Jack Bruce expands to Sunshine Coast
Queensland trainer Jack Bruce announced on Thursday that, in addition to his 24-horse yard at Deagon in Brisbane, he had taken up an additional 20 boxes on the Sunshine Coast. Bruce, a Kiwi-born Sydneysider, made his move to Queensland in May last year after a decade of experience with Bjorn Baker, Chris Waller and the Maher-Eustace operation.
Jack Bruce | Image courtesy of Jack Bruce Racing
In mid-July, the trainer had his debut metropolitan winner with the 8-year-old OTI gelding Barade (Fr) (Havana Gold {Ire}) in Brisbane, while in September, his 6-year-old gelding Axe (Written Tycoon) became his first stakes winner when taking out the Listed Weetwood H. at Toowoomba.
Record turnover for Cup Carnival
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has revealed record levels of turnover for its 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival, which wrapped up last Saturday with Champions Day. A domestic wagering of $776 million was reached, with $95 million of international turnover contributing to a record $871 million across the four days of racing.
Individually, betting on the Cup itself was up seven per cent, while Cup Day turnover was the second-highest it’s ever been at $371 million. Of that, $226 million was wagered on the Cup alone, while Cup Day's wagering in Hong Kong was up 20 per cent on 2021, up 55 per cent in America and up 13 per cent in New Zealand across the whole carnival.
Domestic turnover on Derby Day was a record $166 million, Oaks Day $95 million and the revamped Champions Day $144 million.
Pike open-ended
Leading rider William Pike, who has spent much of this year on the east coast, made a winning return to the riding ranks in Western Australia on Wednesday, but he’s leaving his plans open-ended as to whether he stays put in the west.
William Pike | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I’m here for a little while,” he told The Races WA after riding the Bob and Sandra Peters-owned Truly Inspired (Dundeel {NZ}) to victory in the sixth race at Ascot. “I don’t really have a lot of plans at the moment. I’ll be here for a month, six weeks. I’ll see the carnival out, but I’m hoping to head back across for the Magic Millions (in January).”
BRC aligns with Aquis Stallions
The Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) announced on Thursday a new sponsorship alliance with Aquis Stallions, kicking off with this Saturday’s Listed Keith Noud S. at Doomben. The race will be run as the Aquis Stallions Keith Noud S., which fittingly was won by Aquis’ first-season sire Jonker two years ago.
The multi-year sponsorship also includes the Listed Calaway Gal S. for 2-year-old fillies and the million-dollar G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S., the latter won by Aquis’ Lean Mean Machine in 2018.
“Mr Fung and his son Justin are big supporters of racing in this state and consider themselves Queenslanders,” said Jonathan Davies, Aquis Farm’s director of sales. “They are very passionate about the Queensland industry, both racing and breeding. The investment they have put into the Queensland industry has been second to none.”
Weight no issue for Mav, says Mott
Multiple Group 1-winning jockey Jamie Mott isn’t concerned by Callsign Mav’s (NZ) (Atlante) 61kg in Saturday’s Listed Cranbourne Cup.
Despite being asked to carry at least 2kg more than all of his rivals, Mott is adamant it won’t be an issue for the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. hero, as long as the gear change trainer Danny O’Brien has applied does the trick.
Callsign Mav (NZ) | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
“I’m not worried about the 61 at all,” Mott said. “This is definitely a peg back from what his last few runs have been in, so I’m just banking on the tongue tie and crossover together helping him breathe properly.”
Sandhu looking forward to Lofty’s future
Cranbourne-based trainer Julius Sandhu can’t wait to get his star colt Lofty Strike (Snitzel) back for the autumn.
The 3-year-old has gone to the paddock after an encouraging three-run spring campaign, which saw him finish third in the G3 Blue Sapphire S., fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and a close-up seventh in last Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint.
“I think the physical maturity is going to come a little bit more because he's so lightly raced,” Sandhu told Racing.com. “He’s developed over the break between autumn and spring, he absolutely came back a monster. I can’t help but think that with a second preparation under his belt, albeit a small one, he's going to develop more physically. He’s going to be very comfortable matching it with the big boys when he gets back.”
Former Moody mare for NZ debut
Five-year-old mare Vidiano (Pierro) is back in New Zealand after two seasons in Australia in the care of Peter Moody, and she is due to race this Saturday in a mile event at Hastings. Initially prepared early in her career by Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, she had eight starts in Australia for a win at Pakenham and three placings.
Vidiano winning at Pakenham in February | Image courtesy of Brett Holburt Racing Photos
Vidiano is in the care of Hawke's Bay trainer Simon Wilson, who told NZ Racing Desk she had settled into her change of scene well last July.
