Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Following another season of global success for its graduates on the track, the 2024 catalogue for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale was unveiled on Monday evening.

The 2024 edition of the sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) over two days: Wednesday, 20 November, and Thursday, 21 November.

Ahead of the sale, the all-important Breeze Ups will be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday, 21 October, and Tuesday, 22 October, giving potential investors and participants the opportunity to assess the action and temperament of all 404 catalogued lots.

Last year, the sale achieved a top price of NZ$825,000 for a colt by Vinery’s Star Turn, offered by KB Bloodstock. Named Megastar Heart, the sale-topper has already impressed on the track, winning the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm in June, in just his fourth start.

The sale also set a record-breaking turnover of NZ$35.1 million and an average price of NZ$156,031.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Managing Director, Andrew Seabrook, acknowledged that matching last year’s results will be a challenge, but he remains confident in the quality on offer.

“We’ve got a big job to match last year’s record sale, but with the calibre of horses assembled in this year’s catalogue, we are certainly heading in the right direction."

Seabrook added, “The horses produced for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale by our horsemen and women continue to make headlines, and the honour roll just keeps growing.

“We’ve already had huge interest in the sale, with people eager to return to Karaka. Our bloodstock team is hard at work, canvassing in Australia, Hong Kong, and Europe. Although we’ve lost Singapore, we’ve built strong relationships with emerging markets like Malaysia, China, and Korea.

Group 1 graduates now at 29 and growing

The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale boasts an enviable honour roll, showcasing the quality of horses sourced from the Karaka complex across all price ranges. At the top end, stakes winner Megastar Heart fetched a high price, while the $13 million earner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) came from the 2019 edition of the sale with a modest reserve of just NZ$50,000.

Hong Kong superstars Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) are also graduates of this sale. Golden Sixty was offered by Riversley Park in 2017, where F Lui secured the future 11-time Group 1 winner for NZ$300,000. Champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse was purchased for NZ$90,000 from J & I Bloodstock’s draft, presented by Woburn Farm in 2020.

Last season, graduates of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale continued to shine on the track. Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the G1 Queensland Derby, dominating the race by 10l. The son of War Decree (USA), standing at Inglewood Stud, was pinhooked by Prima Park and Bevan Bloodstock for NZ$75,000 from Valachi Downs at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Book 2. Warmonger was later offered by Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park and sold for NZ$165,000 to SJ Kennedy.

Another standout was Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), who triumphed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks before being transferred to the stables of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The daughter of Wrote (Ire) was presented by Riverrock Farm in 2022 with a reserve of NZ$50,000.

Overall, the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale is responsible for producing 29 Group 1-winning graduates and 117 stakes races.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Director of Business Development, Mike Kneebone, told The Thoroughbred Report, “Every year, a standout horse emerges from the sale, and one of the most impressive in recent memory is Warmonger’s annihilation in the Queensland Derby.

“There are always top-class horses available. For us, the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale is our second flagship sale, and it’s continuously improving. Our vendors have been honing their craft for a long time, but we’re also seeing fresh faces, all of whom know how to prepare horses for this sale.”

Kneebone also emphasised the advantage of having all catalogued horses working on the same track: “Having all horses prepared and trialled on the same course is a huge plus. It allows us to be innovative with things like timing, video footage, and even wind speed on the day – all valuable data because we’re not using different tracks across the country.

“Everything is on one track, so you’re comparing apples with apples, which makes this sale unique. The catalogue improves every year, and who knows what future champions will emerge, but it’s looking pretty impressive to me.”

Kneebone added, “There have been 29 individual Group 1 winners from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, along with numerous stakes winners. With 404 lots on offer, buyers are spoilt for choice.

“At any sale, you need to rely on what’s been achieved by its graduates, and in this case, it’s not just the quality but also the horsemanship of the Kiwis. What’s remarkable is that many of these top horses weren’t particularly expensive, with excellent options available for every budget.”

