Gavelhouse Plus to host Valachi Downs' Dispersal
Following the announcement of the sale of Kevin and Joanna Hickman’s Valachi Downs last week, the bulk of the farm’s stock will be offered unreserved in two Gavelhouse Plus sales towards the end of the month.
The Sale will be the most significant New Zealand dispersal since that of Ra Ora Stud in 2001 and will include high-class Northern and Southern Hemisphere-bred mares.
The broodmares will be the first to go live with the 51-lot sale launching at the end of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale on 17 June in which 20 youngsters from the farm have been added as supplementary entries.
The bulk of Valachi Downs stock will be offered unreserved in two Gavelhouse Plus sales at the end of this month | Image courtesy of Valachi Downs
One of the stars of the show will be the Galileo (Ire) mare Baggy Green who is in foal to Ocean Park (NZ) and is therefore carrying a full sibling to four-time Group 1 winner and recent $3.1 million mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). Baggy Green’s yearling sister to Tofane will be offered in the subsequent young and racing stock Sale.
The mares will be available for inspection by appointment at the stud from 20 June and the Sale will close from 7pm (NZT) on 24 June. The young and racing stock catalogue will go live at the end of the broodmare sale and will run through until 7pm (NZT) on 1 July.
Any remaining stock will be offered in gavelhouse.com’s general fortnightly sale that will close on July 25.
The Chosen One to stand at Highview Stud
The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) will have his final race in the G2 The Q22 at Eagle Farm on Saturday, before retiring to stand at Highview Stud in New Zealand where he will stand for an introductory fee of NZ$4000 plus GST.
The 6-year-old won six races, headed by a victory in the G1 Thorndon Mile and G2 Herbert Power S. at Caulfield and so far he has earned $2,473,137 in career prizemoney.
However, trainer Andrew Forsman thinks he’s a good chance of adding one last feature win to his already impressive resume, following an unlucky run for fifth in the G1 Doomben Cup last start.
The Chosen One (NZ), new to the Highview Stud's 2022 roster and he will stand for NZ$4000 plus GST | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He’s come through the Doomben Cup really well,” he said. “We freshened him up going into it so we were a little bit nervous that he hadn’t quite done enough work, but he was up to the mark and that run should have him spot on for Saturday.
“He’s definitely right up to them and in a more genuinely run affair with a little bit more luck when he needs it, he’s going to be right in the mix.”
NZTR Board’s growth plan launches with stakes increases
The NZTR Board has committed to an exciting and innovative growth plan revealing a raft of initiatives on Tuesday.
Heading the announcement is a more than NZ$7 million stakes increase which will see a strategic injection of stakes across 20 of New Zealand’s best performing racedays. This targets significant Group and Listed races across Iconic and Premier meetings.
NZTR Chairman Cameron George said the Board’s aim is to provide opportunities to increase revenue, delivering bigger racing events on our best performing days.
Minimums NZ$14,000 across the entire racing calendar.
A strategic injection of stakes across 20 of our best performing racedays include:
• Group 1 – minimums increase from NZ$220,000 to NZ$300,000
• Group 2 – minimums increase from NZ$110,000 to NZ$140,000
• Group 3 – minimums increase from NZ$80,000 to NZ$100,000
• Listed – minimums increase from NZ$60,000 to NZ$80,000
• Iconic meetings – minimums increase from NZ$50,000 to NZ$70,000
• Premier meetings – minimums increase from NZ$40,000 to NZ$50,000
Mixed luck in draw for Stradbroke fancies
G1 Stradbroke H. favourite Ayrton (NZ) (Toronado {Ire}) has eased in the betting after drawing barrier 19.
Meanwhile, Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) and Apache Chase (Better Than Ready) have firmed in after drawing barrier five and three respectively.
If the emergencies do not gain a start, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Ayrton will jump from barrier 15 in Saturday's handicap over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm.
Price and Kent Jnr elected to alter plans with Ayrton and target Saturday's race, and because he was not among original entries were forced to pay a $9000 late entry fee.
"The question is whether the Stradbroke is the exact right race for him," Price said. "Last year I thought he was vulnerable, so we switched him to the mile (the Gunsynd) which he won.
