By Brian Sheerin, TDN Europe

Cover image courtesy of Goffs

Enthralling is off to Japan

Enthralling, a Galileo sister to Derby winner Lambourn (Australia), lived up to her name at the Goffs November Mares Sale with Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm holding off a strong challenge from Ace Stud for the young breeding prospect at €780,000 (AU$1.39 million).

As well as being a sister to a Derby winner out of a high-class racemare in Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), Enthralling's pedigree is further enhanced by the fact her younger brother Action fits into the 'could be anything' category on the strength of his runner-up effort in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy behind fellow Ballydoyle-trained youngster Hawk Mountain.

Enthralling was sold in foal to Camelot and Tomo Tsuda, who was bidding on behalf of the Japanese powerhouse breeders, Northern Farm, was visibly delighted to have secured the Coolmore-bred filly from The Castlebridge Consignment.

“There is lots of promise for the future with this pedigree,” Tsuda said. “I love the 2-year-old colt (Action), and I think he's going to be really good next year. There's a lot of speed in the mare's bloodline and, to bring a mare like this back to Japan and cover her with our own stallions, that is our dream for the future.”

He added, “We had a lot of competition. She was the top mare in this draft – very athletic walk and strong back end. I love her. She cost a little bit over my budget! We haven't decided what stallion she will visit in Japan yet. We will see what the Camelot is like and then we can make a decision. We are going to travel from here to Tattersalls and then on to Arqana. European mares fit in very well with us in Japan.”

At close of play on Friday, the clearance rate stood at 85%, which was up by 6% on last year, while the €11,354,500 (AU$20.26 million) turnover was up by 5%. There were 17 horses who sold for €150,000 (AU$268,000) on the day, which was the same as 12 months ago, while the average dropped by 12% to €58,529 (AU$104,420) and the median by 23% to €30,000 (AU$53,520).

'The first thing that caught our eye was the cover'

Ace Stud has made no secret about its affection for the progeny of Night Of Thunder. That love affair has been ignited in no small part by its own Dewhurst Stakes winner Gewan and, after struggling to purchase yearlings by the Darley-based stallion, the Ace Stud team thought a little outside the box to pick up a mare in foal to the superstar stallion for €420,000 (AU$749,340).

The mare in question is no shrinking violet herself; the Moyglare Stud-drafted Liber Nauticus (Azamour) hails from a strong Ballymacoll Stud family. She won the G3 Musidora Stakes and was fifth in the Oaks while she has also produced a high-class runner in the shape of Group 2 winner Trevaunance (Muhaarar).

Ace Stud's Paul Curran said, “Her pedigree speaks for itself. Obviously, the first thing that caught our eye was the cover. We've had a lot of luck with the stallion this year and we were very happy to buy back into him. It was nice because you could buy at a price where, commercially, you could potentially return the foal to the yearling sales next year. However, we are end-users and the plan will be to foal the mare down, rear the foal ourselves and race it ourselves.

“We tried to buy a lot of Night Of Thunders here (at the Orby) and at Book 1 and 2 in Newmarket. When you can buy a mare of her quality, and what she has produced – the likes of Trevaunance, to get a Night Of Thunder out of her, be it a colt or a filly, I think it made a lot of sense. In another year or two, we could be talking about astronomical figures (to buy a Night Of Thunder at public auction).”

He added, “We've no plans beyond all of that but she could possibly suit one of our own stallions, possibly even Shaquille. She's a little bit older and has been tested around with other stallions so there's no reason why we wouldn't do that but it's definitely early days to be thinking about that just yet.”

Terrific Recruit For Ballylinch Stud

Ballylinch Stud enjoyed something of a full circle moment when going to €300,000 (AU$535,250) to secure Galileo mare Terrific, who was sold by Moyglare Stud in foal to Sioux Nation. A sister to Grade I winner Together, Terrific is the dam of Moyglare's Grade II-winning Siyouni filly, Bellezza. Ballylinch boss John O'Connor was at Keeneland in 2015 when Moyglare's Fiona Craig bought Terrific for $1.9 million (AU$2.94 million). He was a fan of the mare back then and he remained a fan on Friday.

He explained, “Delighted to get her. We both liked the mare when Fiona bought her in America as a young mare, and at the same time, I bought Wonderfully. We both got very well-bred mares. She is a lovely mare, already a proven mare, and she can breed a Group 1 horse. We have stallions that can suit her. We will hopefully get some nice stock out of her and the plan will be to retain some to breed on from. It's an investment in the future really.”

