New Zealand Bloodstock Online Sale targeted in cyber attack
The New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale was supposed to close on Tuesday April 14, but has been postponed until Wednesday April 15 after the Gavelhouse Plus website was subjected to a cyber attack. “Due to an unforeseen cyber attack on the website, the National Online Yearling Sale held on Gavelhouse Plus that got underway on Tuesday night, will be postponed and will restart tomorrow, Wednesday 15 April from 6pm (NZT),” said a press statement from New Zealand Bloodstock.
“The website received ongoing interference which affected several lots causing major disruption to bidders. We apologise for the significant inconvenience caused and are working to ensure the issue is resolved quickly for a smoother bidding service tomorrow night.”
Geisel Park Stud's farm for sale
On Tuesday, Geisel Park Stud announced its intention to sell Myalup Farm, their 100 hectare property near Bunbury in WA. “Argonaut has expanded into Sydney, and we have set ourselves ambitious targets for our funds management business. Salubris is on track to become WA’s leading independent generator of Australian Carbon Credit Units and biodiversity offsets. As Chairman and Co-Founder of both businesses, the time has come to focus my energy,” said Stud Principal Eddie Rigg in a press release.
The farm currently stands Aysar, Manhattan Rain and Winning Rupert who will be relocated for the upcoming breeding season, with new farms and fees to be determined later. All other stock will be offered in a dispersal sale.
“Conor (Dunlop)’s dedication and knowledge have been integral to everything we have built at Myalup. He will play a central role in managing both the property sale and the sale of our breeding stock, and I’m grateful for his continued commitment through this transition.”
Geisel Park’s stud manager Conor Dunlop has been with the farm for 14 years. Shaun Yeo of Jones Ballard and Simon Bushell of LJ Hooker South West have been appointed as Joint Sales Agents for Myalup Farm.
Second winner for Portland Sky
First season sire Portland Sky added his second winner when 2-year-old filly Portland Miss won on debut at Hawkesbury on Tuesday for trainers Richard and Will Freedman. She was sold by Mullaglass Stud at the Inglis May Yearling Sale for $20,000 to Tricolours Racing.
She is the third foal and second winner for Shimmering Light (Smart Missile), a daughter of Miss Helsinki (Hussonet {USA}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}) from the family of Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice).
Super Smink heads to Magic Millions Broodmare
Magic Millions announced on Tuesday that last start Group 3 winner Super Smink (Super One) will be sold at the upcoming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. “Super Smink was ultra impressive winning on Saturday,” Vinery’s General Manager Adam White said.
Super Smink | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“The way she rounded the field on the turn and then attacked the line is a real indication that she is going to be a force in the Robert Sangster in a couple of weeks time. Dan (Morton) is an extremely talented trainer able to travel horses so he will have her peaking for that Group 1 target nicely. She is already a mare that will generate a lot of interest given her seven wins have all been at stakes level including the G2 Karrakatta Plate as a juvenile.
“We have a lovely draft of mares assembled for the National Sale. It also includes Aviatress who is also on track to contest the G1 Robert Sangster against Super Smink.”
Fiore all talk ahead of The Quokka
Lucy Fiore will ride Dan and Ben Pearce-trained 3-year-old filly Talkanco (I’m All The Talk) in Saturday’s The Quokka. “I’ve been in a lot of races with her in them and I’ve beaten her on a few occasions,” Fiore told racingwa.com.au.
“But I always thought it would be nice to ride her and it’s amazing this opportunity has come up. She’s a lovely filly and her trial was really good the other day. She was really chilled in the trial and I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do against these really good horses. The quality of the field this year looks really good, but I don’t think she’s out of the mix.
“To win a Quokka would be absolutely awesome.”
Luana Miss set for history
Both Talkanco and fellow 3-year-old filly Luana Miss (Bivouac) will make history if they win The Quokka on Saturday, which has yet to be won by a 3-year-old. “I couldn't have been happier with her run the other day and she's come through the run really well,” trainer Trevor Andrews told racenet.com.au
“She went enormous and didn't have much luck at all but all of her work since has been really good and I'm pleased with how everything is going ahead of Saturday. She had a good gallop at Ascot this morning, pulled up well and that will be her final bit of work before the race.
Luana Miss | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“There is generally plenty of pressure in these big races and she's got a sharp turn of foot so it will certainly suit her. We know she will be in the back half of the field and if she gets into the clear when they straighten, she will be doing her best work late. She is a Group 1 winner in the making and it's just good we don't have to get on a plane to target the big races when we've got a $5 million race here.”
Can Plaintiff make it five?
Unbeaten 3-year-old filly Plaintiff (Zoustar) will attempt to take her unbeaten streak to five in Saturday’s G3 JHB Carr Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. “We've always had a good opinion of her,” trainer Peter Snowden told racingandsports.com.au.
“I think she can go on with it. She's got a really good attitude, she's got a good racing profile, she doesn't pull, she relaxes really well and she's got a turn of foot so she should get seven furlongs okay. We'll get through Saturday and see what happens, but she's got good ability and you can aim a bit higher with her and know she'll be competitive.”
Plaintiff | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Inglis digital closing on Wednesday
The Inglis Digital April (Early) Online Sale catalogue closes on Wednesday with 551 lots on offer. The catalogue is headlined by 207 racehorses (89 race fillies), 186 broodmares, and 76 racehorse shares.
