George, with partners Wally Baines, George Brajovich and his wife Gillian paid $6000 for a tried horse named Little Imagele (Imagele), who in 1981 swept all before him claiming five wins in succession, culminating in the G1 Western Mail Classic (now Kingston Town).

George drove the horse side of the business from his Ascot stables and Wally continued their retail business enterprise, firstly as a publican, before purchasing an IGA Grocery Store.

Their tireless work at searching for that special click in pedigrees produced a plethora of winners, including 1995 Railway S. winner Jacks Or Better (Curravilla {Ire}) and Vega Magic (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who awarded them with wins in the G1 Goodwood and Memsie S., and an unlucky second to Redzel (Snitzel) in the inaugural $10 million The TAB Everest.

The brothers bred Vega Magic from their mare Admirable (Magic Albert), but unfortunately George was thwarted by a degenerative illness from training Vega Magic and the horse was transferred to Sean Casey.

Sadly, George passed away earlier this year after a long battle with sickness. Casey won last autumn’s G3 Roma Cup with Vega Magic and in a new partnership with his son Jake, they prepare, Dom To Shoot.

The Daly brothers paid $135,000 for Dom To Shoot’s dam Princess Rouge (Pins) at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Princess Rouge, showed plenty of promise, but injury restricted her career to a mere four starts for two seconds.

The brothers bought Princess Rouge on the strength of the talent of her full brother Pin Rouge, who they paid NZ$200,000 for in 2007. He won 10 races, including the Listed 2013 Bunbury S. Princess Rouge looked promising as a broodmare carrying the bloodlines of G1 winners Glamour Puss (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Vision And Power (Carnegie {Ire}).

Promising bloodlines

Dom To Shoot is the second foal from the mare. “He only turned three years old on the 11th of the 11th,” Wally said. “That happens to be Maureen and mine’s wedding anniversary, so he has a special place in our hearts. I have seven or eight horses by Dom To Shoot’s sire Shooting To Win. I really like them. He is a full brother to Deep Field and some people think he was a better racehorse.

"I have Charlton Eddie (by Shooting To Win out of Refemme) and his full brother. Both are showing promise. Dom To Shoot had a nice gallop on Thursday and everything is going well. The only thing is he is always the best man and we want him to be the groom.”

Dom To Shoot was the $5 equal favourite when storming into third place (beaten 0.9l, from 11th on the turn) to Watch Me Dance (I’m All The Talk) in the G2 WA Guineas at his last start on November 21.

He had no luck as a $2.50 favourite, rattling into seventh place from 11th on the turn in the Listed Fairetha S. at his previous start. He ran the fastest final 600 metres of 33.96s. Daly scratched Laverrod (Toronado {Ire}) from last Saturday’s G1 Winterbottom S. because of a wide draw in 15. He had no issues with Dom To Shoot drawn in seven.

Knuckey to steer

Natural lightweight Peter Knuckey takes the reins from heavyweight jockey Paul Harvey to ride him at 52kg. “The weight is an advantage,” Daly said. “He will be finishing off strongly and I think he can be in it. George won this race with Little Imagele all of those years ago. Little Imagele was a great horse and it would be a very special win for me, if this bloke can do it."

Watch Me Dance’s jockey Shaun McGruddy has been on a strict diet since her win in the G3 WA Champion Fillies’ S. three weeks ago to ride her at the 50kg limit.

McGruddy is chasing his maiden win in the Kingston Town on the star filly. Watch Me Dance, if she is successful will complete a hat-trick for 3-year-old fillies, following Kay Cee (Playing God) (2019) and Arcadia Queen (Pierro) (2018). Perfect Reflection (More Than Ready {USA}) was the first filly to win the WA weight-for-age championship in 2015.

Three-year-olds have the best record in the Classic having won 18 times since its first running in 1976. Watch Me Dance also will be the seventh WA Guineas winner to win the double in the same year, after Arcadia Queen, Ihtsahymn (Ihtiram {Ire}) (2013), Playing God (2010), Megatic (2007), Old Nick (1998) and Importune (1984).

Lightweight

A lean but keen McGruddy said he normally rides at 54kg at this time of year and at 56kg in the winter. He sought advice from Steven Parnham, who wasted hard to ride Kay Cee on 50kg last year.

“Steve (Wolfe, trainer) indicated after she won the Champion Fillies' that he was looking at the race,” McGruddy said. “So I have had three weeks to work at it. I have been doing extra sessions of training with my trainer Matt Fuller and spending time in the spa. I have cut my meals to smaller portions, cutting out all breads, pastas and salt.

"I am not quite there yet, but I should be by Saturday. She might not be in the class of Kay Cee or Arcadia Queen, but she is a pretty tough filly and she deserves my best effort. Having drawn barrier five is a bonus.”

