Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

G3 Chairman's S. - trainers return for repeat success

Veecee (Capitalist) impressed racing clear to an easy win down the Flemington straight on debut and he again has the services of the in-form Ethan Brown when he tackles the G3 Chairman’s S. at Sandown-Hillside.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace - a stable who have won this race twice in the last four years - with Enthaar (Written Tycoon) in 2021 and Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) in 2019.

Grahame Begg is another trainer who has also enjoyed success in this race - with Mildred (Hinchinbrook) in 2020 and this time around he saddles up Written Bligh (Written By) whose sire he trained to G1 Blue Diamond S. glory in 2018.

Lindsay Park's Ben and JD Hayes have two runners, hoping to emulate the deeds of their father David who boasts a great record in this race - since 2006 winning it on five occasions. They have the first starters Tacito (Showtime) and Miss Burgoyne (Capitalist), both of whom have jumped out well at Flemington.

Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel) was also accepted for the Listed Lonhro Plate, but James Cummings and Godolphin have opted to run the colt in this Group 3, while Serasana (Snitzel) and Extremely Wicked (Zoustar) also have the benefit of race experience - both running so well at their first starts.

G3 Bellmaine S. - a good form reference on and off the track

First run in 2001, the G3 Bellmaine S. at Sandown-Hillside has proven to be an excellent pointer to future racetrack and breeding success - with 11 of its winners going on to further stakes victories including the Group 1 scorers Velocitea (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), Beaded (Lonhro), Tycoon Tara (Written Tycoon) and Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).

And six of those winners have gone on to produce stakes winners - Coniston Gem (Greig {NZ}) producing Gold Standard, Lucky Diva (Perugino {USA}) has Ms Catherine (Shooting To Win), Beaded (Lonhro) has Resin (Exceed And Excel), Beautiful Gem (Peintre Celebre {USA}) has Gem Song (Your Song), Given (Canny Lad) has Green Roller (Flying Spur) and Skewiff (Mookta) has Enquare (Stratum).

Favourite to add her name to the honour roll this year is Snapped (Not A Single Doubt) who has been very good winning three of her six starts. She doesn't have the race to herself though with other chances including Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) who led throughout at Flemington last time out - and Belle Et Riche (Rich Enuff) who was close up in that same race.

Vespertine (Epaulette) got back in a race not run to suit when resuming in the G3 Standish H. - and she boasts excellent second-up form.

Listed Lonhro Plate - summer juveniles

It is not a big field for this Randwick 2-year-old contest but it is an interesting one with two of the seven runners opening up under double-figure odds and any one of those could end up starting favourite.

Sicilian (I Am Invincible) has impressed, winning two Warwick Farm trials in preparation for her first-up run. She was kept safe at his G3 Gimcrack S. debut in October - overrun only late after showing pace, pulling up lame with a slow recovery rate.

She would be the most apt winner, her dam being by the mighty Lonhro after whom this race is named.

Madeira Sunrise (I Am Invincible) is the most fancied of the first starters - the $200,000 Magic Millions graduate from the prolific Summoned (Crowned Prince {USA}) family showing talent at the trials.

Satin And Silk, another by I Am Invincible, has also been in the thick of things in trials and she was close up in the Listed Gimcrack S., the race whose winner Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) held up the form with her game R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic second.

G3 Eskimo Prince S.- Aft Cabin vs Zou Tiger

Two promising 3-year-olds are vying for favouritism in this $200,000 contest at Randwick which, first run in 1986, has on only three occasions been won by horses who have gone on to Group 1 glory.

But one of those was this year's winner - Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) who was favourite winning this race first-up, seeing out the year with a barnstorming victory in the G1 Winterbottom S. at Ascot.

It is one of his stablemates attracting much of the attention this time around - the exciting Aft Cabin (Astern) who comes into the race off a smart Warwick Farm trial win having his first start since a big win in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in September.

James Cummings also won this race with Kementari (Lonhro) in 2018 whilst his father Anthony Cummings saddled up the 2017 winner Man From Uncle (Uncle Mo {USA}).

Also resuming, Zou Tiger (Zoustar) is the most fancied to provide Aft Cabin with a challenge - he has been close-up in two Randwick trials and his short winter campaign was a good one... a first-up maiden win and a third-up G1 Golden Rose-placing.

Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) is the only other runner under double-figure odds and too is lightly raced and promising, last seen flashing home for a G1 Caulfield Guineas third from a wide gate.

G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic - Australian stallions dominate

Youngsters with black-type form look hard to beat at New Plymouth on Saturday, though there will be strong challengers from a couple of runners who have only had one run.

Sky On Fire (Exceed And Excel) won the Listed Welcome S. in early November and was fractious in the gates (vetted) before contesting the Listed Wellesley S. fresh - making the pace and battling on okay in the run home.

