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Cover image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth

Written by TDN Europe

Gai Waterhouse has supported the Goffs London Sale since its inaugural year nearly a decade ago, extracting from past editions the likes of Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who co-cost her £1.2 million (AU$2.255 million) this time last year.

On Monday, Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott purchased two lots at the popular single session, assisted by bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, who had also been on the ticket for Hoo Ya Mal last June.

The first horse, bought in partnership with Craig Thompson's Mount Hallowell Stud, was Cuban Dawn (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), bought for £300,000 (AU$565,000) from his breeder Jim Bolger and co-owner Teme Valley Racing.

The 3-year-old colt has finished second in two of his three starts during May, having made his debut in the Listed Tetrarch S., in which he was fourth behind subsequent G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Teme Valley was also the co-owner, with Ballylinch Stud, of Waterhouse and Bott's second purchase, New Endeavour (Ire). The New Bay (GB) gelding was sold for £260,000 (AU$490,000) and is entered for both the Britannia and the Buckingham Palace S. on Thursday for local trainer Roger Varian.

Gallery: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Goffs London Sale purchases, images courtesy of Goffs

Top lot Ascot-bound

It was nine years ago that the racing crowd first descended on London on the eve of Royal Ascot for the sale for the inaugural Goffs London Sale, plenty of the catalogue having smart entries for the week ahead.

The Goffs London Sale is a unique concept in Europe, and as much a lavish cocktail party as it is a horse sale.

But since that inaugural event of 2014, the boutique auction, which has been tweaked and trimmed in the process, has sold 148 lots for just shy of £37 million (AU$70 million).

That tally was boosted by the £3,770,000 (AU$7.1 million) total bid on Monday when, from 21 lots offered, including breeding rights to Havana Grey (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB), 11 were sold at an average of £342,727 (AU$645,000) and median of £250,000 (AU$470,000).

The top lot went the way of the G3 Marble Hill S. winner Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who led all comers when sold for £1.1 million (AU$2.1 million) to Con and Neil Sands of Bronsan Racing. He will remain in training with Jessica Harrington and heads almost immediately to the G2 Coventry S. this week.

Generally 10-3 third-favourite for the Coventry, Givemethebeatboys is set to be ridden by Frankie Dettori but he will now not carry the colours of Theresa Marnane, whose husband Con and daughter Amy bought the dual winner for just €11,000 (AU$18,000) at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale last November.

“Goffs puts on such a show,” said Amy Murnane after the sale. “Everybody who is anybody is here, and we just hope that the horse goes on to win the Coventry tomorrow (Tuesday). Mrs Harrington and Kate Harrington have been a huge part of this horse's career and they are so excited to see him run tomorrow, which gives us huge confidence in him.”

Kate Harrington confirmed that the colt will return to her family's stable in Kildare.

“We're delighted for Bronsan Racing to have bought such an exciting horse in Givemethebeatboys, and let's hope he can go and do them justice in the Coventry,” she said. “He will stay in training with us after Ascot, which is very exciting.”

Sale highlights

Other notable highlights of the sale included No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), who won a Royal Ascot qualifying race on his sole start at Gulfstream Park for trainer George Weaver and Bergman Family Racing.

As such, not only has he had his airfare paid by Ascot Racecourse, but he has now netted his owners £800,000 (AU$1.5 million) before even setting foot on a racecourse again.

The No Nay Never (USA) colt, who was bred by Coolmore and sold as a yearling by Baroda Stud at Arqana for €180,000 (AU$290,000), was bought by Liam Culman's Tuckernuck Stables.

Ocean Vision (Ire) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) was knocked down to Marquee Bloodstock, with bloodstock agent Martin Buick acting on behalf of Ramiro Restrepo, best known for purchasing Kentucky Derby winner Mage (USA) (Good Magic {USA}).

It is understood that the 3-year-old will remain with his trainer, Tim Donworth, in France for the immediate future, but the plan is for the colt to continue his career in America.

