Adam Sangster’s decision to permanently stand Toronado (Ire) at his Nagambie-based Swettenham Stud is proving to be a wise one. With five crops of racing age in the books, the former Haras de Bouquetot shuttler looks set to be a valuable addition to the Australian Stud Book for many years to come.

The European-bred stallion is enjoying his best season to date in Australasia having added eight stakes winners to an already impressive resume. The sire of 33 individual stakes winners worldwide, Toronado is proving to be a versatile stallion for his ability to produce elite sprinters, quality middle-distance specialists and an even spread of well-performed colts and fillies.

Group 1 winners and emerging stars

The Joe Pride-trained Mariamia handed Toronado his third elite-level winner this autumn with a dominant victory in the G1 The Galaxy H. in March. Prior to joining Pride’s camp last autumn, the Adam Sangster-bred mare was trained by Shane Stockdale who prepared her to three Melbourne metropolitan wins and a third in the G3 MRC Geoffery Bellmaine S.

Newhaven Park’s John Kelly took note of the mare as a future breeding proposition paying a sale-topping $335,000 in last year’s Inglis Digital March (Early) Sale, where she was offered by her former owner Gasper Stellato, who had purchased her for just $18,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the Swettenham Stud draft.

Since joining Pride’s Warwick Farm base, the 6-year-old mare has won four races including two at stakes level. Mariamia's 2023 campaign has seen her rise from a BM88 victory at Rosehill to a convincing victory in the G2 Expressway S. when defeating Group 1 winners Golden Mile (Astern) and Forbidden Love (All Too Hard). At her first attempt at the elite level, she ran out a dominant winner in the G1 The Galaxy H. when subsequently defeating G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}). With earnings now exceeding $1.2 million, she has well and truly etched a fairytale chapter in the lives of her current and former connections.

Lightly raced Greg Eurell-trained 3-year-old Papillon Club is shaping as an exciting filly for the future. A $70,000 purchase for her trainer at the 2021 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale, she has never been out of the placings in her six starts to date. She was second at her only start as a 2-year-old before breaking her maiden as a spring 3-year-old and going from strength to strength since. An important metropolitan win at the start of the year earned her chance at two stakes-class events where she was third in the G3 Vanity S. before a narrow second to the multiple Group 1 bridesmaid Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) in the G2 Kewney S. at Flemington.

Just four months since her maiden victory, she justified her short starting price to land the G3 Alexandra S. at The Valley running away a 2.5l winner. With over $300,000 in the bank, she has already accumulated over four times her purchase price and the ceiling certainly appears nowhere within reach for the exciting 3-year-old.

Versatility in spades

A dual Group 1-winning miler himself, Toronado is providing a versatile sire having produced stakes winners over sprinting and staying trips. While his sweet spot appears to be in the middle-distance category, his three domestic Group 1 winners - Masked Crusader, Shelby Sixtysix and Mariamia are all genuine sprinting horses who have won elite races at 1200 metres or less.

Aside from Group 1-winning sprinter Mariamia, all of his stakes winners this season came in the middle-distance range (1400 metres-1600 metres), including four stakes winners over 1400 metres. He sired stakes winners from 1100 metres to 2000 metres and was represented by four of his five crops of racing age.

In a further testament to his versatility, Toronado is featured by at least one stakes winner from every crop of racing age except his current 2-year-olds. His 3-year-olds are certainly flying the flag with three individual stakes winners hailing from his 2019 crop including Papillon Club, The Intimidator and Laced Up Heels. The Lindsey Smith-trained Queen Air was third in the G1 VRC Oaks, while the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Angry Skies was just shy of handing his sire a ninth stakes winner for the season when a close second in the Listed MRC Gothic S.

While not known for his precocious stock, from just two juvenile runners this season, Toronado managed to make a clean sweep on the 2-year-old VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series with promising filly Shesallshenanigans. The Simon Zahra-trained filly is already stakes-performed being fourth on debut in the Listed Debutant S. behind King's Gambit (I Am Invincible) and a close third in the Listed Cinderella S. at Morphettville three starts back. A $115,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer, she has amassed over $700,000 in earnings from just five career starts and earnt connections over six times her purchase price.

