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Three Bridges looking to build on record success

Written by
6 min read
The Liston family’s Three Bridges Thoroughbreds operation has hit a new high already this year and with careful planning and expert assistance is looking to build on its success with astute mating plans in 2020 for its broodmare band.

Cover image courtesy of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds

Three Bridges has settled on an impressive selection of proven stallions with a sprinkling of exciting freshman sires in the mix to ensure a strong future supply of top-quality athletic racehorses.

The Victorian nursery has also comfortably moved with the times and was buoyed by a bumper result this month when it sold the top colt in the Great Southern Sale, which formed part of the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Auction.

Three Bridges offered the son of Exceed And Excel and Vicennalia (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), who realised an online weanling record of $170,000 when he was knocked down to Arlington Park Racing’s Brett Bradley.

“If you want anything in the world you can buy it online, so why should horses be any different. But it’s not a new concept for Three Bridges, I would say we’ve sold $3 million through Inglis’ online platform, going back to Bloodstock.com.au classified days,’’ Three Bridges’ General Manager Toby Liston said.

Exceed And Excel x Vicennalia (colt)

Vicennalia is currently in foal to Dundeel (NZ) and has been booked for a return visit to the Arrowfield Stud stallion by the Three Bridges mating team.

“We are always trying to produce the best racehorses long-term and what sells the best for the benefit of the business.

“We are always trying to produce the best racehorses long-term and what sells the best for the benefit of the business.” – Toby Liston

“We look for trends and we’ve got a great team on the ground. They have different opinions and views and we all work in together to produce the best bloodstock we can.”

As with all major farms, upgrading the broodmare band is an ongoing exercise.

“Quality lasts and top mares are our targets. We have a fantastic group of loyal clients and we’re always trying to improve, if you’re not upgrading you can quickly get left behind,” Liston said.

Another major result for Three Bridges this year was the sale of an I Am Invincible colt at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $700,000 to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

I Am Invincible x Solar Moon (GB) (colt)

“We’ve got a full brother this year and the mare is going back to I Am Invincible again,” Liston said.

The mare in question is Solar Moon (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was a dual winner in France and is a half-sister to the two-time Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1 winner Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}). They are out of a sister to the four-time top-flight winner and sire Dubai Millennium (GB).

“It’s great to get up in the morning because those types of mares can change your life. They are the ones you really want to be involved in,” Liston said.

“It’s great to get up in the morning because those types of mares can change your life. They are the ones you really want to be involved in.” – Toby Liston

A recent addition to the Three Bridges broodmare line-up is Viviette (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), sourced at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $150,000.

She is out of a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and sire Cape Cross (Ire) and the family of another successful sire in Iffraaj (GB).

Viviette (Ire)

“She’s a young mare with an international pedigree and she’s foaled a colt to Trapeze Artist. Last year we didn’t send a mare to Trapeze Artist and we’ve bought three mares in foal to him,” Liston said.

“Just because we didn’t send mares in the first season, there are always good opportunities to go into the market and buy.

“Viviette is going to Deep Field and that’s a good mating. We’ve never bred to Deep Field, but he’s proven now and going extremely well.”

Hailing Microphone

Three Bridges has also increased its future options with a lifetime breeding right in new Darley stallion Microphone.

“We bought a lifetime breeding right in him and he was a champion 2-year-old colt and we wouldn’t normally be able to afford to get in partnership with those sorts of horses, but this is a relationship that started with Impending and a lifetime breeding right,” Liston said.

“We will look to do that in the future, possibly with Bivouac next year. It gives us a position in the stallion and hopefully they hit it off and you don’t have to pay service fees in the future. It’s something we’re keen on and a good way to reduce service fees long-term.”

Microphone | Standing at Darley

Three Bridges will rely heavily on proven, commercial stallions this year, but is also supporting younger blood.

“We’re trying to get a balance and read what we think will be popular. We don’t normally take punts, but we did with Toronado for example and he’s very popular so it looks like we got that one right,” Liston said.

“The positive is that the Victorian market remains strong and we’ve got clients going to Omaha Beach at Spendthrift and Yulong is investing, which is fantastic and then there’s obviously Darley as well. We’re sending several high-quality mares to Blue Point.

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I would rather keep everything in Victoria if possible, but the majority of the proven stallions are in the Hunter Valley, so we have to go there.

“I would rather send the dry mares and leave the foals at home, it doesn’t always work that way but it would in the ideal world.”

