Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

On Monday, Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock Australia joined forces with Queensland’s Telemon Stud to launch the stud career of the impressive 2-year-old colt Red Resistance.

The son of Russian Revolution will stand the upcoming season for $11,000 (inc GST) with a select number of lifetime breeding rights available.

An elite juvenile, Red Resistance won the G3 Canonbury S., emulating the likes of successful stallions, Not A Single Doubt and Sebring. This success saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt head into the G1 Golden Slipper as a leading contender.

However, Red Resistance was scratched on the morning of the 2023 Golden Slipper due to illness. At the time, his co-trainer Adrian Bott commented, “We’re devastated not to be able to run him. We know what it takes to win a Slipper, and this colt was right up to the mark.”

Perfect fit for Queensland

The handsome Go Bloodstock-bred bay colt, Red Resistance, is the second foal from the brilliant mare Heatherly, a daughter of Lonhro. Heatherly was a top-class runner, winning six races, including the G2 Rubiton S., the Listed Bob Hoysted, and the Listed Carlyon S. Additionally, she was placed in the G1 Oakleigh Plate and the G1 AJ Moir S. She hails from the family of the talented Linton (Galileo {Ire}), a victor of the G1 Stradbroke H., the G2 Alister Clark S., and placed in the G1 Australian Cup, the G1 Australian Guineas, and the G1 BMW S.

Go Bloodstock’s Steve O’Connor explained the decision to partner with Dan Fletcher’s Telemon Thoroughbreds: “In standing Red Resistance, Sir Owen was adamant he wanted to give our colt the best opportunity with a focus on his elite 2-year-old speed. Telemon is a perfect fit. The farm has an illustrious honour roll, and our partnership places him in a Queensland market and mare population focused on juvenile speed.

“Red Resistance is ready-made to complement the Queensland mare population and produce precocious talent like himself. We feel this will give him every opportunity to be a leading national first-season sire and ultimately a significant stallion.”

Telemon Thoroughbreds’ Dan Fletcher chatted with TTR AusNZ about the latest exciting acquisition to the roster: “We’re very excited to get hold of a horse of Red Resistance’s calibre. He was right up to the mark with the very best 2-year-olds of his generation. So, it’s fantastic to have him join us at Telemon Thoroughbreds.

"The big thing for us is what he brings as a type. It’s not easy for a colt to stand out when you line them up against the elite of the elites that populate the best farms in the country, but this bloke does. He’s an incredibly attractive horse and we’re privileged to have him”.

Support pledged to Resistance

Fletcher explained how the opportunity to stand Red Resistance came about, “The conversation was initiated by Sir Owen Glenn and his team at Go Bloodstock. It’s interesting because the horse was very much on my radar, and he didn’t need any introduction when they sort of sounded us out.

“I was very familiar with Red Resistance, and to be honest, he was a colt in my mind that was probably of such a high calibre that I didn’t even really entertain a scenario where he could have been attainable for us.

“So, it’s amazing they were able to come up with a structure which is enabling us to sort of form a joint venture and get hold of him.”

Despite not winning a Group 1 race, Red Resistance showcased Group 1 ability and form, having beaten Shinzo in the G3 Canonbury S. and then placed in the G2 Todman S. to Cylinder and beating the triple Group 1 winner Militarize (NZ).

As Fletcher explained through the deeds of stallions such as Not A Single Doubt and I Am Invincible, a horse can retire without the Group 1 tag and be a successful stallion, "What’s so important is we’ve sort of come to recognise that the Group designation is not the be all and end all. There are plenty of precedents for horses that have been successful at stud without being Group 1 winners, but I think what they had in common was that they had established Group 1 ability.

“It’s really no fault of the horse that he didn’t get to fulfil his ability and actually attain that level on the racecourse, so he has retired very untapped and lightly raced.

“Those unfortunate circumstances for the horse and his connections have really played into our favour and for us, he wouldn’t be attainable otherwise.”

