Second Australian stakes winner for Mikki Isle
Progressive 4-year-old Katsu (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) made his black-type breakthrough in the Listed Kensington S. at Flemington on Wednesday to provide former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Mikki Isle (Jpn) with his second Australian stakes winner.
The Grahame Begg-trained gelding produced a fine display of sustained speed to fend off all challengers down the straight, eventually running out a comfortable 1.25l winner over last-start Listed scorer Najem Suhail (Starspangledbanner), with Group 3 winner Rich Fortune (Rich Enuff) back in third.
Katsu wins the Listed Kensington S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
A $170,000 purchase by his trainer, Katsu was the joint highest-priced colt in the Highway Session at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and hails from the same family as G3 Breeders’ Plate winner Espionage (Zoustar).
Mikki Isle is the sire of six stakes winners in total, spearheaded by three-time Japanese Group 2 winner Meikei Yell (Jpn). His other Australian stakes winner, Dragonstone, was a most impressive winner of the Listed Starlight S. at Rosehill Gardens earlier this month.
Another first-crop winner for Grunt
Yulong’s exciting young stallion Grunt (NZ), who currently sits fourth on the second-season sires’ premiership, notched his 12th first-crop winner on Wednesday when Siberian Siren broke through at start number three in the opening contest at Ascot.
A $40,000 purchase by Yenrise Pty Ltd at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2022, the Sean and Jake Casey-trained filly had finished second on debut earlier this year and justified favoritism with a 0.4l success over Kings Honour (King’s Troop).
Grunt (NZ) | Standing at Yulong Stud
Fellow second-season sire Bolt D’Oro (USA), the former Spendthrift shuttler who beat the likes of Justify (USA) to be crowned Champion Freshman Sire in the US in 2022, was also on the scoresheet on Wednesday, with his 3-year-old daughter Gilded Lady winning at Port Lincoln to provide him with his ninth winner on Australian soil.
Blueblood gaps them at Warwick Farm
Regally bred Godolphin homebred Shaken (I Am Invincible) could not have been more impressive when cruising to her first city win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
By Yarraman Park Stud’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible out of G1 Blue Diamond S. heroine and Champion 2-Year-Old Earthquake (Exceed And Excel), the cleverly named Shaken made it two wins from four stars with a dominant 4.08l victory over previous city winner Power Ballard (Exceed And Excel).
Shaken, who looks destined for stakes class and holds a nomination for the Listed Gosford Guineas later this month, is a half-sister to the stakes-placed pair Sumatra (Lonhro) and Namazu (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Maiden stakes win for Mahuta, Queen Alina
Queen Alina (Mahuta) broke through for her first black-type success on Wednesday, taking out the Listed A.T.A. S. at Ascot. Her victory also handed her sire, who stands at Lynward Park Stud, his first stakes victory.
The 5-year-old prevailed by 0.41l under Chris Parnham, with Black Fantasy (Blackfriars) and Blazing Away (City Place {USA}) third.
Queen Alina is trained by Daniel and Ben Pearce and she was winning for the sixth time.
The mare is raced by Lynward Park Stud’s Troy Van Heemst and Mrs M E Van Heemst.
She is from High Aims (Southern Image {USA}) - a five-time winner who has produced two winners.
Queen Alina was passed in at $55,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 1) when offered by Lynward Park Stud.
Oliver and manager headed to court
Champion jockey Damien Oliver, who brought the curtain down on a stellar career at Ascot on Saturday, is reported to have had a bitter falling out with long-time friend, manager and business associate, Neil Pinner.
According to The Western Australian, the pair is headed to court, with claims Oliver has engaged Tom Percy KC to represent him in any action against Pinner.
Damien Oliver | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pinner, a former chairman of Perth Racing, was Oliver’s financial advisor and confidant when he began his rise to fame in Melbourne in the early 1990s.
It is understood their business interests included property and commercial investments.
