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Glenn Lee counting down to sale ring debut
Written by
Paul Vettise
5 min read
Excitement is mounting at Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds with the New South Wales operation to take a major step forward in its brief history this weekend when it offers its maiden yearling draft.
Cover image courtesy of Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds
Rod and Mikayla Day’s Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds will take on the role of vendor for the first time when it presents a 13-strong draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables from February 7-9.
A glowing endorsement of its evolvement in such a short space of time is that its consignment includes a number of youngsters to be offered on behalf of powerhouse New Zealand nursery Waikato Stud.
Glenn Lee was established a little over a year ago, but there is no shortage of experience behind the sales preparation, spelling, rehabilitation, agistment and weaning and handling operation based at Bell View Park Stud.
“We started in 2019 and we look after Bell View’s mares as well and this will be our very first draft,” Mikayla Day said. “This is our big intro so we’re pretty excited."
Day has been immersed in the thoroughbred industry since finishing her education.
“I did three years at Bell View Park as a stud hand and then I went to Newhaven Park as the Yearling Manager and following that did a year at Lime Country Thoroughbreds as Yearling Manager again,” she said.
“I was back at Newhaven for a couple of months before we started up Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds.”
Mikayla and Rod Day | Image courtesy of Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds
The name of the property is taken from family ties – Mikayla’s father is Glenn and Lee the father of Rod.
“Rod was always into motor sports and we’ve been together for five years and got married early last year and he’s had a one-stop education with horses. We’re both totally hands-on and Rod can do everything I can so we make a good team,” Mikayla Day said.
“We’re both totally hands-on and Rod can do everything I can so we make a good team.” - Mikayla Day
“Seven of our draft are from Waikato Stud, we’re doing two for Edinglassie Stud, one for a client and three of our own.
“Mark Chittick’s horses arrived on December 11 and have done really well. I’ve never met Mark and we’re grateful for the opportunity he has given us.
“I know Waikato Stud’s Yearling Manager Jaimee Gowler and I know Mike Rennie (Business Manager) quite well and it’s a shame Mark can’t be here.”
A son of the Matamata farm’s resident stallion Tivaci, Lot 239, has made a strong impression on Day.
“He’s my favourite and he’s a lovely type with a great body and he’s going to be a good racehorse going forward,” she said.
Lot 239 - Tivaci x Popular (NZ) (colt)
The colt is the first foal out of the winning Savabeel mare Popular (NZ) and she is out of a sister to the four-time Group 1 winner and late sire Sacred Falls (NZ).
Popular is also a three-quarter sister to the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. winner Splashing Out (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who has produced Group winners Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel) and the siblings Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins) and Packing Pins (NZ).
“The Waikato Stud horses are a great bunch, they're well put together and all have excellent attitudes,” Day said.
“The Waikato Stud horses are a great bunch, they're well put together and all have excellent attitudes.” - Mikayla Day
They include two other Tivaci colts with Lot 474 out of a sister to Group 2-winning siblings Vigor (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Joey Massino (NZ), while Lot 559 is the first foal of the stakes performer Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel).
Lot 14 is a son of Savabeel and also the family of Sacred Falls and recent Listed Gingernuts Salver winner Milford (NZ) (Savabeel) and Lot 39 is by Ocean Park (NZ) and from a half-sister to G1 Queensland Derby winner Lachlan River (Desert King {Ire}).
Savabeel’s son is Lot 69 and he is a grandson of G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Breezy (NZ) (Pins) while Lot 575 is by Sacred Falls out of the G2 Kewney S. winner Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel). She is a half-sister to G1 Australasian Oaks winner Marju Snip (NZ) (Marju {Ire}).
“We’ve also have got two mares and Lot 646 is out of one of them and we pinhooked a Nicconi filly, Lot 4, and a Jukebox filly, Lot 651,” Day said.
Lot 646 is by Smart Missile out of Kamili (Bernardini {USA}) and is from the family of Group 1-winning half-brothers and sires Arazi (USA) and Noverre (USA).
