Home
Editions
Today's EditionEdition ArchiveVideos
Content
PodcastsRead OfflinePress Releases
TDN
TDN AmericaTDN Europe
Contact
Contact usAdvertising with TTR
Social

Anders living up to Madame's potential

Written by
6 min read
The emergence of Saturday's Listed Rosebud winner Anders (Not A Single Doubt) as a promising early-season 3-year-old prospect is of no surprise to Paul Messara, the man who trained his dam, Madame Andree (War Emblem {USA}).

Madame Andree never made it to the racetrack and was retired to the Arrowfield broodmare band after two trials, but the impression she left on Messara with her trackwork ensured she would be given the best possible chance to produce something to do justice to her raw talent.

"She was a horse that seemed to have unlimited ability. I had her at the same time as I was training (three-time Group 1 winner) Ortensia, and I thought she was going to be an absolute star. She did a couple of pieces of work with Ortensia, and she was an absolute freak of a thing," Messara told TDN AusNZ.

"Unfortunately, she did a tendon and never made it to the track and what she showed us prior to that was very impressive.

"When you look at the breeding record of Madame Andree and have a quick look at the pedigree, you would think we had massively overmated her, but the reason for that was off the back of my opinion of her."

As a racehorse, and a broodmare prospect, Madame Andree boasted a very interesting international pedigree. She was by G1 Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem (USA), out of an unplaced Japanese mare, Glamour Stock (Jpn), (Sunday Silence {USA}), who is a half-sister to four stakes winners, including champion Canadian 2-year-old colt and Grade 1 winner Exciting Story (USA) (Diablo {USA}).

War Emblem was famously reluctant to serve mares in his time at Shadai Stallion Station and produced just 124 foals across his eight seasons, but he was able to get Glamour Stock in foal Southern Hemisphere time before she was shipped to Arrowfield in late 2008.

Arrowfield's Paul and John Messara

"War Emblem was a pretty good stallion, but he wouldn’t cover mares in Japan. This was one of the test mares to try and get the stallion going Southern Hemisphere time, and as a result, she was bred to him and came out here. That's how we ended up with Madame Andree," Messara said.

While the filly was never able to get the job done on the track, Madame Andree was able to produce excellent types as a broodmare.

Progeny shape up in sales ring

Arrrowfield retained her first two fillies by Redoute's Choice, the dual winner Madame Pauline and the unraced Nancy Grace, both are now broodmares themselves. The colt by Snitzel, to be named Battleground, was a $900,000 yearling buy by James Harron at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Twelve months later, Anders went through the same sales ring and was snapped up by Aquis Farm and Ciaron Maher Racing for $670,000.

Anders was sold for $670,000 as a yearling to Aquis Farm and Ciaron Maher Racing from the draft of Arrowfield

"I always thought she could be a good horse and this one might be it," Messara said. "She's a beautiful type, albeit a bit of a late developer, but her offspring have been very attractive horses.

"Anders was outstanding, an absolutely beautiful type and outstanding in the yearling sales ring. I was trying to push one of my friends to buy him at the time, and he's regretting that now. I rang him on Saturday and told him there's the horse you were supposed to buy!"

"I always thought she could throw a good horse and this one might be it." - Paul Messara

"He was such a lovely yearling and a standout individual."

Anders debuted at the Gold Coast back in January, finishing sixth behind Wisdom Of Water (Headwater). He returned to racing with a second behind the promising Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) at Kembla Grange in April before breaking his maiden with a 6.6l victory at Wyong in May.

He was given a spell after his victory at Rosehill in late May and returned to the same track first-up on Saturday, powering away to a 4.8l success for his first stakes win.

The enthusiasm the Maher and David Eustace stable and owners Aquis have for the 3-year-old suggests he could be a horse that graduates towards races such as the G1 Golden Rose S. and The Everest this time in.

Another star by Not A Single Doubt

Anders became the fifth stakes winner from that current crop of 3-year-olds by recently pensioned Arrowfield stallion Not A Single Doubt, an amazing record from just 44 starters from that crop.

"Not A Single Doubt has been a phenomenon and the older he gets, the better the crops have been coming. I think we bred them better," Messara, who is also General Manager at Arrowfield, said.

"You learn a lot about your horses and there is no doubt we learned about him and how to breed to him, and that has been proven by the stakes horses he has had."

The recently retired Not A Single Doubt

Madame Andree's 2-year-old colt by Shalaa (Ire) was purchased for $360,000 by George Moore Bloodstock and Gary Moore Racing at this year's Magic Millions Sale, while she had a now yearling filly by Snitzel and is in foal to another Arrowfield stallion in Pariah. She will return to Shalaa this year.

