Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Day two of the sale saw the most expensive weanling colt for the year go through the ring - Lot 499 sold by Bell River Thoroughbreds.

At A Glance

•

The Inglis Weanling Sales Series (Australian Weanling Sale and Great Southern Weanling Sale) grossed a record $28,186,000 – a 23 per cent year-on-year increase.

•

The Great Southern Weanling Sale gross of $11,906,000 is a 19% year-on-year increase and the second-best ever, just $200,000 shy of the record year of 2022.

•

The combined gross of the Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series - Australian Weanling Sale, Chairman’s Sale, Australian Broodmare Sale and Great Southern Sale - currently sits at $72,434,750, the second best ever.

•

379 weanlings were offered at the 2024 Inglis Great Southern Sale, 256 of whom were sold - a clearance rate of 68 per cent compared to last year which saw 223 of 313 - 71 per cent - sold.

•

The weanling sessions grossed $11,906,000, an increase from the gross figure of $9,966,273 achieved in 2023, however there were 66 more weanlings offered at this year’s edition.

•

The average and median of $46,508 and $22,250, respectively, improved from the 2023 figures of $44,692 and $16,000.

•

The overall sale-topping weanling Lot 499, Snitzel x Members Joy colt, who made $575,000 to Jim Carey on Day 2, fell short of the top lot from the 2023 top-priced Lot 64, who made $825,000.

•

Sixty-seven broodmares were offered at the 2024 Inglis Great Southern Sale, up from 44 lots offered at last year’s edition. 35 (52.2 per cent) were sold. In comparison, 29 lots (66 per cent) were sold in 2023.

•

The 2024 figure for the broodmare session of the Inglis Great Southern Sale grossed $1,102,500 compared to last year's $2,146,250.

•

The average recorded was $31,500 and a median of $20,000; the 2023 average and median were $74,009 and $37,500.

•

The broodmare sale topper was Lot 503 Naiconi (Nicconi) (Written Tycoon) who realised $160,000 going the way of Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA), which was significantly cheaper than last year’s sale topping $510,000.

After securing the only Satono Aladdin (Jpn) of the sale for $145,000 on Day 1 of the sale, it wasn’t until the last few offerings that Jim Carey’s name appeared on the buyer's sheet.

This time Carey, a native of Suncroft in Co. Kildare, stretched to $575,000 to secure the star offering of the sale, a Snitzel colt out of the multiple stakes winning and producing mare, Members Joy (Hussonet {USA}).

Bred by Iskander Racing Syndicate Pty Ltd, the colt is the seventh foal from the mare who has produced five foals to race for as many winners, including Go Bloodstock’s late, G2 Percy Sykes S. winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible) who is the dam of Go Bloodstock’s own Listed Woodland’s S. winner Hip Hip Hurrah (Snitzel).

Suman Hedge described the result as “beyond all of our dreams’’ and it capped off a huge week for he and Iskander whose Inglis Premier Yearling Sale filly Socks Nation won the G1 Queensland Oaks last Saturday.

Savour it - enjoy it

“We all have a lot of difficult weeks in the industry so when you get a good week like this and things are rosy, you’ve just got to savour it and enjoy it,’’ Hedge said.

“It was a late decision to bring the colt here but the Fergusons did an amazing job with him, they’ve worked tirelessly, I mean the horse only had a four-day prep for the sale basically.

“I think this is an outstanding sale, an underrated sale,” Hedge continued.

“At the end of the day it’s the last opportunity for buyers to buy stock, they’re all here and they’re all aggressive to get what they can.

“I think it’s a great sale to target as a seller… it’s batted above its average this year again.’’

Jim Carey believed the colt was “the best weanling that went through the market all year’’.

“Really exceptional Snitzel colts are hard to come by,’’ Carey said, "and he is out of a mare who we know can get a good one."

“He is a very good example of a fast, precocious type of Snitzel.”

“We’ve had a huge amount of success producing Group 1 performers through the Newgate pinhooking system and we’re really hopeful this colt can be the next high level graduate raised on the farm.’’

