Inglis release latest Digital catalogue
Stakes winner Bend The Knee (Snitzel) as well as some well-credentialed broodmares headline another quality Inglis Digital Online Sale.
The February (Early) auction, which is now open for bidding, will see 273 lots catalogued – 173 racehorses, including 62 race fillies, 51 broodmares, 31 racehorse shares, 15 yearlings and three unraced stock.
Trained by John O’Shea, the 4-year-old won the Listed The Amanda Elliott at Flemington at just his fourth career start. The son of Snitzel has finished third at his two most recent outings in Sydney Saturday races, beaten less than a length on both occasions.
Listed winner Bend The Knee | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Also catalogued is Royalzel (Snitzel) is a four-time winner including at stakes level as a 2-year-old while Ranting (Zoustar) defeated the likes of Hanseatic and Anders when winning the G3 Blue Sapphire S.
The final countdown of bidding for the Inglis Digital February (Early) Sale will begin from midday Wednesday, February 8.
Loosespender lands Waikato Guineas
The Ben Foote-trained Loosespender (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) advertised his G1 New Zealand Derby credentials when he landed the G2 Waikato Guineas on Friday.
The son of Turn Me Loose (NZ) defeated Devildom (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) by an impressive 1.5l, while Savoir Faire (NZ) (Savabeel) was another 0.8l away in third.
The victory propelled him into NZ$12 for the G1 New Zealand Derby, but Foote said they have yet to decide whether he will line up in the Classic and is likely to press on to the G2 Avondale Guineas.
“He’s a big strong horse and it’s quite obvious we’ll have to go to the Avondale Guineas,” Foote said. “From there we’ll make a decision on a late nomination for the Derby, it’s NZ$30,000 so it’s not cheap and the next run will tell us what we’re going to do.”
Bases Loaded hands powerful ownership group another winner
Newgate Farm and their powerful group of owners were celebrating yet another juvenile winner on Friday when the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bases Loaded (Deep Field) broke his maiden at the first attempt at Randwick Kensington.
The son of Deep Field was purchased by Hunter Valley Bloodstock for $290,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale in 2021, before being snapped up by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight for $400,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale the following year.
“I'm most pleased for connections, Henry Field and Newgate Farm and the team they have around them,” Bott said. “They have some lovely colts, and we are in the great position of having the opportunity with some fantastic horseflesh.
“He's a lovely, big, strong colt. I was happy when there was a bit of pressure early because I thought he was the type that could absorb that pressure. I knew he would be tough late on a track that suits him, and he has a lot of upside.”
Second juvenile winner of the week for Dundeel
Dundeel (NZ) chalked up his second juvenile winner of the week on Friday when his son Tavs got off the mark at Canberra on Friday.
Trained by Richard Litt and raced by Galletta Construction, the 2-year-old defeated Celui (Toronado {Ire}) by 0.95l.
The colt is owned by the same trainer and owner combination as Dundeel’s best son Castelvecchio.
Dundeel was handed his first 2-year-old winner of the season when Militarize (NZ) broke his maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Written Bligh chases debut victory
Written Bligh (Written By) will be Grahame Begg’s first 2-year-old runner of the season when she lines up in the G3 Chairman’s S. at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
Written Bligh is a daughter of Begg's 2018 G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Written By and was due to start her racing career nine days earlier, also at Sandown, in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies).
But a wide draw that day delayed Written Bligh's first start, but Begg is happy to take a shot on Saturday, from the outside draw, against eight opponents.
“I've been careful with my 2-year-olds this year,” Begg said. “We had a wet spring and then a delayed spring, so I wanted them to get out in the paddock, get some good weather, so we've been very patient.
“We've got a lot that are in pre-training now and certainly over the next few months, they'll be coming out, so you'll see them later in the 2-year-old season and certainly as 3-year-olds.”
Matured Sejardan set for comeback
The Gary Portelli-trained Sejardan (Sebring) has not been sighted since he ran 10th in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. in October, but he will make his comeback when he tackles the G3 Eskimo Prince S. at Randwick on Saturday.
Portelli has been taken by the physical improvement Sejardan has made from the spring to the autumn, now he wants to see the colt convert that into success at the highest level.
Gary Portelli with Sejardan after his gallop at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He is a monster of a horse now. Physically, he has come on to the next level, but he needs to,” Portelli said.
“We want to get him to Group 1 level and get him a stud somewhere when he turns four.”
Giga Kick set for Cranbourne trial
The Everest hero Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) will warm up for his eminent autumn campaign with a hitout at Cranbourne on Monday morning.
“Excited to have him back and rolling along and looking forward to the autumn ahead. He's done really good, he's developed a lot since he's had that little break," said the gelding’s trainer Clayton Douglas.
“He seems to have furnished nicely, just can't wait to see him at the trials on Monday. Looking forward to that, can't wait, his first jump-out back."
The Everest hero Giga Kick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Giga Kick will head to Sydney with a tilt in the G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick in April a possibility.
“It's obviously noted we aren't going to the Lightning S., we've given him a little bit more time so we're able to keep him in the paddock a bit longer after his big spring," Douglas said.
Ballarat meeting moved to Moe
Ballarat's meeting on Wednesday has been moved to Moe. It comes after the club's recent turf renovation and drainage work was completed.
“The majority of the track is in excellent condition, however some of the area where the additional drainage work was completed is a little further behind the rest of the track in its recovery,” a Racing Victoria release read.
“After overseeing track gallops this week to test the condition of the track, RV Stewards formed the view that it would benefit from extra time for the grass to mature following the scheduled works.
“Therefore, a decision has been made to transfer the meeting in the interests of horse and participant welfare.”
Nominations for the meeting were extended on Friday with acceptances due on Monday.
Vale Bob Milligan
The racing industry was mourning the passing of Taree trainer Bob Milligan who died on Friday morning.
Milligan, 80, trained 952 winners during his distinguished career including 326 wins at his beloved Taree Racecourse.
Bob Milligan | Image courtesy of Racing NSW
“We are all saddened to hear of Bob Milligan’s passing,” said Racing NSW’s CEO, Peter V’landys. “Bob was an old-fashioned trainer who was hard, but fair, and very professional. He spoke it as it was and never left you in any doubt about his thoughts.
“Bob was also humorous and well loved – his passing is a big loss to our industry.”
Bob’s best horse was Carael Boy (Free Flyer {Ire}) who won an incredible 20 races including eight stakes events, headed by a victory in the G2 Villiers S. in 2001.
Now Or Never headlines Tattersalls February Sale
Australian Group 2 winner Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) took top billing during Thursday's opening session when sold for 250,000gns (AU$453,500) to Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland.
The half-sister to Group 1 winner Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) plied her trade on the racecourse with great success in both hemispheres, winning the G2 Rose of Kingston S. in Australia and the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial in Ireland.
Offered by Tweenhills Farm and Stud as Lot 130, the 10-year-old was sold in foal to their resident stallion Kameko (USA).
“She was obviously a high-class race filly herself and she is from a proper fast family,” said Donohoe. “Her late cover and the fact that she missed a year might be the reason why she has not made quite what she might have, hopefully she might be a bit of value.”