Pinhooked fillies
The daughter of Nicconi is a half-sister to a winner and their dam Gibraltar’s Gift (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is from the family of The Cloisters (Godswalk {USA}), winner of the Listed Keith Mackay S. and twice Group 1-placed.
The filly was purchased for $25,000 out of Rosari Farm’s draft at the Magic Millions Weanling Sale where the daughter of Jukebox was bought from Aquis for $15,000.
She is out of the Group performer Kyria (Encosta De Lago), dam of two multiple winners, and the family of the G1 VRC Derby winner and sire Benicio, whose half-siblings Romneya (Red Ransom {USA}) and Roheryn (Lonhro) are Group winners.
Lot 648 is a Shooting To Win filly to be sold on behalf of a client and is from the family of dual Group 1 winner Malaguerra (Magnus).
Glenn Lee will also offer Lots 717 and 763 on behalf of Edinglassie with the former a Foxwedge colt out of a half-sister to Listed Bel Esprit S. winner Office Bearer (Officer) and the latter a Shooting To Win colt, a grandson of the G2 Eight Carat Classic winner Alagant Satin (NZ) (Al Akbar {NZ}).
Glen Lee Thoroughbreds
Inglis
Classic
MikaylaDay
RodDay
McAuliffe's Matrice shock
Written by
Bren O'Brien
6 min read
Still a little overwhelmed after receiving the Matrice Award from the South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders for his outstanding contribution to the industry, broadcaster and media identity Terry McAuliffe reflects on his career in racing and those who have helped him along the way.
There was no-one more stunned at the SATB Awards night on Saturday than McAuliffe when he was announced as the latest recipient of the Matrice Award. He had attended the night at the insistence of his wife Christine and her father and previous Matrice Award recipient, Leon Macdonald, but had no inkling he would end up being one the stars of the show.
"It’s a little overwhelming to say the least, when you look at the honour roll. The likes of Colin Hayes and even my father-in-law, Leon Macdonald. The great horses that have been awarded it, Makybe Diva and Without Fear, who was an iconic stallion here for the Hayes family all those years ago. It’s quite overwhelming," McAuliffe told TDN AusNZ.
It was a night where the other major awards went to G1 Victoria Derby winner, Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}), bred by Harry Perks, who was named SA Breeders Horse of the Year.
McAuliffe has been a fixture in the South Australian racing scene for nearly 30 years, working initially as a racecaller and, more recently, in a broadcast role for Racing.com. In that time, he has built a level of respect amongst those within the industry, which was able to pay tribute to him at the annual awards night.
"You are ultimately just doing your job and earning your living and you get a pat on the back here and there. You feel blessed that you have the opportunity to work in an industry you love and that you have a real passion for. You don’t really expect to be honoured in this way," he said.
"You feel blessed that you have the opportunity to work in an industry you love and that you have a real passion for." - Terry McAuliffe
McAuliffe's media career began on a whim over 30 years ago, when he opted to follow his passion for racing rather than continue on a more conventional career path.
"I was working in a bank when I made the decision at 20 years of age to give it away and take up a position as a racecaller. I started at the very bottom of the rung and was lucky to call one meeting a week. But you eventually just keep climbing the ladder," he said.
"I never expected at 20 years of age (when I started as a racecaller), that I would call 20 Adelaide Cups and a lot of other great feature races in my home state. I look back and I think, wow, this was not where I expected to get to. There's a lot of satisfaction in that."
A world-class mentor
Key to McAuliffe's early development as a racecaller was a man who would become one of Australia's most feted sports broadcasters, Bruce McAvaney. Like McAuliffe, McAvaney had cut his teeth as a racecaller in Adelaide with an attitude that every experience was a benefit to your long-term development in the media. His mentorship enabled a young McAuliffe to develop his own craft.
"I felt my own style has evolved but it evolved from the people I looked up to and aspired to be like. Being based here in SA, I was very fortunate to be introduced to Bruce McAvaney right at the start of my career, when I was only calling trials. Bruce has always been there as an ear to listen, when I wanted to look for a bit of advice," he said.