Table: Toronado's (Ire) stakes winners this season

On the rise in Hong Kong

With a 76 per cent winners to runners strike rate in Hong Kong, Toronado currently sits equal fourth on the Hong Kong list for most wins by a sire this season and he is eighth on the table by earnings. Former Chris Waller-trained gelding Senor Toba is flying the flag for his emerging sire adding further black-type victory to his resume with a win in the G3 HKJC Centenary Vase in February. A winner of the G3 ATC Frank Packer Plate and runner-up in the G1 BRC Queensland Derby while trained by Waller, Senor Toba has accumulated over $2 million in earnings in his 22 starts to date.

Fellow Toronado son Victor The Winner kicked off his career in Hong Kong after being purchased by Golden River Investments and Mr Chu for $180,000 at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Winning five of his seven career starts including his last three on the bounce, the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained 4-year-old could be seen in Group company at his next assignment following an impressive victory in a Class 2 H. (1200 metres) at Sha Tin last month.

Off the back of his breakthrough season, heightened demand for Toronado stock this season comes as no surprise. The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) went to $850,000 to secure the first foal from winning Pierro mare Tereka at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale making him the equal most-expensive Toronado yearling sold on record. A month later, the HKJC secured his second most-expensive yearling of the season when securing a colt from Group 3 winner Art Series (Sebring) for $420,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Incredibly, both colts were bred off a modest service fee of just $27,500 (inc GST).

Yearling sales

It comes as no surprise that Toranado's average yearling price has reached a career high this season. Averaging $165,543 across all Australisian sales this season, Toronado’s results on the track have ensured a 40 per cent increase on his lowest domestic average yearling price which came in his second season ($67,215).

The Victorian stallion has instilled confidence in breeders with healthy sales returns since day one. Breeders who took the punt on Toronado in the risky third year at stud were rewarded when his domestic yearlings averaged over $100,000 or almost five times his service fee ($22,000 {inc GST}).

Table: Toronado's (Ire) average yearling prices versus covering fee

A fee increase to $27,500 (inc GST) in 2019 was absorbed by his yearling sale average climbing to almost $150,000 or over five times his service fee. Thanks to a standout year on the track, his supporters enjoyed their best returns on investment yet at this year’s domestic yearling sales with his yearlings averaging over $165,000 or six times his service fee for that covering season.

Covering his largest book of mares in 2021 and 2022 off his highest service fees to date ($47,500 {inc GST} and $88,000 {inc GST}), there is no doubt that the best is yet to come for the young stallion. Despite a remarkable season on the track, Swettenham Stud announced Toronado would remain at $88,000 (inc GST) this season. Based on the 13-year-old's results to date and the promise of what's to come, there is no doubt the Nagambie-based nursery will have plenty to cheer about in the years to come.

Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

It has been a season to revel in for gallopers carrying the New Zealand suffix and New Zealand-graduate flag. ‘Kiwi breds’ have virtually dominated abroad, claiming everything from Derbys, Oaks and Australia’s rich sprints such as the G1 TJ Smith S. courtesy of I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel).

They have proved equally as effective in Hong Kong with Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) stamping his quality in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize and the Karaka sourced Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) victorious in an unprecedented third straight G1 FWD Champions Mile.

Gallery: Group 1-winning New Zeland Bloodstock sale graduates, images courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

Although the autumn has been and passed, the New Zealand-bred gallopers are still firing on all cylinders. Several days ago, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) showed her staying prowess at Morphettville to take the G1 Australasian Oaks.

On Saturday, back at Morphettville, it was again Maher and Eustace to the fore with another Kiwi bred in the G1 Robert Sangster S. when the flying 3-year-old filly Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) streaked past an elite field of older mares to write her name in history. While on the Sunshine Coast, Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) stamped herself as a leading chance in the G1 Queensland Oaks when winning the Listed Gold Bracelet in fabulous style.

Weanling Sale

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale will be under a new format this year with 70 broodmares to be offered, 61 of which are being sold in foal.