Success flows to France

Anders' success was the start of a good weekend for his breeders, with the Arrowfield colours carried to victory by Skyward (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville on Sunday.

The Fabrice Chappet-trained 4-year-old was having his third run for 2020 and stepping to the 2500 metres for the first time, he showed a strong kick to win under Stephane Pasquier.

"It was fantastic to see," Messara said. "We bought him as a Melbourne Cup hopeful and he's bounced back really well. They found a small issue with him and they have sorted that out and he was back to his best.

"He's only lightly raced and has a lot of upside. We bought him for the Melbourne Cup, so we’d like to go down that direction if at all possible.

"We will have a discussion this week. We need to work out what we can do with him and what options we have in the current environment."

WA racing pays tribute to a mighty woman

Written by
7 min read
In the history of Western Australia racing, few, if any women have made their mark on the thoroughbred industry as Marjorie Charleson, who passed away on Saturday, aged 88.

New Zealand-born Charleson was the driving force behind the resurgence of Western Australian Racing in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming the first female in charge of public relations at a racing club in Australia. She lifted the profile of the sport to an unprecedented level through her innovative approach to promotion and her ability to attract Australia's best horses, trainers and jockeys.

Together with WATC Racing Executive, Harry Bolton, she executed a vision for the Perth Summer Racing Carnival to become a nationally significant event, something that still resonates within the industry.

1/6

Speaking to TDN AusNZ, long-time Western Australian broadcaster Darren McAullay said Marjorie's impact on WA racing was immeasurable.

"She was a mighty woman, whose standing is unprecedented in this state," he said.

"She and Harry Bolton had one of those great relationships where they just worked so well together. They came in at the right time and Marjorie's 'never say no' attitude was amazing. She broke the mould for everybody at the time. As a woman in racing, to do the things she did up against the old establishment was extraordinary."

"Marjorie's 'never say no' attitude was amazing. She broke the mould for everybody at the time." - Darren McAullay

Greg Carpenter, now Racing Victoria's Executive General Manager - Racing, was barely out of school when he had the privilege of learning from Marjorie at the WATC in the early 1980s.

"Marjorie was, in my view, one of the most visionary racing administrators Australia has ever had. She certainly changed the face of racing in the early 70s, with the establishment of the Summer Carnival in WA which challenged the prizemoney levels of some of the major races on the Eastern seaboard," he said.

The late Marjorie Charleson

"She was able to convince the big three trainers, in Cummings, Smith and Hayes, along with a lot of others, to take horses to Perth. She was able to get the best horses there too.

"At that stage, the best horses in Australia didn’t fly to Perth. It was a long way and the peak racing season was run during the summer. But with Henry Bolton, who was the General Manager of the club, they drove the change, and made it happen."

Charleson and Bolton attracted a record 28 interstate horses to the 1974/75 Ascot summer carnival, a feat that is unlikely to ever be repeated.

Carpenter, who has worked in racing administration ever since, has seen how much the industry has changed since those times, especially when it comes to equal opportunity between genders, and marvels at what Charleson was able to achieve

"There were no female senior racing executives in Australia in the 1970s and she was talking on all the challenges of gender bias and succeeding and making things happen. She was such a trailblazer for females in our sport, and also for innovation. What she achieved was just remarkable for her time," he said.

No task too hard

Long time West Australian turf journalist, Robert Edwards, reflected on Charleson's indomitable work ethic and felt that determination was key to her success.

"Marjorie was extremely passionate about thoroughbreds and horse racing. It was because it was her passion and working long hours was never an issue for her. She was prepared to work for seven days a week, 14 hours a day if that's what it took to get the job done," Edwards said.

"In the 1970s, it was very rare for a woman to be given the responsibility that she had within the race club. She was an exceptional communicator and people person and that shone through in her ability to get the best trainers in Australia, like Tommy Smith, Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes and Geoff Murphy, to bring their best horses to race in WA.

"She loved and lived for racing and horses and that's why she was so outstanding at her job. She did things that no-one has ever done."

The King's arrival a crowning glory

McAullay described Charleson's effort to coax Smith to bring his champion galloper Kingston Town (Bletchingly) to Perth for the Western Mail Classic as her 'crowning glory'.

"It was beyond your imagination what the day was like. You could hardly get into the course," he said.

"For her to get Smith across, with Haines and bring him there, was unprecedented. It turned out to be his last ever race start, hence the race is named in his honour. Everything we attribute to those carnivals, back to that Golden Era, as we call it, we attribute back to the great promotion of Marjorie Charleson."

Edwards recalls just how invested Charleson was in ensuring that the Perth racing public would get to see Kingston Town, even to the point of organising a charter flight for him.