"In particular in those first five years, when I was evolving and finding my own style, Bruce was invaluable then. I didn't have a lot to do with him once I was up and going, but I still keep in contact. We are having lunch tomorrow (Wednesday) and he reached out to me this morning (Tuesday). To have someone like that who has been there for my entire 35 years, it’s invaluable. He's been the one real constant the whole way through."
Bruce McAvaney
McAuliffe's passion for thoroughbreds was developed as a kid, growing up next to Morphettville racecourse, where the buzz of the racetrack captivated him. It's something that still keeps him going until this day.
"That passion that I had from a very early age, that evolved from the fact that we had horses over the back fence. I'd go around to the stables and from an early age, I was watching how hard a game it can be and what it takes to not just win a race, but just to get a horse to the races," he said.
His appreciation for everything that goes into the preparation of a racehorse has only been enhanced since he met Christine, his future wife, and gained an insider's view of one of South Australia's most successful racing stables, headed by Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer, Leon Macdonald.
"Through being married to Christine for 20 years and watching Leon, and now with him training with his other son-in-law, Andrew Gluyas, I can see how much effort it takes," he said.
"They have a big team, they have 40-50 horses in work, and they rely on good staff, and trackwork riders and jockeys. They are tremendously loyal people. You look how loyal Leon was to a person like Clare Lindop. Clare was there day-in, day-out, week-in, week-out. That's why Leon always did his utmost to keep Clare on a horse wherever it was possible, even when they travelled interstate. I certainly have a good understanding of those things now."
Leon Macdonald and Raquel Clark
A change of course
McAuliffe made the decision in mid-2019 to change his career course, opting to take a job as a Racing.com presenter, and stepping down from the commentary box after 20 years as South Australia's leading racecaller.
"I felt comfortable at the time I gave it away, that I had made the most of it," he said.
"I've really enjoyed moving across to Racing.com the past 18 months. I wasn't quite sure how long I wanted to continue to keep calling for and then an opportunity presented itself anyway, so it was a perfect fit for me.
"I guess when you do something for a long time, while I loved it, the constant meeting after meeting, I was maybe starting to feel it as I got older. But I've had a real new lease of life since I joined Racing.com, and that's been nice and really good."
"I've had a real new lease of life since I joined Racing.com, and that's been nice and really good." - Terry McAuliffe
Part of that 'new lease' has been because of the on-air partnership he has developed with form analyst James Jordan.
"He's only a young bloke in his mid-30s, and I've got 20 years age on him, but I sit next to him and learn from him," he said.
"I was initially thinking, I'm coming down stairs from the broadcast box, and I've got 20 years on this bloke and he's going to be able to teach me nothing but it's amazing what he has been able to teach me along the way as well.
"He's very, very strong with his form and is right into his breeding of horses these days. You always need to realise, you are never too old to learn."
Wednesday Trivia
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2 min read
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Group 1 options for quality filly Montefilia
4 min read
Written by Paul Vettise
Top-class filly Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) will be kept to her own age group this autumn by trainer David Payne as he plots a path toward a Classic grand final, although that target has yet to be determined.
She emerged as one of the stars of last spring with dual Group 1 successes and was among the early nominations for the third edition of the $5 million All-Star Mile, to be run at Moonee Valley on March 13, but won’t be heading to Victoria.
Payne has confirmed Montefilia will be staying closer to home for her upcoming preparation with a choice of two major goals in mind. She will either front-up in the G1 Australian Oaks or the G1 Australian Derby.
“She won’t be going to The All-Star and will be running in the 3-year-old races. We’d like to have a crack at the Oaks - it will either be the Oaks or the Derby because I don’t think the colts are that strong at this stage,” he said. “We will play that by ear as we go along and see where we end up.”
Montefilia hit the big time last year when she won the G1 Flight S. and backed up seven days later to add the G1 Spring Champion S. to her record. She ended her campaign when third in the G1 VRC Oaks.