Wide stallion range

Three Bridges will also be sending mares to New South Wales to be covered by Exceed And Excel, Pierro, All Too Hard, Pride Of Dubai, Epaulette, Shalaa (Ire), Hellbent and Exceedance.

In Victoria, Toronado (Ire), Highland Reel (Ire), Puissance De Lune (Ire), Street Boss (USA), Brazen Beau, Impending, Ringerdingding, Alabama Express, and Grunt (NZ) will be among those utilised.

Grunt (NZ) | Standing at Yulong

Liston said the robust breeding and racing industries in Australia boded well for the future, even in uncertain world-wide times.

“The whole economy is really positive and it’s amazing how strong our industry is. We’re in a very lucky position as breeders that we can still conduct business and prizemoney has allowed the industry to keep going in tough times.

“There’s a lot of foreign investment in Australia and we have a world class product and clearly people want to be involved.

“We are always trying to get better with everything we do and the results are coming through. We are a family operation. We have to be sharp and do things to the best of our ability and we’re all very passionate here about doing that.”

Group 1 hopeful has history riding on his side

Written by
4 min read
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are plotting a Group 1 path this season with a colt from a well-performed family with one member etched into G1 Melbourne Cup folklore.

The Cranbourne trainers have high hopes for Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel), who impressed in a brief juvenile preparation and is set to open his 3-year-old season in the Listed McKenzie S. at The Valley on Saturday.

The colt was a debut winner at Ballarat and in his only other appearance he came from well off the pace to finish runner-up to Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who subsequently added the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final to his unbeaten record, at Flemington.

The longer-term aim for Albarado is the G1 VRC Derby and, if conditions allow, he will travel to Sydney for lead-up racing and a program the stable successfully employed with its 2011 Victorian Classic winner Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel).

“Albarado is a Savabeel colt with plenty of upside and a great nature. Ideally, we would like to get him to the G3 Gloaming S. and the G1 Spring Champion S.,” Young said.

“It’s a nice path and it’s the one Sangster took when he won the Derby. This horse gallops well the Sydney way around and we’ll get the first couple of runs into him here first.”

“It’s a nice path and it’s the one Sangster took when he won the Derby.” – Natalie Young

Albarado boasts a staying pedigree and is from a family that includes Wotan (NZ) (Sigfried {GB}), who earned his place in Melbourne Cup history when he was a shock winner of the 1936 edition at Flemington.

After finishing second last in his lead-up in the G1 Cox Plate, Wotan was a 100-1 outsider in the Cup with some bookmakers offering double that price on the day. His owners, the Smith brothers of Wanganui, took as much as they could get and were handsomely rewarded, reputedly a fortune by today’s standards.

Fast forward to today and Albarado was bred by Peter Smith, whose father Bill and uncles Bob and Pat raced Wotan.

Albarado (NZ)

“They all liked to have a bet and did very well indeed. They didn’t collect on the day or they would have been robbed so they did it later,” Peter Smith said.

“All the horses we breed are from the family and it goes right back to Left, who was the mother of Wotan. It’s provided us with a lot of good memories and we would love some more.”

“All the horses we breed are from the family and it goes right back to Left, who was the mother of Wotan.” – Peter Smith

Smith and his wife Barbara also bred the G1 Hong Kong Derby winner Fay Fay (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) and the G1 Wellington Cup winner Willy Smith (NZ) (Volksraad {NZ}) also from the family.

Albarado was offered on their behalf by Rich Hill Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where he was snapped up by Busuttin Racing for NZ$140,000.

Albarado (NZ) as a yearling

He is the first live foal of the former quality race mare O’Fille (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who won at Group 3 level in the Trentham S. and the Cuddle S. and was runner-up in the G1 Zabeel Classic.

A half-brother by Shocking was sold by Rich Hill to Hawkes Racing earlier this year for NZ$200,000.

“Albarado didn’t make as much as we thought, it cost NZ$100,000 to breed him, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. O’Fille is going back to Savabeel this year and she will be foaling to Iffraaj,” Smith said.

“O’Fille is going back to Savabeel this year and she will be foaling to Iffraaj.” – Peter Smith

“We did have her booked into Tavistock, but when he unfortunately died we had to transfer her to Iffraaj.”

The Smith’s enduring family may well provide them with future feature races to celebrate as Young said Albarado had the perfect temperament to progress to the highest level.