Bell Rivers' Jock Ferguson was taken by the colt's attitude during the sales process - "he was a very easy, straight forward horse who paraded well and was received well."

A 2024 mating for Members Joy is yet to be decided but there is plenty for her owners to look forward to as she is due in August to Zoustar.

Debut crop Acrobat colt proves popular

A daughter of Coolmore’s young stallion Acrobat handed Ponderosa Park its second six figure result of the sale after their Pierata colt from Mistress Of Doom (Domesday) fetched $150,000 on Day 1.

Purchased by Hallmark Stud / Michael Kirwan for $170,000, Lot 361 is the fifth foal from Spiced (Exceed and Excel), a half-sister to the ill-fated Group 3 winning colt Brave Mead (Brave Smash), the Listed winner Solemn (Bernardini {USA}) and the stakes-placed 2-year-old filly Aemelius (Hellbent) who is set to tackle the G1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Kirwan was in the ownership group of Acrobat – a highly talented 2-year-old who easily won the RL Inglis Nursery on debut in emphatic fashion before injury ended his racing career – and he “just loved’’ the Spiced filly.

“She’s an absolutely gorgeous filly, a Queen, and I just really liked her profile and pedigree, by Acrobat out of an Exceed And Excel mare,’’ Kirwan said.

“I thought she was one of the best fillies in the sale. Was she good buying at $170,000? I’ll tell you next year after we’ve offered her as a yearling!’’

The two times winning Spiced has produced two foals to race for as many winners including the three-time winner Ancient Egypt (American Pharoah {USA}) and Hong Kong winner Lucy In The Sky (No Nay Never {USA}).

Bred and raced by Godolphin, Spiced was a $330,000 purchase by BBA Ireland at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and was subsequently purchased at last year’s Inglis Sydney Broodmare Sale by Ponderosa Park / Intel Bloodstock for just $9,000 when carrying the filly at the time. She missed last season to Tiger Of Malay.

Another popular Toronado

It took Bevan Smith $140,000 to secure Lot 362, a Toronado (Ire) filly from stakes placed imported mare Spin Me a Kiss (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}). It was the third weanling sired by Toronado to fetch top figures at the sale.

Spin Me A Kiss was a $40,000 purchase by Pinhook Bloodstock at the 2020 Keeneland Keeneland January All Ages Sale and has produced two other foals including a Brazen Beau 2-year-old filly (purchased by Greg Eurell for $130,000 at last years Inglis Melbourne Premier) and a Blue Point yearling filly, and this season is back in foal to Toronado.

The filly boasts interesting line-breeding patterns including duplications of the outstanding mares Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Plum Cake (USA) (Ponder {USA}).

Still hot

Lot 295, a filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft was acquired for $140,000 by Kilgravin Lodge / Bevan Smith Bloodstock. The filly is the second foal from 2-year-old winner, Plover Lover (Wanted) who hails from the influential Scandinavia (Snippets) family of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Ole Kirk and All Too Hard.

It was the second purchase of the sale for the Kilgravin Lodge / Bevan Smith Bloodstock partnership who also secured Lot 267, a colt by Home Affairs for $200,000 on Day 1.

Also by the in-form Too Darn Hot (and bred on the same cross) was Lot 358 secured by Ridgmont for $130,000 from the draft of Burnewang North Pastoral. She is a daughter of the Group 2 placed mare Sort After (Wanted) whose has been represented by two recent impressive winners - the debutant Tishman (Dundeel {NZ}) and the lightly raced Whistle Down (Zoustar) who was retained by her breeders.

A third good seller on the day for Too Darn Hot was Lot 354, a colt offered by Blue Gum Farm who was purchased by Infinity Thoroughbreds / Shane's Team for $120,000. The colt is the second foal from Smarter Than (NZ) (Ghibellines), an unraced half-sister to the dual stakes winner Yogi (Raise The Flag {GB}).

He has an interesting pedigree with Ghibellines being a member of the Giant's Causeway (USA) sire line and that horse's dam sire Rahy (USA) is a half-brother to Too Darn Hot's dam sire Singspiel (Ire) - the high class race and broodmare Glorious Song (Can) (Halo {USA}) duplicated.

