Daily News Wrap

Danewin dies aged 29

Five-time Group 1 winner and Group 1 sire Danewin was humanely euthanised at Emirates Park on Thursday, aged 29.

A member of Danehill’s (USA) very first foal crop in 1991, Danewin suffered from well-documented fertility issues but still managed to sire 25 individual stakes winners, and five Group 1 winners, despite his average crop amounting to little more than 27 to 28 live foals per season.

Emirates Park General Manager Bryan Carlson paid tribute to a horse which proved a cornerstone of the stud’s early success and has been omnipresent on the farm for quarter of a century.

“Needless to say, it was a very sad day at Emirates Park yesterday as Danewin has been with most of us since we joined the Team, and in most cases was a mainstay of the stud for many years beforehand,” Carlson said in a statement.

“Danewin was essentially the first commercial stallion the Boss (His Excellency Nasser Lootah) installed at our Murrurundi headquarters and the numbers suggest that he would have been an exceptional stallion if afforded the same fertility so many other elite sons of Danehill enjoyed.”

Carlson concluded: “Even with his issues, and thanks to the outstanding management he received once they were recognised, Danewin served Emirates Park with distinction and for that we are all truly indebted.”

Plutocrat out for Doomben upset

Eagle Farm trainer Chris Anderson believes his Listed Gold Edition Plate contender Plutocrat (Rich Enuff) must not be forgotten in Saturday’s Doomben feature.


“I think she looks a good roughie, put it this way, I certainly wouldn’t be leaving her out of exotics (bets),” Anderson told Racenet.

“She has run a big race at big odds before and I think she can do it again.

“In fairness to her, she was three-deep throughout second-up after she had a gut buster first-up when she carried 59kg.”

Zarastro looking to add to Waller’s hand

After She’s All Class (I Am Invincible) put her hand up as another contender for Chris Waller in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic next month, the champion trainer will look to further increase his hand in the race with Zarastro (I Am Invincible).

Zarastro will make his debut at Randwick on Saturday and if he wins, Waller said he could head straight for the Gold Coast.

“We have two decent 2-year-olds, Zarastro and Coastwatch, running against each other,’’ Waller told Racenet.

“Zarastro is having his first start and like most of our ‘babies’ you will see improvement with racing. Coastwatch should be better again for the two runs he’s had.’’

The Waller team secured Zarastro for $1.05 million last January, while Fastnet Rock colt Coastwatch cost $750,000 at Inglis Easter.

Avalon sister to debut

Orlando Grove (Magnus), the 3-year-old sister to Group 1 winner Streets Of Avalon, will make her debut in the United Petroleum 3YO Maiden Plate at Yarra Valley on Friday, and trainer Shane Nichols is hopeful she can follow in the footsteps of her older brother.

"She's owned in similar interests with a few extras," Nichols told Racing.com. "So, the same guys are there to enjoy the ride and I did tell them a little while back that they're lucky because they've got a sister that can run a bit as well.

"She hasn't got the big white face like he's got, she's a very plain bay, but she's a good type.

”He'd had three starts as a 2-year-old, whereas she's three, and she's not as robust as him, but she's quite fast.

"We like her a lot. I'd say she's got a bit more scope than he had at the same stage."

Stockdale to return to Victoria

Apprentice jockey Tom Stockdale will return to Victoria next week after completing a three-month loan to champion trainer Chris Waller.

"I can't thank Chris and his staff enough for their support and patience during the past three months, I've learnt so much and will forever be grateful for the opportunity," Stockdale told Racing.com.

"Outside of the stable it's been really helpful getting the chance to ride against jockeys like Kerrin McEvoy, Tommy Berry and James McDonald, who have all been very generous with their advice on ways I can continue to improve. Grant Buckley has also been a great support.

“I'm hoping to hit the ground running and ride trials at Cranbourne and then hopefully pick up some rides from Tuesday onwards.

"Getting the opportunity in Sydney has made me as committed as I've ever been and I'm excited to be able to implement some of the new things I've learnt.

"I know I've still got so much to learn though, so I'm excited for that and am very focused on outriding my 2kg claim."

Tavi Mac primed

Allan Sharrock is hoping Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) can exploit any weakness in the armour of Group 1-winning rival Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) in Saturday’s G2 Manawatu Challenge S. at Awapuni.

“Callsign Mav is a very good horse but they tell me he hasn’t won away from Hastings and we’re hoping if that’s a chink in his armour, we might take advantage of it,” Sharrock said.

“But he’s a class horse and as a Group 1 winner, we’ve got nothing but respect for him. He’s going to be a formidable opponent but we’re pretty happy with our bloke too.”

Tavi Mac has won nine of his 14 starts, with wins in the Listed Matamata Cup and Listed Levin S. in his past two starts.

“He’s going super. We’ve had no hiccups,” Sharrock said. “He had a little let-up after Otaki but his two main gallops ahead of Saturday have been nothing short of outstanding. He’s going really well.

“He’s got a cosy draw (barrier three) to follow the speed and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t run one or two.

