Foote joins FBAA
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia has welcomed a founding member in John Foote back to the membership ranks.
Foote formed John Foote Bloodstock in 1982 and has purchased 16 Group 1-winning gallopers to date, including Silent Witness (NZ) (Casual Lies {USA}), Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and Trust In A Gust (Keep The Faith).
“I commend the Board of the FBAA for restoring and improving the Membership Criteria together with the Code of Ethics and giving the Federation a more clear direction for the future,” Foote said.
Adam White and John Foote | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Foote’s return marks the sixth new member to join the FBAA this year, making for a total of 28 members following the implementation of the new Membership Criteria, Code of Ethics and Constitution late last year.
“We are continuing to work on ways to develop the FBAA’s standing within the thoroughbred industry as we set the highest standard for bloodstock agents in the world,” FBAA President, Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock, said.
“It is important to us that an agent who has the respect and standing within the industry that John Foote does wants to be part of the Federation."
Entries now open
Magic Millions announced on Thursday that entries are now open nationwide for its 2022 Yearling Sales Series.
The six sales across four states are complemented by the world’s richest race series featuring the annual $10.25 million Gold Coast Race Day in January.
"Unparalleled growth has seen the number of yearlings selling for $500,000 plus at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale increase by more than 42 per cent in the last three years. No other yearling auction can boast such growth and no other sale can boast a 90 per cent clearance rate from the largest Book 1 yearling catalogue in the Southern Hemisphere,” Magic Millions Managing Director, Barry Bowditch, said.
Entries close on Friday, August 13 for all sales except the National Yearling Sale which closes on March 11. For further information contact Magic Millions' Bloodstock Department on +64 7 5504 1200 or email bloodstock@magicmillions.com.au
Eccles goes live
The much-anticipated auction of high-class race mare Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has launched on Gavelhouse Plus online.
Bidding will run through on the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner until 7pm (NZST) on Friday, July 23.
Jennifer Eccles (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“There has been widespread interest in Jennifer Eccles and rightly so, how often do you get the chance to buy a New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year. They are nearly always tightly held by breeders,” said syndicate manager Adrian Clark.
New buyers to Gavelhouse Plus are reminded that they must register well in advance to be granted bidding approval. For further assistance contact General Manager Haylie Martin: haylie@gavelhouse.com or phone +64 22 637 8127.
Victoria races on
Racing Victoria has confirmed that thoroughbred racing will continue without owners and crowds despite the state entering a hard five-day lockdown to stem the spread of a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
Fifth for Belardo
Impressive Allan Sharrock-trained Wanganui debut winner Yeaboi (NZ) has become the fifth winner for Haunui Farm freshman sire Belardo (Ire).
Out of the Iffraaj (GB) mare, Spiffy Iffie (NZ), Yeaboi is raced by breeders Garry and Nicole Pye.
Belardo (Ire) | Standing at Haunui Farm
Hosier on hold
Trainer Robert Hickmott has confirmed that talented import Hosier (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) will bypass the upcoming spring carnival, in preference for a tilt at next year’s autumn carnival.
The 4-year-old gelding has won all three of his starts on Australian soil to date by a combined margin of 13.3l.
“We will probably give him one more run before tipping him out until the autumn as Lloyd (Williams) is mindful of not over-taxing him in his first real preparation,” Hickmott told Racing Pulse.
Cup on the cards
Trainer Grahame Begg has declared that classy gelding Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) will be targeted towards October’s G1 Caulfield Cup.
Begg told Racing Pulse that the rising 5-year-old will resume in next month’s G2 PB Lawrence before contesting the Listed Heatherlie S. and G3 Naturalism S. in preparation for the time-honoured 2400-metre feature.
Nonconformist
Stable locked down
The Flemington stable of leading Victorian-based trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra has been placed into lockdown after a trackrider attended a COVID-19 exposure site.
The rider and staff member will be required to isolate for 14 days despite returning a negative test result on Thursday morning. However, the stable are hopeful that their runners will be able to line up at Geelong on Friday.
“There’s a lot to go through but we are working with Racing Victoria throughout the day. So, hopefully we can work out some sort of plan to get our horses worked and to the races,” Zahra told RSN927.
Latham cracks century
Talented NSW-based hoop Keagan Latham notched up his 100th winner for the season at Gosford on Thursday when saluting aboard the Bjorn Baker-trained Cueillir (Pluck {USA}).
Latham made his way to Australia from South Africa via England after leaving his home country in 2016 to turn his riding career around.
Aesop joins Stokes
Pakenham-based trainer Phillip Stokes is “very excited” to have promising OTI Racing-owned import Aesop (Ire) (Sadima {Ire}) joining his stable in the coming weeks.
Previously prepared by Irish-based trainer Jessica Harrington, Aesop has won twice from 10 career starts.
“We’ve had a bit of luck with them and got a couple of horses for them and got the right results. They’re very patient OTI, they give their horses plenty of time, they’re obviously very successful,” Stokes told Racing.com.
Baffert gets injunction
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has been granted a preliminary injunction by a federal judge in his lawsuit against the New York Racing Association (NYRA) that will allow him to race at New York’s three major tracks until the resolution of his doping case.
In a civil complaint filed by Baffert on June 14, the seven-time G1 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer alleged that NYRA’s banishment of him since May 17 over repeated equine drug violations violates his constitutional right to due process.
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
Saratoga Sale released
A total of 210 yearlings by a host of the world’s top stallions have been catalogued for the 100th renewal of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, to be held in Saratoga Springs on August 9 and 10.
The Sale is the first major North American yearling sale to reach the 100-year mark and to commemorate the occasion the Sale’s catalogue will include a fold-out timeline that outlines major events in the Sale’s history.
“For 100 years, Saratoga has produced breed-shapers, champions, Classic winners and international stars. This year’s catalogue is outstanding, offering the type of quality that has drawn buyers to Saratoga in search of the sport’s very best for a century,” Fasig-Tipton President and CEO, Boyd Browning Jnr, said.
Breeders’ Cup announce results
William S. Farish Jnr (Lane's End Farm), Eric Gustavson (Spendthrift Farm) and Alex Solis II (Solis/Litt Bloodstock) have each been elected to serve a four-year term on the Breeders’ Cup board of directors.
Farish and Solis were both reelected while Gustavson, who joined Spendthrift in 2006, was elected for his first term.
Gustavson has overseen the burgeoning operation grow from standing one homebred stallion to currently having the largest roster in North America.
Eric Gustavson | Image courtesy of Spendthrift
