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Cambridge's Almanzor set for another big week at Karaka

Written by
9 min read
With a Group 1 winner already under his belt, Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Fr) has 54 yearlings set to go under the hammer at the New Zealand Karaka Yearling Sale from Sunday. We caught up with Scott Calder to hear about the young sire’s results to date.

When Almanzor landed on New Zealand shores ahead of his first covering season at the historic Cambridge Stud in 2018, he had a lofty reputation to uphold.

A winner of three Group 1 races during his career on the racetrack, a feat which led to him being crowned Europe’s Champion 3-Year-Old colt, Almanzor had the world at his feet and understandably the breeders in New Zealand, as they had done in Europe, flocked to book in their mares to the stallion.

Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud

The stallion kicked off his Southern Hemisphere career by covering 140 mares, which he followed up with 160 the following year.

With this sort of popularity comes the weight of expectation and the stallion passed his first test with flying colours when his first crop recorded some exceptional results in the sales ring.

In his first year in Australasia, he had 62 yearlings make $11,754,842 at an average of $189,594 and last year 64 of his youngsters sold for a gross of $10,613,330 and an average of $165,833.

Almanzor (Fr) when racing | Standing at Cambridge Stud, image courtesy of Haras d'Etreham

However, a stallion’s sales results are only one side of the coin. If the horse fails to produce the goods on the racetrack, those results will very quickly prove to be a flash in the pan.

But, to the great relief of everyone at Cambridge Stud and the breeders who have supported the stallion, his results on the track have more than vindicated the buyers' support for the stallion.

Strength to strength

In his first year, Almanzor sired the winner of the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO in Dynastic (NZ), which led to him being crowned Champion First Season Sire and since then the stallion has gone from strength to strength, spearheaded by Manzoice’s thrilling victory in the G1 Victoria Derby during the spring carnival.

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Gallery: Some of Almanzor's (Fr) Southern Hemisphere stakes winners

“It has been a very rewarding experience up to this point and certainly from the moment he came down to New Zealand as a European Champion 3-Year-Old, he has been well received and got full books all the way through,” explained the Cambridge Stud's Head of Sales and Nominations, Scott Calder.

“But more importantly when they first hit the sales ring in New Zealand he was well received, which was a great reward for the breeders that had supported him early,” said Calder.

“Those good results, however, created a lot of expectation around his racetrack results. So now to be through to the spring and summer of his first crop of 3-year-olds and already have a Derby winner on the board and a Karaka Million 2YO winner we couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

“...to be through to his (Almanzor's) first crop of 3-year-olds and already have a Derby winner on the board and a Karaka Million 2YO winner we couldn’t have asked for anything more.” - Scott Calder

The stallion resides at Haras d'Etreham in his native France during his time in the opposite hemisphere, where he is about to cover his sixth book of mares at a fee of €25,000 (AU$38,400) and his global stakes count stands at seven stakes winners.

Calder said the fact the stallion has runners one crop ahead of his horses in the Southern Hemisphere has been a great learning experience for everyone on the farm.

“His performances in Europe has been great and always gave us insight into what to expect down here and one of the takeaways, unsurprisingly, was his progeny were always going to improve with age and distance.”

Scott Calder | Image courtesy of Cambridge Stud

Plenty of upside

For Calder, however, the exciting element with a stallion like Almanzor is the potential he has waiting in the wings. Indeed, among the first two crops in the Southen Hemisphere, two are stakes winners and seven have been placed at black-type level which, given the stallion’s progeny’s clear aptitude of improving with age, it would lead many to conclude that his stakes-winning tally in the region should start to swell in the coming months.

“He has only had 62 individual runners and while he has had a lot of success already, there are a lot of horses that will come into the autumn as great prospects in those Oaks and Derby races,” said Calder.

Among the potential future stakes winners is 3-year-old colt Virtuous Circle (NZ), who was purchased by his trainer Liam Howley, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $350,000 from the Wentwood Grange Stud draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2021.

The colt broke his maiden on his second start as a 2-year-old and has been unlucky at stakes level this season, finishing third in the G2 Stutt S., before running second in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase.

“Virtuous Circle probably would have been one of the favourites for the Derby had he run in it, but they have taken the patient approach and I’m sure they will have a lot of ambitious targets for him in the autumn,” said Calder.

“Andalus was very impressive in his last start and that was his first time out to the mile, again you would think he will be better at 2000 metres and further. The same goes for Safura when she stepped up to 2000 metres she got that third in the G2 Royal S. and broke her maiden impressively today (Wednesday).”

The secret of Almanzor's success? Calder believes this is very simple, he produces athletic types that are easy to train.

“They are just athletes,” he said. “He has an amazing ability to pass on depth of girth, his beautiful head and they just have a quality and athleticism about them.

“They (Almanzor's progeny) are just athletes. He has an amazing ability to pass on depth of girth, his beautiful head and they just have a quality and athleticism about them.” - Scott Calder

“The other feedback I get all the time is about their temperaments. They are easy horses to prep for sales, they thrive on the prep and they are easy to manage and that is something that has flowed over into the racing side of things as well,” he said.