“Safely through this, and if he won it, and won it nicely, I might have a throw at the stumps at the Telegraph.”

Vale Terrill Charles

Mid-Canterbury trainer Terrill Charles has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Charles was diagnosed five years ago with an aggressive form of brain cancer and given just four and a half months to live.

Charles stubbornly refused to let cancer rule her life and together with partner Peter Corbett, who has overcome health issues of his own in recent years, built up a boutique team of thoroughbreds.

The stable was to the fore last year when lining up three runners in the G3 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton where bonny mare Dee And Gee (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) took top honours for the couple.

There were understandably emotional scenes in the birdcage where Charles admitted it was her love of horses that had got her through despite a dim prognosis.

More Cups targets for Cross Counter

Godolphin’s 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will have the Australian showpiece as a target once again in 2021 as the gelding stays in training with Charlie Appleby as a 6-year-old.

“Off the back of Twilight Payment winning the Melbourne Cup at the age of seven, hopefully there is still a bit of life left in Cross Counter,” Appleby said. “To win the Melbourne Cup as a 3-year-old is a tough gig to do.

“He went back and put up another good performance in the race last year (eighth), and I just felt this year during the summer he showed the signs of fatigue, so therefore we knocked his season on the head and gave him the rest of the summer off.”

Cross Counter ran just three times this year, when third in the Longines Turf H. on the Saudi Cup Card and when third in both the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the G3 Henry II S. at Sandown.

“He is out in Dubai getting some sunshine, and we will start his campaign there,” Appleby said. “I’d probably say the Dubai Gold Cup would be his main early-year aim. It’s hard for him to run in those handicaps with big weights like he did in that race in Saudi Arabia last year, so I’d think we will aim for the Dubai Gold Cup.

“If he can rekindle his form he will be competitive in that, then longer term, we might work back from a Melbourne Cup with him.”

Tattersalls Ireland concludes season

The new yearling section of the Tattersalls Ireland November Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale provided the highlight lots during the rescheduled single-session Sale at Fairyhouse on Wednesday, with a pair of fillies leading the way.

Taking top honours at yet another yearling auction in 2020 was a Jim Bolger-bred, this time a Dawn Approach (Ire) filly out of the placed My Fere Lady (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}) who was bought by Clongan House for €45,000 (AU$72,478). Her 3-year-old full sister Feminista (Ire) is the lone winner from three runners for the mare. The chestnut was consigned by Boherguy Stud as Lot 925.

Belardo (Ire) has gotten off to a promising start at stud this year, and his filly out of the winning Fashion Line (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (Lot 1004) from Ballybin Stud fetched €33,000 (AU$53,151) from BBA Ireland. The third foal from her dam, she is a sibling to a winner and from the family of G2 Prix de Royallieu scorer Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).

Trade overall was plagued by a low clearance rate, with just 53 per cent of the horses that went through the ring finding new homes-that was down slightly from 55 per cent last year.

In all, 72 horses found new homes on the day for an aggregate of €439,700 (AU$708,196). The average dipped five per cent to €6107 (AU$9836), while the median remained steady at €3000 (AU$4831).

Tattersalls Ireland Chief Executive Officer Matt Mitchell said: “Today we concluded the 2020 sales season at Tattersalls Ireland. Reflecting on the year, 2020 has been one of the most challenging to date for all of us.

“That said, we have been able to conclude a successful season working closely with our colleagues at Park Paddocks and in tandem with HRI, ITM and Goffs. A heartfelt thank you must go to our loyal clients, who even in the most uncertain times continued their commitment to Tattersalls Ireland and for that we are extremely grateful.”

More Than Ready filly tops Keeneland Digital Sale

Felicita (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), an unraced 4-year-old half-sister to Grade 1-winning juvenile and Dayoutoftheoffice (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), topped Tuesday’s Keeneland December Digital Sale when hammering for US$250,000 (AU$330,033) to Jon Clay’s Alpha Delta Stables.

The auction, Keeneland’s third foray into the nascent online sale marketplace after its June Online Select Horses of Racing Age Sale and October Digital Sale, was seen by leading consignors as a clear improvement while still having kinks that need ironing out as the sector evolves.

The one-day sale grossed US$508,000 (AU$670,627) for 15 lots, for an average of US$33,867 (AU$44,708) and a median of US$11,000 (AU$14,521). Overall, 69 lots were available for bidding from an original catalogue of 79 horses.

Tapizar dies

Tapizar (USA), who was set to be shipped to Japan to stand at stud at Yushun Stallion Station for the 2021 season, was euthanised after an accident in his stall at the Gainesway quarantine barn on Tuesday night. The 12-year-old was scheduled to travel in mid-January.

“It is with great sadness that Gainesway confirms the sudden and tragic loss of Tapizar,” said Gainesway Farm’s General Manager Brian Graves in a statement. “Our hearts go out to all of those involved.”

Awesome Again dead at 26

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and top sire Awesome Again (Can) died suddenly Tuesday at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was 26.

The exact cause of death is unknown. A full necropsy is pending and a full veterinary report will follow.