Ashleigh Thoroughbreds sold off-market
The Ashleigh Thoroughbreds operation of longtime breeders Senga Bissett and Ivan Woodford-Smith has been sold to Riversdale Stud’s Nick and Jasmine Hodges in an off-market transaction that occurred last week. The 330-acre rural property along Cressfield Road, outside of Scone, bred the likes of Captivant (Capitalist) in recent years.
“Jas and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to purchase Ashleigh,” Nick Hodges said in a statement released by the agency that brokered the sale, McGrath Upper Hunter. “Senga and Ivan have been a big part of our lives over the years, and Senga has been a mentor and confidante to me personally when it comes to the thoroughbred industry. We look forward to raising our four boys in an idyllic part of the world and continuing the tradition of excellence that is Ashleigh.”
Jasmine and Nick Hodges, Senga Bissett and Ivan Woodford-Smith with selling agent Michael Burke | Image courtesy of Facebook
Ashleigh Thoroughbreds has enjoyed a long connection with Riversdale, the two farms (along with Byerley Stud) co-selling yearlings in the past under the banner of Southern Cross Breeders.
McGrath’s selling agent, Michael Burke, said the sale was a good indication of the strength of the Upper Hunter equine-property market.
“The vendors have developed this magnificent 330-acre property and its well-known brand over the past two decades, and without doubt I believe it is one of the Upper Hunter’s blue-ribbon properties,” Bourke said. “It has a first-class address and some of the most picturesque and productive horse country I’ve had the privilege of selling.”
McDonald slapped with eight-day ban
Despite riding a treble on the day, James McDonald’s afternoon at Flemington did have a sting in the tail as he incurred an eight-day careless riding suspension for his winning ride on Roots (Press Statement) in the Inglis Bracelet.
The suspension kicks in immediately after Saturday's Flemington fixture, with McDonald free to return to the races on November 13.
Gong next for Kirwan’s Lane
The Gong at Kembla Grange is shaping up to be the next raceday target for Thursday’s Listed Ladies Day Cup winner Kirwan's Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
The John O’Shea-trained 6-year-old gelding added to his victory in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup in April when he defeated Momack (Uncle Mo {USA}) by 0.2l, while The Frontman (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) was a further 0.8l away in third.
Kirwan's Lane (NZ) wins the Listed Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The race was run to suit us, they went a nice gallop and we had a beautiful, economical run,” winning jockey Tommy Sherry told Sky Racing.
“He just hit a bit of a flat spot before straightening and then Jason (Collett on The Frontman) came with a really quick run and headed us. I was a bit worried to be honest but he's so tough and genuine.
“He's been a great horse to me and he lifted himself off the canvas and really attacked the line.”
Nature Strip the underdog?
Chris Waller told Racing.com on Thursday that he’s happy to see star sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) head into Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint as the underdog against The Everest winner Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) and Manikato winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).
“He’s coming up against the likes of Giga Kick again, and he (Giga Kick) is a very exciting horse who has a nice weight advantage and he’ll be very hard to beat,” Waller said. “There’ll be some fine sprinters in the race so he (Nature Strip) will have to be at the top of his game for sure.”
Nature Strip carries a rating of 122 into Saturday’s field, a long way clear of Giga Kick’s 114, and the pair of favourites has drawn barriers 12 and 7 respectively.
Levante a danger first-up
The 6-year-old mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) is back at Flemington on Saturday for her first appearance since her fourth in Roch ‘N’ Horse’s (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) G1 Newmarket H. Levante is lining up against Nature Strip and Giga Kick in the G1 Champions Sprint (1200 metres).
“Realistically, Nature Strip and Giga Kick are the two horses to beat and if we could run a place, we would be over the moon,” said co-trained Ken Kelso.
Levante (NZ) winning at Ellerslie in March 2021 | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Levante is a winner of 10 of her 16 races and is undefeated in three first-up appearances. She has drawn barrier 14 on Saturday in the 15-horse field.