Shares in young stallions Jacquinot and Southport Tycoon will tempt breeders ahead of the season, while among the broodmares are Twist Tops (Beneteau), the dam of this season’s stakes winning 2-year-old Gin Twist (Home Affairs), and Group 3 winner Cool Passion (Not A Single Doubt) who is the dam of stakes winner Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk).
Falvelon dies aged 29
On Tuesday, Glenlogan Park announced that Group 1 winner and sire Falvelon died last week. “He has been a big part of life here for almost 23 years now and his loss is being very sorely felt,” Glenlogan Park’s General Manager Steve Morley said.
“He was fantastic for both the farm and the Queensland breeding industry during his serving days and he has been a complete gentleman the whole time he has been with us. Having the honour of Falvelon as a part of our lives for so long is something we will never take for granted.
“He is now laying beside his old friend Show A Heart and, considering their many epic battles on the track and on the sires tables, I think that is a very fitting place for both of them.”
Falvelon won his first seven starts in succession before running second to Testa Rossa in the G1 Lightning Stakes at his eighth start. He won 15 of his 37 starts and over $3 million including the 2001 and 2002 G1 Doomben Ten Thousand, and the 2000 and 2001 Hong Kong Sprint. At stud, the son of Alannon sired 12 stakes winners, and he is the damsire of seven stakes winners led by Group 2 winner and sire Lean Mean Machine.
Barrengarry gets group chance
Trainer Joe Ible will run exciting 3-year-old gelding Barrengarry (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) in Saturday’s G3 Frank Packer Plate. “He was in to run in the Carbine a week ago but he just wasn't 100 percent so we scratched him,” Ible told racingandsports.com.au.
“He looks like he's bounced back nicely. He had a good trial on Friday at Canterbury. Horses like this are what we get out of bed every day and do it for. To have a horse like him walk in the stable, it certainly invigorates you and gets you going.”
Bangkok Hottie has experience on her side
Trainer David Payne thinks 2-year-old filly Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) can win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday in softer company than her debut fifth in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes. “It was a very good run, I said to the owner she wouldn’t disgrace herself and I was very pleased with her,” Payne told racingnsw.com.au.
“I wanted to run at Gosford but she drew badly there so we said we’d give her the experience on the bigger track. I’m sure she should have improved and that 100m extra will suit.”
Illawarra Grange track to open on May 5
Racing NSW announced that the new inner track at Kembla Grange, named Illawarra Grange, will hold it’s first race meeting on May 5. “It’s an amazing investment in not only Kembla Grange but the Illawarra from Racing NSW,” Illawarra Turf Club CEO Steve Keene told racingnsw.com.au.
“The club is grateful for the funding Racing NSW has provided for the facility and not only will our trainers and local participants benefit but industry wide participants will benefit from this amazing track. The plan is that washouts will be a thing of the past at Kembla.” The track cost $8 million to construct.
Brown booked for Champions Mile
Jockey Ethan Brown begins a stint in Hong Kong next Wednesday and has already picked up the ride on Ricky Yiu-trained Sunlight Power (Capitalist) in the G1 Champions Mile on April 26. “I’ve put Ethan Brown on Sunlight Power. The new jockey is on for the Group 1, and hopefully, he can run into the money,” Yiu told hkjc.com.
“I quite like this jockey – he’s done well in Australia. We need a good draw. He’s running against the big boys, but he does need a good draw to help him to finish in the money.”
Ethan Brown | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Stablemate Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) will also run in the same race. “He’s proven that he’s a very intelligent horse. At first, I thought he was only a miler – I never imagined he could win the Triple Crown,” Yiu said.
“You need a very good mindset to be able to cope with a range of distances because not many horses can do that.”
She’s A Dealer arrives in Australia
Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) arrived in New Zealand on Monday ahead of a run in Saturday’s G3 Japan Racing Association Plate at Randwick. “She arrived last night about 10:30 pm, travelled well, settled in freakishly well and was very fresh this morning to the extent that we normally send them over there dead ready for their first run,” James told Loveracing.nz.
“It wouldn't surprise me if she does a little bit of work over there because she's just hit the ground running by the sound of it. This is a hit and run mission to target some Australian black-type and I think that'll be far enough this campaign. She's booked on the plane home on Sunday.”
Byrne Burke leads Tasmanian jockeys
Erica Byrne Burke rode a five-timer on Friday night to take the lead in the Tasmanian Jockey’s Premiership. She has 65 wins and a lead of 20 with just over three months of the season remaining.
Breeders’ Cup brings big local benefits
The 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar provided an economic boost to the San Diego region estimated at US$125 million (AU$176 million) in total industry output, it was announced by Breeders' Cup Monday.
Citing an independent study conducted by Sport Management Research Institute, the organization said that the report found the World Championships supported 1023 jobs across the region, generating US$51.8 million (AU$72.9 million) in labour income, and US$80.2 million (AU$112.9 million) in value added (equivalent to GDP). In addition, US$11 million (AU$15.5 million) in federal taxes and US$7.6 million (AU$10.7 million) in state and local taxes were generated. Applicable visitor spending totalled US$38.7 million (AU$54.5 million) across hotels, dining, retail, transportation, and entertainment.
“Breeders' Cup is proud to deliver not only world-class racing, but also meaningful economic impact for our host communities,” said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited.
“The results from Del Mar in 2025 demonstrate the strength of our global festival, from record wagering to significant job creation and visitor spending. We're especially encouraged by the strong tourism indicators, which show how the World Championships continue to elevate host destinations and drive long-term economic benefits well beyond Breeders' Cup week.”
