The G3 Gimcrack S. was first run in 1906, with the inaugural edition won by Maltine (Maltster).

Unlike the G3 Breeders’ Plate, which is run on the same day, no Gimcrack winner has gone on to take out the G1 Golden Slipper. However, the race’s honour roll still boasts a host of top-quality gallopers, including Furious (The Welkin {GB}), Wenona Girl (Wilkes {Fr}), Mother Duck (Luskin Star), Startling Lass (Luskin Star), Fitting (Marscay), Apple Danish (Danehill {USA}), Dantelah (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), Media (Gilded Time {USA}), Mirror Mirror (Dehere {USA}), Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) and Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).

Last year’s race was won by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar). Tulloch Lodge will have four runners this year - Alinea (Written Tycoon), Celestial Bling (Capitalist), Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and Lady Tassort (Tassort).

Peter and Paul Snowden have lifted the trophy on two occasions; with Catch Me (I Am Invincible) in 2018 and Satin Slipper (Pierro) in 2017. They have Invincible Madison (I Am Invincible) engaged on Saturday.

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have also won the race twice; Coolangatta proved too good in 2021, one year after Enthaar (Written Tycoon) scored.

Yulong’s banner stallion Written Tycoon is represented by Alinea and Lady Of Camelot. Two of Newgate Farm’s freshman sires Tassort and Brutal (NZ) have their first runners. The former has Lady Tassort and Manaal, while Totoka runs for the latter.

This year’s race features 12 fillies and nine were sold at public auction in 2023. The most expensive was Invincible Madison, who fetched $1.2 million at this year’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

No.1 - Alinea

2-year-old filly, Written Tycoon x Serena Bay (Sebring)

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: Tim Clark

Barrier: 4

Breeder: Ian Smith

Sale information: Her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds went to $420,000 for this filly from the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She is the third foal of a stakes performer and is a half-sister to the R. Listed placegetter Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel).

Alinea finished second in Heat 12, 2.68l behind Invincible Madison, in a Randwick-Kensington trial on September 18.

“She’s really come a long way this campaign,” Bott told The Thoroughbred Report.

“She’s a nice style of filly and just keeps improving.”

No.2 - Art’s Alive

2-year-old filly, Snitzel x Novel Dancer (Written Tycoon)

Trainer: Brad Widdup

Jockey: Tyler Schiller

Barrier: 12

Breeder: Sledmere Stud

Sale information: B K Racing and Breeding paid $350,000 for this filly, who was consigned by Sledmere Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She is out of a Group 3 placegetter and is a half-sister to the Listed winner Pancho (Dissident).

The filly’s second dam is the stakes performer Strata Title (Strategic).

Art’s Alive placed second behind Extreme Diva (Extreme Choice) in a Randwick trial on September 22.

No.3 - Celestial Bling

2-year-old filly, Capitalist x Starry (Exceed And Excel)

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus

Barrier: 2

Breeder: Belinda Bateman

Sale information: Newgate Farm offered this filly at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Trilogy Racing/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing securing her for $300,000.

The filly is from a 900-metre winner, who is a sister to the stakes performer Chicago Bull and a half-sister to the Group 2-winning 2-year-old Zululand, who is a resident at Grenville Stud in Tasmania.

Celestial Bling won Heat 4 of the September 18 Randwick-Kensington trials by 0.44l.

“She was good, she did everything right and trialled in a professional manner,” Bott said.

No.4 - Erno’s Cube

2-year-old filly, Rubick x Long Wink (Stratum)

Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace

Jockey: John Allen

Barrier: 10

Breeder: Daleigh Park Livestock

Sale information: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock signed for this filly for $230,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was consigned by Edinglassie Thoroughbreds.

Erno’s Cube is from an unraced sister to the Listed victress Eramor, and a half-sister to Horshoe (Commands) - the dam of the stakes winners Emerald Kingdom (Bryannbo’s Gift {NZ}) and Steel Frost (Bryannbo’s Gift {NZ}).

Her second dam is the Listed scorer Romare (Marscay).

Erno’s Cube finished a close second behind Gerringong (Blue Point {Ire}) in a trial at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.

