Super Saturday for Vinnie
Australia’s reigning Champion Sire, I Am Invincible enjoyed a productive Saturday siring three stakes winners.
The Yarraman Park Stud-based sire was represented by the $1.6 million yearling Bodyguard winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
The victory was followed by the exciting colt King’s Gambit returning to form in the G2 Roman Consul S. and, to round out Saturday, Vinnie sired the Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup victor Jack The Lad - handing his sire his 100th stakes winner.
Moreira wants more of Militarize as Plate bid in sight
A day after the news broke of Arrowfield Stud purchasing a stake in star 3-year-old Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), the colt’s trainer Chris Waller said that Joao Moreira will be back in the saddle for next weekend’s G1 Caulfield Guineas. He added that, should he win, taking on older horses in the G1 Cox Plate would be the likely option over the G1 Victoria Derby.
A last-start winner of the G1 Golden Rose, Militarize runs in China Horse Club’s colours, his ownership shared by a familiar collection of Newgate, Go Bloodstock, Trilogy et al.
“...honestly, it’s all about the Caulfield Guineas, protecting his value and getting the job done and then we can look a bit higher,” Waller told Racing.com.
“(The Victoria Derby is) unlikely with horse’s values these days. He’s worth a lot of money.”
Munce works the family magic
Second-season sire Dracarys gained his fourth winner at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the 2-year-old filly Kahlisee made her debut a winning one. A $45,000 purchase for her trainer Chris Munce at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Kahlisee is out of the All Too Hard mare Woolsey, who was also trained to win as a juvenile by Munce.
Dracarys, a son of Snitzel, stands at Oakwood Farm in Queensland for $6600 (inc GST) in 2023.
Cup confirmed for Maher/Eustace import
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace strengthened their hand as they look to retain the Melbourne Cup, Saturday’s exploits of yet another import giving them another guaranteed starter in next month’s Group 1.
Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) opened his Australian account on his first start this season, and backed up his connections’ decision to take on Saturday’s G3 Bart Cummings S. (2520 metres) after he finished second last month to Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Ridden from the front by Craig Williams, Future History held off the challenge of First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}), whilst 2020 G1 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finished third.
Future History (GB) holds of his rivals to win the G3 Bart Cummings H. at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The ease of his victory led co-trainer David Eustace to declare a direct path to the Melbourne Cup for Future History.
“He’ll probably go straight in - he’s been in work a long time, this horse,” he said.
In adding a first black-type victory to his CV, Future History becomes stakes winner number 66 for Showcasing (GB) (a fourth in Australia), who stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud in the UK, where he has multiple sons at stud.
Ready2Race sale-topper underway at Kembla Grange
Last year’s most expensive purchase at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale got off the mark at Kembla Grange on Saturday. Nondisclosure, a now-gelded son of Dundeel (NZ), cost $750,000 from the draft of Baystone Farm, selling to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA). Now racing in the colours of Ozzie Kheir, it was the 3-year-old’s second start.
He is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Lady Moura, a sister to Beneteau, and has a half-brother by Shalaa (Ire) in the upcoming edition of the Inglis Ready2Race Sale consigned as Lot 122.
Wheeler turns it around to land Queensland Cup
A tumultuous 24 hours ended in gun apprentice Bailey Wheeler grabbing his biggest victory to date when riding the 6-year-old import Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) to win the Listed Queensland Cup for his boss Annabel Neasham.
Following a late night at the races on Friday, Wheeler slept in after he returned home from trackwork on Saturday morning and missed his ride in the first race. Arriving at Eagle Farm in time for the third race, Wheeler was soon in the winner’s enclosure aboard Pocket Full (Rich Enuff) for Stuart Kendrick, before landing his first black-type event in the feature race.
“I am quite lost for words, this is such a massive thrill,” Wheeler told NewsCorp.
“I haven't been at Annabel's for long and to get an opportunity like this is unreal.”
Captain Envious leads Savabeel double at Murtoa
The Paul Preusker-trained Captain Envious (NZ) took Saturday’s Murtoa Cup, the start of a quick-fire double at the track for Savabeel and the Ultra Racing colours. Steered by Wil Gordon, Captain Envious was a 1.5l winner of Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), to land a fourth lifetime victory. He was followed in the next race by Poison Chalice (NZ), who has now won half of his six starts.
'I’m not happy but not disappointed' - Shum on Warrior
Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) finished fourth in his first Australian run, the G1 Turnbull S. After initial disappointment, the camp is confident Australians will see the best of the galloper.
“I’m not happy but I’m not disappointed,” Shum told Racing.com.
Danny Shum | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He hasn’t raced for four, close to five months, so he needed the run naturally.
“James (McDonald) said in three weeks, he’ll be back. He’ll be back to the top form.
“The travelling is no problem. He was only a little bit tired the last 100 metres. He’s not 100 per cent fit.”
Blackfriars notches 48th SW in Kalgoorlie Cup
The 5-year-old mare Be Optimistic became her sire’s 48th individual stakes winner when landing Saturday’s Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300 metres) for Ascot trainer Luke Fernie. Bringing up a sixth career victory, Be Optimistic reeled in Powerful (Nicconi) once in the straight, and fended off Recalled (Epaulette) into second to win by a nose under Clint Johnston-Porter.
