Inglis release 2024 Great Southern Sale catalogue
Inglis has released a huge catalogue for next month's Great Southern Sale in Melbourne with 492 lots - 425 weanlings and 67 broodmares - for the two-day sale, to be held at Oaklands Junction on Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14.
“The Great Southern Sale catalogue will again present a range of fantastic opportunities for buyers to invest at all levels of the market,” Inglis' Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price said.
“Having the likes of Burnewang North, Yulong, Blue Gum, Dorrington Farm, Gilgai, Rosemont, Noorilim, Springmount, Shadow Hill, Stonehouse, Crossley, Supreme Thoroughbreds, Three Bridges and Two Bays represented in the catalogue as vendors is fantastic and means that it is the strongest group of vendors for this sale that I can remember.
James Price | Image courtesy of Inglis
“There have been many great stories from the sale in recent years and some life-changing results, so we are looking forward to another competitive renewal of the sale in June.
“The breeding stock market has begun strongly in Sydney with a record Australian Weanling Sale and plenty of great buying opportunities at the Australian Broodmare Sale and I have no doubt there are plenty of appealing opportunities in the Great Southern catalogue for buyers to capitalise on as well.”
Weanlings by Frankel (GB), I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Snitzel, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), Wootton Bassett (GB), Toronado (Ire) and Written Tycoon lead a strong catalogue which includes first season sires Rosemont Stud's Extreme Warrior, Swettenham Stud's Wooded (Ire), Darley's Palace Pier (GB) and Coolmore's Home Affairs.
2024 Godolphin Flying Start trainees announced
Godolphin Flying Start has announced the latest intake of trainees for the two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Program. “We are thrilled to welcome the 22nd intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees this August. Their diverse talents and passion for the industry will sustain them as they commence the professional and personal development provided to them by Godolphin Flying Start,” Godolphin Flying Start Executive Director Clodagh Kavanagh said in a press release.
The two year scholarship includes course fees, accommodation, transport, flights, visas and a monthly allowance. Trainees learn and experience hands on horsemanship, business management, leadership, international bloodstock, breeding and racing in the global Thoroughbred industry, with phases in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia, and Dubai. The course is accredited by University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School.
Congratulations to scholarship recipients:
Matthew Browne, Ireland; Megan Bulbulia, Ireland; Caroline Bunch, USA; Matthew Daubeney, UK; Ivanna Dempsey, Ireland; Rachael Doody, Ireland; Grace Hamilton, USA; Adam Holland, UK; Luke Kevin, Ireland; Gabrielle Nebout, France; Tereza Pavlů, Czech Republic; and Antoine Rozan, France.
Racing Victoria to introduce new race classes to broaden opportunities
In a release on Thursday, Racing Victoria said that after consultation with a range of participants and primarily the Australian Trainer’s Association, they will introduce two new class races in June with 0-62 and BM74 races set to debut.
“They (new classes) are designed to widen the range of opportunities for trainers and owners to find the right races for their horses, so we are confident they will be well received by the wider industry,” Racing Victoria’s executive general manager of racing Matt Welsh told Racing.com.
“We will continue to work closely with the ATA, trainers and key stakeholders to evolve the program to best suit their needs.”
ATA chief executive, Stephen Bell, said, “We commend RV on this decision and their engagement through this consultation process. They have acted upon the wishes of the Association and trainers to deliver more programming options. We think these two new classes will provide further flexibility for trainers and are a welcome addition to Victoria’s racing program.”
Freedman outlines plans for exciting juveniles
Sam Freedman, who co-trains with Anthony, outlined the plans for the stable’s current exciting juveniles. 2-year-old colt Fitzpatrick (Snitzel), who set the 1000-metre record on the Sunshine Coast polytrack, is hoping to gain a start in the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, while Jonathan Munz-owned filly Not Surprised (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) will head towards the Listed Carter S.
Barbaric Lad (Brutal {NZ}) will be aimed at the G1 JJ Atkins S. “He will run in the Sires' if he gets a run,” Freedman told Racing.com. “It was a good first-up run on a bottomless track and he has come back very well. He is likely to get out to the mile for the J.J. Atkins, he is on that sort of path and then some nice 3-year-old races in the spring.”