No.5 - Invincible Madison

2-year-old filly, I Am Invincible x Super Too (Hinchinbrook)

Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden

Jockey: Sam Clipperton

Barrier: 6

Breeder: Glenlogan Park

Sale information: Kentucky-based owner Tammy Rigney forked out $1.2 million for this filly from the Glenlogan Park draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She is out of a stakes performer who is a half-sister to Singapore’s Champion 2YO of 2015, Super One, a Group 3 winner himself, who has become a Group 2-producing sire.

Invincible Madison won her trial (12) at Randwick-Kensington on September 18 in convincing fashion.

No.6 - Lady Of Camelot

2-year-old filly, Written Tycoon x Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock)

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: James McDonald

Barrier: 7

Breeder: Go Bloodstock

Sale information: This filly is a homebred for Go Bloodstock and was not offered at public auction.

Lady Of Camelot is beautifully bred. She is from a Listed winner and is a half-sibling to the Group 3 scorers Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and last year’s winner of this race Platinum Jubilee.

In Heat 2 at the Randwick-Kensington trials on September 18, Lady Of Camelot made all under Brett Prebble, prevailing by 3.9l.

“One of the more explosive trials on the day was that of Lady Of Camelot. She looked an out and out 2-year-old, which is what we’ve come to expect from that family,” Bott said.

No.7 - Lady Tassort

2-year-old filly, Tassort x Ice Cream Lady (Not A Single Doubt)

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: Regan Bayliss

Barrier: 9

Breeder: Bell River Thoroughbreds

Sale information: RedFox Thoroughbreds’ Tracey Rook paid $40,000 for the filly, who was offered by Bell River Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

The filly is from a winner at two and is closely related to the stakes performer Zeda Mak (Zeditave).

Lady Tassort displayed plenty of pace when winning her trial at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.

“She was excellent, she showed good speed, and sustained speed. She really kept building through the line,” Bott commented.

“She’s always been very precocious.”

No.8 - Manaal

2-year-old filly, Tassort x Red Lodge (USA) (Midshipman {USA})

Trainer: Michael Freedman

Jockey: Tommy Berry

Barrier: 3

Breeder: Emirates Park

Sale information: This filly is a homebred for Emirates Park and was not offered at public auction.

Manaal is from a Listed victress in the US who is a half-sister to the Listed winner Good Like Magic (USA) (Good Magic {USA}).

The filly’s page is littered with stakes winners, including Winter Memories (USA) (El Prado {Ire}), Winter Sunset (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and Memories Of Silver (USA) (Silver Hawk {USA}).

Manaal ran third behind Gerringong in a Randwick-Kensington on September 18.

No.9 - Repose

2-year-old filly, Russian Revolution x River Serenade (Hurricane Sky)

Trainer: Annabel Neasham

Jockey: Ryan Maloney

Barrier: 8

Breeder: Gerry Harvey

Sale information: This filly’s trainer went to $200,000 to secure this filly from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Repose is out of a 1000-metre winner who is a sister to the Group 1 victress River Dove and she is the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 2-producing sire Headwater. River Serenade is also a half-sister to the stakes performer River Crossing (Bellotto {USA}) - the dam of the stakes winners Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel) and River Delta (Al Maher), as well as River Express (Blazing Sword), who has thrown the dual Listed scorer Cross Current (Keltrice).

The filly is a half-sibling to the Group 2 winners Oneworld (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and First Command (Commands).

Repose finished third in the September 18 Randwick-Kensington trial won by Lady Tassort.

No.10 - Shoutaboutit

2-year-old filly, Overshare x Etoile Fille (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB})

Trainer: Kristen Buchanan

Jockey: Jason Collett

Barrier: 11

Breeder: Manx Park

Sale information: Manx Park consigned this filly at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. There, Buchanan paid $50,000 for her.

Shoutaboutit is from a winner at two who is a half-sister to the stakes performers Patrick (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Ambitious (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}). The latter has produced the Group 3 winner Strike The Stars (NZ) (Savabeel). Etoile Fille (NZ) is also a half-sister to Etoile Centieme (NZ) (Danasinga) - the dam of the Listed victress Delta Girl (NZ) (General Nediym), and Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins) - the dam of the Group 1 hero I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Group 3 scorer Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

The filly is a half-sister to the stakes performer Stop Making Sense (Sebring).

