Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Saturday provided the ever consistent Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride of Dubai) with her biggest win to date in the G2 Matriarch S.

Having her sixth start in a campaign spanning back to August, the mare had an abundance of race fitness on her side, and was able to tough out a thrilling finish on the final day of the Flemington Carnival.

Brimming with excitement over the performance, Honeycomb Stud Director Adrian Whittingham spoke to The Thoroughbred Report about his boutique operation.

The horse that would not be denied

From the start, Whittingham was eager to heap adoration on to the performances of his star mare. “She is one of the first fillies we bought overseas as a yearling, we try and buy one or two a year, she only cost us €26,000 (AU$43,700). We race them over there for a season or two, and then bring them over. To see her now as a multiple Group winner, it’s just fantastic.”

Purchased at the Goffs Ireland Yearling Sale for €26,000 (AU$43,700) in 2019 from Kilcarn Park, she broke her maiden over 1400 metres in a 3-year-old novice race in April 2021, winning once more before transferring to Australia at the start of 2022. She progressed through the grades, winning a fillies and mares BM78 at Caulfield in May 2022, before a maiden stakes success in the G3 Belle of the Turf S. at Gosford in December.

After placing in the G2 Sunline S. in March this year, she turned plenty of heads with a powerful display in the $150,000 Country Oaks at Geelong, going to the front and never looking back in a 10l display.

With big spring goals ahead, she put her best hoof forward when resuming in August, winning at BM100 level at Moonee Valley, before contesting the G2 Feehan S., G2 Stocks S. and G1 Might And Power S. within five weeks.

It was the middle of those runs that Whittingham had the most admiration for, both for his horse and those around her; “The data around her, it’s Group 1 data. She ran time with Amelia’s Jewel, that turned out to be the race of the carnival. Pride Of Jenni came out of that race, she beat Atishu who won on Saturday as well. The data (around Deny Knowledge) proved correct. The form is massively underrated.”

Breeders' Cup tilt?

Both Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) finished ahead of Deny Knowledge on the opening day of the carnival in the G1 Empire Rose S., the former with a daring front-running ride and the latter with a barnstorming run from a very difficult position. Narrowly getting into third was Life Lessons (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who had given Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) something to catch in the G2 Let’s Elope S. at the start of spring.

With unwavering confidence in his mare off the strength of the performances around her, Whittingham entered his mare to compete in the G2 Matriarch S. seven days later, saying “nomming (nominating) is something we do frequently. We’re always looking for the right race.”

It turned out to be worthwhile, with Jamie Kah riding a perfect race from the front, narrowly denying Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) in a duel down the expansive Flemington straight. It was vindication for both owners and rider, with Whittingham explaining: “Jamie (Kah) got off after the Empire Rose and said, ‘Can I please ride her in the Matriarch?’ There was no way we were going to take her off. She has great hands, we thought she’d be perfect for her (Deny Knowledge).”

When asked about the number of jockeys who have been legged aboard this spring (Wimeru Pinn, Ethan Brown and Jamie Kah have all had rides in her six-start campaign), Whittingham described his star mare as “quirky” and said, “Nikki Burke rides her in trackwork and she just goes, you can’t hold her.”

With a Group 2 victory under her belt, the next logical progression would be to aim for a Group 1. Connections are certainly doing that, but in a more unconventional manner than we are used to in Australian racing.

“We’re going to take a different path, we’re going to skip the autumn. We are seriously considering the Breeders’ Cup, both the dirt race and turf race. We think she’d be a perfect dirt horse, she would be very well suited to that front-running, on-speed style, she has lots of stamina.

The Distaff next November seems perfect. It may be a pie in the sky, but it’s a possibility. We have a horse to dream with, so who knows. It’s at Del Mar (San Diego) next year, which makes travel a lot easier.”

Rare Air

While not unprecedented, a foray to North America for the Breeders’ Cup Carnival would certainly be a rarity for Australian-owned horses.