New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones told TDN AusNZ, “We are pleased to announce for the first time in several years the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling and Broodmare Sale will be conjoined.

“We look forward to offering buyers the opportunity to invest in quality breeding stock.”

However, for the first session all attention will be turned to the 185-strong book of weanlings set to go under the hammer. The 185-lot catalogue is set to be one of the biggest in years. 2022 saw a catalogue of 132, while in 2021, 120 weanlings were catalogued for sale.

“The last few years have seen the size of the catalogue trend downwards due to a few reasons, foal crop size being one - however, this is our biggest catalogue in a while.”

Despite being a reasonably compact catalogue, the results on the track have spoken for themselves.

The 2021 National Weanling catalogue has produced Pingin (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) who won the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and a NZ$15,000 purchase, while Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) has proven to be the dominant juvenile and a winner of the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO was bought for NZ$50,000.

Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was purchased for just NZ$5000 in 2017 and would become the Leading New Zealand 3-Year-Old Filly on the 2019/20 International Ratings, while on a domestic front, was crowned the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2019/2020, counting the G1 New Zealand Oaks and G2 Eight Carat Classic on her resume.

Also, from the 2017 catalogue, for just NZ$3000, you could have purchased Callsign Mav (NZ) (Altante). The gelding has proven an absolute warhorse on the track, winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. in Australia, two editions of the G1 Tarzino Trophy and a G1 Windsor Park Plate.

“We have seen some absolute stars emerge from this sale - Tokyo Tycoon, Pingin, Callsign Mav and Jennifer Eccles, some really top-class graduates. Those four horses mentioned, that’s a Group 1-winning 2-year-old, a Karaka Million winner, a Group 1 weight-for-age winner and an Oaks winner.”

The sale also provides plenty of opportunities for astute pinhookers, with likes of Group 1-winning stars Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and Puccini (NZ) all initially going through the Karaka sale ring as weanlings.

“The National Weanling Sale is a good size and diverse catalogue. This year is full of weanlings by proven sires, the likes of Proisir, Per Incanto, Ocean Park and Contributer,” Jones told TDN AusNZ.

“Also, several exciting emerging stallions like Tarizno, Almanzor, Satono Aladdin and Turn Me Loose.”

Progeny of established sires such as Proisir, Per Incanto (USA), Ocean Park (NZ) and Darci Brahma (NZ) on offer, as well as an early look at exciting first-season sires Banquo, Circus Maximus (Ire), Earthlight (Ire), Hello Youmzain (Fr), King Of Comedy (Ire) and Peltzer.

Gallery: Some of the established sires whose progeny is to be offered at the NZ Bloodstock Sale

There is plenty of quality on the dams’ side of the weanling pedigrees as well, featuring the progeny of 11 stakes-winning mares, including Group winners Belle Fascino (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) (Lot 17), Ticket to Ride (NZ) (Shocking) (Lot 172) and Tinkalicious (NZ) (Nadeem) (Lot 173).

Well-bred weanlings who are siblings to proven black-type stars such as Tokorangi (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) (Lot 5), Opalescence (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) (Lot 49), Consensus (NZ) (Postponed {USA}) (Lot 70), Contagious (NZ) (Proisir) (Lot 127), First Impressions (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) (Lot 161), Tinkalicious (NZ) (Lot 173) and more will also be on offer.

“We are, of course, always excited to launch the first crop of any first-season sire at this sale, and we really look forward to offering stock and buyers the opportunity to purchase stock by Banquo, Circus Maximus, Earthlight, Hello Youmzain, King Of Comedy and Peltzer.

“It is a diverse offering and I feel it will appeal to pinhookers and traders and end-users alike. There is something for everybody.

“It’s a sale that always attracts attention, especially from Australia, and this year should be no different thanks to the strength of the Kiwi-bred horses and stallions. I fully expect some fully robust international attention and participation in the sale.”

All weanlings purchased are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Million Series, with two NZ$1 million features available for graduates as 2- and 3-year-olds, plus the NZ$120,000 Collinson Forex Karaka Cup for the duration of their career.

