Unreserved Boutique Sale closes Tuesday
The Inglis Digital ‘Boutique Thoroughbreds Standalone Sale’ featuring Group winner Shoko (Sebring) (in foal to Home Affairs), Urban Rocket (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the well-related Oh My Mimi (Snitzel) (in foal to Capitalist), Charge Forward mare Face Forward (in foal to Spirit of Boom) and multiple Group winner and Group 1-placed Avenue (Anabaa {USA}), closes on Tuesday.
Boutique Thoroughbreds’ Andrew Dunemann said: “It’s been a build-up of five years to get to this stage but a change in circumstances means there is a great opportunity for industry players to purchase quality stock that would not have presented to the market this early over the next month.’’
Ozzmosis racing future pending
As reported by the Herald Sun, a decision on the future of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. victor Ozzmosis (Zoustar) will be made in the coming days. While racing fans won’t be seeing him as a 4-year-old, whether he retires now or heads to the Brisbane Winter Carnival is yet to be decided.
Ozzmosis | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Ozzmosis won both his starts at two, then won the Listed Heritage S. first up at three. Next, he ran third in the G2 Roman Consul S. before winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S. He has had two starts this autumn for trainer Bjorn Baker to take his record to four wins from seven starts with earnings over $1.4million.
It is believed the colt will join the star-studded stallion roster at Newgate Farm Stud in the Hunter Valley this spring.
Chain Of Lightning accepts Royal Ascot invitation
Group 1 winner Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) has accepted an invitation to Royal Ascot.
“She's going to the broodmare sales in May and we've accepted an invitation to Ascot, so she'll be sold under that proviso at the Magic Millions broodmare sale,” co-trainer Peter Moody told Racing.com.
The daughter of Fighting Sun was bred and is raced by the long-time Moody client Stuart Ramsey, Chain Of Lightning is set to run in Saturday’s G1 All-Aged S. “As long as there is a bit of cut in the ground, she'll go there with Rachel King to ride. She's got options in Brisbane and Adelaide if there is no rain.”
Overpass aiming for second The Quokka
Overpass (Vancouver) is ready to defend his The Quokka title at Ascot on Saturday. He won the inaugural The Quokka in 2023.
"You look at what Overpass has been able to achieve, and you could probably say he's still a bit underrated. And that includes by me as well,” trainer Bjorn Baker told Racenet.com.au.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“As we know he does his best racing fresh and whether it's win, lose or draw on Saturday I'm confident he's ready to run another top race. It's been the long range plan to get back to The Quokka and everything has gone to plan.”
Jockey Burke on fire
Jockey Lauren Burke has ridden four winners in the past two days with a double at Bairnsdale on Monday to go with a double at Terang on Sunday.
Monday's winners were 3-year-old filly Mount Dove (Astern) and 3-year-old filly Our Silver Linings (NZ) (Derryn), both for trainer Matt Laurie.
Sunday's winners were 3-year-old gelding Eugenius (Magnus) and 5-year-old mare Beour Bay (Cable Bay {Ire}), both for trainer Shane Nichols.
Burke has won five of her last ten rides with the fifth being 3-year-old filly Willingly (Toronado {Ire}) at Avoca on April 6.
Grand-daughter of Ortensia to run at Scone
The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Gentileschi (Dundeel {NZ}) will run on Tuesday at Scone. She won at the same track three weeks ago to take her record to a win from three starts.
She is the first foal of winning mare Artefiori (Choisir) who was the first foal of triple Group 1 winner Ortensia (Testa Rossa). Ortensia had only two foals before she sadly passed away aged only 10. She was a winner of 13 races, and over $2million, including the 2011 G1 Winterbottom S., 2012 G1 Al Quoz Sprint, and 2012 G1 Nunthorpe S,, Ortensia was also first past in the post in a G1 The Galaxy but was later disqualified after returning a positive swab.
Waugh stable to debut Savabeel 3-year-old at Scone
Trainer Kim Waugh’s 3-year-old gelding Rhinestone Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) will make his debut on Tuesday at Scone. “He’s a horse that has taken a bit of time,” Waugh told Racingnsw.com.au.