Group 1 placegetter lines up at Hawkesbury
Newcastle-based trainer Kris Lees will head to Hawkesbury on Sunday with the G1 Sires’ Produce S. placegetter Pier Pressure.
The 3-year-old daughter of Press Statement will look to break her maiden at start seven.
“Pier Pressure drew the outside (barrier) at Rosehill, whereas it’s the exact opposite at Hawkesbury (barrier one),” Lees told Racing NSW.
“She has taken improvement from both runs back and should get every chance to break her maiden on Sunday.”
Stakes winner 19 for Justify
Buchu (USA) made the jump from maiden winner to Group 3 winner when she took out the Jessamine S. at Keeneland.
She provided her sire Justify (USA) with his 19th stakes winner worldwide.
Breakthrough stakes winner for Bricks And Mortar
US turf sensation Bricks And Mortar (USA) sired his first stakes winner in Japan on Saturday, courtesy of Gonbade Qabus (Jpn) at Tokyo. A 2-year-old colt out of a Deep Impact (Jpn) mare, Gonbade Qabus scored by 2l in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (1600 metres).
From a first crop - currently juveniles - of 109 foals, Bricks And Mortar has had six winners from 30 runners. Sold to Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm prior to success in the G1 Arlington Million S. in 2019, Bricks And Mortar won five times at the elite level, and was only defeated twice.
Secret Oath retired
Secret Oath (USA), a daughter of Arrogate (USA), whose accomplishments include a win in the 2022 G1 Kentucky Oaks, has been retired due to a minor problem with her right front ankle, reports trainer Wayne Lukas.
She will sell at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Blue Rose Cen to skip Breeders' Cup but return in 2024
Multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera and booked her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf as a result, will skip that engagement and is being freshened prior to being prepared for a 4-year-old campaign, Jour de Galop reported on Friday.
The Yeguada Centurion homebred is trained by Christopher Head. After two unplaced runs at the highest level, she won the Opera by a neck and is currently on break at Haras de l'Hotellerie according to Head.
Blue Rose Cen (Ire) | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
“Blue Rose Cen achieved a magnificent season,” he told the JDG. “You have to know how to respect the horses and, moreover, she will be seen again on the track as a 4-year-old. She went to take a month-and-a-half vacation, with the idea that it would be profitable for next year.
“We had thought about running in the Breeders' Cup last year and we skipped it because she had walked on a rock. Finally, when we see what she achieved this year, it was perhaps a blessing in disguise. We do not have a set program for next year for her.”
Fallen Angel to head 'Straight for a Guineas'
Clipper Logistics' Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will not be seen on a racecourse again this season and instead will target a Guineas next spring, according to Joe Foley, racing manager for the owners.
“I'd say she is unlikely to run again this year and will just head straight for a Guineas next year,” said Foley.
“We were always planning to give her just four runs this year. If she hadn't won the Moyglare we would have targeted the Fillies' Mile, but she's already a Group 1 winner at two now and she's a big filly with lots of scope for next year, so we don't want to interfere with that.
“We've decided to let her off and give her a break, so she's not going to run in the Fillies' Mile and she was never going to a Breeders' Cup this year.”
Burke will be in charge of determining if the filly will have a prep run before the 1000 Guineas.
Foley added, “We'll see how she goes (for a prep) and leave that to Karl. Going straight to the Newmarket Guineas was the original plan, but that could change.”
Norris Joins Darley Europe's nominations team
Conor Norris has joined the Darley stallions nominations team at Dalham Hall Stud as nominations sales executive.
Norris has most recently worked as assistant trainer to Marco Botti in Newmarket and has gained international experience of the breeding industry during his time working with the yearlings at Arrowfield Stud in Australia, and a season of foal prep at Whitsbury Manor Stud.
Having completed the BHA Graduate Development Programme, he has also worked with his family's Norris Bloodstock breeding and consigning operation, and served stints with GBRI, Jockey Club Estates and Britbet.
“I consider it a huge privilege to have been given the opportunity to work for Darley in the nominations team, working with the highest-profile, quality stallions on offer in Europe,” Norris said.
“I am very much looking forward to meeting breeders and assisting with their mating plans.”
Ammerland Dispersal to feature at Arqana December
Germany's Gestut Ammerland, famed as the nursery which produced the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Hurricane Run (Ire) and dual French Classic winner Lope De Vega (Ire), is to disperse all of its breeding stock at the forthcoming Arqana December Sale, which starts its four-day run on Saturday, December 9.
Owned by Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher and founded in 1989, the farm, based just outside Munich, has been widely represented on the global stage by the winners of 17 Group or Grade 1s.
Ammerland was also the co-breeder and owner with Newsells Park Stud of another Arc winner, Waldgeist (GB), who is now in the early stages of his stud career alongside Lope De Vega at Ballylinch Stud in Ireland.
The dispersal of eight mares, four fillies out of training, and two foals will include Waldgeist's full sister Wildfeder (GB), who will be offered in foal to Siyouni (Fr), and Lady Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the Group 1-placed half-sister to Lope De Vega.
“After 35 years, Dietrich and I have decided it is time to close Gestut Ammerland's thoroughbred stud,” said Annabel von Boetticher. “We will of course remain at Ammerland and it is always possible that at some point in the future when our children are older we may decide to start again. We would like to thank everybody who has played a part in the wonderful adventure of Ammerland and we hope that other breeders will be able to enjoy success at the highest level with our families.”
