Windsor Park announce Profondo fee
The recently retired son of Deep Impact (Jpn), Profondo has had his 2023 covering fee set for NZ$17,500 plus GST.
Windsor Park studmaster Rodney Schick said: “We have been taking applications as demand for his services is high and because we have a limited number of outside nominations available to him, we are announcing his fee earlier than planned.
Profondo | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Now that breeders here (New Zealand) have the opportunity to view him in the flesh they understand why he achieved what he did.”
Blaike McDougall: Geelong fall
Victoria’s leading rider Blaike McDougall suffered a fall at Geelong on Friday afternoon, during the running of Race 3, McDougall’s mount Eagle Queen (Free Eagle {Ire}) appeared to falter and stumble before falling to the turf and in the process dislodged the popular hoop. McDougall was attended by paramedics and was reported to be conscious and talking. The Victorian Jockeys’ Association updated at 4.05pm AEDT on Friday: “After being dislodged at Geelong Blaike McDougall is off to Geelong hospital for scans. McDougall is complaining of neck soreness.
Currently no update has been provided on the status of the Andrew Payne-trained 4-year-old mare Eagle Queen.
The Ellsberg Sale - Inglis Digital
Inglis announced on Friday the stallion and racing prospect Ellsberg (Spill The Beans), will be offered in a standalone Inglis Digital auction on March 28. The stallion was a winner of last year's G1 Epsom H. and is a winner of $3.3 million in prizemoney with nine wins and 10 minor placings. ‘The Ellsberg Sale’ will go live on Inglis Digital.com at 3pm AEDT Friday, with bidding to open from 9am AEDT on Tuesday March 28.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said the opportunity to secure a ready-made stallion was one not to be missed.
Ellsberg | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“For a start, he’s a really beautiful horse and he was popular at the sales as a weanling and yearling. Like tends to beget like and if that’s the case with Ellsberg, he’ll breed very good-looking stock.”
Part-owner Kevan Wacey added: “Ellsberg is a magnificent, big, strong horse.”
Magna Grecia first runner is a winner
Coolmore Stud’s shuttle sire Magna Grecia (Ire) was represented by his first runner in the Northern Hemisphere and made the perfect start to his career in Europe when Myconian (Ire), the 2-year-old colt trained by Amy Murphy returned a winner at Saint-Cloud on Thursday, in a juvenile maiden over 900 metres, scoring by 0.75l.
The first Australian-bred progeny of Magna Grecia sold at yearlings sales this year. The son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) was a dual Group 1 winner and is a half-brother to the Cartier European Horse of the Year, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).
Double for Russian Revolution at Geelong
Friday’s meeting at Geelong saw Newgate’s Russian Revolution sire the winners of Race 1 and 2. The opening event at Geelong was a 2-year-old Maiden Plate, which saw the Jason Warren-trained filly Czaracer break her maiden at start three. Czaracer is the sixth foal from Classical Lass (Encosta De Lago).
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
The Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained 3-year-old gelding Russian Front broke his maiden in Race 2 at Geelong. The gelding is the second foal from the War Front (USA) mare Upfront (USA), making Russian Front a half-brother to the Group 2-placed Direct (Siyouni {Fr}). The gelding was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Kavanagh Racing from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Double for Headwater at Wellington
Vinery Stud-based sire Headwater posted a double at Wellington on Friday afternoon. Race 1 saw the Clint Lundholm-trained 4-year-old gelding Star Of Kings salute over 900 metres to break the maiden, partnered by Jake Pracey-Holmes. Star Of Kings was followed by Chief White Sock in Race 2. The Mark Jones-trained 3-year-old gelding Chief White Sock broke his maiden over 1100 metres, once again Jake Pracey-Holmes was aboard.
Promising winner for Farhh at The Valley
The Nick Ryan-trained 3-year-old filly Cap De Joie (GB) (Farhh {GB}) delivered an impressive performance in the opening race at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Partnered by Champion Jockey Blake Shinn in the 1600-metre BM70 H. the filly looks a progressive type for her sire Farhh (GB) who has been troubled by fertility issues and stands for a private fee at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud.
Beltoro wins Albury Cup
The Robert Hickmott-trained 5-year-old gelding Beltoro (Toronado {Ire}), continued this preparation’s fine form when winning Friday’s Albury Cup at Albury.
Partnered by Josh Richards the gelding saluted by 4.2l from the imported Marsabit (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).
More Than Ready gelding wins Albury Guineas
Friday’s Albury Cup meeting also saw the running of the Albury Guineas, which was won by the Ben Brisbourne-trained Diesel (More Than Ready {USA}) partnered by Hannah Edgley.
The progressive 3-year-old gelding won by 0.7l from fellow 3-year-old gelding Fox Appeal (Foxwedge). Diesel is raced by Trilogy Racing. The gelding was purchased for $80,000 by Hannover Lodge from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Canterbury welcome Ruakaka trainers
Canterbury has welcomed the addition of a new stable to the region, with Ruakaka trainers Kenny Rae and Krystal Williams establishing a southern operation at Riccarton.
The duo has been great supporters of South Island racing, campaigning a team in the south regularly, but they have now elected to open a permanent base in the region, headed by Williams.
“We have got nine horses down (Christchurch) at the moment and I have got 23 back up at home. Williams (Crystal) is really happy down here and all the horses look great.”
Lhasa making up for sale setback
The Mark Treweek-trained 3-year-old gelding Lhasa (Hellbent) has made a bright start to his racing career that has put aside the early disappointment for the Treweek family’s Lyndhurst Farm, who initially had high hopes of a tidy return from him.
The son of Hellbent will make his fourth appearance when he steps out in the Bayleys Mt Maunganui over 1400 metres at Tauranga on Saturday, chasing his second victory.
Lhasa | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“He had chondritis as a yearling and we couldn’t sell him,” Tweek said
“We just carried on and he breathes 100 per cent and it doesn't affect him at all, but he’s got a bit of scar tissue in his throat.”
Auguste Rodin set for exhibition gallop at the Curragh
Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien will unleash Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) for an exhibition gallop after the conclusion of racing at the Curragh on Saturday (local). Auguste Rodin, is favoured in early markets for the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Derby
O’Brien indicated that the colts may be joined by star fillies, G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile fillies heroine Meditdate (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) and the G2 Airlie Stud S. victress Statuette (USA) (Justify {USA}).
O’Brien said: “Little Big Bear and Auguste Rodin are good, everything has been good so far anyhow. They’ll go to the Curragh on Saturday maybe for a canter around, and we'll talk about them after that, probably the same for the fillies, Meditate and Statuette.”
