Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Sponsored video

Hip 1030 at Keeneland with Mill Ridge Farm. The Wild Grazer wasn’t claimed for US$50,000 ($76,000). The American market might be sleeping on her. You shouldn’t.

Strictly Business outstays her rivals in the Oaks

The Thomas Carberry-trained Strictly Business (Grunt {NZ}) put in a polished staying performance, proving too tough and classy for her opposition to win the G1 Victorian Oaks, running away by three and a half lengths in the hands of John Allen.

Incredibly Strictly Business was only first-up on October 24 when winning her maiden over 1400 metres at Ballarat, she then ran a fast finishing second in the G2 Wakeful Stakes behind Getta Good feeling (So You Think {NZ}) over 2000 metres only eight days later, and then won the G1 Victorian Oaks today over 2500 metres, five days later.

She has squeezed a lot into 13 days, has went from 1400 metres to 2500 metres, and from a maiden victory, to Group 1 glory in what has been an incredible training performance and effort by the filly.

The race was run at a strong pace up front, with John Allen settling Strictly Business near last. The second favourite, The Pearls (NZ) (Proisir), sat around third-last, while Getta Good Feeling tracked just worse than midfield.

At the 600 metres, the backmarkers, led by The Pearls, made it interesting. While Getta Good Feeling looked to be travelling, she soon came under pressure. Allen steered through the field on Strictly Business, and once clear, bounded away from The Pearls, with After Summer (The Autumn Sun) finishing third.

All honours went to the winner, giving a huge thrill to Ballarat-based Carberry, who runs a small stable.

On the result, Carberry said:

“Yeah, I saw it, so yeah. It’s an incredible journey, racing, and I think everybody’s proud of it. You meet people here today and they’re legends, and to think you can do it, it’s great.”

On her preparation, running first-up just 13 days ago:

“We just looked at her as a horse for the future. She did things that day that were not normal. It takes a really good horse to do what she did, even in her maiden. It just put the Wakeful on the radar. She needed a trip to show her best.

“She’s a filly on the up. We had this race in mind for a long time. She missed a run at Geelong, but found a race at Ballarat a couple of weeks ago. She came through that so well we decided to take our chance in the Wakeful. Today came on the radar because she ran so well there. She looked like she needed the 2,500-metre trip, and that was what happened.

“Ballarat is a happening place, winning the Melbourne Cup for the McEvoys, and we’re very happy with this result today.”

John Allen was equally thrilled:

“What a filly to win her maiden only two weeks ago. What a great effort by Tommy. He rides his own work. Tommy is a neighbour of mine - he only lives two doors down.

“She’s got no early speed, so we went back to last, hugged the rails, and followed the right horses into the straight. At the 600 metres, I knew we were going to run the trip, and my confidence grew.

“She was as raw as you could possibly be. It was obviously a great win at Ballarat, but she was inexperienced. Tommy rang me and said there wasn’t much coming up, only the Wakeful, and I said, why not have a crack? She ran so well there, we had to come to the Oaks. She’s pulled up well and is something to be excited about.

“The plan was always to go back. She can over-race, so I was happy to take my medicine early. They went a good gallop, and once they steadied mid-race, she got on the bridle. I was following the right horses, and when they peeled off, I was able to come up underneath them. To be honest, I knew it was all over. The way she rounded off her race, it was nearly all over turning in.”

Sales info: Strictly Business was withdrawn from the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale.

Pedigree info: Strictly Business is the second foal out of Tivoli Lass (Uncle Mo {USA}), who was a winner at 1400 metres. Her first foal is the talented Kicking King (Highland Reel {Ire}) who is also trained by Thomas Carbery, he has been a winner at 1700 metres and placed in the Listed Tasmanian Derby, and the Listed St Leger Stakes.

Strictly Business becomes the second Group 1 winner for the Yulong sire Grunt (NZ), and further back in his family is the Group 1 winning Windsor Park Stud sire Shamexpress (NZ), who is best knwon as the sire of the Champion sprinter and G1 The Everest winner in Ka Ying Rising (NZ).

Point Barrow blooms best late in ‘The Red Roses’

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) has been in fantastic form this spring, and that continued with an authoritative success in the $300,000 G3 Red Roses Stakes down the straight.

There was plenty of pace on early in the straight, but jockey Daniel Stackhouse was content to let it unfold in front of him. Taking full advantage of his extreme outside barrier, he stormed down the outside for an impressive win.

