Group 1 target for Homesman

Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) will be set for the G1 Mackinnon S. following his resuming success on Saturday.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 7-year-old is an effective fresh performer and he emphasised that again by leading all the way at The Valley in the hands of Ben Melham for an authoritative win in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile.

“It’s great to have him back in winning form for Lloyd and Nick Williams and it's an honour to train this horse,” Racing Manager Brad Taylor said.

“He had done a lot of work and Ben rode him in his last couple of gallops and was happy with him. We’ll have a crack at the Mackinnon now.”

Colt goes all the way

Portland Sky (Deep Field) produced the best performance of his brief career with a front-running success in the G3 Red Anchor S. at The Valley.

Rider Ben Melham was taken on in front, but the colt was able to kick clear into the straight and comfortably saw it through to claim top honours in the PFD Food Services-sponsored 3-year-old feature.

“I’ve always felt he was a Group horse, but I don’t think he handled the track so very pleased to get the win,” trainer Matt Laurie said. “He’s just continued to improve right through the preparation.”

Portland Sky proved too strong for Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) finished a gallant second after being caught three wide without cover.

Bound for Melbourne Cup

Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) has galloped into G1 Melbourne Cup contention.

Last season’s G1 VRC Oaks winner has found form at the right time with a sterling victory in Saturday’s G2 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

“We’ve been happy with her all spring and she’s much better when she gets out in distance, I’m thrilled to see her win again,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.

“It is difficult for fillies who have won the Oaks to win the Melbourne Cup, but we will be there on the first Tuesday.”

Mares continues top form

Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) completed a hat-trick of wins with a gallant front-running display at The Valley.

Rider Jamie Kah was determined to hold the lead aboard the in-form mare in the G3 Powerflo Solutions S. and after booting well clear on the turn had enough in reserve to hold off I Am Eloquent (I Am Invincible).

“She had a bit against her weight-wise today, but she gave nothing else a chance,” trainer Danny O’Brien said. “Jamie gets on really well with her as well.”

No need to say more

Smart 3-year-old Need I Say More (No Nay Never {USA}) let his actions do the talking at Te Rapa when he gave his age-group rivals a galloping lesson in the G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial S. on Saturday.

The Jamie Richards-trained runner had his doubters after he was beaten into fourth in the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas at his last start when a well-backed favourite.

Need I Say More quelled those doubts and more with a sparkling display that saw him lead his rivals a merry chase from barrier rise as he dominated proceedings from in front to register a sizzling 1:22.06s for the 1400 metre journey.

“It was a good effort as he got away from the barriers cleanly today and then could dictate terms after that,” Richards said. “It all worked out well and he is going well. He just seems to be happier out in front where he can roll along, skip on the corner and then maintain that speed.

“We’ll give him a couple of days now and see how he gets through the run, but I would think you would have to go to Riccarton for the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.”

Coolmore America announce fees

Ashford Stud, Coolmore’s Kentucky division, has released the 2021 stud fees for its stallion roster. Uncle Mo (USA) leads the way at US$175,000 (AU$245,166) in 2021 after being priced at US$125,000 (AU$175,119) for 2020. Ashford’s two Triple Crown winners, Justify (USA) and American Pharoah (USA), who leads the second-crop sire list by Graded stakes winners, will stand for US$125,000 (AU$175,119) and US$100,000 (AU$140,095), respectively.

Justify stood for US$150,000 (AU$210,142) in 2020 and the reduction is in keeping with what many farms are doing for the upcoming breeding season in response to the economy’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. American Pharoah was officially listed as private in 2020. “Our established sires have enjoyed great success on the racetrack this year, but in recognition of the challenging times we find ourselves in, we have reduced the fees of all of our sires yet to have runners with the one exception of Mendelssohn [stays at US$35,000 (AU$49,033)], who we have probably under-priced all along,” said Ashford’s Director of Sales Charlie O’Connor.

Ancestry too slick

Ancestry (The Brothers War {USA}) was untroubled at The Valley to continue his winning roll.

He was quickly into stride to make the running and kicked clear in the run home to beat Jungle Edge (Dubawi {Ire}) to land the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank H. and remain unbeaten in three starts this preparation.

Ancestry, who was ridden by Michael Poy, is trained by Phillips Stokes and has the impressive winning strike rate of seven successes from his 12 career starts.