Loss of Asian markets

The closure of racing in Singapore has raised questions about its impact on the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

Mike Kneebone shared his perspective: “We’ve known for four or five years now that the Singapore market has been declining. Although the announcement of its closure surprised many, it was clear that racing there had been slowing, particularly when it came to buyers. Macau faced a similar situation.

“So, we began looking at other markets to fill those gaps, and we’ve received good support from Malaysia. There are a lot of positives in their racing industry, which has shown real improvement. It was encouraging to have their involvement.

“We’ve also had strong support from countries like Korea and China.”

Hong Kong played a major role in last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Over two days, Hong Kong-based buyers spent NZ$16.7 million on 70 2-year-olds, with an average price of NZ$238,771. Their purchases included the top-priced lot, Megastar Heart, bought by Pato Leung for NZ$825,000.

“As far as Hong Kong is concerned, the results speak for themselves. Graduates like Golden Sixty and Lucky Sweynesse, top-class horses that have performed at the highest level in Hong Kong, have solidified the strong support we continue to receive from that market,” Kneebone added.

World class sale

Mike Kneebone also highlighted the growing participation of Australian-based buyers at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. “The Australian market has been very favourable to the New Zealand Ready to Run Sale, and we’ve invested a lot of time and energy into building that relationship.

“One thing we’ve learned, especially with Asian and Australian-based buyers, is that they want plenty of options. They don’t like travelling unless they have a good range of horses to choose from, and with the Ready to Run Sale, there’s always been a strong variety of types and sires represented.

“Pinhooking has also become more widely accepted. New Zealand is renowned for its pinhooking expertise, with skilled horsemen going to Australia, selecting beautiful types, and bringing them back to New Zealand to offer at this sale.

“These horses are going on to win races globally. It’s truly an international 2-year-old sale. Beyond being the best in the Southern Hemisphere, I’d say it’s a world-class event.”

Sire power

With 404 lots catalogued, an increase from last year’s 383, the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale promises a diverse and exciting range of stallions represented.

A total of 101 individual sires from across Australasia have progeny entered. Among them are New Zealand’s nine-time Champion Sire, Savabeel and Juddmonte Farms' legendary Frankel (GB). Rich Hill Stud’s Champion Sire, Proisir, also has progeny in the sale.

From Australia, Yarraman Park Stud’s three-time Champion Sire, I Am Invincible, and Arrowfield's four-time Champion Sire, Snitzel, are represented. The now-retired Deep Field, whose progeny are highly favoured in the Asian market, also has offerings, as does Yulong’s Champion Sire, Written Tycoon.

Additionally, this year's sale features 29 siblings to stakes winners. Among them is Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}), whose full brother was purchased by Ohukia Lodge for NZ$300,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Indomitable (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and Windsor Park Stud-based sire Turn Me Loose (NZ), is represented by a colt by The Oaks Stud’s promising young stallion, U S Navy Flag (USA). A half-brother to Group 1 Robert Sangster S. victor Bella Vella (Commands) is also on offer, with the gelding by Rosemont Stud's first-season sire, Hanseatic, out of Forget The Weather (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).

Other notable relations include those to champions such as Verry Ellegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}), and the recent Listed Wyong Gold Cup victor, Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}). Additionally, siblings to prominent stallions Savabeel (Lot 61), I Am Invincible (Lot 62), and Zoustar (Lot 327) will also be featured. Multiple Group 1 winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) will be represented by an I Am Invincible colt, alongside progeny from stakes-winning mares such as Coldplay (NZ) (Savabeel) and Sister Madly (Redoute’s Choice).

More than two dozen 2-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Millions Series, and any horse purchased at this sale can compete in New Zealand’s brand-new NZ$3.5 million race, the NZB Kiwi (1500 metres), to be run at Ellerslie every March.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

On Monday morning, Magic Millions and Racing Queensland announced a revamped schedule for the 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, adding extra excitement in the lead-up to the $3 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday, 11 January.