"He's up there and after his last start we weren't going to persevere into the 2000-metre races. It's not to say he doesn't handle 2000 metres, but I didn't have much confidence to persevere.
"He's training well, and he had a good trial on the Poly at the Sunshine Coast last week."
Straight Arron heading to Hong Kong
The G3 Carbine Club S. winner Straight Arron will continue his career in Hong Kong.
The son of Fastnet Rock will join David Hayes' stable in Hong Kong, where he will continue to race for Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
Hong Kong's prestigious 4-Year-Old Classic Series, which culminates with the Listed Hong Kong Derby, appears to be a likely target for Straight Arron, who won two of his four starts in Australia under Chris Waller's training.
Joining him on the flight to Hong Kong are Benczkowski (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who was trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and won at Moonee Valley in February, as well as Brisbane 2-year-old winner Golden Artie (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Gold Trip edging closer to Australian debut
After a dramatic start to his life in Australia, Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip) is edging closer to his first start in Australia, according to co-trainer David Eustace.
A Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter in France, Gold Trip was withdrawn from last year's G1 Cox Plate by Racing Victoria's vets due to lameness concerns, while a foot abscess ruled him out of the Sydney autumn carnival.
"He's had a very smooth preparation thus far," Eustace told Racing.com.
Gold Trip (Fr) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"We obviously weren't able to race in the spring, so hopefully he'll be able to do that this time around, but everything's gone to plan thus far."
All being well, Gold Trip is likely to travel north of the Murray River for his Australian debut.
"The races that will really suit him, early in the spring, will be in Sydney. He likes wet tracks, and the plan is to target up there,” Eustace continued.
Payne to ride Pondus
Michelle Payne will have her first metropolitan ride in more than nine months when she rides Pondus (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) - who she also trains - at Sandown on Saturday.
"I did have the discussion with the owners and they were happy for me to take the reins," Payne told Racing.com. "They said I know him well and obviously ride him every day.
"I haven't been riding lately but I am working really hard at home so race fitness won't be 100 per cent but I should be okay. I do all his work and ride work here everyday at Ballarat, so I am keeping really fit.
"He is one of the most beautiful horses to ride, he's a real pleasure, so it will be good fun."
Maher on the brink of another milestone
The Ciaron Maher stable is on the brink of another milestone, with Maher and his training partner David Eustace having notched up their 250th Victorian winner for the season on Sunday.
Maher and Eustace have moved to 99 Melbourne winners for the season following Maserartie Bay’s (Artie Schiller {USA}) win at Flemington on Saturday with the century likely to be reached at Sandown this Saturday on a day when the stable also hopes to put up another significant achievement.
“I think we are ahead of what we had forecast and the goals we had set, so it’s been pleasing,’’ Maher said on Monday.
David Eustace and Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We’ve been spending a bit of focus on our strike-rate and placing of the horses and that has obviously improved from last year.
“It (training 100 winners) takes a lot of work and many hands so it will be great to knock that off shortly.’’
The stable strike-rate has been elite this year with figures rising from a pleasing 18.7 per cent last season to a staggering 22.2 per cent.
Another Cup hope for Fellowes?
Charlie Fellowes knows a thing or two about the G1 Melbourne Cup and he believes he may have a horse that will fill the shoes of the now retired Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), who placed in the Flemington showpiece on three occasions.
Fellowes told Racing.com Grand Alliance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who ran a fast-finishing 11th in the G1 Derby at Epsom on Saturday, could be the ideal horse for the Melbourne Cup.
“We had a runner in the Derby the other day and he ran well, he finished 10th after deciding with two furlongs to go that he’d actually put an ounce of effort in, otherwise he might have run a lot better,” Fellowes said. “He might just be a Melbourne Cup horse further down the line.
“On pedigree he’s not meant to stay but if you watch the Derby there is no doubt that he stayed and, if anything, you’d say that he’ll probably want a little bit further.
“I think for the Melbourne Cup you want a genuine mile-and-a-half horse up here because they’ve got to have a bit of speed which he’s got and I think he’ll love those (Australian) tracks. We’ve just got to work out whether he’s good enough or not.”
