Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

After much speculation, Racing Australia announced on Wednesday that the upgrades to Group 1 status for both The Everest and the All-Star Mile had been ratified internationally.

The press release reads as follows:

“Following the recent agreement and adoption of the Australian Black Type Guidelines by the Racing Australia Board, a review of races under those guidelines is being conducted. As a priority, the following races have been determined to have achieved the criteria and will be recognised as a Group 1:

The Everest and The All-Star Mile

The All-Star Mile and The Everest race upgrades have been ratified internationally. Whilst these upgrades will take immediate effect, further analysis and review of all black type races is being undertaken with the expectation that further announcements will be made in the near future.”

Industry responds to the news

“I’m personally delighted that they've been upgraded to Group 1. The Everest certainly merits being a Group 1 on the calibre of horses that have competed in it and won it over the last seven years. Notwithstanding the slot nature of the race, where it’s not an open race. Commerciality ensures you get the best field."

-- Jon Freyer about The Everest

“It’s fantastic news and having spoken to a lot of industry participants over the last few weeks, it’s very well-received that it’s getting Group 1 recognition that it deserves. It’s wonderful to see the collaboration carried out from both states to get to this point.”

-- James Harron about The Everest

“I think it’s fantastic, it’s a high-class race and it’s been given the status it deserves. It’s obviously going to be an exciting renewal next year. It’s fantastic to have its statue recognised for the quality it is."

Sam Fairgray about The All-Star Mile

Cummings and Bott have their say

“This will give The Everest the recognition it deserves,” Godolphin's James Cummings told racenet.com.au. “We have been approaching the race with all the respect of a Group 1 and now it is official.”

“The depth and quality of The Everest fields since the race's inception has been of Group 1 quality and it is important the race is recognized as a Group 1,” trainer Adrian Bott told racenet.com.au. “We hope to have two runners in the race including Lady Of Camelot, the Golden Slipper winner who will be ridden by Rachel King. Coolmore (slot holder and owner) is weighing what the best options are for Storm Boy and Brenton Avdulla is on standby for the ride.”

A Racing Victoria statement said, “We note and welcome Racing Australia's announcement that The All-Star Mile has been upgraded to Group 1 status, a decision ratified by the Asian Racing Federation. The All-Star Mile has surpassed the Group 1 rating benchmark of 115 in each of its six editions and thus is worthy of carrying this elite status.

“This year's All-Star Mile winner Pride Of Jenni was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year last night and superstars in Mr Brightside and Zaaki precede her on the honour roll. With The All-Star Mile finding a new home at Flemington on Super Saturday 2025 (March 8), the race is now firmly entrenched as Victoria's premier mile race of the autumn and a key feature on the Australian racing calendar.”

Gallery: Industry participants share their thoughts, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

The Everest: previous winners & ratings

With the 2024 field essentially settled, this year’s G1 The Everest will take place on October 19. The race, first run seven years ago, has been won by many of Australia’s top sprinters and there could be little doubt as to the quality of the runners. Having both races ratified internationally is a big achievement for Australia.

The Everest has been rated: 120.50 (2023/2024), 120.80 (2022/2023), 120.50 (2021/2022) in it’s last three versions.

The All-Star Mile: previous winners & ratings

The All-Star Mile was first run in 2019, won by Mystic Journey (Needs Further).

The All-Star Mile has rated 118.30 (2023/2024), 117.30 (2022/2023), and 117.50 (2021/2022) in its past three runnings.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

It was a bid of 300,000gns (AU$612,000) that secured the well-related Just Fine at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, McKeever teaming with Waterhouse Bott Racing on the hunt for horses suitable for Australia's premier staying contests.

From a family which had already enjoyed success in Australia, Just Fine being out of a half-sister to Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), the son of Sea The Stars (Ire) looked a nice fit for Australian racing though it is more on form and type that McKeever makes his recommendations on.

“There are a few things we take into consideration, such as stride patterns, and Gai doesn't like them small. So, I look for good-looking, strong horses with improvement in them,” McKeever said.

