Farnan gets first look at Flemington

G1 Golden Slipper winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) will make his first public appearance in Melbourne on Thursday morning when in a Flemington jump-out.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt has not raced since being beaten as favourite in the G2 Run To The Rose but has trialled well at Gosford recently.

He will tackle several other leading contenders for the G1 Coolmore Stud S., including September Run (Exceed And Excel), Swats That (Shamus Award) and Wild Ruler (Snitzel).

Kolding's wide draw no concern for J-Mac

Jockey James McDonald is not overly concerned with his G1 Cox Plate mount Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) drawing barrier 10 for Saturday's Moonee Valley feature.

Kolding has won his last two assignments, including the G1 George Main S. and G2 Hill S. and McDonald feels he is in top form.

“His run over 2000 metres was tremendous last time,” McDonald told Sky Sports Radio. “He put a good field away that day. The only concerning thing for me is if we get any rain.

“He is much better on fast ground, but in saying that, he is in career best form and I think he is going to be a terrific ride in the race.

“Ten is probably not an ideal draw but in saying that he is an honest runner who will give a sight and I think it is a pretty open field this year.

“A lot of the chances have drawn wide and he might get a run where he is not going to be a marked man. He is definitely a runner’s chance and I am looking forward to riding him in such a big race.”

Lyre looking for change of luck

Co-trainer Sam Freedman is hoping for a change of luck for talented mare Lyre (Lonhro) as she looks to break an 18-month winning drought in the G1 Manikato S. on Friday night.

Lyre has not won since her win in the 2019 Blue Diamond S. with fortune rarely with her, but in what is an even race, Freedman thinks it might be her chance to get back to the winners' stall.

"She's in good form. The same old story, she has been racing without luck," he told Racing.com. "She is in that race, it's an even sort of affair."

"He (James McDonald) has drawn gate four, it's a nice gate if the breaks do come your way. We have one of the best on board, so he is going to have to figure that all out.

"The Valley, a strongly run 1200 metres, should suit. She's never raced there but if they're making good ground then she can certainly figure there."

Racing Australia confirms CEO appointment

Racing Australia has confirmed that Myles Foreman as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Foreman has held the role of Acting CEO for Racing Australia for the past 11 months while the Board conducted a search to replace former CEO Barry O’Farrell.

A previous CEO of Racing Information Services Australia, who assumed the role of Operations Chief Executive Officer for newly formed Racing Australia in 2015, Foreman began his now role at the start of this month.

“Myles is an experienced leader with a strong track record within the organisation and the Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industry," Racing Australia Chairman Greg Nichols said.

“Myles was chosen in a competitive selection process from a strong field of candidates. Myles is known for his collaborative leadership style and for building high performance teams. "

Forman was delighted with the chance to lead Racing Australia.

“No industry or sport covers the breadth of our nation like Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing. I am determined to continue to leverage the great team at Racing Australia to work collaboratively with the industry nationally to ensure we continue to advance the Australian Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industry," Foreman said.

Vale Greg Mance

The thoroughbred industry is mourning the loss of G1 Caulfield Cup-winning trainer Greg Mance, who died aged 74 this week.

Best known as the trainer of 1989 Caulfield Cup winner Cole Diesel (Brigand {USA}) as well as G1 Toorak H. winner Oppressor (Salieri {USA}), Mance was described by Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald as a gentleman, who would be sadly missed.

“Greg was a great trainer, and he did things different to most,” McDonald told Racenet. “He was one of the greatest gentlemen you’d ever come across. He was a wonderful man. He was one of those people that you couldn’t help but like.

“He had a real aura around him and had the amazing gift of being successful at whatever he tried his hand at."

Mance turned his hand to horse training having previously run the family business, the Windsor Smith shoe company.

In 2012, Mance was an inaugural inductee in the Gold Coast Turf Club Hall Of Fame. He is survived by wife Di, his children Craig, Lea and Brett and several grandchildren.

Django Freeman to spell

German Derby runner-up Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist {USA}) has been ruled of the remainder of the spring.

Racing Victoria stewards reported that the Robert Hickmott trained 5-year-old has a minor knee issue and will be sent for a spell.

The highly rated import had three runs this spring, running second over 1700 metres at Flemington back in September, then 11th in the G1 Turnbull S. and then fifth after leading in the G3 Coongy Cup last week.

He was 47th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry released last week but will be put away for the autumn.

Kelly Renee on song

Kelly Renee (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) has pleased her trainers Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer as she prepares for the G3 Waikato Stud Soliloquy S. on Saturday.