With a strong backing of shareholders, including Sir Owen Glenn’s outstanding broodmare band, Red Resistance will receive momentous support in his debut season.

“It’s a really critical aspect for us to have shareholder support behind the horse; it’s so important. Sir Owen’s broodmare band is probably second to none, and they’ve really got a deep commitment to supporting the horse, as have other shareholders and us,” Fletcher told TTR AusNZ.

“We’re going to be boots and all behind him, and we’re going to try and bring as many people with us as we can, and that’s just going to be really critical for his success.

“We’re parochial Queenslanders and as much as I see Red Resistance as a horse with national significance, to have him standing in our backyard is just another marker for the depth of our commitment, and also from Sir Owen and his team at Go Bloodstock.”

Sir Owen added, ‘‘Red Resistance is a horse dear to me and Go Bloodstock. We purchased his dam Heatherly specifically to visit Russian Revolution. Highly rated as a yearling, he delivered on the racetrack and was unlucky to miss the Golden Slipper when Gai rated him a winning chance. We believe in Red Resistance and will support him accordingly.”

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

The Thoroughbred Report enjoyed a good chat with Suman Hedge as the thrill of Group 1 victory was sinking in (well almost!) on Sunday afternoon.

“There are so many disappointments in racing because it is such a hard sport," said Hedge who part owned Socks Nation after buying her on Sheriff Iskander's behalf at the 2022 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

“You end up with so many nice horses being injured or not fulfilling their potential - and all those memories come to the fore when something like this happens.

“You always have thoughts of those horses bubbling in your mind so when something like this does happen it is surreal as you become so used to losing!

“Even people who are really good at this game lose most of the time so a win at any level is something to savour, it is always really special.”

Hedge remembers the day that the daughter of the one-time shuttler (to Swettenham Stud) Sioux Nation (USA) caught the eye at Oaklands Junction, looking forward "to seeing what she looked like” after spying her in the catalogue, admitting that "I really didn't know much about her sire.”

What he saw was a filly who immediately grabbed attention.

A very, very efficient horse

“She was such a good mover - a very, very efficient horse who knew how to use herself well.

“She was very athletic with a big overstep and great motion.

“She is the sort of horse you see and say, 'she has the perfect action for an athlete.'”

Though, he admits, he has seen such horses before, and it has not always worked out well - “we've had some great actioned horses who have been very slow and some not such great types who have been very efficient performers.

“Which is what is great about the game,” he said - "it gives everyone a chance. If there were set rules the big players would race every good horse.”

Still feeling the nerves and pressure when recommending a horse to a client, Hedge was keen on Socks Nation but wanted to make sure she did tick every box.

And one of those boxes was the faith in her by another good judge.

“I am very close to Scott Holcombe at Milburn Creek where she had been prepared and he gave me a glowing appraisal of her.

“I had inspected her three or four times as I tend to do with the ones I like and eventually Scott said 'she hasn't changed Suman! If you like her, don't second guess yourself - just buy her.'

“When someone you respect gives you a push like that it gives you a bit more confidence.”

Hedge remembers Socks Nation being popular - "a lot of trainers liked her.”

“Matthew and Melissa Smith place a lot of importance on the heart testing and I found out from them later that they really liked her on her cardio readings.”

With such competition it took $160,000 to secure Socks Nation, the most expensive of the six Sioux Nations at the sale and the second most expensive yearling by him in Australia.

Socks Nation gets her name

Sent to renowned breaker Adrian Corby - who Hedge describes as “such a talented, wonderful horseman,” - Socks Nation fared well early, and gained her name.

“Adrian was pronouncing Sioux 'Socks' and we thought it would be a little bit of fun to call her that - and he has taken it well.”

Taking the breaking-in process in her stride, Socks Nation did suffer an early "glitch" to her career - “she whacked her head on the feeder and fractured her jaw and had to be wired up - it was a bit hairy for a while as we didn't know where she'd end up with that, but she recovered really well.”

From there Socks Nation made her way to the Ciaron Maher stables and Hedge could not be happier with the job they have done with her.

