Cover image courtesy of Inglis

At A Glance

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At the close of trade on the second day of the three day Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, 377 yearlings of the 540 catalogued (57 withdrawn for this section of the catalogue) had sold, compared to 397 at this point last year. The aggregate of $36,238,000 is down on 2024’s aggregate of $38,626,000. The clearance rate currently sits at 77 per cent, lower than the 83 per cent at this time last year.

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The average at the end of Day 2 stood at $97,153, almost identical to 2024’s average of $97,295, with both down on 2023, where it rested at $107,369. There remains a bias to colts who currently average $104,842 while fillies are averaging $85,462 in 2025.

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The median on Day 2 settled at $80,000, which has remained unchanged at this point for three years in succession.

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The leading buyer by gross at the end of Day 2 is McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) who took their total spend to $1.66 million across a total of seven individual lots so far. They also lead by average, for buyers with two or more purchased, at $237,500.

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Arrowfield Stud lead the vendors list by aggregate selling 20 yearlings over the first two days for a total of $2.65 million. On average (with three or more sold), Yarraman Park Stud have made a strong start to their classic account, averaging $193,000 for their seven to sell.

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Hellbent leads the stallions by gross, accumulating a gross of $1.82 millions from his 16 lots to sell. By average (three or more sold), Written Tycoon has narrowly edged out I Am Invincible with the pair having end of Day 2 averages of $260,000 and $253,000 respectively.

#1. $440,000 Dundeel colt puts Hawthorne in mind of Super Seth

Arrowfield Stud’s stalwart Dundeel (NZ) headlined the second day of selling at Riverside with Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) going to $440,000 to secure Lot 455, a colt out of five-time winner Mother’s Mercy (Redoutes Choice), a three-quarter-sister to G1 Australian Oaks victress Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) and G2 Ian McEwen Stakes winner Baraqiel (Snitzel). Hawthorne wasn’t leaving without the colt, who reminded him heavily of Dundeel’s New Zealand-based sire son Super Seth.

“I bought Super Seth here at the same complex from the same draft,” Hawthorne told The Thoroughbred Report. “I saw him (Lot 455) earlier in the week, and I rang the boss and said, ‘I’ve found another one.’ Whether he is that remains to be seen, but I just loved him.

“Sons of Dundeel are really doing it at stud so we have been focusing on them, we've just waiting for the right ones to come along.

“I sneaked out the back and watched him in the parade ring, and he just got on with the job, which is what we like to see in a colt, so we were not going home without him.”

The combination of Dundeel over Redoute’s Choice is an appealing one, delivering to date seven stakes winners, led by Group 1 winners Super Seth and Celestial Legend, and a further 12 stakes-performers, which offers a tempting 10.6 per cent stakes horses to runners bred on the cross. Dundeel has enjoyed a productive first half of the racing season with five stakes winners headlined by star mare Konasana’s back-to-back wins of the G3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes and the G2 Westbury Classic at the end of January, and the emergence of several exciting colts, including G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Red Aces and G1 Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Henlein.

For Hawthorne, the colt “stacked right up there” with Super Seth’s leading offspring that have come through the sales ring over the last few years.

“The physical rating was big on him, but the page was solid,” Hawthorne said. “He wouldn’t have gone amiss at Easter with that pedigree.”

Dundeel and Arrowfield Stud also offered the top-priced filly of the sale so far, coming within the last lots to go through the ring on the second day. Matt Laurie and ARJB Racing secured the daughter of Pretty Elsa (Exceed And Excel), a three-quarter-sister to emerging blue hen Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), for $400,000.

“She is a lovely filly, bred and raised by Hermitage, our partners in The Autumn Sun,” said Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer. “She’s an outstanding type, a gorgeous filly. She could have slotted into any sale.

“Dundeel fillies are having a great run, and they are getting respected highly now, as well as the colts.”