The Gold Coast track successfully hosted six races on Saturday without incident. However, the Gold Coast Turf Club has advised that the course will continue to be closely managed, with Friday, 20 December’s meeting set to be a twilight event.

This Friday night meeting will host the $250,000 edition of Magic Millions The Debut, open to colts, geldings, and fillies, as the feature race of the program and is set to be the first meeting under lights.

The $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut should not be confused with the $500,000 version, scheduled for The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday in 2025. However, the latter race has undergone a change in conditions, now open to all first starters, rather than being divided between sexes, as was the case this year.

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch told The Thoroughbred Report, “Fundamentally, what we've done is extend the extravaganza. We now have two epic weekends of racing (Saturday, 4 January and Saturday, 11 January).

“We'll kick off with the first, which will grow under lights (Friday, Decemeber 20). For the first time, we’ll host the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race on Saturday, January 4, and we've also moved the $1 million TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate to that Saturday, making it something truly special to launch our Saturdays. This will lead us into the Polo, show jumping, and, most importantly, the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“The revamped schedule is huge, and it's going to give people a lot of confidence and excitement heading into the sale, with still $14.5 million in prizemoney to be won on the following Saturday.”

Commenting on the management of the course proper at the Gold Coast racetrack, Bowditch added, “We have a new track that’s improving after last Saturday. We can see it’s heading in the right direction, but it’s still important to take a cautious approach.

“We're dealing with races worth a significant amount of money, and it’s our responsibility to give participants the best opportunity to race and the best service possible. Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club made some recommendations, and I believe the revised schedule provides a great alternative to our initial proposal.

“I’m genuinely excited, and I think it will bring people to the Gold Coast earlier, getting owners more excited sooner as we build up to the racedays and the sale.”

New slot race The Sunlight, the Coolmore of the summer!

The first Saturday meeting on 4 January will feature the inaugural running of the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race for 3-year-olds. The Sunlight Slot Race, held over 1100 metres, will comprise 12 runners, with 11 selected by slot holders.

The turbo-charged twilight meeting will also include the $250,000 Sunlight Consolation, the $1 million TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate, and the enhanced $500,000 The Wave, exclusively for Magic Millions Race Series-nominated horses in 2025. The 1800-metre weight-for-age feature is no longer age-restricted.

Further enhancements include the $250,000 Magic Millions Class 6 Plate and the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate, providing opportunities for horses across all levels and abilities.

Proud of the diversity of races on offer in the Magic Millions summer schedule, Bowditch said, “Whether it's the first Saturday or the second, I believe that whether you’ve got a 2-year-old, an older horse, a filly, or a gelding, there’s a race for your horse.

“The Magic Millions Race Series is mature enough that if you’re buying a Magic Millions horse and paying for the race series, you’ve got a ticket into a really viable lottery. There are 28 races across Australia, with 20 races held within two weeks on the Gold Coast during one of Australia’s greatest carnivals.

“It’s fantastic that we can offer this opportunity to those investing in horses at our sales and give participants, syndicators, owners, and agents the confidence that when they buy a Magic Millions horse, there’s a big brand behind them and a major race series to work towards when their horse is ready to race.”

Bowditch is also thrilled with the reception of the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race, with trainers like Tony and Calvin McEvoy considering the event as an option for their classy filly Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}). “This race is a great concept from us and Racing Queensland, offering $3 million in prizemoney.

“We’ve got 12 fantastic slot holders looking to lock in runners. These investors are great friends, clients, and key participants in the industry. In my opinion, it’s the Coolmore Stud Stakes of the summera race where Australia’s best 3-year-olds can compete for huge prizemoney. It’s one of the richest races for 3-year-olds in the country.

“Anyone with a horse ready for the summer should be aiming for the Gold Coast and the Sunlight. Some horses are already being prepared for the race, and whether a slot holder has a horse ready or is looking for an outside horse, conversations are already happening.