“Everything fit with Just Fine, he was a beautiful sort and not heavily raced.”

At the time the Sir Michael Stoute-trained, royally owned gelding had raced on 14 occasions and was a last start winner, too good on pace in a one and a quarter mile contest at Leicester.

Royal connections

Also a two-time winner at Sandown, the first winner raced by His Majesty King Charles III, had not been tried in stakes company but his new connections were quick to try him against the better horses.

With punters expecting the 1600 metres to prove too short for Just Fine on his Australian debut at Randwick in early September last year, the bay was sent out at double-figure odds but after showing early pace from a wide gate he was impressive racing away to a 2.75l victory.

Adrian Bott was a happy man that day, telling the media that Just Fine “had really settled in well since joining our stable. He has been quite sharp in his trials, so we were expecting him to run a very good race today. He is a progressive horse, and he should be able to get out over further.”

Straight up to the 2000 metres of the G3 Kingston Town S. at his next outing, Just Fine overcame another tricky gate to sit second, taking over at the 400 metres and again finding plenty to win by 1.75l.

Bott was even happier after that effort, noting that “it was a great performance on debut here over the mile and he gave an indication we thought he'd do that going over a little bit further.

“But to do it up in this grade with the pressure and the shape of the race; and to win in that fashion, he is certainly some really encouraging signs, he has come a long way very quickly.”

Odds-on win in The Metropolitan

On the strength of those two wins Just Fine was sent out an odds-on favourite in the Metropolitan and whilst his margin was not a big one, he did set a new track record of 2.26.11. Game in second placing was fellow import and Tattersalls graduate Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathanial {Ire}).

Spelled after a disappointing run in the G1 Caulfield S. in which he was also favourite, Just Fine was below his best in two autumn outings and was again given time. Better at his first two spring runs, he relished the step up to 2520 metres at Flemington and was always travelling well in the lead for Jordan Childs.

Which certainly had Gai Waterhouse delighted; in a memorable interview with Jason Richardson the always effervescent trainer reporting that “I said to Jordan, 'You do a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott ride', and didn't he ride him a treat?! It was such a joy to watch, I can't tell you what a kick I got out of that.

“He is a lovely horse, and he looked so good today, I knew once he got into a rhythm that they just wouldn't catch him.”

In winning the Bart Cummings, Just Fine secured a place in the G1 Melbourne Cup and whilst McKeever has his doubts about the 7-year-old being a true two miler, he is happy to see him run in the big one.

Ticket to the Cup

“It is absolutely brilliant; he got his ticket into the Cup and if nothing else his tons of micro-owners will have a dream day out!”

Whilst Just Fine's pedigree is not completely stout; his dam a three-time winner over 1600 metres and 1700 metres out of the Listed-winning miler Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) who also produced the Joint Champion Older Miler Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), McKeever is not scared off by stamina laden pedigrees.

“I don't mind a proper European staying pedigree,” he said. “As you know that those horses will genuinely stay whilst not many Australian horses are bred that way.”

Quite the advantage in our staying contests.

McKeever finds it ironic that Australian owners are so keen to win the longer distance events whilst concentrating on earlier coming sprinting types when breeding.

“That is one of the most amazing things about the Australian racing industry, and I can't see it changing much.”

Though he does think that there is one stallion who has shuttled to Australia who may prove a good source of stamina in the future.

A fan of Too Darn Hot

That horse being Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB) whose daughter Too Darn Discreet is highly favoured in G1 VRC Oaks markets on the back of her smart win in Saturday's G2 Edward Manifold S.

“I think he will be a game changer,” McKeever enthused about Too Darn Hot. “He has a proper pedigree with staying blood but can get sharp, early comers.”

“He has surprised a lot of people up here with his 2-year-olds,” he said of the young stallion who he describes as “a very good-looking horse with a bit more scope than his sire.”

