Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Elleegant success a historic moment for trio

Chris Waller and James McDonald combined for their first G1 Melbourne Cup success, as Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) delivered a virtuoso performance to win the famous Flemington 3200-metre race by 4l.

The fifth-fastest Melbourne Cup of all-time, 3:17.43, proved one of the more memorable in recent times as the 6-year-old became the first mare since Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) in 2005 to win the race.

Left in her wake was Incentivise (Shamus Award), the shortest-priced Melbourne Cup favourite in 91 years, who repelled all challengers, but had no answers to Verry Elleegant when she challenged him inside the final furlong. The Peter Moody-trained 5-year-old lost few admirers, but could not match the now 10-time Group 1 winner for class.

The Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) finished stoutly for third, another 0.4l adrift, while Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was a short margin away in fourth, with 6l back to the remainder of the field.

While Waller, who watched the race from home on Sydney, has experienced many incredible moments across his 129 Group 1 victories, this one stood out as particularly special.

"Racing is such an amazing sport, it brings everybody together on the greatest day and everybody has a good time. We're the lucky ones with these great horses," he said.

"To see them come home safe is important but when they come home safe at the front of the field, it is very special indeed."

Waller has finished in the placings of the Melbourne Cup on three previous occasions.

The success owed a great deal to McDonald's horsemanship, as he settled the star mare midfield off a very strong pace and produced her at exactly the right time.

"It worked out perfectly, I wanted to be a little bit positive and as it turned out, we got into the best spot possible. She relaxed like the master she is and she is now a 10-time Group 1 winner with a Melbourne Cup next to her name and she will go down as one of the greatest, that's for sure," McDonald said.

The pace was initially set by Persan (Pierro), who made it a true staying test, while defending champion Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who led all the way last year, was surprisingly back in the field.

Incentivise raced outside the leader throughout and challenged for the front as the field turned for home. Spanish Mission had enjoyed a three-wide trail off the back of Grand Promenade (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who had raced three deep on the speed through much of the race.

No sooner had Spanish Mission looked a threat than McDonald peeled off his back and Verry Elleegant loomed large. Incentivise gave a strong kick, but the mare had his measure at the 300-metre mark. Floating Artist, who had enjoyed a cheap run behind the speed, briefly threatened but his run came to an end leaving Verry Elleegant and McDonald in splendid isolation.

It was a victory particularly sweet for New Zealand, where horse, trainer and jockey were born and bred.

Profiteer back in Lightning form

Co-trainer Mick Price has inked in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning in for his super fast colt Profiteer (Capitalist) after the 3-year-old returned to form with an emphatic success in the Schweppervescence Plate.

Profiteer had started favourite in both the G1 Moir S. and G3 Blue Sapphire S. this campaign, but had only managed sixth and second respectively, casting doubts on whether he could return to the form which saw him win the R. Listed Inglis Millennium in devastating style in February.

But the trip back down the 1000 metres of the Flemington straight, the venue where he opened his winning account last December, proved the trick to getting the Capitalist colt back on track and he set the pace and kicked away to defeat Direct (Siyouni {Fr}) by 1.5l, with Enthaar (Written Tycoon) third in her racetrack return.

Profiteer stopped the clock in a slick 57.16s and left Price, who co-trains him with Michael Kent Jnr, with no doubts as to what he wants to target next.

"That's now two starts over the Flemington 1000 metres for two wins and so hopefully after the Lightning, he can have three starts for three wins and he’ll be a Group 1-winniing colt and have a nice harem of mares at Newgate," he said.

"You can see that he is an anaerobically gifted colt, very fast and I think that's the best way for him."

Price also indicated a race like the Oakleigh Plate may also be on Profiteer's summer/autumn agenda.

"They are two lovely stallion-making races. I think that's the right plan. He’ll be bigger and stronger again and they are races he'd be beautifully suited in."

Jockey James McDonald was having his first sit on the Capitalist colt and was impressed with what he saw.

"He's very fast. He's got very good gate speed, high cruising speed. He had to get it right today and he got on a fair way out. Credit to him, he relaxed reasonably well, and got the first two furlongs right and the rest was history."

Newgate purchased into Profiteer ahead of his win in the Millennium, alongside his existing owners at Roll The Dice Racing. The deal to purchase the colt contained bonuses should he claim a Group 1 victory, something his trainers are determined to target.

Brereton kicks off Alliance success

The Victorian Alliance made a significant impression at the 2021 yearling sales and are now off the mark in terms of racetrack success after the hard-fought win of Brereton (Zoustar) in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate for trainer Peter Moody.

The Rosemont Stud-led syndicate, featuring a collection of leading Victorian-based investors, have named their colts after famous Victorian footballers and, at the second time of asking, it was Brereton, named after Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton, who gave them a significant early success.

Beaten a nose in the Listed Debutant S. at Caulfield last month, this time it was Brereton who got the judge's nod as he fought back impressively over the final stage to defeat the James Cummings-trained Renosu (Exceed And Excel), with the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained Le Gagneur (Shalaa {Ire}) in third.