Broodmares Sale

Attention will turn towards the broodmare session with 70 broodmares to be offered, 61 of which are being offered in foal to sires such as Proisir, Satono Aladdin, Super Seth, Sword of State, Tarzino (NZ), Ardrossan and more.

A clear highlight will be the offering of the multiple Group 1 winner Xanadu (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) (Lot 253) in foal to Per Incanto (USA).

“Some really high-quality mares on offer to some really commercial stallions. Exciting commercial sires, very pleased to be offering those types of mares,” said Jones.

“It has been a great season for the Kiwi-bred horses in Australia and around the world.

“The strength of the New Zealand sire power and track results are as strong as ever. The Kiwi-bred horses are absolutely flying in Australia, we saw that with the dominance of the New Zealand horses at the Championships in Sydney."

Admittedly, it’s only a small sample size, but if early results are a mark of success, Woodside Park Stud has pulled the right rein by acquiring the dual Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Shalaa from Arrowfield Stud.

Late last month, Woodside Park Stud announced Shalaa would join Vancouver, Foxwedge, Delaware (GB) and Rich Enuff for the 2023 breeding season, with the son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) to stand at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).

Since then, Shalaa’s progeny have been getting the job done. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Jennilala - already a Group 3 winner - ran third in the G1 Australasian Oaks, before Chill The Krug placed second in the Listed ANZAC Day S. for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. Soon after, Matthew Williams’ Rose Of Shalaa took out the $125,000 VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool, while Matt Laurie’s 2-year-old filly Chilled became Shalaa’s 15th individual stakes winner when she was much the best in the Listed Without Fear S. on Saturday.

“We’re very happy with how he’s going,” Woodside Park Stud’s Mark Dodemaide told TDN AusNZ.

“His stats are good. He’s up to 15 stakes winners and from March 2022, so about 14 months ago, to now, he’s had 11 new stakes winners (worldwide). His stakes winners have really been ticking over.

“Even the past few months, he’s had Jennilala and Chilled, Princess Duhallow won a Listed race at Flemington (the Furphy Trophy), and Recommendation won a Group race at Sandown (the G3 Zeditave S.).”

Dodemaide has a high opinion of Chilled, who improved her record to two wins and three placings from five starts, with earnings of $127,170. She also boasts a victory over Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) and she herself has subsequently scored in brilliant fashion in Listed company.

“She looks to be a talented filly and has a good record,” he said.

“She’s very fast and hopefully she can go on with the job.”

A warm welcome

Dodemaide said there has been a good deal of interest in Shalaa since the news broke that he would be standing at Woodside Park Stud, which is owned by businessman Eddie Hirsch.

Dodemaide believes Shalaa is perfectly suited to the Victorian landscape and breeders within that state will get right behind him.

“The response has been very good, I had a guy ring me (Monday morning) wanting to send four mares to him,” Dodemaide commented.

“We just thought he’s an ideal VOBIS horse. You’ve also got Super VOBIS, VOBIS Gold and VOBIS Sires and there’s that big $1 million race The Showdown, which is usually run at Caulfield. With him being such a good 2-year-old himself, he could easily end up with a couple of runners in that race.

“We have some good VOBIS sires and he should be another.”

Dodemaide said Shalaa’s impressive 2-year-old record was a big factor when weighing up whether to attempt to prize him out of New South Wales.

Shalaa was a brilliant sprinter at two, winning the G1 Prix Morny and the G1 Middle Park S., and was the top-rated juvenile in England and France in 2015

“If you asked, ‘What did we like about him?’, - he was an outstanding 2-year-old, he was an outstanding racehorse, having eight starts and six wins,” said Dodemaide.

“He won a couple of Group 1s as a 2-year-old. You’ve got to be very professional to be going from France to England and winning Group 1s at two and that’s exactly what he did.

“When he walked off the float at Tylden, he went straight into his box, ate up his feed, we put his rug on him, and he didn’t turn a hair. When you see that, you understand why he was travelling around as a 2-year-old and winning Group 1s, you could tell he could handle that stuff.”