“I think he really fits the mould for Australia,” he said, noting that whilst Too Darn Hot's best form was over 1400 metres and 1600 metres, he is out of the wonderful mare Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

Her sire was a globe-trotting multiple Group 1 winner who shone over 2000 metres and 2400 metres and her best form was also over trips. Meanwhile her other two stakes winners (both full siblings to Too Darn Hot); Lah Ti Dar (GB) and So Mi Dar (GB) did good things at 10 furlongs and above.

Lots of competition

No doubt then that McKeever will have his eye on Too Darn Hot's tried progeny at future sales though has found that finding the right horse for Australia has been getting tougher.

“They are not cheap, there is lots of competition now with all the main stables after them,” he said, noting that he is up against the likes of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald and Chris Waller whilst the bigger buyers also step up.

“There were lots of Australians at The Arc Sale on the weekend, but they were mostly blown out of the water by the big multinationals,” he said.

Gai Waterhouse, he continued, showed foresight getting in early at such sales with Glencadam Gold (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) one example, that Metropolitan H. winner purchased by McKeever for 135,000gns (AU$275,400) at the 2011 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.

“Gai got in early, it wasn't quite so hard then (in 2011) but buying a European stayer is much more fashionable now.”

Whilst McKeever has Australian buyers in the back of his mind when inspecting horses at the major Northern Hemisphere yearling sales, he said that the older horse market is of much more appeal.

“Our yearlings don't look as ready as what Australian buyers are used to,” he said, adding that “Australians in particular love an individual, it is getting more that way up here, but we still give pedigree a bit more credence.”

“We may have a few nibbles, but the yearlings will probably end up being too expensive, we are better buying tried horses for Australian racing.”

An inexact science

Whilst McKeever boasts an excellent record of finding the right horses for Australia, he did note that it is an inexact science.

“You can check everything, but you can't actually tell how a horse will react to being in Australia.”

Where things are done a bit differently, such as the breaks Australian horses have from their campaigns; “Australian horses are spelled which we don't do here,” he said.

Just Fine is part of a good recent run for McKeever purchased horses with the G2 Tramway H. winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) another nice pick up.

Purchased for 300,000gns (AU$612,000) at last year's Autumn sale, the 6-year-old has since run very good races in the 7 Stakes and the G1 Epsom H.

Also showing plenty of potential is Alalcance (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Making her local debut at Warwick Farm a few weeks ago, the regally bred 5-year-old mare was out of the placings in several trials before resuming over 2140 metres, always travelling well for Nash Rawiller, pleading Adrian Bott with her 3.75l victory.

“We will see more of this mare in the autumn,” he said. “We just wanted to get her acclimatised this campaign, get her seasoned and conditioned. I think she'll keep improving when she gets out in trip. She’s obviously a real staying type of mare.

“We actually bought her at a broodmare sale,” McKeever said. “But she was eligible to keep racing.”

A huge pedigree

“She has a huge pedigree,” he said, of Alalcance who shares the same grandam; the triple Group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao {USA}) as the champion mare Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Watching on from the UK was her breeder, Lanwades Stud's Kirsten Rausing who was also pleased by a recent easy Sandown win recorded by another relation in Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}).

“It is a family that just keeps giving,” Rausing said.

McKeever, who teamed with the stable to purchase Alalcance for 240,000gns (AU$489,600) at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale, was happy to buy a daughter of Mastercraftsman (Ire), noting that “we have had a lot of success with his progeny for Australian buyers.”

Such as the four-time Group winner Military Mission (Ire) who won for his owners over $1.4 million in stakes.

“He did extremely well for a relatively cheap horse,” McKeever said of the gelding who was purchased for £170,000 (AU$330,300) at the 2021 Goffs Ireland London Sale.

McKeever will be back in action at this year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, one from which he also purchased for Waterhouse and Bott the G1 Sydney Cup winners Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) (250,000gns {AU$510,000} in 2018) and The Offer (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) (200,000gns {AU$408,000} in 2012).

And another one may make his Australian debut at Rosehill on Saturday, last year's 575,000gns (AU$1.17 million) purchase Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) nominated for a BM88 contest over 2000 metres. Also in the entries for that race is the promising 280,000gns (AU$571,200) 2023 purchase Bear On The Loose (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) who kicked off his local career with a win at Rosehill in late June.