Hugh Bowman and Montefilia
Rosehill trial outing
The filly was given a quiet trial at Rosehill last month when unplaced behind the slick Group 1-sprinting duo of Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Bivouac (Exceed And Excel).
“We’re happy with her and she has done well and came through the trial in good order. She will kick off in the G1 Surround S. in three weeks’ time and we’ll stick to the 3-year-old races,” Payne said.
“She has definitely improved in appearance and is carrying a bit more condition. She’s matured nicely and we couldn’t be happier with her.”
“She (Montefilia) has definitely improved in appearance and is carrying a bit more condition. She’s matured nicely and we couldn’t be happier with her.” - David Payne
Montefilia was initially bought out of Tyreel Stud’s draft at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale by Baystone Farm for $62,000 and on-sold for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Payne Racing.
She has earned $1.1 million and is a daughter of Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), whose 2-year-old daughter Nice For What (Shalaa {Ire}) finished runner-up on debut for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the G3 Ottawa S., her only appearance to date.
Montefilia as a yearling
2-year-old prospects
Payne will also have a pair of juvenile chances in the TAB Plate on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday. Fox Fighter (Foxwedge) and Tympanist (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) go head-to-head with the latter getting the nod over his stablemate.
Bred by Little Avondale Stud, Tympanist was sold through Sledmere Stud’s draft at the Gold Coast to Payne for $95,000. He is from the family of current Group winners North Pacific (Brazen Beau) and Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel).
“He’s a nice horse and he might be the better one. We don’t know how good he is yet, he’s a big strong boy,” Payne said.
Tympanist has won one of his two lead-up trials while Fox Fighter was also a trial winner before he made all the running at Kembla Grange on debut and was run down close to home to finish runner-up.
Watch: Tympanist trial
“The 1200 metres just found him out first-up after he had to do the donkey work and he will improve on that,” Payne said.
He purchased the colt out of the draft of Ashleigh Thoroughbreds for $55,000 at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale and he is from a speedy family that includes Group-winning 2-year-olds I Am A Ripper (Mukaddamah {USA}) and Murphy’s Blu Boy (Blue Tsunami {USA}).
Beau ‘in great order’ ahead of Diamond audition
4 min read
Written by Georgie Dennis
Last Week’s Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) winner General Beau (Brazen Beau) will return to Caulfield this weekend to tackle the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude, looking to stake his claims for the G1 Blue Diamond S. a fortnight later.
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained colt, bred and raced by David Moodie’s Contract Racing, is not nominated for the $1.5 million juvenile feature, however, a decision will be made after Saturday as to whether a late entry fee will be paid.
While General Beau is going into the Group 3 with less than two weeks between run, Zahra said he is in good order for his next assignment.
“He obviously wasn’t completely wound up for that race, if anything he was a bit underdone knowing that we had to peak him in a month’s time, so he’s made good improvement. He had a nice gallop on the grass this morning and we couldn’t be happier with him,” Zahra told TDN AusNZ.
Zahra said General Beau physically looks in better condition coming off his first-up run and expects him to prove that in Saturday’s race.
“You have a good look at them a couple of days after the race and he looked better for the run, he just tightened up nicely,” he said.
“Going into that run he was on the tubbier side, so he’s tightened up a lot and he had a good gallop this morning and he had a nice blow, so we know that on Saturday he’s not going to peak, he should peak perfectly third-up.”
"We know that on Saturday he’s (General Beau) not going to peak, he should peak perfectly third-up.” - Simon Zahra
General Beau had two runs in the spring where he won the Darley Spring 2YO Preview over 900 metres, before finishing second to Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) in the 1000 metre Listed Maribyrnong Trial S.
The 1100 metre Blue Diamond Prelude will be the colt’s first run over further than 1000 metres but Zahra expects him to relish the extra ground.
“He’s quite the professional sort of horse,” Zahra said. “He’s a horse that has always done what you want him to do so he’ll be happy to drop his head and go to sleep.