Anthony and Sam Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Smart Group 2-placed 2-year-old filly Matisse (Microphone) is also in Queensland but Freedman didn’t mention a target race.
Press Link on trial for Queensland Derby
Trainer Robert Heathcote’s 3-year-old gelding Press Link (NZ) (Press Statement) lines up in the G3 Rough Habit Plate over 2000 metres on Saturday at Doomben as a trial for the G1 Queensland Derby.
“He should run well and if he shows he’ll stay he’ll go on to the Queensland Derby in two weeks,” agent Bryan Guy told Racingqueensland.com.au who manages the horse on behalf of Hong Kong based client.
“They were clients of mine when I was training and when I retired they asked me to buy and manage some horses for them. I’ve bought five horses for them so far and four of them have won including two in Hong Kong.”
Bryan Guy
Press Link won his first three starts in succession, and since then has placed in the Listed Daybreak Lover S. and G2 Queensland Guineas to take his record to three wins from five starts.
Abounding chasing ballot free run into Stradbroke
Jockey Martin Harley thinks R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas-winning filly Abounding (Rich Enuff) can step up this winter and should show that on Saturday where she races against her own age group at Doomben.
“She was first-up out to 1400 metres at the Gold Coast earlier this year and people were a bit worried about if she could run the trip,” Harley told Racingqueensland.com.au.
Abounding (yellow cap) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She has definitely grown and got stronger; her mindset has never changed. She keeps things together and has a good head on her shoulders.”
After Saturday, Abounding will head to the 2024 Fred Best Classic, with the winner exempt from the ballot for the G1 Stradbroke Handicap. She has won four of her 12 starts and over $2.1 million, and was a $75,000 purchase by First Light Racing and trainer Robert Heathcote at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Telemon Thoroughbreds.
Sixth winner for Cosmic Force
Jockey Andrew Mallyon was aboard 2-year-old gelding Cosmic Fire (Cosmic Force) for his 4.36l demolition of race three at Grafton on Thursday. Trained by Billy Healey at the Sunshine Coast, Cosmic Fire was having his second career start having fourth on debut back in January.
He is the sixth individual juvenile winner for first season sire Cosmic Force, whose progeny include stakes placed Stay Focused, Beer Baron, and Full Force.
An $80,000 purchase by Billy Healey Racing, Furlong Bloodstock and On Fire Racing from Sullivan Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cosmic Fire is the third foal of winning mare Exellas (Helmet).
Justify juvenile wins on debut at Gosford
Trainer Chris Waller and jockey Tommy Berry combined for a double at Gosford on Thursday with 2-year-old filly Concordia Wind (Justify {USA}) winning on debut in race 3. The exciting filly won by 1.37l to Justice Warrior (Justify {USA}) giving Justify the quinella while Superhero (Deep Field) was third.
Waller and Berry also won race five with 3-year-old filly Eraantyva (Zoustar) who was having her second start.
Manhattan Rain juvenile wins the first at Pakenham
Trainer Mike Moroney’s 2-year-old Benagil (Manhattan Rain) won the first race at Thursday’s Pakenham night meeting by the barest of margins, 0.1l, from Team Hayes’ Lovey (Spirit Of Boom). Benagil was on debut and became the first winner for her sire from his current 2-year-old crop of only 41 foals.
Benagil | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Snitzel filly wins her maiden
Expensive 3-year-old filly Villefranche (Snitzel) enjoyed her first win, at her second start, on Thursday’s Wangaratta meeting. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, she was ridden by Craig Newitt in the 2l victory.
Villefranche | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sold by Milburn Creek at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $580,000, she was purchased by Barragunda Racing and ARJB Racing. She is the first foal of Listed winner Stormy Victoria (Fr) (Stormy River {Fr}) who has an unraced 2-year-old colt Amazing Fluke (The Autumn Sun) and a yearling colt by Snitzel who wasn’t offered at auction this year.
Mane Lodge to sell breeding right in Champion Sire I Am Invincible
Mane Lodge’s Neil and Denise Osborne will sell their breeding right to Champion Sire I Am Invincible at the upcoming Magic Millions National Breeding Stock Sale.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Best season ever for Lundholm despite weather issues
Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm has had his best season ever with 40 winners and 90 placegetters, even with the wet weather cancellations of many country race meetings.