The Waterhouse and Bott stable have published an online guide to their “2024 Stayers Package,” one which notes that “sourcing horses from abroad has proven to be a recipe for success for Tulloch Lodge.”

McKeever pointed out that a major advantage of buying tried horses is that they tend to be “mature and ready” for their staying campaigns, something the stable's literature also pointed out, adding the impressive statistics for the Tattersalls Autumn Sale; 13 winners of 21 Australian Group 1 races going through that sales ring.

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Freedman celebrates a double in Sydney

Michael Freedman oversaw a classy double at Randwick, achieving the feat in the first two races on the card.

Colophon (Written Tycoon) started the satisfying afternoon with a 0.35l win in Race 1 over 1400 metres, with Regan Bayliss aboard. It was an all-the-way victory for the 3-year-old gelding, notching up his first salute from four starts, digging in admirably from the 200-metre mark as runner-up Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}) closed in.

“He worked really well, and Regan got him into a nice position. He probably jumped a little better than we expected him to,” stable representative Sophie Johnson said.

“He was quite forward, but we wanted him to be. Regan made the choice to dictate and it worked really well in his favour.”

Colophon was a $240,000 purchase by Michael Freedman Racing from Daandine Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is out of stakes placed winner Viennese Star (I Am Invincible) from the family of Hinchinbrook.

Colophon’s famous father Written Tycoon has sired 64 stakes winners. He has produced three new individual G1 winners in 2024 alone, including two G1-winning juveniles, Golden Slipper heroine Lady Of Camelot and Sistema S. victrix, Velocious.

Australia’s Leading First-Season Sire in 2010-11, and Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds in 2015-16 and again in 2023-2024, many of the sons of the former Australian Champion Sire are now forging their own careers at stud, including Leading First-Season Sire Capitalist, Rich Enuff, Winning Rupert, Written By and Ole Kirk.

Spanish Fox brings up the double

Freedman’s 4-year-old Spanish Fox’s (Toronado {Ire}) win in the Race 2 BM64 H. over 1250 metres was by a comprehensive 3.16l, with apprentice Zac Wadick aboard. The gelding dictated the race, registering his third victory from 10 starts, which includes four runner-up placings.

Wednesday was his third salute in a row.

“He’s been a pillar of consistency from the beginning, and he came through a lot of seconds,” Johnson said. “He took a while to knock the monkey off his back, and there’s been no stopping him since.”

Spanish Fox’s father Toronado (Ire) has produced 562 winners, with 39 at stakes level, for over $93 million in prizemoney.

Spanish Fox is the first winner for winning mare Foxlago (Foxwedge), a 5/8th relative to Group 1 winner and sire Rothesay. Spanish Fox was purchased for $320,000 by Michael Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock from Newgate Farm at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Saint Aubins has hot future as a stayer

Saint Aubins (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) looks to have a strong future as a stayer after his classy 0.5l win in Race 2 over 1423 metres for 3-year-old maidens at Sale. Jockey Blake Shinn has a high opinion of the gelding, who he believes had the race won at the 200-metre mark for top Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher.

“He had the race won at the 200 (metres), but he was just floating when he was in front on his own when the job was done,” Shinn told racing.com. “Nice horse, well bred, good owners, so it was good to get the win.”

Out of Fastnet Rock mare Orphea, Saint Aubins was a NZ$130,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing from Cambridge Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale Book 1.

Orphea had two wins from 15 starts in New Zealand and has already been represented at stakes level with Outovstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a winner of the G3 Manawatu Classic in April this year. The mare has a 2-year-old filly by Deep Field named Divine Secrets and a yearling by Savabeel. She is due to foal to Dundeel (NZ) this spring.

Too Darn Hot (GB), whose second crop Australian-bred yearlings sold up to $1.9 million this year, is the sire of eight first-crop Southern Hemisphere winners, five of which are stakes-performed headed by Godolphin homebred and three-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding.

