Segenhoe boosts broodmare sales offering

Segenhoe Stud has opted to boost its numbers headed to the Inglis Chairman's Sale and Australian Broodmare Sale, adding an additional 12 mares to the supplementary catalogues of the two sales, having already entered nine in the original catalogues.

Segenhoe, the breeder of dual Group 1 winning 2-year-old King's Legacy (Redoute's Choice) as well as a host of other recent winners, has opted to consolidate its broodmare band, with three top quality mares added to the five it already had on offer at the Inglis Chairman's Sale, which will be staged in a virtual format on Friday, May 8.

The standout is Solar Cry (Street Cry {Ire}), a half-sister to champion 3YO filly and three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar), who is catalogued as Lot 74. She has produced foals by Sebring and Zoustar the past two seasons and is in foal to Widden Stud's Trapeze Artist.

G3 VRC Ottawa S. winner Bella Rosa (Snitzel) is also a supplementary entry, catalogued as Lot 60. Out of Listed winner Swiss Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park), the 3-year-old filly recently trialled for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

The third addition is Mandayana (Zoustar), catalogued as Lot 71, she is the half-sister to stakes-winner Khan (Exceed And Excel) and is in foal to Exceed And Excel. She hails from the family of Australian Group 1 winner Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

Segenhoe will present a further 21 mares for sale at the Broodmare Sale two days' later which will be staged as a Digital sale, including nine which have been supplementary entries.

“This will be an extraordinary opportunity for buyers,” Segenhoe General Manager Peter O’Brien said.

“Without doubt, never before have we presented such a quality group of mares. I encourage everyone to look further than the catalogued horses as there are diamonds to be found in the supplementary session,"

Top mare retires

High quality mare Invincibella (I Am Invincible) has been retired and will be offered later this year at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The winner of last year's G1 Tatt's Tiara, Invincibella was trained by Chris Waller for a Star Thoroughbreds syndicate and earlier this year made history when she became the first to win the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares’ race for a third consecutive year.

A $185,000 purchase out of Sledmere’s Stud’s 2015 draft at the Gold Coast, Invincibella was also a four-time Groiup 2 winner and retires with stakes earnings of more than $3 million.

Guineas target

Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths has the G1 Caulfield Guineas at the top of his spring wish list for Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock).

He saw no reason to change his plan following the colt’s bold run for second in the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick.

Glenfiddich made the running and, after being headed by King's Legacy), fought back gallantly to be beaten a half-neck.

"We've always aimed him for the Caulfield Guineas and wanted to do that via Sydney. He's shown that he's got the talent and will go out for a spell now,” Griffiths said.

Charities benefit

A charity tipping competition run by Windsor Park Stud has raised NZ$27,500 for charity. KidsCan and the Starship Foundation are the beneficiaries, with the money raised split between the two charities.

Gordon Reid took out the competition and in doing so has won a free service to one of Windsor Park’s stallions.

Windsor Park Stud principal Rodney Schick was delighted with the competition’s success and the amount of money raised for charity.

“We had 1253 entries and we had lots of fun. It was a great day. Gordon, who won the prize, is going to give his half of the money to Starship Hospital and Windsor Park’s part is going to KidsCan.

“The money that we have raised for KidsCan will feed lunches to 37 children for a year, so that is a really good result. I thought it was a great charity to get in behind and support.

“This competition was the brainchild of a very good friend of mine, Nick Hewson, who has come back from Hong Kong to work for Windsor Park."

Streets staying put

The reinstatement of the G1 Stradbroke H. in Brisbane won’t change Mornington trainer Steve Nichol’s plans with Streets Of Avalon (Magnus).

"It was off, then it's on again and then we didn't know whether Victorian horses could go there. He'll get two months off and be targeted solely at the Sir Rupert Clarke in the spring,” he said.

"He'll tee off in the Bletchingly and probably run in the Memsie S. on the way through, but the Sir Rupert Clarke will be the main focus."

Back in work

Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is to be given another crack at racing.

He became the first Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old to win the G1 Melbourne Cup when successful in 2017 and has only started once since, finishing at the tail of the field in last year’s G1 Australian Cup.

Rekindling was to have been retired to stud, but is back in work with his Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien. He has won four of his 11 starts.

Slickest 2YO

Lucky To Win (Deep Field) posted the quickest time of the four 900 metre heats for 2-year-olds at Monday morning’s Randwick trials.

Trained by Gary Moore, the unraced gelding clocked 54.03s to claim his event in the hands of Tim Clark.

Lucky To Win was a $260,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO In Training Sale buy out of Kenmore Lodge’s draft. He is from the family of the G1 French 2000 Guineas winner and sire Astronomer Royal (USA).

Tragic end

Smart sprinter Vegadaze (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was euthanised over the weekend after suffering a broken leg post-surgery for colic.

“They operated on him and that all went well, but he unfortunately broke his leg getting up,” trainer Anthony Cummings told Racenet.

“He had a good autumn and was a promising horse so it is obviously very disappointing for everyone involved.”

Vegadaze won five of his 12 starts, including last month’s G3 Star Kingdom S. and was also runner-up in the G2 Hobartville S. and the G3 Liverpool City Cup.

Spring thoughts

Te Akau Racing chief David Ellis is already turning his attention to the Melbourne spring carnival with a potential option of temporarily leasing boxes at Flemington.

“We are looking at all options, but we are going to have a nice team to race in Melbourne in the spring,” he said.

“We will be nominating five horses for the Cox Plate – Prise De Fer, Avantage, Melody Belle, Probabeel and Te Akau Shark,” Ellis said.

“We are looking at what will be the best way to get our horses to that race and the most cost-effective for our owners.”

Positive sample

Racing Victoria stewards are continuing investigations after a prohibited substance was found in the system of Sale winner Piccatric (Fastnet Rock).

The filly is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and a subsequent blood sample was found to contain Frusemide, a diuretic. The B sample was also positive.

Investigations are ongoing and the stable has accepted the stewards’ findings and has started to implement improvements to avoid a repeat.

Expensive filly scores

High-priced youngster Merneith (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) finished runner-up in her first two appearances and went one better in fine style at Oaklawn over the weekend.

The Bob Baffert-trained filly was sent out a commanding favourite and justified her support by bolting clear to score by 10.25l.

Bred by the China Horse Club, Merneith was a US$600,000 (AU$945,000) Ocala Select 2YO Sale purchase for Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Sa.