Rubicon Crossing (Rubick) was a game on-pace second - doing a bit wrong at her first run since the spring - in the Listed Wellesley S. and is bound to be improved. Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) comes through a different stakes race, run down late in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO.

She Turns Heads (Headwater) also contested that race but did not have a great deal of luck and it was her first time out of the placings in four starts.

Firestorm (NZ) (Santono Aladdin {Jpn}) rose in class but was tough, saluting off a wide run at her Matamata debut early last month.

First-season sire watch

There are two Group 3 races for juveniles on Saturday and both - the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic at New Plymouth and the G3 Chairman's S. at Sandown-Hillside - have runners by first-season sires.

In New Zealand, Aquis Farm’s G2 Skyline S.-winning I Am Invincible horse Santos is represented by Ulanova who was run down only late after making the pace in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO whilst The Oaks Stud's multiple Group 1 winner U S Navy Flag (USA) has Sticktotheorders (NZ) who is due some luck having finished in the placings at her last two starts.

And Waikato Stud-based stallion Ardrossan has Carajillo (NZ) who finished off nicely for a debut placing.

Gallery: Some of the first-season sires represented in this weekend's juvenile racing

At Sandown-Hillside, Arrowfield Stud's dual Group 2-winning Snitzel stallion Showtime has the debutant Tacito, a $160,000 Magic Millions graduate with good jump-out form from the family of his great grandsire Redoute's Choice.

In the same race is Written Bligh by Widden Stud's G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Written By and she comes into the race having been placed in two Cranbourne jump-outs.

Meanwhile, in Perth an 1100-metre juvenile contest sees four runners by first-season sires - two, the debutant G'day Bloke and Twist Of Gold, being by Lynward Park Stud's Snitzel horse Bondi.

Also represented are fellow Snitzel horses Showtime - by the first starter Cyclonic Storm - and Rivercrest Farm's Listed Talindert S. winner Ducimus by Leading Taddy who was an easy all the way Pinjarra winner at his second start. Also from the Danehill (USA) line is Aquis Farm's G3 Canonbury S. winner Performer whose son Big Player was in the placings at debut.

Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Foote active in the final session

John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) has been active all week at Book 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale and on Friday, the final day of trade, the bloodstock agent bought eight yearlings, headed by a colt by Ribchester (Ire) and a son of Proisir, paying NZ$160,000 apiece for the pair.

Gallery: The top two lots purchased by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) on the last day of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale Book 2, images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Catalogued as Lot 978 and offered by Seaton Park, the colt’s sire Proisir has been popular all week, finishing Book 1 with impressive numbers. In total he had 19 yearlings sell for an aggregate of NZ$3,590,000 at an average of NZ$188,947, which is 21 times his service fee.

During Book 2, the son of Choisir’s 26 yearlings sold for total receipts of NZ$1,498,500 at an average of NZ$57,634 and this was Foote’s second colt by the sire he bought at Book 2, having purchased another son of the stallion for NZ$75,000 later on in the afternoon on Friday.

The recent surge in popularity for progeny of the stallion comes off the back of a wonderful spell of results that sees him sitting atop the Leading New Zealand Sires’ Championship. He owes a lot of his success to Legarto (NZ), who won the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, while his son, Pier (NZ) landed the G1 New Zealand 2000 and more recently another of his daughters, Prowess (NZ) took out the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

This colt was the second-highest price for a son of Proisir during Book 2, with another colt by the stallion having topped the first session when purchased by Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup for NZ$180,000, a price that was never bettered.

The stallion finished the leading sire by aggregate at the close of the Book 2 and Rich Hill’s John Thompson was delighted with the results accrued by Proisir throughout both books of the sale.

“He has really put his hand up as one of the country’s premier stallions,” said Thompson. “His commercial viability has gone to another level. His stock was consistently sought after by all our major markets.

“For me personally, it was great to see them entering so many leading Australian stables. His future looks assured with the numbers and quality of the mares coming through over the next few years.”

Ribchester's star on the rise?

Meanwhile, Ribchester, who began life at Darley’s Kelvinside base before being relocated to Haunui Farm and the yearlings offered this year are the first crop conceived at the New Zealand nursery. So far in the Southern Hemisphere, the stallion has been represented by eight winners headed by stakes-winning 2-year-old Krakarib.

During Book 2, the son of Iffraaj (GB) had 12 lots and they made total receipts of NZ$774,000 at an average of NZ$64,500.

Catalogued as Lot 1048 and offered as part of the Woburn Farm draft, the colt is out of unraced mare The Grey Lady (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and she is herself a half-sister to prolific Singapore winner Cavallo (Testa Rossa).

“Six of the horses I purchased today are destined for Hong Kong, including those two colts,” Foote said. “Proisir is doing a good job and I think Ribchester is a horse that is on the way up.”