The quality filly Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) also drew wide, right alongside the winner and she finished strongly for second, giving the Freedmans a stable quinella, while the Peter Snowden-trained fillies Miss Freelove (Tassort) and Akaysha (Capitalist) fought bravely to finish third and fourth in a competitive fillies’ event.

Point Barrow deserved the Group 3 victory, having previously been Listed-placed as a 2-year-old and Group 3-placed this season as a 3-year-old. She is owned by Mr B McClure, Mr R McClure, Halo Racing and Ridgmont.

Co-trainer Sam Freedman explained that the talented filly is still developing and has room to progress.

“She’s shown herself to have a nice change-up speed anyway, but she’s still doing a bit wrong. She got a bit keen in the early stages, that’s part of the reason we came today rather than throwing her in the deep end in a race like the Coolmore, because she’s just doing a little bit wrong,” Freedman said.

“She was dominant in the end, and once she works out her craft, she’s going to be a pretty special filly hopefully. You know, for Janice McKenna, it’s really special she’s here today.

“She hasn’t been to the races so far this preparation. We had a chat this morning, and she was keen to come out here, and that’s quite emotional. I met Col through his time in racing, at Magic Millions when Andy Makiv introduced us, he took a leg in a third of this filly.

“And so, it’s nice to be here today, and I’m sure he was looking over really proud of what the filly’s done. It’s really nice to have Janice here today.”

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse deflected much of the credit to the trainers.

“Sam and the team have done a fantastic job, and Janice, it’s an amazing feeling. They’ve been good to me just to maybe ride her the whole way through.

“Sam and I had a good talk. He said just trust her. She was a bit keen early, so I was a bit concerned, but once we got that cover she settled nicely. She’s just got such an electric turn of foot, and I just had to trust her.”

When asked what it was like to win a race in the colours of the late Colin McKenna during Cup week, Stackhouse explained:

“It means everything to me. This is what the week is all about, and for Janice and her family, it’s a big thrill. Got my mum and dad here as well, so it gives you goosebumps.”

Sales info: Point Barrow was purchased for $400,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Point Barrow is the second foal from Take Pride (Reward For Effort), she was a three-time winner, which included the G3 Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley. This is the extended family of the outstanding Mummify (Jeune {GB}), who was a five-time Group 1 winner, including in the G1 Caulfield Cup.

Take Pride in recent years has produced a Home Affairs yearling colt, and foaled a Hellbent colt last month.

Apulia powers home in the Chester Manifold Stakes

The at-times enigmatic Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) has come back better than ever as a 5-year-old, with the good-looking entire charging home out wide from well back in the field to take out the $200,000 Listed Chester Manifold Stakes on Oaks Day in the hands of jockey Michael Dee.

His win in the VOBIS Gold at Moonee Valley late last month was his first since claiming the G2 Vase as a 3-year-old, before finishing runner-up in the G1 Victoria Derby two years ago, so he has clearly rediscovered his winning form.

There was plenty of pace on early as Oh Too Good (All Too Hard), Cartoon Graveyard (Turffontein), and El Rocko (Fastnet Rock) all pushed forward with urgency before El Rocko took over. In the meantime, the favourite Enxuto (Lean Mean Machine) was enjoying a good run in fourth just off the hot tempo.

The strong pace brought the backmarkers into play late, and just as Enxuto loomed, Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) was surging along the inside, while the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Apulia stormed down the outside and proved too strong for Detonator Jack running a good second, with Poison Chalice (NZ) (Savabeel) finishing off well to grab third ahead of the favourite Enxuto.

“He’s been a fantastic horse for our family and the Garretts. They’ve been great supporters and we train in partnership together, so it’s a great result for everyone,” Ben Hayes explained.

“I thought Michael did a great job. He’s a horse that does run his best races outside of horses, so from barrier one to get where he did and get his revs up was a great effort.

“So we’re thrilled, and it’s very hard to get a winner over this week, so we’re happy to get our first winner.”

When asked whether the race panned out as planned, winning jockey Michael Dee summarised:

“It planned out better than how I drew it out. We obviously had barrier one, and he’s a horse that definitely appreciates being outside and around horses, so we were lucky enough that at the top of the straight we could sort of edge out and he was strong late.

“He took a while to really get going and find his straps but late he was nice and strong.