Other stakes winners on the Shoutaboutit’s page include Starcent (NZ) (Centaine), Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel), Prisoner Of Love (Canny Lad) and Hoystar (Danzero).

Shoutaboutit heads into her debut after placing fourth in a trial behind Invincible Madison at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.

No.11 - Totoka

2-year-old filly, Brutal (NZ) x Sports Writer (Written Tycoon)

Trainer: Paul Perry

Jockey: Kathy O’Hara

Barrier: 1

Breeder: Kingstar Farm

Sale information: This filly made $46,000 at the 2023 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale. Offered by Kingstar Farm, she was bought by Perry.

This will be the first runner for Brutal, who stands at Newgate Farm at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).

Totoka is out of a two-time winner who is a sister to the triple Listed scorer It Is Written (Written Tycoon).

She finished second in the trial won by Celestial Bling at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.

No.12 - Umabett

2-year-old filly, Better Than Ready x Umawinner (Real Saga)

Trainers: Annabel Neasham

Jockey: Chad Schofield

Barrier: 5

Breeder: Yarramalong

Sale information: This filly was not offered at public auction.

From a two-time winner, Umabett is closely related to the stakes performer Umanugget (Mossman), as well as the stakes winners Songs Of Vienna (Umatilla {NZ}) and City Of Song (Bel Esprit).

The filly trialled at Randwick-Kensington on September 18, finishing third behind Runaway Vixen (Zoustar).

Cover image courtesy of Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)

An Australian-based syndicate has a live chance of winning one of the world’s greatest races - the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp - after their star 3-year-old Fantastic Moon (Ger) - a son of the Lanwades Stud stallion Sea The Moon (Ger) - was a late supplementary for the race (at a cost of €120,000/AU$198,000).

In 2020, Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten - a German sporting agent and board member of a German betting company - initiated Liberty Racing. And thanks to prominent Australian bloodstock agent Suman Hedge of Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), Liberty Racing’s group of clients features the Australians Paul Nicol, Steve O’Rourke and Tony Kemm. That trio has raced some good horses in Australia with Hedge, including Group 3 scorer The Amazonian (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and the Listed winner Extremeley Lucky (Extreme Choice).

Nicol, O’Rourke and Kemm are minority shareholders in the Sarah Steinberg-trained Fantastic Moon, who laid a marker for the Arc with a dominant victory in the G1 German Derby at Hamburg in May, before taking out the G2 Prix Neil at Longchamp earlier this month.

Fantastic Moon was purchased for just €49,000 (AU$81,000) at Germany’s Baden-Baden Premier auction. He has already amassed €590,000 (AU$842,000) in earnings.

“It’s just fantastic. We weren’t sure if he would run in the Arc because his connections were seriously considering the Breeders’ Cup Turf,” Hedge told The Thoroughbred Report.

“They just looked at the weather conditions… he’s a horse that really needs firm ground and he looks like he will get that.

“We looked at the field and thought it may not be as strong as previous years, so he may be a bit of a chance.

“Hopefully, he can perform well.”

How it started

Hedge met Baumgarten in 2018 when he secured a majority interest in the promising German galloper Django Freeman (Ger). The son of Campanologist (USA) subsequently finished second in the 2019 G1 German Derby before being exported to Australia. Baumgarten was one of the few German-based owners to remain in the ownership of the talented stayer.

“Some of the guys; Steve O’Rourke, Tony Kemm and Paul Nicol, who were in Django Freeman, they went to Germany and watched him race in the Derby,” Hedge commented.

“Lars was one of the original owners of Django Freeman and when we brought the horse over to Australia, he stayed in the horse and we became quite good friends.

“Lars wants to get racing going in Germany and he wants to attract new owners and investors. He flagged the idea of starting a syndication company with me; he had seen how successful it was in Australia and other countries. With ownership in Germany, it’s quite a small group of people, it’s not very diverse, and as such, the ownership is largely the same, most of the people that race there are breeders.