“They’ll still run along quite quickly and he can just be on the back of the speed to hit the line.
“I don’t think going up to 1100 and 1200 metres in the next couple of weeks is going to worry him too much.”
Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra
While many 2-year-olds targeting the rich juvenile races this autumn have only begun their racing careers over the past few weeks, Zahra believes the fact that General Beau already has one preparation under his belt holds him in good stead for the significant amount of racing over the coming weeks.
“The advantage that he’s got over the others is that he’s had two runs pre-Christmas so history will tell you that you’ll find a lot of the Blue Diamond and Slipper winners have come from horses that have run pre-Christmas,” he said.
“They just hold up with all the racing, they’ve been seasoned a bit more than those horses have in their first starts in Preludes.
“Yeah, they might get the win on the board but they seem to train off quite quickly. Our advantage is that he’s had two runs pre-Christmas, he’s had seven weeks in the paddock and he looks like a 3-year-old so he’s really coping with it all.”
Fee no issue
If General Beau is to contest the Blue Diamond, of which he is currently a $15 chance for on the TAB, connections must pay a late-entry fee of $50,000.
The stable said immediately after his Preview win that he would contest the Prelude before the fee was paid, but Zahra said that as long as he performs well on Saturday, they are likely to send him to the Blue Diamond on February 20.
“If he wins or runs an unlucky second or he hits the line strongly, as long he shows that he’s going to be competitive, paying the late nom is not really going to be an issue,” Zahra said.
“It’s just a matter of him going around and performing to what we think he can do and if he does that and looks like he can win or be competitive in a Blue Diamond, the late entry fee will be paid.”
Pedigree Boosters - Inglis Classic Yearling Sale
2 min read
In the build up to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, we have picked out three yearlings who have had substantial pedigree updates in the past couple of months.
Today, the close relation to a recent city winner takes our eye, as well as a colt by Rubick who is related to a recent Magic Millions winner and a Tosen Stardom (Jpn) filly whose half-brother has been in good form of late.
Lot 746 - Divine Prophet x Witchlike (Magic Albert) - On Account of Sefton Park Thoroughbreds
The first foal out of winning mare Witchlike, this filly’s page received a recent update with the impressive win of her dam’s half-sister Kansino (Zoffany {Ire}) in the Ladbrokes Easy Form H. at Sandown two Saturdays ago.
Out of RomanyFlyer (Catbird) Witchlike is also a half-sister to three-time stakes winner and G1 Coolmore Stud S. runner-up Invincible Star (I Am Invincible) while she is also related to G3 Eclipse S. winner Viking Hero (Elvstroem) and dual Group 1 winner InnocentKing (Tolomeo {Ire}).
Lot 746 - Divine Prophet x Witchlike (filly)
Lot 642 - Rubick x Infinitely Perfect (Pierro) - On Account of Murrulla Stud
This colt is the first foal out of placed Pierro mare Infinitely Perfect who herself is out of the stakes performed Danehill (USA) mare O’Perfect. Out of Biscay Bird (Bluebird {USA}), O’Perfect is a three-quarter sister to Soft Landing (Al Maher) who is the dam of recent Magic Millions Fillies' and Mares winner Krone (Eurozone).
Biscay Bird is also responsible for champion colt and four-time Group 1 winner Universal Prince (Scenic) and G1 Robert Sangster S. winner UniversalQueen (Scenic).
Lot 642 - Rubick x Infinitely Perfect (colt)
Lot 783 - Tosen Stardom (Jpn) x Conca Bella (Show A Heart) - On Account of Fairview Park Stud
A son of unraced Show A Heart mare Conca Bella, this colt’s Group 3-performed half-brother Star Of Michelin (Jet Spur) has added two wins at the Sunshine Coast and a second at Eagle Farm to his record since the catalogue was released.
Conca Bella herself is out of Wabble (Canadian Silver {Can}), making her a sister to G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim and G1 JJ Atkins S. runner-up Charnley River.