“He’s come back in great order. He had quite a long time off - nearly 12 months - but he won well first-up at Moonee Valley last start and that was only ten days ago. He’s come back great.

“Probably pleasantly surprised (with how quickly he’s come to hand), but leading into his first run, he had done absolutely nothing wrong and had been trialling well.

“But it’s always a question mark when they have so long off, and to produce two like this within sort of ten days, it’s a super effort and a credit to Team Hayes and how they’ve been able to handle him. Good training effort by the boys.”

Pedigree info: Apulia was bred by Meadowvale Pastoral and Revelstone Stud, who have retained an ownership interest in the 5-year-old entire alongside Lindsay Park Bloodstock.

Apulia is the first foal out of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Giannarelli, a $150,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Lindsay Park that placed as a 3-year-old.

She is a half sister to the dual winner and Group 2 placed gelding Spot The Rock (Fastnet Rock). In recent years Giannarelli has foaled a 2-year-old colt by Nicconi, a Lucky Vega (Ire) yearling filly, and missed to Shamus Award last spring.

Stokke flies down the straight to claim the Century Stakes

It was the Patrick Ryan Jnr-trained Stokke (Rich Enuff) who showed the sharpest turn of foot down the straight to take out the $200,000 Listed Century Stakes in the hands of Damian Lane.

The consistent 5-year-old mare always travelled well just off the pace, racing closer to the rail side down the straight. When she loomed at the 200-metre mark she looked the winner, but she had to be tenacious to fend off the efforts of Major Share (Overshare), who had been close throughout, and the fast-finishing Rey Magnerio (Magnus), who weaved through from near last to charge home - but too late.

Stokke held the advantage narrowly in the end in second over Major Share, with Rey Magnerio leaving his run too late under Jye McNeil.

Trainer Patrick Ryan Jnr watched from afar and explained why.

“When it gets close, I like to ride them home, so I didn't want anyone around me. So, yeah, I changed the whip a couple of times up there. Straightened her up, but no, sensational win. Great for the owner group, especially Rob Salter, who puts a lot of money and time into it. Just a sensational little mare, she's been a project.

"Daniel Small at Warrnambool, he sort of half broke her in early doors and got all the kinks out of her and now she's furnished with a racehorse and hopefully the ownership group, now she's got black type, anything's a bonus for them."

Winning jockey Damian Lane was equally impressed.

“She was brilliant. Obviously, probably a touch out of her class but Patrick Ryan, a very good trainer, and doesn't have a lot of horses in work, he knew what he was bringing to the races. She's got a good record and progressed through the grades really well. She's got nice wins still ahead of her. Patty's a good fella and a very good horseman, he's only got a small stable but they always punch above their weight so it's a good thrill.

Early I was a bit concerned as she had got the chewy and got her head up a little bit, but after the first third of the race, she really started to collect herself nicely and build into it well and from there, she was brilliant. I think with that experience under her belt, it (straight racing) is definitely something they can aim at in the future."

Sales info: Stokke was bred by Salter Pastoral Pty Ltd, Brad Bluett, Stefan Heinze, Steven Collette and is raced by those similar connections

Pedigree info: Stokke is the fourth foal out of Springalon (Lonhro), who was a winner at 1000 metres, she has done a good job at stud with all four of her foals to race being winners, with Stokke now successful at Listed level.

The family is a little quiet on blacktype but further down the tough and durable 20-time winner, invluding once at Listed level in Sir Swayze (Famous Star {GB}) and All Chant (NZ) (Ayrthorpe {Ire}), who was successful at stakes level in Sydney four times.

At A Glance

•

The Day 2 session had 235 horses sell for US$47,382,000 (AU$72,784,721).

•

The average of US$201,626 (AU$309,760) was up 37.66% from last year's Book 2 opener and the median rose 12.50% to US$225,000 (AU$345.720).

•

The auction had its 18th seven-figure offering when the Raging Torrent Syndicate bid US$1.3 million (AU$2 million) to acquire the 5-year-old broodmare Anywho (Medaglia d'Oro)

•

104 weanlings sold at an average of US$176,923 (AU$271,816) and a median of US$150,000 (AU$230,450). At the corresponding session a year ago, 86 weanlings sold for an average of US$126,279 (AU$194,000) and a median of US$90,000 (AU$138,270).