Ciaron Maher stable representative Adrian Joyce said Saint Aubins was ready to step up as a competitive stayer over 2000 metres.

“He was very good to the line. Looking at that run you’d say definitely he’s going to be a 2000-metre horse,” he said.

“He’s going really well and he’s still learning his craft. He’s very chilled out. He’s a nice horse. It’s key to them because they just keep their energy.”

Extremely Hardys has very high potential

Extremely Hardys (Extreme Choice) lived up to her name and worked extremely hard to hold off Seascape (I Am Invincible) by 0.44l to win Race 6 at BM72 level over 1250 metres at Randwick.

An impressive 6.04l winner over 1200 metres on debut at Canterbury on July 3, the filly looks to be another one to watch for Extreme Choice, who is the sire of recent G3 Gimcrack S. winner Bell Merci.

Bred by Kingstar Farm, Extremely Hardys was a $300,000 buy for Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller Racing from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and now represents Huashan Investments

A half-sister to the stakes-placed Remorseless (Written Tycoon), she was the fourth winner from as many to race for More Than Ready (USA) mare Killcareless.

Killcareless is a daughter of the stakes-placed Climatic (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), a half-sister to Group winners Precious Lorraine (Encosta De Lago) and Lucky Raquie (Encosta De Lago) from the Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}) branch of the famous family of Redoute’s Choice.

She has a 2-year-old by Cosmic Force, now named Maddie's Comet, who was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year for $100,000. Killcareless missed to Captivant in 2022 and has since produced another filly foal by Cosmic Force last month.

Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, Extremely Hardys went straight to the lead.

Despite I Am Invincible filly Seascape pressuring her late, she held on and broke clear to win by half a length as the $1.85 favourite.

Waller stable representative Charlie Duckworth has a high opinion of Extremely Hardys, but with two wins from two starts he wasn't getting too caught up in her potential after the race.

“She’s done a good job progressing from last prep to this one and will strip fitter for today so then we can work out exactly where she measures up,” he said.

“She was highly spoken of after her debut performance where she was very dominant on that Heavy track that day, but we don’t get too carried away. We’ll just place her right and see where we can get to.”

Zouatica eyes off The Big Dance after big win at Randwick

Zouatica (Zoustar) put his name up as a Big Dance contender after his 1.76l win in the Race 4 BM78 Handicap over 1400 metres at Randwick. It was a classy all-the-way victory from the 5-year-old gelding for Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones, with Adam Hyeronimus aboard.

It was a strong bounce back from Zouatica’s last start, where he finished fifth while first-up in the $110,000 The Panorama at Benchmark 85 Handicap level at Bathurst on September 15.

“Everything that could’ve gone wrong went wrong (last start),” co-trainer Paul Jones said. “He was in the barriers due to some vet checks on other horses, and he just missed the start. In quite a high-pressure race, and once he got revved up, he never came back. I was proud of him in the last 200 (metres) that day at Bathurst.

“He’s really worked on since then, and his coat is now 90 per cent right, so bring on the Five Diamonds Prelude (on October 26) or Big Dance Race Day (on November 5) and he’ll be 100 per cent then.”

Joseph & Jones Racing bought Zouatica for just $40,000 from Torryburn Stud at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Wednesday was his sixth win from 15 starts, now with $271,975 in prizemoney, and he now has $34 winning odds for the $3 million The Big Dance over a mile.

Zoustar is a sire of 54 individual stakes winners, with over $114 million in progeny earnings, with Group 1 winners including Zougotcha, Climbing Star, Sunlight, Ozzmosis, Joliestar, Mizzy, Lezoo and Zoutori.

Zouatica’s dam, Axiomatic (O’Reilly {NZ}) has produced seven-race winner This'llbetheone (Exceed And Excel) as her first foal, and Zouatica is her second foal. Axiomatic - winner of two races - is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Xtravagant (NZ) and his full brother Group 3 winner He's Remarkable (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

Pierata’s Gem shines bright at Doomben

Pierata’s Gem (Pierata) gamely held off runner-up Kettlebell (Power {GB}) by 0.06l to win Race 3 for 3-year-olds over 1350 metres at Doomben, and signal that she could well have a bright future.