“He’s unbelievable really. You can work him with a filly and he doesn’t bat an eye. He’s a beautiful, big horse, but when we brought him in for his first preparation he hadn’t filled out at all.

“When he came in the second time we had to check that we had the right horse, he had grown a hand and a half and completely changed.”

Experience boosts trainer’s confidence

Written by
4 min read
Rob Heathcote is under no illusion about the quality of opposition that awaits Rothfire (Rothesay) in Sydney, but similarities between his current star and one of yesteryear have him quietly confident.

The Eagle Farm trainer is preparing his G1 JJ Atkins S. winner for his 3-year-old return in the G2 Run To The Rose ahead of the G1 Golden Rose S. and a potential berth in the $15 million The Everest.

Heathcote is drawing confidence from his across-state experiences with his multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Buffering (Mossman) as he prepares to take on all-comers with the versatile and well-mannered Rothfire.

“He can jump and lead or take a sit, he’s won over a 1000 metres and 1400 metres. What is so special about him, and Buffering had the same quality, is he is so calm and relaxed about everything,” he said.

“In his trackwork, around the stable and pre-race, his demeanour is faultless and he just gets on with the job.”

Jim Byrne

Rothfire has been ridden in four of his six wins by Jimmy Byrne, who will be making sacrifices to continue his association with the 3-year-old.

“Jimmy will go into quarantine and stay in New South Wales to stick with him. He’s the leading rider in Queensland so he is giving up a lot to stay with him, that’s for sure,” Heathcote said.

“He’s the leading rider in Queensland so he is giving up a lot to stay with him, that’s for sure.” – Rob Heathcote

With regard to The Everest, Heathcote is expecting interested parties to be making early plays.

“It’s going to come down to the Run To The Rose on the September 12 and that’s obviously going to whet the appetite of the slot holders,” he said.

“Then two weeks later it’s the Golden Rose and I wouldn’t be surprised this year if the first two or three placegetters in the Golden Rose get picked up for The Everest.”

But first and foremost, it’s the two age group events that are the focus.

“There are five Group 1s for the 2-year-olds held in Australia every season. Farnan won the Golden Slipper, King’s Legacy won the Sires’ Produce and the Champagne, Tagaloa won the Blue Diamond and Rothfire won the JJ Atkins so they are all probably going to be there,” Heathcote said.

“It reminds me of back in the day when Nothin Leica Dane, Saintly and Filante were three cracking 3-year-olds all in the one season.”

Up to the task

Weighing up the form of Rothfire against the other leading 3-year-olds in the country isn’t easy, but Heathcote believes his charge is up to the task.

“Where I get my most confidence from is the way he won the JJ Atkins. There was a Sydney horse there called Macroura. She’d had three starts for three wins, including a stakes race, and he handled her quite comfortably,” he said.

“Where I get my most confidence from is the way he won the JJ Atkins.” – Rob Heathcote

“How he is going to measure up against the likes of Farnan and Doubtland and North Pacific we’ll see - when you have the Hawkes stable saying they’ve got two very special ones you have to respect that.

“But I do know Rothfire is very, very good. It’s always good to have a quality metropolitan horse, but when you have a Group 1 horse they’re so special, they are hard to find.

“I’m looking forward to the spring, even though I will probably be stuck in Brisbane. I’m a realist as well, I’ve been there before.

“We have to just make sure he stays sound and healthy, they’re only one step away from a problem.”

Watch: Rothfire trial

Rothfire began his spring campaign in earnest recently with a dominant trial win at Doomben and will return there for another trial next week before heading to Sydney.

“He’s fantastic and had a little blow afterwards and I expected that. I’ve still got time on my side and he was always going to have a soft first-up trial,” Heathcote said.

“He’ll have another one and we’ll be putting it to him a bit more and then it will be two weeks on to the Run To The Rose and he’ll be ready.”

Everest fancy tears strip off trial rivals

5 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Powerhouse sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) is already a short-priced favourite for the $15 million The Everest and he further fuelled the confidence of his army of supporters with an emphatic display at Tuesday’s Rosehill trials.

The Chris Waller-trained chestnut, who heads The Everest market at $3 ahead of $9 chance Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), bounded to the front at barrier rise in his 900 metre heat for Group and Listed performers.

He stepped out strongly to string the field out and with rider James McDonald sitting quietly, the 6-year-old cruised through the line to score by 5.5l in 54.69s.

