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BIG WEEKEND FOR JUDDMONTE
At Pacific Bloodstock we follow the European racing scene closely having purchased three fillies from Juddmonte Farm and it was pleasing to see its principle, Khalid Abdullah have such a great weekend on the track. Juddmonte are great suppliers to Australian racing having achieved initial success as the breeders of Tugela, the dam of Makybe Diva.
Trick of Light is a group winner for Mick Kent, and we have the city winning mare, Twin Town with Mick Price who has won four from 13 starts.
Treat Gently is by Cape Cross and Pacific Bloodstock purchased a stunning filly by that sire from Darley at Magic Millions this year. Mick Price will train the filly at Caulfield and she is now spelling after being broken in at Euroa by John Ivill.
Ill-fated Coolmore shuttler & multiple champion sire Danehill (Danzig-Razyana, by His Majesty) added another Gr1 triumph when favoured 4YO daughter Promising Lead (Danehill-Arrive, by Kahyasi) scored a 1.25-lengths victory in the €250,000 (A$425,000) Gr1 Pretty Polly Stakes (10 furlongs) for fillies & mares at the Curragh.
Khalid Abdullah's UK Juddmonte home-bred Promising Lead (ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Sir Michael Stoute) defeated 3YO filly & last month's Irish Gr1 1000 Guineas runner-up Mad About You (Indian Ridge-Irresistible Jewel, by Danehill) & fellow UK-bred 5YO mare Anna Pavlova (Danehill Dancer-Wheeler's Wonder, by Sure Blade).
At her previous start, Promising Lead (a half-sister to Visit out of a full-sister to Hasili) opened her 2008 campaign with victory in the UK Gr3 Middleton Stakes (10.5 furlongs) at York on May 15; and last season she finished runner-up in the UK Listed Michael Seeley Memorial Fillies' Stakes at York, before winning the UK Listed Upavon Fillies Stakes (10 furlongs) against older rivals at Salisbury and then finishing a close runner-up in France's Gr1 Prix De l'Opera (2000m) also against older rivals at Longchamp. (Jun 30)
Also in France overnight, Darley shuttler Cape Cross (Green Desert-Park Appeal, by Ahonoora) added a group success when his UK Juddmonte home-bred daughter Treat Gently (Cape Cross-Kid Gloves, by In The Wings) prevailed in a 3-way photo-finish to the €130,000 (A$221,000) Gr2 Prix de Malleret (2400m) for 3YO fillies at Saint-Cloud.
Treat Gently (ridden by Stephane Pasquier for trainer Andre Fabre) scored by a nose from fast-finishing Irish-bred Leo's Starlet (Galileo-Premiere Creation, by Green Tune) with a further head to fellow UK-bred Dar Re Mi (Singspiel-Darara, by Top Ville).
Earlier this month Treat Gently finished runner-up in the French Gr3 Prix De Royaumont (2400m) at Chantilly. (Jun 30)
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A DAY AT THE RACES . . .
Quite an interesting day for Pacific Bloodstock on Saturday with some varied results at race tracks right around Australia.
Firstly our bonny mare, Twin Town was narrowly beaten in the first race at Morphettville on Saturday. In a small field of five, she was camped outside the leader Savlate, was attacked by plunge horse Tora Tora Tora 1000m out and then succumbed by the narrowest of margins to Dol De Lago, a recent winner at Sandown.
Then it was off to Sydney where the Chris Waller trained, Che Casino was a very impressive winner at Rosehill. Che Casino by Danehill Dancer is a half sister to Pacific Bloodstock’s two year old filly, General Revision (General Nediym). Che Casino was bred and still part owned by Gerry Harvey who also retains a share in General Revision. Well done Gerry.
Our big day ended at Toowoomba, where Braebrook returned to the winners list. Braebrook is from the Rory’s Jester mare Pokey Hill, and she is a half sister to Seamless. Seamless at Mornington with David Brideoake resumes work soon and her trainer is aiming her at the lucrative spring mares’ races.
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TWIN TOWN SECURES CITY WIN
Pacific Bloodstock’s fine mare , Twin Town saluted at Morphettville last Saturday to be the syndicates first city winner.
Racing at her preferred staying distance for the first time this preparation, Twin Town was perfectly ridden by leading local rider, Claire Lindrop (who won this years Magic Millions 2Y0 Classic).