"They couldn't get a flight over and there was a serious chance he wasn't coming and she utilised a contact she had with her cousin at Air New Zealand, and got them to fly him over. If she never did that, he never comes and there wouldn't be a Kingston Town Classic," he said.

"It was an outstanding win, it didn’t look like he'd win at the 1200. There was a crowd of 40,000 and everyone gave him a standing ovation as he was coming down the straight, and I've never seen that ever before or again at Ascot."

Among the other top horses, Charleson helped lure to Perth for the Carnival were Dayana (GB) (Oncidium {GB}), Bounty Hawk (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), Think Big (NZ) (Sobig {NZ}), Taras Bulba (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}), Family of Man (Lots Of Man {USA}), Sovereign Red (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Piping Lane (Lanesborough {Ire}), Reckless (Better Boy), Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}) and Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}).

A stopover that changed history

Charleson had arrived from New Zealand's South Island to Perth in the late 1960s, on her way to South Africa, but decided to stay after securing a job in racing.

It was an appointment that would shape Western Australian racing for the next generation, with her influence felt by anyone who worked with her.

"She was a great mentor," Carpenter said. "Some of the lessons she imparted on young racing administrators were very inspiring, about promoting our sport, always being positive and always going for what you wanted to achieve.

"What I learned from Marjorie was that we were so blessed to be involved in a great sport and you have the obligation and responsibility to promote it, to see the good in the sport and tell people about it."

"What I learned from Marjorie was that we were so blessed to be involved in a great sport and you have the obligation and responsibility to promote it, to see the good in the sport and tell people about it." - Greg Carpenter

Even when moving on from the WATC, now Perth Racing, Charleson continued to work in the industry, providing commentary on stallion parades and establishing Westbreed, a popular industry publication.

"That magazine went for 15-16 years after that and she got some of the best writers in Australia to work for her," Edwards said. "It was all self-funded, but her passion was so great and she wanted to continue to have that input into racing."

Edwards said that there was no greater sign of her determination than when she was given a particularly dire diagnosis a decade ago.

"In 2010, she was diagnosed with throat cancer and was given a 20 per cent chance of living and she was still able to live on another 10 years. That's testament to her strength as a person," he said.

Charleson is listed for inclusion to the Western Australian Racing Hall Of Fame, while the race named in her honour, the Marjorie Charleson Classic, is staged at Ascot every Good Friday.

"She was a much-loved figure in this state and in this industry," McAullay said. "She is iconic and to many of us she will always be the first lady of Western Australian racing."

Blueblood chasing Group 1 dream

3 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Vadavar (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice) has a pedigree that wouldn’t see him out of place in Group 1 company around the world and the lightly-tried import will be given opportunities to live up to his illustrious parentage.

The 6-year-old, who holds a nomination for the G1 Livamol Classic, was successful in his second appearance from Lauren Brennan’s Cambridge stable at Te Rapa to take a step closer to the Hawke’s Bay spring feature.

“He’s got a lovely pedigree and he’s a beautiful mover. He’s still an entire and such a laid-back character who takes everything in his stride,” Brennan said.

“The Livamol is the idea and next start I’ll stretch him out to 2000 metres. He won his first start in France over that distance and his second over 2100 metres so we know he stays.”

While he is blessed with a background to pique studmasters’ attention, his connections are mindful he has a long way to go to develop into stallion material and, at this stage, are firmly focussed on his racing career.

Vadavar was bred and initially raced by the Aga Khan and won his first two starts for renowned trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré before a couple of unplaced runs.

He was subsequently purchased by Chinese businessman Chen Hong Wei under his Horse Feng Bloodstock banner at the Arqana Deauville Autumn Mixed Sale for €95,000 (AU$181,450) and found his way to New Zealand.

“His win was very, very exciting and he’s out of a very good family in France. We’ll give him one or two seasons of racing and if he performs very well he could be a stallion,” said Alex Teng, who manages Horse Feng’s interests in New Zealand.

“We’ll give him one or two seasons of racing and if he performs very well he could be a stallion.” – Alex Teng

“The horse was meant to go to China, but it’s not that easy to ship a horse there from Europe so we shipped him to New Zealand and then COVID-19 came out and stopped transportation.

“We bought him to race and Lauren rang me to say we should nominate him for the Livamol and see what happens. Hopefully, he can run 2000 metres at that level and so far, so good.

Vadavar (Fr) at Te Rapa

“The numbers go up and down, but Mr Chen has around 15 or 20 horses, mainly young ones. Once they start to perform well, they generally go to Hong Kong, Singapore or Australia and some go back to China.”

Vadavar is a son of the dual Group 3 winner Vadapolina (Fr) (Trempolino {USA}) and is a half-brother to six winners, including the G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Veda (Fr) (Dansili {GB}).