Craig was standing alongside O'Connor when he signed the docked and provided the winning bidder with further confidence in his investment by declaring the best could still be to come with the pedigree.

She said, “Bellezza could win them a Group 1 – she stays in training. The sale has gone well, but it is sad, too. I hate selling the mares. It's very upsetting, unlike the foals. The mares I am attached to, but it was great [results-wise]. Compliments to everyone who bought them and I wish them all good fortune in the future – but excuse me if I go away now and have a cry!”

Moyglare Draft shines

Moyglare Stud ended the sale as the second-busiest vendor behind Castlebridge with 10 mares selling for €1,371,000 (AU$2.45 million). Along with Liber Nauticus and Terrific, Sparkling Sea (Starspangledbanner) became one of the most expensive lots of the day when selling to Charles Shanahan on behalf of Newstead Breeding for €310,000 (AU$553,100).

Speaking about the Listed-placed daughter of Starspangledbanner, Shanahan said, “We have been waiting for her and she is for the partnership that bred Blackbeard. We had to give a lot for her. She had a lot of ability herself, and her sire has had an amazing year. She is a queen, a great mover, and has all the right attributes. We knew we would have to pay something like that for her. All the right people were on her. She will be brought home and covered in February. She could be one for Delacroix, who is very important, while she is an obvious one for No Nay Never.”

Bolger continues winding-down process with sale of Ceistiu

Jim Bolger continued his winding-down process at Goffs on Friday by selling Ceistiu (Vocalised), one of the best mares in his broodmare band, to Tally-Ho Stud for €260,000 (AU$463,900).

Ceistiu is the dam of Group 3 scorer Merchant (Teofilo) while her 2-year-old by Mehmas (Slaney View) is not without promise on the evidence of her runner-up effort behind subsequent Group 1 winner Power Blue in the first maiden of the year at the Curragh back in March.

The Irish translation for Ceistiu is questioning and, when you ask Tally-Ho's Roger O'Callaghan what stallion the mare will visit next year, he says the answer is obvious.

“It's self explanatory – she'll be married to Mehmas,” he said, before his father, Tony, interjected, by saying, “Or she might go to Maranoa Charlie, possibly.”

Roger added, “In fairness to Jim, he says the 2-year-old (Slaney View) is good, and he sent the mare back to the stallion. It's Jim's family.”

Tony continued, “We have the second dam, Ceist Eile, too. We gave €145,000 (AU$259,000) for her and got €5,000 (AU$8,920) for the yearling! Unbelievable. Thankfully she's turned it around since.”

Asked to sum up trade this week, Roger said, “Mad,” he added, “It was crazy. Crazy but good.”

Tony concluded, “Everyone got paid and the money keeps going around. One fella got €125,000 (AU$223,000) for his Starman foal on and he hadn't even covered the mare since. He was disillusioned with the industry so threw the mare out in the field and left her there. A week like this is good for everyone.”

Buy of the day

Sam Sangster recruited an exciting mare for Diego Velazquez from the Godolphin draft through Group 2 winner and 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lucida for €135,000 (AU$240,000). It's not like Lucida hasn't produced class stock already. Her son, Bedouin Prince (Ghaiyyath) is already highly-rated and is likely to pick up black-type for Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team in Dubai over the winter. On top of that, Lucida is by one of the best stallions in the stud book in Shamardal and she is empty, so Sangster can plan an early cover for his exciting recruit to The National Stud in England.

Sangster said, “I spoke to Charlie Appleby and he really believes in Bedouin Prince, who's rated Timeform 114 and goes out to Dubai, so has every chance of picking up black type. There's two more to run for us as well in a Night Of Thunder and a Ghaiyyath.”

He added, “She's a lovely mare, was a quality racehorse, and Shamardal has worked with Frankel, so she has a lot going for her. She's a really exciting booking for the stallion.”

Thought for the day

Is there a case to be made that, the more you know in this game, the less you know, certainly when it comes to judging a stallion on the evidence of their first crop of foals. Whilst enjoying a post-sale pint with a not-so-insignificant breeder, he openly admitted to getting excited about a number of stallions who went south, whilst canning some who took off. He even joked that he'd have been more profitable by sending mares to the sires of the first-crop foals he didn't like! The point of this conversation was purely to advise caution when it comes to judging a stallion purely on his stock – and we can all be guilty of that during the foal sales. What matters most is the results that they produce on the racetrack.