The Ribchester was one of two purchases for Foote by the stallion, with the agent parting with NZ$80,000 for the filly who he bought in conjunction with Queensland-based trainer Tony Gollan.

All up during Book 2, Foote purchased eight lots for a total spend of NZ$890,000, which saw him finish the sale as the leading buyer by aggregate, while he bought a further four yearlings in conjunction with other buyers.

“Ribchester has made a great start in Australia and Europe, but I’m not here just to buy them, I’m here to buy nice horses and they fitted the bill,” Foote said.

“We like to purchase horses in this price range and it was a bit difficult to buy at the Gold Coast. At Karaka you can buy a nice horse for a pretty sensible price.”

Perfect fit for Hong Kong

Woburn Farm’s Adrian Stanley was pleased with the result and told TDN AusNZ he expected Ribchester to make his mark amongst the stallion ranks in New Zealand in the years to come.

“Ribchester had a good sale and he has good enough progeny on the ground now to have a real crack at bettering his position in the stallion ranks. He didn’t really get the opportunity in Australia, but with the limited opportunity he get's in Australia he has done pretty well with a couple of stakes horses already,” said Stanley.

Stanley said he was delighted to see the colt bought by Foote and was confident he would suit the style of racing in Hong Kong.

“He was a strong, athletic type, medium-sized but all round he’ll be a great racehorse. John (Foote) came to the farm and looked at him and he must have caught his eye from there. He was very popular during the inspections,” said Stanley.

“This horse will cope well in Hong Kong. He has a good attitude. He’s not a big heavy horse, but he is strong and athletic, and I think he is the perfect horse to head up there, because he has a bit of speed about him.

“I thought he would be one of the best in Book 2, I rated him as a foal right the way through. He has been a pretty straightforward horse and he’s turned out to be a really cracking type.”

Another good result for Ardrossan

Waikato Stud’s emerging stallion Ardrossan was well-supported by the buying bench during Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale and those results kept coming during Book 2, including on Friday when Cambridge-based trainer John Bell secured a colt by the stallion for NZ$150,000 from the draft of Highline Thoroughbreds.

There was a buzz surrounding the second crop by the sire, with the stallion having been handed a brilliant result last month when his son Codigo (NZ) kept his unbeaten record intact when he landed the Listed Wellesley S., and in the process became his young stallion’s first stakes winner.

During Book 1 the son of Redoute's Choice had all seven his yearlings sell for a gross of NZ$815,000 at an average of NZ$116,428 - 23 times his 2020 service fee. The stallion's best result of last week came when Waikato Bloodstock (BAFNZ) bought a colt from Elsdon Park for NZ$260,000.

Friday’s NZ$150,000 colt is out of Listed Welcome S. placegetter Venetian Raider (NZ) (Rusty Spur {USA}) and Highline Thoroughbreds’ Eva Heron told TDN AusNZ they expected the yearling to prove popular at the sale and was delighted with the result.

“We expected him to be well-received. He was extremely popular and he was such a dude, who took everything in his stride. He was an amazing horse to prep and he was so popular it wasn’t funny,” said Heron.

“The stallion is really on the up, which is fantastic and we are pleased to see a New Zealand stallion really making their mark, so it is great for the stallion himself and great for New Zealand, so overall I think it’s a win for everyone.

“We thought he would be a six-figure colt, but we weren’t sure how far he would go. With him being at the end of the sale was a bit of the unknown because some of the buyers had spent their money, even though they might like the colt, but people hung around for him which was obviously good to see.”

At the close of Book 2, Ardrossan had 10 yearlings sell for a gross of NZ$702,500 and finished with a closing average of NZ$70,250, a figure that was only bettered by one stallion; Redwood (GB), who was represented by four yearlings, and they made an average price of NZ$83,750.

Seabrook hails return of international buyers

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said he was pleased with the six days of buoyant trade at Karaka.

“We are very pleased by the results achieved over the six days,” said Seabrook. “It was great to have our international friends back on the grounds at Karaka and we saw both the combined Australian and Asian spend substantially increase on last year’s results.

“Australian spend increased by NZ$13 million in 2022, although it was disappointing to see the domestic spend down by NZ$10 million. If the Kiwis had spent what they did in 2022, the sale could have been huge.

“The most heartening statistic is the solid increase in both our combined average and median results pre-COVID (2020). The combined average spend is up by 22 per cent, and the median increased by 45 per cent, indicating the strength of the middle market.

“We must thank our vendors for preparing their horses to an outstanding level yet again, which was reflected by the results in the sale ring.”

Top lots

Top buyers

Vendors by aggregate (3 or more sold)

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Sires by aggregate (3 or more sold)

Sires by average (3 or more sold)