The sire of 33 stakes winners to date, Dundeel currently sits third by aggregate amongst the sires represented in the Classic catalogue this year, having sold seven lots for a total $1.38 million and an average of $197,143. He is only beaten out by Hellbent, who has had 16 of his progeny sold so far, and barn fellow The Autumn Sun, who has sold 11. So far, he is averaging at a respectable 3.3 times the $60,000 (excluding GST for comparison) service fee that this crop were conceived at.

Dundeel achieved similar results at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale at the beginning of January, where eight of his 14 catalogued yearlings sold for an average of $166,875, where Resolute Racing paid the top price of $400,000 for a colt offered by Sledmere Stud, out of a unraced full sister to G3 Prix du Lys winner Volkan Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock paid a comparable price when securing his top lot at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale last month, paying NZ$450,000 to secure his son out of Grace Augusta (Declaration Of War {USA}), a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt) and multiple Group winner Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock), who was offered by Curraghmore. His six lots - evenly split between colts and fillies - all sold at Karaka, and averaged a respectable NZ$196,667.

Hawthorne has found that the selling has continued to be competitive on day two, despite the pre-sale worries of many.

“The top lots are really selling well,” he said. “Everyone’s got to be happy. We were all expecting a big crash here, but it hasn’t happened. The good ones you’ve got to pay for. It’s a surprisingly good sale.”

#2. Cosmic Force: A force to be reckoned with

Deep Field’s exciting young sire Cosmic Force has made a promising start to his stud career, running at a 48 per cent winners to runners ratio and an impressive 10 per cent stakes performers to runners ratio, with the headline act being the very exciting three-time winner Give Me Space.

He was the winner of the G3 Vo Rogue Plate and, at his last start, ran second in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, which played a big part in him so far having earned a tick over $800,000 in his career - which, granted, is only just getting started in terms of earning ability.

Buyers have been keen to get their hands on Cosmic Force's progeny over Day 1 and 2 as both racing propositions as well as potential traders. From eight lots offered, he has had an outstanding 100 per cent clearance rate, and has managed a gross amount of $865,000, averaging a very healthy $108,125 off his conceived 2022 service fee of $11,000 (inc GST).

Jamie Beatson of Ohukia Lodge, a well known judge and well-respected for his ability to trade horses from yearling point to the breeze-up sales, purchased two colts by the young sire.

“They are really good types,” Beatson commented. "There are no more Deep Fields (to be born) and I think the Hong Kong market will like these ones. They love Deep Fields, so a son of him may potentially be a great thing. There have already been three or four Cosmic Forces (that have) headed over to Hong Kong and we just have to hope they go bang.

“I have bought them to take to the Ready To Runs. They look great types, look like racehorses, have a bit of size about them and will grow into nice horses.”

When discussing Lot 9, which Beatson purchased jointly with Jim Carey, he explained, “Jim knows a good horse when he sees one, we have had a couple together and hopefully we get a result out of this one.”

Suman Hedge, another great judge, took a liking to the young sire.

“We purchased Lot 176 with Gavin (Bedggood), we have started doing some work with him, and he is a very promising trainer,” Hedge said. “He has developed a reputation for improving horses from other stables or that have had issues, but I think we have to change the narrative. He is straight out just a very good trainer.”

Hedge always does his homework at all sales and emphasised, “I have looked at every horse at the sales and I had him in the top five per cent in terms of movement, he had great balance and a lovely walk.

“We have bought him off Bhima and they have been having a great run on the track, Buying off the good proven farms gives you a great start.”

In terms of the sire, Hedge commented, “I am very familiar with the Northern Meteor line and the attributes that the good horses from that line have. I like the stallion, he started from a low base but I have marked them well at all of the sales, generally they are good movers, attractive and have lots of presence.”

“I feel that with Hong Kong and Deep Field being so successful, maybe Cosmic Force can fill that gap. There could become an interesting angle with trading these types over there.”

#3. Private Harry combination join forces

At the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Kurrinda Bloodstock, in combination with Doyle Racing, purchased a Harry Angel (Ire) colt from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral Co for $115,000.