“That’s exactly what this race is all about, and it’s a fantastic way to kick off the carnival.”

$20 million on offer over consecutive Saturdays

Over two Saturdays, participants will have the opportunity to compete for a share of $20 million in prizemoney. The Magic Millions Summer Carnival will culminate on Saturday, January 11, with The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, offering a total of $14.5 million.

The day will be headlined by the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 3YO Guineas, both offering $3 million in prizemoney. The supporting card includes the enhanced Magic Millions Cup, which has doubled in prizemoney to $2 million, alongside the Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS race, which has seen a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million.

Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott stated, “The Magic Millions is the pinnacle of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, and it’s essential we provide certainty to participants and attendees.

“Having adopted a cautious maintenance programme for the course proper at the Gold Coast, we want to avoid overworking the track while it is still establishing itself. We risked doing that by proceeding with three meetings within a week.

“Instead, we have chosen to bolster the final two weekends of the Summer Carnival, offering more than $20 million in prizemoney across two incredible race days.”

Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines added, “It has certainly been a challenging time for all tracks in South East Queensland, but we are very pleased with how the course proper has improved during the cooler months, and we expect it to continue improving as we move into spring and summer.

“We have completed a series of successful gallops and barrier trials on the course proper, and the feedback from riders is that it’s a great, uniform surface that is continuously improving.

“We are really excited about the changes to the GCTC Summer Carnival, creating our biggest-ever festival of racing from December right through to late January.”

With a heavy heart, The Thoroughbred Report announces the passing of the promising sire Contributer (Ire). He died while covering a mare on the morning of Sunday, September 8. A sire of nine stakes winners, including two Group 1 winners, Contributer was a young horse with significant potential still ahead.

“What he’s done off those smaller books has been amazing. It’s devastating with his bigger books being only 2-year-olds. He had such a big future, and he was a horse with a lot of upside,” said Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison. “His book was full this year, and people could see real value with him.”

Brilliant season in 2023/24

Contributer had a fairytale start at stud, siring six individual stakes winners from just 66 foals in his first crop, striking at well over nine per cent stakes winners to foals.

The success continued with Contributer having a massive season in 2023/24, producing five individual stakes winners, led by G1 Zabeel Classic winner Campionessa (NZ). Lion’s Roar (NZ), who added the G3 Summer Cup to his earlier G1 Randwick Guineas success, while Snow Patrol (NZ) earned the G2 Autumn S. at Caulfield. Additionally, Maria Farina (NZ) and Contribute (NZ) secured wins in Group 3 class in New Zealand.

His career tally of nine stakes winners also includes G2 Lowland S. winner and G1 NZ Oaks-placed Llanacord (NZ) and Listed winners Family Ties (NZ), She’s a Con (NZ), and Elizabeth Rose (NZ).

Lion's Roar looks to have another good season ahead of him after winning the Listed Wyong Cup last week.

“He had truly started to shine as a sire, he had left some tremendously talented racehorses and we know his legacy will live on,” Davison added in a Loveracing.nz press release.

"From very limited numbers, he's preformed incredibly well as a sire. What he has achieved on the track is pretty amazing. He was very much in our proven stallion ranks in New Zealand, it’s a big loss not only for our stud but for the entire industry."

Current 2-year-olds are his biggest crop

“His whole story has been a bit tragic. He had an injury in his second season and had smaller books for a couple of years to manage the injury. We’d finally got him right, and for this to happen now is devastating. His story should’ve ended with him being Champion Sire, not like this.”

Table: Contributer's progeny

“He was doing such a good job. There are good signs with his early 3-year-olds too,” said Davison. In August’s Listed Wanganui Guineas, He’s Lucid (NZ) ran third and Social Climber (NZ) ran fourth. And from his largest crop since his first year, Shoma (NZ) won an early season 2-year-old trial last week.

