While she doesn't enjoy the profile of some of her likely rivals in The Everest, as a winner of the G1 All Aged S. in the autumn, Tofane was always in a strong position to garner interest from slotholders.

The past two winners of the All Aged, Trapeze Artist and Pierata, have both competed with credit in The Everest the following spring, with the former finishing second in 2018 and Pierata fifth last year.

With three slotholders expressing an interest in Tofane, Moroney received the assurance he needed to target her at the $15 million race on October 17.

"We always thought given a few others had retired, with what we saw in the autumn, she was going to be up to it," he told TDN AusNZ.

"The fact is that she has won right-handed and handled all sorts of ground and she had good form in the TJ Smith and was a bit luckless in the Newmarket. We were pretty confident she was the right type of mare."

The connections, headed by Rupert Legh, intended to give her one run this time in before receiving final submissions of interests from slotholders. Her close-up third in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality convinced everyone that she was on track for the spring.

"We have always had that interest in her and it was always a matter of getting through that first start, to make sure she was back on track," Moroney said.

"That was a good effort, probably as good as she has gone first-up. Once we knew she was on track, we were confident enough to say we were going to fire ahead. We had three people interested and we gave a bit of a deadline yesterday, and we ended up looking at all the alternatives and decided to run with Yulong."

The ownership group and Moroney have already got a relationship with Yulong through the deal struck to stand G1 CF Orr S. winner Alabama Express at Yulong's Victorian operation this year.

Yulong has been a slotholder since The Everest was first run in 2017, and in 2018 tasted success in that role with Redzel's (Snitzel) second victory in the race. Redzel was its runner again last year when eighth. Moroney said he was impressed with the rigour Yulong had brought to the selection process.

"They approached us a while back and they have done all the due diligence on the sectional times etc. They had her right up there. I think one of the things they did mention was her durability. She can race right-handed and she can travel. Every time she had been up against these better sprinters, her sectional times have been terrific," he said.

The fact that the race is likely to be run at a strong tempo with the likes of Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Rothfire (Rothesay) already confirmed as starters, was also appealing, as was the possibility of a rain affected track.

"They just saw that it will be run at a true speed, and if we do happen to get the rain, as has been the norm of late, she is the type of mare who could run over the top of them," he said.

"It's good to see there is a bit of confidence around her, outside of our own confidence in her."

Table: Slotholder's runners at present

Tofane shapes up better than ever

From Moroney's perspective, Tofane is in better shape than she has ever been at any previous point of her career.

"She has really matured now and that's the first time I can say that about her. With all the travelling and racing we have done, we are going to get her to her peak this season. This should be her best year and she has certainly got stronger," he said.

"She was mentally pretty fragile in her early days, but the travelling and all that has really helped her. She has always been one of those jobs that required time, physically and mentally."

Moroney will travel to Sydney to oversee her campaign along with a staff member. The logistics and time required to organise that will likely mean her final lead-up run will be in the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington on October 3, two weeks before The Everest.

A decision on a jockey for Tofane will be made in the next week or so.

Spring opportunities beckon for Harlech

She won't be the only Moroney-trained runner in Sydney this spring, with Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) set to target the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 31.

The 4-year-old is on the precipice of having his first Australian start in Saturday's G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield, where he is first emergency.

James Cummings has indicated Roheryn (Lonhro) will likely run in the G3 Bill Ritchie H. at Randwick, meaning Harlech will gain a start in the Caulfield feature.

"It would be great if we could get in. We really want to use this to make an assessment on the Golden Eagle. We are pretty keen to get to Sydney for that. This race would work in well. It would be nice to see how he competes against these Group 1 horses," Moroney said.

A Group 2 winner back in New Zealand when trained by Moroney and Pam Gerard, Harlech boasts two Group 1 placings in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas behind Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the G1 Levin Classic behind Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca).

"He certainly looked a good horse on his day in New Zealand and had excuses in his last run there. He had bone chips in his front fetlock joint, which we have since had removed. He seems a different horse now that that has happened," Moroney said.

"We couldn't be happier with his work on the track and at the jump-outs and we are interested to see what he can do raceday."

Stablemate Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) was balloted out of the Rupert Clarke S. and will resume in a 1400 metre race at Caulfield next week with a view towards the G1 Toorak H. and the G1 Cantala S.