“He jumped away well and his first 100 metres were good and then he steamrolled into it. He is loving his work and doing it with his ears pricked, he’s really enjoying it so that’s the main thing,” McDonald said.

“He’s come back in great order and is executing things well. He’s definitely more relaxed going to the start and he can be fractious in the stalls, but he jumped away well.”

While Nature Strip has proved vulnerable off the back of a spell in the past, that may not be the case this time around, according to his regular partner.

“I said to Chris that he seemed pretty forward to me, even though he’s got a bit to go in his coat,” McDonald said.

“I said to Chris that he seemed pretty forward to me, even though he’s got a bit to go in his coat.” - James McDonald

“He is going to improve off his first-up run as you would expect because he always gets better as the preparations get deeper. I think he is in a better place, that’s for sure.”

Nature Strip hasn’t raced since he blitzed his rivals in the G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick, having also claimed top honours in the G2 Challenge S. at his previous appearance.

He is pencilled in to resume in the G3 Concorde S. on September 5 and on to the G2 Premiere S. before The Everest.

Nature Strip

Quality mare Fituese (Deep Field) finished a distant second in the trial, but rider Rachel King was more than satisfied with the John Thompson-trained mare who won the Listed Denise’s Joy S. to end her last preparation.

“Obviously, Nature Strip set a really good gallop the whole way and I was happy with my filly. She got herself into a good rhythm and hit the line strongly,” King said.

“She was still on the bridle and she’s naturally a very competitive horse and she did it all very comfortably. She definitely feels like she has filled out a little bit and she is quite lightly-framed, but she is a bit stronger and relaxed.”

Peltzer impresses

Unbeaten 3-year-olds Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) and Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) went head to head in a 900 metre open heat and it was the former who led all the way with a bold showing under Kerrin McEvoy.

Doubtland was doing his best work in the closing 100 metres to finish third with the top colts split by Blossom Star (Foxwedge).

Peltzer gave his connections a fright before the trial when he became fractious near the tie-up stalls after shaking his ear muffs loose before order was quickly restored.

“He will run on Saturday week in the G3 San Domenico S. and as long as he measures up he’ll go to the G2 Run To The Rose and then the G1 Golden Rose S.,” trainer Gerald Ryan said.

“He appears to have come back nicely and he’s working well. He’s just got to transfer his late autumn and early winter form into the spring.”

“He’s just got to transfer his late autumn and early winter form into the spring.” – Gerald Ryan

Peltzer’s stablemate Standout (Exceed And Excel), who rose quickly through the ranks last campaign to win the G2 Expressway S. finished third in his heat behind the Hawkes-trained pair of Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) and Rock (Pierro).

Standout dropped out to last before he began to race fiercely and circled the field boldly to momentarily hit the front in the straight before he was run over.

“I’m happy with him and he’ll have another trial in a fortnight’s time. We haven’t decided where we will go with him, but at this stage all is well,” Ryan said.

Spendthrift's Dirty Work showed off his dazzling turn of foot, emerging from a gap with Rock to put space between the field. The fast son of Written Tycoon finished off last campaign with a string of three impressive victories over 1100 metres ensuring he will be an interesting horse to follow in the spring sprints as he steps up in grade.

Watch: Dirty Work trial

Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is a new addition to Waller’s team and she won the open 1000 metre trial from stablemates Djukon (GB) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) and Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Rider Hugh Bowman settled Sentimental Miss in the tail and she was pushed out, understandably over the distance as she is a G1 New Zealand Oaks winner, to be beaten home by 0.2l with Glen Boss sitting quietly on Djukon.

He has won up to 2400 metres in Germany and this is his second Australian preparation while Finche, who has finished in behind the major players in two cracks at the G1 Melbourne Cup, found the line well under his own steam .

Watch: Sentimental Miss (NZ) trial

Leading jockey out for three years

2 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Adam Hyeronimus’ riding career is in tatters after he was been disqualified for three years and his cousin and stablehand Blake Paine outed for more than two years after they were found guilty of multiple betting offences.

Racing New South Wales stewards announced their verdicts on Tuesday after finding Hyeronimus had an interest in 30 bets on races over a two year period. He was also found guilty of giving false evidence to a stewards' inquiry.