“Ciaron, Jack Turnbull (assistant trainer) and the staff - it is a real team effort, it is a stable that works like a well-oiled machine,” he said, noting another trait he admires in Maher.

“Ciaron seems to be able to identify talent, not just in horses but in people as well,” he said, recalling Annabel Neasham's time with the stable as one example.

“His good eye for talent helps him achieve the amazing results the stable enjoys.”

It can be said that Sheriff Iskander also has that eye for promise, he, being the driving force behind Suman Hedge's burgeoning career as a bloodstock agent.

“I used to be in the background, managing horses after other people bought them,” Hedge recalled, "and it was Sheriff who gave me the opportunities for which I am so grateful.”

“If not for him I'd have no career at all and his confidence in me has pushed me to work harder.

“He is extremely loyal and has supported me heavily - which gave me the impetus to start my own company.”

Zoustar kicks off a career

Hedge's good eye for a horse came to the fore in 2012 when a member of Northern Meteor's debut crop was secured for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“There was trepidation around regarding Northern Meteor," Hedge recalled - "Encosta de Lago's sons had not yet done a great deal and there were a few naysayers regarding this yearling.

“Some said his hocks were not great, others said he didn't have enough strength behind the saddle.”

But what Hedge saw - noting that he "likes to look at the positives” rather than dwell on the negatives when inspecting a horse - was a yearling with "a lot of presence.

“He had that beautiful Encosta de Lago head and was very athletic. I loved him but really didn't think that I'd be able to get him, I just thought he'd make a lot more.”

But racing fortune was on his side that day, the horse who would become Zoustar a pivotal turning point in Hedge's career.

“You need a lot of luck in this game and your whole career can change with one horse," he said.

And not just a career, but everything - “you look back and realise how close you can come to having a completely different life,” he said.

An Adrenaline rush

Hedge loves and fully appreciates his racing life, admitting that he sometimes gives himself “an uppercut!

“Sometimes we get a bit cuddled and spoilt, we sit at the sales and complain about things like how long it is taking and then you get home and think you are such a brat! It is such a great life-style and such a very enjoyable industry be involved in.”

“You get to meet nice people and win races which is such an adrenaline rush.”

A rush Hedge enjoys regardless of the where and the when - “I still get a thrill from a win at Balaklava on a Wednesday, you can never take wins lightly.”

Socks Nation is one of a number of fillies raced by Iskander and Hedge with a plan set in motion a few years ago.

“Sheriff decided he'd like to race some nice fillies and asked me to buy some of the better types for him.”

Socks Nation is the ringleader so far but there have been other good ones as well - such as the Listed winner Zoukerette (I Am Invincible) who was sold to the China Horse Club for $700,000 at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

And the lightly raced and promising Ella's World (The Autumn Sun) - “a nice staying filly" who has won her last couple for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.

“Sheriff has been a bit unlucky with some of the fillies we have bought," Hedge said. “Probably the most talented of them is a $900,000 Zoustar filly who hasn't raced yet as she has just had niggling problem after niggling problem - the Freedmans are hopeful that we will see her in the spring.”

Exceeding expectations

When Socks Nation may also be again in action though obviously her owners are already delighted with her achievements - never expecting that she would end up with an elite level win to her name.

“We thought she was above average when she won at Sandown," Hedge said of Socks Nation's fourth start when she won her maiden by five three-quarter lengths - "she cleared out and looked pretty progressive.

“We were really hoping then that she could measure up to be a Listed type horse - the message from the stable was that it would be great to be able to get some black-type with her.”

But Socks Nation kept improving, though still not giving Hedge confidence that she was going to win a big one.

“We thought it would be really good if she could place in a stakes race to enhance her value. We certainly didn't have any Group 1 feeling about her.

“But I must say that the stable projected a lot more confidence going into the race - and it seems it was well founded.

Noting that Socks Nation is yet to finish out of the first five in her twelve starts, Hedge describes her as "a very honest filly who has coped well with everything served up to her. When she is not winning, she is still always thereabouts.”

