-sister to Kanzan (Commands), the dam of recent G3 Festival S. winner Ranier (Lonhro), who is a multiple stakes winner, and recent Warwick Farm and Newcastle winner Katalin (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}).

Lot 170 - Dissident x Hanami (colt)

Another generation back features not only Group 1 winner Inference (So You Think {NZ}), but also ruling G1 NZ Derby favourite Dragon Leap (Pierro), who won the G2 Auckland Guineas last month and contests the G2 Waikato Guineas on Saturday.

Yearling Showcase

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Stratum Star x Apamene (filly)

Lot 603 - Inglis Classic Yearling Sale

TDN AusNZ: How did you decide on this particular mating?

Paul Frampton, owner and breeder: I was a big fan of Stratum Star as a racehorse and ultimately took the opportunity to purchase equity in him when he retired to Widden. Given Apamene is a half sister to Stratum’s Group 1 winning sprinter Takedown it was a relatively easy decision to send the mare and thrilled to be able to offer a three-quarter sister to Takedown at next week’s Classic Sale.

The larger Redoute’s Choice – More Than Ready cross seems to be enjoying good success and it was nice to see Stratum Star’s brother, Prague impress like he did in last week’s Canonbury S.

Stratum Star was a unique horse which really drew me to him. I note he was sharp enough to compete in the Blue Diamond as a 2-year-old, multiple Group 1 performer as a 3-year-old and of course he was a Group 1 winner over 1400 metres at 4-years-old, Group 1 winner over 1800 metres at 5-years-old. He was as tough as he was genuine and I don’t think we see enough of his type go to stud these days.

Lot 603 - Stratum Star x Apamene (filly)

TDN AusNZ: What was the foaling down like and initial comments on the foal?

Paul Frampton, owner and breeder: I have a number of horses at Widden, many of which I own in partnership with them. This filly has never given us a moment’s worry.

TDN AusNZ: What was the horse like as a weanling?

Paul Frampton, owner and breeder: From very early I could certainly see a resemblance of both her sire and broodmare sire, Sebring. The team at Widden have often noted she’s a nice, scopey filly with great strength and a good deal of quality.

TDN AusNZ: How is the horse handling prep so far? Does it have a nickname? Particular traits/personality?

Paul Frampton, owner and breeder: This filly has been lovely and straightforward throughout her rearing at yearling prep.

@tdnausnz #yearlingprep

Daily News Wrap

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Rosehill on standby

Racing NSW has placed Rosehill Gardens racecourse on standby to host Saturday's Inglis Millennium meeting at Warwick Farm.

Up to 100mm of rain could fall on Warwick Farm ahead of Saturday and with that in mind, Racing NSW will continue to monitor the weather forecast for Western Sydney for later this week.

"In consultation with the Australian Turf Club, as a contingency, the Rosehill Gardens racecourse has been placed on standby to conduct the meeting should the Warwick Farm track be deemed unsafe to race on by the Stewards," a statement from Racing NSW read.

"Stewards will conduct inspections of Warwick Farm racecourse in the lead up to Saturday’s race meeting, and will also monitor the condition of Rosehill Gardens racecourse. Further updates will be provided in due course."

Lane claims Avilius ride

Damian Lane will ride Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) for the first time in the first Australian Group 1 of 2020, the CF Orr S. at Caulfield.

Avilius has drawn barrier three in the 12-horse field having finished seventh in the G1 Cox Plate at his most recent start, where Lane rode the winner Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).

Dual Group 1 winner Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has drawn barrier eight, while G1 Turnbull S. winner Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) has drawn barrier two.

Avilius (GB)

Kerrin McEvoy has ridden Avilius in his past five starts - including his win in the G1 George Main S. at Randwick but will remain in Sydney to ride at Warwick Farm.

“At this meeting last year he won over 1600 metres first-up and he’s come through his training nicely ahead of this,” trainer James Cummings said.

“He’ll be on the fresh side at 1400m and could tend to need his first-up run.”

Shark ready to strike

A bigger and hopefully stronger Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) is ready to make his Group 1 breakthrough in Saturday's BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa.

Trainer Jamie Richards said the 5-year-old, who has been twice placed at Group 1 level, is ready to deliver in his first run since his third in the G1 Cox Plate.

Te Akau Shark (NZ)

“He is forward enough,” Richards said. "He has had a trial and a decent exhibition gallop and he is a naturally fit horse that should be ready to rock ’n’ roll.

“He is certainly carrying a bit more condition. This is the first time that we have ever been able to give him a spring campaign and then bring him back for an autumn campaign.

“Each year before this he has sort of gone off a little bit and needed a good long spell, so I guess that is one query but we are very happy with him."

Te Akau Shark is a short-price favourite for the race and all being well will contest the Group 1 trio of the Chipping Norton S. on February 29, George Ryder S. on March 21 and Queen Elizabeth S. on April 11.

“Three weeks between each run I think suits him and hopefully there is a little give in the ground in Sydney,” Richards said.

Santa impresses in hitout

A strong jump-out performance has the Freedman stable confident that Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is ready to show his best in 2020.

The 7-year-old has not been seen since his fifth when favourite in the G1 VRC Sprint Classic and showed plenty for jockey Mark Zahra at a Balnarring, closing well in the 750 metre hitout to finish second.