The dam is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Vazira (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), whose half-sister Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain {USA}) also claimed an edition of that race and produced the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris winner Vadamar (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).

Ludt, Phoenix Thoroughbreds part ways

3 min read

Tom Ludt has reportedly parted ways with Dubai-based thoroughbred investment fund, having served as its head of US operations for over two years.

The Racing Post has reported that Ludt, who joined Phoenix Thoroughbreds back in 2017, has come to a termination agreement with Phoenix’s founder, Amer Abdulaziz Salman, after he quizzed Abdulaziz about the allegations of fraud and money laundering raised in a US court in November last year.

Abdulaziz was accused by OneCoin founder Konstantin Ignatov in a New York court of stealing €100 million (AU$165 million) from the cryptocurrency set-up, which has been alleged to be an international Ponzi scheme.

Amer Abdulaziz and Tom Ludt

The November investigation resulted in a guilty verdict for former lawyer Mark Scott on charges of fraud and laundering US$400 million (AU$550 million) in illegal funds for OneCoin. Scott created a company called Fenero Funds which was allegedly to route money between destinations.

Both Abdulaziz and Phoenix Thoroughbreds have denied all allegations made in court and Ludt asked Abdulaziz about the veracity of the claims made by Ignatov.

“[The Racing Post story] was the first I heard of [the allegations], so I was shocked,” Ludt told Racing Post.

"We had discussions afterwards and he [Abdulaziz] completely denied that he had anything to do with it. I don’t remember the exact dates but there was some dialogue and I point blank asked what the heck was going on because I’d spent the last two and a half years of my life travelling the world for this company and I didn’t want to get dragged down with a bad reputation.

"I point blank asked what the heck was going on because I’d spent the last two and a half years of my life travelling the world for this company and I didn’t want to get dragged down with a bad reputation. " - Tom Ludt

“He’s continually denied it and he’s indicated he had investors from that company [Fenero] but never OneCoin. I’ve never been involved [in the fund], so I don’t know, but everything’s changed since then. I continued to ask him to do some interviews with the press to talk about it and he just wouldn’t do it. Everything changed when that came out.

“He told me that Mark Scott invested [in Phoenix] through Fenero, but that’s all I knew. He did not deny Fenero funds had gone into Phoenix.”

Phoenix has made significant investments in Australia and spent around $20 million at Australian yearling and breeding sales in the past three years. It celebrated its first Group 1 success in Australia last year with the victory of Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) in the Manikato S. She would also win the G1 William Reid S. in March.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds owns Group 1 winner Loving Gaby (orange and white cap)

It also bred and co-races the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), which won the famous Rosehill 2-year-old race in its white and orange colours for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Phoenix also owns around 30 broodmares in Australia and holds shares in several prominent stallions.

Leading sprinter preparing to scale Everest challenge

4 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Michael Moroney can’t fault his quality mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean {NZ}), who is in the early stages of her build-up toward a potential crack at racing’s premier sprinting prize – the $15 million TAB Everest.

The Flemington trainer was happy to give Tofane a quiet time at Monday morning’s Flemington jump-outs and she settled back in the field before running to the line under her own steam to finish in behind the major players in the 800 metre heat.

Watch: Flemington jump-out 1, featuring Tofane (NZ)

The sparingly-raced 5-year-old has won five of her 11 starts and was spelled following her career-best performance to beat Pierata in the G1 All Aged S. at Randwick in the autumn.

“It was a nice pipe-opener for her, she wasn’t asked to do too much, and she’ll have a more serious jump-out at Flemington again in her next one,” Moroney said.

“She will kick off in the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington and then maybe two more runs and on to The Everest.”

“She will kick off in the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington and then maybe two more runs and on to The Everest.” – Michael Moroney

Moroney said Tofane had thrived during her time away and that view was confirmed by jockey Dwayne Dunn, who was reunited with the mare in the jump-out.

Dunn previously rode in a brace of Group 3 victories last year in the Northwood Plume S. and the Begonia Belle S.

Dwayne Dunn aboard Tofane (NZ) following their victory in the G3 Northwood Plume S.

“Dwayne sat on her for the first time in a while and he said she was a lot more settled with her manners and had really strengthened,” Moroney said.

“To be fair to her, she’s still pretty lightly-raced and I’m really happy with the way she is progressing. She’s looking really good.”

Tofane’s stablemate Snapper (NZ) (Power {GB}) also enjoyed a hitout on Monday morning following his relocation from Moroney’s Matamata base in New Zealand.

He has yet to win in three starts, but was third in the G3 Waikato Stud Slipper and hasn’t raced since he finished fifth in the G1 Sistema S.