The move to take the mare to Adelaide was another master stroke by her trainer Mick Price, who is one of the best thinkers and strategists amongst the training ranks in Australia.
The win was the fourth for Twin Town, who has already returned to Victoria and will race at Sandown in early June.
Pacific Bloodstock will be hoping for family success next month in far away England where Twin Town’s younger brother Confront is entered for the Epsom and Irish Derbies, as well as the Irish Millions. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Confront was a winner as two year old and was beaten at his only run this term as a three year old in Group 3 level.
Twin Towns dam Contiguous is a sister to Reams of Verse, the winner of the Epsom Oaks and still retained by her breeder, Juddmonte.
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KIWI STAKES - WINNER FOR ROCK
Tara Madgwick - Saturday, May 24, 2008 (Courtesy Breednet)
Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) has been posting stakes-winners all over the world in recent months and added one in New Zealand on Saturday when progressive juvenile St Culpe saluted in the Listed AuRC Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie.
The Mike Moroney trained colt was having his third start and has shown dramatic improvement each time he’s been sent out, culminating in his first win at his first attempt at Black Type company.
St Culpe took the 1400 metre event by half a length, settling midfield in the run and surging to the line in a dominant performance.
Purchased by his trainer for $50,000 from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast, St Culpe was re-offered at the 2007 NZB Ready to Run Sale in New Zealand by Lyndhurst Farm fetching $500,000 to top the sale when knocked down to New Zealand Bloodstock.
He is the third living foal of the Ogygian mare Run and Hide (USA), a half-sister to three American stakes-winners from the family of Group One winners Kela and Air Shakur.
St Culpe is one of more than 30 stakes-winners worldwide for Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), who was also represented on Saturday by the Group One place-getter Murtajill in Brisbane.
The Tim Martin trained colt ran a brave race to finish second behind red-hot galloper Apache Cat, who notched his fifth consecutive Group One victory in the BTC Doomben 10,000.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock has one share remaining in a Rock of Gibraltar filly that is fully Magic Millions eligible. She will be trained by Mick Price and is an exciting prospect. Call or email Pacific Bloodstock today and arrange an inspection
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CIVITA WINS AT DEBUT
Civita, the fourth of the Pacific Bloodstock team to be produced, won on debut at Donald on Monday (28/04/08)
By Commands from the Marscay mare, Castellana, Civita is trained for Pacific Bloodstock and some great clients by Peter Moody at Caulfield.
The filly was purchased at last year's Magic Millions National sale from Stuart Ramsey’s Turranga Stud and was ridden in dashing fashion by apprentice Nick Hall.
A November foal and still quite immature, it was great for her owners to get a taste of the “winners circle”, both as a 2Y0 and at her first race start.
Whilst the trek to Donald was impossible for most, Telstra did very well out of the calls that were received on track from owners as far away as Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga and also Melbourne.
Drawing a middle gate, Civita flew the start and led throughout over the 1200m journey.
Controversy reigned after the race for some 20 minutes while the stewards viewed footage of the start and whether two runners have received a fair start. But the “all clear” was given and the celebrations started.
The win was special for some of the owners for whom Civita was their first foray into racehorse ownership and to others was a first after many unsuccessful forays in the past.
We congratulate them all and wish Civita more success after a spell as a 3Y0.
Civita was the fourth horse to race in the Pacific Bloodstock colours and was its third individual winner. With some nice two year olds now in full work and some lovely yearling that are currently being syndicated, this will not be the last.
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30TH STAKES-WINNER FOR ROCK
(courtesy Coolmore Australia)
Improving three year-old Book of Kells (3c Rock of Gibraltar x Episode, by Scenic) ploughed through the heavy conditions at Rosehill on Saturday to win the Group Two STC Tulloch Stakes in providing his outstanding young sire Rock of Gibraltar with his 30th individual stakes-winner worldwide.
Friendless in betting, the Bart Cummings trained Book of Kells travelled comfortably midfield for much of the race before unleashing a big finishing burst to surge past New Zealand Group Two winner Rios.
Book of Kells has now won two of nine starts and will be given his shot at the Group One AJC Australian Derby at Royal Randwick next Saturday.
“He’s bred to stay and always shown a bit of quality so he’ll get his chance next week,” said Cummings.
Raced by long time Cummings client Dato Tan Chin Nam and partners, Book of Kells was purchased by DGR Thoroughbreds for $150,000 from the Glastonbury Farm draft at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He is from the former outstanding racemare Episode, a winner of six races including the Group One SAJC South Australian Oaks and Australasian Oaks.
