Merchant Navy transferred to Kooringal Stud
Kooringal Stud announced on Friday that the former Coolmore Stud-based Merchant Navy will join the Lamont family’s Wagga Wagga property. Merchant Navy will stand the 2023 season for $13,200 (inc GST), a signifcant decrease from his 2022 fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
A high-class son of Coolmore’s Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, Merchant Navy was a dual Group 1 winner with successes in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot.
Merchant Navy will stand for a decreased fee of $13,200 (inc GST) in 2023 | Standing at Kooringal Stud
“We are extremely fortunate to have secured a stallion of Merchant Navy’s calibre,” Kooringal Stud’s Angus Lamont said.
Merchant Navy was represented by the outstanding Group 2-winning filly Steel City during the autumn and is also the sire of the stakes placed Royal Merchant and Drisana.
“He is developing an impressive record at stud and reports are there are better things on the horizon,” Mr Lamont said.
Milliondollarmumma scores on debut
Milliondollarmumma was retained to race by her breeders the Love family and on Friday afternoon scored an impressive debut victory for her trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman at Cranbourne in a 2-year-old maiden plate over 1200 metres.
Partnered by Daniel Moor the daughter of Capitalist showed a lot of determination to score from Our Cracklin Rosie (Grunt {NZ}) by 0.40l, while One Shot More (More Than Ready {USA}) ran into third.
Capitalist will stand for $77,000 (inc GST) at Newgate Farm in 2023.
Menari 2-year-old breaks maiden
The Blake Ryan-trained Harlemite (Menari) broke her maiden at start two on Friday afternoon at Canberra.
The 2-year-old ridden by Jeff Penza in the 1000-metre maiden plate scored by 1.77l from Dorami (Dissident) with Best Intent (Hellbent) finishing third. She becomes the ninth winner for Menari from only 14 foals.
Menari currently stands at Corumbene Stud after initially retiring to Newgate Farm.
Harlemite was bred and retained to race by Gerald and Blake Ryan.
First Australian winner for Jungle Cat
Telemon Thoroughbred’s Jungle Cat (Ire) sired his first Australian winner on Friday afternoon at Cairns over 950 metres. The Roy Chillemi-trained Puss Boots claimed her maiden victory after being placed twice from seven starts.
Puss Boots was a $13,000 yearling purchase by Group 1 Pty Ltd from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale from the draft of Bahrinna.
Jungle Cat (Ire) | Standing at Telemon Stud
Jungle Cat was campaigned by Godolphin and was a dual Group 1 winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai and the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
The son of Iffraaj (GB) stood the 2022 season at $13,200 (inc GST), a 2023 fee has yet to be announced.
Into Mischief juvenile wins on debut
The Cody Morgan-trained Burling (Into Mischief {USA}) outran his odds to score on debut at Tamworth over 1000 metres.
Under Koby Jennings, Burling won by 0.54l from Genzano (Maurice {Jpn}), while Is He Out (Outreach) filled third.
Burling hails from a big international pedigree, with relatives such as Roaring Lion (USA) who was crowned Horse of the Year in Europe in 2018 and the 2021 G1 Preakness S. winner Rombauer (USA) (Twirling Candy {USA}).
Racing Victoria stewards suspend Nugent for 37 meetings
Teo Nugent has been suspended for 37 meetings by Racing Victoria stewards at the conclusion of an inquiry into the fall during the running of the Listed Abell S. at Moonee Valley in March. The fall landed Nugent in the hospital with a serious injury - a C1 fracture. Nugent’s mount Florescent Star (Zoustar) was humanely euthanized by Racing Victoria Vets.
Teo Nugent | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Stewards concluded that Nugent was responsible for the fall, issuing a report that read: “Mr Nugent was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provision of AR131 (a), the careless riding being that approaching and passing the 300-metre mark Mr Nugent directed his mount (Florescent Star) out from behind Doull (Daniel Stackhouse) to obtain a position one off the rail behind In The Boat (Blaike McDougall), a position which was dangerously close to the heels of In The Boat. As a result, Florescent Star clipped the heels of In The Boat and fell.”
Hong Kong to welcome Avdulla and Wong
The Hong Kong Jockey Club shared on Friday evening the club had granted licenses to the multiple Group 1-winning jockey Brenton Avdulla and the Hong Kong apprentice Ellis Wong Chi Wang, who has been serving his apprenticeship in Australia with great distinction. The Sydney-based Avdulla and the South Australian-based Wong are eligible to begin riding in Hong Kong from May 1.
James McDonald set to ride Artorius at Royal Ascot
Champion Australian Jockey James McDonald will be seeking a second Group 1 victory at the famous Royal Ascot meeting after being confirmed as the rider for the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Artorius (Flying Artie) in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. McDonald partnered the Champion sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) to an electric display in the G1 King's Stand S. last year at the royal meeting.
Flying Blue Point sires a fourth winner
Darley shuttler Blue Point (Ire), whose first Northern Hemisphere crop of runners have gotten off to a flying start in his new career, sired his fourth winner from only seven runners when his son Keran (Fr) scored an impressive victory at Tarbes in France on Thursday (local).
A homebred for the Aga Khan, Keran is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget.
Keran becomes the third winner from three foals to race out of the Listed winner Kerasona (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}). He is the third winner this week for his exciting young sire.
Blue Point will stand for $44,000 (inc GST) at Darley's Kelvinside base in 2023.
Tattersalls Online announce innovative new online breeze up session at Dundalk
Tattersall Online have announced that they will host a breeze up session at Dundalk Racecourse on Friday, May 15, with the 2-year-olds then to be offered at the Tattersalls Online June Sale which takes place from June 7-8.
The May 19 breeze session at Dundalk will be available for unraced 2-year-olds and will provide an opportunity for entries to gallop on the all-weather track in similar fashion to the conventional breeze up sales.
Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented on the new initiative: “We are delighted to offer this innovative and cost-effective opportunity to Breeze Up consignors to showcase their horses on the Tattersall Online platform. We are constantly exploring ways to provide new innovative options for vendors and purchasers alike and we believe that Tattersalls Online will provide an excellent alternative for those wishing to showcase their breeze-up 2-year-olds.”
