Australian Weanling Sale extended to two days

Inglis has confirmed that it will expand its Australian Weanling Sale to two days after the supplementary catalogue was finalised.

The sale will be held at the Riverside Stables starting Wednesday, July 8, where Lots 1-250 will be offered and will be followed up by a session on Thursday, July 9, with Lots 251 to 385 to be auctioned.

Both days selling will begin at 10am, with the finalised catalogue now available at the Inglis website.

Magics adds seven to Broodmare Sale

Magic Millions has added seven more mares to the supplementary catalogue for its National Broodmare Sale, to he held later this month,

Among the new additions is Arson Annie (Nothing To Lose {USA}), the half-sister to G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Rothfire (Rothesay), who will be offered by Blue Sky Premium.

Also on offer from Aquis is Tremor (Commands), the three-quarter to G1 Golden Slipper S., winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) and sister to stakes-winner Palomares, in foal to I Am Invincible.

Aquis also offers Our Girl Raquie (Fastnet Rock), who is out of a three-quarter sister to Redoute's Choice and is in foal to Brave Smash (Jpn) as well as Group 3 winner Karavali (NZ) (Nadeem), who is in foal to Written Tycoon.

Eighth winner for Headwater

Vinery Stud's Headwater has produced the eighth winner of his first crop, with the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained Gunnamatta successful at Randwick.

Gunnamatta fought back to defeat Jimmy's Dream (Not A Single Doubt) in a stirring late battle over the 1150 metres maiden for jockey Brenton Avdulla.

“He’s a lovely colt and probably wants a firmer surface and more ground,” Richard Freedman said.

Gunnamatta was purchased by Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) / McEnnis Racing for $80,000 out of the Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is a three-quarter brother to the Group 3-winner Yattarna (Exceed And Excel) and a half-brother to the stakes-placed Fromparis Withlove (Smart Missile).

TROA praise for prizemoney return

Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA) chairman Jonathan Munz was among those to praise Racing Victoria' decision to reinstate pre-COVID prizemoney level.

"Everyone has done a good job under difficult circumstances,” Munz said. “Prizemoney has been largely reinstated to pre-COVID-19 levels with a few smaller cuts due to the temporary financial difficulties of the clubs.

“I should also mention that Racing Minister Martin Pakula has been great and the state government has been very helpful throughout this difficult time.

“Everyone fully intends to completely reinstate and indeed increase prizemoney levels next year.”

Owners in lockdown not allowed at Vic tracks

Racing Victoria has confirmed that owners from Melbourne suburbs locked down by the state government won't be able to attend race meetings.

"From an owners' perspective, going back to where we were a few weeks ago … we are not going to enable owners from those particular suburbs to go to the race meetings, like they have been in the last couple of weeks," RV CEO Giles Thompson told RSN.

"If you are an owner that wants to go to the racetrack to watch your horse and you're from one of those suburbs… from midnight tonight until hopefully we get things under control in those suburbs and more broadly across Victoria, we are asking you to not go to the track.

"As far as other owners are concerned, it is as is at this point assuming their suburbs remain in the level they are currently at."

Pagan set for first runner

Former AFL premiership coach Denis Pagan will saddle up his first runner at Flemington on Saturday.

Pagan has spent the past couple of years learning off the likes of Troy Corstens, David Hayes and Tony McEvoy and received his trainers' licence earlier this week. His first runner will be Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a horse he also owns.

"I'm pretty lucky, I reckon. It's been a long, hard road," Pagan told Racing.com .

"But we've finally got there, it's a bit of a relief. I'm just very excited to have a runner so quickly and to have a runner at Flemington is the stuff dreams are made of.

"It's been maybe not quite two years (waiting for my licence), I applied for it and there's been a lot of toing and froing before I got a pre-trainers' licence which is virtually like a rookies' licence, but you can't take a horse to the races."

Fasig-Tipton Sale holds up at Timonium

The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, delayed two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, opened with trepidation in the air, but the clouds of fear and doubt dissipated and, for two days at least, there was a feeling of a return to normalcy in the industry. The auction featured solid demand for horses at all levels and concluded with a remarkable 19.2 per cent buy-back rate.

“We had a terrific day Monday and I said I hoped and prayed that we could keep the momentum going and the RNA rate at a low or acceptable range,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning.

“Overall, we are just thrilled with the activity that we’ve observed the last two days. I think it restores some confidence among our buyers and sellers. It proved to us that there remains a legitimate viable marketplace out there. The resiliency in the industry continues to be on display.”

At the conclusion of the sale, 303 horses sold for US$23,572,500 (AU$34.1 million). The average of US$77,797 (AU$112,590) fell 13.7 per cent from last year’s and the median dipped seven per cent to US$40,000 (AU$57,889).

Mt Gambier out of action

Racing will be shifted from Mount Gambier for the foreseeable future to allow for treatment of a weed infestation that has compromised the integrity of the surface.

The track underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2018, and racing returned in April 2019, but a number of meetings have been transferred from there since.

TRSA Chief Executive Officer Nick Redin said the Mount Gambier track needed time for effective regenerative treatment.

"In recent times, the Mount Gambier track has failed to improve and has been overtaken by the poa grass weed, compromising the integrity of the racing surface," Redin said.

"Grass weeds like poa are a major problem because they compete with the racing surface grass for growing space, water, nutrients and sunlight.

"As a result, the Mount Gambier track will now be given time to recover from this aggressive treatment, with spring and early summer being key growing periods for the racing surface.

"It's far from an ideal situation, but these measures are in the best interests of the industry and its participants in the medium and long term."

Flash on show for potential buyers

Cambridge trainer Dean Wiles hopes Flash Warrior (NZ) (Dalgar {Fr}) can attract a Hong Kong buyer when he contests Saturday's Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO (1000 metres) at Te Rapa.

Wiles said there was already interest in Flash Warrior from Hong Kong bloodstock agents.

"He trialled up really well. I didn't want to do too much with him that day though because we were planning on running him at Pukekohe the next Saturday," Wiles said.

"But then they didn't have a 2-year-old race. It's probably worked out better with the break of two weeks and he's drawn perfectly in barrier two so it's unfolding nicely for us.

"He worked outstandingly this (Wednesday) morning and I couldn't be happier with him. From that barrier, he'll sit somewhere near the speed though not necessarily in the lead. I expect him to be a first-three chance, given the way he trialled and the way he's worked since.

"I've had a lot of interest in him from Hong Kong and if he wins on Saturday, he's probably sold," Wiles said.

"I own him myself and he's on the market anyway. If that happened, it would help pay off the Cambridge property too."