It will be her final leadup to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 14.

"We're very happy with her. The sting out of the track is going to make me really happy. We're relying on a really good run because we want to take her to Christchurch," Autridge said.

"She's a filly that's very relaxed, very laid back, and she's improving all the time. She’ll improve again with the race on Saturday because she hasn't had a run for three weeks. We'd expect her to run well."

Darley US fees announced

Stud fees have been announced for Darley’s US stallions in 2021, with leading sire Medaglia D’Oro (USA) set to stand for US$150,000 (AU$212,300).

He stood the 2020 season for US$200,000 (AU$283,070). He is currently the number one yearling sire in North America by both average and median and was represented by four million dollar-plus offerings in 2020, the same number he was represented by in 2019.

“These are trying times breeders are facing,” said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox. “We gave great consideration to this when setting our fees to reflect the economic reality of today. Breeders are attempting to navigate a sales environment that is both unpredictable and difficult. Subsequently, all but one of our stallions will see a decrease in stud fee from last year. We sincerely appreciate the past support from breeders, and we are looking forward to a better and brighter 2021.”

First-crop sire phenomenon Nyquist (USA) will stand for a fee of US$75,000 (AU$106,150) in 2021 after commanding US$40,000 (AU$56,610) this year. His 10 juvenile winners to date include G1 Spinaway S. winner Vequist (USA) and G1 Summer S. winner Gretzky The Great (USA), both slated to run in the Breeders’ Cup next month. Not since Danzig (USA) in 1984 has a stallion had two Grade I winners so early in his career.

Darley’s 2021 Roster (Stud Fee ($US))

Medaglia D’Oro ($150,000)

Nyquist ($75,000)

Street Sense ($60,000)

Bernardini ($35,000)

Hard Spun ($35,000)

Frosted ($25,000)

Street Boss ($15,000)

Astern ($7500)

Enticed ($7500)

Midshipman ($7500)

Arqana October drops back a gear

Trade dropped a notch during the second session of the Arqana October Sale, where the day’s takings for 115 horses sold came to €3,046,000 (AU$5.098 million).

The average was €26,487 (AU$44,333) and the median was €20,000 (AU$33,480), both of which are tricky to assess in comparison to last year’s markedly different sales format. A promising marker, which has been a factor at most of the 2020 yearling sales across Europe, was the clearance rate of 82 per cent. Horses are still being traded, albeit at a reduced level in a challenging year.

The market leader for much of the day was Haras de Bourgeauville’s colt by Adlerflug (Ger), the sole offering by the leading German stallion in the catalogue.

The Francis Graffard-trained In Swoop (Ger), who became the first French-based winner of the G1 Deutsches Derby and then gave Sottsass (Fr) a run for his money when second in the Arc, showed just what the under-used stallion is capable of, and the session-topping colt was one of nine purchases by Federico Barberini so far at this sale.

Offered as Lot 248, the half-brother to the Listed Brown Panther S. winner Alveena (GB) (Medicean {GB}) will be trained in England after being bought for €85,000 (AU$142,270) for an undisclosed client of the Italian agent.

The colt’s dam Aliyfa (Ire) (Spinning World {USA}), a half-sister to the G1 Irish St Leger and G1 Prix du Cadran winner Alandi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was bought by Bourgeauville from the Aga Khan Studs at the 2017 Goffs November Sale.

Murtagh strengthens Aga Khan connection

Five-time Irish Champion Jockey Johnny Murtagh, who has been training since 2013, will join the roster of HH The Aga Khan’s trainers in Ireland, The Aga Khan Studs announced on Tuesday.

Trainer of this season’s G1 Matron S. heroine Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam), Murtagh was stable jockey to John Oxx from 1992 until 2003 and rode many winners in the iconic green and red colours, among them English and Irish Derby hero Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge). Murtagh was also retained jockey for His Highness The Aga Khan in 2011 and 2012 and was aboard 16 Group 1 winners in total for the organisation.

“We have watched Johnny’s training career develop over the last few years and undoubtedly 2020 has been a highly successful year for him,” said Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to have him train for the Aga Khan Studs and we will be sending him some yearlings in the coming weeks. His Highness and Johnny have enjoyed some great days in the past together and hopefully there will be good days to look forward to in the future as well.

“I am delighted to renew our partnership with H.H. the Aga Khan and his team,” said Murtagh. “A hugely successful owner-breeder operation worldwide, I look forward to receiving his draft of yearlings here at Fox Covert Stables and hopefully many winners to come, to add to our great association together.”