Dansili passes away aged 25
Juddmonte announced the death of its veteran stallion Dansili (GB) on Wednesday, the 25-year-old passing away after a short but aggressive illness at his lifelong home, Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket.
Bred by Juddmonte in 1996, Dansili, a son of Danehill (USA) from the blue-hen Kahyasi (Ire) mare Hasili (Ire), was a multiple Group winner and Group 1 placed. Described as a tough and consistent performer, among his wins was the G3 Prix Messidor, G2 Prix du Muguet and G3 Prix Edmond Blanc.
Dansili retired to Banstead in 2000, upon which he embarked on a glittering stud career. He sired such Group 1 winners as Harbinger (GB), Dank (GB), Flintshire (GB), Proviso (GB), Queen’s Trust (GB), The Fugue (GB) and Rail Link (GB). He was Champion Sire in France in 2006.
In Australia, Dansili was responsible for the Group 1 winners Foreteller (GB) and Grand Marshal (GB), the latter a winner of the G1 Sydney Cup, along with Permit (GB) and Renew (Ire). In total, the stallion got 16 stakes winners in Australia for 29 stakes wins that amassed close to $15 million in prizemoney.
Dansili was pensioned from sire duties in 2018, and Simon Mockridge, Juddmonte’s general manager in the UK, said the horse was “a truly wonderful, reliable and uncomplicated character as a stallion”.
Palazzo Spirit up for Coolangatta challenge
Matt Hoysted and Steven O’Dea are refusing to run scared of boom filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in Sunday’s G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Doomben.
The Queensland-based training duo will saddle up Palazzo Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) in the 1200-metre contest after the Proven Thoroughbreds-owned colt led all the way to claim the Listed Phelan Ready S. at Eagle Farm on December 11.
Palazzo Spirit | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"He's been very good since his last win in the Phelan Ready and his work on Tuesday was very good. Coolangatta obviously will be hard to beat but this will be a good guide for the Magic Millions,” Hoysted told Racing Queensland.
"I don't have an issue with him running 1200 metres; he's just been floating over the ground over 1000 metres and has stargazed a bit but I'd love to see him get a sit and chase."
Capitalist can’t be contained
Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist has extended his reign over the second-season sire standings by winners via the debut victory of Secret Note at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday.
The Glenn Thornton-trained filly finished 0.5l the better of Island Magic (Hinchinbrook) with a narrow gap back to D’Esprit (Bel Esprit) in the 1200-metre contest.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
With 24 winners from 96 runners this season, Capitalist boasts a three-win buffer over Vinery Stud’s Star Turn.
Maurice keeps on marching
Hakkai Maru’s second consecutive victory at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday marked another success for young Arrowfield Stud stallion Maurice (Jpn).
The dominant 4.8l last-start victor backed up her maiden romp by finishing 0.5l the better of All Stashed Up (Better Than Ready) and Magnitudo (Denman) in a 1000 metre Class 1 H.
Maurice currently occupies third position on the second-season sire standing, behind Capitalist and Star Turn, who have notched 24 and 21 respectively.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfeild Stud
Eagle enters double digits
Alpine Blast’s long overdue breakthrough victory at Devonport on Wednesday marked the 10th winner this season for young Armidale Stud stallion Alpine Eagle.
The John Blacker-trained gelding has been a pillar of consistency this preparation, finishing in the minor placings on four consecutive occasions before accounting for Gee Gee Miss Quita (Clangalang) and Needs Remembering (Needs Further) at start number eight.
Alpine Eagle is now tied for 10th on the second-season sire standings by winners, alongside Mikki Isle (Jpn) and Winning Rupert.
Last chance saloon
Adrian Bott remains open-minded about the future prospects of Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) after it was announced on Tuesday that the 5-year-old was headed for Sydney.
Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said owner Allan Endresz had always planned to place Alligator Blood in their care ahead of the autumn carnival.
Alligator Blood
“We’re going into it open-minded. It’s been a long time since he’s been winning, and in-between that he’s had a long lay-off due to injury,” Bott told RSN.
"We want to do the right thing by the horse, and this is his last opportunity to see if any form can be resurrected.”
Elephant back bigger and better
A more mature version of Elephant (NZ) (Shocking) will be on display during next year’s Melbourne autumn carnival, according to trainer David Browne.
The lightly raced 5-year-old, who was narrowly denied by subsequent Group 1 winner Superstorm (Sebring) in the G2 Feehan S. will race exclusively in Australia during his upcoming campaign and has been nominated for the lucrative the All-Star Mile.
Superstorm | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"He's put on a lot of weight, he's a lot heavier than he's been and he's really well," Browne said.
"He looks really good and should be able to keep his condition this time in.”
Don’t doubt Beefeater
Tahlia Hope has urged punters not to put a line through Beefeater (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) in Sunday’s Listed Lord S. at Caulfield.
The apprentice hoop, who rode the Patrick Payne-trained Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking) to an upset victory in last year’s edition of the 1700-metre feature, isn’t concerned about her mount's distant last on resumption at Pakenham.
“Defibrillate was actually on the same path last year. He kicked off on Pakenham Cup day in the same race (and was unplaced) then went into the Boxing Day race (Lord S.),” Hope told Racenet.
“He just indicated that he wanted more ground at Pakenham, he just blew out a bit in the straight, but I did think his run wasn’t too bad.”
Brown ready to repay the faith
Ethan Brown is back and ready to repay the faith in those who supported him throughout the course of a three-month suspension for attending an illegal Mornington Airbnb gathering in August.
Rather than shy away from his wrongdoing, Brown made the most of his enforced absence by riding frequent trackwork for Leon and Troy Corstens, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and Matt Laurie.
Ethan Brown | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“Those trainers really supported me through my suspension. They provided me with plenty of work and kept me active,” Brown told Racenet.
“I still had a choice whether to go there and ride work or not but given they provided me with those opportunities, I was very grateful.”
Vale John Mason
Successful New Zealand-based owner/trainer John Mason has passed away in his mid-70s.
Retired Hall of Fame jockey Noel Harris wore Mason’s orange and white quartered colours to numerous wins, including the G3 Winter Cup and Listed Kiwifruit Cup on Real Vision (NZ), and the Listed Taumarunui Cup on Danzaman (NZ) (Danzalion {USA}).
“John was someone who pulled no punches, he was a very confident sort of guy,” Harris said.
“He was an old-school horseman who wasn’t scared to take on the good horses, and when you were on one of his you always knew it wouldn’t lack for fitness.”