Most recently attempting the feat with an Australian connection was the classy mare Oleksandra (Animal Kingdom {USA}), who began life under the tutelage of Bjorn Baker in New South Wales.

Champion racehorse So You Think (NZ) attempted to claim the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in 2011, finishing sixth for Aidan O’Brien under his son (and now leading trainer in his own right) Joseph.

Another top modern-day stallion, Starspangledbanner, had travelled the year prior for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, finishing 10th.

One of the most prominent horses of the 1980s, the globetrotting Strawberry Road has stood as the closest a horse trained in Australia (at one point) has come to claiming Breeders’ glory. Having won the Cox Plate in 1983, he would commence a sweeping journey around the world, racing throughout Europe on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1985. He found one better on the day, unable to get past Pebbles (GB) (Sharpen Up {GB}).

If Deny Knowledge does traverse the globe and face the starter, she would join an exclusive club of some of the best thoroughbreds to grace the Australian turf. She has already banked over $700,000 in prizemoney, and for a mare that cost less than $50,000, a win in a Breeders’ carnival race would be an incredible story.

A unique operation

Having formed in 2014, Honeycomb Stud is a relatively new player in the racing landscape, taking a unique lens to the sport. “We have a different approach, we’re data driven. We’re buying for residual value and racetrack performance,” Whittingham explained.

While Deny Knowledge is very much the flagbearer of the results that Honeycomb have achieved in their nine years of operation, she isn’t the only one kicking goals, with Kind Gesture (GB) (Decorated Knight {GB}) getting Saturday off to a strong start.

“Kind Gesture ran third in the first at Flemington, she ran third, it was a huge run. We’ll look to add to this going forward.”

Having missed the start underneath Craig Williams, the 5-year-old mare was strong late in a race dominated but the two on speed. Both of her career victories came in June 2022 in the United Kingdom, including a dominant 10l display at Windsor when being sent around a $1.40 favourite.

There was a bit more on offer for connections on Saturday, with Whittingham chortling, “It was particularly good when they opened her (Deny Knowledge) at $51!

“We have two owners in both (Deny Knowledge and Kind Gesture) and it’s fantastic to share this with them.”

Veteran horseman Michael Kent trains both, and there was plenty of praise on offer for him. “Mick prepared them both, full credit to his team, they’ve done a fantastic job.”

Doing it by the numbers

In an era of artificial intelligence, instant global connectivity and algorithms, Whittingham has moved with the times, building himself a system that’s able to scour an eye-watering amount of prospects.

“We look at five to 10 thousand fillies a year. The pedigree side is one aspect but we try and find the right fillies with the right form and data profile.

“We’re running at 20 per cent stakes horses to runners every year. But as they say, you’re only as good as your last game.

“It’s multi-faceted, it’s in the acquisition of our stock, and the programming of our races. It’s a hard enough game as it is, so any one percenter you can get, you take.

“There are plenty of good owners, trainers, jockeys out there. You need any advantage you can get.”

Talking about data circled us right back to Deny Knowledge, and her sire, Pride Of Dubai. “We like Pride Of Dubai. He gets tough horses out for good prices and gets results.”

Classy mares aplenty

Whittingham isn’t the only advocate for Pride Of Dubai, who has quickly established himself as a versatile stallion, who can consistently produce top fillies and mares.

His progeny have shown incredible diversity, from star sprinter Bella Nipotina to an Oaks winner in She’s Fit, there’s been success across a host of distances and track conditions.

While also siring one of the stars of the autumn, Dubai Honour (Ire), who conquered all for trainer William Haggas, it’s been with females he’s had the most on-track success.

Gallery: Some of Pride Of Dubai's Group 1 winners, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Alongside the aforementioned Bella Nipotina and She’s Fit (as well as Deny Knowledge), Pride Of Dubai has produced Group-winning mares Pride Of Jenni, Sirileo Miss and Splendiferous in Australia. His results extend into the Northern Hemisphere, where he has sired Telepathic Glances (Ire), Just Beautiful (GB) and Star Of Emaraaty (Ire).