Too Darn Hot has already sired six winners bred this way and two of those - Carolina Reaper (GB) and Boiling Point (Ire) - are stakes winners.

Young mares all the rage

Demand for young mares was evident (as it has been at all broodmare sales this year) with all three of mares to fetch $100,000 or more being offered straight off the track or empty.

Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) went to $160,000 for Lot 503, the three-time winning, stakes placed 4-year-old mare Naiconi (Nicconi). Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the lightly raced (nine starts) mare from the family of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {GB}) was consigned as a breeding proposition by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds.

Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock parted with $110,000 for Lot 461, the three-time winning Meetmein Melbourne (Russian Revolution). A daughter of G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Pane In The Glass (Testa Rossa), also trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy was a $180,000 Inglis Easter Yearling graduate and claimed almost $100,000 in earnings.

Also consigned by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, she is from an active family being a half-sister to the G2 Euclase S. winner Xilong who has a weanling filly on the ground by Stay Inside and who is in foal to State Of Rest (Ire).

Well-related Written Tycoon mare Written Miss was a $100,000 acquisition for Ultra Thoroughbreds late in the day. Offered by Crossley Thoroughbreds, the city winning mare who won three of her four career starts, was offered empty after foaling a Rubick colt last year. The 6-year-old mare is from the multiple stakes winning mare Enquare (Stratum), making her a three-quarter-relation to the Group 3 winner and G1 Golden Rose runner-up, Encap (Capitalist).

Hutch reflects on the sales season

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch reflected on what has been a successful month for the company.

“We’ve worked hard as a team over the past few years on our breeding stock sales series and to now have the Inglis Weanling Sales Series as comfortably the biggest and best in Australia and to have made a significant impression on the broodmare market, it’s really very pleasing and we are hugely grateful for the support from a huge cross section of vendors and breeders,’’ he said.

“To sell more than $28m worth of weanlings – a market-leading figure for a third consecutive year – between Sydney and Melbourne is extremely satisfying but something we wouldn’t have been able to do without the backing of a huge proportion of the market.

“There is no disguising the challenges in the market, particularly in terms of its selective nature, but there have been a huge number of pleasing results that have seen a lot of clients well rewarded for both weanlings and broodmares.’’

Top lots

Top buyers

Vendors by aggregate

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Sires by aggregate

Sires by average (3 or more sold)

G1 Stradbroke Handicap - history at Eagle Farm

First run as a six furlong contest in 1890 and won by Pyrrhus (Orlando), the Stradbroke kicked off with some nice local history - that horse’s first five dams all being Australian-bred, his fifth dam Stella (Peter Fin {GB}) being a daughter of one of the first stallions imported especially for thoroughbred racehorse breeding.

He was amongst the first thoroughbred stallions registered in the Australian Stud Book whilst Stella was born just five years after the Stud Book recorded the first named imported thoroughbred mare.

The second winner Dan O’Connell (Archie) was a bit different - his dam not recorded in the stud book at all whilst neither the sire or the dam of the third winner Tallboy (Fenman {GB}) had their pedigrees recorded. The fifth winner also goes down in history as “NTB” - ironically named Studbook (Archie)!

Interestingly the race was still being won by “NTB” horses up to as late as 1983 when Brenaline (NZ) (Bellissimo {Fr}) took the prize.

1895 and 1896 saw the first dual Stradbroke winner, Babel (Glorious {GB}) - a versatile galloper who also won feature events over 12 furlongs. 1897 saw the race’s one and only dead-heat - Dalnair (Archie) and The Scamp (The Rake) whilst the following year it had its first really high class winner; Boreas II (Little Bernie) taking out a number of other big races including the Brisbane Cup and the Queensland Derby.

The 1903 winner Fitz Grafton (Grafton {GB}) had an interesting life, the first 2-year-old winner of the race winning a host of other major races including a couple of runnings of the Viceroy’s Cup in India - his record earning him a place in the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame.