“So, he put the idea to me and I was all for it. Then, I put the idea to Steve, Tony and Paul and they went into the initial group of Liberty Racing. They bought four horses, three of which won stakes races. One of those was a horse called Assistent; he ran fourth in the 2022 German Derby and won a Group 2 (the Grosser Hansa Preis). That was quite good and gave everyone a bit of enthusiasm.

“From the second group of yearlings, we’ve got Fantastic Moon, as well as Winning Spirit. He ran fourth in the German Derby behind Fantastic Moon and placed in the Italian Derby, so it’s been very successful, the strike rate’s unreal, and they haven’t been spending huge amounts of money.”

Hedge said the Australian owners unfortunately won’t be in France on the weekend, but they will be cheering on their colt from the comfort of their lounge rooms.

“They went to the German Derby this year when he won and it was just incredible. They won’t go to the Arc as he was only just announced as a confirmed starter so there’s no time to make that work,” Hedge remarked.

Hedge said he would love to take credit for sourcing the Liberty Racing-owned horses, but the reality is that’s not the case.

“I would really like to say I have had a huge impact,” he quipped. “But, to be honest, I’ve had a really minimal role in the selection of the horses. Basically what’s happened, Lars and his people over there, they go around the farms, they inspect everything and then go to the sales. Lars will send me the shortlist for the sales, then I will review pedigrees and go through videos and photographs and then we have a conversation. That’s where he will engage me a little bit.

“It’s very much them driving it and they deserve the credit.”

Eyes wide open

The winner’s cheque for the Arc is a cool €2.9 million (AU$4.8 million). Hedge believes Fantastic Moon is a good top-four chance, but is obviously hoping for the dream result.

“He’s about $10 in the market, so that suggests he’s a chance,” said Hedge.

“There’s some very good horses in the race, and in races like that, there’s nowhere to hide.

“If he could run in the first four or five it would be amazing.

“Just to have a runner in a race like that is a huge achievement and a massive thrill.

“If he was to win it, it would be a dream come true for all concerned.”

Cover image courtesy of Torryburn Stud

It was April last year, around the time of The Championships, when Racing NSW announced the concept of Equimillion. It would be a weekend showcase for off-track thoroughbreds that would guarantee, across a range of equestrian disciplines, at least $1 million in prizemoney.

Shortly after, things went quiet. Several months passed and critics were scratching around, asking why it was taking so long for Equimillion to be detailed, scheduled and announced. Racing NSW remained tight-lipped until late this winter, when it was confirmed that the event would occur across the October long weekend at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC).

In partnership with Equestrian Australia (EA), Racing NSW had created a three-day event for retired thoroughbreds across the disciplines of showing, dressage, eventing and show jumping. The event, with its 44 classes, was designed to complement already existing off-track events, of which there are many the length of Australia.

But the big lesson here was that a large prize pool would draw the headlines and the engagement, and, like it or loath it, Equimillion has done just that.

Stud farms, training stables, riding schools and race clubs have all got involved. The event is splashed across social media and news venues, channelling rare and welcome interest into retired thoroughbreds. Each of the weekend’s 44 classes will offer $30,000 in prizemoney, with EA declaring it ‘an unprecedented opportunity to compete for significant prizemoney, even at lower levels of competition’.

With only a couple of days to go until Equimillion, the thoroughbred industry has largely bubbled in support. And that’s not to say there hasn’t been criticism. In an Op-ed in The Thoroughbred Report in August, Godolphin’s Sharon Manning said the event was catering for ‘those 10 per cent of elite competition people and horses that have the money already’.

Manning’s point was that the entry fees for Equimillion (which include stabling, it’s worth noting) were very steep, The nomination fee for a class is $600 (plus GST), while an additional competition entry fee is $400 (plus GST).

In August, Peter V’Landys replied to the fees criticism, saying entry into Equimillion “was like any other product you purchase, you need to look at the value you’re receiving. At the moment, you can enter a competition for a $100 entry fee. However, the prize may be a ribbon. No one is stopping you from continuing to compete in the existing events. If you wish to compete for $60,000 though, there is naturally a higher fee.”