Course specialist scores

A love affair with the Te Rapa track continued on Saturday when course specialist De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) took out the G3 Waikato Stud Soliloquy S.

The Team Rogerson-trained 3-year-old had won three of her four starts at the venue leading into the race and added a fourth victory with a gritty front-running performance and an inch perfect ride by jockey Ryan Elliot.

Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson was thrilled with the victory as he looks ahead to tackling the G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas on November 14 with his charge.

“That was a super effort as we had to back off her a bit after she ran on the second day at Hastings,” he said. “She jarred up a little bit so we gave her a short break. We had to run her last week to get her fitness back up as we’re heading to the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.”

Vitesse Bo in Guineas picture

Cambridge visitor Vitesse Bo (NZ) (Proisir) caused a minor upset when she defeated some well credentialled age-group classic contenders in Saturday’s G3 War Decree S. at Riccarton.

The younger half-sister to G1 Levin Classic winner Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) was having just her third start as she registered career victory number one with a dogged performance.

“I thought she would go pretty well, but I didn’t really think she could win like that,” trainer Ben Foote said. “She has done nothing but improve since her first start and last time she got beaten by a good one in Kelly Renee so that gave me more confidence.

“We also knew she would love the big track so we decided to send her down there rather than run at Te Rapa today.

“She has gone a strong mile so the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas shouldn’t hold any fears for her, she just has to rise to that class.”

Impressive performance

Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) confirmed a Classic bid when she put paid to her maiden rivals at Riccarton with aplomb.

The Michael and Matthew-trained filly was at NZ$41 for the G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas and has now come into an NZ$18 quote.

She was bought out of Berkeley Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$40,000 by Michael Pitman and is out of Splat (More Than Ready {USA}), a grand-daughter of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Savana City (New Regent {Can}).

Uncle Mo leads the way

According to The Jockey Club, which released its annual Report of Mares Bred (RMB) on Friday, Uncle Mo (USA) covered 257 mares this year, the most among any stallion standing in North America. That puts Uncle Mo back on top for the first time since 2016 when he was bred to 253 mares. Uncle Mo edged out Into Mischief (USA), who was second with 248 mares covered.

Into Mischief is a perennial leader in this category, having topped it in 2017 and 2018 before finishing third last year behind Justify (USA) and Mendelssohn (USA). For 2020, Mendelssohn came in third, covering 242 mares. The Spendthrift stallion and G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso (USA) was fourth, covering 238 mares. As has been the case over the last several years, Coolmore and Spendthrift stallions dominated the list. Eight of the top 10 on the list stand at either Coolmore or Spendthrift, with each having four sires among the top 10.

Lane’s End cuts fees

On the heels of the announcement that top three leading second-crop sire Daredevil (USA) will return to the US from Turkey to stand at Lane’s End Farm, the Versailles nursery and stallion station released its full roster and stud fees for 2021.

The roster will be led by stalwart Quality Road (USA), who gets a fee cut from US$200,000 (AU$278,820) to US$150,000 (AU$209,114). A majority of key breeding sheds are cutting 2021 stud fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Candy Ride (Arg) will also see his fee slashed from US$100,000 (AU$139,400) to US$75,000 (AU$104,550). A number of the other stallions on the roster are also getting breaks on fees. A few will stay at the same level as in 2020, including the popular City Of Light (USA), whose first foals are weanlings this year, and Twirling Candy (USA). Both will continue to stand for US$40,000 (AU$55,780).

G1 Breeders’ Cup winner Game Winner (USA), who will stand for US$30,000 (AU$41,825); this year’s G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A P (USA), who will stand for US$15,000 (AU$20,910); and G1 Santa Anita H. winner Gift Box (USA), at US$10,000 (AU$13,940).

Liam’s Map’s (USA) fee of US$30,000 (AU$41,825) is only locked in until November 5, with changes possible after that date due to Breeders’ Cup results.

New faces

Keeneland has announced four new additions to its Advisory Board of Directors: Gatewood Bell of Cromwell Bloodstock, Coolmore’s Aisling Duignan, Juddmonte Farms’ Garrett O’Rourke and Sarah S. Reeves of Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Nick Nicholson, Keeneland President and Chief Executive Officer from 2000-12, and J. David Smith Jr. of Stoll Keenon Ogden are retiring from the Keeneland Board.

All four new Directors began their service at the recent Advisory Board meeting. Reeves replaces Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin as Secretary of the Board.