The chances of Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) becoming the sixth horse to win the Railway-Kingston Town Classic double took a setback with her draw in 18. Sniper’s Bullet (Bite The Bullet {USA}) was the last horse to win the double in 2009, with other winner being Modem (Bletchingly Park {Ire}) (2004), Old Comrade (Old Spice) (2001), Island Morn (Marooned {GB}) (1994) and Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}) (1989).

The lightly-raced 5-year-old goes up 4kg on the weight she carried in the Railway to 57kg and will jump from 15, with the scratching of the three emergencies. No horse has won from gate 15 at the past 43 editions.

Peters' stars

Owners Bob and Sandra Peters have won the Kingston Town five times with Arcadia Queen (2018), Perfect Reflection (2015), Old Comrade (2000/01) and Old Nick (1998).

Peters prior three Railway winners Regal Power (Pierro) ran sixth to Kay Cee last year; Galaxy Star (Redoute's Choice) ran third to Arcadia Queen; and Elite Belle (Canny Lad) finished third to stable-mate Disposition (Reset) (2nd) and Moriarty (NZ)(Tanthem {USA}) (2014).

“It is the worst barrier you can draw at Ascot,” Peters said. “They have such a short run into the turn at the 1800 metres. It is going to make it very hard from out there."

Peters is a strong supporter of Westbury Stud’s sire Reliable Man (GB). Inspirational Girl was bred by Jamieson Park and bought by WA bloodstock agent John Chalmers on behalf of Peters for NZ$190,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock's Premier Yearling Sale. Peters has bought yearling colts and fillies by Reliable Man at Karaka sales and also has sent mares to the stallion.

“Inspirational Girl and Leading Girl have done quite well,” Peters said. “The other sons and daughters of Reliable Man have not done much yet. I think they could take a bit of time. In saying that, Leading Girl was a stronger type than Inspirational Girl and came up earlier.

“Inspirational Girl was a bit lean and she had a few little things that went wrong. She needed time to get over them. I did not put her into work until later in her life. She has had a very similar preparation to Galaxy Star, who also was late to bloom.

"If you look at their careers you will see they followed very similar paths. Both had to perform well in a stakes race to get into the Railway.

"I have a mare in New Zealand named Dariana, who I have been sending to Reliable Man for the past few seasons,” Peters said. “She won a Queensland Oaks and ran second to So You Think in the Underwood S.”

Peters paid $800,000 for Dariana (Redoute’s Choice) in foal to Street Cry (Ire), through Belmont Bloodstock at the 2014 Inglis Sydney Broodmare and Weanling Sale. Peters said Galaxy Star (Redoute’s Choice) was in foal to Pierro.

On a sad note, dual Oaks (WA and SA) and Derby (WA and SA) winning mare Delicacy (Al Maher) died this year. She produced two live foals in a filly called Very Likely (Pierro) and a colt named More Likely (Pierro). “She died from a reaction to penicillin just before she was due to foal,” Peters said.

Dariana stays just across the road from Westbury Stud and has produced two fillies by Reliable Man in Reliable Choice (NZ) (2018) with the other filly (2019) is yet to be named. She was served by Reliable Man this season.

Peters’ other Kingston Town runner Truly Great (Dundeel {NZ}) ran an eye-catching seventh in the Railway, after his first stakes win in the G3 RJ Peters S. on November 14. But the winner of six of his 11 starts jumps 6kg on his Railway weight to 59kg in the Classic.

He is entered for the Perth Cup (2400 metres) on January 2. WA’s premiership leading jockey Chris Parnham is back on Truly Great, after Clint Johnston-Porter rode him in the Railway. He is drawn in nine.

“On his breeding the extra 200 metres will suit him,” Peters said. “He is out of Truly Special, a Jeune mare, and she stayed well, winning up to 2200 metres. She produced a WA Oaks winner in Special Alert. He is a son of Dundeel and his stock are going well.

“Truly Special foaled another Dundeel filly a only few days ago. If Truly Great continues to improve then he will go into the Perth Cup.”

While there is no doubt a sense of pride that the legacy of the breed can continue to be built upon, with every success would come the inevitable feeling of 'what could have been?'

The progeny of former Waikato Stud stallion Sacred Falls (NZ) is enjoying a breakout season, with a trio of stakes winners across Australia and New Zealand, highlighted by G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Aegon (NZ).

The son of O'Reilly (NZ) currently occupies third spot on the New Zealand Sires' Table and sits a very creditable 25th overall in the Australian sires' rankings, with nine winners, among them his first Australian stakes winner in G3 Tibbie S. victress All Saints' Eve.

He tragically died 12 months ago this week after battling a liver illness, having completed his fifth season at stud. While his time at stud was relatively short, his legacy lives on with 41 winners from 95 starters. Zee Falls' victory in the G3 Wellington S. last week means he is now tracking at 3.16 per cent stakes winners/runners ratio.