"He couldn't get two photos go against him, could he?" Moody asked. "It's great credit to Rosemont Stud and the Victorian Alliance team, they have outlaid a lot of money here to source these promising young colts for Victorian racing and breeding, ultimately, so tremendous for them to get a result.

"They have got a valuable young colt here who is now a Group 3 winner."

Brereton was sold by Widden Stud for $1 million at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the Victorian Alliance combined with Suman Hedge as well as David Redvers, whose Qatar Bloodstock is among the ownership, to buy him.

Moody said the owners will discuss whether Brereton heads to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic or if he is saved for Group 1 targets in the autumn.

"The horse will ultimately guide us along," he said.

Spirit shines to vanquish Derby disappointment

Spirit Of Gaylard (NZ) (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) missed out on a run in the G1 VRC Derby on Saturday but made amends for that missed opportunity with a narrow win in the G3 TAB Trophy over 1800 metres.

The Mitch Freedman-trained 3-year-old claimed his second victory in four starts and his first at stakes level in holding out the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blushing Tycoon (Written Tycoon) and the Danny O'Brien prepared-Maracana (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in a thrilling finish.

"He's probably not seasoned enough to get to the Derby yet, but we thought if we got there and got he right conditions, we might have a crack at it," Freedman said.

"But as you see today, he put them away quickly and then waited for them a bit. He's still got a lot to learn, He's a really nice horse, he is going to make a nice stayer and we look forward to the future with him."

The colt is named after late media personality Rob Gaylard, who was an influential figure in the Victorian industry.

A Rich double

Rich Hips (Written Tycoon) claimed the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S. for the second year running for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

The 5-year-old, ridden by Nash Rawiller, was dominant winner of the 1400-metre race, holding a clear 1.25l margin on the line from Lindsay Park-trained mare Excelida (Exceed And Excel), with Paul's Regret (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in third.

Busuttin was delighted with Rich Hips' third stakes win, adding further to her resume for her owners at First Light Racing.

The co-trainer said a race like The Gong at Kembla Grange could be a suitable next assignment for Rich Hips.

Milton Park back-to-back

The John Moloney trained-Milton Park (Written Tycoon) delivered his second consecutive stakes win with an all-the-way victory in the Listed Furphy Plate over 1800 metres.

Coming of his success in the Listed Sale Cup last month, the improving 4-year-old was dominant on the pace, holding off the Chris Waller-trained Skyman (GB) (Mukahdram {GB}) by 0.4l under a well-rated ride by Jarrod Fry. Charleise (Foxwedge) finished third.

The homebred gelding has now built a very healthy record of seven wins from 11 starts and Moloney said post-race he'd earned a summer spell.

"He just enjoys being a racehorse, you can't take that off an animal," Moloney said. "I think I'll stop with him now. He's put a good score on the board, he's only four and he can get better. We can have a bit more fun with him in the autumn hopefully.

"If you look after your animals they can improve and we don’t knock him around. I'm sure he’ll come back a better horse, at what level I don’t know."

Quantico impresses

Trainer John O'Shea continued his strong run of form with progressive 5-year-old Quantico (I Am Invincible) taking his record to six wins from 10 starts in the Listed MSS Security Sprint.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Quantico quickened impressively in the 1200-metre sprint to defeat Sirius Suspect (Wanted) by 1.5l, with Prime Candidate (Denman) in third.

"Full credit to John and his team, they were umming and ahhing after the draw and they decided to bring him down, given the way the track has been racing," McEvoy said.

"As soon as I got on his back, I thought he was bubbling away and was ready to go. John is having a bit of luck, which is great."

It was a first stakes success for Quantico, who is owned by a syndicate led by China Horse Club which also includes his breeders Yarraman Park and Jason Abrahams.

He cost $1.05 million through the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by China Horse Club, John O'Shea and Boomer Bloodstock.

Cover image courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli

At the Australian racing awards last month, Verry Elleegant was awarded Australia's champion racehorse, Waller the title of top trainer and McDonald the top jockey, yet, oddly, when the three combined for an epic 4l win in Australia's greatest race on Tuesday, it was considered an upset by betting markets.

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Verry Elleegant may have gone into the race as a nine-time Group 1 winner, but off the back of a brave third in the G1 Cox Plate, public opinion, at least in the betting ring, was not in her favour. She drifted to odds of $18. Such markets take into account so many metrics, but can so often ignore champion qualities, be they equine or human.

As she has made a habit of doing throughout an extraordinary career, Verry Elleegant defied the knockers and naysayers to grab her 10th Group 1 victory and elevate herself to even greater heights in terms of her standing in the history of Australasian racing.

She becomes just the ninth Australasian horse in the Group 1 era to win 10 or more Group 1 races. None of the other nine have won a Melbourne Cup.

Forging her own path

Verry Elleegant's path to equine history has never been conventional. A homebred filly by Zed (NZ), a stallion whose career had included spells siring farm horses and Clydesdales, she is raced by a syndicate put together by her breeder Don Goodwin and involving his long-term friends the Carter family.

