Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

For the second time, TripleS data is being provided for each horse going through the ring at the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale; the information gleaned from electronic chips recording stride length, frequency and speed data is laid out in easy to read charts.

Sectionals between the 600 metres and 400 metres, the 400 metres and 200 metres and the final 200 metres are recorded as are average and top speeds and average stride lengths.

Also of interest are vendor quotes which sit nicely alongside of all the usual pedigree information and updates provided as well as breeze-up and parade footage.

“You can never have information overload when it comes to selling horses,” Magic Millions' Barry Bowditch said.

“We are in a world now where the more you provide the better and for us it means that people who can't be here on the ground still have access to plenty of information.

“And the more information there is, the greater degree of market confidence there is.”

Welcoming technology

"Our vendors have really welcomed the technology," Bowditch said, adding that "we are always looking at more ways to improve."

Bowditch is looking forward to selling 3-year-olds at this sale for the first time, noting that it gives vendors another option for horses who for some reason have not been ready to go on traditional sales dates.

“We'd had a fair bit of interest from buyers in this concept, especially from Hong Kong and Malaysia; early season 3-year-olds ready to go. So we thought why not?!”

Bowditch is happy with the strength of the sale; both in regards to horses and sellers.

“We are delighted with the quality line up of stock and fortunate to have the finest equine educators preparing horses for the sale.”

“People who have proven track records for first class horsemanship; unearthing future track stars for their next connections.”

Gallery: Insepections at the Gold Coast Sales Complex on Monday, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Mixture of stallions

88 different stallions are represented in the sale which kicks off at noon (12pm AEST) with horses who have breezed up at Seymour, Newcastle and the Gold Coast.

Proven stallions have their share of nice produce, such as All Too Hard, Better Than Ready, Capitalist, I Am Invincible, Proisir, Snitzel, So You Think (NZ), Spirit Of Boom, Starspangledbanner (Street Boss {USA}), Toronado (Ire), Written Tycoon and Zoustar.

As do such up-and-coming younger stallions as Anders, Bivouac, Brave Smash (Jpn), Brutal (NZ), Cool Aza Beel (NZ), Cosmic Force, Exceedance, Hanseatic, Farnan, Justify (USA), Ole Kirk, Pierata, Russian Camelot (Ire), Tagaloa, Tassort, Yes Yes Yes and Zousain.

And there are bonus schemes aplenty; the Magic Millions Race Series nominees, BOBS and BOBS Silver horses as well as VOBIS Gold, VOBIS Silver and VOBIS Sires horses plus those fully paid up for the lucrative QTIS scheme.

Snitzel leading the way

With last year's $750,000 purchase Bittercreek doing well for Snitzel; taking out the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic and finishing second to Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 JJ Atkins S., the progeny of that Champion Sire are going to be in high demand as usual.

There are five Snitzel colts and one filly up for grabs, all from the Baramul Stud draft, including Lot 147, a striking chestnut half-brother to the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly Of The Year Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).

"He is going to prove pretty popular," Bowditch said.

Also by Snitzel is Lot 8, a full brother to the Listed Twilight Glow S. winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel) and Lot 54, the first foal for a half-sister to the stakes winners Sidereus and Velrosso (General Nediym). As well as Lot 92, a half-brother to the G3 Canonbury S. winner McLaren, 109, a half-sister to the Macau-based multiple stakes winner Pearl Green (Fastnet Rock) and Lot 128, a three-quarter brother to the Listed Geelong Classic winner Confrontational (Redoute's Choice).

Lot 76 by Justify is another horse Bowditch highlighted as a likely good seller; the bay from the draft of KO Racing hailing from one of the world's finest families, his dam a half-sister to Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).

A stand-out amongst the horses by first season stallions is Lot 138, a Ole Kirk colt being sold by Network Bloodstock. A half-brother to the city winner Matriarch Rose (Epaulette), he hails from the same family as Packing Hermod (Rubick) who remained undefeated after an impressive performance at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Siblings to stakes winners

Asian buyers will also be interested in Lot 28, an Exceedance half-brother to the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Nothinglikemore (Husson {Chi}) and Lot 185, a Trapeze Artist half-brother to the Macau Listed winner Mister Kaopu (Redoute's Choice) and the local Group 2 winner Running Tall (Stratum).

There are also full siblings to the stakes winners In His Stride (Rothesay) and Cosmic Alert (Star Witness) as well as halves to Religify (Choisir), Yamazaki (Real Saga) and La Rocque (Kuroshio).