After being presented with a beautiful run and shooting through to the lead at the turn, she then showed good heart to hold off a fast-finishing Kettlebell and have her nose in front at the post for Chris and Corey Munce.

Pierata’s Gem if from Yulong's second-season sire Pierata who has sired 44 runners for 13 winners, two at stakes level, for $2,333,825 in total prizemoney.

Picked up for $70,000 by Luinn from Carrington Park Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Pierata’s Gem looked in fine condition with Martin Harley aboard yesterday.

The filly's dam, Canny Time (Canny Lad), previously produced the two-time winner Dazzle Legend (Zoustar). In 2022, she slipped to King's Legacy but returned to him the following year, producing a colt who is now a yearling. Most recently, she foaled a colt by Brave Smash (Jpn) in August.

French Endeavour set for journey through the grades

There was no doubting that French Endeavour (Rubick) deserved her $2.70 favouritism going into the Race 3 Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1400 metres at Randwick, and she didn’t let the backers down, winning by 1.71l.

The 4-year-old took the lead at the 200-metre mark and wasn’t headed from there, going on to claim her third victory from 15 starts for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith, with star jockey James McDonald aboard.

The mare now with $217,175 in prizemoney to her name has registered competitive runner-up, fourth, third and fifth-place finishes in G3 Vanity, G2 Kewney S., G3 PJ Bell S. and G3 Hawkesbury Guineas starts this year.

A homebred for Grahame Mapp’s Hobartville Stud, French Endeavour is the third winner from five to race for the Anabaa (USA) mare French News, who is a half-sister to Breaking News (Brief Truce), whose five stakes wins were highlighted by the G3 WJ Healy Stakes.

This is a famous Hobartville family descending from Light Of Peace (Light Wind), the dam of Golden Slipper winner Star Watch, Listed winner Apollo’s Flame and G2 Theo Marks stakes runner-up Clear Apollo, the dam of Breaking News.

Smith was relieved French Endeavour could get back in the winner’s circle after a testing last preparation. “I was really pleased. A bit frustrating last preparation – we copped a few bad tracks. She’s been in some better races and she’s run very well, but I just wanted to give her a bit of confidence first couple of runs back and see if we could get her in the winner’s circle, and then go back to some better races.”

Oxford Blue ready to go further in distance after 2l win

Cranbourne trainer Julius Sandhu believes Oxford Blue (Fiorente {Ire}) has the staying ability and temperament to be a Geelong Cup contender after his comfortable 2l win in the Race 4 Maiden Plate over 1740 metres at Sale.

By 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire), 3-year-old gelding Oxford Blue also appears to have some nice staying attributes.

In his second start after finishing third and a neck behind G2 Manifold S. winner Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) on debut at Sandown on September 18, Oxford Blue showed impressive stamina to extend his lead inside the final 150 metres.

This left a good impression on Sandhu. “Good to see him get to the front, lead and still kick away like that,” he said. “He’s only getting warmer with this trip, and we’ll see what happens next.

“We’ll take him home and we’ll make sure he’s right, pulls up good and does everything right back home, and them potentially head to Geelong Cup Day.

“I think he’ll lap it up (2400 metres in the Geelong Cup). He’s just a horse looking for a trip, and the 1700 is probably the start of the trip he’s looking for.”

Oxford Blue's dam Stockpin (NZ) (Pins) has also produced Oxford Blue's full sister Florent in 2016, also by Fiorente, who won the VOBIS Sires Guineas in 2020. This is the family of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Sandhu is impressed with Oxford Blue’s staying temperament. “The further he goes the better he’ll get. He’s just a super-relaxed animal, and for a stayer that’s a key attribute. Rapt at the way he’s gone about it today. He’s the consummate professional, and hopefully he pulls up well back home and we’ll go back to Geelong. He’ll take some serious improvement from this.”