Goodwin, the original Verry Elleegant true believer, always had faith in her pedigree. She was a maternal descendant of both blue hen Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {GB}) and the influential Cotehele House (GB) (My Swannee {GB}), and the connection with Zed, a son of the great Zabeel (NZ), meant she was bred on a similar cross to the superstar Octagonal (NZ), incidentally one of those other eight Australasian horses to have won 10 or more Group 1 races

Speaking to the media after Tuesday's win, Goodwin said he had a very strong impression of the filly from the moment she had a saddle on her back.

"I knew she (Verry Elleegant) was good before she even went to the trials. When they don't seem to be going very fast, and they go those times, you know they are pretty good."

She began her career with trainer Nick Bishara in New Zealand and after her second win at start number three at Matamata, Goodwin took a phone call in the mounting yard and did a deal, brokered by another Kiwi - Andrew Williams, to part sell her to Australian interests, which included prominent owners Brae Sokolski, Ozzie Kheir and John O'Neill.

She initially joined the Darren Weir stable and while there were obvious signs of talent, it was clear that this was a filly of strong character, sometimes at the expense of her ability. Weir's sudden disqualification in early 2019 saw her head to Chris Waller's stable.

Her arrival with Waller overlapped with the final moments of the career of her superstar stablemate Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) and 40 minutes before Winx's legendary final start in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., Verry Elleegant won the G1 Australian Oaks.

The baton had been passed but it was a hell of an act to follow. Ten Group 1 successes later, including a dominant Melbourne Cup victory to follow her Caulfield Cup success last year, she has done an amazing job of standing out in her own spotlight.

Those 10 Group 1 wins have been in 10 unique Group 1 races, placing her level in that regard with Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Kingston Town (Bletchingly) and Lonhro, and behind only Winx, whose 25 Group 1 wins came in 11 different races.

Waller is of course the common thread between the two superstar mares.

Waller joins the Cup greats

Over a decade before Verry Elleegant, Waller had crossed the Tasman looking to make his own mark. What he has achieved in the time since ranks alongside only the greatest horsemen to grace the Australian turf.

Tuesday's success was his 129th Group 1 win, a mark achieved just 13 and a half years since his first, a rate of around 10 per calendar year.

When success comes so readily, it is easy to overlook to substantial achievement of the trainer. On Tuesday where he joined the best of the best to have trained a Melbourne Cup winner, names like Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes and TJ Smith. He did it with a mare who has never been straightforward, but who he has elicited every shred of talent out of.

Waller, the most successful Australasian trainer of the 21st century, wasn't at Flemington, choosing to watch the race from Sydney with his wife and kids.

In an era defined by Zoom calls, he perhaps appropriately was patched into the TV coverage from home, a surreal post-script to one of his greatest achievements.

"They will be very proud of this back in New Zealand, that's for sure and to have a New Zealand horse do that is pretty special," he said.

At Flemington, his Melbourne assistant Jo Taylor was left to fill the usual post-race media commitments and reflect on the significance of the moment.

"I really wish Chris could have been here,” she said. “COVID has been a cruel thing to him. I would say he’s just as elated just by having those victories and by watching James’ reaction, I think it just shows you how special this race is.”

The view from the saddle

McDonald is the third New Zealander in this remarkable story, but just as significant a player as the other two. He arrived in Australia with a big reputation a decade ago and has endured the highs of 57 Group 1 wins, and the lows of an 18-month disqualification in 2016 that threatened his career.

He has been at the top of his game since his return in May 2018, riding 23 Group 1 winners from that point. Eight of those victories have come on Verry Elleegant, a mare with who he has forged an amazing affinity with.

"I've got so much faith in that mare, I just love her to bits," he said after the race. "She is just trained by a master, he just gets them right and she is a superstar. I'm so proud of her."

"To pilot horses like Verry Elleegant each and every carnival is just a huge privilege and obviously it worked out really well for us today."

Seven days ago, McDonald was without a Cup ride. He broke his partnership with Verry Elleegant and opted to take a ride on Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesamimaux {Brz}) in the G1 Cox Plate, but that horse, a hot favourite in the weight-for-age feature, was scratched on race morning and McDonald watched on as Verry Elleegant and Damian Lane ran a gallant third.

The jockey was contracted on Away He Goes (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) in the Cup at that stage, but that horse then went amiss, leaving him without a ride. At that point Verry Elleegant's connections had not decided whether they'd back her up for a second shot at the Cup, after she had run seventh in the race last year.

Call it fate or serendipity or just luck, but McDonald was the man on the end of the phone when Waller decided he needed a jockey.

"It’s just funny how things fall your way sometimes," McDonald said. "One door closes and another opens. You have to be patient."

While he may have chosen other paths earlier in the spring, McDonald's confidence in Verry Elleegant never wavered and he was delighted to be given another chance on her.

"I just shows how far she has come, she relaxed over 3200 metres and showed a dazzling turn of foot. Like I have said all along, there wasn't another nine-time Group 1 winner in that race," he said.

"I wouldn't have thought there was one other horse in the race who could have run third in the Cox Plate."

If there was one it was Incentivise (Shamus Award), the shortest-priced Melbourne Cup favourite in 91 years, who would fight the race with McDonald and Verry Elleegant down the Flemington straight.

"The thought (she could win) went through my mind at the 500-metre mark when I saw Incentivise getting shoved along, I knew he would fight though," McDonald said.