Improving in the marketplace

The market had shown steady gains for Contributer as buyers saw the quality of his progeny, until 2024 where his 28 yearlings sold for an average of NZ$83,639, almost four times their conceived price ($22,000 plus GST) in 2024.

Table: Contributer’s stakes-winning progeny

A tough racehorse over many seasons

A winner at two from two starts, the highlight of Contributer’s career with two Group 1 wins; the G1 Chipping Norton S. and the G1 Ranvet S. He raced from two to five and was a winner in each of his four seasons of racing, winning eight races in total with another four placings from 18 starts with earnings over $1 million.

Originally raced in Europe, he was a Group 3 winner there before heading down under for his 5-year-old season where he won both his Group 1 races.

A strong pedigree

Contributer is a son of High Chaparral (Ire) whose other sire sons include So You Think (NZ) with 57 stakes winner, Toronado (Ire) with 39 stakes winners and Dundeel (NZ) with 30 stakes winners.

One of seven winners for Group 3 winner Serisia (Fr) (Exit To Nowhere {USA})), Contributer's stakes-placed winning half-sister Saimaa (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is the dam of Japanese Listed winner, and Group 1-placed, Sunrise Zipangu (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

Recent Group 1 winner King Of Steel (USA) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is from Contributer's family.

“I’m still struggling to come to terms with the loss of Contributer, the entire team are very shocked by the news. He was such a character, an awesome horse to work with. He had a wonderful temperament, an engaging personality and everyone who worked with him just loved him,” Davison said.

Throughout his career, Contributer stood at modest fees and he far outperformed the expectations that came with his service fee. He is an untimely loss for the New Zealand breeding industry.

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Spring preparations continued on Monday when Randwick hosted 16 trials on a Good 4 surface.

The first of two heats on the course proper was taken out by Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), cruising down the home straight to win by 0.01l over G1 Stradbroke H. victor Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard).

Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) followed hot on their heels another 0.13l behind.

Fangirl (Sebring) finished a comfortable 1.41l behind the winner under a quiet ride from James McDonald. Last seen running stablemate Zougotcha (Zoustar) to less than 0.5l in the G1 Winx S., the star mare ticked over nicely ahead of a likely run in the $1,000,000 Seven S. on September 21.

The promising Kermadec (NZ) mare Scarlet Oak finished ahead of Fangirl in fourth, with Roots (Press Statement) bringing up the rear of the field. Wearing the familiar navy blue and pale-yellow colours of Aziz “Ozzie” Kheir, Scarlet Oak has won three starts from five, highlighted by victory in the G2 The Roses over Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel {NZ}), a horse that Kheir also owns shares in with close friend Brae Sokolski.

Amenable leads home Tropical

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 5-year-old Amenable (Lonhro) flashed home in Heat 2, swinging wide and surging past eventual third-placed Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) on the home straight, with Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) on his tail to finish second by 0.03l. A $150,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by MG Price Racing & Breeding, Amenable is yet to secure a black-type victory but chased Magic Time (Hellbent) to 0.39l in the G1 All Aged S. in April.

Tropical Squall didn't let down as well as expected in her first start wearing the Yulong colours at the end of last month, however the G1 Surround S. winner looked comfortable when stretching out under Adam Hyeronimus, without being placed under serious pressure.

The nine-time winner Coal Crusher (Turffontein) followed behind in fourth, with G1 Doomben Cup victor Bois D’argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) and Listed Princess S. winner Waikato Girl (NZ) (Savabeel) completing the field.

Matisse flies in Heat 6

Heat 6 was a smart second trial for the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Matisse (Microphone), sprinting from several lengths back at the top of the home straight to score by 1.93l over the Group 3-placed Chateau Miraval (Zousain).

Third 0.5l behind Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) in both the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies), Matisse finished a respectable seventh by 2.4l behind the Clinton McDonald-trained filly in the G1 Blue Diamond, before breaking her maiden in Doomben as a juvenile.