The perfect showcase

Of the 54 yearlings Almanzor has catalogued for this year’s edition of the Karaka Sale, Cambridge will present 12 and Calder is pleased with them as a collective, believing they perfectly showcase the type of quality Almanzor habitually throws.

Click here to view Almanzor's yearlings to be offered at the NZB Karaka Yearling Sale

Among the dozen yearlings set to be offered by Cambridge is Lot 180, a colt out of the unraced Lonhro mare Fearless Choice. The yearling hails from the same family as Group 2 winner Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice) and G1 Australian Derby runner-up Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who was bred by Cambridge Stud.

Lot 180 - Almanzor (Fr) x Fearless Choice (colt) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

“He is a really good example of an Almanzor. He has a lovely depth of girth, a beautiful head and has so much quality,” explained Calder.

“He is a medium-sized horse and is a later foal. He’s from quite a fast female family, but it produced Young Werther and I would like to think he is that kind of staying type but will also be sharp enough that you can get him up in the spring of his 3-year-old year and then target some of those Classic-type races.”

Cambridge will also offer Lot 126 a filly out of the five-time winner Danahere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), making her a half-sister to Listed scorer Saint Patricks Day (Excelebration {Ire}).

Lot 126 - Almanzor (Fr) x Danahere (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of NZB

Danahere herself is a half-sister to G2 Matriarch S. winner Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Group 3-winning duo Amexed (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and Miss Aotearoa (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

“She is another good example of the quality that Almanzor puts into his stock. She is a beautiful looking filly, who has a good amount of strength to her,” said Calder.

“She looks quite sharp, and she is out of a proven dam, who has already produced a stakes winner. Down the page she has some lovely fillies in the family, including Oceanex and Miss Aotearoa and so as well as being a nice type she has that residual in the family to back her up.”

“She (Lot 126) looks quite sharp, and she is out of a proven dam, who has already produced a stakes winner... as well as being a nice type she has that residual in the family to back her up.” - Scott Calder

The ideal match

The filly’s second dam, Danex (NZ) is by Danasinga, a son of the great Danehill (USA) and Calder said the appearance of Danehill on the damside has proved very successful for Almanzor.

In fact, three of his stakes winners in Europe have been out of granddaughters of Danehill, through his sons Fastnet Rock (via Unanimous Consent {GB}), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (via Katoucha {Fr}) and Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) (via Rajapour {Ire}), while Manzoice is out of a Choice (NZ), a daughter of Mastercraftsman (Ire), a grandson of the great Danehill.

“If you go through Almanzor’s early success down here, Danehill is a really key factor. A lot of his winners, in both hemispheres, have come from Danehill-line mares,” said Calder.

“If you go through Almanzor’s early success down here (Southern Hemisphere), Danehill is a really key factor. A lot of his winners, in both hemispheres, have come from Danehill-line mares.” - Scott Calder

“From a breeding perspective that makes life a lot easier because a lot of stallions already have Danehill in their pedigree. With Almanzor he is an open book and you can breed just about any stallion to him if you like the physical mating and in most cases, he will upgrade a mare on type as well.”

With a roster of exciting stallions like Embellish (NZ), Sword Of State and another shuttler in Hello Youmzain (Fr) coming through the ranks, Cambridge Stud’s new chapter is unlikely to stop at Almanzor.

“Proven stallions are hard to come by and we have some really well-credentialled young stallions coming through, but the challenge was always going to be them taking the step up and to fill the gap left by the likes of Tavistock and Burgundy.

“It has been important to us that Almanzor has started like he has and it has been really good news for the farm and has been a really positive thing.”

Cambridge Stud
Scott Calder
Almanzor
Brendan and Jo Lindsay
New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale

39th Asian Racing Conference comes to Melbourne

Written by
8 min read
After a year’s hiatus, the Asian Racing Conference will occur next month in Melbourne, hosted by Racing Victoria. We caught up with its Director, Carly Dixon, for a chat about this remarkable industry fixture that’s been ongoing since 1960.

Cover image courtesy of Asian Racing Federation

Every few years, the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) comes together for its Asian Racing Conference, and next month, from February 14 for six days, it will come together in Melbourne.

The southern city was the initial host for the 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in February 2022, but COVID caused an infinite delay and the event was rescheduled to next month.

It’s been a popular addition to the industry calendar for over 60 years.

Cities like Istanbul, Mumbai, Seoul and Hong Kong have all played hosted to an ARC over the years, with delegates and attendees flying in from all over the world. Australia will host the event this year for the fourth time.

The 2018 Asian Racing Conference at Seoul | Image courtesy of ARF

The Asian Racing Federation represents nations as far west as Turkey and South Africa, as far east as New Zealand, Australia and Japan, and countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, Mongolia and Thailand in between.

In fact, the stats on ARF membership are impressive.

There are 21 full members, two associate members (from China and Mongolia) and four affiliate members (from China, Indonesia, Philippines and Kuwait). Rather than representing nations in themselves, the ARF members are racing organisations. For example, in Australia the member is Racing Australia.

