Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip to stand at Lovatsville
Ciaron Maher Racing, Australian Bloodstock and new Victorian Stallion Station, Lovatsville, announced that Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) will stand this coming season at the Central Victoria-based stud, Lovatsville for a fee of $8800 (inc GST).
“It is quite rare that the Australasian breeding community get a chance to access horses who have performed so well in an Arc, arguably Europe’s premier race. Gold Trip had the versatility to race at the highest level here for multiple seasons demonstrating his class and toughness, while also displaying obvious speed where he flew past subsequent Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in the Turnbull,” said Lovatsville’s Sam White.
Gold Trip | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Placed at two, Gold Trip won the G2 Prix Greffulhe at three, running third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and fourth in Europe’s premier race, the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). At four, Gold Trip was twice G1 placed before heading to Australia, where he ran second in the G1 Caulfield Cup and won the G1 Melbourne Cup. He returned the following spring to win the G1 Turnbull S. and was again placed in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
“At $8800 (inc GST) he is priced extremely well considering his ability. We want to inject further value into the opportunity by providing very attractive breeding right packages so that Gold Trip’s supporters can access him for the duration of his career for a modest outlay.”
By a son of Exceed and Excel, Gold Trip is out of a half-sister to the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Sarkiyla (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), dam of the Group 3 winner Saiydabad (USA) (Blame {USA}).
Kitchwin Hills announce fees for 2024
Kitchwin Hills have announced that Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) will stand this season for a fee of $15,400, while Graff (Star Witness) will stand for a fee of $9,900.
Dubious has three juvenile winners from his first crop this year and his 2-year-old Patch Of Lucky sold for NZ$340,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale.
Dual Group 3 winning Group 1 placed Graff will have his first crop run as 2-year-olds in 2024/25, and his yearlings in 2024 sold up to $350,000.
A Lot increased to $11,000
Westbury Park stallion A Lot (USA) (Tapit {USA}) has earned another service fee increase to $11,000 (inc GST) following an outstanding season highlighted by his brilliant 2yo Sir Dreamalot and his classic 3yo colt A Lot Of Good Men. “I said A Lot was on the verge of something special twelve months ago,” Westbury Park owner Phil Ibbotson told tbwa.net.au.
“That was also obvious to breeders and his first book here attracted double the number from his final one at Willaview. They’ve sold to $100,000 and Magic Millions want more his colts and fillies at the Perth Yearling Sales.”
A Lot's first crop are 4-year-olds and he has two stakes winners from only 40 runners.
Overfull wins at Scone
The Peter Robl-trained 2-year-old filly Overfull (Overshare) took her record to two wins from four starts with victory at Scone on Friday with a brave front running effort to hold on by 0.8l.
Overfull | Image courtesy of Scone Race Club
Meanwhile at Townsville, 2-year-old gelding Head Honcho (Headwater) took his record to two wins from ten starts this season. Headwater has had nine individual juvenile winners this season.
Good barrier for Port Lockroy in Rough Habit
The Eagle Farm team of Annabel Neasham is headed by Todd Pollard, who was thrilled with getting barrier five for Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) for Saturday’s G3 Rough Habit Plate. “He hasn’t been able to draw a barrier in recent weeks,” Pollard told Racingqueensland.com.au.
“His last five runs he has basically drawn the outside gate. This week hopefully he can park up on the speed and you would think he will be a chance.” Port Lockroy is a full brother to Alpine Edge who was recently announced as standing at Clear Mountainview for his first season in 2024.
The Map aiming for Cup slot
South Australian stayer The Map (Alpine Eagle) will carry the hopes of a state when she tries to gain automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup in Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington. “We’re still of a generation that can remember at primary school, firstly listening to a radio and watching the Melbourne Cup at school,” co-trainer Oopy MacGillivray told Racingsa.com.au.
“The thrill would be if win an Andrew Ramsden, then your direction to the Melbourne Cup just opens up.”
