Vale Anton Koolman
Renowned bloodstock agent Anton Koolman has passed away aged 82.
The Koolman family announced the news on Sunday evening, saying 'Anton died peacefully overnight surrounded by his wife, sons, siblings and daughters-in-law'.
Koolman, who bought Let's Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}), G1 VRC Oaks winner Richfield Lady (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) and found top stayer Stony Bay (NZ) (Dahar {USA}) before successfully turning his attention to the burgeoning Hong Kong market is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marg, and children Oliver, Miles and Andrew.
Anton Koolman
In 2010 Hermitage Thoroughbreds was formed and as well as helping develop the world-class pre-training facility, Koolman, along with fellow bloodstock agent and son Oliver, had an uncanny strike rate buying for the group, securing Group 1 heroine Egg Tart (Sebring) and Champion 3-Year-Old turned Arrowfield Stud stallion The Autumn Sun.
One step at a time
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable aren’t getting too far ahead of themselves despite exciting Headwater colt Inundation demolishing his rivals at Caulfield on Saturday.
Kent Jnr told RSN that their future ambitions will be based on what the lightly raced 3-year-old produces when stepping out over 1100 metres at Caulfield next fortnight.
Annavisto spell bound
Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) will head straight to the paddock after failing to fire in Saturday’s G1 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Michael Kent Jnr, who trains the mare in partnership with Mick Price, said the 4-year-old will be set for October’s G1 Empire Rose S.
Sunday double for Sooboog
Kitchwin Hills Stud stallion Sooboog took his tally to 28 winners for the season after notching a double of Sunday.
Sooboog now has 28 winners to his name this season | Standing at Kitchwin Hills Stud
The Dalziel Racing-owned Boogie Dancer broke her maiden status at start number two when victorious in the opening event at Donald while So Silent found the winner's stall for the first time at Port Augusta.
Sooboog is currently eighth in the second-season sires’ standings by winners.
Cardinal Gem to back up
Grahame Begg has confirmed that Cardinal Gem (Choisir) will back up into next week’s Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington after an impressive victory at Caulfield on Saturday.
Begg was taken by Cardinal Gem’s well-deserved success after two luckless outings at Flemington and Caulfield respectively.
He said the 3-year-old has bounced through the outing and will relish the step up to 1600 metres.
Another winner for Alpine Eagle
Armidale Stud stallion Alpine Eagle brought up his 23rd win of the season by the way of I’m So School’s breakthrough victory at Launceston on Sunday.
The Tegan Keys-trained gelding went home the better of Zewinna (Tough Speed) and Khan Of Khans (Fiorente {Ire}).
Alpine Eagle gained his 23rd winner of the season on Sunday | Standing at Armidale Stud
Alpine Eagle is currently ninth in the second-season sires’ standings by winners.
Begg outlines Nonconformist’s Cup path
Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) has returned to Grahame Begg’s stable in good order and will have four runs before contesting October’s G1 Caulfield Cup.
Begg told RSN that the high-class stayer, who finished second behind Incentivise (Shamus Award) in last year’s Caulfield Cup, will resume in the G1 Memsie S. on August 27 before contesting the G1 Makybe Diva S., the G1 Underwood S. followed by the G1 Might And Power S.
Mo’unga maturing
Annabel Neasham says Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) is almost unrecognisable after returning from a spell.
The dual Group 1 winner, who was secured by Newhaven Park after finishing sixth in April’s G1 All Aged S., made his way back to Neasham’s Warwick Farm base in preparation for a first-up raid on August’s G1 Winx S.
Mo’unga (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
"He has improved physically an enormous amount, he's really beefed up,” Neasham told Racing.com.
“I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up a bit sharper this prep, he looks more like a sprinter-miler, very muscly, very bulky.”
Tralee on the comeback trail
Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will again plot a path towards the first Tuesday in November after fully recovering from niggling injuries and a superficial wound sustained in last year’s running of the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Symon Wilde, who trains the G3 Geelong Cup heroine, said Tralee Rose will have a similar build-up to last year and is likely to contest the G3 Heatherlie S. second-up.
Tralee Rose (NZ) (green cap) winning the G3 Geelong Cup | Image courtesy of Trish Dunnell
The Warrnambool-based trainer said the Melbourne Cup isn’t the be all and end all, saying races such as the G3 Geelong Cup, the G3 Bendigo Cup and the G2 Zipping Classic are right in Tralee Rose’s ‘wheelhouse’.
Alliance set for Australia
Charlie Fellowes is all but certain to nominate promising stayer Grand Alliance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) for November’s G1 Melbourne Cup.
The UK-based horseman, who saddled Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) to three consecutive Melbourne Cup placings, said Grand Alliance has more natural talent than his stable counterpart and profiles as the ideal Cup candidate.
He said inexperience cost the lightly raced galloper victory in last week’s G2 King Edward VII S. and that he will be targeted towards September’s G1 St Leger S. at Doncaster.