The first conference was held in Japan as far back as 1960, and there have been 38 Asian Racing Conferences since. In 2001, the Asian Racing Federation was formally established as a permanent organisation, which occurred during the 28th ARC in Thailand.

The first conference was held in Japan as far back as 1960, and there have been 38 Asian Racing Conferences since. In 2001, the Asian Racing Federation was formally established as a permanent organisation...

The objectives of the Federation were to ‘meet and foster goodwill and mutual understanding through the medium of periodic conferences and other racing events’, all the while promoting the racing and breeding industries of member nations, exchanging ideas and promoting discussion on relevant issues.

The ARF is also central to the Asian Pattern Committee, advising and assisting with the co-ordination of members’ best races.

These objectives have helped each year’s ARC blossom into a go-to event, something that Melbourne is looking forward to next month. From February 14 to 19, the city, and specifically Racing Victoria, will showcase its local wares to around 650 delegates.

The theme of the 39th ARC is ‘breaking barriers’, and the three-day business program of the week will look at racing and wagering landscapes, fan engagement and such fundamental issues as modern ownership. It will also look at equine welfare, which is so key to the industry these days.

A post-COVID reset

Carly Dixon is the general manager of corporate affairs at Racing Victoria. She’s also the director of next month’s conference and she's gearing up for a deluge of interesting visitors.

Dixon is expecting around 650 delegates in Melbourne by February 14, with two-thirds of them being international.

Carly Dixon and Lizzie Jelfs | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria

“The last conference I attended was in Cape Town in 2020, shortly before lockdown, and it was quite an interesting time because the world was rapidly changing around us,” she said, speaking this week to TDN AusNZ. “Borders were starting to close and I remember getting home around four or five days before they shut, it was that tight.

“So we’ve since had two or more years of incredibly unusual times globally, and for me, coming out of that, the conference will be the first time, as an international racing community, that we’ll be getting back together.

“There’s a real opportunity in that for a refresh almost, to take the things we all learned during the global pandemic and see how they've affected racing, and to see how racing moves forward.”

“...we’ve had two or more years of incredibly unusual times globally, and for me, coming out of that, the conference will be the first time, as an international racing community, that we’ll be getting back together.” - Carly Dixon

As such, the 39th ARC will be unique among its peers. No other has occurred after a lifestyle-altering, world-affecting global event, and it will promote interesting discussions in the sessions.

“The theme of ‘breaking barriers’ was something we landed upon as a backward-looking conference, but as a forward-looking conference too,” Dixon said. “What barriers have we overcome as an industry and a sport internationally, and what hurdles do we still have to get over to ensure our sport maintains its currency in a really dynamic external environment?

“I’d characterise this conference as something of a resetting of how racing wants to engage with the world around it, and that will be obvious in the different sessions we’ve got planned for the week.”

Who’s who

The opening day of the ARC, Valentine’s Day, will take place at Crown Conference Centre. It’s a bureau meeting environment, with the opening ceremony later that day at the Palladium.

Thereafter, the business program will see three days of sessions at the Melbourne Convention Centre with evening entertainment scheduled before the closing ceremony on Friday, February 17.

The following day, delegates will be invited to the Black Caviar Lightning Raceday at Flemington, followed by an optional regional tour on the Sunday of Lindsay Park Racing and Mitchelton Winery.

Like all of these conferences, Melbourne’s ARC is an attractive social occasion. The business end of things knits well with its social agenda, and the opportunity of meeting likeminded industry participants. But as social as the conference is, it usually hits its target as a riveting industry spectacle.

Like all of these conferences, Melbourne’s ARC is an attractive social occasion. The business end of things knits well with its social agenda, and the opportunity of meeting likeminded industry participants.

Next month, Chris Waller will be a key speaker on the opening day of the business sessions. He’ll be joined by Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds.

“Chris is such an extraordinary advocate for the industry,” Dixon said. “He has such amazing stories himself, but he really has a sound understanding of the nexus and importance of ownership to the racing industry in general, and also that crossover to owner-breeders.

“There are issues there of micro-ownership and how owners and owner-breeders are navigating those challenges while still securing investment and continuing to supply and support the entire industry.”

The ARC is still narrowing its list of key speakers for next month. It will include prominent racing people, like Inglis Bloodstock’s CEO Sebastian Hutch, but also wider business heads like Katie Page-Harvey.

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Gallery: Some of the key speakers for the 39th Asian Racing Conference

Dixon said AFL identity Eddie McGuire was also a likely speaker, a man that has a long sporting repertoire and who returned to commentary roles last year for Channel 10’s Melbourne Cup broadcast.

“We are aiming to feature speakers from within the industry, but also prominent people outside the racing bubble,” Dixon said. “Katie Page-Harvey and Eddie McGuire would be friends of racing, I guess you might say, who have a longstanding affection for and engagement with racing, and they will bring a different lens to the event through their own corporate and personal experiences.”

Why should I go?

The promotional material for the 39th ARC describes it as a ‘significant occasion for ARF members and stakeholders to gather in person to exchange ideas for the betterment of our sport’. Often, to everyday industry workers, the idea of a conference is eyewatering, but the ARC is a genuine good time most years.