The 1908 winner Satisfaire (NZ) (Birkenhead {Ire}) was the first winner to go onto a successful broodmare career - producing three stakes winners - whilst the 1921 winner Syceonelle (Syce {GB}) was represented by the 1940 Melbourne Cup winner Old Rowley (The Buzzard {GB}).

Highland (Highfield {GB}) took out the 1925 and 1926 runnings - two years after the latter taking that form to Melbourne to win the WS Cox Plate. Meanwhile the 1957 winner Kingster (Star Kingdom {Ire}) - who won under 59kg by 4l in record time - was having the last start of his stellar career, one which saw him win the 1955 Cox Plate.

Since that time the Stradbroke has been won by many a high class and popular horse, its honour roll boasting such outstanding gallopers as Wiggle (Rego {Ire}), Winfreux (Affreux {Fr}), Rajah Sahib (NZ), Dane Ripper (Danehill {USA}), Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), All Our Mob (What A Guest {Ire}), Campaign King, Santa Ana Lane (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).

So who adds their name to history this year? Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Vilana (Hallowed Crown) are well-fancied despite drawing out - the former tough off a wide run when sixth in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup whilst the latter looked to have plenty in hand racing away to an easy win in the G2 Moreton Cup last weekend.

A trio of Group 1 mares are bound to prove competitive - Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Magic Time (Hellbent) and Benedetta (Hellbent) with the former copping the toughest gate (21).

Queensland’s two leading trainers Tony Gollan and Robert Heathcote are both hoping to secure their city’s biggest race for the first time - Gollan cheering home Antino whilst also looking to get a run with the first emergency Freedom Rally (Rubick) whilst Heathcote is represented by the speedy Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom).

G1 JJ Atkins Stakes - Broadsiding is HOT!

Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) lines up a very short-priced favourite after drawing ideally in barrier 2 in this juvenile feature as he attempts to become the second horse in three years to take out the G2 BRC Sires Produce S./G1 JJ Atkins S. double.

Both races were won two years ago by Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) with the previous two horses to claim both races being Sizzling in 2012 and Pressday in 2010.

Zouna (Zousain) covered ground from an outside gate when a game second in the Sires, a race in which Bittercreek (Snitzel), Smashing Time (Brave Smash {Jpn}) and Barbaric Lad (Brutal {NZ}) also ran well.

Broadsiding, Zouna and Barbaric Lad are joined by Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) as the progeny of first-season sires who are all looking for their first Australian Group 1 winners. Smashing Time’s sire and Ardrossan - sire of Beau Dazzler (NZ) - also fit into that category with a big race win by a 2-year-old looking good on any young stallion’s resume.

Imperialist (NZ) is one of the two runners for Churchill (Ire) and he looked good breaking his maiden in the Listed Phoenix S. in which Beau Dazzler ran on nicely to finish fourth. Aemelius (Hellbent) also contested that race, giving a great sight out in front and holding on for a brave second.

This race, which has had its share of distance and name changes over the years, has been won by some very nice horses such as Dalrello, Luskin Star, Zeditave, Prince Salieri, Slight Chance (NZ) (Centaine), Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}), Show A Heart, Darci Brahma (NZ) and The Autumn Sun with a number of those horses going on to very successful stud careers.

G2 The Q22 - four in a row for the imports?

A race rebranded from the PJ O’Shea S. to The Q22 in 2021, this Group 2 $1.2 million contest has - since the change - been dominated by imported gallopers; the subsequent G1 Caulfield and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) taking the prize last year, Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) the year before and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).

As the O’Shea, the race was won on five occasions by the same horse more than once - Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}) in 2008 and 2009, Roman Consul (NZ) (Agricola {GB}) in 1969 and 1970, Striking Force (Osborne {Fr}) in 1966 and 1967, Tulloch (NZ) in 1960 and 1961 and Redcraze (NZ) (Red Mars {GB}) in 1956 and 1957.

A feat being attempted on Saturday by Numerian who lines up for his third run in the race, running a solid fifth last year.

His trainer Annabel Neasham also won this race with Zaaki and she saddles up another four runners including the favourite Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and the last start G1 Doomben Cup winner Bois D’Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}).

Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) had good support at his local debut only to suffer from cardiac arrhythmia and he is again being kept safe.

Representing the southern hemisphere breed is last year’s G1 Queensland Derby winner Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who was sound to the line in the Doomben Cup and the grand campaigner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) who can improve on firmer going.

G2 Brisbane Cup - the two milers

I have to say that it is a bit sad to see this two-miler relegated to an early part of the program, the race which in 2007 lost its Group 1 status for so many years run as the feature on the Monday following the G1 Stradbroke.

But it remains an interesting race for followers of stayers with plenty of tales to be told by the horses in Saturday’s running.

Such as Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) who races over the 3200 metres for the sixth time - contesting two G1 Melbourne Cups, a couple of G1 Sydney Cups (first in 2022, third last year) and the 2021 Brisbane Cup in which he raced away by 4.75l.

Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) is also a previous Brisbane and Sydney Cup winner, taking this race out last year and successful at Randwick in 2021 - running in that race on another two occasions as well as contesting a Melbourne Cup.

The pair attempt to become just the sixth horse to win multiple Brisbane Cups, the others being Zanco (NTB), Fitz Grafton (Grafton {GB}), Spear Chief, Fair Patton (Patton {Ity}) and Desert Chill (NZ) (Icelandic {Ire}).

A win by Selino would see a third consecutive Brisbane Cup success for his trainer Chris Waller.

Last year’s runner up Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) also fronts up again whilst others with proven records at the 3200 metres include Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) who comes off a dominant win in the Listed Sandown Cup and the favourite Mostly Cloudy (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) who keeps racing well without the best of luck.

G2 Dane Ripper Stakes - classy mares in a race named after a classy mare

Named after the terrific Bart Cummings-trained mare who took her 1997 G1 Stradbroke H.-winning form to that year’s G1 WS Cox Plate, the G2 Dane Ripper S. was run three times as a Listed contest from 2003, then four times as a Group 3 race - upgraded to its current status in 2010.

It boasts a good record of being one by mares who have gone on to even bigger and better things - Recurring (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow), Red Tracer (Dane Shadow), Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor), Prompt Response (Beneteau), Invincibella (I Am Invincible) and Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) all subsequent Group 1 winners.

And so far four of its winners have enjoyed stakes-winning success as broodmares - Rosa’s Spur (Flying Spur) dam of the Listed winner Members Joy (Hussonet {USA}), Set For Fame (Reset) producing the Listed winner Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel), Hurtle Myrtle represented by the dual Group 3 winner Holyfield (I Am Invincible) and the Listed winner Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible) and Hazard (Flying Spur) by the Listed winner Endanger (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).

During its short history it has been won on two occasions by the same horse twice - Red Tracer in 2012 and 2013 and Invincibella in 2018 and 2019 and the connections of Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) will be hoping that she can add her name to that list.

Amongst those looking the hardest for her to beat are Roots (Press Statement) who drops back from Group 1 company, Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) who caught the eye with a strong finish when resuming, Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom) who so easily won a Listed race last time out and C’est Magique (Zoustar) who has her first start for the Waller stable after changing hands for $1.7 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

G3 Gunsynd Classic - promising 3-year-olds

Last year’s winner of this 1600 metres set weights contest for 3-year-olds - Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) went on to G1 Epsom H. success and this year’s running also has some promising types lining up.

Such as the favourite Razors (Sidestep) who is overdue another win having been game in the placings in four consecutive races before a luckless run at Doomben last time out.

A success by Razors would be a first win in this race for the James Cummings stable which is also represented by Amur (Snitzel) who looks ready for the 1600 metres.

Chris Waller - who trained last year’s winner - also has a couple of runners; Chrysaor (Better Than Ready) who will need some luck from an outside gate and Mchale (Shooting To Win), another horse who seems to be wanting the mile.

Invincible Spy (I Am Invincible) shows plenty of promise having won four of his first six starts whilst Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) can bounce back having not been in the best part of the track when contesting the longer G3 Rough Habit Plate.

Geriatrix (Almanzor {Fr}) has looked good making a winning Australian debut and Miss Aria (Zoustar) is another looking to win three in a row.