Bowman return imminent
Champion jockey Hugh Bowman, who hasn’t ridden since November 11 after fracturing his right scapula and three vertebrae in a fall, is slated to make his comeback on Boxing Day.
Hugh Bowman | Image courtesy of the HKJC
Bowman has been cleared to ride trackwork this week and at the barrier trials on Friday before he returns to action at the races at Sha Tin next Tuesday.
The four-time Cox Plate-winning jockey made a fast start to the Hong Kong season, and despite his six-week absence, was third in the jockeys’ premiership before Wednesday night’s Happy Valley meeting.
ATA renews push for later start times
The Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA) will continue to push for later starting times at training centres in 2024.
ATA chief executive Andrew Nicholl said racing needed to move with the times and shifting training centre opening times to a later start was one way of doing this.
ATA chief executive, Andrew Nicholl (pictured left) | Image courtesy of the ATA
“We must evolve with the times, be kinder to our current workforce, and remove barriers for new entrants,” Nicholl told Racing.com.
“Moving training centres to later starting times is certainly a step in the right direction.”
Short break for Romantic Warrior
Romantic Warrior (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), who successfully defended his crown in a pulsating finish to the G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin earlier this month, will be given a short break before returning to action in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup on February 25, meaning he will sidestep a likely clash with three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) in the G1 Stewards' Cup in January.
Romantic Warrior’s nose defeat of the gutsy Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) came just 43 days after his landmark victory in the G1 WS Cox Plate at The Valley, and trainer Danny Shum is focused on not squeezing the lemon dry.
Romantic Warrior (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He looks great, but I feel he will be a little bit tired because it was a hard run - both two races were very hard,” Shum said. “He’ll have a short break now. He’ll have enough time to recover if we go to the Gold Cup next - 2000 metres is his trip, I think that’s a better idea. He’s easy to train but he won both of those two races with his fighting heart, he uses a lot of energy. I have to look after him because he uses himself a lot, it’s better to give him a bit of a break and go again.”
Romantic Warrior has six wins from seven starts over the Sha Tin 2000 metres, with his lone blemish coming when beaten by Golden Sixty in last year’s Gold Cup.
Snitzel colt breaks the ice
The Michael Freedman-trained Gelatin (Snitzel) is a maiden no longer, after he broke through at the fifth time of asking.
Gelatin took out Race 2 at Warwick Farm, scoring by 0.07l under Rory Hutchings.
The 3-year-old was bought for $300,000 by Michael Wallace (as agent for Freedman Brothers) from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Gelatin is from the four-time winner Jellices (More Than Ready {USA}), making him a half-brother to the Group 3 victress Felines (Conatus), and the Listed placegetter Domesticated (Encosta De Lago), and a brother to the R. Listed-placed Snitcat (Snitzel).
Written Tycoon filly gets off the mark
The Tony Gollan-trained Certainlycan (Written Tycoon) was sent off at $1.30 in Race 2 at Doomben on Wednesday, and the 3-year-old filly didn’t let punters down, coasting to an impressive 5.69l victory in the hands of James Orman at her third start.
She was a $350,000 buy for the Nolan family’s Raheen Stud at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The filly was consigned by Baystone Farm.
Certainlycan as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A Listed placegetter on debut, Certainlycan is out of the stakes performer Lucky Can Be (Nadeem) and she herself is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Ofcourseican (Mossman) and Gimmethegreenlight. Ofcourseican has thrown the Group 3 winner Persan (Pierro), while Gimmethegreenlight is a Group 1-producing sire in South Africa.
Kia Ora Stud will offer a Pierro half-sister to Certainlycan as Lot 892 at next month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sagunto on song for Cup defence
The Peter and Shaun McKay-trained stayer Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) will bid to defy his advancing years when he goes in search of back-to-back victories in the G3 Manawatu Cup at Trentham on Saturday.