What would Dixon say to those industry participants, be they studmasters, racehorse trainers, hobby owners or office staff, who ordinarily wouldn’t consider a racing conference of this nature?

“For me, it’s a week to establish those networks of thought leadership,” she said. “It’s about connecting with people that are at the cutting edge of their trades and professions, both locally and overseas, and sharing their knowledge.

“I really do think we’re an industry of very humble people, people that don’t brag about their achievements, but we’ve got some exceptional owners, breeders and administrators here in Australia. I think we’ve got a lot to give the world, and the conference is about sharing that expertise and, in turn, learning and sharing from others.”

“I think we’ve got a lot to give the world, and the conference is about sharing that expertise and, in turn, learning and sharing from others.” - Carly Dixon

Dixon agrees that the connections made at an ARC, hosted anywhere in the world, can last a lifetime.

“I have colleagues that have been going to these conferences for a decade and they still get as much out of them now as when they first went,” she said.

Click here for a full breakdown of the upcoming 39th Asian Racing Conference
Asian Racing Conference
Asian Racing Federation
Carly Dixon

Pedigree Boosters – New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale

Written by
3 min read
Ahead of the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, we have found three yearlings who have had substantial pedigree updates over the past couple of months.

The catalogue for the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale was released on November 21, 2022, and since then, a host of yearlings being offered at Karaka next week have had their pedigree enhanced, which is important information for vendors and buyers alike.

Lot 310 - Darci Brahma (NZ) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), filly - on account of Landsdowne Park

View pedigree

This filly by Darci Brahma (NZ) will no doubt garner a certain amount of attention, given that she is a half-sister to Lindsay Park’s Group 1-winning stable star Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), whose nine wins are headed by a victory in the G1 Doncaster H.

The filly is out of the unraced Tavistock (NZ) mare Lilahjay (NZ) and she has produced another winner in the shape of Hong Kong-based gelding Will Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) and this page has been subject to another update when another of Lilahjay’s sons, The Number One Son (NZ) (Power {GB}), broke his maiden at Riccarton on December 2.

Further back this is the same family as multiple Group 1 winner Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) and she in turn produced G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).

Lot 310 - Darci Brahma (NZ) x Lilahjay (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Lot 329 - Per Incanto (USA) x Makkura (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}), colt - on account of Little Avondale Stud

View pedigree

Per Incanto (USA) is starting to make his mark in Hong Kong and on Tuesday he sired another winner in the Asian jurisdiction when Baby Crystal (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) broke his maiden at Sha Tin, which also handed his brother a timely update ahead of him going under the hammer at Karaka from Sunday.

Both this colt and Baby Crystal are out of the Listed-winning Falkirk (NZ) mare Makkura (NZ), who is herself out of three-time winner Electric Dream (NZ) (Centaine).

Per Incanto’s talents as a stallion have been advertised this year by his star mare Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) and Lost And Running (NZ). This colt is one of 28 yearlings catalogued by the Little Avondale-based sire during Book 1 at Karaka this year.

Lot 329 - Per Incanto (USA) x Makkura (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Lot 415 - Proisir x Passion Cut (NZ) (Pins), colt - on account of Jamieson Park

View pedigree

Considering the way the stallion’s form has been this season, no lot by Proisir is going to go unnoticed at Karaka this year and this colt will have extra attention paid to him after his half-brother’s exploits on the track recently.

Out of the unraced mare Passion Cut (NZ) (Pins), the colt has been handed a timely update ahead of his sale when his half-brother, Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}), added a first stakes win to his record in the G3 Wellington S. at Otaki on November 24.

Passion Cut herself is a half-sister to Capital Diamond (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), the dam of G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}).

Lot 415 - Proisir x Passion Cut (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Pedigree Boosters
New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale

Ringmaster hands Inglis Digital another reason to celebrate

4 min read

Written by Lydia Symonds

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Three-time-winning gelding Ringmaster (Zoustar) will continue his career in Hong Kong after Mrs C F Lee, a client of Inglis’ Hong Kong representative Alan Ho, purchased the 3-year-old for $435,000 on the Inglis Digital January (Late) Sale.

In realising that figure, the son of Zoustar becomes the third-equal most expensive racehorse ever sold via the platform, with only Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock) and Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock), who sold for $600,000 and $500,000 respectively, making more in the racehorses section of Inglis Digital.

Lot 83 - Ringmaster was purchased by Mrs C F Lee for $435,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital

The gelding was offered by Newgate Farm, who purchased the horse in conjunction with China Horse Club for $425,000 at the 2021 edition of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and Henry Field said there had been numerous offers for the horse from buyers in Hong Kong prior to the sale.

“We had interest privately to sell him into Hong Kong but Inglis had made it clear to us that they were keen to build this premium Hong Kong segment of this digital marketplace and we were happy to support them and have been ultimately very well rewarded for that decision,’’ Newgate’s Henry Field said.

“We made a commitment to the Inglis team to put forward a nice proper Hong Kong-style horse onto the platform when one came up and Ringmaster was the perfect horse to put forward and it was great to see him make such a really strong price.”