“She’s a nice horse but is a bit of an unknown, and I’ll know more about her after the weekend,” the trainer said. “She works well but needs to bring that to raceday.”
Night racing returns to Sydney
Sydney’s popular night racing series returns to Canterbury Park this Friday. Entry is free to racegoers, and the first meeting is one of 10 scheduled as part of the Kia Friday Night Racing program, which will run from November 11 to February 24.
Kia Friday Night Racing returns to Canterbury Park this week | Image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club
It’s the fifth season that commercial sponsor Kia has partnered with the Australian Turf Club’s Friday night series, and the meetings will feature free entertainment for families, a strong charity element and a trackside beer garden, along with all the usual trimmings of regular meetings.
Baaeed Cartier Horse of the Year
Shadwell’s brilliant Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was named the 2022 Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse overnight at the 32nd Cartier Racing Awards ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London. He is the first Shadwell horse to win the title, which came just days after he was announced for Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud at a debut fee of £88,000 (AU$155,000).
The Aga Khan’s Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) was named the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt, while the fillies’ equivalent was won by Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Ballydoyle’s Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) won the 2-Year-Old Colt division, and the 2-Year-Old Fillies’ award was won by Zoustar’s Lezoo (GB), a superb effort for the Widden-based reverse-shuttler with just his first Northern Hemisphere crop.
The evening’s Award of Merit went to Kirsten Rausing of Lanwades Stud, whose homebred Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) won the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last month.
Adena Springs for sale
Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm in Paris, Kentucky, is on the market again after last being offered briefly in 2017. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Dallas-based real estate firm Icon Global, with the property listed online at US$55 million (AU$85 million).
Adena Springs Farm has been advertised at US$55 million (AU$85 million) this week
The Stronach Group purchased the farm in 2005 and the 2300-acre facility that it is today was opened in 2007. It’s been North America’s leading breeder 10 times since 2003, standing the likes of Ghostzapper (USA) and Mucho Macho Man (USA).
“We are delighted to make this early campaign announcement on behalf of our client, The Stronach Group,” said Icon Global’s Bernard Uechtritz. He added that Stronach, now 89, was looking to downsize his breeding operation.
Flightline to Stand for US$200,000 in 2023
The undefeated Flightline (USA), who retired to Lane's End Farm after an 8.3l victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic last Saturday, will stand the 2023 season for an introductory fee of US$200,000 (AU$311,900).
The 4-year-old was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm and raced by Summer Wind in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing. He was trained by John Sadler and ridden in all six of his starts by Flavien Prat. In addition to the Classic, Flightline won the G1 Pacific Classic, G1 Metropolitan H. and G1 Malibu S.
A fraction interest in the likely Horse of the Year sold for US$4.6 million (AU$7.2 million) prior to the start of Keeneland's November sale Monday.
Coolmore release fees
Off the back of a star-studded season, No Nay Never (USA) will stand for €175,000 (AU$272,900) in 2023, which represents a €50,000 (AU$78,000) rise, while his dual Group 1-winning son Blackbeard (Ire) will join him on the Coolmore roster next year at a price of €25,000 (AU$39,000).
Sioux Nation (USA), who has enjoyed a terrific debut season at stud, siring winners of 61 races. He will have his fee increased from €10,000 (AU$15,600) to €17,500 (AU$27,300) next year, while Saxon Warrior (Jpn) will stand for a fee of €54,600 (AU$84,900).
Wootton Bassett (GB) will stand for €150,000 (AU$233,900), St Mark's Basilica's (Fr) 2023 fee is €65,000 (AU$101,300), and Camelot (GB) is at €60,000 (AU$93,600). Churchill (Ire), the sire of dual Group 1 winner Vadeni (Fr), has had his fee increased to €30,000 (AU$46,800), Starspangledbanner will stand for €50,000 (AU$78,000), while Australia (GB) and Sottsass (Fr) will both be offered at fee of €25,000 (AU$39,000) and Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Gleneagles (Ire) have been priced up at €17,500 (AU$27,300).
Footstepsinthesand (GB), Circus Maximus (Ire), Calyx (GB) and U S Navy Flag (USA) are set at €10,000 (AU$16,000), while the roster is rounded off by Arizona (Ire) and Gustav Klimt (Ire) and they will stand for €5000 (AU$7800) and €4000 (AU$6200) respectively.
Alpinista retired after ruled out of Japan Cup swansong
The G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will miss the G1 Japan Cup and head to the breeding shed after suffering a setback, trainer Sir Mark Prescott has confirmed.
Rausing and Prescott had been building up to a final farewell run on the track in Tokyo on November 27, but Alpinista was found to have heat in her leg meaning she was immediately retired.
She retires the winner of 10 of her 15 starts, spearheaded by six Group 1 triumphs.