Matisse is a homebred for Murray Thoroughbreds, out of stakes-placed Sanadaat (Not A Single Doubt).

Also running through the line strongly was the third-placed Smart Legend (So You Think {NZ}). A $340,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Bon Ho’s Legend Racing from the draft of Newhaven Park, the 5-year-old gelding resumes after a stellar preparation earlier in the year where he placed in six of eight starts, all in metropolitan company. He is the third foal of the winning Commands mare Herstory, from a family featuring Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}), winner of the G1 Telegraph S. in January.

Cassiel one to follow?

Lightly raced Cassiel (Harry Angel {Ire}) flashed home in Heat 7, posting 33.16s for the final 600 metres, with the talented Godolphin-trained mare Commemorative (I Am Invincible) and Ausbred Flirt (Maurice {Jpn}) the only runners to make significant ground on the Peter Snowden gelding in the straight.

Winner of the Listed Denise Joy S. over Scone’s carnival weekend, Commemorative ran a slashing second in the G3 Toy Show Quality, and currently holds a nomination for the G2 Sheraco S. on September 14.

Running on well in fifth was the expensive Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Natural Deduction (The Autumn Sun), trained by new partnership John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. The $750,000 gelding is a son of Axiomatic (O’Reilly {NZ}), a half-sister to Kiwi-bred sires Xtravagant (NZ) and He’s Remarkable (NZ). John O’Shea evidently has faith in the family, previously purchasing half-brother This’llbetheone (Exceed And Excel), who has now won seven races and $269,795 in prizemoney.

Success for half-sister to Hartnell

An interesting international pedigree popped up in Heat 10, won by Dominetta (Zoustar), the first Southern Hemisphere born foal of Debonnaire (GB) (Anabaa {USA}). Third in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut behind Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at her only start, the mare is a half-sister to Darley-bred Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), whose glittering career is highlighted by victories in the G1 CF Orr S., G1 Epsom H. and G1 Turnbull S., amongst seven stakes wins in 58 starts.

Dominetta wore the black and yellow diamonds of Arrowfield Stud to victory in her heat over Aye Aye Captain (Merchant Navy) and Let’s Fly (Flying Artie). Aye Aye Captain’s dam Dal Dal (Encosta De Lago) is a three-quarter sister to G1 Flight S. winner Speak Fondly (Northern Meteor), and from the family of sire Spill The Beans and dual Group 1 winner Kenedna (Not A Single Doubt).

Let’s Fly led the field at the top of the home straight, only to be run down late. Trained by Richard and Will Freedman, the unraced filly is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mimi’s Award (Shamus Award), who was recently acquired by Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $125,000.

Spring stalwarts step out

The last open trial of the day, Heat 13, saw the return of several spring carnival stalwarts. A half-brother to last season’s R. Listed Inglis Millennium winner Fully Lit (Hellbent), The Novelist (Written By) led from the kick to score by 1.5l. Purchased by Tricolour Racing & Syndications with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for $110,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the G3 BJ McLachlan S. victor appears to have returned in good form after mixed performances last preparation.

Coming in strong behind him to finish midfield was the familiar face of King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible), under the steady hands of James McDonald. Renowned for his electric sprint when fresh, the twice Magic Millions Sprint victor looks to be in for a big spring. The 6-year-old son of Group 3 victress Octavia (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was a $700,000 purchase for China Horse Club Colts Syndicate, Newgate Bloodstock, and Starlight Racing from Yarraman Park, who retain shares in the gelding. Octavia is expecting a full sibling due later this spring.

Further back was G1 Randwick Guineas winner Converge (Frankel {GB}), having his first hit out for the season and Listed winner Ostraka (Pariah). A three-quarter brother to Widden Stud sire Anders, who’s first yearlings realised up to $330,000 at the sales earlier this year, Ostraka is one of three stakes winners for his Oaklands Stud-based sire.