V’Landys confirmed that the $1000 (plus GST) entry fee allowed participants to compete in two events, for a collective prize pool of $60,000. It’s likely that any participant will at least earn their entry fee back by placing in the top five of any class.

Eligibility for Equimillion has also been a point of conversation around the equestrian community.

Horses must have been bred in New South Wales and raced, or bred with the intention to race. However, thoroughbreds that were bred interstate can have been trained, trialled or raced in New South Wales, along with those bred internationally. In other words, Racing NSW has tried to keep Equimillion as state-centric as possible, which it is probably entitled to do.

Either way, Equimillion is going ahead with as much publicity as a thoroughbred-exclusive equestrian event has ever had. That was the wisdom as its mostly amateur riders compete this weekend for a total pot of $1,320,000.

Torryburn involved

At Torryburn Stud, manager Mel Copelin thinks that most farms across the Hunter Valley are involved with Equimillion in some way or another.

Torryburn itself is sponsoring three riders to compete on off-track horses that were all bred at the farm and that carry the Torryburn brand. However, in total there are four Torryburn-associated horses competing, the extra one being the million-dollar Hong Kong earner Hot King Prawn (Denman).

Now known as ‘Chili,” the grey Hot King Prawn was bred at Torryburn in 2014 and he arrived back in Australia last year after his prolific Asian exploits. He is now a show horse with widespread re-homer Rebecca Brown, located at Hillview Thoroughbreds.

But the three other Torryburn horses were not high achievers on the racetrack, showcasing that Equimillion isn’t just about the track stars like Hot King Prawn.

Among the set is the 12-year-old gelding Gordon Gekko (Magic Albert), who was also in Hong Kong but utterly luckless and promptly returned to Australia. He has become a talented eventer with rider Rachel Lollback.

The mare Always Roses (Dawn Approach {Ire}) had two starts on the track before she stopped co-operating in the barriers. Though talented, she was retired, rehomed and will compete this weekend with Isabel Hughes in show jumping. This pair has competed across the interschools circuit for some time.

Lastly, the Starcraft (NZ) gelding Suman The Yak will compete with rider Laura Jane Enks under Torryburn sponsorship. This 12-year-old horse was a vintage campaigner, racing 54 times across the country circuits of New South Wales before his retirement in 2019. He won just three races.

Torryburn has paid all entry fees for each of the three competitors, and supplied branded rugs for each of them. According to Copelin, a great bulk of Equimillion’s competitors have done similar, chasing sponsorship and an alliance with a stud or racing stable to offset the expense of getting into the event.

“To me, Equimillion has been an opportunity to present a nice side of the industry, a side that the equestrian communities, for example, might not otherwise see,” Copelin said, speaking to The Thoroughbred Report. “Everyone, not just us, has put so much effort into supporting the horses that are entered, and it’s been a community thing.

“Equimillion will be an opportunity for people to meet up from all places of the state that have that common interest in thoroughbreds. If we can get it out to the non-racing community to see what we do, it might help our welfare cause going forward.”

For Copelin, Equimillion is a new chance on several fronts. The wider agenda is thoroughbred welfare, and specifically providing an avenue for racehorses after racing, but it’s also an opportunity for the breeding and racing industry to be better understood. That could drive a healthier appetite for thoroughbreds, in the long run.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the demand for retired racehorses had slowed considerably this year, likely due to household pressures re the economy, and rehoming institutions were struggling to get horses into new homes.

“But Equimillion is also an opportunity for future employment, you’d have to say,” Copelin added. “These are young riders or otherwise who might not have had any interaction with stud farms before this event. That’s got to be a way of looking at it, right?”

Copelin said it’s possible that the future of Equimillion might lie in riders reaching out for sponsorship to studs where their horses were bred. On most accounts, she said the farms have been happy to be involved.

“I've heard nothing negative and we were thrilled to get involved,” she said. “We gave away Always Roses to Isabel Hughes, and others have gone through the Hong Kong system, like Hot King Prawn. Another was bought straight from the trainer, so they’ve all come into their new careers in roundabout ways.

