New sale-topper

Sunday’s buoyant Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale has been further bolstered by subsequent private sales, including that of the Jazcom Thoroughbreds-consigned Miss Exfactor (Your Song) for a sale-topping $280,000 to Aquis Farm.

“She is for Pierata, who we will be supporting heavily in his first season,” Aquis Farm Managing Director Shane McGrath said. “She’s very good-looking and fast, which are usually the right criteria for broodmare success in Australia.

“Credit to the guys at Inglis, their work didn’t stop when the sale finished, and we were glad to agree on a deal.”

The sale of Miss Exfactor brings the gross of the sale past the $10 million mark, with the tally of mares sold for $100,000 or more increasing to 27 with the sale of Electric Dreams (Redoute's Choice) from the draft of Segenhoe Stud to Bromfield Park for $245,000.

The clearance rate for Sunday’s sale has now risen to 72 per cent with the prospect of yet further sales to be completed in the coming days.

Breeder support initiative

In a first for the thoroughbred industry globally, Swettenham Stud has launched an initiative to assist breeders by offering extended payment plans and a guarantee of progeny produced by its stallions.

Owners of mares bred to Swettenham stallions in 2020 will have the option of paying service fees in monthly instalments of seven per cent through Thoroughbred Payments. This will start when the mare receives a 45-day scan, which essentially spreads the payments over the period until the foal is about five months old.

Should the mare fail to produce a live foal, all payments will be refunded to the breeder unless they want to continue paying and receive a free return. And should a mare produce a live foal that does not make it to the timing of the final payment, a free return will be issued to the breeder for any mare they nominate for the following season.

“We’ve spoken to our breeders and heard their challenges in the current circumstances and we believe this will assist them to budget for the stallion that they want, and with a guarantee of the foal getting to weanling stage,” stud Principal Adam Sangster said.

Winning comeback

Jockey Jamie Mott made a winning comeback after a lengthy period on the side-line when he was successful on Rock The Ring (Reward For Effort) at Sale on Tuesday.

Mott suffered a broken leg and two broken ankles in a horror four-horse fall at Cranbourne in November.

“Before he got injured, he had been riding a lot for us. It’s fantastic to give him a winner,” Rock The Ring’s co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

Third on debut at Geelong last month, the 2-year-old missed the jump and came from well back in the field under Mott to beat the well-supported Seguso (Redoute's Choice), who didn’t look entirely happy in the soft conditions.

Chasing Cup berth

King Of Leogrance (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) will earn a ballot exemption from the G1 Melbourne Cup with victory in Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden S. at Flemington.

The 5-year-old has won two of his three starts since joining Danny O’Brien’s stable, including a commanding performance at his most recent appearance to take top honours in the G2 Adelaide Cup.

King Of Leogrance has since been kept up to the mark with a jump-out at Flemington, the same day stablemate Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) did likewise ahead of his G1 South Australian Derby success.

French racing returns

Following some 11th-hour persuasive talks between racing's leaders and the French government on Friday, action returned to three of France's racecourses on Monday, including ParisLongchamp.

White Birch Farm’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) could only manage fourth as the Wertheimers’ Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) made all for an upset in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt.

While the G3 Prix de la Grotte proved a stong test and it was Lady Bamford’s classy and dependable Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) who came out comfortably on top in the trial for the upcoming G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches [French 1000 Guineas], where she will likely be favourite.

RTR entries open

Entries are now open for, New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale, to be held on November 18 and 19.

In the last six years, the sale has produced an unrivalled 20 Group 1 wins and 132 stakes wins with graduates excelling in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau.

The auction has also produced the winners of seven Derbies and 14 Guineas over the same period. Breeze-ups for the sale will take place at Te Rapa Racecourse on October 15 and 16.

Blueprint for return

The British government has released its timeline for the potential resumption of sporting events and in its Our Plan to Rebuild, cultural and sporting events conducted behind closed doors, including racing, would resume no earlier than June 1.

The news was welcomed by British horseracing’s executive committee comprised of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Racecourse Association, The Racehorse Owners’ Association and the National Trainers Federation, who are committed to plan for resumption on June 1, according to the release.

Racing’s resumption date is subject to an assessment by public health officials of the risks posed by the virus at that time and is conditional on the fulfilment of the government’s five tests for easing lockdown measures. A timeline blueprint for what racing would need to do to meet that date will be announced within the next seven days.

Ducatoon fees

Redoute’s Choice’s son Barbados will stand at $4400 (inc GST) at Ducatoon Park in South Australia in 2020.

His best representative to date is the stakes winner and Group performer Garner while associate Ducatoon sire Hualalai will stand at $4000 (inc GST). The son of Street Cry’s (Ire) first foals arrived last year.

Imports in short supply

Hong Kong has been one of the few nations to continue racing through the COVID-19 pandemic, though trainer Paul O’Sullivan expects the effects of the virus to reach the Asian racing jurisdiction.

Regular trading partner nations throughout Europe and New Zealand have long been a source of private purchases, though with racing halted in those countries, along with many others, potential imports have not been competing.

“I think it will impact the PP (private purchase) guys with what’s happening in England, a good majority of those come from England,” O’Sullivan told the South China Morning Post.

“It’ll limit their choice which will probably impact on the quality of horses coming in and it’ll put everyone back a few months.”

Taking nominations

Santa Anita has sent a text to local horsemen confirming that it will take entries for the Friday, May 15 card. Due to the coronavirus, Santa Anita has been closed for racing since March 27.

Earlier this month, track officials announced their plans to reopen on the 15th and issued a new condition book and stakes schedule.

The state has begun to lift restrictions on some businesses, including parks and golf courses and the county’s Safer-at-Home order is set to expire Friday. But the track has yet to be given clearance to operate by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

It is unclear what will happen if the county does not officially grant its permission for Santa Anita to race before Friday. All racing would be held without spectators in the stands and Santa Anita is ready to put in place strict protocols that include jockeys temporarily take up residence in housing at the racetrack.