Hyeronimus’ career has come to a shuddering halt just five months after he tasted Group 1 success for the first time when he rode Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) to victory in the Vinery Stud S. for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

In considering his penalty, stewards took into account it was the first time Hyeronimus, 30, had been charged with any betting offence, but he had previously tested positive to a banned substance.

Two of the charges related to Hyeronimus having an interest in a bet in a race in which he rode, receiving two-year penalties for each offence.

He was given another 12-month penalty for having an interest in 28 bets in races in which he did not ride, and a further year for providing false evidence at a stewards' inquiry.

All up, the jockey was banned for six years, but will serve parts of his penalty concurrently, halving the sentence.

Adam Hyeronimus was banned for six years but will serve parts of his penalty concurrently

Paine has been banned for two years and four months.

Hyeronimus had been riding under a stay of proceedings since stewards opened their investigation and on Saturday he was successful aboard Shout The Bar’s stablemate Taikomochi (Snitzel) at Randwick.

He and Paine will begin their respective bans immediately, which means Hyeronimus will forfeit his rides at Canterbury Park on Wednesday, and both have a right of appeal.

Five minutes with... Mark McStay

4 min read

Mark McStay - Avenue Bloodstock

TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?

Mark McStay: I'm originally from the Curragh, Co Kildare in Ireland but I’ve been living in Newmarket in the United Kingdom for the past 18 years.

My earliest memory was of attending the Phoenix Park racecourse with my grandfather Michael McStay at a very young age.

TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?

MM: Sea The Stars (Ire). He was the ultimate racehorse in my opinion. On a personal note Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) who I bred and raced with friends. She won an Irish Oaks and Prix de L’Opera.

TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?

MM: The Tuesday of Royal Ascot. It’s superb racing. It’s also very much an international gathering of our industry with horses and humans from all over the globe in attendance!

Mark McStay

TDN AusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?

MM: I grew up on a small family run farm. My first job in the industry was at Darley in the United Kingdom selling stallion nominations.

Winners are the lifeblood of our industry, whether they’re the best Group 1 winner on the biggest day or the smallest seller and a dark Tuesday night. They mean everything to the participants particularly the owners. So sourcing winners is what is most fulfilling!

TDN AusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season? Why? (Northern or Southern Hemisphere stallion).

MM: Snitzel’s fee in comparison to others in the market when you put his achievements into perspective make him great value. In Europe Night Of Thunder (Ire) at any fee, he might just be even better than his father.

Night Of Thunder (Ire) | Standing at Darley Europe

TDN AusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?, and why? (Northern or Southern Hemisphere stallion).

MM: Camelot (GB). I’m not sure if he’s under the radar. But he’s very good in both hemispheres. Fillies and colts.

TDN AusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?

MM: Galileo (Ire) – without a doubt.

TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire (other than your own) do you believe is most exciting? (Northern or Southern Hemisphere stallion).

MM: Shalaa (Ire). I’m a big fan. He could be the heir apparent to his own sire. However I must give favourable mention to Capitalist, I liked his yearlings.

TDN AusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?

MM: It’s probably a Sea The Stars colt in Europe. Currently in training with Hugo Palmer.

TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).

MM: James Ferguson is a young trainer who is going places. Also Cieren Fallon Jr. is a chip off the old block.

TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?

MM: Prizemoney levels to increase in Europe. Also more support structures (financial and social) to be put in place for key workers such as stud and stable staff. They keep the show on the road.

TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?

MM: I’d be packing boxes of veterinary products for my wife Eva’s business. Or maybe I’d be a stockbroker, I did a summer working in a broking firm in London many years ago.

TDN AusNZ: How did you keep busy in isolation?

MM: We welcomed Charlie our first child into the world a week before lockdown! So he kept us busy! We did however watch the entire series of Downton Abbey in the evenings and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would!

Trending International TDN News

2 min read

Trending In TDN Europe & TDN America

1). Feature: Emma Berry chats to David O'Loughlin about Coolmore's decision to purchase Wootton Bassett (GB), and why he's a good fit for the global breeding giant.

Read more

“He would suit Australia because he is very much a speed horse, but the interesting thing is he gets everything. He gets 2-year-olds, he gets sprinters, milers, middle-distance horses, like all the good sires." - David O'Loughlin

Wootton Bassett (GB) | Image courtesy of Coolmore

2). Feature: Sid Fernando focuses on Darley's Bernardini (USA) in his latest column for TDN.