Tip of the iceberg

Shalaa already has some runs on the board, including one elite-level winner - No Speak Alexander (Ire), who was victorious in the 2021 G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown, but Dodemaide is extremely confident the best is yet to come.

The stallion is only 10 years of age and has covered 821 mares in six seasons in Australia (111 of those were last year).

He has 108 rising 2-year-olds that have sold up to $220,000 this year.

“His stats are what got me in a bit. His oldest progeny here are four, in total he’s got 15 stakes winners and he’s got big numbers to come, including in France and Great Britain. You wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of more Group 1 winners popped up there,” Dodemaide remarked.

“And here (in Australia), he’s got plenty of good, young horses, including Seven Veils, Chilled, Princess Duhallow, Recommendation and Jennilala, and there’s more we haven’t seen yet.

“He’s got over 200 yearlings and weanlings at the moment to come.

“He’s a very good-looking horse and he’s proven to get good-looking horses, too. You can breed to him and you can be pretty sure you’re going to get a good-looking sort.”

Hirsch goes ‘all-in’

Shalaa - a shuttle stallion that would spend the Northern Hemisphere season at Al Shaqab’s breeding operation, Haras de Bouquetot, becomes the second international stallion on Woodside Park Stud’s 2023 roster. He joins Delaware - a stakes-winning son of the great Frankel (GB).

Hirsch has bought out Shalaa’s owners Al Shaqab and Arrowfield Stud.

“Eddie now owns 100 per cent of the horse, but Arrowfield Stud and Al Shaqab have got breeding rights. They can still use the horse and they will send down some mares,” Dodemaide explained.

A punt that certainly looks well made.

Dual Group 1-producing sire Tarzino will stand his seventh season at New Zealand’s Westbury Stud at a career-high fee of NZ$25,000 plus GST, up from NZ$15,000 plus GST in 2022.

Following two elite-level victors within the space of three weeks in mid-2022 (Jungle Magnate {NZ}, who now races as Beautyverse in Hong Kong, and the recently retired Gypsy Goddess {NZ}), both from his first crop, Tarzino has had two new stakes performers in 2023. The Andrew Forsman-trained Bitcoin (NZ) placed third in the Listed Gingernuts Salver in January, before John Sargent’s Mountain Guest ran third in the G3 Adrian Knox S. in April. The former has since transferred to Lindsey Smith at Warrnambool and bolted in at his local debut at Ballarat in April. Bitcoin has been nominated for Saturday’s G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville.

“I think everyone knew it was only timing-related last year that he was as cheap as he was. We had to set his fee by the end of April and straight after we set his fee, he came up with two Group 1 winners. Once we advertised his fee, we didn’t move off that,” Westbury Stud’s General Manager, Russell Warwick, told TDN AusNZ.

“We got wonderful support and he duly covered more mares than any other stallion in New Zealand.

“There had to be a little bit of a correction.

“We think it’s still very realistic, and in all due respect, he could have easily gone to NZ$50,000 or more last season, had we set his fee after the Queensland Oaks.”

The success of Tarzino’s progeny on the track has transferred to the sale ring. In 2022, Tarzino’s yearlings averaged $102,908 throughout Australasia, while in 2023, that figure has jumped to $120,163.

“His yearlings have been popular and some of the biggest and best trainers have bought them, people like Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Annabel Neasham, Chris Waller, Mike Moroney… there’s hardly a top stable that doesn’t have a Tarzino in their lineup and that’s really heartening,” Warwick said.

“We took three to the Gold Coast (Magic Millions) and they averaged over $225,000, while at Karaka, they sold up to NZ$250,000.

“There’s a lot of encouragement, both from the trainers and buyers and agents.”

Tarzino covered his biggest book last season, serving 197 mares. Warwick said that number will come down in 2023, with the entire’s shareholders again strongly supporting the son of Tavistock (NZ).

“He will have a ceiling, he will definitely cover less mares this year. We did a big book with him last year as he had a relatively lighter year the year before,” he said.