•

Australian buyers have been active over the first two days, with B2B Throughbreds, Milburn Creek and Kellie Avison featuring on the buyers list.

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which opened with a strong Book 1 session Tuesday, continued its momentum with the first of two Book 2 sessions with strong demand for both mares and foals Wednesday.

“It was outstanding,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of Wednesday's session. “Coming off yesterday, it was really positive across all the metrics. And I think we improved the position today. The gross was up 61% over last year, the scratch rate was down, and our clearance rate was up to 78%. It was really healthy across the board.”

For the session, 235 horses sold for $47,382,000 (AU$72,784,721), the average of $201,626 (AU$309,760) was up 37.66% from last year's Book 2 opener and the median rose 12.50% to $225,000 (AU$345.720).

The auction had its 18th seven-figure offering when the Raging Torrent Syndicate bid US$1.3 million (AU$2 million) to acquire the 5-year-old broodmare Anywho (Medaglia d'Oro) from the Grovendale Sales consignment.

“The mares were very strong,” Lacy said. “Anybody looking for a quality mare really had to step up and pay.”

Lacy continued, “I think it's a bullish market. It feels like people are very aggressive going for what they want. There is more of an eagerness, an enthusiasm for breeding–and it's a domestic demand primarily, which is very encouraging. There are a lot of new people getting in the game and there are a lot of breeders who felt like they needed to refresh their broodmare bands. The breeders recognize that mediocrity is not rewarded.

“Quality is what they are looking for and they are focusing in on. And when quality gets rewarded, it incentivizes breeders to keep stepping up their programs. I think that's only (good) for the gene pool and for the industry as we move forward.”

The competition for weanlings remained fierce Wednesday, with 104 weanlings selling for an average of US$176,923 (AU$271,816) and a median of US$150,000 (AU$230,450). At the corresponding session a year ago, 86 weanlings sold for an average of US$126,279 (AU$194,000) and a median of US$90,000 (AU$138,270).

“The weanling market was extremely strong,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “We nearly doubled the number of six-figure foals from the corresponding session last year. If you look at the $300,000 and up foals, there were 17 today. There were seven in the session last year. And those 17 today are by 13 different sires. There is depth to the market and that bodes well, both in the range of what's available, but also the buyer base. That's the most rewarding part of all.”

A pair of weanlings by first-crop sires shared top honors during Wednesday's session, with a filly by Cody's Wish bringing US$550,000 (AU$845,130) from Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds early in the session matched later in the day by a colt by Elite Power purchased by Glen Hill Farm.

Bolt d'Oro's Anywho Snapped Up for $1.3 Million

Continuing its robust spending in Keeneland's Book 2 opener, the group listed as Raging Torrent Syndicate dug in for another seven-figure purchase on Wednesday when extending to $1.3 million (AU$2 million) for MGSP Anywho (Bolt d'Oro).

The ticket was signed by Paul Curran representing Ace Stud. Entering stud at Lane's End, Raging Torrent won the GI Malibu Stakes, GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile and G2 Godolphin Mile.

Hip 290, consigned by Grovendale, was sold in foal to Not This Time.

“Well, it's just really cool,” said Grovendale's James Keogh. “It's always lovely to sell a horse for a million dollars. And, you know, she was a lovely, lovely mare, and she came from a tremendous female family, and she was just impossible to fault.”

The daughter of SP Fancy and Flashy (Zensational) is a half-sister to Grade III-placed Wipe the Slate (Nyquist). Anywho was bred in Kentucky by Brookfield Stud.

Campaigned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, the 5-year-old was retired with a trio of wins and earnings of just under US$250,000 (AU$384,170). During her career, she also finished third in the GIII Rancho Bernardo Stakes and in her sole start in 2025, in the GIII Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita.

“She is obviously a well-raced filly and the covering sire was very popular with us,” said Curran. “We have bought a couple of mares covered by Not This Time. He is just a phenomenal stallion. He seems to be the real deal in the sense that going from a very small fee to where he is now at $250,000 is a testament to him.”

Outlining what the team is looking for to visit their new stallion, Curran said, “We are trying to support our new stallion Raging Torrent and she is going to go to him. We are trying to pick up a couple of nice mares with some nice covers to them and she fit the bill.

“She is a nice high-profile mare to send to him. We are trying to get some quality mares to him with some runners on the ground and she is perfect for that.”