Read more

"Ironic, isn’t it, that he’s now got a legitimate Kentucky Derby runner while viewed as an old man in the breeding shed, while he’s got new life as a young broodmare sire that makes him relevant in a new way?" - Sid Fernando

Bernardini (USA) | Image courtesy of Darley

3). Video: Gun Runner's (USA) first crop of yearlings are set for the start of the 2020 sales season. After leading his class as a first-crop weanling sire, the two-time Eclipse champion looks to make headlines again with his yearlings.

4). Feature: Trainer Mark Casse and the other class of 2020 inductees to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will have to wait another year to give their official acceptance speeches because the COVID-19 pandemic postponed this year’s ceremony. But Casse did have this to say.

Read more

"That means you can do things right and still get it done with dignity. Because through this game, you’re going to have to decide what’s more important – winning at all costs or your dignity?” - Mark Casse

Mark Casse | Image courtesy of Coady Photo

5). Feature: Alayna Cullen sits down with young Irish jockey Gavin Ryan, who is forging a successful affiliation with Donnacha O’Brien.

Read more

“He is very easy to deal with and he is very easy to ride for. I suppose the fact that he was a jockey makes it much easier. He understands that in races, things don’t always go to plan." - Gavin Ryan

Foal Showcase

1 min read

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

Daily News Wrap

5 min read

Sir Dragonet joins Maher Eustace

4-year-old Irish galloper Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is set to join the Maher Eustace team with his sights set for the G1 Cox Plate and a potential Melbourne Cup tilt as reported by Racing.com.

The son of Camelot (GB) was praised by Bloodstock Manager Will Bourne who said “he’s from the family of Galileo and is highly rated. It’s a quality purchase and we couldn’t be more excited."

Sir Dragonet was purchased for an undisclosed amount by Maher and owner Ozzie Kheir who reached a deal with Coolmore to secure the Group 3 winner and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup placegetter.

Melody Belle improved

New Zealand’s champion trainer Jamie Richards is hoping high-class mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) can mirror the pattern of her previous campaigns.

The 6-year-old has improved significantly from her fresh-up performances in her last two campaigns and the Matamata horseman is banking on that being the case again when Melody Belle contests Saturday’s G1 Winx S.

The 10-time Group 1 winner trailed a small field of six home when ridden by Kerrin McEvoy in the G2 Missile S. at Rosehill on August 8 when resuming.

Melody Belle (NZ)

“We have just got to put a line through that run, turn the page and get on with it,” Richards said. “There were a couple of things against her, she was first-up on an unsuitable wet track and got back in a small field and struggled to make ground.

“Kerrin rang after the race and said he should probably have been fourth rather than back last in hindsight. He said don’t worry, she ran okay and will improve. She had a good blow.”

Masks mandatory

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has updated its Level 2 and 3 directives to introduce a requirement for the wearing of face coverings at race or trial meetings.

Face masks are required to be worn at all times in the weigh-room, birdcage, and starting gates. Riders are permitted to lower their mask during racing, after loading up in barriers and return their masks before re-entering the birdcage.

NZTR said this change has been brought in line with updated Government advice, and specifically to help protect the wellbeing of jockeys, upon which the ongoing conduct of racing is vitally dependent.

Pedigree to fore

The cream rose to the top as far as pedigree goes on the synthetic track at Pakenham on Tuesday when Best Ever (Snitzel) lived up to his name on debut.

The Peter Moody-trained colt is a son of More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) and continued her 100 per cent record at stud as her third winner.

More Joyous is out of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}), a half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (Carnegie {Ire}).

Best Ever is bred and raced by Gerry Harvey and was ridden to a comfortable victory in the Magic Millions Plate by Luke Nolen.

3YO in Winx mix

Prague (Redoute’s Choice) is among the nominations for the G1 Winx S. with co-trainer Ciaron Maher mulling over a decision about a start.

Prague

"He's one of our best colts. They get the weight relief and he's a good horse,” he told Racing.com. “To do what he did last preparation was phenomenal as he was very raw, and I thought he did a great job and he'll only improve in every way."

Prague won the G3 Canonbury S. and the G3 Pago Pago S. and finished runner-up in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S.

Tidy trial effort

Promising filly Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) turned in an eye-catching trial when she finished fourth in an open 900 metre heat at Rosehill on Tuesday behind her flying stablemate Nature Strip (Nicconi).