Fast forward two years and that colt has made a big impact, as he is unbeaten from four stars and has picked up a tick under $1.4 million in prize money. The same purchasers this year have picked up his half-sister by Captivant for $220,000, but this time Rheinwood have retained a share and are excited about the new combination.

“The sale is wonderful and we are joining Kurrinda in the ownership of this filly,” Kirsty Willis, manager at Rheinwood, excitedly explained. “It’s so exciting as we have so much belief in this filly, and Private Harry is going to line up in The Galaxy.”

“We thought early on day two it was potentially going to be tricky, but it was not to be the case.” It is clear when talking to Kirsty that she has a lot of belief in this filly “It's going to be a ride as she is every bit as good as Private Harry. She’s so intelligent, she’s a ready made racehorse, and hopefully she will be in the Millennium next year.”

When asked how big this is for her team, she commented, “it’s pretty lifechanging, it's why we do what we do. We raise them to be athletes.”

Rheinwood Pastoral's motto of 'bred in the cold, hot on the track’ is running true at the moment. Willis emphasised, “get involved, come racing with us and see the guys at Kurrinda. It's going to be a ride!”

Sean Driver, the Director and Bloodstock Manager of Kurrinda Bloodstock, was uncertain and not sure on how the bidding process would go.

“I didn't know what she would go for as at the end of the day," he said. "Private Harry doesn't have any blacktype, does he.

“He (Private Harry) is four from from, he has no blacktype, but he will be very hard to beat in March in The Galaxy. It will take a very good one to beat him, so you are probably banking on that.

“Was she going to make 150, or was it going to be 300, I honestly didn't know. We dotted the i's and crossed the t’s and said, 'let's be active.' I treat a horse as a horse - if she didn't tick our boxes, we wouldn't have got her.”

When asked to describe her as a type and pedigree-wise, Driver explained, “to be frank, the pedigree is quite plain, I've got the half and he shows us enough, not to the Private Harry level, but enough. He’s by Anders and he has now been gelded. The mum just throws such good types, as a physical they are crackers.”

When comparing her to Private Harry, Driver said she had “identical bum, identical head, identical shoulder, she probably has more physical presence in terms of her girth.”

There is now more reason to look forward to Private Harry hitting the track again, as he can significantly increase the value of his half-sister. When quizzed on Private Harry’s exact plans, he excitedly explained, “he trials twice, then attacks The Galaxy first up before the TJ Smith.”

#4. Good friends get a great result

As the hammer was knocked down on Lot 312, it created a big sense of satisfaction and a nice cash boost to Sherah Sullivan and Bevan Smith.

The Ole Kirk colt was a great pinhooking result for the duo, that traded under the Sullivan Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock banner, as they teamed up to purchase him for $70,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.

Fast forward to this week, and that colt caught the eye at the second day of the Classic sale, where Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott combined with Kestrel Thoroughbreds to secure him for $250,000.

“We were proud to bring him here,” Sherah Sullivan said. "He was good every time he was paraded. He is a lovely horse, he has a lovely action on him, and we knew we had a horse by the right stallion coming here.

“We thought 150 to 200 would be a great result, 250 is just massive, we are rapt. Also, it is the first time we have sold to Gai, and I am really excited about that. He is a really early type and that is obviously a good 2-year-old stable. I am excited to watch him progress.”

When asked about the link with Bevan Smith, Sullivan mentioned, “I always team up with Bevan, I'm normally selling weanlings myself, Bevan often does up the shortlist and then we collaborate to see what we buy.

“He's a big asset to me and we work really well together.”

Bevan Smith went on to comment, “very happy with the result, we took a punt buying a second season sire, but I liked some of Ole Kirk's first crop so I was willing and confident to take the punt.”

When asked to describe the weanling purchase and the yearling he has matured into, Smith described him as a “neat and sharp horse, even as a young horse.”