“All the washouts have been tough, program setbacks, no revenue, we nominated at meetings programmed to try and ensure we get a run somewhere,” Lundholm told Racingnsw.com.au.
The stable will have seven runners at Parkes and numerous others at Scone over two days, Cootamundra and Brewarrina on Saturday into Sunday with eight acceptors through eight races.
Proisir’s Pier holds Stradbroke nomination
Trainer Darryn Weatherley was thrilled with the way Group 1 winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) trialled on Thursday after a long spell. “He trialled well, I am really pleased,” Weatherley, who trains Pier in conjunction with his daughter Briar, told Loveracing.nz.
“He has got a nomination for the Stradbroke, but that is all pie in the sky stuff at the moment. He may have a run at Te Aroha if the track isn’t too bad in three weeks’ time and then reassess if we have a hit-and-run at something like the Stradbroke.”
Pier (NZ) with co-trainer Briar Weatherley | Image courtesy of Race Images South
Pier won the 2022 G1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas but hasn’t raced since the 2023 G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate back in the spring.
All Too Hard mare gets new jockey for winter assignment
Jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll, who is apprenticed to Shaun Clotworthy in South Auckland, will ride the Ben Foote-trained Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) on Saturday at Trentham, with his 2kg claim reducing the Group 1 performer's impost from 62kg to 60kg for the open sprint. Billed as one of New Zealand’s fastest sprinters, Babylon Berlin hasn’t raced since January after sustaining a throat infection and an eye ailment.
“It's a great opportunity for me. Hopefully now she can win. She's got a lot of black type to her name and drawn well on Saturday, she should be right there and hopefully find a good kick on the turn,” Lawson-Carroll told Racing.com.
Babylon Berlin | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“She's a mare who looks to get out and get going and I don't think the weight is going to be that much of an issue.” A dual Group 3 winner, Babylon Berlin ran second to star sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the 2023 G1 Waikato Sprint.
Lawson-Carroll will get his first chance at black type on the same day aboard Lincoln Falls (Dundeel {NZ}) for Palmerston North-based trainer Lisa Latta in the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup.
73 nominations for Prix l’Arc de Triomphe
There are 73 nominations for the 2024 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Derby and Oaks favourites City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) and Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) among 10 engaged by Aidan O'Brien.
Japanese trainers are responsible for three entries; Arima Kinen winner Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) – a brother to 2020 Arc winner Sottsass (Fr) – and Regaleira (Jpn) (Sauve Richard {Jpn}).
Favourite Muth withdrawn from Preakness
The early favourite for the G1 Preakness S. Muth (USA) (Good Magic {USA}) has been scratched due to an elevated temperature.
“We are sick about this. The horse had been doing really well,” trainer Bob Baffert told the Pimlico media office.
“But we have to do what's right by the horse.”
Outsider wins G3 Musidora S.
Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York was won by Andrew Balding-trained 22-1outsider Secret Satire (GB) (Advertise {GB}). “Oisin was confident actually when we legged him up and he's come back in and been very complimentary, so we'll see how she is but I think the last Friday in May could be an option,” Anna-Lisa Balding said with regards to the G1 Epsom Oaks.
Secret Satire was a winner over a mile at two and now has two wins from four starts.
Dramatic G2 Clipper S. won by Mill Stream
Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper S. at York was won by Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
“I wasn't sure if we'd won and I appreciate they couldn't show the replay because of the faller, but thankfully Tom (Marquand) and the horse look okay,” said Chapple-Hyam.
“Mill Stream is a tough, brave horse and he's come on a lot since the Abernant, but he's only just won. I think he's pretty versatile and he goes on any ground. It was soft when he won in France last year, but quick in the Abernant. I'd like to go to Ascot on the Saturday (for the G1 Platinum Jubilee), but I'll see what (owner) Mr Harris wants to do.”
In the final furlong William Haggas-trained Tiber Flow (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}) parted company with rider Tom Marquand in an horrific-looking fall. Both escaped relatively unscathed after being assessed.