“That was his first trial and he had a nice run down the straight. He’s a very nice colt and I’d like to think he can get to a G1 Coolmore Stud S., all going well,” Moroney said.

“He’s a very nice colt and I’d like to think he can get to a G1 Coolmore Stud S., all going well.” – Michael Moroney

Tofane’s heat was won by Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}), who looked sharp in leading most of the way. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding last raced when eighth in the G1 Stradbroke H.

The stable also produced its G2 Sandown Guineas winner Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) to win the third of the Flemington jump-outs, which featured last season’s G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner and G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}).

The colt enjoyed a quiet stretch of his legs with trainer Anthony and Sam Freedman looking at the G2 McEwen S. as the starting point for the colt’s spring campaign with G1 Moir S. and the G1 Coolmore Stud S. loftier targets.

Stayers impress

Danny O’Brien’s G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) made steady ground from the back in his 1200 metre jump-out to finish runner-up, while his promising stablemate Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) also enjoyed a hitout.

Watch: Vow And Declare winning jump-out 9 at Flemington

The last-start G1 South Australia Derby winner led in his 1200 metre heat and wasn’t pressured to hold his advantage to the line.

O’Brien said he was delighted with both stayers and they are likely to square off when resuming in the G1 Makybe Diva S. on September 12.

Meanwhile, G1 Australian Guineas winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) added momentum to his upcoming preparation with a 1000 metre trial success between races at Sunday’s Sunshine Coast meeting.

Trainer David Vandyke is likely to give him another trial on August 25 before resuming on September 12 at Doomben in an open quality sprint, in which Alligator Blood will carry 61kg with regular rider Ryan Maloney to take the ride.

Longer-term, Vandyke is eyeing starts in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle and The Everest in Sydney while the G1 Cox Plate is also on the radar, but dependant on COVID-19 travel restrictions to Melbourne.

International Racing Wrap

8 min read

Yulong Investments' Lucky Vega wins Phoenix

Second-last out in the G2 Gain Railway S., Zhang Yuesheng-owned 2-year-old Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was saving his best for the big stage with a dominant victory in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at the Curragh on Sunday for the first worldwide Group 1 winner for his owner.

Trained by Jessica Harrington, the colt tucked in behind Giorgio Vasari (US) (Air Force Blue {USA}) early in the 1200 metre race under Shane Foley closest to the stand’s side of the field. Running in second, Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was the first one under pressure as they entered the final 450 metres with Giorgio Vasari also coming under pressure.

Foley looked confident in his mount as they passed the 400 metre sign, giving him a few taps to find another gear. The colt required a few more taps to stay focused, but there wasn’t a need of asking for any more speed with Lucky Vega an easy 3.5l winner over Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).

One of only two fillies in the field, Aloha Star crossed the line a nose in front of The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Ire {Ire}) however, the placings for the pair were reversed after a stewards inquiry. Power’s (GB) Law of Indices (Ire) rounded out the top four 0.5l behind that pair.

“That’s Mr Zhang’s first Group 1 winner worldwide–I’m absolutely delighted for him. He’s a nice horse going forward and Shane said he’s getting quicker,” Jessica Harrington said. “He probably needed it the last day because he had won his maiden without getting into a battle. The last day when he got into a bit of a battle it just hardened him up. We thought he was working well, but you never know until you go racing and everyone said this was a strong renewal. We’ll have to sit down and think now, but Shane said we’d probably be thinking about the [G1] Middle Park. I think he’ll get seven as well. Last year was all about the fillies, so it’s great this year to come up with a good colt.”

The race ended a good half hour for Lope De Vega (Ire), who also sired the third place finisher in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in France just a few minutes previously with Lucky Vega the 11th Group 1 winner for his sire.

Sold for €110,000 (AU$180,843) as a foal at the Goffs Ireland November Foal Sale, Lucky Vega was purchased for €175,000 ($287,705) by Yulong Investments the following summer at the Orby Yearling Sale.

He is the first stakes winner but third winner from five to race out of Queen Of Carthage (USA) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who is herself out of Grade 1 winner Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}). Satwa Queen is also a half-sister to Group 1 winner Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) with the family also including Group 1 winner Desert Blanc (GB) (Desert Style {Ire}), Mille Et Mille (GB) (Muhtathir {GB}) and this year’s G1 British 2,000 Guineas winner Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}).

Space Blues secures first Group 1 in Prix Maurice de Gheest

Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) went off as the favourite in Sunday’s G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday but it was his Godolphin stablemate Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who took home the victory in the 1300 metre race.

Breaking on the rail, Space Blues was among the back runners as Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) took his customary place in the front alongside Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) to lead their respective packs. With 600 metres left in the running, most of the jockeys got to work on their mounts and the battle was on with Golden Horde holding a slight advantage over the Cambridge Stud co-owned runner.