We really liked the Medaglia d'Oro broodmare line as well, that was a factor as well. I think she'll suit Raging Torrent very well. We're pleased we got her.”

Raging Torrent Syndicate's other purchases on Wednesday include hip 260, Very Scary (Connect), who brought US$625,000 (AU$960,400) and was also a member of the Grovendale consignment.

The Raging Torrent Syndicate was the leading buyer on Wednesday with two purchases generating US$1.925 million (AU$2.6 million). Through the first two days of selling at Keeneland, the operation led all buyers with five purchases totaling US$5,225,000 (AU$8 million)

Australians active over the first two days

The talented Bullet (USA) (War Front {USA}) was purchased by Milburn Creek in partnership with Twin Palms Stud for US$475,000 (AU$730,000). The talented mare was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for the DJ Stable Curated Reduction.

Bullet was a dual winner as a 2-year-old, including in the Listed Woodbine My Dear Stakes and the Listed Gulfstream Park Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes.

She boasts a powerful pedigree, being out of the winning Tapit (USA) mare Marlinspike (USA), who is a half-sister to Irish Surf (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}). Two other half-sisters have also produced stakes winners.

Bullet’s grandam, Surfside (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}), was a Champion 3-year-old filly in America and a four-time Group 1 winner.

Another Australian purchase on Day 1 came from Kellie Avison, who acquired Fashionably Fab (Can) (Silent Name {Jpn}) for US$300,000 (AU$461,000). Fashionably Fab is a 10-time winner, including twice at Group 3 level and five times at Listed level.

B2B claim a stakes-performed mare from a family well known to Australians

It was easy to see why Dashingly caught the eye of Australian buyers B2B Thoroughbreds, who went to US$400,000 (AU$614,470) to secure the daughter of Liam’s Map (USA).

Dashingly is a four-time winning sprinter who has also been placed twice at Listed level. She is out of Tiger Silk (All American), a three-time winner in New Zealand who was placed in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes.

Tiger Silk is a half-sister to Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), a three-time Group 1 winner, and also a half-sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner and now stallion Stronger.

It is, without question, a mare brimming with Australasian black type form.

Ricky Surace Jnr from B2B Thoroughbreds commented about the purchase "As soon as Dashingly walked out of her box we knew we had to try and buy her, the family with Lady Shenandoah featuring is very sought after in Australia and she was incredibly well bought in that insane market.

"I guess she is returning home in a sense."

Green Knows Who's Ticket

Bloodstock agent Finn Green, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, went to US$750,000 (AU$1.16 million) to acquire the 4-year-old broodmare Who's Ticket (Quality Road) (hip 267) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment on Wednesday at Keeneland. The bay mare, in foal to Practical Joke, is a daughter of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway). Her second dam, Charming (Seeking the Gold), produced Omaha Beach, and third dam Take Charge Lady (Dehere) produced champion Will Take Charge. It was a family Green got to see up close when he served as racing manager for 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man.

“I stepped into the receiving barn at Santa Anita in 2013 for the Breeders' Cup with Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge came in,” Green recalled. “So we go all the way back to that point with this family. You don't get many Grade I-producing mares that repeat in multiple generations. So pedigree is very important to the client.”

The mare, bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Three Chimneys Farm, was purchased by Glen Hill Farm and Three Chimneys for US$450,000 (AU$691,480) as a weanling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She was followed into the Keeneland ring Wednesday by her first foal, a colt by Munnings bred by Three Chimneys and Glen Hill, who sold for US$450,000 (AU$691,480) to Glen Hill Farm.

Of plans for the mare, Green said, “(The client) may even go to New York with her. But she will come back to a Kentucky stallion.”

Thirty Year Farm Enters the Fray with 750K Medaglia d'Oro Buy

Thirty Year Farm made it on the board Wednesday with Golden Ghost (GB) (Medaglia d'Oro), purchased for US$750,000 (AU$1.15 million) during the second day of selling at Keeneland.

Offered as hip 413, the 4-year-old was consigned by Taylor Made Sales on behalf of the D J Stable Curated Reduction. Taylor Made Sales led all consignors Wednesday with 31 head amassing US $8.165 million (AU$12.55 million). Also on top through two days of selling, the agency sold 60 horses for US$27,205,000 (AU$41.11 million).

Bidding from the far end of the main pavilion, the operation's Matt and Kristen Esler were accompanied by their advisor, Edgewood Farm's Carson Asbury.