"There wasn't a horse that was going to come from behind me, and it was only a matter of catching him."

Catch him they did, racing past and onward to a 4l Melbourne Cup victory in a lightning fast time of 3:17.43.

Australia's best horse, best trainer and best jockey, all born in New Zealand, successful on Australia's greatest racing stage.

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

For Victorians, there are few better days on the calendar than Cup Day, and things got off to a flying start at Flemington when the first race, the G3 Maribyrnong Plate, was won in fetching fashion by the locally owned, million-dollar selling Zoustar colt Brereton.

Raced by a Victorian syndicate comprised of breeders, whose far-sighted plans include racing horses with an eye on stallion careers, the colt burst through for a maiden win on the big stage after a last-start second in the Listed Dubutant S. at Caulfield.

In that race, he held Godolphin colt Renosu (Exceed And Excel) to third place, and it was Renosu who tested Brereton right to the line at Flemington on Tuesday when the pair crossed the line first and second for a photo-finish margin of just 0.1l.

Magic Millions bound?

Trained at Pakenham by Peter Moody, Brereton jumped away in the 1000 metre Maribyrnong Plate from barrier two, carrying Luke Nolen and sharing favouritism with Water Bomber (Headwater).

The colt was handy early, one of a few across the track in the early parts with Quinlan (I Am Invincible) in the same colours, Deep Point (Deep Field) and Godolphin’s Sepoy colt Lascar.

At the 200-metre mark, Brereton had just the Godolphin colts to deal with before Lascar fell away, and past the 100 metres it was just he and Renosu, who had closed from out wide. Renosu inched ahead at one point, but Brereton was game in closing again.

The photo finish went the way of Brereton, with Renosu for James Cummings in second. Shalaa (Ire) colt Le Gagneur was 2.85l behind for third.

“He couldn’t have two photos go against him,” said Moody, referring to the colt’s photo-finish loss in the Debutant S. Moody said the options for Brereton going ahead were plentiful, with the Maribyrnong Plate a traditional pointer to the Blue Diamond in the autumn. It was either the Magic Millions or 'down tools' to the autumn.

Luke Nolen said Brereton was unsure of himself in the final stages of the race.

“He travelled soundly through the first part, but with the straight course, he was just unsure of when to kick off,” the jockey said. “He showed very good courage and good tenacity, and for an inexperienced horse, you’re buoyed when they show those sorts of things.”

Fuddles and Belles

Brereton was purchased for an even million dollars at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, one of 12 six-figure lots at the Sale.

By Zoustar, he was the fifth foal from the mare Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}), who was a four-time winner in Western Australia, including a Group 3 victory in a 24-start career for close to $360,000 in prizemoney.

Brereton was bred at Widden Stud, but the genesis of his breeding lies in the hands of chartered account turned AFL player and now studmaster Michael Christian, who, with wife Siobhan, owns and operates Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in country Victoria.

It’s a pretty, emerging 250-acre farm that was the old Vinery Stud property at one time, and Christian has had it since 2018, carving it into the landscape of Victorian breeding bit by bit.

He has nursed the Brereton family for three generations, beginning with the colt’s grandam Bella Inez (Beautiful Crown {USA}), who is a full sister to the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing.

“We bred Fuddle Dee Duddle from the mare Bella Inez, who we purchased with Peter Morgan way back, nearly 20 years ago,” Christian said. “I had only a smallish share when she was racing, but she got injured after one start and I purchased the rest of her. Her first foal was Hallowell Belle.”

Christian sold Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) through the draft of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds as a yearling, getting $170,000 for her from Star Thoroughbreds, the filly raced for prizemoney totalling close to $1 million.

She won the G2 Gilgai S. and Listed Darby Munro S. through 2012, and she’s been at stud since 2014.

Fuddle Dee Duddle is her half-sister, and arrived as Bella Inez’s second foal. Fuddle Dee Duddle was also sold as a yearling through Three Bridges, this time getting $240,000 from buyer Geisel Park Stud.

She raced exclusively in Western Australia where she won the G3 Western Australia Champion Fillies' S. before coming up for sale, and coming to the attention of both Christian and Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson.

“At the time, I couldn’t really afford to buy her outright,” Christian said. “But I got a call from Antony Thompson who said he’d just bought her, and he offered me half, to which I said, 'Yes and thank you very much'.

"So I flew to Perth and inspected her, and I hadn’t seen the mare since she was a yearling. But she ticked all the boxes so I ended up buying her back with Antony.”

Building the family

Fuddle Dee Duddle had a number of runs in Victoria for the new partners before she was retired. Her breeding record begins with a filly in 2015 by Zoustar, and another by Sebring the following year.

Thereafter she went to All Too Hard and Sebring again before a mating with Zoustar produced Brereton in 2019. Up to that point, she hadn’t produced a stakes winner among them.

“When COVID hit in 2020, I asked Antony what we were going to do with her,” Christian said. “She’d had five foals and one of them was a winner, so we decided to sell her. We knew the Zoustar was a lovely weanling (Brereton) at the time, but we agreed it was the way to go.”