One of two live chances in the Group 3 contest for his Matamata trainers, Sagunto comes into Saturday’s feature off the back of a fourth place finish over 2100 metres last start, a significantly better lead-up effort than he managed when seventh in the very same contest 12 months ago.
“He’s definitely better for that run, he was carrying 61kg and he comes down to a nice weight (55kg) this time with the topweight (Colorado Star) pushing a few of them down, so it’s worked out well,” Peter McKay told loveracing.nz.
Kim, Shaun and Peter McKay | Image courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
“It didn’t help that he got taken on last time and I was expecting him to pull up and run last on the corner, but he dug deep. In his lead-up race last year he did run last and then came out and won the Cup so hopefully he does it again.”
Sagunto will be ridden by Lisa Allpress in the 2300-metre contest, the same combination that were successful in this race 12 months ago. Provided that he comes through Saturday’s Cup defence in good order, Sagunto is likely to tackle the Listed Marton Cup and G3 Trentham S. next month, having filled the runner-up spot in both events last season.
Yonce nominated for long-awaited return
Talented mare Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) may make her return to the races in the Listed Christmas at Caulfield on Boxing Day, with trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace nominating her for the $200,000 sprint.
The 6-year-old - a winner of six of seven starts - hasn’t been seen on the track since finishing fourth in the G1 Queen f he Turf S. at Randwick in April 2022.
Yonce (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Racing
The Christmas S. has attracted 24 nominations, including last year’s winner Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) and the dual Group 3 victor The Astrologist (Zoustar).
Bolshoi Ballet retired to stud
Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), the dual Grade 1-winning son of Galileo (Ire) and Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa), has been retired from racing to join Coolmore's National Hunt roster at the McCarthy family’s The Beeches Stud in Ireland.
Following a dominant 6l victory in the G3 Derby Trial S., a race also won by his sire and the hugely successful High Chaparral (Ire), as well as fellow The Beeches resident Yeats (Ire), Bolshoi Ballet was sent off a warm favourite for the G1 The Derby at Epsom but could only manage seventh on the rain affected track. He then bounced back to form on his very next start, making his elite-level breakthrough in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational, where he recorded the highest Beyer Speed Figure of any turf horse in North America last year.
Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) | Image courtesy of Coolmore Stud
The Aidan O’Brien-trained entire remained in training as a 4-year-old and signed off his career with a dominant 4.5l victory in the G1 Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga earlier this year.
“I was very taken with Bolshoi Ballet when we went to see him at Ballydoyle earlier in the year,” said Robert McCarthy of The Beeches Stud. “He’s a super-looking horse with real presence about him, a great colour, plenty of size and a very good walk. I have no doubt that breeders will be impressed when they come to see him.”
A service fee for Bolshoi Ballet will be announced in due course.
Galiway share tops Arqana Online Sale
A share in Haras de Colleville stallion Galiway (GB) was purchased by the Broadhurst Agency's Laurent Benoit for €160,000 (AU$259,000) to be the top-priced offering during Arqana’s final online sale of the year on Tuesday.
The rising 13-year-old is the sire of 14 black-type winners, eight at Group level, including G1 Champion S. and G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere hero Sealiway (Fr), who stands at Haras de Beaumont, and his younger brother Sunway (Fr), who landed the G1 Criterium International on his fourth and final start as a 2-year-old back in October. Galiway is also the sire of Vauban (Fr), a Group 3 winner on the flat who disappointed when a well-beaten favourite in last month’s G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Galiway (GB) | Standing at Haras de Colleville
A share in Sealiway, whose first foals are due next season, was knocked down to France Turf International for €56,000 (AU$91,000), while a breeding right in Cracksman (GB), sire of G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact (Ire), was sold to Ladyswood Stud for €50,000 (AU$81,000).
All systems go for Asterix
Last year’s G1 New Zealand Derby hero, Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), resumes on Saturday after 266 days away from the races. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained galloper, who hasn’t been seen since an unplaced run in the G2 Chairman’s Quality in Sydney in April, will contest the Print House Mile (1600 metres) at Te Rapa.