A game filly

“She is a very game filly who always shows fight,” he continued.

“On Saturday when the other horse loomed up to her I thought we were running for a nice second which in itself would've been a pleasant surprise.

“But when that horse got to her she really rallied.”

Hedge very much enjoys the vagaries of racing horses, also happy when - around 90 minutes before Socks Nation's Oaks success - Cotton Tree (Shamus Award) was a game second at Flemington.

“He is my favourite horse at the moment," said Hedge, "though I'd probably now have to say that he is second to Socks Nation!

“He was a $16,000 purchase with Mick Price at the Magic Millions sale in June. We were walking around the stables and this little ball of fluff came out and caught our eye.

“The vendor told us there was no reserve due to him being sold to cover a debt and that they were hoping to get $25,000 to $30,000 for him.

“He has been so much fun - he is the opposite to Socks Nation, so ungainly; a tall, gangly skinny horse who races with his head in the air. He has the worst action and is not at all attractive to look at - but he has a big ticker.

“He is such an unfashionable horse to look at, but he is mixing it with them, and he tries his heart out every time - you cannot help but love a horse like him.”

Cover image courtesy of Two Bays Farm

Ross Ferris’ outstanding nursery, Two Bays Farm, located on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula, will present seven quality weanlings by a classy group of stallions at this week’s Inglis Great Southern Sale, set to begin on Thursday, May 13, and conclude on Friday, May 14.

Explaining the decision to offer these seven weanlings to the market, Ferris noted that the lack of room due to redevelopments on the property forced his hand. The original intention was to offer the weanlings as yearlings next year. “They are a really good bunch of horses. They tick the boxes on paper and physically.

“They are getting sold as weanlings due to some developments on the farm. We’ve run out of space, and it is a bit tight on the farm. So, we had a paddock of weanlings at home and decided to bring our really nice ones to the Inglis Great Southern Sale.”

Zou, Zou, Zoustar

It has been shown that if you're taking a Zoustar to the sales this season, you’re going to attract plenty of attention. Two Bays Farm will present the only weanling by the Widden Stud-based superstar at the Inglis Great Southern Sale, Lot 270.

The chestnut colt is the first foal from the speedy Magnus mare News Girl, a winner of five races from 1100 to 1200 metres, and a dual Group 3 placegetter. In addition, she was fourth in the G2 Angus Armanasco S.

News Girl is a full sister to the talented Front Page, who won the Listed AR Creswick S. and finished third in the G1 The Galaxy.

Across weanling sales to date, Zoustar’s six weanlings sold have averaged $228,333 and grossed $1,370,000, with a top price of $350,000 for a colt.

Ferris said, “He’s a really nice colt and is for genuine sale. He’s a really athletic horse and a good first foal from News Girl.

“He’s from a fast family and by Zoustar, who can obviously get a very good horse.”

News boys on the block

Making up part of Two Bays Farm’s lovely draft of seven are two weanlings by the ‘new boys on the block’ - Home Affairs and Extreme Warrior.

Lot 70 is a bay filly by the handsome Home Affairs, a dual Group 1-winning son of I Am Invincible, who stands at Coolmore.

The filly is the second foal from the Soldier Hollow (GB) mare Clear For Take Off (GB). She won three races and was placed in a Group 3 in Germany. Her half-sister, Calyxa (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), was crowned the Champion Older Female in Italy and is a dual Group 1 placegetter.

Home Affairs showed exceptional talent as a juvenile, winning the G2 Silver Slipper S., but returned even more imperious as a 3-year-old, claiming the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and then beating his Champion stablemate Nature Strip (Nicconi) in the G1 Lightning S.

The progeny of Home Affairs have averaged $179,736 from 19 sold across weanling sales to date, achieving a top price of $430,000.

“She’s a big strong filly, with a big bum on her. She’s got a lot of power and strength with a good bone, coat, and colour. She’s just an all-round nice filly, to my eye,” said Ferris.