Fuddle Dee Duddle was sold at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale on account of Widden Stud, where she was bought by a very good friend of Michael Christian, the studmaster signing the ticket in partnership with Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $230,000.

The mare was retained at Longwood with Christian, and she has a Trapeze Artist colt headed to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next year, plus a full sister to Brereton at foot, a filly that was born in early September.

Additionally, Christian bred Fuddle Dee Duddle’s Star Witness half-sister Bella Orfana, who he has at Longwood and who is the dam of two-time Group 3 winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai). Four-year-old Bella Nipotina will contest the G1 Darley Sprint Classic on Saturday in a field that includes The Everest hero Nature Strip (Nicconi).

“I feel very proud because we’ve built this family,” Christian said. “Initially there was a Group 1 winner (In Top Swing), but there wasn’t much else. We’ve built it up to Hallowell Belle, Fuddle Dee Duddle, Bella Nipotina and now Brereton, so we’ve been involved in breeding this whole family right up.”

To cap it off this year, Christian bought Hallowell Belle’s daughter Kennebec (More Than Ready {USA}), in partnership with Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She was bought from Godolphin for Longwood for $300,000.

The Victorian Alliance

Christian admits he wasn’t expecting $1 million when the yearling Brereton went through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year, and the colt stayed at Widden until that time.

“When we had Fuddle Dee Duddle, she would alternate between my place and Widden, back and forth,” Christian said. “We recognised that Brereton was a really nice foal really early, and he was a lovely weanling. We identified that it was going to be best to go to Magic Millions, and on the back of that we decided that the foal should stay at Widden.”

Brereton was prepared for sale in the Hunter Valley and appeared in the Widden draft and, excluding the $1.9 million Snitzel colt from Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) that was sold to Tom Magnier, he was the highest-selling of Widden’s total draft in January.

“I was hoping for $400,000, but thinking it would also be great to get $500,000 for him,” Christian said. “But the mare had had only one winner from four foals, so maybe there was a question mark there, and there were lots of lovely horses at that Sale. To get a million dollars was incredible.”

Brereton’s ticket was signed by the Victorian Alliance (led by Rosemont Stud), Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock. The colt led a six-horse shopping spree for the buying partnership at the Sale, which also included Quinlan, unplaced in Tuesday’s Maribyrnong Plate.

All up, the group spent $3.6 million.

Christian allocates most of his resources towards broodmare investment, but he went into the Victorian Alliance, mostly because of his friendship with Rosemont identities Anthony Mithen and Ryan McEvoy. The group has done well with Brereton right off the bat.

Christian takes no credit for the naming of the colt, despite his association with AFL. Brereton is named after AFL identity Dermott Brereton, as is Quinlan, in his case AFL legend Bernie Quinlan. In fact, each of the colts purchased in January is named as such.

Christian wasn’t at Flemington to cheer the colt home in the Group 3 feature, but he watched on alongside his farrier, who had 25 foals lined up at Longwood in the morning.

“He was definitely headed, but he fought back like a caged lion, and it was a gutsy win,” he said. “It says he’s got a great constitution with a will to fight, and that’s always one of the things you wonder about when you’re breeding a horse. It’s hard to measure that will to fight and compete, and we’re very fortunate that he’s got that.”

Christian also said it was satisfying to witness these high-priced yearlings at the top level.

“You like to see those guys that put themselves on the line, paying big money for these horses, do well,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. You like to see them come out and do well because, as a breeder, you want to be able to sell horses for this level of money if you get everything right.”

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Next Monday, Magic Millions will host its Gold Coast 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, and the catalogue is popping with 126 horses by 77 individual sires for 20 respective vendors. Traditionally, the Sale has been a stronghold for the Asian market, and past graduates include this year’s Macau Gold Cup winner Star Of Yiu Cheung (Casino Prince), along with Singapore hero Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

This year, COVID has affected an international buying presence on the Gold Coast once again, and so too an interstate presence. A number of New South Wales and Victorian vendors will be selling in absentia, and one of those is Tamworth trainer Mel O’Gorman.

Last year, O’Gorman topped the 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale with a $500,000 colt by Mikki Isle (Jpn), which sold to Hong Kong-based Gary Moore. The colt had run a slick 10.26s during his breeze up.

In 2018, the trainer again topped the Sale, this time with a pair of horses that sold to Thailand and Hong Kong for $320,000 and $300,000 respectively, so, without question, it’s a Sale that’s been very good to O’Gorman.

“I think if you look at the escalating prices of the top-selling horses over the last few years, it’s a good indication of the strength of this Sale, that the money is there if you take the right-quality product,” the trainer said. “I think the buyers will always be confident if you’re presenting the right horses, and I feel I’ve got four really nice colts by four well-performed or up-and-coming stallions. It’s a smaller draft this year, but it’s a quality draft.”

COVID in play

O’Gorman Racing Stables will present four horses at next week’s Sale, four individual colts by Star Turn, Capitalist, Churchill (Ire) and Invader. O’Gorman herself is unable to cross the border, so each of her juveniles will be handled by the Queensland-based Robin Wise when they arrive at Magic Millions on Friday.