To have your foal featured, send a landscape-oriented image to advertising@ttrausnz.com.au

Sponsored video

Royal Meeting parade footage

Sponsored gallery

Foals by Royal Meeting

1/4

Group 1 autumn targets for Cranbourne Cup winner

Saturday’s Listed Cranbourne Cup winner Sabaj (Manhattan Rain) will be set for the G1 Doncaster Handicap over the same mile distance in the autumn by trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. “I would put a circle around the Doncaster, if I can,” Price said.

“I don't think he's bottomed out, so if I spell him now I'll have a lovely horse in the autumn, which is very close. We've got the autumn here in front of us with this horse if we want. This is sort of a brand new horse. He's perfectly sound, feet, knees, fetlock, lovely. He's lightly raced, with good ability. If we treat him right we can have a lovely horse in the autumn and we can chase a good race.”

Sabaj won by three-quarters of a length from Robbie Griffiths-trained Enxuto (Lean Mean Machine) with Ciaron Maher-trained Hollymanz (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in third. The lightly raced 4-year-old gelding has won five of his eight starts, and was placed in the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes last season. He becomes stakes winner 21 for Manhattan Rain who relocated to West Australia a few seasons ago.

Now the winner of $550,000, Sabaj is the second foal of Bouzy (Uncle Mo {USA}) who has a 3-year-old, a yearling, and a foal all by Peltzer.

Catch The Glory wins The Warra

Trainer Jason Coyle almost scratched Catch The Glory (Zousain) from Saturday’s The Warra at Kembla Grange due to the worsening conditions, but kept her in and she won by 0.3 lengths from Joe Pride-trained The Black Cloud (Shamus Award) with local trainers Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter collecting third thanks to Sunrise (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). “At 7.28am this morning I was close to scratching her and saving her for the Starlight (over 1100m at Rosehill next week) which was the original plan,” Coyle said.

“Then I was concerned driving down here with the rain and when the track started to chop up and was downgraded I was worried she wouldn't be able to close off like I know she can. I thought about scratching her again during the meeting and then looked and saw that Peter (Snowden) had beaten me to it (with race favourite Zealously) so I decided to leave her in. I'm not sure if I pulled the right rein or not but she won and she's now a stakes winner so it's all worked out.”

Unfortunately for Catch The Glory’s connections, she isn’t an official stakes winner as The Warra is yet to be ratified by the Asian Pattern Committee, so it is not officially recognised as black type. The $170,000 pay cheque for the winner is some compensation, as the 4-year-old mare took her earnings over $470,000 for her five wins. She was purchased by Coyle from Bhima Thoroughbreds’ 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.

Treble for Alpine Eagle on Friday night

At Launceston on Friday night, local stallion Alpine Eagle sired a treble starting with 3-year-old gelding Wolf Junior who won his maiden. Stakes placed 3-year-old filly Crack The Shutters won the 3-year-old cup and made it three wins in succession to stay unbeaten this time in. The treble came with 5-year-old mare Alisent who won her second career victory.

Needs Further had a double with Lovin’ Bev, while it was the favourite Durazzo who won the Listed Newmarket Handicap. Durazzo took his career to nine wins, and it was his second Listed victory. He has earnings over $420,000 and was a $97,500 purchase by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) from Armidale Stud’s 2022 Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale.

Sire doubles on Saturday

Manhattan Rain had a double with Cranbourne Cup winner Sabaj and Meteorite winner Jigsaw. At Adaminaby, Epaulette sired a double with Rager and Epaullo Creed. At Gympie, Daunting Lad sired a double with Braidwood Prince and Daunting Instinct.

Qali Al Farrasha picks up a well-deserved Group 2

Few could deny the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained mare Qali Al Farrasha (Almanzor {Fr}) a stakes victory, and she finally secured her breakthrough at Group level in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

The ultra-consistent mare has been competing at the top level throughout her career and thoroughly earned the right to see her name in bold type. She had previously placed in several elite-level events, including the G1 New Zealand Oaks, G1 New Zealand Stakes, G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic and G1 Thorndon Mile.

Given a sweet run by jockey Wiremu Pinn, Qali Al Farrasha quickened clear and bolted away to defeat dual Group 1 winner Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) by just under two lengths. Jaarfi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) filled the minor placing.