Book of Kells is the sixth individual Australian stakes-winner this season for Coolmore based Rock of Gibraltar, who leads all other second season sires for number of individual stakes-winners since August 1.
Rock of Gibraltar has 36 youngsters catalogued for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
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9TH INDIVIDUAL 2YO WINNER FOR EXCEED AND EXCEL
(courtesy Breeding & Racing)
Baldy-faced chestnut Exceed And Excel 2YO colt Kalash (Exceed And Excel-True Blonde, by Naturalism) provided his Darley boom sire with his 9th individual winner when successful at Caulfield. Never looking like losing, Kalash (a $750,000 yearling at the 2007 Inglis Easter Sale) was stakes-placed in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown last year when starting equal favourite.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock is currently syndicating a lovely chestnut filly by Exceed and Excel, why not inspect her today
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MONBA WINS THE BLUEGRASS
With the Kentucky Derby now less than three weeks away, one of the feature lead up races to the Derby was conducted at Keeneland with the son of Marias Mon, MONBA taking out the event for trainer Todd Pletcher. The interest for Pacific Bloodstock is that we are currently syndicating an Exceed and Excel filly, who is out of an Easy Goer mare, MONBA is also out of an Easy Goer mare. Get with the strength.
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MONBA TURNS BACK COWBOY CAL IN BLUE GRASS, PYRO TENTH
by Mike Curry (courtesy Throughbred Times)
Monba rebounded from a last-place finish in his previous start with a game victory over stablemate Cowboy Cal in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course.
Even-money favorite Pyro, winner of the Risen Star Stakes (G3) and Louisiana Derby (G2), raced in tenth in the 12-horse field entering the stretch in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass and was unable to improve his position.
Trainer Todd Pletcher saddled the top two finishers as Monba and Cowboy Cal hooked up in a duel near the eighth pole. The duo battled to the finish with Monba inching ahead to win by a neck in the closing strides and score his first career stakes win.
Monba secured a berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The field for the Derby is determined by graded stakes earnings if more than 20 horses are entered and the $465,000 winner’s share cemented a spot in the 1 1/4-mile classic. Runner-up Cowboy Cal also likely locked up a starting spot as the $150,000 share for second place elevated his graded earnings to $207,660.
“I felt bad for Cowboy Cal; he ran such a big race. I was hoping for a dead heat,” Pletcher said. “I was really pleased, obviously. We were hoping for the earnings and now we’re in a position to think about [the Kentucky Derby].”
Starlight Stable’s and Donald Lucarelli’s Monba entered the Blue Grass off a last-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on February 24, when he was squeezed back entering the first turn and never threatened. The Maria’s Mon colt rebounded gamely in the Blue Grass stalking a leisurely pace set by Cowboy Cal through an opening quarter in :24.96 and a half-mile in :49.01. Cowboy Cal opened a clear lead entering the stretch, where he was joined by Monba for a thrilling finish.
Sent off as the 8.80-to-1 fourth choice, Monba completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.71 on Keeneland’s all-weather Polytrack surface.
Cowboy Cal was 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Kentucky Bear, who edged fast-closing Stevil by one length.
Pyro never fired while finishing tenth in his first start on a synthetic surface.
“I asked him for run around the turn to try and set myself up pretty good and I didn’t get the response I was hoping for,” said jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. “I realized on the turn that it just wasn’t going to be his day.”
Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Visionaire closed from last early to finish fifth. Fountain of Youth winner Cool Coal Man flattened out in the stretch and faded to ninth, and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Big Truck faded to 11th.
Monba improved to three wins in five starts and boosted his earnings to $577,534. Bred in Kentucky by Mill Ridge Farm and Jamm Ltd., Monba is out of the winning Easy Goer mare Hamba.
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8th AUST WINNER FOR FRESHMAN SIRE EXCEED AND EXCEL
Boom Darley 1st-season sire Exceed And Excel (Danehill-Patrona, by Lomond) notched his 8th individual Australian juvenile winner yesterday when 2YO colt Sheedy (Exceed And Excel-Viase de Fleurs, by Machiavellian) scored by 2.5-lengths at Wangaratta in Victoria for trainer Peter Moody. Sheedy was an $80,000 yearling consigned by Swettenham Stud at the 2007 Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne.