Cover image courtesy of Royal Ascot

Even the larks were still wiping the sleep from their eyes when Kitty Rose (GB) was put through her paces on Thursday morning. The Listed-winning daughter of Invincible Army (Ire) was bred in Britain and has raced in Ireland but will be flying the flag for Australia at Royal Ascot next week having recently joined the stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.

The co-trainers' representative Ben Elam is currently overseeing the filly's preparation in Newmarket, where Kitty Rose arrived a week ago from her original training base with Natalia Lupini. It turns out that you can take the boy out of Australia but you can't take Australian ways out of the boy, and Elam was out super early with the 3-year-old on Newmarket Heath, ahead of most of the town's thousands of equine residents and his fellow visiting internationals.

Over the years, Newmarket has played host to plenty of superstars from foreign lands. Hacks as old as this one still count their blessings that, in one memorable morning, they were able to see two greats from opposing hemispheres – Black Caviar (Aus) and Frankel (GB) – out exercising on the same expanse of turf within moments of each other.

Nobody yet knows who will be the stars of this year's show, which Elam refers to as “the pinnacle of racing around the world”. In these parts, we like to think that's true, while acknowledging that the world of racing is ever evolving, with new, hugely valuable races springing up with frequency. But Royal Ascot, with its centuries-long history plus plenty of pomp and circumstance, still has the rizz with which to pull in contenders from far and wide.

Lofty goals

Kitty Rose heads to the Sandringham H. on Friday. Later in the year, her connections are eyeing The Golden Eagle, which was run for the first time just five years ago for $7.5million. This year that purse is up to $10million. Few could argue with that as an incentive, but racing is also about fun and, let's face it, what's more fun than flying halfway round the world to take part in one of the most recognised sporting events while wearing a silly hat and later toppling over at a car park picnic after a little too much fizz? Not much, right?

“She has lofty goals back in Australia,” Elam admits. “This is more an experience for our owners though. Royal Ascot is the biggest race meeting in the world – not just the spectacle that it is but the racing is incredible. All our owners will be coming out, there's a big entourage of them.”

In the next few days, Elam will be joined by Michael Kent Jr who is currently on his honeymoon. Both men are returning to the UK after stints working respectively for Andrew Balding and William Haggas, while Elam also did six months on the bloodstock scene in Europe with Johnny McKeever and Arthur Hoyeau. The latter was instrumental in the deal to secure Kitty Rose.

“We did a deal that saw clients of ours take ownership of the horse before the season started,” Elam explains. “First time out she was beaten not far by (subsequent Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up) A Lilac Rolla, who is a good filly.

“She's an utter professional and a straightforward filly. She's very relaxed which will stand her in good stead not only for Royal Ascot, which is a massive occasion, but also for the travel out to Australia and to compete out there. It's good for her to have that exposure at Royal Ascot because she's going to be facing big crowds when she goes to The Golden Eagle – that's her target for the end of the year.”

He adds, “Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of racing around the world. Everyone stops to watch Royal Ascot, and for us to be afforded the opportunity to have a runner in our name, for Mick and Michael, it's not something that a lot of people have done, but of course we don't shy away from giving Natalia and her team the credit for preparing the horse because they've done a terrific job. We're very proud that she is going to run under our name at Royal Ascot.”

Oisin Murphy, the chosen one

Just along the row from where Kitty Rose is stabled at the yard of Charlie Fellowes is a new arrival, the 2-year-old American colt Cheval de Guerre. A son of Caravaggio, who won both the G2 Coventry S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup on his Royal Ascot appearances, Cheval de Guerre was a recent acquisition by John Stewart of Resolute Racing, who will be represented by three runners at Ascot through his partnership with Qatar Racing.

The other two, both based in Britain, are the Richard Hughes-trained Palace Green (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Listed Surrey S. winner Evade (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), trained by Archie Watson.