“Their riders reached out to us because of the Torryburn brand on the horses, and in most cases, Hot King Prawn aside, they were ordinary racehorses that had the potential to be superstars in their own competitions. It honestly doesn’t matter if the horses have been slow or unsuccessful on the track; they can be very successful in the next life.”

A necessity for the industry

Stories of Equimillion competitors have been flooding the industry for the last fortnight. The Wyong Race Club, for example, has no less than eight sponsored horses, while local trainer Kim Waugh is sponsoring three, as is Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup.

Among the Wyong riders is jockey Jenny Duggan, who will compete in show jumping and eventing classes, along with trackwork rider Jessica Rae. Speaking this week, Wyong Race Club CEO, Greg Purcell, said the Equimillion concept was strong.

“It’s a great concept by Racing NSW and will definitely create more awareness for people interested in rehoming racehorses,” he said. “We are excited to throw our support behind this talented pool of competitors who have the best interests of rehomed horses at heart.”

Among the horses that will compete under Wyong’s sponsorship are the 7-year-old gelding Fly Blue Peter (Ustinov), who raced five time for no wins, finishing last in almost all of his outings. He will compete in dressage as ‘Japan’.

Dealtadeel (Dundeel {NZ}) also didn’t win a race during his career, finishing last in both of his races, and he will take his place as ‘Vatican’ in the show horse and led-gelding classes. This horse has already been a winner at Canberra Royal and Sydney Royal Easter Show.

There are plenty of others, including the three horse-rider combinations that have achieved sponsorship from Thorougbred Breeders NSW, and the great majority of them were ordinary racehorses on the track who have excelled or gelled in equestrian disciplines.

Copelin said it’s essential that the industry has a platform like Equimillion to broadcast this fact.

“It’s a necessity for the industry,” she said. “It’s a necessity to highlight that these horses aren’t being wasted. It’s also a necessity to have the horses doing something. At Torryburn, we always take a horse back that has come from our farm, and we wouldn’t be alone in having a paddock-ful of retired racehorses that either aren’t sound enough to race, or haven’t found a suitable next home.”

Torryburn is hopeful that Equimillion will stand up for years to come. Copelin said there are shades of The Everest about it; a big-money concept that might have been initially polarising but that eventually garnered mesmerising support.

“From what I can see, nearly every farm is participating in some way, getting behind the horses,” she said. “And the trainers too. I think their involvement is wonderful, and they might be supporting ex-horses from their stable or even their staff.

“I think people have got past how stunned they were initially at how much it would cost just to get in, but people have worked their way around that with sponsorship, so most of them are keen and happy now.”

Copelin said there is room for expansion of Equimillion every year. Why not get the horse’s original racing owners involved, groups like syndicates and so on, for example?

“It will get better every year,” she said. “Racing NSW seems to know what to do and they proved that with The Everest. I think they’ll prove it with Equimillion too.”

Cover image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth

Frankel filly tops Day 2

Day 2 of the Goffs Orby Sale on Wednesday saw a Frankel (GB) filly top the session when selling to M.V. Magnier for €1.85 million (AU$3.1 million). It occurred as Storm Agnes ripped through much of southeast Ireland, with only industry die-hards remaining around the ring to the bitter end.

The Frankel filly, Lot 525, was consigned by Camas Park but bred by the Sangster family. She boast a wonderful pedigree, being out of a half-sister to Kingman (GB), that stallion supplying one of the major lots earlier in the day.

Magnier was forced to be strong to see off the attention of Kieran Lalor of Al Shira’aa Farms. He said old ties with the Sangster operation was a factor in the filly’s purchase.

“We have a long history with the Sangster family and have been very lucky buying off them in the past. She is a very nice filly and Frankel is doing exceptionally well. She’s very well-bred and we’re delighted for Ben (Sangster) and all the guys.

“She really has everything so let’s hope she’s good. A Frankel filly with that pedigree; it’s a lot of money but it was probably a fair price for her.”