It wasn’t until the field hit the rail lined with fans in the final 100 metres that Space Blues burst through a gap between the two runners as Golden Horde started to fade and Earthlight also made his move.

The race came down to the closing strides behind Space Blues with that colt having a 0.75l margin over everyone else and Hello Youmzain winning a photo for second over the late closing Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). That rival beat out Earthlight for third by a short neck and Golden Horde rounded out a tight top five just 1.5l behind the winner.

A multiple Group winner before this race, the Charlie Appleby-trained Space Blues becomes the 43rd Group 1 winner for Dubawi (Ire).

The 4-year-old colt out of Grade 2 winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre {USA}) is a half-brother to UAE champion and Grade 2 winner Shuruq (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}). One of four winners from five runners out of Miss Lucifer, Shuruq is also the dam of Listed winner and this term’s Grade 1-placed Antoinette (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}).

Further back in their family is G1 British 1,000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) and multiple Australian Group placed runner Alexander Of Hales (USA) (Danehill {USA}).

Art Collector continues march to Kentucky Derby

A month after bursting onto the scene in the G2 Blue Grass S., Art Collector (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) continued his march toward the first Saturday in September with an easy victory in the Ellis Park Derby as the favourite.

Racing over 1800 metres, Art Collector was happy to take the lead as Truculent (USA) (Raison D'Etat {USA}) stuck close to him early on with most of the field within only about 4l off the leader. Going into the final 500 metres a few different horses made runs at the leader with Dean Martini the closest to him but when Brian Hernandez Jr gave his mount some rein, Art Collector extended his advantage.

There was no catching him in the final 200 metres as the colt won by 3.25l over Attachment Rate (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) with Necker Island (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) 5.25l behind that runner in third for a Darley America-sired top three. The victory secured Art Collector a spot in the Kentucky Derby with the colt sitting third on the leaderboard with only one 20 point prep race left to run next weekend.

“That’s really fast for a horse,” Hernandez said of his mount. “He was able to do it within himself. He travelled like a winner the whole way. We say that all the time but being on their back we have an instinct to know how fast they’re going. That’s all I wanted to do. I just wanted to stay out of his way and let him travel. This is huge. We’re going into the Derby now with a legitimate horse. Like we said after the Blue Grass, he’s proven he’s getting better and better with each race. He showed it again today. He put everyone away. He did it all on his own and ran away from there.”

Art Collector was the second winner on the card for Bernardini (USA) as a sire with the stallion also the damsire of the Runhappy Juvenile winner early on.

Art Collector is one of two runners out of Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Distorted Legacy (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Vision And Verse (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}). Their Grade 1-placed dam Bunting (USA) (Private Account {USA}) is the matriarch of a family that includes 13 stakes horses.

She has followed in her own dam’s footsteps with that mare creating a family that includes three-time Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Canadian champion Ginger Brew (Can) (Milwaukee Brew {Can}) among others.

Mundaye Call breaks track record in Audoban Oaks

A day after Gamine (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) impressed at Saratoga, fellow Into Mischief (USA) 3-year-old filly Mundaye Call (USA) put in another dominating performance with a track record-breaking win in the Runhappy Audoban Oaks at Ellis Park.

Racing for 10 points toward the G1 Kentucky Oaks in the 1400 metre race, Mundaye Call went straight to the lead under Florent Geroux and kept about 1l on the field throughout. Geroux looked to have plenty in hand as they entered the stretch and the filly started pulling away.

While there was no reason to find another gear, Geroux let his filly speed up in the final 200 metres to win by 7.25l over Ocean Breeze (USA) (Curlin {USA}) for her third straight victory.

“I’m not surprised [they broke the track record],” Geroux said. “The filly has been working extremely well in the morning. We’ve been very high on her. She won nicely first time for Brad at Keeneland with Joel Rosario while I was gone at Belmont Park to ride Monomoy Girl. You never expect a track record. But we expected a big race for her today.”

A US$950,000 (AU$1,327,557) purchase by OXO Equine at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale in 2018, the filly is out of a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Can The Man (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and Martha’s Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) out of Grade 2 winner Smolesnsk (USA) (Danzig {USA}).

The filly’s third dam is dual Grade 1 winner and bluehen mare Blush With Pride (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) with the descendants from that mare including New Zealand Group 3 winner Ticket To Ride (NZ) (Shocking) among many others.

Foal Showcase

1 min read

To have your foal featured, send a landscape-oriented image to olivia@tdnausnz.com.au

Daily News Wrap

6 min read

Randwick trial changes

The three trials set aside for Group-performed horses at Randwick on Tuesday morning will now be staged on the Kensington track on Friday.

Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), Colette (Hallowed Crown), Con Te Partiro (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}), Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) were among the star gallopers set to step out until heavy recent rain forced the change.

The remaining trial program on Tuesday will be switched from the Randwick course proper to the polytrack.

Dual Group 1 winners King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) and Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) remain among those entries.

Peltzer on way back

Unbeaten colt Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) is due to trial later this month ahead of his spring campaign.

Trained by Gerald Ryan, Peltzer won on debut at Kembla Grange, where he beat Saturday’s Listed Rosebud S. winner Anders (Not A Single Doubt), before consecutive victories at Randwick.

He is likely to make his 3-year-old debut in the G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill on August 29 followed by the G2 Run To The Rose and then the G1 Golden Rose S. on September 26.

Vain opener

Last season’s Listed St Albans S. winner Larimer Street (Brazen Beau) has been working favourably alongside his better-performed barn mate Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in preparation for his opening run in Saturday’s Listed Vain S. at Caulfield.

Larimer Street

"While there's never been much between them in their work, at the end of the day, one's a Group 1 winner and one's a Listed winner," co-trainer Trent Busuttin told Racing.com.

Larimer Street will be given the opportunity this campaign to show if he is worthy of tackling the G1 Coolmore Stud S. or the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

First for Ardrossan

The first foal of the young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan has been safely delivered.

A colt by the son of Redoute’s Choice has been foaled at Gus Wigley’s Inglewood Stud and is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Band (NZ), who is from the family of Group 1 winners Irish Fling (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Final Destination (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

“Ardrossan is a horse that for a lot of reasons we hold in very high regard. He’s got a beautiful pedigree by a champion sire and unfortunately due to injury we never saw the best of him,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.

“He had a great turn of foot and pushed two of the best in The Bostonian and Melody Belle right to the line when he was third in the G1 Waikato Sprint,” Chittick said. “If he can leave a line of horses that look like himself it would certainly take him to another level.”

Wigley said the Ardrossan colt was an outstanding example of a first foal.

“He’s a really good sort with a nice head. He’s a well put together foal and was five or six days early, but everything went well and he’s ripping around the paddock and looking a million dollars.”

Elegant progress

Multiple Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) is making good progress toward resuming in the G1 Winx S. at Randwick on Saturday week.

The 5-year-old finished fourth at last week’s trials at Rosehill and trainer Chris Waller plans to give her an exhibition gallop between races at Randwick this weekend before opening her spring campaign.

The G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Melbourne Cup top Waller’s priority list with the mare.

Verry Elleegant (NZ)

Breeze-up change

Breeze-up dates for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of 2-Year-Olds have been tweaked and will now take place on October 12 and 13 at Te Rapa with all prospective buyers invited to attend.

With the recently released trial and racing programs announced for October, the decision was made to move the dates forward to better fit with the industry’s wider schedule. Timing for the Breeze-ups will remain the same, commencing at 10am NZST both days.

Each heat will be filmed and timed with extensive video footage made available for viewing on the NZB website in due course.

The 2020 edition of NZB’s Ready to Run Sale will take place on November 18 and 19 at Karaka.

Too much zip

Zipping Boy (Squamosa) upstaged two blue-blooded contenders on the synthetic track at Sportsbet Pakenham on Monday.

The Jerome Hunter-trained 3-year-old led all the way to win over 1100 metres in an event where all eyes were on the Lindsay Park-trained Ready For Caviar (More Than Ready {USA}) and the Lloyd Kennewell-prepared Mr Raikkonen (Shamus Award).

A daughter of the unbeaten champion sprinter Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Ready For Caviar raced close to the pace before drifting out to run seventh while Mr Raikkonen did better and came on from the back for third, albeit a distant one.

He is out of the former top-class performer Miss Andretti (Ihitiram {Ire}), winner of five Group 1 titles.

Regional roadshows

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing will be conducting regional roadshows around the country as the industry adapts to the changes brought about by the Racing Industry Act 2020.

The first of the roadshows will be held in the South Island this week at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill at 10am NZST on Thursday, August 13.

Later that evening, between 4 and 6pm NZST it will be the turn of Otago industry participants and stakeholders to engage with NZTR Board Chairman Dr Alan Jackson, Chief Executive Bernard Saundry and General Manager Racing & Infrastructure Tim Aldridge, at Wingatui racecourse.

The South Island leg will conclude the following day at noon at the Tea House at Riccarton Park racecourse.

“NZTR’s functions and powers are changing since the Act was passed and this is an opportunity for us to get out and talk about what that means for us all as an industry,” Saundry said.