Gallery: Some of the stakes performers with relations in the sale

And there are the progeny of some very talented mares, namely the stakes winners Discreet (Show A Heart), Magically (Danehill {USA}), Moulin Lady (Reset), Petits Filous (Street Boss), The Filly (NZ) (Ishiguru {USA}), Pravana (Anabaa {USA}), Chica Loca (Fr) (American Post {GB}), Dashitude (Dash For Cash) and Duchess Kate (NZ) (Savabeel).

Amongst the 3-year-olds are horses who have shown ability at the trials, such as the trial winners Golden Octavian (Impending) and Nation Changing (Cosmic Force).

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

When the session opened the Committee took evidence from public servants Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, and Terry O’Brien, Director of the Office of Racing, both of whom stated their department’s procedural involvement in matters subsequent to the announcement of the proposed sale made on December 7, last year. Not a tremendous amount leaked out that we didn’t already know and certainly nothing headline worthy.

It was then the turn of former ATC Chairman Matthew McGrath who provided very broad background information on how the Club had undertaken and funded a significant number of capital works, and just why they retained a large debt with Racing New South Wales.

McGrath sat alongside trucking magnate and former Australian Jockey Club Chairman Ron Finemore who offered his take on the sale from a business owner’s perspective.

They were followed by the final witness of the day, James Cullen, Chief of Staff for the Premier Chris Minns who spent the majority of his time behind the microphone defending the probity around the meeting arranged between the ATC’s Head of Membership and Corporate Affairs Steve McMahon and the Premier.

Outside of when parliament sits this was the final opportunity for those looking to score political points over the Minns government to land a blow, and it was the trio of Senators, Wes Fang from the Nationals, Damien Tudehope for the Liberals and Independent Mark Latham who took Cullen to task over the arrangements surrounding the October 30 meeting between McMahon and the Premier, the pair having enjoyed a long-time friendship with the former also a member of the Labor party.

The ‘McMullen principle’

When requested Cullen had twice declined to attend previous hearings applying the ‘McMullen principle’ that ministerial staff members should not be compelled to appear before parliamentary committees.

In the end he appeared having been served a summons to do so, but his demeanour and responses suggested he clearly wasn’t happy being interrogated.

The three Senators persistently grilled Cullen over why he had chosen the ‘meet and greet’ option in the diary system when they believed the Premier’s office was aware of a potential $5 billion sale of the racecourse, and that the diary entry deserved a more comprehensive and transparent description.

An exasperated Latham finally put it to him “You haven't answered that question as to why it wasn't listed for what it was, an honest assessment that it was a meeting with Steve McMahon to discuss the sale of Rosehill.”

A flustered Cullen ‘stonewalled’ responding, in a manner most politicians would have given a nod of approval to, “We fully complied with the record keeping requirements, including the diary disclosure obligations. I've already given that evidence, and I'm comfortable.”

Latham finally turned to the Chair Senator Scott Farlow seeking action on a witness he felt was “misleading and not being honest and direct in his answers”, although Farlow declined to act at the time.

Earlier, McGrath’s opening statement pointed out that under his Chairmanship the ATC had been able to self-fund roughly $100 million worth of capital works, the majority of which, he said, was spent on welfare outcomes for horses and participants.

He also said that after consultation with Racing NSW the Club took out a $29 million loan from the regulator to enlarge the original Winx Stand design. That loan was for a 15-year term but McGrath explained it was on track to be repaid within eight years.

Repaying the $99 million loan

McGrath also advised that there is a $99 million loan from Racing NSW outstanding from 2011, a carrot used to bring the merger of the AJC and STC to fruition. He explained that the loan is only repayable should the ATC sell a core asset like a racecourse, something Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landys touched upon when he gave evidence at the Committee’s second sitting.

It follows then that should Rosehill be sold off Racing NSW would be entitled to the first tranche of funds to repay the loan.

In fairness to McGrath he did put his hand up as being at the forefront of installing the somewhat maligned current funding model.

“In 2018 I signed a 15 year agreement with Racing NSW to ensure the success of the ATC. It guaranteed the minimum of $90 million per annum to the ATC. This is an agreement based on what was best for the club and industry.”

There are plenty in the industry that will argue that just six years on that model is redundant.

On several occasions the Committee sat behind closed doors to deliberate matters, but should nothing of note transpire that should be the final time the Committee sits.

The Committee has then been charged with tabling a report before parliament before the recently revised date of December 6th.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Top Sydney trainer Joe Pride admits he likes the challenge of “using my imagination” after buying horses who look like they’ve still got a bit of maturing to do. But it is a proven formula for him, as he showed once again at Randwick on Saturday, with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) saluting in the respective G1 King Charles III S. and G3 Angst S.