Hoofnote: How timing is sweet, Pacific Bloodstock secured a daughter of Exceed and Excel at the recent Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast, also from the draft of Swettenham Stud. Peter Moody will train this exquisite filly for us. The only part of the trilogy that is missing is that our filly is from an Easy Goer mare, unlike Sheedy’s dam who is by Machiavellian. However if Machiavellian is your wish, we also have a filly by Seachange’s sire, Cape Cross from a Machiavellian mare to be trained by Mick Price.
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GROUP ONE GLORY FOR TALE OF THE CAT
Courtesy Breednet -Tara Madgwick
Versatile Coolmore based shuttle sire Tale of the Cat (USA) featured in North America at the weekend when his three year-old son Tale of Ekati captured the Group One Wood Memorial over a mile and an eighth at Aqueduct.
His win gave trainer Barclay Tagg his second successive victory in the classic race for three year-olds having scored last year with Nobiz Like Shobiz.
“We always thought he was a good horse,” said Tagg.
“He showed up today big time.”
Unfancied by punters after failing in the Group Two Louisiana Derby won by Pyro on March 8 after losing all chance when tardy from the barriers, Tale of Ekati bounced back to his best juvenile form in the Wood Memorial.
He charged through an opening on the rails to collar the favourite War Pass in winning his first Group One by half a length.
Bred and raced by Charles Fipke, Tale of Ekati has the smart record of three wins and a second from six starts with prizemoney of $769,200.
A colt with a real stallion’s pedigree, Tale of Ekati is from the Sunday Silence mare Silence Beauty, a half-sister to champion mare Sky Beauty, a multiple Group One winner of 15 races and the dam of Group Three winner Hurricane Cat.
His grand-dam Maplejinsky is a dual Group One winner by Nijinsky, a half-sister to champion sprinter Dayjur.
Tale of Ekati is one of 43 stakes-winners worldwide for Tale of the Cat (USA) and is his fourth Group One winner joining Glamour Puss, Trusty Cat and Lion Heart (USA), whose oldest Australian progeny are yearlings.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock has a Tale of The Cat filly currently for syndication, Mick Price will train her at Caulfield, she is Magic Millions eligible and looks a really early runner.
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A TALE OF TWO FILLIES
Courtesy Darley website
In Ouija Board and Seachange, Cape Cross has sired two exceptionally talented racemares in the northern and southern hemispheres.
In the eight years since Cape Cross retired to stud, he has been responsible for a raft of Group winners from smart two-year-olds such as Hatta Fort to crack miler Able One. But whatever else he achieves as a stallion, he will always be synonymous with two of the best racemares of the early part of the 21st century. It is fitting, in the modern era of shuttle stallions, that the stories of Ouija Board and Seachange have unfolded on two different continents at opposite sides of the world.
Cape Cross’ British-bred daughter Ouija Board was the first to elevate her sire to Classic status. In the October of her two-year-old season, she became a late addition to the list of winners that saw her father named leading first-season sire in Britain and Ireland, with a four-length victory in a Yarmouth maiden in October.
Not even her owner/breeder Lord Derby could have predicted the phenomenal record of her Classic year. Victory in the Oaks, Irish Oaks, Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and a none too shabby third in the Arc set her apart from her peers. She was named Horse of the Year at Europe’s most prestigious awards ceremony, the Cartier Awards, a feat she repeated in 2006 when she became the only horse ever to receive this accolade twice.
The sole disappointing run of her illustrious career came on her first start at four in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes when the Royal Ascot meeting was held at York. Finishing seventh of eight, she lost a shoe in running and suffered a stress fracture in her near fore cannon bone that would keep her off the track until her winning return in the G3 Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket in September.
An ill-judged ride by Jerry Bailey saw her second crack at the Breeders’ Cup end in narrow defeat to Intercontinental before a good effort in the Japan Cup set up her sole G1 win of 2005 when she landed the Hong Kong Vase in December.
To the delight of her many fans, Lord Derby chose to keep Ouija Board in training as a five-year-old: a decision for which he would be richly rewarded as the great mare added another three G1 victories to her sensational record.
She claimed notable scalps at Ascot with a happier run in the Price of Wales’s Stakes in which she beat Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist, subsequent 2007 Horse of the Year Manduro and Notnowcato, who now stands at her owner’s Stanley House Stud in Newmarket. In one of the most thrilling finishes of the season, Ouija Board saw off fellow multiple G1 winner Alexander Goldrun in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood before losing out in the Irish Champion Stakes by a neck to Dylan Thomas.