Gallery: Sires of the colts in the O'Gorman Racing draft

“There are a lot of wonderfully experienced and very capable Queensland vendors that have offered to help everyone out this year,” O’Gorman said. “Each of mine will be selling under the banner of O’Gorman Racing, but Robin will be taking care of my colts once they’re in Queensland.”

This is the first year that O’Gorman has had to sell in absentia, and she said it’s been surprising that, this far into the pandemic, she and others in her position have found themselves locked out of Queensland.

“Who would have thought this time last year, when we were there at the Sale, that we’d be where we are 12 months on,” she said. “It feels like we’ve gone backwards a bit, doesn’t it?”

Last year, the trainer sent an eight-horse draft to the 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, and she said she probably would have sent a similar number this year if COVID weren’t still hampering international travel.

“Last year, we didn’t have any of the Asian clients able to fly in, so I decided against taking a big team this year,” O’Gorman said. “I also cut my buying back a bit until we can get international flights coming in, but it’s starting to look good again. I’m already looking at next year’s draft and hoping that we can have some Hong Kong clients fly in again, which would be wonderful.”

The draft

O’Gorman’s first colt into the ring will be Lot 2, the Star Turn youngster from the Mutawaajid mare Rather Sweet. This is the same family as recent stakes winner Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai), who won the G3 Ladies’ Day Vase at Caulfield last month.

O’Gorman picked up the colt from Vinery Stud’s draft at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale for $40,000, and she said the fact of the colt selling so early in Monday’s Sale wasn’t something she’s too concerned about.

“When I’m a buyer, and I like something that’s very early or very late in a sale, it doesn’t seem to make it any easier,” she said. “I’m sure if he’s the right horse, the right people will be on him.”

O’Gorman said Lot 2 was a horse that will improve with time, and his being from a mare that was fourth to Astern in the G2 Silver Slipper suggests an early running career.

“He’s handled the preparation really well,” O’Gorman said. “I thought he was a good buy out of the Melbourne Sale, and I didn’t pay a lot of money for him. I think he might be a great purchase for someone in that $80,000 mark.”

Lot 26 is the next colt for O’Gorman, a Capitalist horse and first foal from the Northern Meteor mare Solar Burst. He turned out the best of the draft’s breeze-ups, clocking 10.43s at Newcastle on October 21.

His dam was a three-time winner in town and, further along, his second dam was an unraced half-sister to Myboycharlie (Ire). This is also the family of the wonderful breeder Snowdrift (Fr) (Polish Precedent {USA}), the dam of stakes winners Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), Snippetson and Snowland.

Gallery: O'Gorman Racing's draft for the Magic Millions 2-Year-Old In Training Sale

Lot 26 was picked up by O’Gorman at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last January. She paid $90,000 for him from the draft of Murrulla Stud.

“I bought him out of Book 2 at Magic Millions, but I’d seen him at the farm in December when I did some early pre-Christmas inspections,” O’Gorman said. “I liked him then, and I kept going back to him at the Sale. He really took my eye, and I could see some potential there as he developed.

"You always need a bit of luck with racehorses, but since I bought him, Capitalist has gone along in leaps and bounds.”

The trainer said Lot 26 was a tidy, balanced colt that had breezed effortlessly, and the Capitalist factor was significant.

“You can’t go to a sale now and buy one for under $400,000,” O’Gorman said. “And this horse has a fabulous temperament to go with it all. He’s like an old head on young shoulders, and he’s done everything effortlessly.”

Immediately after him, Lot 27 will enter the ring for the stable, a bay colt by Churchill from the Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Southerly Breeze (NZ). He clocked 10.65s in his breeze up at Newcastle.

“This one is a really nice horse,” O’Gorman said. “He’s an interesting one because the stallion is doing good things overseas, and he’s a lovely, well-balanced horse with great size for his age. I think he will mature into a lovely 3-year-old colt.”

Highlight lot for Invader

O’Gorman said the obvious highlight among her colts is the final horse of the four, Lot 59 by Invader from the Lonhro mare Article (NZ). The latter is a half-sister to the twice Group 2-winning stallion Sound Journey.

O’Gorman picked up Lot 59 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when he was sold to her from the draft of JJJ Thoroughbreds for $70,000.

“He gives me the impression he’s a ready-made 2-year-old,” the trainer said. “He’s very forward and very balanced, and he loves his job. From the minute we put a saddle on him, it was like he’d been here and done it all before.”

Lot 59 comes from the second crop of Aquis stallion Invader, who was a winner of the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S. in 2017 before his retirement to stud for 2018. Invader was second to Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt) in the G2 Todman S. also, and equally second to Aquis barnmate The Mission in the G1 Champagne S.

O’Gorman said she was unsure what the other Invader progeny looked like, but Lot 59 was a good advertisement in her eyes.

“If this one is any indication of the breed, I’m certain they’ll start to feature in some early 2-year-old races over the next 12 months,” the trainer said.

G1 Melbourne Cup, $7,750,000, 3200m

Those following racing in the late 1990's have cherished memories of the superstar galloper Octagonal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) racing away to ten Group 1 victories.

An achievement equalled yesterday by the wonderful mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) who hails from the same sireline and the same family as the oh so popular 'Occie'.