Hungry Heart (white cap)

The 3-year-old was making steady ground without being put under any pressure by rider Kathy O’Hara and is likely to open her campaign in next month’s G2 Furious S. at Randwick.

Hungry Heart won the G2 Sweet Embrace S. at her second appearance and then made ground soundly to finish fifth in the G1 Golden Slipper S. before a spell.

Decision time looming

After 20 years training in Singapore, Stephen Gray is planning to weigh up his future lifestyle options within the next couple of years.

Gray formerly trained in New Zealand with his father, Kevin, for 12 seasons from 1988/99, the partnership winning almost 400 races, including 10 Group or Listed events. But he saw the opportunity in 2000 to move to Singapore where he has trained nearly 800 winners.

“When I first came here it was a dream. I was the youngest trainer here and I thought I’d give it five years, then it became 10 years and I’ve ended up staying 20 years,” he said.

“I saw a future. It was really exciting. The first 10 years were great, but the last 10 years it has changed a lot and it hasn’t been as positive.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still happy to be training here, but like everyone I’ll be interested to see how the next 12 to 18 months will go.”

Glory Days returns

Group 1-winning mare Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) returned from retirement at the Foxton trials on Tuesday where she finished fourth in her 1000 metre heat.

The Bill Thurlow-trained 8-year-old failed to fire after returning from her spring campaign in Melbourne last spring and was subsequently retired after her fourth-placing in the Listed New Zealand St Leger in March.

Glory Days (NZ)

However, after her sale fell through her connections elected to bring her back into work and she could once again be on a Group 1 path this spring, with the G1 Windsor Park Plate and G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on her radar.

“The pending sale didn’t happen and just with what is going on around the world it wasn’t that easy to do much with her so we decided we may as well put her back in work and see how we got on,” Thurlow said.

Looking Ahead - August 19

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 like the prospects at Canterbury Park of a pair of sparingly-raced 3-year-olds and at Lakeside Park we are expecting a filly to make a strong impact in her first appearance since performing creditably in Group 2 company.

Canterbury Park, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Hyland Race Colours H., $50,000, 1200m

Cat D’Oro (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has the pedigree and the form on the board to strongly suggest he is going to open his account in this. He is the first foal of Catkins (Dubawi {Ire}), a quality race mare who was successful five times at Group 2 level and was a four-time Group 1 placegetter.

Medaglia D'Oro (USA), sire of Cat D'Oro | Standing at Darley America

Prepared by Chris Waller, Cat D’Oro made late ground to finish fourth behind the highly-regarded Yardstick (Criterion {NZ}) and then showed pleasing improvement to finish runner-up on this course. The step up to 1200 metres will suit the colt and with James McDonald to take the ride again they look the favoured combination.

Canterbury Park, Race 2, 2pm AEST, Bowermans Commercial Furniture H., $50,000, 1200m

Elizabeel (Power {GB}) took on some quality opposition during her first preparation and shaped encouragingly before a break. She finished runner-up to Bellevue Star (Sebring) over this track and distance and was then third to the unbeaten Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) at Randwick.

Power (GB), sire of Elizabeel | Standing at Oaklands Stud

The John Sargent-trained Elizabeel has trialled well at Rosehill and a bold first-up performance looks on the cards. She is a daughter of Now And Again (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the family of the G3 Rotorua Arawa S. winner Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), who also finished third in the G1 Railway S.

Lakeside Park, Race 2, 1pm AEST, MRC Membership H., $50,000, 1400m

Surooj (Sebring) is out of the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Shaaheq (Redoute’s Choice), who also finished second in the G1 Blue Diamond S. She is a daughter of the G3 Matriarch S. winner Damaschino (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and her half-sister Bawalaksana (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) won the Railway H. and Telegraph H. at Group 1 level.

The late Sebring, sire of Surooj

As a 2-year-old, Surooj won the first time out before placing at her next start and then finished a close fourth in the G2 MSS Security Sires’ Produce S. With fresh form to her credit and the benefit of an ideal gate, the filly looks poised to make an impression here for trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes and jockey Luke Nolen.

2YO & 3YO Winners by Sire

NSW Race Results

Albury (Country)

Scone (Country)

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

VIC Race Results

Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic (Country)

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

QLD Race Results

Mackay (Provincial)

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

AUS Sire Premiership

AUS Second Season Sires' Premiership

NZ Sire Premiership

NZ Second Season Sires' Premiership

Thanks for reading!

1 min read

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