Her third trip to the US resulted in a second Breeders’ Cup title at Churchill Downs before she bowed out with a brave third place, two-and-a-half lengths behind Japan’s wonder horse Deep Impact, in the Japan Cup.
Ouija Board’s truly extraordinary racing career is over but phase two of her life has begun with the arrival of her first foal, a Kingmambo colt, at the beginning of February. This stellar resident has breathed new life into the historic Stanley House Stud, which has been home to Ouija Board’s ancestors for generations. She is the penultimate foal of Selection Board, a Welsh Pageant mare out of Ouija, the same mating which produced Arlington Million winner Teleprompter, who is buried at the stud.
The same day Ouija Board’s colt was delivered, an equally tough mare by the name of Seachange equalled her tally of seven G1 wins when taking the New Zealand’s most prestigious weight-for-age sprint, the Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa. Now five, Dick Karreman’s homebred has been doing a superb job in advertising Cape Cross’ credentials to the southern hemisphere market.
Untried at two, Seachange, who is out of the Broad Reach mare Just Cruising, notched three unbeaten runs at six (1200m) and seven (1400m) furlongs en route to Classic success in the NZ 1000 Guineas.
Back-to-back wins in the spring of her four-year-old season in the Mudgway and Stoney Bridge Stakes – a feat she repeated the following year – set up a trip across the Tasman to Australia, where she finished second in the Myer Classic behind Lyrical Bid.
A return to Australia later in the season saw Seachange land her first win outside her homeland in the G3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield before another G1-placing in the Futurity, in which she finished runner-up to the classy Aqua d’Amore, with subsequent Cox Plate winner El Segundo back in third.
Her third successive year in training has seen Seachange in better form than ever. As previously mentioned, she once again dominated at Hawke’s Bay, annexing the Mudgway Stakes and Stoney Bridge Stakes in September before claiming another pair of G1 contests via the Telegraph Handicap and Waikato Draught Sprint. Her top-flight wins this term have been over six furlongs (1200m), seven furlongs (1400m) and a mile (1600m), while her career record stands at 26 runs for 14 wins and six places.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock purchased a glorious yearling filly by Cape Cross at Magic Millions – shares are currently available; Apply today !!
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PACIFIC BLOODSTOCK ACTIVE AT MAGIC MILLIONS - GOLD COAST
Pacific Bloodstock are currently at the Magic Millions Gold Coast and have purchased two outstanding fillies in session two.
The first, a Tale of the Cat filly from a daughter of classy stakes winner, Sunshine Sally is now back in Victoria and will be broken in in coming weeks. A really sharp filly, she will enter the stable of leading Caulfield trainer Mick Price.
The next purchase was by Sea Changes sire, Cape Cross from the Machiavellian mare Rossiya. This filly is from a celebrated French family and is loaded with black type. She is a half sister to the recent Gai Waterhouse trial winner, Russian Babe. Also to be trained by Mick Price this filly is also at the breakers.
We are in negotiations to purchase a filly by the hottest stallion in the country, Exceed and Excel. Again from a highly successful European family, when purchased the filly will be prepared by Peter Moody at Caulfield.
Shares in all these fillies will be in ten unit partnerships and are available for inspection now.
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PROMISING WINNER FOR ROCK
Courtesy Tara Madgwick Breednet
Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) provided the quinella in the Ratings 86 event at Randwick over 1600 metres on Saturday with Imvula defeating Jabal Tarik, both three year-olds looking likely candidates to progress towards stakes races later in the carnival.
The Peter Snowden trained Imvula improved off a close last start third to Dealer Principal in turning the tables on that horse when he scored by a short head over Jabal Tarik with Dealer Principal in third place.
On an upward spiral, Imvula has two wins and two minor placings from five starts and will be worth following into a harder race along with the both place-getters behind him.
A $750,000 purchase for Woodlands Stud from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Imvula (pictured left) is the first foal of the Woodman (USA) mare African Rain, a half-sister to stakes-winners Rose O’War, Mr Vitality, Gunnamatta and Danehill Express being from the grand producing AJC Australian Oaks winner Savana City.