Aptly named a "Princess Of The Turf" by racecaller Matthew Hill as she shot 4l clear of the favourite Incentivise (Shamus Award) who certainly lost no fans in defeat, Verry Elleegant recorded the 15th win of a stunning career that has seen her amass in excess of $14.2 million in stakes.

Bred by Don Goodwin, the mare with humble beginnings is one of 14 stakes winners sired by the lightly raced Hawke's Bay maiden winner Zed (NZ) whose sire Zabeel (NZ) has been represented by three G1 Melbourne Cup winners: Might And Power (NZ), Jezabeel (NZ) and Efficient (NZ).

Kicking off his stud career at a fee of NZ$500, Zed began his career at Little Avondale Stud, from there heading to Erewhon Station where he served a variety of non thoroughbred mares!

On the back of promising results, Zed made the move to Grangewilliam Stud where he still resides.

Verry Elleegant's dam is the two-time winner Opulence (NZ) (Danroad) who has also produced by Zed the Group 3-placed, eight-time winner Verry Flash (NZ).

Opulence is a great granddaughter of Cotehele House (GB) (My Swanee {GB}) who also happens to be the third dam of Zed - giving Verry Elleegant a 4 X 4 cross of her own fourth dam.

A daughter of the mighty Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}), Cotehele House has had 45 runners as a line-breeding subject and of the 27 winners six are stakes winners with three of those also being descendants; Fair Trade (by Danewin), Quilate (Bramshaw) and Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) who have all been successful at Group 3 level.

Also carrying a 3 X 3 Danehill (USA) cross, Verry Elleegant boasts duplications of three other influential mares within six generations - Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alihbai {GB}).

Again served last spring by Zed, Opulence also has a 3-year-old (the Perth-based Affluential {NZ} who is yet to race) and a 2-year-old (yet to be named) by him. She has just one other daughter - Black Lace (NZ) (Towkay) who in early September produced a black (those Eight Carat genes!) filly by Zed.

This is a family in form with Cotehele House's great great grandson Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) proving the versatility of this clan's genes by winning the G1 Manikato S. over 1200 metres a couple of weeks ago.

This year's Cup was a victory for female line-breeding with runner-up Incentivise line-bred to another great mare in Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) whilst the third-placed Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) is bred on a 6 X 6 cross of his own sixth dam Thong (USA) (Nantallah {USA}).

G3 Maribyrnong Plate, $200,000, 1000m

It was three wins in a row in this juvenile dash for jockey Luke Nolen who had the promising Brereton (Zoustar) putting his nose out at the right time.

The Peter Moody-trained colt, bred by Widden Stud Australia and Saconi Thoroughbreds, was purchased for $1 million at this year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale by the Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock.

He is stakes winner number 25 for the Widden-based Zoustar who enjoyed Cup week success taking out the 2013 G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Brereton is the fifth foal and third winner for the G3 WA Champions Fillies' S. winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}) who has also produced the four time-winning, South African-based filly Boomps A Daisy, also by Zoustar.

In early September producing a full sister to Brereton, Fuddle Dee Duddle is a half-sister to the G2 Gilgai S. winner Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) and to the dam of the dual Group 3 winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).

Also able to claim the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing (Beautiful Crown {USA}) amongst her relations, Fuddle Dee Duddle has a yet to race 3-year-old Sebring filly (Daisy Head Mayzie) with the Mitchell Beer stable whilst her yearling is a colt by Trapeze Artist.

G3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club S., $200,000, 1400m

The second Flemington stakes winner for the day for Written Tycoon, Rich Hips did a great job winning the same feature contest two years running.

Bred by Woodside Park Stud and purchased for $130,000 by First Light Racing, Busuttin Racing and Paul Willetts at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, she is now an eight-time winner from just 23 starts.

Her dam is the city-placed winner She's Curvaceous (Flying Spur), also the dam of the city placegetter Hipster Girl (Nicconi) who was fourth in the G1 VRC Oaks won by Set Square (Reset).

Slipping to Harry Angel (Ire) last spring, She's Curvaceous has a yearling filly by Rich Enuff and a yet to race 2-year-old (the $75,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier graduate Starvaceous) by Tosen Stardom (Jpn).

She's Curvaceous is a daughter of the stakes-placed Vital Curves (NZ) (McGinty {NZ}), dam of the G2 Matamata Breeders' S. winner Velasco (Flying Spur) who is in turn dam of the WATC G3 Sires' Produce S. winner Debellatio (Smart Missile) and the Listed Princess S. winner Devoirs (Dehere {USA}).

Listed Furphy Plate, $175,000, 1800m

A horse who really knows how to find the line, Milton Park (Written Tycoon) was terrific recording the seventh win of his 17 start career - and his second at Listed level off the back off a dominant all-the-way victory in the Sale Cup.

Bred by his owners Ms J Sampson and Miss M Taite, Milton Park is one of the 44 stakes winners sired by Yulong's reigning Champion Sire Written Tycoon. His dam is the Listed Ladies' Day Vase winner Gawne (Flying Spur), also the dam of the winners Fern (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Matron (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) - in turn the dam of the Listed Exford Plate winner Legionnaire (Stratum).