“His first trial this campaign was good when he showed a bit of early pace and fought on well.” A $125,000 purchase at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Amarina Farm by Waugh, Rhinestone Lad is a half-brother to G1 Metropolitan placed Antonio Guiseppe (NZ) (Shocking) who won six races.
Waugh also has Global Encounter (Real Impact {Jpn}) running at Scone. “He’s a handy enough horse on his day and has won a couple of races for us … if he can run up to anywhere near his best, he would have to have a strong each-way chance.”
South Australian pony representatives keen for Saturday
South Australia is sending three representatives to the National Pony Racing Series Finals at Royal Randwick in Sydney on All Aged Stakes Day on April 20. Cheyenne Crane and her pony Phoenix will represent South Australia in the large pony category, while Stacey Edwards and Napoleon, along with Maddi-Rose Cox and Rosie will fly the flag for South Australia in the small pony category.
Pony Racing | Image courtesy of the National Pony Club Series
“Not many kids get to do this and it’s definitely something that’s going to have a good impact on the racing industry,” 15-year-old Maddi-Rose Cox told Racingsa.com.au.
Stella Splendida tops Gavelhouse auction
Te Akau Racing’s 4-year-old mare Stella Splendida (NZ) (Zoustar) has topped the latest Gavelhouse auction, selling for NZ$410,000 “We’ll be sorry to see her go, because she’s been such a beautiful filly, but that’s the way we do it with fillies like her – we put together a syndicate for their racing career, then put them up for sale when they finish racing,” Ellis told Loveracing.nz earlier in the day.
The unraced Surtout (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}), in foal to Profondo, is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) and Group 3 winner Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) from the family of Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}) and was the second top lot selling for NZ$40,000. The stakes-performed import Leytana (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), who is in foal to Ardrossan, sold for NZ$11,000.
Ellerslie given all clear
A trial meeting on Monday has resulted in the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR)’s Ellerslie track being given the all-clear for racing.
"The track felt a lot better – they (ATR) obviously had done a lot of work on it since Wednesday,” jockey Warren Kennedy told Loveracing.nz.
Warren Kennedy
A set of eight trials took place at the track on Monday, giving Auckland Thoroughbred Racing the clearance to return to racing this weekend.
Orchestral home for a spell
Co-trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have welcomed home their dual Group 1 winning 3-year-old filly Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel). “She got back from Australia late last night (Sunday), and seems to have pulled up nicely,” Wellwood told Loveracing.nz.
“Nearing the end of her preparation, she just had to go to a number of grand finals, and it was hard to peak again last Saturday. She’s off to the paddock now, we haven’t made any firm plans for the spring but we’re very excited for her next season.”
Orchestral has won six of her ten starts and over $2million. Her trainers purchased her for NZ$625,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from Haunui Farm.
Boom Time for sale online
Bloodstock Auctions are selling G1 Caulfield Cup winning stallion Boom Time, a son of Flying Spur, with the sale closing on Tuesday. Currently located at Cornwell Park Stud, Victoria, Boom Time’s oldest foals are 3-year-olds, and he has 43 live foals in that crop.
A tough galloper, he won eight of his 42 starts with earnings over $2 million, and his highest priced progeny at auction was a 2-year-old at the Inglis Ready to Run Sale who made $35,000.
Little Brose to make Hong Kong debut in Group 1
Trainer David Hayes will debut 3-year-old colt Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) in next month’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize. “He’s going to go deep in the Group 1,” Hayes told scmp.com.
Little Brose
“It’s a throw at the stumps. It will be a very unusual situation… The lovely thing about the Jockey Club now, they give these young, Group horses a chance off the handicap. In the old days, he would have come in as a 98 (rater). … I don’t care if he goes up 50 points if he wins the Group 1 because he’s a stallion prospect.”