Ardalio picks up another Group 3

The Stephen Marsh-trained Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) added another stakes victory to her record with a strong win in the G3 Counties Bowl over 1100 metres at Pukekohe, ridden confidently by Kozzi Asano.

Twain (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was brave in second, finishing 1.5 lengths adrift after being slightly hampered late, while Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) closed well for third despite not having much go her way.

It was only Ardalio’s second run this preparation after finishing fourth at Te Rapa over 1200 metres in late September. As a 3-year-old, she captured both the G3 Almanzor Trophy on Karaka Millions night and the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes.

Her Counties Bowl triumph also completed a stakes double on the day for Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan, following De Armas’ (NZ) victory in the Listed Challenge Stakes earlier on the card.

Final Return claims the Counties Cup

A brave ride by apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas saw Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) claim the G3 Counties Cup, producing a daring move after being three lengths off the back of the field at around the 1600-metre mark. Nicholas angled wide and swept around the entire field to sit outside the leader.

It proved decisive, as the Reliable Man (GB) filly held on in a blanket finish to defeat the rank outsider Rosetown Princess (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) in second, with Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) running a solid third.

Final Return is the seventh live foal out of the four-time winner and Group 1-placed Zabeel (NZ) mare Final Return (NZ), who has produced six individual winners.

Ka Ying Rising improved ahead of Sunday’s mission

Jockey Zac Purton has issued a warning to rivals; Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) has improved on arriving home in Hong Kong after winning the G1 The Everest. “He seems to be bouncing around, he feels good within himself and it looks as though the trip, if anything, has helped him develop as a horse,” Purton told scmp.com.

He runs in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin. “Physically he just seems to look better all the time and mentally he seems to keep improving as well, so I’m looking forward to having him back. The trials would have brought him back to Earth a little bit. I haven’t been on him since the trial, but I’ve seen him at the track and he’s ready to go back to the races. He’s just happy to be back in Hong Kong, which is a good thing.”

Four wildcards added to Arqana December

Four additional wildcards, including G1 Preis der Diana second Spanish Eyes (Zarak), have been added to the Arqana Vente d'Elevage on December 6-9.

Consigned as lot 248f, the mare was also placed in the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes and the GII Beverly D. Stakes. She is a sister to group winner Sirjan (Zarak) and is also from the family of three-time Group 1 winner Sosie (Sea The Stars).

Lot 248g is G3 Prix Fille de l'Air second Salmarak (Zarak). The 5-year-old is from the family of Arc hero Peintre Celebre. In foal to Zarak is Ithaque (Oasis Dream) (lot 248h), who is out of the Listed winner Eyeful (Muhtathir). Rounding out the quartet is Birdcall (Night Of Thunder), who is unbeaten in two starts. Set to sell as lot 248i, the juvenile won by four lengths on debut in October and then switched to the all-weather and won again. She is rated 92 and is kin to Group 1 winners Dream Of Dreams (Dream Ahead), Airwave (Air Express), Churchill, and Clemmie (Galileo).

Jockey Club Racecourse appoint Mark Spincer as CEO

Mark Spincer will become the new chief executive officer of Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR). He will replace Charlie Boss, who is leaving at the end of the year and will report to JCR group chief executive Jim Mullen. However, a formal start date for Spincer has not been set.

Formerly from Arena Racing Company (ARC), Spincer was managing director of the racing division there since January of 2020. He was also formerly group operations director and executive director of Newcastle and Doncaster Racecourses.

Mullen said, “Mark is a superb operator with 25 years of experience in the hospitality and leisure sectors and knows the racing industry inside out. This role requires an operational leader with an unwavering focus on customer experience and a track record of delivering racing and live music events across multiple sites.

“I'm excited to work with Mark to help get the best out of our highly motivated and brilliant teams across our portfolio of racecourses.”

Golden Shaheen for Book’em Danno

It's been a long time since anyone has seen the New Jersey-bred star Book'em Danno (USA) (Bucchero {USA}). He hasn't run since winning the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga on August 23. There were rumblings that he would run in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland, but he sat that one out. He also did not run in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he likely would have been the favourite. Passing on an appearance at the World Championships is something that could cost him some Eclipse Award votes.

The 4-year-old is currently in Ocala and his connections want him to have a break of about two-and-a-half months before returning him to training. They do not yet have any definite plans yet for the 2026 season, but it appears that a trip to Dubai is where he might kick off his campaign.