“We made a commitment to the Inglis team to put forward a nice proper Hong Kong-style horse... Ringmaster was the perfect horse to put forward and it was great to see him make such a really strong price.” - Henry Field

Ho confirmed Ringmaster would travel to Hong Kong ‘in the near future’ before more decisions were made on his immediate racing future.

“My client is yet to decide on a trainer, we are still in discussions there but he’s a lovely horse who I’m sure will be a success up here in Hong Kong,’’ Ho said.

“He’s an exciting acquisition and we’re thrilled to get him.

“The Hong Kong owners will go wherever there are good horses to buy and there are always good horses on Inglis Digital, every sale. As Michael Freedman said, this horse was unlucky to get some wet tracks in the spring which hurt his chances but on firm tracks in Hong Kong, I expect he will be very popular.’’

Ringmaster was one of three lots to realise $200,000 or more on the platform on Wednesday and he was joined by Bollinger Rose (More Than Ready {USA}), who sold to Hunter Valley Bloodstock for $285,000, while Bohemian Daisy (Hellbent) was snapped up by Widden Stud for $235,000. Adding to the good results, a further three lots sold for $100,000 or more.

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Gallery: Some of the Inglis Digital January (Late) Sale top lots, images courtesy of Inglis Digital

Bollinger Rose was offered in foal to Swettenham Stud’s star stallion Toronado (Ire) and her only foal to race has been a winner.

The daughter of the late shuttle stallion More Than Ready (USA) is out of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger (Dehere {USA}), making her a half-sister to the US Grade 2 winner Friesan Fire (USA) and Villermont (All Too Hard).

The G3 Ottawa S.-placed Bohemian Daisy was offered by her trainer Annabel Neasham and she will be retired immediately and begin her life among the Widden Stud broodmare band, with a stallion for the mare to be decided upon in the coming weeks.

“She’s very easy to breed with and she’s got good juvenile speed which we believe to be important,’’ Widden’s Matt Comerford said.

“We spoke to Annabel about her and she was very helpful with her thoughts. She’s a quality filly and had plenty of racing ability as was shown with her Group 3 placing on debut and we have absolute confidence she’s going to make a beautiful broodmare.”

“She’s (Bohemian Daisy) a quality filly and had plenty of racing ability as was shown with her Group 3 placing on debut and we have absolute confidence she’s going to make a beautiful broodmare.” - Matt Comerford

The Inglis Digital January (Late) Sale finished with an aggregate $3,354,850.

Entries for the February (Early) Sale are now open and will remain open until next Wednesday, February 1. Already confirmed for the sale is the John O’Shea-trained, stakes-winning 4-year-old Bend The Knee (Snitzel).

Inglis Digital Sale
Zoustar
Ringmaster
Newgate
Bohemian Daisy
Bollinger Rose

Fistsoffury posts a 2-year-old win for Dundeel

5 min read

Written by Jessica Owers

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

The 2-year-old colt Fistsoffury, a son of Dundeel (NZ), was a debutant on Wednesday evening when he lined up in the opening juvenile event at Pakenham. It was a 1200-metre sprint in a seven-horse field and, while it wasn’t pretty, it was an effective win in the end.

Fistsoffury had the benefit of Damien Oliver aboard, which was useful in the race’s driving, closing stages. The pair had to run down the front-running filly Imminance (Impending) and, by the post, had a comfortable 1l winning margin, with Carnival Row (Trapeze Artist) 2.5l back in third.

The time was 1:12.11 on the Good 4, with the winner around an $8 choice in the betting. The two market leaders were the two placegetters, with the Godolphin pair of Dios (Lonhro) and How Dare You (Zoustar) running home next.

Fistsoffury is trained at Flemington by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, and he is a colt the team picked up for $150,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is raced in the popular lightning-bolt colours of Rupert Legh, with the likes of Gilgai Farm in partnership, and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was trackside to declare it a good maiden effort.

“He’s a horse that’s certainly got nice ability,” he told the Racing.com broadcast. “He did everything right there. He did a really, really good job, even though he was green and did a few things wrong. We could have run second very easily.”

“He’s (Fistsoffury) a horse that’s certainly got nice ability... He did a really, really good job, even though he was green and did a few things wrong. We could have run second very easily.” - Wayne Hawkes

Hawkes piled praise on Damien Oliver for getting Fistsoffury to the line ahead of Imminance, with it looking at one stage like the colt wouldn’t get there. Fistsoffury looked to be scrambling to stay straight, albeit full of running.

“He’s certainly not the finished, furnished product,” Hawkes said. “You can only go to the races on your first start, sit off them and win, can’t you? He was giving them about four or five lengths with 400 (metres) to go.”

The trainer admitted that there weren’t any obvious targets for Fistsoffury at this stage. The horse could have gone to the Blue Diamond Preview on Thursday, or he could have gone somewhere else, according to his trainer.

John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“There was a race last Saturday for him, there was this race and there was the Preview tomorrow (Thursday),” he said. “We were just trying to pick the right race to run him, and we got it right.”

Damien Oliver had a similarly good opinion of the colt after the race, saying patience was the key.