“He was always a great mover, a lovely walker. Ole Kirk kicking on has helped, and he has gone to very good trainers who should suit him.”

When asked about the partnership with Sherah Sullivan, Smith explained, “me and Sherah go way back and are great mates. It is so much more enjoyable this experience with friends, we talk daily and this is an extra rewarding result, we are very happy.”

#5. Gabbedy punting on "good running group mares make good broodmares"

The McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) team took a liking to Lot 329, a striking Prague colt that they purchased for $200,000 from the draft of Sledmere Stud.

He is out of the very talented mare Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible), who was a very quick mare, winning six times from 1100 metres up to 1600 metres including in the G2 Missile Stakes, G2 Emancipation Stakes, and the G3 Spring Stakes.

Damon Gabbedy from Belmont Bloodstock commented, “the mare was a seriously good mare, a dual Group 2-winning mare by I Am Invincible. We really want to buy yearlings out of outstanding race mares.”

When asked about the stallion he mentioned, “Prague is unproven, but his oldest runners are only juveniles and he is a really highly rated son of Redoute’s Choice.”

Whether he had any exposure to the Prague stock, he answered, “no, we actually tried to buy one at the Gold Coast and missed out. We also missed out on a couple last year so we are happy to get this colt. He is an outstanding specimen.

“We think its a really good combination of speed from Redoute’s Choice and I Am Invincible. We looked back at him four times and he walked the house down every time. He has a lot of quality and we had a client that really wanted to buy him, we are very happy.”

Summarising, Gabbedy said. "we think good running Group race mares make good broodmares, that's what we are punting on.”

Buyers by gross

Buyers by average (2 or more)

Vendors by gross

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Sires by gross

Sire by average (3 or more sold)

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Lot 455 - Dundeel (NZ) x Mother's Mercy (Redoute's Choice), colt $440,000

“We weren't going home without him,” said Dean Hawthorne of Lot 455, an imposing son of Dundeel (NZ) and the good racemare Mother's Mercy (Redoute's Choice), whom he secured for $440,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft.

“I saw him early in the week, rang the boss and said 'I've found another one!',” Hawthorne said, referring to Jonathan Munz for whom he purchased, at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, another Dundeel colt out of a Redoute's Choice mare.

And that horse is, of course, the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, who is doing such a good job from his Waikato Stud base.

“He reminded me a bit of Super Seth,” Hawthorne said of the colt. “He has that same balance and a good attitude.

“I watched him out in the parade ring and he just got on with the job, which is what you like to see in a colt.

“Sons of Dundeel are really doing it at stud so we have been focusing on them, waiting for the right one to come along.”

“We just loved this colt,” he said. “The page is solid, he really could've been at Easter with this pedigree.” A trainer has not yet been selected for the colt..

“We don't really make decisions until after the Easter sales,” he said.

Arrowfield Stud's Jon Freyer was “delighted” with the sale, noting that the “exceptional” colt was one they have “loved from the very early days.”

“He had a record number of inspections for us, over 250, and he handled it with such aplomb. He never turned a hair at any stage.

“We wanted some nice horses in the Classic draft and we thought he'd stand out,” he said, “and we are really happy to be selling him to a good friend of the farm.”

The colt is the second foal for his dam, who won five of her 10 starts for the Paul Messara stable. Her first, also by Dundeel, is the 2-year-old Crack A Deel who, for Henry Dwyer, ran a nice race at his debut in the $150,000 Geelong Diamond last month.

Revisiting Dundeel last spring after foaling a filly by his son Castelvecchio, Mother's Mercy is out of the Group 3 and dual Listed-winning, Group 1-placed Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet {USA}), who was well represented by two stakes winners last year; Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) and Baraqiel (Snitzel).

Lot 443 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Monegal (Lope de Vega {Ire}), colt - $400,000

For a second day, the progeny of the in-form Wootton Bassett (GB) were proving popular and not just with locals, with Lot 443 purchased for $400,000 by Japan's Koji Oka from the draft of Ridgmont.