“We have no definite plans as to where to go,” said Jay Briscione, who heads the Atlantic Six ownership group. “I have had conversations with the people in Saudi Arabia and we have nominated him for two races there, including the [G3] Riyadh Dirt Sprint. There's more of a chance that he will go in the [Mar. 28 running of the G1] Dubai Golden Shaheen.”

Looking Ahead highlights runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are an exceptionally well-bred or high-priced runner early in their career chasing maiden success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse that has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

Two promising 3-year-olds by Written Tycoon and Russian Revolution are chasing maiden victory at Kilmore on Sunday

Bet365 Park Kilmore, Race 1, 1.10pm AEDT, Hanson Cleaning Services Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1450m

Pavlich, 3-year-old gelding (Written Tycoon x Pivotal Connection (GB) {Pivotal {GB}})

The well-bred Pavlich (Written Tycoon) chases maiden success at start number two for Mornington trainer Matt Laurie at Kilmore on Sunday.

On debut he ran a fast finishing third at Geelong over 1335 metres, and the step up to 1450 metres looks ideal for this promising gelding.

Pavlich is the second foal out of Pivotal Connection (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), she was talented on the track winning three times in America and Ireland, and being Listed placed in America.

Pavlich’s grandam Parvana (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a winner over 2400 metres, and is a half sister to the talented Group 2 winning stallion Mehmas (Ire).

Pivotal Connection in recent years has left a 2-year-old colt by Lucky Vega (Ire), a yearling colt by Diatonic (Jpn), and a filly foal by Alabama Express.

Pavlich was purchased by Hong Kong Bloodstock, Matt Laurie Racing and Wilannah Park Bloodstock for $300,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Bet365 Park Kilmore, Race 5, 3.30pm AEDT, C+M Build Group Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1200m

Tan Tat Delight, 3-year-old filly (Russian Revolution x Tan Tat Bel {Pivotal {GB}})

The Chris Waller-trained Tan Tat Delight (Russian Revolution) looks to go one better at Kilmore on Sunday over 1200 metres, following a very good second on debut at Kyneton earlier this month behind Asiatic (Tagaloa)..

The Russian Revolution filly is the third foal out of the unraced Tan Tat Bel (Bel Esprit). She boasts a strong pedigree, being a half-sister to Group 3 and Listed winner Tan Tat De Lago (Encosta De Lago), and Tan Tat Sun – Sun Jewellery (H.K.), a three-time Listed winner and Champion Miler in Hong Kong.

Another high-class member of this family is Umrum (Umatilla {NZ}), a 14-time winner who included two G1 Toorak Handicap victories in his record.

In recent years, Tan Tat Bel has produced a yearling colt by Best Of Bordeaux and missed to Lofty Strike last spring.

Sponsored video

Lofty Strike - Striking First Foals

Looking Back

Scartoon (Spirit Of Boom) - Was too quick for her opposition winning nicely at the Sunshine Coast.

Gold Cup (NZ) (Super Seth) - Ran a lovely fourth on debut at Gosford, she ran on strongly from well back in the field and looks like a filly that will improve with more ground.

Diacon (Tassort) - Was a nice winner at Gosford, she is one to watch.

First-time starters lining up on Sunday, November 23

First Season Sires’ Results

Results: Saturday, November 22

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Sunday, November 23

We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TTR. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

TTR 2025 Media & Advertising Guide

TTR Team & Contacts

President - Gary King | gary@ttrausnz.com.au

Managing Director - Vicky Leonard | vicky@ttrausnz.com.au

Editorial | editorial@ttrausnz.com.au

Advertising | advertising@ttrausnz.com.au

Accounts | accounts@ttrausnz.com.au

Charitable initiatives

At TTR, we think it’s our obligation to positively help the industry by providing free advertising, and as such, all ads for industry charitable initiatives are free in TTR and always will be.

If you need to raise awareness to a charitable initiative, email: advertising@ttrausnz.com.au

Regular Columnists

Renee Geelen | Kristen Manning | Kit Gow | Dane McLeod | Nic Ashman

Photography is supplied by Ashlea Brennan, The Image Is Everything - Bronwen Healy and Darren Tindale, Georgia Young Photography, Sportpix, Trish Dunell (NZ), Racing Photos, Trackside Photography and Western Racepix.