Chapada on Cups path

Moroney has multiple Group 1-placed stayer Chapada (Bullet Train {GB}) resuming in the G3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000 metres) on Saturday after a short freshen up from an early winter campaign.

"We only gave him a week in the paddock and we did a bit of dressage for a while. A bit of a mental change for him. He'll take good improvement out of it, but in saying that, he's really a mile-and-a-half horse," Moroney said.

"We feel that this is going to be his best campaign. A bit like Tofane, he's finally got strong and worked it out. He needs to improve by two or 3l to be up with those better stayers. But there is a chance he can, so we'll just see how far we get with him."

In-form mare She's A Thief (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) tackles the G3 How Now S. on Saturday looking for her first stakes win at what will be her ninth run of the campaign.

"She's been out doing dressage as well. It's a bit of a change of scenery as we are deep into her preparation but she is really good. She will run really well," he said.

"The more I look into the race, the more I like her. She's a mare who is well-weighted and she makes her own luck and that's big help at Caulfield."

In what are uncertain times in any business environment, educational publishing entrepreneur Sandblom has been impressed by the manner in which the Australian racing, breeding and bloodstock industries have been able to carry on under the circumstances of what has been described as the 'new normal'.

"Considering what could have happened and what has happened elsewhere in the world in terms of shutdowns, I think the industry has done a great job staying open and racing. Even in Victoria at stage 4, they have been still able to race, which has been great to see," Sandblom told TDN AusNZ.

"Most people have worked their way around to keep things going. It’s really been a credit to everyone, the administrators as well as the participants who have stuck with the rules.

"The fact that we are back up to normal prizemoney is a great sign. There seems to be more people watching and betting on races, because a lot of other things haven't been available. There's a real silver lining there in the whole equation."

From what he has seen both at Newgate and Kingstar and across the wider industry, Sandblom senses that while there has been a degree of uncertainty for breeders, the market has adapted to reflect that.

"From what I am hearing, things have been a touch harder, in terms of getting stallions booked, and for mare owners, in terms of how things may look going forward," he said.

"There's a bit of nervousness, but most people are making the commitment and breeding their mares. They are looking for better value in their stallions and the fees have accommodated that. There's plenty of deals happening at the lower end of the market.

"If you can, there is no reason not to breed your mares and the sales results have held up pretty well."

The yearling sales season in Australia fared remarkably well considering the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, with the market adapting to the change of timing and format of sales to record only moderate falls in key indicators such as average and mean.

Sandblom pointed out that the Australian yearling market had performed considerably better than both the United States and the United Kingdom, but he also anticipated considerable challenges for the 2021 sales season.

"Magic Millions and Inglis will have a challenge accommodating everyone into the sales. I've heard there is quite a few New Zealand horses wanting to come over, and these sales are hard enough to get into as it is. That will be a bit of a pressure point, just getting a horse into the sales," he said.

"Hopefully the market can absorb those extra numbers, not just at the top end but at all levels of the market."

Full speed ahead with breeding plans

While uncertainty persists, Sandblom is not taking a backward step in his plans for his broodmare band of around 120, across his various interests, this spring.

Matings for those mares have been planned in close consultation with Newgate's Managing Director Henry Field, as well as a 'couple of pedigree guys', Sandblom uses, in addition to the staff at Kingstar, headed by manger Adam Cook.

"Ninety per cent of my mares would go to supporting our own stallions, be they at Newgate or Kingstar. That's what most of my mares are for. Right up the top end, there are some which you need to go outside for," he said.

"We've got Deep Field at Newgate, who is an up-and-coming stallion, but he's not that proven, big-time stallion yet. When you look at those, you start looking at the Snitzels and I Am Invincibles and those types."

A foal from a Star

One headline mare who has already headed to an outside stallion this season and who is very close to Sandblom's heart is Group 1 winner I Am A Star (I Am Invincible), who visited Coolmore's Fastnet Rock this week.

She delivered her first foal, a colt by Deep Field, last month.

"He's a good strong colt and a good first foal. We sent her to Deep Field, because he has good scope and a good pedigree and matched up well. It gave a bit of size to her, which is what you want in the first foal. He's a good medium-sized foal," he said.

"She is a young mare who got in foal first time with Deep Field, so hopefully it will work out that way with Fastnet Rock.

"There is always a big expectation with those type of mares. You know with breeding, you have no guarantees. You try and mate them right and think what suits and hope for the best really."