Likely to race in Japan where the G1 Japanese Derby will be his target, the colt has the same owner as the 2023 $10 million Golden Eagle winner Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat {USA}).

“I love Australian racing and I love Australian horses,” Oka said, adding that he is a fan of the Wootton Bassett breed.

“I liked this colt's walking, his movement,” he said, adding that he had seen at Classic “a lot of nice horses for value, much cheaper than they would be in Japan.”

A major breeder with over 100 horses, Oka was enjoying his first trip to the Classic sale, having been to last year's Easter sale. He has young horses at Widden Stud and a horse in work with the Ballina-based trainer Daiki Chujo, who acted as his interpreter at the sales.

Ridgmont's Mitch Cunningham was delighted with the result.

“We knew he was popular and most of the people we thought would be there were bidding,” Cunningham said. “He has been a great model from birth, and his sire has done remarkably well in the northern hemisphere, (and it is) looking like he will be doing the same here.”

“His dam was the best horse Theresa Bateup trained,” he said of the “very fast” G3 Epona Stakes winner Monegal (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a $3000 yearling purchased by her current owners from an Inglis digital sale for $225,000.

“We bred her to Wootton Bassett hoping for a result like this and we are delighted. He has every chance with the pedigree he has. We have bred to his sire regularly, he is a stallion we are really excited about.”

Served last spring by Stay Inside and Wild Ruler, Monegal (who won 10 of her 58 starts) is out of a half-sister to the German and Italian Champion 3YO Morshdi (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}) and the South African Group 3 winner Ilitshe (Fastnet Rock). Her third dam is the outstanding sprinter Habibti (Ire) (Habitat {USA}), whose half-sister Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) has certainly made her mark in this part of the world.

Lot 537 Dundeel (NZ) x Pretty Elsa (Exceed And Excel), filly - $400,000

Part of a fantastic day for her Arrowfield Stud based sire, Lot 537 by Dundeel (NZ) out of the lightly raced winner Pretty Elsa (Exceed And Excel) fetched $400,000 to the bid of Matt Laurie Racing and ARJB Racing.

She is the second foal for her regally bred dam, who won a Newcastle maiden from four starts for the Chris Waller stable. A $1.2 million Easter yearling, Pretty Elsa is one of the six winners produced by the imported Group 2 winner More Than Real (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).

One of those winners is the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes winner Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), who is considered one of the country's finest broodmares, being dam of the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes heroine Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), and the Group 3 winners Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar).

Served last year by Capitalist after foaling a Maurice (Jpn) filly, Pretty Elsa has her Hermitage Thoroughbreds-owned first foal Viva Mauricio (Maurice) in the Chris Waller stable.

Gallery: Lot 537 - Dundeel (NZ) x Pretty Elsa (filly), images courtesy of Inglis

“She is a lovely filly who was bred and raised by Hermitage, our partners in The Autumn Sun,” said Arrowfield's Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer.

“She is an outstanding type, a gorgeous filly who could've slotted into any sale. The Dundeel fillies are having a great run and they are now getting as highly respected as the colts.”

Lot 508 Pinatubo (Ire) x Parraay (Excites), colt - $380,000

It was a Hong Kong buyer to the fore for Lot 508, a Pinatubo (Ire) colt from the draft of HP Thoroughbreds purchased by Magus Equine's Willy Leung.

To be prepared by Blake Ryan before heading to Hong Kong, the $380,000 colt was described by Leung as “a lovely horse, a strong type who I really liked.”

“I went a little bit over my budget, but he was the one I really wanted to secure,” Leung said. “I came here for the good horses and you have to pay a premium for the nice ones.”

The colt, from the first Australian crop of his Darley-based, sire is a half-brother to Dancing Code (Panzer Division), who is performing well in Hong Kong where he has won three races for the Caspar Fownes stable.