Ceolwulf was purchased by Pride for $170,000 from Riversley Park Ltd at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, the two-time Group 1 winner now amassing $4,750,400 in total prizemoney from 14 starts, and he is still just a 4-year-old gelding.

His G1 Waikato Draft Sprint-winning sire, Tavistock (NZ), has sired 766 runners for 564 winners, with 51 coming at stakes level.

12 of those are Group 1 winners, including gelding Werther (NZ) who took out the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup, both at Group 1-level, in 2016 and 2017.

Shrewd purchase

Pride said his shrewd purchase of Ceolwulf was a no-brainer.

“He was just a really attractive-looking yearling. I only bought two horses out of that sale, and he was just a horse who caught my eye,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.

“He was a really handsome-looking colt. I’ve always liked the Tavistock horses, and Shamardal is a great broodmare sire, so it was a pretty easy one for me.

“He breezed up well. The little things came together, and I was hoping he’d be in the can-afford basket.

“He fell in there.”

Ceolwulf is the first runner for his dam, Las Brisas (GB) Sharmardal (USA)), who was an £50,000 (AU$97,342) purchase by Cambridge Stud from Castlefarm Stud, Ireland, at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mares Sales.

Blistering turn of foot

And his win on Saturday was stunning, with jockey Chad Schofield summoning a blistering turn of foot down the middle of the straight from seventh position, going on to defeat three-time Group 1 winner Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) by 0.72l.

It was Ceolwulf’s third salute from his past four starts, including the G1 Epsom which he won in similar fashion, also over a mile at Randwick on October 5.

Before his triumph in a Benchmark 100 over 1500 metres at Rosehill on August 31, he went eight starts without a victory, since claiming his maiden at start number two at Warwick Farm on August 30, 2023.

But Pride – who has achieved Group 1 victories with tried horses such as Vision And Power (Carnegie (Ire)), Sacred Choice (Choisir), Eduardo (Host (Chi)), Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer (Ire)) and Mariamia (Toronado (Ire)) – only enjoyed guiding Ceolwulf though the winless period as he matured, as he now enjoys a well-earned spell.

A well-earned spell

“He’s come a long way in a short time, and he’s getting a break now,” he said.

“But it was a very good win. Very pleasing.

“He hasn’t really got much tactical speed, but he’s got that big booming finish on him.

“He’s still a horse learning what it’s all about, but the raw ability is clearly there. And it’s something to build on as he gets a bit older.

“I do like my horses who look like they’re going to take a little while to mature. You don’t have to pay as much for them, and they just suit what I do.”

Pride said typically not pursuing potential 2-year-old stars for his medium-sized stable at Warwick Farm meant using all his creativity and nous as an elite trainer, going back to when he began his operation at Randwick in 2000.

“I’m most likely going to miss the window if I’m going to buy an early type. I don’t want to push them too hard too early,” he said.

“So I buy horses where you have to use your imagination a little bit more, but it’s a formula that has worked for me in the past.”

Future targets

Pride said the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on April 12 next year would be the next target for Ceolwulf, with a 12-month target being the 2025 Cox Plate, the respected Sydney conditioner saying this year’s edition on Saturday would be too much of a short turnaround.

“Queen Elizabeth for the autumn is what we’re thinking. And then, all going well and he runs a strong 2000 metres there, we’d be mad not to aim up in the Cox Plate in the spring,” he said.

“It feels like a long way away given we haven’t even seen this year’s Cox Plate. But (a lot of) things go into the planning process, and that would be the aim.

“See how we go in the autumn first.”

Lekvarte storms home

Pride compared Lekvarte’s G3 Angst S. victory also at Randwick on Saturday to Ceolwulf’s triumph.

The 6-year-old grey mare was last coming into the turn in the mile race worth $250,000, before showing a blistering turn of foot from 150 metres out to salute by 0.36l.

“It’s a pattern, so I fully expected to see her there. But she’s another one. Not much tactical speed, but a really good turn of foot,” Pride said.

Lekvarte is now a $15 winning chance in the Group 1 fillies and mares weight-for-age Empire Rose S. at Flemington on November 2.

“She just let go again on Saturday and reeled them in. She’s a very good mare and has won three times at that (G3) level now, so she’s going to be a good chance in the Empire Rose,” Pride said.

“I’m looking forward to getting her down to Flemington in a couple weeks’ time.”

Lekvarte was a $210,000 purchase by BK Racing & Breeding/Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from Westbury Stud at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Her Group 1-winning Queen Elizabeth S. sire Reliable Man (GB) has sired 768 runners for 470 winners, with 27 of those at stakes level, including Group 1 victors Inspirational Girl (NZ), Miami Bound (NZ) and Miss Sentimental (NZ).