Lot 783 - Tosen Stardom (Jpn) x Conca Bella (colt)
Daily News Wrap
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9 min read
Perth fires evacuees to Magic Millions
More than 50 homes have been razed and hundreds evacuated with the Wooroloo bushfires raging in Perth’s hills that had on Tuesday evening already burned through 7300 hectares.
Hundreds of people and their livestock have been evacuated as the fire threatens lives and homes to Perth’s north eastern suburbs.
The fire started in Wooroloo yesterday afternoon and is now heading west, with residents in Ellenbrook, Aveley and the Vines alerted that they were under emergency threat on Monday night.
Horses and other livestock have been moved to the Magic Millions facility in Swan Valley as many farms are given evacuation orders.
The Magic Millions Swan Valley facility
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) has advised of several evacuation venues for those affected and needing to house horses. They include Belmont Racecourse, Lark Hill, Northam Harness, Byford Harness, Northam Thoroughbreds and Off The Track Estate.
There are currently bushfire emergency warnings for the areas of The Vines, Bailup, Ellenbrook, Gidgegannup, Millendon, Walyunga National Park, Upper Swan, Aveley, Avon Valley National Park, Red Hill, Belhus, Baskerville, Herne Hill, Bullsbrook, Wooroloo, Brigadoon and in the Shires of Mundaring, Chittering and Northam and the City of Swan.
The fires have hit at the same time as a COVID-19 lockdown order for the greater Perth region.
Draw favours Profiteer
The barrier draw for the R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick has favoured pre-post favourite Profiteer (Capitalist).
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt has barrier six and has now firmed to $1.85 after Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) drew out in 17 and has drifted to $8.
"He is a very happy colt and he's thrived," Price said on Sydney's Sky Sports Radio. "He's put on a bit of weight and he's just really deepened up in the coat.”
Profiteer will return to Melbourne after Saturday’s outing for the G1 Blue Diamond S. ahead of the G1 Golden Slipper S.
Profiteer
Three out of Mile
New Zealand rising star Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), as well as the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Morrissy (Snitzel) and Neil Dyer-trained Kaonic (NZ) (Savabeel), have all been withdrawn from the entries of the $5 million All-Star Mile.
Andrew Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker, said Aegon would skip The All-Star Mile in Melbourne and will be targeted towards the Sydney carnival.
G1 Epsom H. winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is the sole entry left for New Zealand after Jamie Richards indicated that Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) would also bypass the race.
Mugatoo sweating on Mile votes
After finishing fourth in the G1 Cox Plate last year, Mugatoo (Ire) (Henrythenavigator {USA}) is vying for a spot in The All-Star Mile and Australian Bloodstock’s Luke Murrell is hopeful he can secure enough votes to earn himself a spot in the race.
"We walked away from the Cox Plate thinking if we had the run of the winner the result could have been very different," Murell told Racing.com.
Mugatoo (Ire)
"His record speaks for itself and he is going as good as ever by all reports.
"I haven't been looking deliberately but keep getting plenty of people texting me who have voted for him.
"He has a cult following up here in New South Wales and is one of the most popular horses we have ever had so hopefully that counts for something."
Pippie to launch in Lightning
Dual Group 1-winning mare Pippie (Written Tycoon) will be looking to add a third top-flight victory to her CV this autumn before heading to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and co-trainer Chris Meagher is hopeful the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. is the race she can do it in.
Pippie
"Damian Lane will come down and ride her tomorrow and as long as she comes through a-okay she will go to the Lightning," Meagher told Racing.com on Tuesday.
"There is obviously no corner for her to kick-off, but we won't be changing the way we ride her.
"She will be riding the speed and I would imagine five or six across the track will do something similar."
Sirius Newmarket contender
Saab Hasan has his sights set on the G1 Newmarket H. for his G3 Standish H. winner Sirius Suspect (Wanted) and the Flemington trainer believes he is in great shape to give the feature sprint a shake.
"He's flying, absolutely flying," Hasan told Racing.com.