Ocean Vision, who was sold for £250,000 (AU$470,000), was one of three French-trained horses to be offered at the sale. He won the Listed Prix de Pontarme in May among his four victories from 10 starts for Jonathon Kirkland and Geraldine Ryan.

Joseph O'Brien's useful dual-purpose campaigner Nusret (GB) was knocked down at £300,000 (AU$565,000) to Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, who also owns his sire, Golden Horn (GB). Four-year-old Nusret, a multiple winner on the flat and over hurdles, holds an entry for Friday's Duke of Edinburgh S.

Breeding rights to last year's champion first-season sire Havana Grey and one of this season's leading lights of the freshman division, Soldier's Call, were offered at the start of the sale. They were bought respectively for £205,000 (AU$385,000) by China Horse Club and £80,000 (AU$150,000) by Oliver St Lawrence.

“We are delighted with today's London Sale, which saw strong demand from an international audience capped by a dream result for the connections of Givemethebeatboys,” said Henry Beeby, Goffs Group chief executive.

“For Goffs to be here in the grounds of Kensington Palace, welcoming so many friends and colleagues from international racing, is something we are very proud of. It's what we're all about – the business of buying and selling top-class horses but making it as enjoyable a process as possible.”

Written by Grant Sheldon

Last week TDN AusNZ attempted to seek clarification on comments within an 'Industry Notice' that was emailed to participants by Racing NSW from its Chair, Russell Balding. We hear from Grant Sheldon, a 25-year industry participant, who shares his thoughts on the matter.

I was particularly interested in the last section of that article that dealt with equine welfare.

I suspect I am not alone when I raise an eyebrow every time I read race prizemoney details and note how much money participants are contributing to equine welfare, either directly or indirectly. My concern is not the amount of money as I agree it warrants substantial investment. My concern is more around understanding how the investment is being spent. What result metrics are being achieved? And are we getting good strategic returns on our investment? I again suspect I am not alone in feeling this sort of information is not transparent enough. So I was pleased that Oz Wedmore appeared to be asking the right questions. I was however underwhelmed with the lack of information that was provided, apart from the statement that the Racing NSW approach to equine welfare is “second to none”.

I believe the Racing NSW approach to equine welfare very likely is “second to none” when compared to the other states. I suspect that if we are going to continue with a state PRA-based approach to equine welfare then the other states would possibly do well to take a lead from aspects of NSW’s approach. But I also believe there is a better alternative. That being the national approach outlined in the 2021 report: The most important participant: A Framework for Thoroughbred Welfare.

This report was instigated by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and the list of industry participants that either contributed financially and/or acted in an advisory role and/or provided submissions and/or provided their endorsement of the report includes: AgriFutures, Australian Jockeys Association, Australian Trainers Association, Australian Veterinary Association, Bjorn Baker, Hugh Bowman, Brisbane Turf Club, Matt Cumani, Henry Field, Richard Freedman, Godolphin, Tony Gollan, Duncan Grimley, David and Prue Hayes, John Kelly, Ciaron Maher, Mick Malone, Tony McEvoy, Sheamus Mills, Arthur Mitchell, Caroline Searcy, Segenhoe Stud, Sportsbet, Tabcorp, Olly Tait, Tyreel Stud, Victoria Racing Club, Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse, Mark Webster, Neil Werrett, Widden Stud and others. In total, over 180 submissions were considered along with over 50 follow up meetings. It is possible that not all of the above parties agree with all of the final report findings. But it is hard to imagine that any of the state PRA-based equine welfare approaches could match this level of consultation and have harnessed the collective wisdom of so many respected industry participants. Participants whom are representative of a large proportion of those contributing to equine welfare through direct and indirect prizemoney deductions. Effectively, this report was created by us, is owned by us and, I suggest, it directs how we would prefer to have our contributions spent.

In addition to being developed through a broad consultative approach, the 2021 report also provides further substantial advantages to the industry. Those that commissioned the report selected the authors wisely: Dr Denis Napthine (former Victorian Liberal Premier, Racing Minister and Vet), Dr Ken Jacobs (40+ year equine vet and former director of Australian Veterinary Association), Dr Bidda Jones (Chief Science and Strategy Officer of RSPCA Australia) and Jack Lake (former senior advisor on agricultural policy to Hawke, Keating and Rudd Governments).

In addition to solid equine veterinary science backing these authors also provide our industry with:

1. Ownership in and a stamp of approval to our welfare framework from the RSPCA, and;

2. A deep understanding of our welfare framework by individuals very well connected to and respected by each of the two major political parties.

Racing is routinely confronted by protestors making claims about how racing is cruel. Much of what they say is factually incorrect. Well done to the team at Kick Up For Racing whom are trying to help address this but at the moment, as an industry, we are not much better than those protestors. They shout, “10,000 racehorses are slaughtered in abattoirs every year,” We shout back, “Says who?” We then shout, “Our welfare practices are second to none.” They shout back “Says who?”

Now contemplate the power of being able to say: “Our equine welfare framework has been designed in conjunction with and is supported by the RSPCA.” If we have the RSPCA on side then any genuine protest about industry level equine welfare is pretty much rendered mute. Otherwise, the detractors of our welfare framework are effectively trying to argue that they know more about animal cruelty with respect to matters such as End of Life than the RSPCA does.

We are fortunate that our industry is strongly supported by both major political parties. But in recent times it has become prevalent for state and federal governments to not hold absolute majorities and to be reliant on minor parties such as the Greens and Animal Justice Party to get legislation passed. Both these minor parties have formal policies calling for all horse racing to be ceased. We should not miss the opportunity to have the words of politically respected Dr Napthine and Jack Lake to lobby each of the major parties and to reinforce that racing is following a welfare framework co-designed and endorsed by the RSPCA. It will help ensure those parties stay strong and stare down any pressure during minor party deal broking.

It is a double-edged sword however. The framework the RSPCA helped us design and the one they are still supporting on their website is now approaching two years old. In those two years it has gone close to nowhere. As outlined above, it has the potential to be an incredibly powerful asset for us. But if it sits on the shelf gathering dust for too much longer, it equally has the potential to be a liability to us. Imagine how much brand damage we would receive if the RSPCA decided to retract their support and replace it with messaging along the lines of: “The racing industry has substantially ignored the equine welfare framework we co-developed with them in good faith. Equine welfare is clearly not a priority for them.”

Last year my mate’s daughter was one of those protestors I mentioned above. My mate has been attending race meetings for over 50 years, is a regular punter and dabbles in horse ownership. The same goes for his father. His daughter’s other grandfather was a thoroughbred metropolitan rails bookmaker. This is not intended as a criticism of my mate’s daughter. She is an adult and is absolutely entitled to express her views. It is just intended to illustrate, in what was to me a very powerful way, that 'the times they are a changin'.

If our industry doesn’t drive that change then some future government will, and we may not like the result. So, if you are reading this as a representative of any of the state PRAs (or as someone in a position of PRA influence), then, on this matter, please put aside your differences and do whatever it takes to progress the national approach to equine welfare that the above report calls for. If that cannot be achieved than at least get around the table to discuss which of the 46 recommendations contained in that report can be progressed in a coordinated state PRA-based approach, if not a national approach. While our generation squabbles, the attractiveness of our industry to our children and grandchildren is becoming more vulnerable.

* Grant Sheldon is a former partner of a global Management and Information Technology Consultancy and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management.

Please email us at editorial@tdnausnz.com.au if you would like to submit a Letter to the Editor. All submissions will be considered for publication.

Written by Jessica Owers

Trials season has quieted down, but Good 4 conditions at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday morning made for a lively 10-heat morning. Among it, six were open juvenile heats and they were headlined by the 2-year-old Coincide (Invader), a half-brother to the dual Group 1 winner Converge (Frankel {GB}).

Coincide is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and the gelding has had a muddled commencement to his career. On debut last October, he was second to Barber (Exceed And Excel) in the Kirkham S., and then a distant ninth to that horse in the million-dollar Golden Gift some weeks later.

In January, Coincide was third on his return to Don Corleone (Extreme Choice) and, as promising as this was, he was then a near-last in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium to Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).

That was the last time he was seen in silks until Tuesday and it was, once again, a promising return.

Coincide went out in Heat 7 over 900 metres, ridden by Adam Hyeronimus and taking a prominent position very early. He accounted for the field easily, leading hom the Bjorn Baker-trained Star Act (Snitzel) and the Chris Waller charge Denote (Justify {USA}).

The final margin was 0.46l and the winning time 55.13s, the last 600 metres in 35.38s. It wasn’t the quickest of the morning over the course and distance for the 2-year-olds, but it was done easily.

Coincide was bred by Tony Bott’s Evergreen Stud Farm, which also bred his half-brother, Converge. The first dam on this page is the Irish import Conversely (Ire), a daughter of Shamardal (USA) who was brought into Australia in 2018.

The mare has had only three foals, being Converge by Frankel (GB), the unraced 3-year-old Conservative by Churchill (Ire), and Coincide.

The Bott family has done well with this line. Converge has netted over $2 million in earnings and is still going. He was second to Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup on May 27.

This gelding, Coincide, was presented by Evergreen at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where he was picked up by Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds, for $320,000.

This year at the same sale, a Divine Prophet half-sister sold to Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) for $260,000.

Heat 3: Watchguard (Toronado {Ire} x Vigilance)

Two-year-old Watchguard (Toronado {Ire}) was, in fact, the first of the 2-year-olds to clock a trial win on Tuesday morning. The gelding took out Heat 3 in good fashion for his trainers, team Snowden, with Reece Jones aboard.

Watchguard races in the familiar colours of China Horse Club and Newgate Farm, and he’s been around the traps. Since March, he has trialled five times and has steadily climbed the ladder. On June 13, he was third in a 1045-metre trial, leading into Tuesday morning’s win.

Heat 3 took place over 1030 metres and Watchguard was proactive, leaping into an early lead and extending it by a length or two quickly.

He didn’t let go of that lead, winning his trial pushed along by 1.35l from Khumbila (All Too Hard), and this pair was well-clear of the rest of the field, led home by last-start trial winner Andronicus (I Am Invincible), who was third in this event.

The final time was 1:03.43, the last 600 metres in 35.82s.

Watchguard has an interesting sale history. In 2021, he was a Magic Millions National Sale weanling, consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds and selling to Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Silverdale Farm for $260,000.

He was then pinhooked into the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, sold by Silverdale to China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight for $400,000.

The gelding is from the Sepoy mare Vigilance, who comes from the family of French Bid (Anabaa {USA}). The latter was a winner of the G2 Swettenham Stud S. and Listed Quezette S., and was in turn the dam of the stakes-placed Cavalaire Bay (Red Ransom {USA}) and Forum Magnum (Elusive Quality {USA}).

Heat 6: Luna Field (Deep Field x Delaluna)

This colt for Bjorn Baker was the winner of Heat 6, the first of the morning’s 2-year-old trials over 900 metres. Luna Field (Deep Field) is unraced but he’s been in barrier trials since November 18 last year and his record is excellent. In four outings, he has won three and placed second in the other.

On Tuesday morning, he was ridden by Jason Collett and he extended clear over the distance for a 1.38l victory over Mchale (Shooting To Win), the latter a well-bred half-brother to the stakes winners Ninth Legion (Fastnet Rock) and Tsaritsa (Dane Shadown).

The winning time was 54.77s for the 900 metres, the final 600 metres in 35.26s.

This was a very respectable field. It included a half-sister to the Group 3-winning Hellfast (Fastnet Rock) in Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard), who was third, as well as I Am Famous (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to The Everest winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt).

Luna Field was a $375,000 purchase for Baker, All Winners Thoroughbreds and Clarke Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was consigned by Senga Bissett’s Ashleigh Thoroughbreds.

He is a daughter of the Strategic mare Delaluna, who is a full sister to Mistegic, a winner of the G1 The Galaxy and three Group 2 features, and Rightson, whose 11 wins included the Listed Brisbane H. The second dam on this page is Volcanic Mist (Volcanic Prince), who was second in the Listed Widden S.

Luna Field himself is a half-brother to the Northern Meteor filly Quick Feet, who was Group-placed in all three of the Reisling S., Silver Shadow S. and Tea Rose S.

Heat 8: Draco (Deep Field x Discreet)

Two-year-old Draco races in the same colours as Luna Field for the All Winners ownership. The gelding, however, is trained by Tim Martin at Goulburn and it was a worthwhile trip to town.

Draco led home the Tulloch Lodge filly Lady Of Poise (Trapeze Artist) and the Chris Waller horse Buffett (Capitalist). The winning margin was 2.19l and 3.03l, with the final time 54.28s, the last 600 metres in 35.12s.

It was the quickest of the distance across the morning.

Adam Hyeronimus took the ride in this barrier trial. The pair sat back out of the gates, and Draco was nudged along in the straight to be handy. He exploded thereafter, overhauling the placegetters with a dominant turn of foot hard ridden.

This gelding was purchased by All Winners Thoroughbreds and Golden River Investments for Hong Kong, plucked out of the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $280,000. He was consigned by Yarraman Park.

He is the fourth foal from the Show A Heart mare Discreet, who was a winner of the Listed Calaway Gal S. This is also the family of Zoometric (Unbridled’s Song {USA}), who was a four-time stakes winner in Western Australia.

Heat 9: Rockabilly Rebel (Street Boss {USA} x Text’n Hurley)

The final juvenile trial of the morning was won by Rockabilly Rebel (Street Boss {USA}), a daughter of the Hard Spun (USA) mare Text’n Hurley.

Text’n Hurley is an interesting horse. She won the G2 Sunline S. during her career and was second in the G3 Schweppervescence Trophy. This is the family of Excited Angel (Don’t Say Halo {USA}), who won four Group races, including the then G3 Queen of the Turf S.

Rockabilly Rebel is the second foal from her dam and she was initially consigned to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, but withdrawn. She first appeared in silks last September, running first or second in her first three trials, and then last of 12 on debut behind Don Corleone in a Randwick maiden.

She hasn’t raced since but she has been nursed along by Bjorn Baker. She was a trial runner-up in February, then was spelled before coming back into work for the winter. On June 6 she was third in trial ahead of Tuesday’s victory.

She led home the Freedman-trained Shuttle Run (All Too Hard) by 0.12l, with Mystery Of Paris (Brazen Beau) third by 1.31l. The final time for the 900 metres was 54.79s, the last 600 metres in 35.49s.

Wiremu Pinn inquiry update

It was reported on Tuesday afternoon that Racing Victoria stewards had distributed a letter to the ownership of 29 thoroughbreds requesting them to show cause why horses ridden by the visiting New Zealand apprentice Wiremu Pinn should not be disqualified after it was revealed from further information from New Zealand Pinn had been allotted the incorrect weight allowance to claim.

Pinn had been claiming 3kg while in Australia however he was only entitled to claim 2kg in metropolitan jurisdictions. The stewards have opened an inquiry that will consider the impact on any races Pinn has competed in while in Victoria, and per the Australian Rules of Racing, stewards have the discretion over whether to disqualify any winners where Pinn has claimed the 3kg rather than the 2kg he is entitled to.

It should be noted that Pinn is at no fault for the communication error between Australian and New Zealand racing bodies. Stewards also advised affected owners a Racing Victoria board would determine whether any prizemoney would need to be repaid. Connections and trainers of the 29 horses have until 5pm AEST on Tuesday, June 27, to show cause.

Half-brother to star colt added to Magic Millions Perth

Sunday’s Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale has been boosted with the late supplementary of a half-brother to the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner King Colorado (Kingman {GB}). The colt is out of the Meydan stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare More Aspen (USA).

More Aspen's latest yearling, a chestnut colt by Pride Of Dubai, is heading to Sunday's Perth Winter Yearling Sale as a supplementary entry in the Willow Dale Farm draft.

"It's exciting to have a colt with such a pedigree joining Sunday's sale," Magic Millions' WA Manager David Houston said. "The decision to enter the colt was only made in recent days and while he won't have had the preparation of others, he is sure to attract strong interest.

“Rarely do you get an opportunity to buy a half-brother to such an exciting current 2-year-old Group 1 winner and his presence in the auction will create significant interest,” Houston added.

Meanwhile, city-winning 3-year-old filly Unilook (Universal Ruler) is a late supplementary entry for the broodmare section to be offered later on Sunday. Sunday's action will commence at midday AWST (2pm AEST) with the 65 lot Perth Winter Yearling Sale, before attention switches to the Perth Winter Thoroughbred Sale featuring race fillies, broodmares and weanlings.

Foxy could race on

The Andrew Noblet-trained Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) could race on in the spring, pending she runs well in Saturday's G1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm. Despite being a rising 6-year-old mare, Foxy Frida is still relatively lightly raced, running 25 times and winning nine times and, arguably, she has never been in better form.

“It could be Foxy Frida’s last run, but a lot will depend on how she races on Saturday and how she pulls up,” Noblet said. “She has come into the Tatt’s Tiara with some really strong form. The question will be that Foxy Frida has had three runs at a mile, and she’s dropping down to 1400 metres, it will be a big field, and we’re expecting plenty of pressure on.”

Coolmore or Guineas for Diamond winner?

Lindsay Park trainers Ben and JD Hayes have advised that their star juvenile Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) is back in training with an eye on the G1 Caulfield Guineas or G1 Coolmore Stud S. The 2-year-old colt was successful in the G1 Blue Diamond S. before an unplaced finish in the G1 Golden Slipper behind Shinzo (Snitzel).

JD Hayes indicated Little Brose would likely kick off in the G3 Vain S. at Caulfield on August 19, followed by the G2 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, which would serve as the fork in the road to decide whether the colt chases Guineas or Coolmore glory.

“We’ve got a really nice plan for Little Brose. The team feel he might be a good miler, so we’ll have him on the Guineas path unless he shows otherwise,” Hayes said. “Little Brose has just started evens in his work, and we will build, but he’ll kick off in the Vain S.”

Flying Start class of 2023

The 2023 Godolphin Flying Start graduation ceremony took place at Kildangan Stud last Friday afternoon, with invited guests and parents joining the graduates. Clodagh Kavanagh, the program’s executive director, welcomed families from New Zealand, Australia and the US as international guests, as well as Raomal Perea, professor of entrepreneurship at the Michael Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin (UCD), which accredits the Flying Start program with a Graduate Certificate in Management.

The class of 2023 includes graduates from six countries: Elinor Wolf (USA), James Keane (Ire), Christopher Moore (UK), Jessica Daw (UK), Taylor Owens (USA), Margaux Herinckx (UK), Shea Connolly (Ire), Lachlan Pethica (AUS), Charlie King (NZ), Vinzenz Schiergen (Ger), Marcus Bird (UK) and Henry Morshead (UK).