“(Lekvarte was) another Kiwi purchase which has just taken time. She’s got better with each preparation,” Pride said.

“She was an okay 3-year-old, but she’s certainly trained on to be a much better horse.

“In December of last year she won her first stakes race, and she’s won three of them now.”

Retirement for Think About It

Meanwhile, Pride did not hesitate when asked about the welfare reasons behind his decision to retire 2023 The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) on Saturday night, after suffering a scary fall in this year’s edition of the world’s richest sprint race.

Jockey Jason Collett was flung from the horse, but he avoided injury.

Reports emerged that the horse experienced an EIPH episode, but was able to walk back into the stables, with owners Proven Thoroughbreds later tweeting that the 6-year-old bay gelding suffered a significant pulmonary haemorrhage.

“Without question (trainers care for their horses),” Pride said.

“It’s tough, and no one wants to see that happen. But it does happen occasionally.

“All you can do is just do your best to care for them after it, and I’m happy to report that he’s in good order.

“He’s a very tough horse. It was just so good to see him on his feet on Saturday, and to walk off that track.”

Pride said he still wasn’t sure what retirement would look like for his champion sprinter, who earned $12,163,050 in total prizemoney, with 11 wins from 19 starts.

Two of those – the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap – were at G1 level.

“A few people have asked (about Think About It’s retirement). As soon as I have something we’ll certainly be announcing it,” Pride said.

Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

So brilliant taking out Sunday's Sha Tin feature, the G2 Premier Bowl, Kai Ying Rising has a nice link to Mr Brightside; the third dam of each horse being full sisters; daughters of Sir Tristram (Ire) and the wonderful matriarch Taiona (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}).

Also winner of the G3 Sha Tin Vase in June, named the 2023/24 Champion Griffin, Kai Ying Rising is one of Taiona's 18 stakes winning descendants and come December he vies to become her eighth Group 1 winner.

Sovereign Red (NZ), Grosvenor (NZ), Trichelle (NZ) (Sir Tristram), Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine), Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) and Purple (Commands) being the others.

Big things ahead

Kai Ying Rising has big things ahead; Hayes hoping to win a second G1 Hong Kong International Sprint having taken out that rich contest in 2002 with All Thrills Too (St Covet).

Heading to that race via the G2 Jockey Club Sprint on November 17, Kai Ying Rising is building an impressive record. Yet to finish out of the quinella in eight starts, he has won six times with five of those wins coming when ridden by Zac Purton who noted that the 4-year-old “gets better every start.”

“He is handling the pre racing thing a lot better, standing in the gates better,” he told the HKJC. “He is a really intelligent horse and he always had that race under control, it all went pretty smoothly. Hopefully this is the start of a really exciting journey.

“He is a very special horse,” David Hayes said.

“We put him away earlier this year with the plan right through being to get him to December. Physically he still has improvement in him, he is getting stronger.”

Noting that his trials had been good without being spectacular, Hayes said that “he races better than he trials, he trials at a different level. A lot of good horses do that.”

“He is bred to run a mile and he has the manners to run a mile,” he added, keen for Kai Ying Rising to tackle the Hong Kong four-year-old series next year, not ruling out a crack at the HKG1 Derby.

Close to track record

Not pushed out to win by 1.5l in 1.07.57 seconds, Kai Ying Rising went close to the track record of 1.07.50 held by Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago).

One of the 13 stakes winners for his G1 Newmarket H.-winning, Windsor Park Stud-based sire, Kai Ying Rising was bred by Grandmoral Lodge Racing.

He is the first of sadly only two foals for the metropolitan-placed five-time winner Missy Moo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who died young in 2022, her only other foal a yet to be named Turn Me Loose (NZ) 3-year-old.

His win was one of three on the card for David Hayes who also cheered home Youth Power (Ity) (Blu Constellation {Ity}) to his first Hong Kong success at his 16th attempt. He is out of a half-sister to the Group 1-placed G3 Taranaki Cup winner Fortune Knight (GB) (Compton Place {GB}).

Hayes also teamed with Zac Purton to win with Master Mastermind (Deep Field) who has now won two in a row from seven starts.

Bred by Supreme Thoroughbreds, the $225,000 purchase for Lindsay Park Racing at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale is out of the multiple city winner Khalama (Starspangledbanner) who sadly died recently having foaled a Russian Camelot (Ire) colt.

Bred on a 3 X 3 cross of Encosta De Lago, he hails from the family of Saturday's Everest contender I Am Me (I Am Invincible) and the high-class stallions Royal Academy (USA) and Storm Cat (USA).