Sirius Suspect
"He had 14 days off (after winning at Flemington), and he's smashing all his feed, he's eating his breakfast by 7am.
"We will go to The Valley to gallop next Monday and then we will gallop again the following Monday and then he will trial the following Friday on the 26th at Flemington.
"That will tune him up for the Newmarket. He has shown fresh (he can perform well) and he's coming in off a short let-up, so there's no reason why he can't emulate the same run he did first-up (on Melbourne Cup Day)."
Waller staff resign
Chris Waller released a statement on Tuesday regarding a physical altercation between two of his Gold Coast staff at a party last month who have since resigned.
"There has been speculation that there was a party that got out of hand on the Gold Coast involving stable staff on the evening of Wednesday the 27th January. As this incident was outside of work hours, I haven't made comment in relation to this until today," Waller said in the statement.
“I can confirm that some of these staff were from my stable and have been stood down as a result of this incident, which did include a physical altercation between two people, who have resigned immediately.
"Due to the incident being outside of work hours, we have to be careful how the matter is handled and therefore a thorough investigation is continuing.”
SA receives prizemoney boost
South Australian racing received a large boost on Tuesday with the announcement that an extra $2.6 million to be injected into the industry.
The G1 Goodwood, G1 Robert Sangster S., G1 Australasian Oaks and G1 South Australian Derby have all increased by $100,000 from $402,250 to $502,250 while the G2 Adelaide Cup will receive a $50,000 increase, rising to $302,250.
Other black-type races will also have increased prizemoney, while general prizemoney levels will also rise from July 1.
"The industry is strong and vibrant at the moment, and this announcement only adds further to that momentum," Racing SA CEO, Nick Redin, told Racing.com.
"We're backing the industry to get behind us, and the trainers and other industry figures we speak to are certainly doing that.
"These new prizemoney levels will ensure our SA participants will be in a position to continue to grow their businesses."
Allen suspended
Group 1-winning jockey John Allen has been suspended for eight meetings after pleading guilty to a low-range careless riding charge at Donald on Monday.
Allen’s suspension will begin midnight on February 6 and expires at midnight on February 13.
Lifetime ban expected
A lifetime ban from all New Zealand tracks awaits the man who walked into the middle of the Trentham home straight on Saturday and narrowly avoided catastrophe with the oncoming field.
Jockeys were forced to take evasive action and the man was later arrested and will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Thursday.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing General Legal Counsel James Dunne told Stuff.co.nz the ban would come in to force as soon as court processes were finished.
“We take an extremely dim view of what happened. He can expect a lifetime ban from all the clubs around the country,” he said.
“His name and picture will be going out to all the clubs, as well as to harness racing and greyhound clubs and to some of our international partners.”
Te Rapa challenge
Exciting 3-year-old Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) is tackling older horses at Te Rapa on Wednesday as part of his preparation for the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.
Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, he is the favourite on the TAB futures market for the Derby following his victory in the G2 Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Rocket Spade
“There’s no other race for him. It’s just in a difficult space because we want to give him two runs over ground before the Derby,” O’Sullivan said.
Rocket Spade will carry 62kg at Te Rapa, giving weight to all his opponents and O’Sullivan said his colt doesn’t need to win to stay on the Derby track.
“He hasn’t been to the races for five or so weeks, it’s his first run over ground, and you look at the weight he’s got to carry compared to older horses. You wouldn’t really expect him to win.”
Classic winners impress
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is looking forward to autumn racing with a couple of last season’s Classic winners after pleasing trials at Rotorua on Tuesday.
G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) showed a good turn of foot when coming from the back of the field to take out her 1000 metre heat.
Loire (NZ)
“I was really pleased with her trial,” Pike said. “She’s a Group 1 filly, you expect her to trial well.
“At this stage we will kick her off in the fillies and mares’ 1400 metres at Matamata on Breeders’ S. Day and the long-term target, if she comes up well, will be the G1 Te Aroha Breeders’ S."
Pike was also pleased with G1 New Zealand Derby winner Sherwood Forest's (Fastnet Rock) first-up hitout over 1215 metres, finishing fourth.