His dam Parraay (Excites) did a good job on the track, winning five of her 18 starts for the Kris Lees stable, and she is also dam of the promising Price and Kent Jnr-trained Freight Train (Shamus Award). A $250,000 graduate of this same sale, he has won three of his first six starts.

Meanwhile, Parraay's third foal, the 3-year-old Tasoraay (Tassort), has also shown ability, breaking his maiden at his most recent start for Kris Lees.

Served last spring by King's Gambit and Pinatubo, Parraay foaled a Brave Smash (Jpn) filly last year.

Hailing from the same branch of Phar Lap's (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}) family as Horse Of The Year Research (Imperial Prince {Ire}), Parraay was born and raised at HP Thoroughbreds, as was her dam Hilldale (Beautiful Crown {USA}).

The stud's Anthony and Kristen Evans were “over the moon" with the result, which is their biggest yet.

“It's huge!,” Anthony said. “We bred him in partnership with a good friend, so it is very special. We were hoping for around the $200,000 mark, so this is amazing.”

“We love bringing horses to this sale,” Kristen said. “We have done well here, and Inglis have done a great job for us, a small farm; we are very grateful.”

Anthony described the colt as “a true professional, a pure athlete,” adding that “we can't wait to see what he does.”

Lot 454 - Zoustar x Moss Trip (Mossman), filly - $360,000

The only Zoustar filly on the second day of selling, Lot 454 was purchased by Bob Peters' Byerley Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft for $360,000.

Bred on the same Zoustar/Mossman cross as the Group 2 winner Habana and line-bred to Redoute's Choice - as are nine of Zoustar's stakes winners - she is the third foal for the G3 James HB Carr Stakes and Listed Scone Guineas winner Moss Trip (Mossman).

Her first foal Tudaya (Trapeze Artist) was a $350,000 yearling, who changed hands online after a Sunshine Coast debut fourth, whilst her second Famahan (Farnan) was retained by Kia Ora.

In foal to Ole Kirk after foaling an All Too Hard filly, Moss Trip is a three-quarter-sister to the G3 Liverpool City Cup and R. Listed Magic Millions Cup winner Triple Elegance (Mossman), from the family of the dual Group 1 winner Kermadec.

Kia Ora's Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright was delighted with the sale, saying, “she is a beautiful filly who all the good judges liked, and she has been bought by one of the most successful owners of fillies in the country.”

“She is very much in the mould of the nicest Zoustar fillies, she has so much quality with the best action.

“We still have her dam at home and she is a lovely mare.”

Lot 482 - Written Tycoon x Not A Choice (Not A Single Doubt), colt - $360,000

After securing an I Am Invincible on the first day, Kearney Racing and Daniel Springfield were back in action on Monday buying another colt by a Champion Sire, purchasing a Written Tycoon colt for $360,000 from the Yulong draft.

The colt is the first foal for the Doomben winner Not A Choice (Not A Single Doubt), a $725,000 yearling secured by the Lucky Vega Syndicate for $160,000 as a broodmare in 2022.

Served last year by three different Yulong stallions (Tagaloa, Written Tycoon and Pierata), Not A Choice missed the previous season.

She is one of the four winners (from as many foals to race) for the Listed winner Hussy By Choice (Hussonet {USA}), whose dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning up-and-coming stallion Castelvecchio.

This is a strong blacktype family; this colt is also able to boast amongst his relations the G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Maid Of Heaven (Sebring) and the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star).

The Hawkesbury-based trainers Mitchell and Desiree Kearney have a small team of 14 horses in work, and have earned the respect of owners including Daniel Springfield, who up to now has been a member of syndicates.

“He (Springfield) said to me recently that he was ready to have a crack out on his own, and he asked me what we had to do to make our name as trainers,” Desiree Kennedy said.

“I said, 'we need to go to the sales and get the stock'.” And that is just what they have done, after inspections telling Springfield that there were three stand-outs.

“He just said 'make it happen!' and we did.”

