Stable change works

A change of stable worked wonders for Graff (Star Witness), who made a winning start from Danny O’Brien’s stable in the G2 McCafe Caulfield Sprint.

Formerly with Kris Lees, Graff sat off the speed and came with a well-timed run under Damien Oliver to beat Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}).

“He is a horse that has always showed a lot of ability so hopefully this gives him a good confidence lift,” O’Brien said.

Honour in defeat

Hugh Bowman was full of praise for the effort of G1 Caulfield Cup runner-up Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo) {Ire}).

“Great run, superb effort. We had a beautiful run in transit and I got going when it suited me. I thought I had the race at my mercy at the 300 metres, but all credit to the winner. She's so tough," he said.

Daniel Stackhouse, rider of the third-placed The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) was equally effusive.

"He ran absolutely super. We probably got the gap a little bit late, but he stuck to his guns. Full credit to the trainers and owners."

Group targets for Endanger

Promising 3-year-old Endanger (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) confirmed he was on target for ongoing stakes success with victory in the Listed Polytrack Gothic S. at Caulfield.

“It’s nice to get another one for Godolphin, they have been great supporters of our family,” co-trainer Sam Freedman said. “I think he’ll go to the G3 Carbine Club S. and then possibly the G2 Sandown Guineas.”

Endanger, who had finished third at The Valley when resuming at his previous outing, was angled wide at the top of the straight by rider Jye McNeill and finished stoutly to breeze past the front-runner Osamu (Exceed And Excel).

Surprise Sale marches on

So here we are, at the furlong pole, and somehow still hard on the bridle. With just Book 4 to go, the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues to confound the gloom generated this year as the bloodstock industry reeled under the nightmarish burden of a pandemic.

On Friday, even the weaker second session of Book 3 sailed serenely clear of the riptide. Turnover of 2,274,500 gns (AU$4,322,687) soared past the equivalent day last year, up a giddy 27 per cent from 1,796,400 gns (AU$3,414,060). That yielded an average of 10,245 gns (AU$19,470), up from 9212 gns (AU$17,500) while the median inched forward to 7000 gns (AU$13,300) from 6500 gns (AU$12,350). The clearance rate, which has been understandably brisk even at unhappier auctions, raced to 83 per cent from 73 per cent in 2019.

In much the same spirit, Alex Elliott was justly enthusiastic after topping trade, late in the session, with a 90,000 gns (AU$171,000) son of Authorized (Ire), presented as Lot 1923 by the Castlebridge Consignment.

The colt is out of an unraced New Approach (Ire) half-sister to three stakes winners out of the Group 1-placed German mare White Rose (Ger) (Platini {Ger}).

McMahon cuts fees

McMahon of Saratoga’s 2021 roster is headed once again by Central Banker (USA) (Speightstown {USA}), whose fee was reduced from US$7500 (AUS$10,565) to US$6000 (AU$8455) for 2021.

Solomini (USA) (Curlin {USA}), who will be standing his second year at stud in 2021, also had his fee cut from US$6500 (AU$9160) to US$5000 (AU$7050). Redesdale (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) was decreased from US$5000 (AU$7050) to US$3000 (AU$4225).

“Recent months have been very hard for everyone involved in racing and breeding and we are reducing the fees for our stallions for the 2021 breeding season to reflect the challenges brought on by 2020,” Joe McMahon said.

“We feel confident that the New York breeding program remains the strongest of its kind in the world and our goal is to offer the best valued and most attractive stallions outside of Kentucky.”

Complexity to Airdrie

Klaravich Stables, Inc.'s Complexity (USA) (Maclean's Music {USA}) will stand stud at Brereton and Elizabeth Jones's Airdrie Stud upon his retirement from racing.

Trained throughout his career by Chad Brown, Complexity was a convincing winner of his most recent start, the G2 Kelso H. at Belmont, earning a 110 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest number earned by any horse at a mile or longer in 2020.

He has won five of his nine starts, including the G1 Champagne S. and was runner-up in the G1 Forego S. Daily Racing Form currently lists him as the favourite for both the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Hypnos takes sprint

Cambridge visitor Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was back to his best to win the G3 Red Badge Spring Sprint at Hastings.

The 5-year-old was Group 1-placed in the Levin Classic as a 3-year-old, but had disappointed on several occasions during his 4-year-old season when he won one of his six starts.

“We want to get to Riccarton with him for the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile so we have some options before then but it really depends on how he returns from this one,” co-trainer Roger James said.

“I’m thrilled for his connections as they were my original owners and the first people I ever bought a yearling for.”

Hypnos is raced by Fran and Ron Dixon after James purchased him for the Wellington couple from the Westbury Stud draft for NZ$50,000 during the 2017 Select Yearling sale at Karaka.

Exciting filly stays unbeaten

Promising 3-year-old Bonham (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) made it two wins from her first two starts when she dominated her female rivals over 1300 metres at Hastings.

The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained filly was on trial for a trip south next month to contest the G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton and performed as expected as she cruised clear in the run home to win in the hands of Danielle Johnson.

“It is four weeks to the 1000 Guineas so we won’t run again, but I’m confident we can keep her sound and mentally sound, so we will now sit down and work out how we get her down there.”