Golden Kathleen hopes to end season on winning note
After bumping into boom the 2-year-old Bustling (Frosted {USA}) on several occasions, trainer Russell Stewart hopes his 2-year-old filly Golden Kathleen (Leonardo de Hinchi) can win at Belmont on Saturday. “It was dependent on her after the Sires’, but she bounced out of it like a prized boxer,” Stewart said to The Races WA.
Bustling | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“Her run in the Gimcrack was huge. There will plenty of miles left in the tank even after Saturday, but she’ll be going out. It absolutely looks a winnable race for her. She went really well the other day, but just ran into a freak.” Golden Kathleen has a win and two seconds from four starts including a last start second to Bustler in the G3 WA Sires’ Produce S.
Listed chance for Proisir mare
Consistent 5-year-old mare Islington Lass (NZ) (Proisir) is a strong chance to win the Listed Rangitikei Cup on Saturday, given that her trainer Allan Sharrock has won three of the last seven runnings. “It was a very good run last time and I think she’s tip-top for tomorrow,” Sharrock told Loveracing.nz.
Islington Lass (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
“This is the race we’ve been targeting with her.” Islington Lass has won five of her nine starts and was second in the Listed Anzac Mile last start. Sharrock also has Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and Sumi (NZ) (Atlante) in the Cup.
Dante S. won by Economics
Thursday’s G2 Dante S. at York was won by 3-year-old colt Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Bred by the late Guy Reed, who bred the colt's first three dams, Economics is trained by William Haggas. “Guy Reed bred and raced his dam, and her sire Peintre Celebre was also raised on the stud by the Wildensteins,” said Adrian O'Brien of Hazelwood Bloodstock, who pinhooked Economics as a foal.
“Andre Fabre trained the mare and she was a Group 2 winner. Guy said 'Please breed her for me', but she's had no luck. She had a dead foal and she had produced one winner before this guy. I loved him as a foal and Adrian bought him for 42,000gns and then sold him to Jake Warren for 160,000gns as a yearling.
“Guy would have loved this – winning the Dante. He would be so proud. He won the Ebor but this is wonderful. This is what it's all about.” Economics was fourth in his only start at two, and now has two wins from two starts at three. His trainer confirmed he won’t go to the G1 Epsom Derby but will look for targets at shorter distances until he matures.
Dominant win in G2 Middleton Fillies’ S. for Bluestocking
Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) outshone all four rivals with a dominant display in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York. “It's about time, isn't it?” said trainer Ralph Beckett referring to her five placings (and one fourth) from six starts last year as a 3-year-old.
“She was a bridesmaid too many times last year and it's great to get that race under our belt. She has been frustrating and I said to [Juddmonte's] Barry Mahon yesterday that I felt we'd done everything right, but you never know with her. … The [G1] Coronation Cup is a possibility, but it's quite soon. We'll have a think and see how she comes out it. All options are open.”
Bluestocking is now a winner at two and four, with five placings at three including two at Group 1 level.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner returns with strong win
Trainer Mick Appleby’s 3-year-old colt Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) has returned in fine style winning the Listed Westow S. at York on Thursday in his season debut. The colt won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at two.
Big Evs (Ire) | Image courtesy of the Breeders Cup
“He's not grown much but he's filled out a lot. He's like a bull now and Tom (Marquand) said he's as good as he was in California, if not better,” Appleby told Racingpost.com.
“I think he'll go for the King Charles III Stakes. He's in at Haydock (Temple S.) but I think that comes too quick and we don't need to run him again. It's more than likely he'll go straight to Ascot. We might try him at six furlongs on the right track but we'll win the Nunthorpe with him this year as well!”
Big Evs has won five of his seven starts and is one of two Group 1 winners from Blue Point’s first crop.
First winner for Pinatubo
First-season sire Pinatubo (Ire) was off the mark on Thursday as his son Andesite (GB) won at York. “He's a lovely horse, but I heard Richard Fahey say the other day that a lot of good horses do things easy at home and then first time out they often don't know what to do and Newmarket horses have often been on the grass a lot more, especially with the wet winter. I'll speak to Steve (Parkin) about Royal Ascot, but he's certainly worthy of going there,” said trainer Karl Burke.