“We’re just excited to get him back on the racecourse,” Scott told loveracing.nz.
Andrew Scott | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“He’s coming up very well, his trial was very encouraging and he trialled in a manner that suggests he’s got good confidence and striding out in his movement.
“We’ve been pleased with his work leading in, there’s some improvement to come in his fitness and he generally takes a run or two before he starts to hit his straps, so we see no reason that will change.”
Melody Belle half-sister set for debut
There are plenty of well-bred fillies in action on Friday’s Matamata card, but none more blue-blooded than exciting debutante My Annie Belle (NZ) (Snitzel), who is a half-sister to 14-time Group 1 winner and $2.6 million broodmare purchase Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Trained by Ken and Bev Kelso, the 3-year-old daughter of four-time Champion Sire Snitzel has two barrier trials to date, and despite being impressed with the latter of those two hitouts, the filly’s trainers have some reservations about jumping from widest of all in stall 14 as things stand.
“She has had a couple of trials and I thought she trialled up really well at Taupo,” Ken Kelso told loveracing.nz. “She has unfortunately drawn wide. It would have been nice to have drawn an alley, but we are going to run her from there, it is going to be a lovely track. She has got a little bit of gate speed so she will probably go forward.”
My Annie Belle will be ridden by Ryan Elliot in the third race on the card, which is a maiden contest over 1200 metres.
Legarto on Karaka Millions path
Kelso also issued an update on his stable star Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), who is pencilled in for her first public appearance of the campaign in an open trial at Matamata on Friday.
The G1 Australian Guineas heroine hasn’t been sighted since winning the Listed Matamata Cup back in October, and is reportedly on course for a tilt at the lucrative NZ$1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic on Karaka Millions Day at Ellerslie on January 27.
“She will trial in the Group and Listed trial before the first race on Friday,” Kelso told loveracing.nz. “She will then hopefully kick-off on January 14 at Ellerslie in an open 1400 metre where the maximum topweight is 60kg.
“It is two weeks before the Karaka Million 4-year-old and it is to give her a look around Ellerslie as well because she hasn’t been to Ellerslie.”
Lees looks to win for ‘Jock’
Kris Lees is hoping Rogue Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) can salute in the Vale Mr Alan ‘Jock’ Gollogly Handicap (1800 metres) at Randwick on Saturday in hat tip to his mate who passed away this week.
And he says ‘Jock’ would be “chuffed” to be celebrated by none but two clubs (Newcastle is also set to pay tribute at its Boxing Day meeting on Tuesday).
Lees said Gollogly will be sorely missed, especially around Newcastle. Gollogly was the clocker for the Sportsman newspaper for many years and worked for Lees Racing from 2020.
Kris Lees | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I sat next to him three days a week for 20-odd years,’’ Lees told Racing NSW.
“He was always the life of the party, he was very outgoing and would talk to anyone whether it was the boys mucking out the boxes or the top end of town.
“It’s a great honour the ATC have bestowed upon him. Myself and Jamie Lovett were just talking about how chuffed he’d be to have a race named after him.”
NY-bred Breeding Award Rate increased for 2024
The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund Corporation (the Fund) Board of Directors’ unanimously approved a motion during its December 12 meeting to increase the breeder award rates for all New York-breds.
The increase, which covers all New York-breds competing in the state beginning Jan. 1, was approved by the Fund board due to projected revenue increases expected in the upcoming season.
An increased hold-back rate from 10-15 per cent will also be implemented to ensure the Fund can payout awards up to the new advertised rates.
Najja Thompson, New York Thoroughbred Breeders executive | Image courtesy of New York Thoroughbred Breeders
“This historic increase in breeder awards is monumental news for all breeders currently participating in the New York-bred program. It’s another reason why New York remains the top regional state-bred program in the nation and why more breeders should bring their mares to foal in New York,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders executive Najja Thompson.