As well as high-profile outside stallions, Sandblom also confirmed that the Newgate partners had purchased breeding rights in Darley's first-season son of Exceed And Excel, Microphone, which he will look to utilise.

"We are supporting him and we thought it was a reasonable deal. He's a good prospect," he said.

Newgate also has a trio of first-season sires in Brutal (NZ), Cosmic Force and Tassort, all of which will be supported by Sandblom.

"We've got about 15 mares for Brutal. He's a good outcross with good substance, and there's a few for Cosmic Force and a few for Tassort, both existing mares and new purchases," he said.

Ready to Conquer

Kingstar Farm was especially busy in the broodmare market in the past few months, picking up 12 mares at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale and another 15 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, to support a young three-stallion roster which features Bull Point, Lord Of The Sky and new addition Unite And Conquer.

"About 80 per cent of those are for Unite And Conquer and there are a couple for other horses," Sandblom said.

Among those new purchases headed to Unite And Conquer is Arson Annie (Nothing To Lose {USA}), the half-sister to G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Rothfire (Rothesay), who cost $42,500 on the Gold Coast.

"For Unite And Conquer this year, we have been out there actively sourcing mares which we think will suit him physically and pedigree wise. If anything, we want to double down on that early speed. We’ve bought a lot of 2-year-old stakes winners and placegetters and horses who performed young," Sandblom said.

Among Kingstar's purchases at the Magic Millions Sale were stakes winners Marquardt (NZ) (Shamardal {USA}), Silversands (Dubleo {USA}) and Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward), all of whom were 2-year-old winners. At the Inglis Sale, it picked up horses such as Group 3 winner Hi Belle (Clangalang) and Listed winning 2-year-old Tweet (Magic Albert).

"Unite And Conquer was a good pre-Christmas 2-year-old, so we want to get him off the ground quickly. He's quite a strong looking horse, so you don’t always need a lot of substance in the mare. He can put that into them," Sandblom said.

"We have bought 20-25 mares just for that purpose for him, which we thought matched well. He's got a double-Danehill there already, so we are trying to get more outcross pedigrees."

Gallery: Some of Kingstar's mare purchases

French connection

Sandblom's thoroughbred investments aren't just confined to Australia and just last week, he purchased two yearlings through the Arqana Deauville Select Sale, paying €50,000 (AU$80,902) for a colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) and €30,000 (AU$48,541) for a filly by Dabirsim (Fr).

"I bought three fillies last year and they are all trained by Francis Graffard. The first one might race in the next week or so, High Fever. We also bought a Fastnet Rock last year and a Toronado," he said.

"I spend a bit of time in France when I get the opportunity, which is not at the moment. But when things get back to normal, I'd love to get back over there. I thought I’d buy a couple which had some appeal."

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

At A Glance

>> Ingordo saw off the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership to secure the day's top lot, who is from the family of Grade 1 winner Twirling Candy (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) .

>> 185 yearlings sold in the session for US$40,861,000 (AU$55.98 million).

>> The average was US$220,870 (AU$302,591) and the median was US$180,000 (AU$246,600).

>> Through three sessions, 394 head have grossed US$126,076,000 (AU$174 million) for an average of US$319,990 (AU$438,386) and a median of US$250,000 (AU$342,500).

>> There were three yearlings sold by Coolmore's American Pharoah (USA) and six by Darley's Frosted (USA) on the day.

>> Through three days of selling, the clearance rate is 60.71 per cent .

>> Foreign buyers remained active with Wednesday’s bidding featuring 150 bids, and six sales, from internet bidders .

Uncle Mo colt to Ingordo

Bloodstock agent David Ingordo, bidding out back, outlasted the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership bidding in the show ring to acquire a colt by Uncle Mo (USA) for a session-topping US$950,000 (AU$1.3 million) early in Wednesday’s session.

The yearling was consigned by Gainesway as agent for his breeder, Three Chimneys. He is the first foal out of the unraced Bella Rafaela (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}), a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Twirling Candy.

“I saw this horse at Three Chimneys Farm a few weeks before the Sale,” Ingordo said. “He is one of the best prospects I saw and I probably looked at 1500 on the farms before the Sale. He was my personal top pick. We have Twirling Candy [at Lane’s End] and he looks like the family. This is the horse we wanted to have.”

Ingordo signed the ticket on the colt (Hip 506) in the name of Mayberry Farm and, while he declined to name the client he was buying for, he was bidding alongside owner Lee Searing of C R K Stable.