What was the initial attraction to the filly?

“Did you get a look at her?” Thirty Year Farm's Matt Esler asked with a laugh. “She is a really good-looking mare–definitely checked those boxes. We are bullish on Not This Time. I think she'll be a really nice broodmare.”

The English-bred filly, in foal to Not This Time, is out of G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre), a half-sister to dual Australian Group 1-winning Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko).

“Medaglia d'Oro is an A+ cross with (Not This Time),” explained Esler. “We've had some success with Medaglia d'Oro in the past, so that definitely factored into (the purchase).”

Thirty Year Farm has been gradually increasing its number of residents since the couple secured the tract of land in Saratoga, just under five miles from Saratoga Race Course, eight years ago.

Since the purchase, the Eslers have been focused on developing a blueprint that is tailor-made to their program.

“We don't try to re-invent the wheel,” said Esler. “We look for proven mares or mares with great pedigree and we are always looking for physical traits of performers.”

Facing stark competition for younger race fillies and mares at this season's November sales has proven anything but easy to fill orders for most operations.

“We had a harder time buying this year than we've had in the last few years out of this sale,” Esler admitted. “We thought it was an 'us' thing. It's obviously not.”

He continued, “This year, we've had a bit of a youth movement. We have gotten away from some of the older mares and this year, they are all on the younger side. We'll also see if we can't make (race fillies/broodmare prospects) ourselves.

“Overall, we want great bloodlines and for them to have good, solid first dams.”

Thirty Year Farm made its first-ever purchase at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale, securing Yanira (More Than Ready), a half-sister to Classic-producing mare Puca (Big Brown) and GISW Finnegan's Wake (Powerscourt {GB}), for US$575,000 (AU$883,290). The bay mare is in foal to Good Magic.

'Something Special': Cody's Wish Weanling Demand Continues at Keeneland

Weanlings from the first crop of Horse of the Year Cody's Wish continued to be in demand in the sales ring at Keeneland Wednesday. Randy Hartley went to U$550,000 ($844,900) to secure a filly by the Darley stallion (hip 257) on behalf of Tom Durant. The filly was bred by John Ferguson's Natalma Bloodstock, which purchased her dam, (Union Rags), for US$250,000 (AU$384,000) at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. She was consigned by Lane's End.

“We are seeing something special in the Cody's Wishes,” said Hartley. “We really wanted to try to buy one and we've gotten outbid on a few and didn't get one. I felt like this filly was the best one left, for us anyway. So we were going home with her.”

Cody's Wish had four weanlings sell for an average of US$416,250 (AU$639,450) at Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Through two sessions of the Keeneland November sale, seven weanlings by Cody's Wish have sold for an average of US$256,429 (AU$393,930). The stallion stands at Darley for US$60,000 (AU$92,170).

“They just have substance to them,” Hartley said of Cody's Wish's first-crop weanlings. “They have got the hips, the minds, you can just tell they are born with it. It's not like they are putting it on them. And he was such a special racehorse. I bought his halter for $5,000, so surely I can buy a filly. We stretched a little bit, but she has some pedigree.”

Hartley continued, “We are looking for fillies for Tom to race and that, down the road, he can make broodmares.”

Of the competitive weanling market, Hartley said, “The market is setting the prices, so it's hard to be surprised, but yes, I am surprised. There are fewer babies here because the yearling market was so good. I feel like a lot of people are hanging on to stuff. But if you pay a lot here, and you come back to sell, there are going to be a lot of horses that we didn't see here that you are going to be up against.

“So as pinhookers, we haven't bought much to pinhook yet. We are going to try to find some here in like Book 4,” Hartley added with a laugh.

When it was announced that Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (GB) wouldn’t shuttle in 2024, Rosemont Stud joined several other Australian breeders in electing to send mares from Australia to be covered by him to Southern Hemisphere time. The Stud Book have, so far, received records for 30 live foals born this spring by him.

“We’ve got a couple of beauties, so we are really pleased. Sneaky Five had a lovely foal,” said Rosemont Stud’s Ryan McEvoy.

Early speed and a sense of timing

Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) was a precocious filly, winning the R.Listed Inglis Banner Stakes on debut, followed by the Golden Gift two weeks later. This year both races, at Flemington and Randwick respectively, run this Saturday, meaning that Sneaky Five’s achievement can’t be repeated in 2025.