The sire of five Australian stakes-winners this season, Coolmore based Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) has 36 yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock has a lovely yearling filly by Rock of Gibraltar that we are currently syndication, there are five of ten shares remaining and the reports from the breakers is that she is a very classy filly. Contact us today and arrange an inspection.
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27th STAKESWINNER FOR ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
Tara Madgwick
Monday, 3 March 2008
Outstanding young sire Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) posted his 27th stakes-winner worldwide at the weekend when three year-old filly Sweeter Still won the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.
Fourth in Listed company in Ireland last year, Sweeter Still has won her last two starts in North America since transferring to the stable of Jeff Mullins although is now in the care of Ral Ayers while Mullins is under suspension.
She stalked the lead and then kicked clear to win the one-mile contest on turf by a length.
Bred by Anne Marie O’Brien, Sweeter Still is from the Belmez mare Beltisaal and she is one of three stakes-winners for Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) in America, his burgeoning success as a sire spreading to all parts of the world.
In Australia, Coolmore based Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) has had five stakes-winners this season and is the leading second crop sire by individual winners with 22 on the board.
He has large drafts for upcoming sales with 35 youngsters catalogued for Magic Millions and 36 for Inglis Easter.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock has a magnificent Rock of Gibraltar filly that is a half sister to four winners, including two stakes winners. Trained by man of the moment Mick Price, this delightful filly is a must for inspection.
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TRAINER MICK PRICE HAS HAD A GREAT YEAR
Nice and stable
Story By Andrew Eddy (courtesy The Age)
February 15, 2008
Only Lee Freedman has trained more winners than Mick Price in Australia this season, but it is a statistic Price is happy to concede. With not an inch more room to expand at Caulfield, Price likes to think he is squeezing every last drop out of his city-based operation.
That is not to say he has reached his ultimate goal as a racehorse trainer. Wary of the pitfalls of expanding his stable further and branching out into a multimillion-dollar private training centre, Price can still see room for improvement in his business. But bigger does not necessarily mean better.
"I look at someone like Bart Cummings," Price said this week. "These days, he doesn't get the great numbers of winners, but he gets the ones that matter. Strike-rate — who cares? He wins big races.
"Even if I wanted to get bigger, there is not a box to be had at Caulfield. I have 56 boxes and that is still no small operation. I have 180 horses on my books to run 56 boxes."
Price generates an excellent return out of the available space he has to run his business: more than 100 winners each season with a handful of stakes-winners among them. He has earned the respect of his peers, not just through his volume of winners but by the way he has gone about producing them.
"I like to think I treat my clients properly. I mean, you do get grief. My pet hate is aggressive owners but mostly, look, I am not all that ruthless. I am not into poaching or white-anting and just happy to get on with the job and do the best with what I've got."
To take the next step and truly compete with the likes of Freedman and David Hayes, Price either needs to find another 40-50 boxes at Caulfield or, like Freedman and Hayes and soon enough Danny O'Brien, build up a private country property where he can double his runners each season and possibly attract wealthier owners.
But Price does not see such a set-up in his immediate future. "How mad do I need to drive myself? I've got four kids — a great family — and I've got a fair balance at the moment. I've got a good business but still manage to get most Sundays off and it's a very enjoyable life," he said.
"I am energised by what I do. I am fresh from it and not tired by it. I've seen so many people steamrolled by the whole industry but I'm happy with the balance I've got at the moment.
"I am driven by the fear of failure. I still am in many ways. But it's very enjoyable at this end, as it was when I started out young and keen."
Price, who will turn 50 in November, was tutored by the likes of Bob Hoysted, George Hanlon and John Meagher and took out his own licence in 1991. His first winner was Arch Turn, ridden by Damien Oliver, at Yarra Glen in November that year.
For Price to be barking at the heels of Freedman and Hayes is a remarkable feat, given he has no great chequebook to buy the elite yearling stock. "I've hardly had an expensive one and you learn to make do with what you've got. Even my best horses like Perfectly Ready cost just $90,000 and Red Dazzler was $100,000," he said.
"To move into that area (of buying the elite yearlings), you have to market yourself differently, drive your business differently, position yourself differently and most of all, put up a lot of your own money.
"I don't want to make the mistake and cause myself the grief of over-extending myself on yearlings. It is horrifying the amount of trainers that get stuck with yearlings and portions of yearlings. I only spec them within my range as I don't need to be going home worrying that I've got millions of dollars' worth of stock that I haven't been able to place."