Bahen Bloodstock Ltd purchased Oxford Blue as a weanling for $160,000 from Blue Gum Farm at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Sale, before being withdrawn as a yearling when he was catalogued by Vinery Stud for the 2023 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls

A phenomenal opening session

It is hard to recall a stronger start to a sale than that witnessed at Tattersalls on Tuesday. The signs were there over the weekend, with plenty of consignors reporting strong footfall during inspections, despite the clash with the Arc meeting in Paris. A huge crowd doesn't always translate to bumper returns, however, but there was no sign of first-day jitters here.

Those buying teams that have become the stalwarts of the scene: Godolphin, Juddmonte, Shadwell and Al Shaqab, have been joined in recent years by the dominant forces of Yulong and Amo Racing, who in turn have been met by emerging operations from Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, such as Victorious Racing, Wathnan Racing and Salhia Stud. New money and old was in play at Book 1 – to an almost dizzying degree.

This diverse participation coupled with a tightening of numbers to around 450 yearlings has contrived to send the Book 1 statistics through the roof. As an elite event, it is routinely a strong sale but the day 1 figures were up across the board. A clearance rate of 90 per cent was derived from the sale of 117 yearlings for a total of 42,680,000gns (AU$87 million), which was up by 36 per cent on last year's opening day. The average rose by 48 per cent to a record 364,786gns (AU$744,100) and the median by 27 per cent to 260,000gns (AU$530,400).

Eight individual buyers made an outlay into seven figures on Tuesday. American expenditure was also notable, with 12 different entities from the US signing for 15 yearlings, including Klaravich Stables, Mike Repole, David Ingordo and WinStar Farm.

It would appear as though the tighter book really hit the mark on Tuesday. Despite offering 24 fewer horses compared to this day 12 months ago, the opening session concluded with a major rise in all of the key figures.

Of note to Australians readers

The Hong Kong Jockey Club made one purchase, Lot 79, a colt by Mehmas (Ire) from Arctic Ocean (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who is a half-sister to Hong Kong galloper Beauty Amigo (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). He was purchased for 380,000gns (AU$775,200).

Yulong made five purchases led by a 750,000gns (AU$1.5 million) Frankel (GB) filly out of dual Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). They also bought a Frankel colt for 450,000gns (AU$918,000) out of Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire})’s half-sister Canton Queen (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).

Their other purchases were a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt for 500,000gns (AU$1.02 million), a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly for 480,000gns (AU$979,200) and a Havana Gray (GB) colt for 180,000gns (AU$367,200).

Amo Racing is leading buyer on Day 1

As a statement of intent, it was a pretty serious one. Ten yearlings bought and 11,045,000gns (AU$22.5 million) spent by Amo Racing while many at Park Paddocks were still finishing their lunch.

Amo principal Kia Joorabchian, amid an entourage which included Nottingham Forest FC owner Evangelos Marinakis and bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, would not be beaten on the day's leading lady, Newsells Park Stud's Frankel filly out of Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal {USA}). The hammer eventually fell at 4,400,000gns (AU$8.9 million) – the second-highest price ever paid for a Book 1 yearling. Joorabchian faced determined opposition from Mitsu Nakauchida, but the Japanese trainer ultimately had to play the role of underbidder for Lot 68, the second foal of her Group 2-winning dam.

And Amo still had plenty of ammo in reserve, for just four lots later Joorabchian was back, this time taking aim at another prized daughter of Frankel: Staffordstown's full sister to the six-time Group 1 winner and Arc heroine Alpinista (GB). He made just one bid, at 2,500,000gns (AU$5.1 million), but that was enough to add the bay filly to an increasingly tantalising list of future broodmare prospects.

The football agent and prominent racehorse owner initially referred journalists' enquiries to Elliott, but he was eventually cajoled into a few words on his explosive spending spree at Tattersalls.