Oisin Murphy appears to be the go-to jockey for the incoming horses. He will be aboard both Kitty Rose and Cheval de Guerre, and he will also get the leg-up on the five-year-old mare Asfoora (Flying Artie), whom he rode in a gallop on Tuesday morning. Australian runners have won seven races at Royal Ascot over the years and five of those wins have come in the recently renamed opening-day sprint, the G1 King Charles III S., which is her target.

Asfoora to become a Group 1 winner?

Twice a Group 2 winner in her home country, Asfoora, trained at Ballarat by Henry Dwyer, was also second to Imperatriz in the G1 Moir S. last September. She was an early arrival in England, landing back in April, and warmed up for Ascot by running fourth in the G2 Temple S. on May 25.

“We came over earlier than normal because we tried to avoid the changing of the seasons – in Australia we are going into winter and you are coming out here. If she had stayed any longer in Australia, she would have started growing a winter coat. It has given her a chance to season and settle in,” explains Dwyer as he waits for Asfoora to canter by.

“We had the initial idea 14 or 16 months ago when she won a couple of 1,000m races at Caulfield. We just knew our options in Australia were limited because we have very few five or five-and-a-half-furlong sprints. All our good sprints are six furlongs and she just doesn't get that. She is a dyed-in-the-wool five-furlong horse. There is a good series of races over here.”

After Ascot, Asfoora's owner-breeders, Noor Elaine Farm, are eyeing potential runs at Goodwood, York, the Curragh and Longchamp through the remainder of her stay.

“What's the saying, if you are going to be a bear, you might as well be a grizzly bear! We thought we would come over and give it a good shot. She would just be sitting in a paddock in Australia,” says the sporting trainer.

“In her right conditions, I think she can win a Group 1. I think at her peak, which she will be at Ascot and beyond, she is well and truly up to it. I think Ascot will be a challenge for her but she will run really well. A stiff five furlongs probably doesn't suit her, whereas when we go to Goodwood and York, down the hill and on the flat, that is when she will really come into her own. I would love to see her run in the top three or four at Ascot. If she can do that, she will be really well placed for her next two runs.”

Dwyer is a tad more laidback than his mare, who was a little on her toes on Thursday morning but had Jamie Lloyd's lovely dun pony Angus for company. The trainer, who is looking forward to saddling his first runner at the royal meeting, adds, “A win would be amazing but, on a professional level, just running competitively is a win for us. We feel we have got her to her peak – that might not be good enough but if it is it will be a huge thing for us. About 40 friends and owners are coming over for the week. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. When you have 40 horses, it is tough to find these horses good enough to compete internationally.”

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Lot 322 : Russian Camelot (Ire)/Room Number (NZ) - $30,000

Buyer: Joseph and Jones Racing

Vendor: Three Bridges Thoroughbreds

Barbara Joseph and her sons, Paul and Matt Jones, made a noteworthy purchase on Day 2 of the Inglis Great Southern Sale by acquiring Lot 322, the first foal of six-time winning mare Room Number (NZ) (Reliable Man {NZ}). Offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, the colt is from the second-crop of Widden Stud’s dual Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (Ire).

This acquisition holds special significance as the partnership previously trained Room Number after purchasing her for just $35,000 at the 2018 NZB Ready to Run Sale. Room Number went on to earn nearly $200,000 and secured six wins out of 30 starts, including a victory in Sydney Saturday grade.

It was a smart play by the Canberra based team given Russian Camelot, winner of the G1 Underwood Stakes and G1 SAJC South Australian Derby, has seen early success at stud with his first yearlings fetching up to $250,000 at this year's sales. The colt was conceived off a fee of $22,000 (including GST).

The team has a strong connection to Room Number's lineage, with Joseph telling TTR AusNZ they are building a collection of the family, "We like the family having raced the mother and $30,000 is about where we valued him. We bought a yearling half-sister to the mother in New Zealand by Embellish earlier this year.

The yearling-half sister in question was purchased from this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $50,000 from the HGT Bloodstock draft.

“From what we’ve seen we thought he was a really good type. What I liked about him most was his walk; he has a very good overstep like the mare did.

It seems only fitting that the colt is offered up to the same owners who raced the mother, with Joseph confirming, “we'll probably go back to the same owners that raced the mother.”