In late September foaling a Shooting To Win filly, Gawne is a half-sister to the G1 Railway S. winner Great Shot (Magnus) and to the dam of the dual Group 3 winner Casino Dancer (Casino Prince).

A great grandson of the G1 Orlando Wines Classic winner Satin Sand (Buena Shore {USA}), Milton Park has a lightly raced 3-year-old half-sister by More Than Ready (USA), Cavellita, whilst her 2-year-old is a colt by So You Think (NZ).

Listed TAB Trophy, $175,000, 1800m

It was an emotional win for connections (including the late Rob Gaylard's wife) of Spirit Of Gaylard (NZ) (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) who was so tough to the line breaking through at stakes level at just his fourth outing.

Bred by Mr A.W Jones and Mrs E.W Morris and purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock with Mitchell Freedman for NZ$120,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale (Book 2), he is the third stakes winner for his Swettenham Stud-based sire who won three times at Group level.

He is the first foal for the multiple city winner White Dove (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who was served last spring by War Decree (USA) having produced a filly by that same stallion in September.

White Dove is a granddaughter of the French Listed winner L'Extra Honor (USA) (Hero's Honor {USA}), dam of the G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Majestic Roi (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) who produced the German Champion 3-year-old Miler Noor Al Hawa (Fr) (Makfi {GB}).

L'Extra Honor's dam L'Extravagante (Can) (Le Fabuleux {Fr}) - daughter of the great mare Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) is also the fourth dam of last weekend's G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Home Affairs (I Am Invincible).

Spirit Of Gaylard is the fourth stakes winner (from just 22 winners from 36 runners) combining the close relations Shamardal (USA) and Street Cry (Ire). He has a lovely 4 X 4 cross of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}).

Listed MSS Security Plate, $175,000, 1200m

It is an impressive winning strike rate that Quantico (I Am Invincible) boasts, this success the sixth of his 10 start career.

Bred by Yarraman Park Stud, Mr J E Abrahams and Harry Mitchell, he was purchased by the China Horse Club, John O'Shea Racing and Boomber Bloodstock for $1.05 million at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

The 67th stakes winner for his Yarraman Park-based sire, he is the third foal and second winner for the triple Listed winner Hoss Amour (General Nediym) who, in mid-August, produced a colt by Hellbent with her previous foal - a filly - also being by that Yarraman stallion.

Hoss Amour is a granddaughter of the triple Listed winner Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}) who also has amongst her descendants the stakes winners Celeris (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Star Of Bombay (Atlante) and Royal Rumble (New Approach {Ire}).

Quantico boasts a cross of the four-time Group winner Diableretta (GB) (Dante {GB}) whose grandam Mumtaz Begum (Fr) (Blenheim II {GB}) is the ancestress of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).

Listed Burgess Queen S., $125,000, 1400m

Buzzoom (Safeguard) took her great form in easier races to stakes level with this dominant performance.

Bred by Mr B Duncan by Mogumber Park's dual Group 3-winning Exceed And Excel stallion Safeguard, Buzzoom has won four of her nine starts and is yet to miss a placing.

The first stakes winner for her sire, she is a half-sister to the multiple city winner Boomtastic (Sessions) out of the Group 3 placed Xaar Boom (Xaar {GB}), half-sister to fellow Group 3 placegetter Mendicity (Blackfriars).

Purchased by Morton Racing for $80,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, she can count amongst her relations the durable triple Group 2 winner Bradson (Serheed {USA}), winner of 15 races.

Xaar Boom foaled a colt by Session in late August with her previous foal being a yet to be named 2-year-old full sister to Buzzoom.

Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk

G3 Balmerino S., NZ$80,000, 2000m

A debut stakes victory for the imported galloper Cheval Prometteur (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}) who made his way through the ring at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, sold for 60,000 gns (AU$130,000) - two years later withdrawn from the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale before heading to New Zealand.

A consistent performer deserving of his feature race success, Cheval Prometteur (bred by Newsells Park Stud) is the 38th stakes winner for his G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 York International S.-winning sire Declaration Of War (USA) who shuttled just twice to Australia - leaving us with a G1 Melbourne Cup winner (Vow And Declare) and a G1 VRC Derby winner (Warning).

Cheval Prometteur is out of the two-time winner Shibina (Ire) (Kalanasi {Ire}) who has also produced the Group 3-placed winners Shikarpour (Ire) (Dr Fong {USA}) and Shebella (Ire) (Dubai Destination {USA}).

Two of Shibina's sisters have also produced stakes winners - Shaloushka (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) being the dam of the UK-based, two-time Group winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) whilst Shalaya (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) is the dam of the Indian based dual stakes winner Palm Springs (Ind) (Placeville {USA}).

Shibina's dam is a half-sister to the G1 Epsom and G1 Irish Derby hero Shahrastani (USA) (Nijinsky II {Can}).

Eagle Farm (Metropolitan)

Aquis Park Gold Coast (Provincial)

Sunshine Coast (Provincial)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

Ascot (Metropolitan)

Geraldton (Provincial)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

Morphettville (Provincial)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

Hobart (Metropolitan)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

Darwin (Metropolitan)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

Waikato (Country)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT