Naval Academy makes it seven for Justify
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 2-year-old gelding Naval Academy became the seventh individual winner for Justify (USA).
Naval Academy sent out the punters' elect at Warracknabeal in a 1000-metre maiden on Friday and saluted by 5l from First To Mars (Starcraft {NZ}) and Perfect Costa (Von Costa De Hero) further away in third.
Naval Academy is the third foal from the Master Of Design mare Kinetic Design. She was placed in the Listed Maribyrnong S. and is the daughter of the Group 1-winning Kapchat (NZ) (Centaine).
Justify will return to Coolmore Australia and stand at a fee of $77,000 (inc GST).
Five winners for The Autumn Sun
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun became the fifth individual winner for The Autumn Sun at Geelong on Friday.
The 2-year-old filly is the fifth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Miss Hufflepuff. She was a three-time winner and a full sister to Liberator, who was crowned the Champion Stayer in Hong Kong in 2011/12.
Coco Sun was a $250,000 yearling purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The Autumn Sun will stand the 2023 breeding season at Arrowfield Stud for $66,000 (inc GST).
New winner for Encryption
The Eureka Stud-based Encryption sired his fifth winner on Friday at Ipswich, when the Kelly Schweida-trained Fleeting Chance scored by 0.50l from Pontypridd (Harry Angel {Ire}) over 1200 metres.
Fleeting Chance is from the Barely A Moment mare Fleet Riane. She was a four-time winner and produced Fleet Dove (Not A Single Doubt), who ran fourth in the Listed Gold Edition Plate and the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic H.
The colt was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Kelly Schweida Racing from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Encryption will stand the 2023 breeding season for $13,200 (inc GST).
Deadly Press scores at Geelong
The Nick Ryan-trained Deadly Press (Press Statement) bounced back from an unplaced debut to score at Geelong on Friday.
The 2-year-old colt was ridden by Ben Melham and won by 2.25l from Gawnski (Impending) and Assemble (Zoustar), further away in third.
Deadly Press is the first foal from the four-time winning Sebring mare Annecy. She hails from the family of Driefontein (Fastnet Rock), who won the G1 Robert Sangster S.
The colt was a $55,000 yearling purchase by Express Racing and Nick Ryan Racing from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Press Statement will stand the 2023 breeding season at Novara Park Stud for NZ$6000 (plus GST).
Three winners for Rich Enuff
The Woodside Park Stud-based Rich Enuff enjoyed a profitable Friday, siring three winners across Australia. Rich Enuff’s 2-year-old daughter Super Norwest, trained by Matthew Dale, saluted at the second time of asking at Moruya.
The Paul Preusker-trained 3-year-old gelding Gottanuff won at Warracknabeal. Rounding out the winners for Rich Enuff was the David Vandyke-trained Orbisyn at Ipswich.
Rich Enuff will stand the 2023 breeding season for $11,000 (inc GST).
Godolphin Flying Start awards
Senior Vice President of The TDN and President of TDN AusNZ, Gary King and Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA), were the recipients of the Business Leadership and Business Excellence awards at the 2023 20-Year Alumni Conference in Ireland.
Rounsefell and King are both graduates of the Godolphin Flying Start program. Rounsefell received the Business Leadership award for his Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA), and King, a graduate of 2010, was awarded the Business Excellence award.
Breakup to a tackle Caulfield and Melbourne Cups?
The Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained Breakup (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) has an eye firmly on the Melbourne Spring Carnival, with connections of Breakup eyeing the G1 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Breakup was last seen finishing unplaced in the G1 Tarakazuka Kinen behind the Champion Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) but Yoshioka feels Breakup will appreciate the distance of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup ran over 2400 and 3200 metres respectively.
Yendall enjoys a day out at Warracknabeal
Victorian-based rider Dean Yendall rode the first four winners at Warracknabeal on Friday. Starting the day partnering with the Paul Preusker-trained Torranzino (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) over 2000 metres, they scored by 3.25l. In Race 4 Yendall would also ride the Preusker-trained Trak Chiller (Artie Schiller {USA}). Also ridden by Yendall was the Matthew Williams-trained Parvati Party (NZ) (Complacent) (Race 2) and the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Naval Academy (Justify {USA}) in Race 3.
Entries open for the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale
Entries for the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) Ready to Run Sale of 2-year-olds are now open, with the sale to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Wednesday, November 22 and Thursday, November 23.
Two graduates of the Ready to Run Sale in Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) currently sit second equal on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings for their dominating performances in Hong Kong.
NZB's Ready to Run graduates have claimed 23 Group 1 accolades and 102 stakes wins in the last five seasons. Compared with four Group 1 wins and 61 stakes wins for Australian 2-year-old sales graduates combined during that same term.
NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook reflected on the incredible results on the track and in the sale ring, “It is an outstanding feat to have five Group 1 winners and 14 stakes winners from the sale this season alone.
“It is the perfect formulation of quality horses, expert preparers and the New Zealand environment that just keeps producing top-line horses.”
This year’s breeze-ups will occur on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17, at Te Rapa, where all horses catalogued can gallop before entering the auction ring while being timed and filmed for buyer analysis.
To nominate your rising 2-year-olds for NZB’s 2023 Ready to Run Sale, please visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz.
For entry enquiries, contact the Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey (+64 9 298 0055 or email maryjane.harvey@nzb.co.nz) entries close at 5pm (NZT) Friday, August 4, 2023.
Regan Donnison appointed General Manager of Matamata Race Club
Well-respected racing industry identity Regan Donnison has been appointed General Manager of the Matamata Racing Club.
For the past decade, Donnison has been a New Zealand Bloodstock sales team member. For a similar period before that, he was a trainer based at Matamata, during which time he also served four years as a committee member of the MRC.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at New Zealand Bloodstock, and I’ll always be grateful to the Vela family, Andrew Seabrook and all my colleagues of the past decade for the opportunity to work and learn in such a dynamic environment,” 42-year-old Donnison said.
“This is a new chapter in my career, however, and with the full support of my wife Tori, I’m ready for the next challenge, which will enable me to reconnect directly with the racing side of the industry in a familiar setting.”
Donnison is looking forward to re-engaging with the community he grew up in as a member of a family with a long history in thoroughbred racing.
Regan Donnison | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“Being a born and bred Matamata boy, I’m excited at my appointment at what I have always regarded as my club,” he said.
“My grandparents, Eric and Nola Hopson, were successful owner-breeders over many years, and that connection to racing continued through my parents, Peter and Joan.
“I’m very much looking forward to taking up a vital role with a club that has long been recognised as an industry leader, especially at such an exciting period of change.
“I’ve also been very encouraged by the response of the many people I respect who have contacted me in the short time since my appointment became public.”
The Matamata Racing Club comprises an extensive training operation, which includes some 700 horses utilising the facilities month by month, onsite stabling for more than 200 horses and an annual racing schedule ranging from the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. meeting to regular Industry race days.
“Regan’s appointment comes at the end of an extensive search for the right person,” MRC Chair Mike Lissington said.
“The club board is confident we have found that person and we’re thrilled to have someone of Regan’s calibre take up a lead role with the Matamata Racing Club.
“While he has evident local knowledge and understanding, his time with New Zealand Bloodstock and exposure to the broader industry provides a level of experience that will also prove valuable.
“The New Zealand racing industry has been reinvigorated with significant stakes increases and other positive initiatives from the Entain/TAB joint venture.
“Last year, the MRC made a strategic move with the purchase of a neighbouring property and the club will continue to play its part as a major racing and training venue as well as being a significant supplier to the national racehorse pool.”
Donnison will commence as general manager of the MRC on the first day of the new season, August 1.
Dettori to miss Coral-Eclipse after nine-day riding ban upheld
Frankie Dettori will miss the ride on Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Coral-Eclipse after failing in his appeal against the nine-day careless riding ban imposed for his ride on Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) at Royal Ascot.
Dettori attempted to switch right-handed towards the rail in the early stages of the Wolferton S. and, in doing so, caused James McDonald to quickly snatch up Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Owned by The King and Queen and trained by John and Thady Gosden, Saga eventually finished fifth in the 10-furlong Listed event, which was won by Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).
Frankie Dettori | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Thursday, an independent disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority considered evidence from all relevant parties, including Dettori, and elected to uphold the careless riding offence initially decided upon by stewards on the first day of Royal Ascot.
The panel then retired to deliberate over submissions from Dettori's legal representative seeking a reduction in the penalty but ultimately decided that nine days was appropriate and made no amendment to the sanction.
Tattersalls Online July Sale catalogue released
The catalogue for the Tattersalls Online July Sale is now available on www.tattersallsonline.com. Taking place Wednesday, July 5 till Thursday, July 6, the sale features 34 lots, including 27 horses in and out of training and four broodmares.
Among the horses in training is the Ralph Beckett-trained Come Together (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) (Lot 9), third most recently, in addition to two-time winner in 2023, Berkshire Phantom (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) (Lot 8).
Among the mares in foal, Glebe Farm Stables consign the Apple Lily (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) (Lot 31) in foal to Whitsbury Manor Stud's sire Lope Y Fernandez (Ire). Apple Lily is a half-sister to Kilfrush Memories (Fr) (Shakespearean {Ire}), a four-time winner who also placed third In the G3 Prix d'Arenberg at Chantilly and who is from the family of Group 1 winners Hydrangea (Ire) and Hermosa (Ire).
Others sure to attract plenty of attention include the Cois Coille Stud consigned mare Glace (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}) (Lot 33), who is being offered in foal to first season sire Calyx (GB). The dam of three winners to date, Glace is out of the Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Swynford Lady (Ire), a full-sister to G1 July Cup winner and Champion European Sprinter Fleeting Spirit (Ire).