“They only went slow, so he did a good job to come off the pace,” the jockey said. “I felt he came to the races today (Wednesday) with some really nice improvement in him, so for him to win off just one trial, he did a really great job. Often, most horses tend to go the races with two trials under their belt, but he’s a lovely kind of horse. He’s got a good nature and he’s obviously making progress from his jump-outs to today.”

Fistsoffury as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis

“He was cheap”

Fistsoffury was bred by the Rowsthorn family at Morningside, the property adjacent to their former Woodside Park Stud. In 2021, the family sold Woodside Park to Eddie Hirsch, concentrating its breeding efforts at Morningside without the stress of standing stallions.

At the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Morningside had a draft of six yearlings, one of which was Lot 261, Fistsoffury.

The colt was the third foal from the Street Boss (USA) mare Star Via Strada (USA), herself a stakes-placed mare in the Listed California Oaks.

Star Via Strada | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Star Via Strada is a half-sister to the Churchill Downs Group 3 winner The Tabulator (USA) (Dialed In {USA}) and, after her importation in 2016, she was sold to Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $350,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Since moving in at Morningside, the mare has visited Written Tycoon on three occasions. In 2020, she foaled Fistsoffury, her first visit to Dundeel. The colt was consigned by Morningside to the Inglis Premier Sale, where he caught the attention of the Hawkes boys for $150,000.

“He was cheap,” Wayne Hawkes said, before joking about the part-owners staying in. “We thought he’d be more expensive because he was just a lovely, relaxed colt. We’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Dundeel and we’ve got a couple of nice ones at home. I think he’s (Dundeel) a horse that’s going to be, maybe, the next good stallion, so we put our money where our mouth is, so to speak, and bought a few of them.”

“I think he’s (Dundeel) a horse that’s going to be, maybe, the next good stallion, so we put our money where our mouth is, so to speak, and bought a few of them.” - Wayne Hawkes

Star Via Strada has gone to Dundeel just the once. In the spring, she foaled a Brazen Beau filly and was sent in October to Newgate’s freshman sire Wild Ruler.

Fistsoffury
Pakenham Races
Star Via Strada
Dundeel
Wayne Hawkes

Black type fields: Sandown-Hillside and Warwick Farm

1 min read

Sandown-Hillside: G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies), $200,000, 1000m

G3 Manfred S., $200,000, 1300m

Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings), $200,000, 1000m

Listed W.J. Adams S., $175,000, 1000m

Listed John Dillon S., $175,000, 1400m

Warwick Farm: Listed Australia Day Cup, $160,000, 2400m

Black type fields
Sandown-Hillside
Warwick Farm

Daily News Wrap

8 min read

Karaka to honour Sir Patrick

The upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) National Yearling Sale, which kicks off at Karaka this Sunday, will host a commemorative ceremony in honour of the late Sir Patrick Hogan, who died earlier this month. The ceremony will occur at 10.45am (NZDT) in the sale auditorium, with all buyers, vendors, media and general public invited to attend ahead of the first day of Day 1 trade.

NZB principal, Sir Peter Vela, will lead the tribute, which will be broadcast live to viewers around the world from 10.15am local time.

Sir Patrick Hogan leading the final Cambridge Stud yearling through Karaka before his retirement in 2017 | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

“The loss of Sir Patrick Hogan will be evident when the wider thoroughbred industry convenes at Karaka later this week for our 97th New Zealand National Yearling Sales Series,” said Andrew Seabrook, NZB managing director. “This is an event that Sir Patrick made his own through 40 years of selling yearlings at Trentham and Karaka. Cambridge Stud was leading vendor for 32 consecutive years, a feat that is unlikely to be repeated.”

Lowe Flying gets off the mark in style

Having finished second on debut, the John Bary-trained Lowe Flying (NZ) (Tivaci) posted a stylish first win of her career when she won a race over 1200 metres at Matamata on Wednesday and in doing so provided her Almanzor (Fr) half-sister with a timely update ahead of her selling at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale next week.

The 2-year-old filly finished strongly to come home 0.2l ahead of Mazzucato (NZ), who is also by Waikato Stud’s Tivaci.

Lowe Flying was purchased by owners TFI and her trainer for NZ$420,000 at Book 1 of last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale from the Landsdowne Stud draft. The same operation will offer her half-sister again this year and she is catalogued as Lot 354.

Click here to view Lot 354

All-Star Mile attracts 81 nominations

Nominations closed this week for the $5 million The All-Star Mile, with 81 total horses nominated for the race's fifth edition, due to be run at Moonee Valley on Saturday, March 18. They included the likes of defending hero Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), the Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) and multiple Group 1 winners Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), Converge (Frankel {GB}) and She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice), as well as unlikely hero The Inevitable (Dundeel {NZ}) and Golden Slipper winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane).

Public voting, which will determine the 2023 final field, will open on February 6 for 20 days, with Racing Victoria’s Matt Welsh, executive general manager for racing, claiming the nominations “will ensure a memorable edition of the race”.