A treble for Purton

Purton added a third win to those two; later in the day successful aboard the Francis Lui-trained Packing Hermod (Rubick). An exciting type who has won his first three starts, the G1 Hong Classic Mile bound 4-year-old overcame a tricky gate to win in easy fashion.

Bred in Victoria by Bird Rock Thoroughbreds, he was secured by Hong Kong Bloodstock and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $300,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is out of the unraced Black Tulip (Lonhro) whose five named foals are all winners including the Listed Spirit Of Boom Classic winner Niedorp (Not A Single Doubt) and the stakes placed four-time Hong Kong winner Galaxy Witness (Star Witness).

Recently foaling a Home Affairs colt, she is a half-sister to the G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Hanks (Encosta De Lago) out of a half-sister to the US Champion 2YO Colt and successful stallion Dehere (USA).

Andrew Williams was a fan of Packing Hermod from the start, telling us that “I called him a bit of a busy yearling, he was always up and about!”

“But he was a really good colour, good shape, had lovely depth of girth, a good action and bone. He was a very athletic individual. His only negative was that he was a busy horse but that was probably just a maturity thing and he is coming into himself now.”

Mark Newnham was in the winner's circle on two occasions, both times with horses breaking their Hong Kong maidens. He struck early in the second race with Win Speed (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) and later in the day with Bravehearts (Arg) (Cityscape {GB}).

Win Speed was bred by J and I Bloodstock Ltd and is a son of the winning mare Leica Glory (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) who hails from the same branch of the the prolific 'Leica' family as the Macau star Luen Yat Forever (Honours List {Ire}) whilst Bravehearts was crowned the Champion Turf Male and Stayer in Argentina in 2022/23.

The double took Newnham to fourth position in the trainers premiership with 11 wins for the season.

“It's been a very good day,” he told the media, “I'm just trying to keep up with Hayesy!”

Further Australia success

Another Australian in John Size, who has called Hong Kong for over two decades, was represented by a winner; teaming with Brenton Avdulla for success with the lightly raced Majestic Express (I Am Invincible).

Another horse enjoying Hong Kong success for the first time, he raced in Australia as Souttar; having three starts (the first two as a colt) for the Brad Widdup stable, winning a Kembla Grange maiden in smart fashion before heading to Hong Kong in December last year.

Bred by Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Boutique Thoroughbreds, he is out of the Moonee Valley winner Unassailed (Fastnet Rock), also dam of the two-time Group 3-placed triple city winner Shalailed (Shalaa {Ire}).

She is a three-quarter sister to the Listed Heatherlie H. winner Great Esteem (Redoute's Choice) and the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas winner High Esteem (Redoute's Choice) from the family of the Group 1 gallopers Central Park (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) and Moon Ballad (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}).

Majestic Express was purchased by BK Racing and Brad Widdup Racing for $450,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Another two Australia bred horses were in winning form, the Gerry Harvey-bred, Cody Mo-trained Patch Of Time (Written Tycoon) and the Gooree Park Stud-bred, Ricky Yiu-trained Green N White (Smart Missile).

Purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $360,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Patch Of Time again went through the ring at last year's Hong Kong Jockey Club Hong Kong International Sale; purchased by Yeung Kit Ming Angela for HK$5,600,000 (AU$1.07 million).

He is out of the two-time Canterbury winner Lady Gracious (Redoute's Choice). She is a a half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Turffontein and her Listed Gibson Carmichael S.-winning daughter Affable (Husson {Chi}) is dam of the Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup winner Agreeable (Sebring).

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Green N White was purchased for $220,000 by A List Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and by Ricky Yui with Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $325,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale.

Bred on a 4 X 3 cross of Royal Academy (USA), he is a full brother to the recent G3 Northwood Plume S. winner Aviatress out of the Newcastle maiden winner Twin Star Rocket (Bel Esprit) from the same prolific Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}) as Saturday's G3 Caulfield Classic winner Kingofwallstreet (Dundeel {NZ}).

The winner of four of his 11 starts in Hong Kong, Green N White is remembered by Gooree's Andrew Baddock as being “a big, strong colt and a great type who sold accordingly.”

“It does not surprise that he looks well above average!”

Also in winning form was the Caspar Fownes-trained Karma (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) who is doing a good job, successful at three of his last four starts since April.

Bred by DD and LM Kerr and LM Moore, he was passed in on a reserve of $75,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

He is out of Lovingthelimelight (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}), also dam of the Group 2-placed Hong Kong winner Enrichment (Teofilo {Ire}) from the family of the US Champion 2YO Chief's Crown (USA).