Lot 525 is out of the Dansili (GB) mare Multilingual (GB) and, as well as being a half-sister to Kingman, this mare is also a full sister to the Group 3 winner Remote (GB) (Dansili {GB}). This is the same family as the top sprinter and fellow Juddmonte stallion Oasis Dream (GB).

Magnier’s Frankel filly became the outright sale topper, following an earlier transaction that saw a full sister to Saffron Beach (Ire) make €1.65 million (AU$2.75 million) when selling to Amanda Skiffington on behalf of owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael.

Kingman colt well-sought

Debut consignor Philipp Stauffenberg enjoyed spirited bidding for his Kingman half-brother to the Scat Daddy (USA) horse Skitter Scatter (USA), the colt eventually bought by Godolphin for €650,000 (AU$1.075 million).

Godolphin was returning to the Orby Sale after a four-year hiatus, and it fended off David Redvers and China Horse Club for the Kingman colt, Lot 313, which Stauffenberg had bought at the November Foal Sales for €550,000 (AU$910,000).

Anthony Stroud, bidding for Godolphin, said the operation had almost bought the colt at the foal sale.

“We looked at him as a foal and debated buying him. We thought we’d just leave him and see what he was like this year. It was reassuring that he came back with Philipp Stauffenberg, so we had a chance to look at him again. We thought he progressed well in the year. Happy with him.

“I don’t think we were going to go much further (than the price realised). That was what we valued him at.”

Godolphin bought six yearlings at the Orby Sale over the two days to the tune of €2,505,000 (AU$4.15 million).

Wootton Bassett colt for American owners

Donnacha O’Brien has been decided as the designated trainer for Lot 367, a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt, that sold for €500,000 (AU$830,000) during Wednesday’s session to American agent Kim Valerio, buying on behalf of Commonwealth.

Chase Chamberlain, the co-founder of Commonwealth, an ownership vehicle that has been associated with the Kentucky Derby winner Mage (USA) (Good Magic {USA}) and such good types as Country Grammer (USA) (Tonalist {USA}), revealed ambitious plans to ramp up Commonwealth’s involvement in Irish racing, principally with Donnacha O’Brien.

The Wootton Bassett colt, consigned by Glenvale Stud, is out of a sister to Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and he was high on Valerio’s list.

“He’s beautiful and he was my top choice,” the agent said. “He looks like an American horse and I kind of migrate towards those. He’s light on his feet and is super smart, so I like that.”

The Wootton Bassett colt will be the second Commonwealth horse in Ireland, and Chamberlain explained how he hopes the syndicate can grow in time.

“We want to find great horses for people and that starts with conviction. We had the same conviction about Country Grammer and Mage. We have great partners and trust people like Kim to help us make great decisions. Hopefully some magic can happen, but it starts with quality horses

“Kim (Valerio) has been busting her hump working this sale. He’s (Lot 367) going to head to Donnacha O’Brien. He has been crucial in the process.”

Starspangledbanner colt a ‘buy of the day’

Lot 322, a Starspangledbanner colt from the Slade Power (GB) mare Deira Surprise (GB), proved one of the good buys of the second session at €170,000 (AU$280,000). Consigned by Deerpark Stud, he was bought by Richard Ryan and will head to trainer Joseph O’Brien.

O’Brien has enjoyed notable success with Starspangledbanner progeny, including the Newgate sire and Cox Plate winner State Of Rest (Ire).

Deira Surprise is a full sister to the Listed winner Power Of Beauty (Ire), while her half-sister, the Sepoy mare Unforgetable Filly (GB), won the G2 German 1000 Guineas. Her half-brother is the G3 Dubawi S. winner Raven’s Corner (GB) (Raven’s Pass {USA}).

Four colts to Hong Kong

Mick Kinane, sourcing colts for the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), ended up with four across the two-day Orby Sale worth €1.19 million (AU$1.96 million). They included a Mehmas (Ire) colt from Kellsgrange Stud for €500,000 (AU$830,000).

Kinane also landed an Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt for €170,000 (AU$280,000) from The Irish National Stud, an Acclamation (GB) colt and a No Nay Never (USA) colt, the latter two secured in the opening session.