Little Brose won the G1 Blue Diamond S as a 2-year-old for Lindsay Park and hasn’t raced since finishing sixth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Ting wins double with debutants
Trainer Jimmy Ting breathed life into his season with a pair of debutant winners at Sha Tin on Sunday night. “I needed the double and I need some more winners,” said Ting, who has six wins for the season, short of the 16 he needs to avoid a first strike.
Thunder Blink (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) won over 1000 metres while Lo Pan Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) won over 1200 metres. Lo Pan Spirit was purchased by his trainer from Phoenix Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for NZ$230,000.
Goffs targets social media benefits
Henry Beeby, the chief executive of the thoroughbred racehorse auctioneers Goffs, spoke at a private event in Mayfair over the weekend, telling the crowd that social media is a great way to encourage young wealthy people to become racehorse owners. “There’s nothing quite like the thrill of ownership. There’s nothing like seeing your horse and your jockey in your colours on the track, and – my word – if it happens to win and you can share that joy with your friends,” Beeby told theguardian.com.au.
In his pitch, Beeby said Goffs were targeting millennials because “they’ve got the money”, and they are about to become even richer as “the great wealth transfer” flows to children of an older generation of super-rich people.
“They (younger people) are looking for a unique experience they can share on social media. They can share the experience from the race day, and the horse will have its own private cheerleading squad,” Hayley O’Connor, Goffs’ head of international client relations, said.
Noailles win for Gleneagles
Francis-Henri Graffard trained 3-year-old gelding Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) won Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp.
“It was the plan to ride him (from behind) like that, as he can be keen, but he also has a strong acceleration. I like how he behaved when he was challenged by the favourite (Bright Picture), he dug in and found more,” said Graffard.
Calandagan (Ire) | Image courtesy of Coolmore
“I have no idea what will be next. He is a gelding so Classics are not for him, but he is a Group winner now and that is a good point.” The Aga Khan homebred now has two wins from four starts.
Le Havre picks up Group 3
Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau was won by Nurlan Bizakov's 3-year-old colt Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the key G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains trial. “It is emotional for me, because he is by Le Havre, who is no longer with us and I bought the mare from Lady O'Reilly, who is no longer with us. For sure he deserves to be in the Poulains and we'll go there with an open mind. He'll stay the Jockey Club distance too,” said Bizakov.
Ramadan now has three wins from five starts for trainer Christopher Head.
Aga Khan has a special filly
Sunday’s G3 Prix de la Grotte winner 3-year-old filly Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB} looks to be special.
“She had run well here first time out last year, won well on her second start and had always showed us good things. I'd imagine the Poule d'Essai will be next. She has every right to be at the start and it will be a test, but we also think that she'll stay further,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.
The Aga Khan won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-G1 Prix de Diane double with Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar {USA}) and some think this filly can do the same. She has won two of her three starts, having run third on debut, and is the 95th Group winner for Frankel.
Dettori hunting for Kentucky Derby ride
Jockey Frankie Dettori is looking for a ride in the G1 Kentucky Derby. “We have three weeks until the Kentucky Derby and I’m trying to sell myself to Kentucky people for the meeting coming ahead,” Dettori told Racingpost.com.
Frankie Dettori
The jockey, who delayed retirement to have a full season riding in America, recorded six winners in a row at Santa Anita last weekend, and won the G1 Jenny Wiley S. over the weekend on Beaute Cachee (Fr) (Liberato {Fr}).
Blackmore raises quarter of a million for charity
Jockey Rachel Blackmore has raised £250,000 (AU$480,000) for injured jockeys after Betfair donate for every winner she's ridden.
“The serial winners fund has been a fantastic journey for all of us; Betfair, the IJF, Irish injured jockeys and Rachael. It has been a real team effort from the start, and we’ve all been cheering Rachael on,” Charlotte Booth, chief commercial officer for Betfair, told Racingpost.com.au.
“These are such important charities for the racing community, and I'm sure this initiative has raised awareness of these great causes. Rachael has been brilliant throughout and the highlight must be her two Cheltenham winners, which added £20,000 to the pot.”