Aside from this Written Tycoon colt and the I Am Invincible, the team bought six other yearlings including the other of their stand-out trio, a $240,000 Yes Yes Yes half-sister (Lot 366) to the Listed winner Kalino (Pierro).

The Kennedys and Springfield had inspected this Written Tycoon colt numerous times, and were taken by him from the start.

“Daniel said 'ooh we can't go home without this one!',” Kennedy said. “He is just a ready-made racehorse, so well put together with good bone and body structure. And he has a beautiful presence.”

Doing a good job with tried horses, the Kennedys are excited to be focusing on young horses.

“We are a young business trying to make a name for ourselves,” Kennedy said.

Lot 369 - Too Darn Hot (GB) x Last Ace (Bernardini {USA}), colt - $340,000

“We thought he was the best colt at the sale,” said Tony Fung Investments (TFI) Racing Manager Sally Williams of Lot 369, a handsome Too Darn Hot (GB) colt out of Last Ace (Bernardini (USA).

Teaming with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to purchase the bay for $340,000, Williams said that “it is great to get a horse with Gai and Adrian, we love racing with them.”

“He was a horse we identified, and we knew Gai and Adrian loved him as well so we got together.

“Too Darn Hot could not be hotter at the moment,” she continued, describing the colt as “a lovely athletic horse, a great mover with a good hip on him; he ticked every box for us.”

He was bred by Bob Manwaring, who also bred and raced his dam Last Ace, a Leeton maiden winner.

With only three or four mares, Manwaring has done a great job as a small breeder and he was thrilled with the result for his young mare.

“Her first foal is a cracker, so hopefully it's onwards and upwards for her as a broodmare,” he said, happy with his decision to send her to Too Darn Hot.

“I don't think you will find a better stallion. His stats are going to improve greatly, I wish I could've gone back to him.”

Always a fan of his colt, Manwaring is confident of seeing him up and running early.

“He is ready made to go, a potential 2-year-old. He has got beautiful bone and is lovely through the pasterns.”

Manwaring decided to target the Classic with his colt; “I hoped he would be a stand-out here and we got a great result.”

Last Ace is one of the four winners produced by the lightly raced winner Final Deal (Final Card), whose G3 Blue Diamond Prelude-winning full sister Card Queen is dam of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and G3 Red Anchor Stakes winner Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt).

That speedy chestnut has produced three blacktype performers, including the Listed winner Eawase (Sebring), whilst Card Queen's half-sister Our Teneriffe (Kenvain) is dam of the Group 3 filly Vain Queen (Artie Schiller {USA}).

This has proven to be a reliable family over a number of generations, other members including the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Vitalic and the G1 King's Stand Stakes winner Little Bridge (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}).

Too Darn Hot has been represented by 38 winners amongst his first 75 runners in Australia, with eight of those being stakes winners, including the triple Group 1 winner Broadsiding.

Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Purton to miss four weeks

In race nine on the Sha Tin card, Legend St Paul’s (NZ) (Tivaci) went amiss causing a terrible three horse fall with jockeys Zac Purton, Angus Chung, and Keith Leung all involved. All three were taken to hospital for assessment, with Chung reported to have bruising to his face and upper body, Leung has a bruised upper thigh, and Purton came off worst with a swollen ankle and broken left toe.

“It’s heartbreaking. I’ll miss Ka Ying (Rising), I’ll miss Galaxy Patch, I’ll miss Packing Angel. Hopefully I can get back for the Derby,” Purton told scmp.com.

“The toe is broken and it needs to be realigned. They’re trying to work out whether they’re going to put in screws and a plate, or pin it. I’ve also damaged ligaments in the same ankle, and the ankle is obviously very swollen. I haven’t really had a chance to put any weight on it yet, so we’ll see how that goes. It’s obviously disappointing but it couldn’t have been worse than what it was.”

Karis Teetan is slated to replace Purton on the speedster Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, while replacements for Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) in the G1 Gold Cup and Packing Angel (NZ) (Shocking) in the Classic Cup have yet to be announced.