By the close of the Orby Sale, Henry Beeby, Goffs CEO, said that the two-day yearling sale is never in doubt as a world-class event.

“What we strive to do is to grow and evolve with each year, as it is imperative that Goffs is the first choice for increasing numbers of the top yearlings in Ireland,” he said. “That is our raison d’etre.

“Every spring we travel the length and breadth of the country and further, discussing, inspecting and selecting with leading breeders. We know there are alternatives so it means a huge amount to us when we are chosen to handle the sale of any stand out yearling.

“We judge the sale in totality and have been pleased to return figures that have improved on last year's superb sale, which grew by 24 per cent following a remarkable recovery in 2021. In summary, Orby is once again consistently delivering for vendors and purchasers.”

Cover image courtesy of the State Library of NSW

In 1944, when Flight was at the height of her brilliance, it was said that she was ‘a horse without friends’. Many of the best race mares have been like this; at their best, unfriendly, but at their worst, downright obnoxious.

Flight was only a little thing, a tick over 15.2hh with shoes on, but she didn’t behave as such.

She couldn’t be worked with a partner in the mornings, and you couldn’t turn your back on her in the box. She didn’t tolerate treats, strangers or the stable cat. ‘Woman-like, she must have constant attention or she will put her heels through the back of the stall.’

It was just as well that she could gallop as she did, because Flight proved one of the very best race mares that Australia ever produced, even to this day. She retired in 1946 as the greatest stakes-winning mare in Australian history, and while that means little in today’s big-money measure, in the post-war era, it was something else altogether.

Flight was bred in 1940 by C.H.J. Schmidt in Manildra. She was from the first crop of her colonial sire, Royal Step, and her weediness was probably the reason why she wasn’t retained. She was sent to Sydney to sell at Inglis’ Newmarket sale yard, where she fetched just 60gns (£63) when selling to Brian H. Crowley.

Crowley was from Merrywinebone, not from the very flung Lightning Ridge, and he reasoned that his small, new yearling would make a good station hack if racing wasn’t her thing.

Flight wasn’t big and she wasn’t pretty, but she threw plenty of rein and she was spirited. Crowley named her after his son, who was fighting with the RAAF in the war.

Throughout her career, Flight was trained from Frank Nowland’s Botany Street stables in Randwick. Nowland was a man of few words, one of those dust-broken old fellows from the Gunnedah district, and he handled Flight perfectly, respecting her space and reliance on routine, and, in turn, she won everything.

She won the Champagne S. as a 2-year-old, the Hobartville S., Adrian Knox S., Colin Stephen S., Craven Plate, Mackinnon S. and CF Orr S., among others. She won the Cox Plate back-to-back in 1945 and 1946, and she carried immense loads in her races from seven to 14 furlongs.

In the autumn of 1946, when she met Bernborough in the Chipping Norton S., the pair emptied the betting ring, which rarely occurred, as the entirety of Randwick Racecourse clamoured for a glimpse of the spectacle. Flight lost by a head, but she broke Bernborough’s heart as she went down. The two horses ran the fastest finishing times ever seen in a weight-for-age race to that point, surging away from third-placed Russia, that year’s Melbourne Cup winner, by 10 lengths.

Flight raced until the autumn of 1947. Randwick gave her a good send-off, the scene of 15 of her 24 wins. She retired to E.A. Underwood’s Warlaby Stud in Victoria, taking a paddock with Tranquil Star (Gay Lothario {GB}), Tea Rose (Mr Standfast {GB}) and an imported Felstead (GB) filly.

She died from an internal haemorrhage while foaling in the spring of 1953. She’d had few offspring, but of them, the unimaginatively named Flight’s Daughter (Helios {GB}) became the dam of two Golden Slipper winners in Sky High and Skyline. It was an extraordinary legacy.

In 1947, at her retirement, the Australian Jockey Club introduced the Flight S., and today it is one of the elite targets for 3-year-old fillies, as it should be. Will it produce a faster filly, they wondered in 1947, and ‘will she own a queer sort of stark, remorseless courage that transcended mere speed as horsemen know it’?

Flight is gone from Randwick, but her legendry has lived on over a mile each spring in Sydney.