Meanwhile, Extreme Warrior will be represented by Lot 160 in Two Bays Farm’s draft. Extreme Warrior, a good-looking and talented son of the ‘statistical freak’ Extreme Choice, stands at Rosemont Stud.

Lot 160, a filly, is the second foal from the aptly named Hard ‘N’ Tough, a daughter of Hard Spun (USA). She won nine races, ranging from 1400 to 2100 metres, and is from the family of the Group 2 winners Dancing Daze (NZ) (Dance Floor {USA}) and All Roads (NZ) (by Road To Rock).

“She’s a neat, good running filly. She’s not overly big, neither is the stallion (Extreme Warrior). But she’s just a very attractive filly that gets along. She’s got a great eye, is smart, and has an attractive head.

“She’s a neat package,” added Ferris.

Ferris, a fan of Street Boss

Darley’s wonderful sire, Street Boss (USA), the sire of Champion Anamoe, is represented by two lots in Two Bays Farm’s draft.

The first through the ring from the farm is Lot 125, a filly. She is the fourth foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Excelsior Island. The filly is bred on the hugely successful Street Boss/Exceed And Excel cross that has produced the likes of the Group 1 winner Elite Street.

Excelsior Island is a half-sister to New Zealand’s Champion 2-Year-Old Warhorse (NZ) and the Listed winner Epona Princess (Fastnet Rock).

“She’s bred on the magic cross of Street Boss and Exceed And Excel. He had another 2-year-old winner the other day bred on that cross. She’s going to turn into a big, gorgeous filly when fully furnished,” said Ferris.

The second Street Boss, a colt, Lot 138, is the second foal from the Foxwedge mare Foxpack. A winner of four races, she is a full sister to the Listed winner Kentucky Miss. Their dam, Twelve Pack Shelly (USA) (Deputy Storm {USA}), was a dual Listed winner in North America.

“The Foxpack colt is just a lovely, lovely horse. He gets along really well, he’s very attractive, and I think he’s going to turn into a beautiful horse,” added Ferris.

P for Proven

Newgate Farm’s G1 Golden Slipper victor, Capitalist, is represented by Lot 198. The bay filly is the second foal from the Wandjina mare Kimberley Spirit, who is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon).

Also in the family is the Group 3-placed Light Up The Room (So You Think {NZ}) and the talented filly Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel {NZ}), who contested Saturday’s G1 Queensland Oaks and was placed in the G2 The Roses at Doomben.

Lot 362, a colt by Swettenham Stud’s outstanding Toronado (Ire), is the third foal from Spin Me A Kiss (USA), a Listed-placed daughter of Hard Spun (USA). She is a half-sister to the North American Listed victress Coco Kisses (USA) (Empire Way {USA}), while their dam, River Kiss (USA) (Awesome Gambler {USA}), was placed in the G3 Sorrento S. at Del Mar.

Heading into Thursday’s first day of selling, Ferris is taking an optimistic approach: “There’s always reservations, but at the end of the day, going off the first two weanling sales of the year, you’re going to have to be pretty confident and bullish about the market itself if you have some nice horses that tick the boxes for buyers.”

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Monday’s King’s Birthday public holiday meeting at Canterbury attracted a competitive and deep field of pedigrees in the opening event.

The 1250-metre maiden was won by the beautifully bred Steel Strike (by Exceed And Excel), trained by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Ridden by Tim Clark, the colt was headed by Chris Waller’s $750,000 colt Rugby (by Dundeel {NZ}), who looked sure to claim the maiden.

However, Clark urged Steel Strike along, and the Go Bloodstock-colour bearer dug deep to wrestle back the advantage and break his maiden at start two in impressive fashion.

Rugby was then headed out of second by Ciaron Maher’s Sacred Fort, a son of Newgate Farm’s Tassort. Running fourth was Manos, a $1.1 million son of Snitzel.