“I don't do interviews,” he said with a grin. “We need strong-pedigreed fillies. We have a lot of horses going to stud in the next year. Bucanero Fuerte will end up at stud, I don't know this year or next year, and King Of Steel will go to stud, I don't know this year or next year yet. Soon we will have to make a decision. We have Persian Force at stud and we just need to back them, otherwise we are just going to get left behind. The kind of investment we have made in the last few years, we are going to have to change a little bit and we have to back our stallions to have a chance at winning. It's very hard to buy those mares because the Juddmontes, Coolmores, Shadwells, all the big guys own all the big mares, so we have to come out here and hope that what we are buying in terms of pedigrees, like we did with the fillies in Keeneland. We went after fillies with strong pedigrees – and that's what we are trying to do.”

He continued, “It's very hard to buy them afterwards. Once they've won a Group 1 you're up in the eights, nines, tens of millions, so you've got to try to get them earlier and hope that in the next few years that these fillies will do well.”

Just for a little variety, the Amo team later added a colt by Frankel to the list of the day's purchases. Lot 85, a half-brother to the Group 3-placed Redressed (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), whose dam Atone (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a sister to Juddmonte's multiple Group 1 winner Midday (GB), was bought from the draft of Baroda Stud for 1,100,000gns (AU$2.24 million).

“Frankel has had huge success and he just keeps on coming through,” Joorabchian added. “The Champion Stakes in Ireland was a real eye-opener when you looked at the card. There were five Frankels and one Too Darn Hot. You look at all the Frankels and what they're doing, and you just have to back him.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Tattersalls

Recounting the bidding duel for the top lot, Elliott said, “Kia and partners wanted the filly very badly – a Frankel filly from that family and with that physique, she was always going to be a collectors' item.

“But she is part of Team Amo now – wow. She is a spectacular filly, it is a spectacular price, a spectacular bunch of horses here. I'd like to say I was a cool customer when all that was taking place, but that would be a fib. I have never been in that rarified atmosphere before.”

He added, “It is great that she is staying here, it is great for British racing. To have two men say they are going to keep her here, it is huge kudos to them. Kia knows you have got to buy them at the top level to compete at the top level. All the teams select the best horse and it is who blinks first, and Kia did not blink – I think I did.”

Marinakis, who had also attended the Goffs London Sale with Joorabchian back in June, when asked if he was one of the partners behind Amo Racing's major outlay, replied, “No, I'm just here to enjoy the day.”

Amo Racing, the outright leading buyer so far during Book 1, accounted for almost a quarter of the day's turnover, which was in excess of 42 million gns (AU$87 million). They also bought three yearlings in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing, while Kia's son Maxi Joorabchian co-signed with trainer George Scott for a colt by first-crop sire Lucky Vega (Ire) at 180,000gns (AU$367,200).

Godolphin lands No Nay Never colt

Godolphin picked up the top-priced colt on the day, a No Nay Never (USA) half-brother to G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was described by Ballylinch Stud's John O'Connor as the nicest horses the operation has ever brought to the sales.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Tattersalls

That big opinion was backed up by the price tag, with Anthony Stroud holding off stiff opposition from the Coolmore team to secure the colt on behalf of Godolphin for 2,200,000gns (AU$4.48 million).

“He was the one horse we really wanted today,” Stroud said, before commenting on the market. “There are a lot of people from all around the world here. It's good. It (the market) needs it.”

The No Nay Never colt is very much a Ballylinch Stud-nurtured family through and through. The grandam, Uncharted Haven (GB) (Turtle Island {Ire}), was bought by O'Connor for 320,000gns (AU$652,800) at the December Mares Sale in 2001 while the colt's dam, Bella Estrella (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), carried the green and orange silks to Listed success when trained by Dermot Weld.

O'Connor commented, “You never know quite what they will reach but I did expect that he would make a big price. I bought the grandam at the December Sale as a filly out of training. She comes from one of the original Ballylinch families from during the McCalmont times, so I was keen to get one back. It's been a very successful family for us and he (Lot 92) was very typical of that family. I don't think I've ever brought a nicer colt to the sales. That is confirmed by our yearling manager at home, Ronan Wade, who gave him the highest mark I have ever seen him give a horse. So we expected him to do really well and the top judges all had him on their lists.”