The diploma for the top graduate was presented to Australian Lachlan Pethica, who achieved the highest grade of Distinction among his class. He and Shea Connolly spoke on the behalf of the class, reflecting on the last two years of learning through the program. They thanked Flying Start management and HH Sheikh Mohammed for the opportunities they were afforded.

Kheir-Fahad partnership

Prominent owner Ozzie Kheir has teamed up with Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing in a partnership that will kick off this week at Royal Ascot, according to Racing.com. Kheir confirmed on Monday that he and a number of regular ownership partners will co-own two horses at the Royal Meeting in a Qatar Racing alliance that will likely spill into some of Australia’s biggest features later in the year.

“The relationship with Sheikh Fahad is a growing one,” Kheir said in relation to the two Ascot horses this week. The first is the Fastnet Rock horse Buckaroo (GB), who will contest the Listed Wolferton S. on Tuesday night (Australia time), and the second is Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}), who will tackle the G2 Queen’s Vase on Wednesday.

Buckaroo is a potential Cox Plate horse for Joseph O’Brien later this year, while Saint George will make his way to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with autumn targets instead.

Ben Currie to walk away from racing?

Embattled Queensland trainer Ben Currie on Tuesday had his sentence halved by the state’s Racing Appeals Panel (RAP), leaving Currie with a nine-month suspension from the sport over his horse, End Assembly (Outreach), testing positive for cocaine after his Gold Edition Plate win last December at Eagle Farm. The RAP confirmed on Tuesday that Currie was found guilty, and that his 18-month sentence had been halved to nine months.

However, Punters.com.au has reported that Currie is likely to walk away from the sport.

“I’ve put my life on hold for a good five years now and probably spent $1 million to clear my name,” Currie said, as reported by journalist Ben Dorries. “In the end, that wasn’t enough. I thought at age 32, I had a lot to offer the industry. But it’s clear the industry doesn’t want me, so I just have to move on now.”

Racing SA senior steward headed to Japan

Sean Callanan, a Racing SA senior steward, has been successfully chosen by Racing Australia to attend the Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS)-specialised Stud Program (Stewards). He will be hosted by the Japanese Racing Association across a four-day course designed specifically for stewards.

“I’m super-excited to see how the industry works over there,” Callanan told Racing SA news. “The Japanese are pretty advanced with their technology, so that’s one of the key things I’m looking forward to seeing. The tour of the training centre facilities will be impressive as well, to see how they go about things. I’m heading over there with an open mind and I think I’ll be blown away with what I see.”

Callanan will visit Tokyo Racecourse during his trip and return via Hong Kong, where he will sit in on the HKJC Stewards’ Panel during meetings at both Happy Valley and Sha Tin.

Oaks target for Rusty Dreams

Three-year-old filly Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler) will next target the Listed Belmont Oaks after her weekend win in the Listed Belmont Guineas last Saturday. Trainer Michael Lane has told Tabradio in Perth that an Oaks opportunity will come around only once in the filly’s life.

“She’s go in the Oaks against her own sex,” he said. “You’re only three once. I’ll keep her in work for at least the next week and see how she goes. She seems to have pulled up a treat and, at this stage, she’ll definitely be heading (that way).”

Lane admitted that the dam of Rusty Dreams, She Done Him Wrong (Oratorio), hadn’t shown him much during her career and he was reluctant to breed from her. He said Rusty Dreams, herself, wasn’t much to look at early on.

“I wasn’t a big fan of hers, but she’s definitely proved me wrong,” the trainer said. “Early on, she was a handful, but she’s good now.”

Nominations closing Saturday for ‘Strapper of the Year’

Nominations for the Strapper of the Year Award are closing this Saturday, June 24, with the award to be presented at the NSW Racehorse Owners' Association (ROA)’s ‘Racing’s Night of Champions’ on August 31. The award is sponsored by Racing NSW and co-ordinated by Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy and attempts to recognise the behind-the-scenes efforts by stablehands.