Currently, he has produced 12 stakes-winning mares, compared to eight stakes-winning colts and geldings. The disparity widens with stakes wins, he has 27 stakes wins from mares, compared to 13 from colts and geldings.

Pride Of Dubai is a resident of Coolmore Australia, where he stands for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).

The growth of China Horse Club has been considerable over the past decade and with a successful breeding division to its name it is now one of the industry’s most recognisable brands.

Represented by a pair of elite winners in consecutive seasons, the breeding arm of China Horse Club is quickly making a name for itself in the Australian breeding industry.

In the past six seasons, China Horse Club bred the winners of 16 stakes races including two at the top level, nine at Group 2 level and one at Group 3 level. The operation’s most prolific winning homebred was Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible) who was a four-time Group 2 winner and a winner of the $1 million Golden Gift as a 2-year-old. Of the 16 stakes wins, it has produced nine individual winners which equates to almost two new stakes winners every season for the boutique style operation.

Well-known for holding equity in some of the most valuable colts to have graced the international racing scene including Russian Revolution, Wild Ruler, Justify (USA) and Life Is Good (USA), China Horse Club is relatively new to the breeding game. Of the breeder's stakes winners produced over the past six seasons, the 2019 foal crop has been its most successful with no fewer than three individual stakes winners represented. They include the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Communist, dual stakes-winning entire Cannonball (Capitalist) and multiple Group 2-winning filly Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution).

China Horse Club’s 2017 and 2018 foal crops are represented by two stakes winners apiece including the 2018 born Listed Dulcify S. winner Giannas (Flying Artie) and G2 Rubiton S. winner Marine One (Capitalist). The former crop features Go Bloodstock’s multiple stakes-winning purchase Dame Giselle and Listed Canberra Guineas winner Equation (Press Statement).

Table: China Horse Club's stakes winners by sire

Newgate Farm’s Capitalist and China Horse Club part-owned Russian Revolution are the most successful sires for the astute breeder having sired two stakes winners each. Dame Giselle’s dam Ballet Society (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and Global Exchange’s (Dundeel {NZ}) dam Incredulous (Keep The Faith) were purchased carrying their eventual stakes-winning progeny in-utero at the time, while the remaining stakes winners are the result of China Horse Club matings which include stallions Flying Artie, Press Statement and Zoustar (for whom they are shareholders in).

Table: China Horse Club stakes-winning progeny and their dam's source

Seven individual mares account for the nine China Horse Club stakes winners. Golconda (Snitzel) is responsible for Marine One and Cannonball while Purcentage (Onemorenomore) is the dam of stakes winners Revolutionary Miss and Equation. All dams of stakes-winning China Horse Club homebreds were purchased at public auction.

Group 1-producing mare Cappadocia (Northern Meteor) is the only mare of the group to be purchased as a yearling and race in the China Horse Club silks. Stakes placed and a winner of two of her eight starts for trainer Phillip Stokes, Cappadocia was purchased for just $90,000 from the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. At the other end of the spectrum is last week’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Ozzmosis, who is the son of China Horse Club’s most-expensive broodmare purchase for the period in No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), purchased off the track for $550,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Parting ways with the colt at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, China Horse Club were quick to purchase back into the horse alongside Newgate Farm and Go Bloodstock.

Ozzmosis is the second elite-level winning colt of the season part-owned by China Horse Club with dual Group 1-winning juvenile Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) landing the stallion making G1 Golden Rose in September.

The operation, under Michael Smith's tutelage, added five breeding prospects to its name at last year’s breeding stock sales including the Group 1-performed pair of Ballistic Lover (Smart Missile) and Ecumenical (Zebedee {GB}), and a half-sister to King Of Sparta in Aviemore (Written Tycoon). The multiple Group 2 winner Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {USA}), purchased at Fasig-Tipton in 2022 for US$1,700,000 ($2,615,303) will also join the broodmare band in 2024 after an Autumn campaign.