Willowy retired
The 4-year-old Godolphin mare Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), a winner of the G2 Wakeful S. and G1 VRC Oaks last year, has been officially retired, according to Racing.com. From six lifetime starts, the mare won three races for trainer James Cummings and just over $800,000 in prizemoney.
Willowy was retired in October after an effort this season to bring her back into training. She was the final foal from the dual Group-winner Dextrous (Quest For Fame {GB}), making her a valuable half-sister to the Telemon Thoroughbreds sire Sidestep, the G1 Champagne S. winner Skilled and the G2 Theo Marks S. winner Ambidexter.
Ellsberg the one to beat
Michael Kent Jnr, the co-trainer of Saturday’s $2 million Five Diamonds contestant Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), said the on-song Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) was the one to beat in this weekend’s race. Ayrton has Sam Clipperton aboard from barrier 11, while Ellsberg, trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, has barrier two.
“He’s (Ellsberg) the horse to beat,” Kent Jnr said. “He has a beautiful draw while we have to contend with a wide-ish gate. Ayrton is a big, long-striding horse who likes to build his revs before entering the straight. I hope we’re right, but I do think we will see a really good effort.”
Ellsberg is a short-priced favourite for the 1800-metre Five Diamonds, a race restricted to 5-year-olds, with Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) and Ayrton next in line.
NZ Guineas tilt for Pier
The 3-year-old gelding Pier (NZ), by Proisir, a winner of the G3 Hawke's Bay Guineas, has drawn an ideal barrier five for this Saturday’s G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. Co-trained by the Matamata-based Darryn Weatherley and his daughter Briar, Pier flew to Christchurch on Tuesday and has settled in well ahead of the Group 1.
“If you had asked me what barrier I would have liked, I would have said five or six, so I’m very happy with that,” Weatherly told NZ Racing Desk. “I will pretty much leave it to Michael (McNab, jockey), but it would be nice if he begins well and ends up in a trailing position somewhere.”
Pier (NZ) winning the G3 Hawke's Bay Guineas | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
The co-trainer bred Pier in partnership with his wife, Lou, and Barry Wright, and the ownership also includes the on-song Australian, Ozzie Kheir.
Jacquinot goes out
The G1 Golden Rose winner Jacquinot (Rubick) has been spelled after finishing ninth of 17 in last Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington. The 3-year-old colt was beaten only 4l by Godolphin’s star filly In Secret (I Am Invincible).
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said Jacquinot’s ideal trip was 1400 metres, a distance the stable would be targeting when the valuable colt, who will stand at Widden on retirement, comes back in the autumn.
“He’s very effective over 1200 metres, as we saw in The Everest (when fifth), and he was a bit unlucky in the Coolmore,” Kent Jnr said. “You’d be looking at those 1400-metre Group 1s in the autumn for him.”
Murphy's Group 1 bucketlist
Irish jockey Oisin Murphy, currently serving a 14-month ban in the Northern Hemisphere for alcohol and COVID-related breaches, has told After The Last of his ambition to win an Australian Group 1 race. Murphy previously spent two months in Australia in the season 2013/14 with Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien, and he rode Benbatl (GB) to second place behind Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) in the 2018 Cox Plate.
“My ambition is to win a Group 1 in Australia,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to win big races in different jurisdictions and it’s very important for me to get one down here, so hopefully in the next few years I can tick it off the list.”
MRC’s flood donation
The MRC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), announced on Thursday a $100,000 donation to GIVIT, a donation platform, in support of the VRC’s flood relief initiative, which has been ongoing through the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Brooke Dawson, chairman of the MRC Foundation and one of the thousands personally affected by the recent floods in regional Victoria, said she was proud of the racing community’s effort.
“Within the racing community, there is so much generosity and genuine care,” she said. “You can always count on everyone coming together to help those in need and, as such, the MRC Foundation is more than happy to donate $100,000 to the VRC’s relief and recovery efforts.”
Image courtesy of the Victoria Racing Club
At the close of the Melbourne Cup Carnival this Saturday, the VRC will announce the total amount raised for its flood relief effort. At the time of writing, the figure was $307,305.