Those statistics are likely to improve with strong numbers to get to the track from his third crop of 71 foals, of which there has been only one runner to date, and the fourth crop, which numbered 77 and are only yearlings. The numbers of his final crop, foaled this spring, were curtailed by his illness and he served only 61 mares.

Former Aquis stallion Spill The Beans got a breakthrough stakes winner with Tellall in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial at Ellerslie last week, just reward for the volume of winners he has produced in his first crop and a bit.

Aquis announced his tragic passing on November 1 last year, just days after his first winner, Tennessee Boy. He would go on to be the equal leading first-season sire on winners in Australia with 13 and that success has continued to flow this season, with 18 winners, placing him third of all second-season stallions to date.

The late son of Snitzel is likely to feature on stallion tables for some time to come, having served big books in his four seasons, with his current 2-year-olds part of a crop of 98, added to 95 yearlings, and, to date, 58 foals born this spring. He has had 27 winners from 91 starters to date.

Sadly, these are not the only stallions lost to the Australasian industry in what has been a difficult couple of years. Whether it be the monumental loss of the great Redoute's Choice, albeit at the grand age of 23, the departure of the wonderfully successful Sebring (aged 13) and Tavistock (NZ) (aged 14), or emerging stallions like those above, there has certainly been a run of significant losses.

A look at the current Top 100 sires on the Australian Sires' table reveals eight of that list has passed away since the start of 2019, while New Zealand has lost four of its current Top 30 in the past 12 months.

The record of selected stallions who have been lost to us in recent years, having stood less than five seasons, reveals the legacy they have left through their progeny.

Table: *Selected stallions who stood for five seasons or fewer

Unencumbered still making his mark

Three Bridges was devastated to lose Unencumbered due to post-surgery complications in March 2018 after just four seasons. The Liston family had enormous faith in the son of Testa Rossa and the subsequent results of his progeny tell us why.

He has had 104 winners from 165 runners since he died, including the stakes-winning trio Felicia, Mirette and No Restriction. Those winners should continue to flow with his final crop of 84 foals having only recently turned two, only one of which has yet made the track. He has had 31 winners in Australia this season, and currently sits 61st in the Sires' Table.

Former Cornerstone Stud shuttle stallion Zebedee (GB) had six Australian winners when he died in October last year but has since had 23 winners from 65 runners, including the dual stakes winner Ecumenical.

Guineas winners sadly missed

Going back a little further and over to New Zealand, horses like Ferlax (NZ) and Atlante are further examples of promising stallions lost far too early in their careers.

Ferlax only served three seasons at Haunui Farm, which means all his progeny hit the track after his tragic passing. At it stands, the G1 Australian Guineas winning son of Pentire (GB) has produced 30 winners from those three crops, including the multiple Group 2 winner Imelda Mary (NZ) and recent Malaysian Listed winner Shanghai Nights (NZ).

Atlante, the 2013 NZ 2000 Guineas winning son of Fastnet Rock, only served two seasons at Mapperley Stud before his death in a freak accident in December 2016. He has subsequently had 23 winners from his 44 runners, including three stakes winners. Recent G1 Tarzino Trophy winner Callsign Mav (NZ) is his headline performer.

Meteor's mark

The two horses in the past decade which made most impact with less than five seasons at stud were Beneteau and Northern Meteor. They died within six months of each other in 2013, but their legacies have been long lasting.

Northern Meteor did extraordinary things with his four crops at Widden Stud, with 287 winners from 364 starters, including a remarkable 24 stakes winners. When he died of a sudden bout of colic on the penultimate day of the 2012/13, season, he had already produced 18 winners from his first crop, including three at stakes level, and was posthumously crowned Australia's champion first-season sire.

That first crop ended up with 105 winners from 127 runners, and 26 stakes winners. Among them were the Group 1 winners Zoustar, Amanpour and Cosmic Endeavour as well as future stallion Deep Field. In later crops came more Group 1 winners in Shooting To Win, also a stallion of note, and Speak Fondly.

A measure of Northern Meteor's influence is the five sons he currently has at stud in Australia, as well as four grandsons.

Beneteau's time at Arrowfield was even shorter at just two seasons before his sudden death in January 2013. From his two crops came a notable 78 winners from 107 runners, His stakes winners-to-runners ratio was an impressive 9.35 per cent, and included among his 11 stakes winners were the Group 1 winners Prompt Response and Lasqueti Spirit.

Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls

Remarkable trade

Given that at times it looked doubtful that this Sale would even be able to proceed during a second English lockdown, that fact that the bloodstock industry has been able to engage in business which has turned over around £77 million (AU$139 million) in less than a fortnight is, frankly, remarkable. And it is also important.