With 11 homebreds, eight of which are out of stakes performed mares/producers, set to be offered under ‘The Chase’ at January's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale it's certainly an exciting time ahead for the China Horse Club team.

Ahead of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale next week, The Thoroughbred Report takes a look at some key vendors, starting with Cheltenham Stables.

Turning heads last year with a NZ$375,000 sale of an Iffraaj (GB) gelding out of the Dundeel (NZ) mare Bella Grace, Cheltenham Stables have brought a strong draft to the 2023 edition of the sale, with 11 lots set to go under the hammer at the time of publication.

Justify filly intriguing propsect

Potentially the most intriguing prospect of the class of 2023 is Lot 251, a Justify (USA) filly out of a two-time winning mare Special Memories (Fastnet Rock). She was a winner as a 2-year-old at Tarakani, and trained on to be a stakes-placed 3-year-old, running third in the Listed Canterbury S.

Bred on the same cross as the star juvenile Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), she completed her breeze up in a time of 11.12s.

Her third dam, Most Precious (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) won the Listed Prix de Lieurey in France over 1600 metres.

Lot 251 was entered for the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1) but was later withdrawn.

Savabeel stars

Fresh off another Group 1 success on Saturday thanks to the performance of Atishu (NZ) in the G1 Champions S., Savabeel has a presence in the Cheltenham Stables draft, in the form of Lot 383. Out of an unraced Encosta De Lago mare Cutting Remark, who has produced five runners for four winners.

One of those four is multiple Group-winning mare Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was victorious in both the G2 Kewney S. and G2 Let’s Elope S. when active. Cutting Remark has produced winners over an array of distances, Spanish Whisper was a winner over 1200 metres, while Colossal (NZ) (Foxwedge) won over 2100 metres in New Zealand.

This colt’s second dam, Push A Venture (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) was a consistent producer herself, including a G3 Hobart Cup winner in Offenbach (Danehill {USA}) and Group 1-placed Glowlamp (Encosta De Lago), who ran third in the G1 Champagne S. as a 2-year-old.

He completed his breeze up in a time of 11.16s.

Lot 383 was entered for the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1) but was later withdrawn.

Dubious represented

Kitchwin Hills-based first-season sire Dubious will also be represented with Lot 204, a November-born colt. The colt is the ninth foal from the unraced Red Ransom (USA) mare, Redeeming Lass.

Redeeming Lass is the dam of the G3 Festival S. and the G3 Toy Show H. victress Sweet Redemption (Snitzel). While Redeeming Lass is a half-sister to the speedy Kingstar Farm-based stallion Unite And Conquer, a victor of the R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. down the Flemington straight.

Lot 204’s second dam, the classy Danzero mare Danglissa, scored the G1 Flight S. and the G2 Queen of the Turf and was talented enough to finish second in the G1 Thousand Guineas. Other stakes winners on the page include the Listed winner Regal Lion (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), who also recorded placings in the G1 New Zealand Derby and the G2 Tulloch S. alongside the Listed winner Euryale (Lonhro).

While the precocious Capitalist stallion Profiteer is part of the family. The young Newgate Farm-based sire was an authoritative winner of the R. Listed Inglis Millennium and placed in the G2 Todam S. and the G3 Blue Sapphire.

Lot 204 was a $70,000 purchase for Cheltenham Stables when offered by Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the 2023 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.

The colt completed his 200-metre breeze on a Soft 5 track in a time of 10.92s.

Young gun

Lot 3 of the sale is a well-related gelding by Embellish (NZ), who already has a Group 1-placegetter in the form of Talisker (NZ) amongst his progeny. This lot is from the Dane Shadow mare Dancing May, a winner over 2025 metres.

This gelding can boast relations to G1 South Australian Derby winner Shadows In The Sun (Dane Shadow), as well as links to both Marine One and Cannonball (Capitalist) via fourth dam Shop Talk (NZ) (Agricola {GB}).