Slipper winner for All-Star Mile

Gary Portelli’s Champion 2-Year-Old of last season, the Golden Slipper winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane), has been nominated for the $5 million The All-Star Mile, along with her stablemate Sejardan (Sebring). Three-year-old Fireburn failed to replicate her devastating juvenile form in the spring, running a season-best fourth to Zougotcha (Zoustar) in the G1 Flight S. Portelli told Racing.com on Wednesday that the filly will head to The All-Star Mile only if she’s good enough, and likely via a first-up effort in the G2 Light Fingers S. on February 11.

“It will depend on how she comes up,” the trainer said. “We’ve all got to dream and we’ve got to qualify and be good enough. She’ll tell us first-up how she’s going.”

Dunkel for Launceston Guineas

The 3-year-old gelding Dunkel (NZ), a son of Dundeel (NZ), will take his place for trainer Patrick Payne in this Friday’s Listed Launceston Guineas over 2100 metres. Jockey Harry Coffey is booked to ride in the six-horse field, with the pair drawing barrier five.

Dunkel (NZ) winning at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos

“It looks a nice race for him and set weights looks ideal,” Payne told Racing.com on Wednesday. “I always thought early doors the Tassie Derby (with Dunkel), but in the Guineas he is ideally weighted and I reckon Launceston is a lovely layout of a track, so we are keen to get down there.”

Dunkel has won three of his four starts for Payne, including his last two at Sandown and Flemington respectively. Friday’s Guineas will be his first black-type appearance.

Six for Freedmans in Blue Diamond Previews

The training duo of Anthony and Sam Freedman will have six horses in Thursday’s Blue Diamond Preview races, four among the fillies’ field and two among the colts and geldings. The fillies include debutantes De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom), Elderberry (Bolt D’Oro {USA}) for OTI Racing and Right To Party (Zoustar) for Pincecliff Racing, while Ode To Joy (Written Tycoon) was third on debut on January 1.

In the colts and geldings’ race, the stable has Fire Follower (Harry Angel {Ire}) for Godolphin and the Rosemont colt Goodes (Written Tycoon). The trainers have won the G1 Blue Diamond S. three of the last four runnings with Daumier (Epaulette), Artorius (Flying Artie) and Lyre (Lonhro).

“We’ve only run two (of our juveniles) so far, so it’s a bit of a scary thought to think that we might be presenting six on one day, but we deliberately held back running them,” Anthony Freedman told Racing.com. “We don’t really like running horses in the same races, but when you get to this time of year and the big 2-year-old races are up, you’ve got to give them their chance.”

Mamaragan to debut for Nick Ryan

The 5-year-old gelding Mamaragan (Wandjina), who was a brilliant debut winner of the G2 Skyline S. in 2020 but hasn’t since won a race (albeit third to Farnan in the Golden Slipper), will make his debut for Flemington trainer Nick Ryan on Saturday at Moonee Valley. Ryan bought the horse in partnership with Express Racing via the Inglis Digital September (Early) Online Sale, paying $125,000 to vendor John Thompson.

“We are going to go to the races still learning a bit about him,” Ryan told Racing.com this week. “His jump-outs have been good and he is a big, grouse horse who worked well here this morning (Wednesday), but he had a big blow, so I think he is going to improve.”

Lunar New Year meeting nets a near-record

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC) Lunar New Year meeting, which occurred at a packed Sha Tin on Tuesday evening, netted HK$2.06 billion (AU$365 million) in bets, the club’s largest daily intake since the city’s return to Chinese rule in 1997, according to the South China Morning Post.

The figure falls short of a June 1997 record, but it was an over 10 per cent increase on the same meeting last year, and the near 80,000-strong crowd was the biggest turnout since the 2019 Lunar New Year races.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart returns

The 3-year-old Redwood (GB) gelding Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ), trained by Graeme Rogerson and his wife Debbie, will take his place in this Saturday’s G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham. It will be the horse’s first reappearance since his successful Australian raid, which realised victories in the G3 Gloaming S. and G1 Champion S. in Sydney, and a last-start second to Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G1 VRC Derby.

“He’s been working very well and it’s a good field and a big ask first-up against all those proven milers, but I think class will take him a long way,” Graeme Rogerson told NZ Racing Desk. “He’s developed and is stronger now. It will be interesting and if he can beat La Crique, I’ll be happy.”

Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ), winner of the G1 Champions S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will have likely Cup targets in Australia come next spring, according to his trainer, after an autumn that could include the G1 Australian Derby and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick.

Oaks prep for Best Seller

The 3-year-old Wrote (GB) filly Best Seller (NZ), trained by the Hawke's Bay-based John Bary, will line up in this Saturday’s G3 Desert Gold S. at Trentham on a path to the G1 New Zealand Oaks later in the year. She was a last-start third over 1200 metres earlier this month and will join her stablemate, Sequoia Star (NZ) (Redwood (GB), on an Oaks trail.

Best Seller (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell

“She is really well and ready to rumble,” Bary told NZ Racing Desk. “I gave her an extra gallop on Saturday at home because she’s been doing really well. She was on the course proper again on Tuesday just to keep it up, and it was really top-notch work.”