The regional roadshows will continue in the North Island at Awapuni (Wednesday, August 26 10am-12pm NZST), Te Rapa (Thursday, August 27 11.30am-1.30pm NZST) and Ellerslie (Friday, August 28 10am-12pm NZST).

Winning double

South Auckland horseman Nicholas Bishara is tickled pink with the way his boutique stable has started the new season.

He recorded a winning double at Te Rapa with Rising Renown (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Ihu (NZ) (Red Element), bringing his current season tally to three wins, just two shy of last season’s total.

“It was a terrific weekend and I just can’t believe how well I am going, to be honest,” Bishara said.

“We are having a winner a week and to get a double on a Saturday feature meeting was great. It’s good after lockdown to be able to get back out and get something. The whole team is firing,” Bishara said.

Looking Ahead - August 11

3 min read

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.

Today, we fancy the chances at Gosford of a filly who produced an encouraging debut performance, and a mare who has made eye-catching progression in a brief career. At Sportsbet Ballarat, we’re in the corner of an expensive colt making his first appearance.

Gosford, Race 1, 12.55pm AEST, Milk & Honey Gosford Plate, $35,000, 1100m

We Had Too Many (Written Tycoon) made her one and only 2-year-old appearance last season in a handy Wyong maiden and fought on stoutly for third after being in front at the top of the straight. The filly will again be partnered by apprentice Tom Sherry and his 1kg claim will be another assist.

We Had Too Many as a yearling

Prepared by John Thompson, We Had Too Many is the first representative to race for St Issey (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and she was a four-time winner. She is a sister to the dual Group 1 winner Zarita (NZ) and a half-sister to the G2 Concorde H. winner Run Like The Wind (NZ) (Pins) and the G3 Meydan Al Quoz Sprint winner Joy And Fun (NZ) (Cullen).

Gosford, Race 7, 4.40pm AEST, Debortoli BM64., $35,000, 1100m

Kootaloo (Hinchinbrook) has impressed in a short career with two successes already on the board and returned from a good break to finish fourth on this course last month. She’s sure to strip fitter and as a past second-up winner her chances have to be taken seriously.

The Bjorn Baker-trained 4-year-old is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Group 3 performer Samantha (Snitzel) and they are out of Icedginger (Tale Of The Cat (USA). There is plenty of speed in the pedigree with Kootaloo’s grandmother a half-sister to the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner True Jewels (Brief Truce {USA}) and the two-time Group 2 winner Wager (Flying Spur).

Kootaloo as a yearling

Sportsbet Ballarat, Race 3, 2.00pm AEST, Madica Civil Plate, $23,000, 1200m

The John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes-trained Stenographer (Written Tycoon) hasn’t been to any official trials, but the stable has an enviable strike rate with its debut runners. The colt, to be ridden by Dwayne Dunn, has drawn well enough to make an immediate impact and further confidence can be taken from his pedigree.

Stenographer as a yearling

A $380,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Stenographer is a son of Lady Dynamo (Catbird) and she was successful on five occasions and was stakes placed. Her dam Governing Spirit (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}) is a sister to the black-type winner Del Toro (NZ) and a half-sister to the G3 Illawarra Classic winner Splendid Horse (Geiger Counter {USA}), also runner-up in the G2 Black Opal Classic.

2YO & 3YO Winners by Sire

NSW Race Results

Port Macquarie (Country)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000+)

VIC Race Results

Pakenham - Synthetic (Country)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000+)

AUS Sire Premiership

AUS First Season Sires' Premiership 2019/20

NZ Sire Premiership

NZ First Season Sires' Premiership 2019/20

Thanks for reading!

1 min read

We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TDN AusNZ. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

TDN AusNZ 2020 Advertising Guide

View: TDN AusNZ 2020 Media Guide

TDN AusNZ Team & Contacts

President - Gary King | gary@tdnausnz.com.au

Managing Director - Vicky Leonard | vicky@tdnausnz.com.au

Editorial | editorial@tdnausnz.com.au

Bren O'Brien | bren@tdnausnz.com.au

Paul Vettise | paul@tdnausnz.com.au

Richard Edmunds

Advertising | advertising@tdnausnz.com.au

Content and Social Media Manager - Olivia Coates | olivia@tdnausnz.com.au

Advertising and Accounts Manager - Melissa Gillis | melissa@tdnausnz.com.au

Accounts - accounts@tdnausnz.com.au

Regular Columnists

John Boyce | John Berry | Jo McKinnon | Alan Carasso | Emma Berry | Rob Waterhouse | Anthony Manton | Trevor Marshallsea | Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Photography is largely supplied by The Image is Everything - Bronwen Healy and Darren Tindale, and complemented by Sportpix, Trish Dunell (NZ), Racing.com Photos and Western Racepix.