Juddmonte’s Teddy Grimthorpe acknowledged on Wednesday that “without this Sale, a multi-million pound industry would have been on its knees” and a statement of that nature coming from a representative of such a major owner-breeder operation highlights how important every sale this year has been to participants at all levels of the market.

“Traditionally at the conclusion of the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale we would reflect upon the level of trade, both at the December Sales and earlier sales, and also record our thanks and appreciation to all those who have contributed throughout the year,” said Mahony.

“In this strangest of years our thanks to all concerned is an even more central message, but we should start by expressing heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the wider industry that the 2020 Tattersalls December Sales, Europe’s foremost foal and breeding stock sales, have been able to take place, under strict COVID-related protocols, on the advertised dates and with the minimum of disruption to the established cycle of the bloodstock sales season.

“We have been able to bring a testing sales season to a successful conclusion and for that we are enormously grateful.

“While the usual vibrance associated with this annual showcase of Europe’s finest breeding stock has, by necessity, been lacking, we have again been buoyed by the sustained resilience of the market and the extraordinary determination of buyers from throughout the world who have contributed to yet another 2020 Tattersalls sale which has defied the prevailing social and economic uncertainty.”

Across the last four days, 735 fillies, mares, and the odd colt or gelding, have sold for a total of 43,111,900 gns (AU$82,840,000), a decrease of 25 per cent on 2019.

The average dropped 32 percent to 58,656 gns (AU$112,700) and median fell 26 per cent to 20,000 gns (AU$38,400). And, in a consistent trend across the various sales this year, the clearance rate was up at 85 per cent.

A factor which helped this rise was doubtless the promotion of the online bidding platform which was so essential for those unable to attend the sales in person. More than 3 million gns (AU$5.76 million) was spent this way during the December Mares’ Sale, with 136 horses sold online to 75 different bidders.

The final session of mares traditionally brings the December Sale to a more sedate close. There was a high number of withdrawals but, for those who stood their ground, there was again a decent clearance rate of 80 per cent, albeit at more bargain prices.

The average of 5077 gns (AU$9755) was up by 35 per cent on last year, and the 3000 gns (AU$5765) median up by 20 per cent, with the 106 lots sold adding 538,200 gns (AU$1,034,150) to the overall tally.

Grand advertisement

If ever there was an advertisement for agents and breeders to remain at Tattersalls for the last day of mares it was that of Shena’s Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who sold on Tuesday for 280,000 gns (AU$538,000) having been picked up, in foal, by Sicilian breeder Domenico Zammitti for 1200 gns (AU$2305) at last year’s closing session. In the meantime, of course, her Group 2-winning juvenile daughter Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) had provided the kind of update we all dream about.

It took a pledge of 21,000 gns (AU$40,350) from an absent Geoffrey Howson, bidding through his friend Paul Thorman, to secure the day’s leading light, Banmi (Ire) (Lot 2195). The daughter of Kodiac (GB), who is on her way to France, was a winner last year for Mohammed Moubarak and is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Moonlit Garden (Ire) (Exceed And Excel).

“In addition to the obvious issues, we were conscious that this year’s December Mares catalogue lacked a little of the depth of recent renewals, but nevertheless quality consignments from Britain, Ireland and France have attracted buyers from throughout the world who have been active at all levels of the market, as ever demonstrating the enduring appetite for quality European bloodstock,” Mahony said.

“While the undoubted highlight of the week was the 2.2 million gns (AU$4.22 million) sale of Highclere and Floors Studs’ outstanding broodmare Beach Frolic to MV Magnier, encouragement can also be taken from the consistent global participation, with buyers from America, France, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE all featuring amongst the leading buyers alongside new and established British and Irish investors.

“Buyers from throughout Europe, the Gulf region, Australasia, India, Kazakhstan, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey have also been active and a particular feature of the Sale has been the prolific use of the live internet bidding facility which has allowed so many buyers unable to attend in the usual manner to participate successfully.

“More than half of the lots offered this week have attracted internet bids. It has been notable that the online action has been at every level of the market, including the very top end.

“The implementation of the live internet bidding platform is a perfect illustration of how all involved in this industry have successfully adapted and responded to circumstances outside their control, as is the mutual cooperation with our counterparts at Goffs and Arqana which has allowed us all to adjust sales dates when needed.

“We have staged an unprecedented 16 sales at Park Paddocks since the end of June and after every one of them we have reflected on the admirable patience and determination which everyone has shown to overcome unprecedented obstacles.

“The world has been thrown into turmoil, but every single participant at our 2020 sales should be applauded for the manner in which they have accepted the demands presented by the global pandemic.

“Few will look back on the 2020 Tattersalls sales season with pleasure, but they can look back with pride and our thanks go to each and every one who has contributed to a Tattersalls sales season of remarkable resilience.”