Exhibition gallops for Portelli pair

While Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli revealed his smart stable pair of Fireburn (Rebel Dane) and Sejardan (Sebring) were nominated for The All-Star Mile in March, it was also announced on Wednesday that Sejardan, a triple Group winner, will join stablemate Above And Beyond (Sebring) in an exhibition gallop over 800 metres after Race 1 at Rosehill on Saturday.

The 3-year-old colt Sejardan, whose victories include the G2 Todman S., G3 Breeders’ Plate and G3 Red Anchor S., was last seen unplaced in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. He will carry Brenton Avdulla in the gallop, while 7-year-old veteran Above And Beyond will be ridden by Brock Ryan.

Daily News Wrap

Looking Ahead - January 26

4 min read

Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

At Sandown-Hillside on Thursday, we look at a daughter of Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt) who will debut in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies), plus a colt in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings) from the stakes-winning mare You’re So Good (NZ) (Savabeel). In Western Australia, we take a look at a debutante filly for Bob Peters from one of his exceptional families.

Sandown-Hillside, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Listed Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings), $200,000, 1000m

Amigo, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x You’re So Good {NZ} {Savabeel})

This unraced colt for Peter Moody is the second foal from the Listed winner You’re So Good, a daughter of Savabeel whose good record also put her second in the G1 Australian Guineas and G3 Vanity S. All up, the mare was four times Group placed, and her full sister, Indrabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), was also stakes-placed. This is the direct family of the dual Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice), who was a brilliant five-time Group winner and multiple times Group-placed through her career.

Amigo was consigned by Arrowfield Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Tasman Bloodstock/TFI for $975,000.

Amigo as yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

The colt is trained by Moody at Pakenham and he was first and second in his latest two jump-outs this month. In this debut, he will have jockey Daniel Stackhouse from barrier six.

Sandown-Hillside, Race 4, 3.05pm AEDT, G3 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies), $200,000, 1000m

Sensical, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Karuta Queen {Not A Single Doubt})

This unraced filly takes her place in a competitive field but boasts one of the better pedigrees. She is the fifth foal from the brilliant race mare Karuta Queen, whose racy wins included the G3 Red Anchor S. and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. She was also multiple times Group-placed. As such, Sensical is a half-sister to Eawase (Sebring), who won the Listed Bill Carter S.

The first two dams on this page were stakes winners and it's a valuble family for John Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud. Sensical was consigned to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling to Peter Moody for $950,000.

Sensical as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

She is trained by Moody at Pakenham and this will be her very first start in silks. She was very good when winning her latest jump-out at home on January 17, and she will have jockey Daniel Stackhouse in this debut from barrier seven.

Belmont, Race 1, 4.08pm AEDT (1.08pm local), Free Entry to Belmont Park Mdn, $22,500, 1200m

Magical Hour, 3-year-old filly (Dream Ahead {USA} x Mystic Hour {Redoute’s Choice})

Three-year-old Magical Hour is a debutante for leviathan owner Bob Peters from one of his best families. She is a daughter of Mystic Hour and, as such, a full sister to both the Listed Belgravia S. winner Magical Dream (Dream Ahead {USA}) and the Listed WATC One Thousand Guineas winner Awaken (Dream Ahead {USA}). The dam, herself, is a daughter of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Fatal Attraction, who won the G2 Western Australian Oaks and was second in the G1 Western Australian Derby.

Magical Hour is a homebred for Peters and she's also the family of such stakes winners as Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and her full brother, the dual stakes winner Red Element.

Dream Ahead (USA) | Standing at Bearstone Stud

Magical Hour is trained by Adam Durrant at Karnup. She has trialled extensively since the winter, running second in her latest at Lark Hill. She will have jockey Willie Pike in this debut from barrier 10.

Looking Back

Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday were fairly luckless. At Doomben, Whatta Whitt (Whittington) was unplaced, while at Gosford, Ludo (NZ) (I Am Invincible) was a scratching. At Pakenham, Carnival Row (Trapeze Artist) was third.

Looking Ahead
Looking Back

Debutants

1 min read
First-time starters lining up on Thursday, January 26

2YO & 3YO Winners by Sire

First Season Sire Runners & Results

1 min read

First Season Sires’ Results

Results: Wednesday, January 25

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Thursday, January 26
First Season Sire Results
First Season Sire Runners

Second Season Sire Runners & Results

Second Season Sires’ Results

Results: Wednesday, January 25

Second Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Thursday, January 26

Second Season Sire Results
Second Season Sire Runners

NSW Race Results

Gosford (Provincial)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

VIC Race Results

Warrnambool (Country)

Sportsbet-Pakenham (night) (Country)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

QLD Race Results

Doomben (Metropolitan)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

WA Race Results

Geraldton (Provincial)

Race result inclusion criteria: all city and provincial races, + country maiden, 3YO & feature races ($15,000) run before 6pm AEDT

Australian Sires' Premiership

Australian 3-Year-Old Sires' Premiership

New Zealand Sires' Premiership

New Zealand 3-Year-Old Sires’ Premiership

Thanks for reading!

1 min read

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View: TDN AusNZ 2023 Media Guide

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The Final Say