“He ran out of room late and was always travelling well and was really strong through the line. He has come back in great shape and his long-term target this prep is third-up in the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup.”
Primed for Taranaki Cup
Diminutive galloper Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) will be vying to boost her pedigree page even further at New Plymouth on Saturday when she contests the G3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup.
The Frank Ritchie-trained mare has won at Group 3 level on three prior occasions and finished runner-up in the 2019 G1 Zabeel Classic.
Fiscal Fantasy
She disappointed when tailing the field home in the Group 1 feature on Boxing Day last year, but rebounded with a solid runner-up effort in the G3 Trentham S. last month.
“She has pulled up very well,” Ritchie said. “We are coming back to 1800 metres so I have tried to freshen her a little bit.”
Lady Apple retired
Lady Apple (USA) (Curlin {USA}), third in the 2019 G1 Kentucky Oaks, has been retired and will be bred to Grade 1 sire Quality Road (USA), owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds announced on Monday.
A four-time Grade 3 winner in the 2019 Fantasy S., Iowa Oaks, Remington Park Oaks and in the 2020 Houston Ladies Classic, the bay was trained by Steve Asmussen for the majority of her career.
“She has been a fantastic race mare for us and she'll be an excellent addition to our breeding operation,” Phoenix Thoroughbreds CEO, Amer Abdulaziz, said in a statement. “She has a top-class pedigree with a race record to match while the cross with Quality Road looks very exciting.”
Looking Ahead - February 3
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Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Today, we like a 2-year-old on debut who has trialled well ahead of his first appearance on the Kensington track and a filly who has also been prominent at the trials to ready her for her return. At Ladbrokes Park, we’re in the corner of a regally-bred colt with strong sprinting credentials.
Single Honor (Not A Single Doubt) was bred by SF Bloodstock and was bought out of Newgate’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft by Mitchell Bloodstock for $240,000. A half-brother to black-type performer Air To Air (Smart Missile), the colt is a son of Honor Net (NZ) (Hussonet {USA}) who was a winner and Group 3-placed and her dam Honor Lap (NZ) (Honor Grades {USA}) claimed an edition of the G1 WATC Derby.
Single Honor as a yearling
Trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, Single Honor has trialled well at Randwick and finished runner-up in his first outing and then went one better last month. Jason Collett will ride the youngster and they have an ideal gate (three) to boost their prospects.
The Brad Widdup-prepared Calgary Queen (Real Impact {Jpn}) hasn’t raced since she finished a sound fourth at Kembla Grange in the spring. Following a break, she has had two trials to fit her for her return and the filly looks a top chance from the inside gate.
Calgary Queen as a yearling
Calgary Queen was a $50,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate where she was offered by breeder Arrowfield Stud and is a half-sister to the Listed Reginald Allen H. winner Urban Groove (Charge Forward). They are out of Morton (Flying Spur), who won twice, she is a half-sister to the Listed Desirable H. winner Light Sweeper (End Sweep {USA}) and their dam Heat Of The Moment (Blazing Saddles), was a two-time Group 1 winner.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Frontman (Redoute’s Choice) is a half-brother to the G1 Ubet S. winner Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt), whose sister Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt) is a winner and second in the G2 Sweet Embrace while a half-sibling is the dam of current boom 2-year-old Enthaar (Written Tycoon), an unbeaten dual Group 3 winner.
The late Redoute's Choice, sire of Frontman
Frontman is a son of the unraced Negotiate (Red Ransom {USA}) and she is out of the G1 Champagne S. winner Euphoria (Marauding {NZ}). Bred by part-owners Arrowfield Stud and Planette Thoroughbreds, the colt will have the benefit on debut of an inside gate and the in-form Mark Zahra in the saddle.
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2YO & 3YO Winners by Sire
NSW Race Results
Grafton (Country)
Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000+)
VIC Race Results
Stony Creek (Country)
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AUS Sire Premiership
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We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TDN AusNZ. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.
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