The stewards report noted that both Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {NZ}) had blood on their nostrils, and an endoscopic examination on both horses found no blood in the trachea, so it was ruled an external injury. No other injuries were reported for those two horses. Legend St Paul’s was euthanised and sent for further testing.

Earlier on the card, Vincent Ho was transferred to hospital after falling from Oldtown (NZ) (Territories {Ire}) in race six, and is reported to have possible fractures to his neck and shoulder region. The stewards reported, “A veterinary inspection (on Oldtown) immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.”

Californiatotality on song for the Derby

Trainer Tony Cruz thinks 4-year-old gelding Californiatotality (Zoustar) is perfectly placed for the Hong Kong Derby after winning on Sunday night at Sha Tin. “We’ll see what his rating goes to, but hopefully I can run him in the Classic Cup,” Cruz told scmp.com.

“He’s aiming for that race, that’s for sure. Then from there hopefully it’s the Derby, too. He’s crying out for 2000 metres and he’s an improving horse. He’s very honest. The 1800 metres might actually be on the short side for him. I really think he’s a good 2000 metres and above horse. I’m happy with his win today.”

Pray For Mir (Justify {USA}), who is also headed the Derby, led the race and Californiatotality tracked him, wearing him down for the win, while the favourite Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {USA}) was cruising before being caught up in the bad fall.

Sold by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $900,000 to Asian Bloodstock Services, Californiatotality has done all his racing in Hong Kong and now has five wins from 16 starts with earnings over HK$5.29 million (AU$1 million).

A half-brother to Listed Woodland Stakes victress Pretty In Pink (Sebring), dam of G3 Canonbury Stakes-placed 2-year-old colt Hillier (Zoustar), Californiatotality’s dam Total Attraction (Nadeem) was a good racemare, winning three races and placing twice at Group 2 level. Her current 3-year-old colt Yoshinobu (Written Tycoon) has won twice this season and placed in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes. She has an unnamed yearling colt by Street Boss (USA), who is Lot 230 at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and she has a 2024 filly by Home Affairs.

La Forza overcomes trackwork incident to win

A day after 3-year-old gelding La Forza (Toronado {Ire}) spooked during trackwork, dumped his rider and did an extra lap, he came out at Sha Tin and won. “It was just unfortunate that he shied basically at the TV screen. But he didn’t go too fast when he did a little quiet lap without the rider on, and thankfully everything’s gone nice and smoothly for him today,” said trainer Jamie Richards.

Second at the trials in New Zealand as an October 2-year-old, La Forza was exported to Hong Kong where he had three starts at two, rare for Hong Kong, for a win in May. This was his first start at three. “He’s a horse who was very immature last season and we backed off him. We thought we had him ready to go earlier in the season, and we just had to back off him again because he was just a little bit shin sore,” said Richards.

“He was very weak last season, but he’s put on a lot of weight and strengthened up. I’ve got a good team of staff and the Conghua stable must take a bit of credit for this horse because he’s spent most of his time up there. He’s only a 3-year-old, but I’m hoping that he’s got more ratings points in hand.”

Sold by Rushton Park at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for $200,000 to Bahen Bloodstock, he was re-offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where his trainer along with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased him for $310,000. Toronado (Ire) is highly respected in Hong Kong thanks to Group 1 winner Victor The Winner, as well as stakes winners Senor Toba, Helios Express, and I Am The Boss.

La Forza is the third foal, and second winner, for winning mare Minetti (Star Witness) who is a daughter of G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner La Italia (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), making Minetti a half-sister to Ridolfi (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Listed winner Better Get Set (Better Than Ready).

Golden Sixty arrives in Japan

Retired Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has arrived in Japan where he will live out his days at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido. The 10-time Group 1 winner had to quarantine in Australia prior to heading to Japan. The location allows owner Stanley Chan, trainer Francis Lui and jockey Vincent Ho to visit him regularly.