Daily News Wrap

Dwyer already eyeing Asfoora relation

Henry Dwyer already has the yearling half-brother to his star sprinter Asfoora (Flying Artie) on his radar, who is by freshman sire Dirty Work. The yearling will be offered as Lot 257 by Noor Elaine Farm at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Asfoora will chase a maiden Group 1 victory in the Oakleigh Plate on February 24 - eight days before the Premier Sale kicks off.

“I don’t know what this one makes (Lot 257), a first-season sire, bit more commercial,” Dwyer told Punters.

“They say it’s a pretty nice type so you’d think it would be making good money. I’ll certainly be having a look at him but I tend to buy more on type than pedigree, if he ticks the boxes there, we might buy him.”

Arabian Summer on top of Millions ballot

The Team McEvoy-trained Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has rocketed to the top of the ballot order for next month’s the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast. The filly pocketed $137,500 for her win in Saturday’s Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic and now has $189,200 to her name.

Tony Gollan’s Barbie’s Sister (Spirit Of Boom) moved to fourth after her victory in the Listed Calaway Gal S. triumph at Eagle Farm, while Wolfgang (Exceed And Excel) is now 19th after the Lloyd Kenewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained colt shed his maiden tag in Adelaide.

One last hurrah for Alligator?

Connections have advised the 2024 autumn may be the last time fans see Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) complete on the racetrack. However, they added the seven-time Group 1 will tell them when enough is enough.

“He’s done so much already; it wouldn’t worry us if he said he’s had enough and wants to pull up stumps,” owner Jeff Simpson told Racing.com.

“We’re not going to push him at all, we never have all his life, so why start now? He’s a magnificent horse and he’s done great by us, so we’ll just see what he wants to do.

“He’s on track for the autumn and is currently spelling at Oak Ridge in New South Wales. He’ll probably have two runs - the Futurity and The All-Star Mile.”

Milburn Stud purchase two

The Australian-based Milburn Stud alongside Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) purchased two mares overnight from the 2023 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. The duo signed for Lot 106 Shirin (USA) (War Front {USA}), from the draft of Wertheimer & Frère for €60,000 (AU$98,500). She is a half-sister to the Group 2 victress and the Group 1-placed Bawina (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

They went to €160,000 (AU$262,800) for Lot 232, Levante Breeze (Fr) from the draft of Graffard Racing. She is a daughter of Siyouni (Fr), and hails from an extensive international Group 1 family.

Dilmi announced as Keogh replacement

Godolphin Australia has announced the replacement for Sean Keogh, who departed the operation's Darley’s Carbine Lodge in Melbourne earlier this month, as Nacim Dilmi.

The French-born Dilmi has previously worked with Godolphin as an assistant trainer in Sydney and brings an experienced and familiar face to the Flemington operation.

Noonan rates filly

Mornington-based trainer Tony Noonan has a high opinion of Herbert Park (Toronado {Ire}), who won on debut at Werribee on Sunday.

The 3-year-old filly, ridden by Jacob Noonan, was impressive in winning over 1000 metres from Miss Margie (Deep Field).

“It was a good effort. She’s a little racehorse, knuckles down and I thought she was quite impressive,” Noonan told Racing.com.

“Herbert Park can be a bit sassy at times but we’ll just see how she comes through. She’s shown plenty of promise at home and is a Toronado out of a really nice mare, so she has the bloodlines to be good.”

Herbert Park is from Elite Elle (Shamardal {USA}), a seven-time winner including the Listed Quezette S.

Vale Jonathan Irwin

Goffs has paid tribute to its former managing director Jonathan Irwin, one of the most influential people in the history of the sales house, who died aged 82 on Sunday. Irwin joined Goffs in 1975 and oversaw the construction of the world's first purpose-built bloodstock sales complex in Kill, County Kildare.

"Jonathan was appointed Managing Director of Robert J Goff & Co plc in 1975 at the age of just 33 and oversaw an amazing period for the company over the next 15 years, not least the construction of the iconic Kildare Paddocks which remains one of the finest bloodstock sales complexes in the world."

It continued, "Jonathan was certainly one of the most colourful bloodstock characters of his generation and his legacy lives on in the modern day Goffs. As well as overseeing the design of the complex, he approached the whole business in an innovative and charismatic way. Shouting bid spotters, international guest auctioneers, black tie select sales and the first multi-currency bid board at any auction in the world, an innovation that was almost instantly copied by the likes of Sotheby's and Christie's, were amongst his ideas that have stood the test of time."

Ayrton takes up Gold Rush challenge

Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is set to tackle the $1.5 million Damien Oliver Gold Rush at Ascot, December 16.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper will be ridden by Damian Lane in the feature.

“Ayrton had two preparations where he was nowhere near his best. I don’t think he’ll ever realise his full potential, but he’s not far off,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com.

“We identified this race (Damien Oliver Gold Rush) as he needs good ground. The nice big track over 1400 metres suits. It’s an ideal race.”

Berlin bolts in trial

The Ben and Ryan Foote-trained speedball Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) was an impressive 3l trial winner at Ellerslie, on its new StrathAyr track on Monday morning.

“It was a nice trial today (Monday). All reports were good, Courtney (Barnes, jockey) said she felt great and having the first use of that track was pretty cool too. Everybody is really excited about racing at Ellerslie again,” Ben Foote told loveracing.nz.

“She’ll go straight into the Railway and then the Telegraph. We have just taken our time with her this time in so she will be ready to rock and roll come January 1.”

Zarak colt foal tops session two of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale

After session two of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale the overall statistics were 477 offered and 373 sold (78 per cent). The average price sat at €118,886 (AU$194,800) with a median of €45,000 (AU$73,700) and a gross of €44,344,500 (AU$72,647,100). While the session statistics saw the clearance rate climb from four per cent to 83 per cent compared to last year. However, the average remained the same at €36,592 (AU$59,900) but the median climbed to €30,000 (AU$49,100) from last year’s €27,500 (AU$45,000). The gross was up by two per cent to €7,757,500 (AU$12,708,700).

Sunday’s top price went the way of a Lot 400, a colt foal by Zarak (Fr) offered by Haras de Montaigu selling for €190,000 (AU$311,300) to Danish buyer Morten Buskop Bloodstock.

Nothing Like You crowned Starlet

Nothing Like You (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) gave Hall of Famer Bob Baffert a seventh straight victory in the G2 Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Saturday evening.

The filly is from the Listed-winning Brother Derek (USA) mare Miss Derek (USA), and is the 138th stakes winner for the late Malibu Moon (USA).

Ascoli maintains unbeaten streak

Group winner Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) maintained her unbeaten record with a narrow score in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Sunday.

The Yoichi Kuroiwa trainee follows in the wake of such horses as dual Japanese Horse of the Year Vodka (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}) who won this in 2006, fellow Horse of the Year Buena Vista (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) (2008 edition), and 2022 scorer Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who claimed the 2023 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. Her victory was the first at the top level for her trainer, who opened his stable in 2012.

Ascoli Piceno is the ninth Group 1 winner for Daiwa Major (Jpn), who stands at Shadai Stallion Station.