Several high-priced offerings at Keeneland this week have been purchased by partnerships made up of major buyers, with SF/Starlight and Madaket leading the way.

“We try to buy the best horse. We have our price in mind and we know you have to stretch for the better ones,” Ingordo said.

Chris Baker of Three Chimneys said he was happy with the result in what has been a challenging market for sellers.

“He was a really nice colt and, in what has proven to be a pretty selective market, it’s great to see him jump through all of the hoops and do well,” said Baker. “His price isn’t surprising, but it’s certainly encouraging in this market. And he’s in good hands to do well, so we are excited about that also.”

Baker continued, “For us, the market this week has been kind of moderate at best. This is the first colt that has exceeded expectations on any level. The others, we’ve gotten some traded, had some RNAs. It’s been a challenging, selective market with a lower ceiling.”

Second time a charm for Into Mischief colt

A colt by Into Mischief (USA) (Hip 564), led out unsold at US$230,000 (AU$315,100) as a weanling at last year’s Keeneland November Sale, proved more popular in his second trip through the Keeneland sales ring, selling for US$875,000 (AU$1.199 million) to the bid of bloodstock agent Demi O’Byrne.

The yearling is out of Divine Heart (USA) (Divine Park {USA}), a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Include Me Out (USA) (Include {USA}) and Grade 1 winner Check The Label (USA) (Stormin Fever {USA}). He was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of breeder Fred Hertrich.

“It’s really hard to get something to sell well, but we thought that was a really special horse,” said Taylor Made’s Duncan Taylor. “He’s a great mover and looks how an Into Mischief is supposed to look.”

Taylor said bidding was selective at the September sales, but when the right people hooked up on a horse, sellers could be rewarded.

“We’ve sold Into Mischiefs in this sale that were similar for US$400,000 (AU$548,327) or US$450,000 (AU$616,868), but if you can get two of the right people hooked up on a horse, it can make the difference by US$200,000 (AU$274,129) or US$300,000 (AU$411,245).”

Into Mischief has dominated both the Fasig Showcase last week and the early sessions of the Keeneland sale, but that is no surprise to Taylor.

“He’s probably going to have a greater effect on the breed than even Storm Cat did,” Taylor said of Into Mischief. “His conformation is good whereas Storm Cats, they were beautiful horses, but they were pigeon-toed. [Into Mischief’s] sons like Practical Joke are throwing the same thing. Into Mischief is here to stay. He’s going to keep at it.”

Repole & Viola continue spending spree

Prominent New York-based owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola, who co-campaigned last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic S. winner and new Spendthrift Australia stallion Vino Rosso (USA), have been loading up for the future this week and last in Lexington.

With the help of agent Jacob West, they bought two colts at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase for a combined US$600,000 (AU$822,000), and have spent US$6.38 million (AU$8.74 million) on 15 head so far at KEESEP. They waited until Book 2 for their largest expenditure yet, an US$875,000 (AU$1.199 million) Into Mischief colt consigned by Gainesway, Agent XVII as Hip 701.

One of Repole/Viola’s Fasig buys was a US$450,000 (AU$616,868) son of Into Mischief, and Viola’s St Elias Stables signed for another US$300,000 (AU$411,000) daughter of the Spendthrift stalwart across town.

“Into Mischief, having Authentic win the [G1 Kentucky] Derby has taken that stallion to another level,” said West, after doing his bidding in the back ring alongside trainer Todd Pletcher, and fending off the likes of agent Donato Lanni to snag the colt. “I think at some point in time [Into Mischief] probably had a reputation of getting horses that were more the sprinter or miler-type animals, but now he’s shown he can get a Classic-distance horse and it’s put him in the upper echelons in Kentucky.”

Into Mischief’s 34 sellers through Wednesday have grossed a leading US$18.83 million (AU$25.79 million) at an average of US$558,824 (AU$765,588). He has had four reach seven figures and 14 meet or exceed US$500,000 (AU$685,682).

Nicols rides Into Mischief Train to Big Score

Loren Nichols, who operates Trackside Farm in Williston, Florida, was all smiles as he and Gainesway General Manager Brian Graves celebrated the US$875,000 (AU$1.199 million) sale of Hip 701.