“He’s an extremely fertile horse and his fertility was extremely good last year.

“He will have a cap of 150 and we will be firm on that.”

El Roca up to NZ$15,000

Tarzino’s barnmate, El Roca, has also received a fee increase, with the 12-year-old son of Fastnet Rock to stand for NZ$15,000 (plus GST), up from NZ$12,500 (plus GST) in 2022.

In March this year, El Roca became a two-time Group 1-producing sire when the Te Akau Racing-owned filly Romancing The Moon (NZ) took out the G1 Levin Classic at Trentham.

Rocababy (NZ) and White Noise (NZ) also won stakes races during the 2022/23 season and El Roca currently sits fourth in the New Zealand Premiership.

El Roca has become a very popular and successful sire throughout Asia, and in Hong Kong, he boasts the very impressive record of seven winners from eight runners, including the Group 2 scorer Lucky Patch (NZ).

“He’s doing a great job up there (Hong Kong), they just keep winning races,” said Warwick.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club bought one at Karaka this year and it’s great to see that Hong Kong interest stemming down to buying them as yearlings, not just as tried horses.

“You can’t knock his record, he just keeps stumping up with a good horse each year.

“He’s a son of Fastnet Rock and a bit like him, his progeny just keep getting better and more mature.”

A strong support cast

Westbury Stud regulars Redwood (GB), Reliable Man (GB) and Swiss Ace return, while the Group 3-winning son of Fast ‘N’ Famous, Ferrando (NZ), who will have his first 2-year-olds out in 2023, joins them.

Redwood’s fee rises from NZ$8000 (plus GST) to NZ$10,000 (plus GST).

His banner horse is the talented young stayer Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) - a triple Group 1 hero.

Redwood had a new stakes winner last weekend with Solidify (NZ) scoring in Listed grade at Waikato.

“Based on what he’s done, a lot of places would have doubled his fee. We wanted to keep him realistic. I think he’s a great horse for New Zealand breeders to breed to,” Warwick commented.

“He’s had a phenomenal year, with Sharp ‘N’ Smart being the lamplighter. Platinum Invador won an Auckland Cup and we’re very excited about the horse that won on Saturday, Solidify; we think he could be top-drawer.”

Reliable Man also enjoyed stakes success last weekend, with Essonne (NZ) winning the Listed Silk Stocking at the Sunshine Coast and Renaissance Woman landing the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet at the same track. And those results came less than 48 hours after Reliable Man’s Group 1 victress, Inspirational Girl (NZ), made $1.1 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

Reliable Man will stand for a fee of NZ$13,500 (plus GST), a slight decrease from NZ$16,000 (plus GST).

“He had a little quiet patch there for a while and was looking for some good horses to come out,” said Warwick.

“Renaissance Woman…she won the Ethereal Stakes in the spring and she’s now favourite for the Queensland Oaks. He’s already sired two Oaks winners, so it gives you great confidence.

“It’s amazing that she will be favourite for a mile-and-a-half race, whereas Essonne is winning at stakes level over 1200 metres. He’s a very versatile stallion.”

Swiss Ace’s fee remains unchanged at NZ$5000 (plus GST), while Ferrando debuts at Westbury Stud at a fee of NZ$5000 (plus GST), having stood last season at Graeme and Debbie Rogerson’s farm in Hamilton for NZ$2500 (plus GST).

Table: Westbury Stud's stallion roster in 2023, *all prices excluding GST

Cover image courtesy of the Japan Racing Association

The Tsuyoshi Tanaka-trained Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) on Sunday added his name alongside some of the stars of Japanese racing, including El Condor Pasa (USA), Kurofune (Jpn), King Kamehameha (Jpn), Mikki Isle (Jpn), Admire Mars (Jpn) and Danon Scorpion (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), as a winner of the G1 NHK Mile at Tokyo.

Unwanted by punters, Champagne Color scored by a head under Hiroyuki Uchida, with the fast-finishing Umbrail (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) - one of four fillies in the race - second, and Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat {USA}) third.

Champagne Color’s victory was his third from five starts and first in top company.