Nominees can be from any stable in NSW/ACT, but they must have strapped horses at metropolitan meetings through the current racing season.

Four racehorses perish in KY truck fire

Four thoroughbreds died on Monday in a fire that engulfed a transport trailer in Kentucky. Four other horses were rescued from the blaze, with no people reported injured. The horses were being transported from California to Lexington, with the alleged value of the horses lost being US$750,000 (AU$1.1 million).

“The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” said Todd Spalding, fire chief of the Bardstown Fire Department in Kentucky. “Once the fire started, they pulled off to the side of the road and they tried to get as many horses out as they possibly could. One of the horses that did get out got a pretty good laceration on its hindquarter, but other than that, all of the horses were okay that made it out.”

Vale Lion Heart

The triple Grade 1 winner Lion Heart (USA), a sire son of Tale Of The Cat (USA), died in Turkey this week, where he has stood stallion duties since 2011. The 22-year-old died from a circulatory disorder caused by heart failure.

Lion Heart raced for Coolmore during his track career, with juvenile victories that included the G1 Hollywood Futurity. He was second in the 2004 Kentucky Derby to Smarty Jones (USA), and won that year’s G1 Haskell Invitational H. before retiring to Ashford Stud with five wins from 10 starts.

Lion Heart is the sire of 45 worldwide stakes winners, 15 of which have occurred at Graded level. In 2010 he was sold to the Turkish Jockey Club, and since then he has sired 387 individual winners, 11 of which have been successful at stakes level.

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Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

Wednesday at Canterbury Park, we look at a colt who is very well-related as a half to Splintex. At Doomben, we look at a smart homebred for Robert Heathcote who's a half-brother to the Group 1-winning Startantes (Star Turn).

Canterbury Park, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Bivouac @ Darley H., $55,000, 1250m

Sunlord, 2-year-old colt (The Autumn Sun x Acquired {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})

Two-year-old Sunlord is very well-related. He is a son of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Acquired (NZ), who was Group 2-placed in the Dane Ripper S. Acquired is a half-sister to Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), so this is the extraordinary family of Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), Acrobat and so on. Sunlord himself is a half-brother to the Western Australian sire and three-time Group winner Splintex, as well as the stakes winner Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel).

Sunlord was consigned by Highgrove Stud to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought by John O’Shea Racing for $400,000.

He is trained by O’Shea at Randwick and has been respectable in four trials this year, the last occurring on June 13. In this debut he will have jockey Tyler Schiller from barrier five.

1/9

Doomben, Race 3, 1.08pm AEST, XXXX DRY QTIS 2YO Mdn, $40,000, 1050m

Beautantes, 2-year-old gelding (Spirit Of Boom x Funtantes {Easy Rocking})

This gelding is a homebred for his trainer, Eagle Farm-based Robert Heathcote, and it’s a family Heathcote knows well. The first dam on this page is his top filly Funtantes, whom Heathcote also bred and who won the G2 Champagne Classic and two Listed features. Funtantes, herself, is a half-sister to the stakes winner Excellantes (Falvelon).

Beautantes is the fourth surviving foal from Funtantes, and he is a half-brother to the G1 Tatt’s Tiara winner Startantes. His Russian Revolution half-sister, Ekaterina, is a five-time winner who was fourth recently in the Listed Queensland Day S.

Beautantes is trained by Heathcote at Eagle Farm and he was impressive in a debut trial at Doomben on June 6 where he proved a 1.25l winner. In this first race, he will have jockey Mark Du Plessis from barrier four.

Looking Back

Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday fared brilliantly. At Lismore, Hello In There (Lonhro) was a winner, and at Nowra, Accredited (All Too Hard) was also a winner. Chicken dinner!

First-time starters lining up on Wednesday, June 21

First Season Sires’ Results

Results: Tuesday, June 20

No first season sires' results

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Wednesday, June 21

We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TDN AusNZ. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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