Her Too Darn Hot filly is her second foal, her first being a GB born filly by Siyouni (Fr).

Gallery: Too Darn Hot (GB) x Sneaky Five filly, Images courtesy of Rosemont Stud

“She’s well built, strong forward filly with great bone and substance. A filly with an eye-catching shape and obvious characteristics of both Too Darn Hot and Fastnet Rock.”

Sneaky Five, who also won the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes and Listed Bribie Handicap, is a daughter of G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Small Minds (Canny Lad) who also produced Listed Jungle Dawn Classic winner Beautiful Mind (So You Think {NZ}).

“She’s bred on the emerging Too Darn Hot Fastnet Rock cross which has produced multiple Group 1 performing filly Simmering and indeed Tuesday’s Rosemont bred Maribyrnong Plate winner Tornado Valley.”

Rosemont bred G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) from Fastnet Rock mare Oklahoma Girl. Group 2 winner and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 One Thousand Guineas-placed Simmering (GB) is out of Cashla Bay (GB) (Fastnet Rock), while the same cross has also resulted in stakes placed Glacius (GB), Jenni The Fox, and Ornithology.

Sponsored gallery

First Foals by Hawaii Five Oh

1/6

Sending mares to Europe for Too Darn Hot

The decision not the shuttle Too Darn Hot in 2024 was the result of a minor illness that affected him during the 2024 Northern Hemisphere season, and Darley UK decided not to put the horse on a plane to assist with his recovery.

They opened up his book to Southern Hemisphere clients, and Rosemont Stud took advantage.

“We had some mares up there and we were keen to use him, and then it was announced mid-year that he was going to stay in the UK. We were able to double down a bit with the mares we were going to send to him here.

“They were dry mares, so it was okay to send them up. We had three mares up there due to foal to Siyouni, so once they foaled they went to him too. It was a good result, and got all six mares in foal.

“It worked out well, and he’s a phenomenal young stallion. We were pleased to get behind him.”

Too Darn Hot, a Group 1 winner at two and a dual Group 1 winner at three, has 29 stakes winners and his oldest crop are 4-year-olds. Champion 2YO Colt and Champion 3YO Colt Broadsiding, winner of four Group 1 races, headlines his Australian crops, and he has three Group 1 winners in Europe.

Parallels to Henry Longfellow

Too Darn Hot is a son of Dubawi (Ire), and the sire line is flying currently with sons like Ghaiyyath (Ire) siring the G1 Victoria Derby winner Observer this week. In the Northern Hemisphere, Night Of Thunder (Ire) is on track for his first Champion Sire title. Rosemont Stud have leapt into the trend with their first season sire Henry Longfellow (Ire).

“We are big fans of that Dubawi sire line. We were rapt to secure Henry Longfellow for Rosemont and he’s been a popular young stallion as well.

“He’s popular, really well received by the market. He’s a fast Dubawi Group 1 winning 2-year-old out of a phenomenal daughter of Galileo in Minding who was a seven-time Group 1 winner before she’d even turned four. He was always going to hit the mark with that profile.

“He’s terrific, a beautiful horse who is covering well. It’s nice to see a horse like Ghaiyyath who is more of your middle distance stallion but both bred on the same Dubawi Galileo cross, as is Night of Thunder in the UK and his stats are off the charts.

“Any stallion by Dubawi out of a good Galileo mare seems to be working, so it augers well for Henry Longfellow.”

Henry Longfellow stands his first season at Rosemont Stud in 2025 for $22,000 including GST.

Cover image courtesy of John Ford Bloodstock

1. Best value stallion in the country?

St Mark’s Basilica.

2. Most exciting new stallion for 2025?

Move to Strike.

3. Breeding more, less, or the same as last year?

The same number as last year.

4. Best breeder in the country?

Yarraman Park.

5. Best judge of a weanling/yearling?

The late George Smith.

6. Best pound-for-pound trainer?

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.

7. Most talented young person you’ve come across recently?

Jack Turnbull - Ciaron Maher Racing.

8. Redistribute prizemoney across races, or happy as is?

Happy as it is.

9. Tariff on imported horses - great idea or misguided protectionism?

Tariff is not a good idea as there is lot of expenses on horses after purchase, Airfreight etc.

10. Your best mate in the business?

Brett Howard.