No stopping Go Bloodstock

Go Bloodstock homebreds have been firing this season on the track, with its juveniles making a mark. They claimed the G1 Golden Slipper with Lady Of Camelot (by Written Tycoon) and have another smart 3-year-old prospect in Steel Strike.

The colt’s pedigree is all blue-chip. Bred and raced by Go Bloodstock Australia, he is by the pensioned Exceed And Excel, the sire of 217 stakes winners worldwide. Steel Strike is the fourth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Pittsburgh Flyer, who won the G3 GH Mumm S. and finished fourth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.

Pittsburgh Flyer’s first foal, September Run, a full sister to Steel Strike, was supremely talented, winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 William Reid S. September Run was retired last year and served by Widden Stud’s Zoustar in the spring.

The daughter of Street Cry’s second foal, My Yankee Girl (American Pharoah {USA}), has won five races, including at Flemington. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Flyer’s third foal, a filly by Merchant Navy named Steel City, won the G3 Magic Night S.

Pittsburgh Flyer foaled a colt by I Am Invincible in August and was served by Snitzel in the spring.

Shades of In The Congo?

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report after Steel Strike’s gripping victory, Go Bloodstock’s Steve O’Connor said, “He’s always been a colt we’ve had a big opinion of.”

Commenting on Steel Strike’s debut fourth at Warwick Farm, O’Connor mentioned, “We were slightly disappointed on debut, but he bounced back to form today (Monday), which was very pleasing to see because he’s a colt that is beautiful physically and has a great pedigree.

“So, he’s a colt we always felt had a lot of potential. He’s off to a good start, breaking his maiden at his second start, and we’re very happy to see that.”

Asked about what could be in store for Steel Strike after Monday’s success, O’Connor told TTR AusNZ, “We’ve had horses before with Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott) like In The Congo, who ran once or twice over the winter, and then came back and was good enough to win the G1 Golden Rose.”

In The Congo won as a 2-year-old in May at Kensington-Randwick, then placed in a 2-year-old H. at Randwick in June. He contested the Listed The Rosebud first-up, beaten by Paulele before turning the tables on that colt in the G3 San Domenico.

The son of Snitzel was then beaten by Anamoe in the G2 Run To The Rose but worked his magic and turned the tables on the rival in the G1 Golden Rose.

“Those are the types of races that we'd be looking at with Steel Strike. We will speak to Gai and Adrian and work out whether he’ll run this preparation or he gets a little break and comes back for the spring.”

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Since the catalogue for the 2024 Inglis Great Southern Sale has gone to print, a host of lots will go through the ring at the Riverside complex and have had their pedigrees enhanced, which is important information for vendors and buyers alike.

Lot 349 - Magnus x Silverbeat (Distant Music {USA}), filly - on account of Stockwell Thoroughbreds

Stockwell Thoroughbreds presents a daughter of the much-missed Magnus, out of the multiple stakes-producing mare Silverbeat (Distant Music {USA}). Lot 349 received an additional pedigree boost when her half-brother, the talented Acid Wash (American Pharoah {USA}), won his second race from seven starts at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Additionally, this is the family of Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}), who finished third in the G3 Drinkwise Mile at Doomben on May 25.

Lot 380 - Peltzer x Tango Fire (Anabaa {USA}), colt - on account of Twin Hills Stud

Lot 380 is from the second crop of Twin Hills Stud’s exciting son of So You Think (NZ), Peltzer. The colt received a further pedigree update when his half-brother, Hedonist (Headwater), made an impressive debut by winning at Swan Hill on Saturday.

Lot 232 - So You Think (NZ) x Madeleina (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), colt - on account of Bhima Thoroughbreds

This son of Coolmore’s outstanding stallion So You Think (NZ) is a half-brother to Lotus Tower (Nicconi), who won at Sandown-Lakeside on June 5, taking his unbeaten run to two.

Additionally, Lot 232 is from the family of the talented Queenslander All That Pizzazz (Spirit Of Boom), who finished fourth in Saturday’s G2 Moreton Cup.