Cheltenham Stables offer Lot 3 on behalf of Inglewood Stud who paid just NZ$5000 for him through the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale when offered by Castle Hill Farm.

His breeze time was 10.87s.

Another Lucky Sweynesse?

Progeny of Swyenesse have proven popular in the Asian market, headlined by multiple Group-winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ). Lot 157 is one that is sure to attract International eyes, with a cross into a fast family a potentially valuable asset for the Hong Kong racing scene.

This gelding is out of O’Becky (NZ) (Capo Blanco {Ire}), who has a strong page attached to her. Lot 157 is her first foal, and she passes down plenty of speed, being a half-sister to Captain Kurt (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), who was a winner over 1200 metres and Group 1-placed in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas as a 3-year-old.

The third dam, Sequita (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) was a prolific winner on the racetrack, winning 10 times, including in the G2 ARC Great Britain- New Zealand S. and the G3 Lady Norrie S. Her exploits as a producer have been just as credible, with G2 Frank Packer Plate winner Never Quit (NZ), G2 Hardy Brothers Classic winner (Super) Sequel (NZ) (Centaine) and 2-year-old stakes winner Tanker (Pride Of Dubai) amongst her nine foals to win races.

Lot 157 completed his breeze up in a time of 10.87s.

Other lots

Plenty is on offer throughout a deep draft, including Lots 228 and 265, both geldings by Per Incanto (USA), and Lot 167, a gelding by El Roca who completed his breeze-up in a nice time of 10.93s. With a strong class of 2023 on offer, it would be no surprise to see Cheltenham Stables right up there as one of the leading vendors this sale.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

In today's Q & A, we feature a quick-fire round with Bevan Smith, owner of Bevan Smith Bloodstock.

Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding-related - for the 2022/23 season?

Bevan Smith: Being at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and we are looking at a filly with a big head, small eyes and huge 'Dumbo the Elephant' ears getting mocked by Andy Williams so she cow-kicked him, getting his thigh. Andy hits the deck and so do those of us watching, but we fell down in laughter! For those concerned, Andy was fine. We decided we had to buy the filly, so we did for $60,000, named her Lily after Andy’s wife and sold her at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling sale for $170,000. Getting kicked brought a $110,000 profit!

Which sire do you consider a value sire? Fee <$50k and not a first-season sire.

BS: I think that is easy – All Too Hard. He has one of the best horses in the land in Alligator Blood, he has done a great job in Hong Kong and they are just tough, honest racehorses that win races every week.

What young sire (less than three crops) do you think will one day be Champion Sire?

BS: Trapeze Artist. They showed good ability as 2-year-olds and have improved as 3-year-olds. He already has a Group 1 winner and I think he will keep on an upward trajectory.

Which yearling purchase in 2023 are you most excited about?

BS: All of them! Right now, the dream is alive for all of them. If I had to single one out it would be the Written Tycoon x Villa Rosa filly, she is showing all the right signs early.

What, if any, is your greatest current-industry concern?

BS: Attracting staff, in particular new, young people. It is a huge problem for trainers, farms, etc., and the effect is being passed on to owners.

Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?

BS: Kelly Van Dyk of Prima Park. She has pivoted her business to include educating and pre-training and is doing a fantastic job of it. She has a great team of staff with her and she is doing an excellent job leading them. This was the first year Prima Park have breezed the horses themselves and every horse they prepared breezed professionally and fast. Her horses always look great, and no doubt will continue to at every sale she prepares them for. She has also just got her trainer’s licence so watch that space.

If you had $10 million to invest in an industry initiative, what would it be and why?

BS: I would incentivise new participants to the industry by offering a ‘first job bonus’ to new entrants to the industry. Getting new people in the door is the first step, we have a great industry and no doubt plenty will fall in love and stay, we just must make it attractive enough to give it a go.