Nichols paid just US$47,000 (AU$64,390) for the colt’s unraced dam Mimi’s Tiz (USA) (Tiznow {USA}) while she was carrying her first foal, a colt by Will Take Charge (USA), at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale.

“Oh, I just loved the mare,” Nichols, who has a background in breeding and training Arabians, of Mimi’s Tiz’s appeal. I took one look at her–she was carrying what I thought was going to be a very nice baby by Will Take Charge. That didn’t turn out so good, but she’s a lovely mare. She’s got a beautiful Bolt D’Oro baby at home. This horse was just perfect all the way through.”

Nichols, who keeps a broodmare band of approximately 10, hinted that he may have another reason to celebrate at Keeneland in a couple of months.

“I’ve got a real special [Into Mischief] filly at home who’s going to be in the November sale,” he revealed. “We’re excited about that one–she’s better than this one.”

Owens, Fincher on lookout for ‘The One’

There were a pair of fresh faces slugging it out with the usual suspects Wednesday, and the relative newbies won out as Lori Owens of B-4 Farms LLC and top New Mexico-based trainer Todd Fincher refused to back down and went all the way to US$870,000 (AU$1.192 million) to take home Hip 757.

The Quality Road (USA) colt was consigned to the Sale by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield on behalf of Stonestreet Bred and Raised. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was overheard saying to Owens and Fincher afterward something to the effect of, “You bought my horse!”

Owens and Fincher did their bidding in the show barn alongside agent Pete Bradley and his daughter Devon, and Fincher said the Bradley Thoroughbreds team provided he and Owens with a list of about a dozen horses before they eventually pared that list down to three. Hip 757 was the third and final to go through the ring.

“This is the top of the line, and that’s where we all strive to get to some day,” said Fincher, a prolific conditioner on his circuit of both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. “Hopefully, this horse will take us there. He was just perfect-bodied; perfectly balanced. The breeding was there. We just couldn’t fault him in any way.”

Hip 757, whose dam was acquired for US$460,000 (AU$630,200) at KEENOV ’17 in foal to Harlan’s Holiday (USA), is half to Poker Player (USA) (Harlan’s Holiday {USA}) and two more stakes-placed runners. This is the female family of recent G1 Forego S. hero Win Win Win (USA) (Hat Trick {Jpn}).

Shadwell Active in Book 2

Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company Ltd., typically the first or second-leading buyer at Keeneland September, was a bit quieter in Book 1 than usual, but struck early on Book 2 to land Hip 474–a colt by sire of the moment Into Mischief–for US$700,000 (AU$959,000).

The full brother Class Act (USA) was bred by George Krikorian and consigned by Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales Agency.

"He’s a really nice colt,” said Shadwell General Manager and Vice President Rick Nichols. “I’m surprised; he should have been in the first book. We’re very pleased with that… I got beat out one the other night, and actually I like this one better.”

Nichols admitted that Sheikh Hamdan’s absence at this year’s yearling sales had made an impact on Shadwell’s expenditure.

“Well, he sometimes doesn’t stop when I have to stop,” Nichols chuckled. “It’s definitely had some effect. We got beat out on four Monday night, and I think if he had been here we would’ve owned one. I have to follow instructions–he doesn’t.”

Shadwell later added an US$800,000 (AU$1.096 million) Speightstown (USA) full brother to Dawn The Destroyer (USA) (Hip 559) and two more for US$270,000 (AU$370,000) total.

Stonestreet product continues to prove popular

Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Bred & Raised sold the US$2 million (AU$2.74 million) Tapit (USA) topper during Book 1 of KEESEP Monday, and its crop of high-quality yearlings continued to be well received into Book 2 Wednesday.

Among Stonestreet’s five sellers for US$2.81 million (AU$3.85 million) in gross receipts Wednesday was the aforementioned US$870,000 (AU$1.192 million) Quality Road and Hip 559, the Speightstown (USA) colt picked up by Shadwell for US$800,000 (AU$1.096 million). The dark bay was consigned by Jody and Michelle Huckabay’s Elm Tree Farm.

“He is a very, very nice horse–thanks to Stonestreet, Ms. Banke, for letting us sell him,” Jody Huckabay said. “We saw him back in April, and Michelle and I got back in the car and our mouths dropped open. We loved him. He’s a very, very good horse, and obviously the buyers thought so too. We had a lot of interest. Shadwell has bought a lot of horses from us and thank goodness they believe in the product we bring up here.”