Santa Ana Lane trialling at Balnarring

"He was excellent," Sam Freedman, stable representative for his father Anthony, told Racing.com. "That's as good as he's trialled for us for a very long time. He's normally more laidback and lazy in his trials.

"He's feeling very well. We gave him a really good break after his VRC Sprint run. We gave him six or seven weeks off, so we haven't given him a lot of work yet but that's as good as he's gone for us."

Santa Ana Lane's autumn target will be the G1 TJ Smith S. but Freedman said the stable is thinking they may stretch him out to longer distances in the spring.

Kembla switched to Newcastle

Saturday's provincial meeting at Kembla Grange has been moved to Newcastle, with a huge rain band set to hit the Illawarra in coming days.

Up to 100mm of rain has been predicted in the region in the lead-up to Saturday and so Racing NSW stewards made the call to switch the meeting on Wednesday morning before acceptances were finalised.

The track was rated a soft (5) when the decision was made and trials went ahead on Wednesday morning, but conditions are predicted to get much worse in the next few days.

There were distance changes to three races and acceptances were finalised later on Wednesday afternoon.

Melham on Dalasan

Ben Melham will ride leading 3-year-old Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) through the autumn.

Co-trainer Leon Macdonald opted to switch from Craig Williams after Dalasan ran third in last week's G3 Manfred S. and Melham will take the ride starting from Saturday week's G3 CS. Hayes S, at Flemington.

Dalasan

"I am just impressed with the bloke," Macdonald, who trains with Andrew Gluyas, told Racing.com.

"The way he rides, he's strong either side, and to be honest, there's no bull about him."

Raquel Clark rode Dalasan in five of his first six starts, with Hugh Bowman riding him when fifth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas and when he won the G3 Carbine Club S.

Low key start for Goffs

The Goffs sales year got off to a relatively low key start as the first session of the two day February Sale got underway.

Yearlings were the order of the day and it was a handsome son of Coolmore stallion Churchill (Ire) who topped proceedings when selling to leading pin-hooker and breeder Ciaran Conroy of Glenvale Stud for €82,000 (AU$134,300).

This price failed to match the corresponding top price of €120,000 (AU$196,540) from 2019 but nevertheless trade more or less mirrored last year with 154 of the 237 offered horses changing hands at a clearance rate of 65 per cent. The aggregate of €1,979,900 (AU$3.24 million) came in a fraction below last year as did the average of €12,856 (AU$21,056) while the median rose to €8000 (AU$13,100).

“We liked him a lot and we thought he was a standout horse here today,” remarked Conroy after signing for the sale topper – Lot 183 – the first foal of the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Najma (GB), who was consigned by Riverview Farm.

“He might come back here for the Orby Sale but we’ll see how he develops over the year. He is a very mature horse and I must say Churchill is producing outstanding stock, I will be very surprised if he doesn’t make a very successful stallion,” Conroy added of the grandson of G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Silkwood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

Looking Ahead - February 6

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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 Thursday, we are following a trio of fillies on debut, the first at Doomben for Tony Gollan and the other two at Pakenham for Lindsay Park and Tony and Calvin McEvoy respectively.

Doomben, Race 1, 2:45pm AEDT, Girls Day Out Raceday QTIS 3YO Mdn, $27,500, 1050m

Dollymolly (I Am Invincible) could debut in either this race or the following one, depending on which way Tony Gollan goes, but regardless, she creates plenty of interest. She was a $600,000 purchase for Gollan and John Foote at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale out of Harlem Heat (Xaar {GB}), who has also produced the stakes winner Harlem River (Fastnet Rock) as well as two other winners.

Dollymolly as a yearling

That's the family of Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) and the recently retired The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes (Rubick). Dollymolly showed enough in her recent trial win to suggest she can be competitive here on debut, in whichever race she lands in.

Pakenham, Race 1, 5:25pm AEDT, Racing.com 2YO Fillies Mdn, $35,000, 1200m

Anitra (Fastnet Rock) has her first start for Lindsay Park in a very interesting 2-year-old maiden, and is bred to make an impression. She was a $220,000 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast buy for Spicer Thoroughbreds.

Anitra as a yearling

She is a half-sister to two American Graded winners, Pachattack (USA) (Pulpit {USA}) and La Mina (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}), and two further stakes performers out of a stakes placed mare El Laoob (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}), who is a half-sister to Singapore champion 3-year-old sprinter Big Maverick (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).

She showed plenty of speed at a recent jump-out at Flemington and based on that, she should be up among the frontrunners here.

Pakenham, Race 2, 6pm AEDT, Fast start - 75% Winners For Jimmy Creed Mdn, $35,000, 1400m

Loovaheeb (I Am Invincible) makes her debut after a plethora of jump-outs and a trial for Tony and Calvin McEvoy. At her most recent jump-out, she matched it with top-quality 2-year-old Hard Landing (All Too Hard), suggesting she has the ability to live up to her $625,000 pricetag.

Loovaheeb as a yearling

She is out of Zigzag (Domesday), who has produced the five-time Macau winner and stakes placed Winter Snow (Sepoy). Zigzag is also a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Detours (Ad Valorem {USA}) and from the family of stakes winners Aichi (Strategic), Kinshachi (Commands) and Le Mans (Quest For Fame {GB}).