“The plan was to keep him in about fifth to sixth from the pace, but the competition to position him forwardly was intense and the going was soggy so I didn’t force him to move up front,” Uchida said.

“He came out of the last turn smoothly and responded incredibly well. While waiting for the right moment and watching out for the other runners, I just drove him to the line hoping to reach it first.

“It’s his third win here at Tokyo; he enjoys the wide and spacious course, and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop with every race he runs this season.”

Champagne Color is the fifth Group 1 winner by the late stallion Duramente (Jpn) - a son of a King Kamehameha (Jpn). The colt is out of the unraced Reckless Abandon (GB) mare Memorial Life (GB) and she is a half-sister to G2 Queen Mary S. heroine Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}), herself the dam of the Listed Chesham S. winner Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and the Listed Boadicea S. victress Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The latter has thrown the Group 2 scorer Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Meanwhile, Saturday’s G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai was won by race favourite Satono Glanz (Jpn).

It was a first stakes success for the 3-year-old and his sire, Satono Diamond (Jpn) - a son of the great Deep Impact (Jpn).

The colt from the Group 2-winning Oratorio (Ire) mare Cherry Collect (Ire), making him a half-brother to the stakes winners Wakea (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) and Diana Bright (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as well as the stakes performer Danon Grace (Jpn).

Satono Glanz was handled by Yuga Kawada for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi.

Singapore Group 2 winner for Flying Artie

Recent Blue Gum Farm acquisition Flying Artie celebrated his sixth individual stakes winner on the weekend, with Coin Toss triumphant in the SG2 Singapore 3YO Classic - the second leg of the Singapore 3YO Challenge series - at Kranji.

Bred by Aston Bloodstock, Coin Toss is from the stakes performer Headsup (NZ) (Thorn Park), making him a half-brother to the Group 2 runner-up Shezathinka (So You Think {NZ}).

Coin Toss was purchased by Bevan Smith Bloodstock / Kuldeep Singh Rajput for $175,000 from the Two Bays Farm draft at the 2021 Premier Yearling Sale (he was originally purchased for $15,000 by Two Bays Farm from the Newgate Consignment at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale).

The Michael Clements-trained gelding was ridden by Australian jockey Daniel Moor.

“Michael reached out to me several weeks ago to ride this horse in the 3YO series. I only had to look at one or two replays to know that he was the one,” Moor said.

“He’s won really well. We overcame a little bit of interference over the back there. He lost probably a length and a half or two lengths but for a young horse, he recovered well and won pretty soft in the finish.”

The trainer said: “I think Daniel rode a great race.

“He’s been a horse with a lot of potential all along and it was great for him to get it right on the day. A lot of his early racing was on the Polytrack, but that was by circumstance, not by choice.”

Straight Arron does it again

The 2022 ATC Carbine Club S. hero - Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) - made it back-to-back victories and three wins from his past four starts at Sha Tin on Sunday.

At the end of 2400 metres, the Caspar Fownes-trained 4-year-old held a neck margin in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup.

Straight Arron, who was piloted by Vincent Ho, may head to the May 28 G1 Champions & Chater Cup over the same trip.

“That was good. He toughed it out. It was a hard effort for him. There was no pace and he just trucked up there nicely and all you can do is get a winning result,” Fownes said.

“Conditions were quite tough (on Sunday), and he’s jumped from 1800 metres to 2400 metres – it’s a big step up in a short period of time. We’re proud of him. He’s going the right way.

“We’ll see (about the Champions & Chater Cup). His rating’s not there yet, but he’s a good horse. His true rating is still not there, but we’ll see how he pulls up.

“We’ll make an entry. I wouldn’t think it’s going to be too big a field – probably about six or seven runners – so we’ll just see. He’s done his job already, and I’m looking forward to next season.”

Bred by Torryburn Stud, Straight Arron realised $270,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is from the three-time winner and stakes performer Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and she is a blood-sister to the stakes performer Spring Delight (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 victor Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and a half-sister to the Group 2 winner La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}). The latter has produced the Listed victress Za Moulin Rouge (Street Cry {Ire}).