This season is unique in Australian racing. The equine influenza outbreak in NSW and Queensland at the start of the season in August has meant the regular group 1-winning names of Waterhouse, Hawkes and O'Shea are nowhere to be seen on the list of group 1 winners as yet. Mark Kavanagh leads the pack with four this season, with Price and Ross McDonald second with two each.
Price, who has trained a total of seven group 1 winners in 16 seasons, is aiming for more this season. "Group 1 winners are the ultimate. It is the highest you can stand in the game, but for me, training stakes-winners gives me enormous satisfaction. Winning stakes races for your owners increases the value of your owners' stock," he said.
Leading his charge at the group 1s are his two group 1 winners of the season, Rubiscent (Underwood Stakes) and Shinzig (Orr Stakes), but he also has a handy team of three-year-olds such Sandown Guineas winner Schilling, who will run in tomorrow's Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley with stablemate Sound Journey.
Rubiscent and Shinzig could progress to the Sydney carnival but Price is likely to resist the temptation with Schilling.
"He ran in the Sandown Guineas, so this campaign is almost like an extension of his spring campaign," he said. "He only had three weeks off and I am sure he will develop into a magnificent four-year-old who will get 2000 metres."
Price, who will turn 50 in November, was tutored by the likes of Bob Hoysted, George Hanlon and John Meagher and took out his own licence in 1991. His first winner was Arch Turn, ridden by Damien Oliver, at Yarra Glen in November that year.
For Price to be barking at the heels of Freedman and Hayes is a remarkable feat, given he has no great chequebook to buy the elite yearling stock. "I've hardly had an expensive one and you learn to make do with what you've got. Even my best horses like Perfectly Ready cost just $90,000 and Red Dazzler was $100,000," he said.
"To move into that area (of buying the elite yearlings), you have to market yourself differently, drive your business differently, position yourself differently and most of all, put up a lot of your own money.
"I don't want to make the mistake and cause myself the grief of over-extending myself on yearlings. It is horrifying the amount of trainers that get stuck with yearlings and portions of yearlings. I only spec them within my range as I don't need to be going home worrying that I've got millions of dollars' worth of stock that I haven't been able to place."
This season is unique in Australian racing. The equine influenza outbreak in NSW and Queensland at the start of the season in August has meant the regular group 1-winning names of Waterhouse, Hawkes and O'Shea are nowhere to be seen on the list of group 1 winners as yet. Mark Kavanagh leads the pack with four this season, with Price and Ross McDonald second with two each.
Price, who has trained a total of seven group 1 winners in 16 seasons, is aiming for more this season. "Group 1 winners are the ultimate. It is the highest you can stand in the game, but for me, training stakes-winners gives me enormous satisfaction. Winning stakes races for your owners increases the value of your owners' stock," he said.
Leading his charge at the group 1s are his two group 1 winners of the season, Rubiscent (Underwood Stakes) and Shinzig (Orr Stakes), but he also has a handy team of three-year-olds such Sandown Guineas winner Schilling, who will run in tomorrow's Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley with stablemate Sound Journey.
Rubiscent and Shinzig could progress to the Sydney carnival but Price is likely to resist the temptation with Schilling.
"He ran in the Sandown Guineas, so this campaign is almost like an extension of his spring campaign," he said. "He only had three weeks off and I am sure he will develop into a magnificent four-year-old who will get 2000 metres."
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ANOTHER GROUP 1 WIN FOR PACIFIC BLOODSTOCK'S TRAINER
It's Shinzig in Orr thriller
Story By Jason Hickson (courtesy Racing and Sports)
Saturday, 9 February 2008: Luck proved a fortune for affable rider Stephen Baster, scoring a narrow win on Shinzig in a thrilling C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield today.
Easing favourite Maldivian disappointed in finishing midfield in the race but it didn't detract from a top finish with three horses going to the line locked together.
At the top of the straight the Mick Price-trained Rubiscent went for home and looked hard to run down, while on his outside stablemate Shinzig was looming large.
Niconero, coming from well back upon straightening, had to change course and angled back to the inside before making a late dive as all three gallopers crossed the line in a tight photo.
Shinzig, with Stephen Baster aboard, prevailed narrowly on the outside with the luckless Niconero in second. Rubiscent was a narrow margin away in third pace while Princess Coup burst through between runners late for an eye-catching fourth.
Baster rode Maldivian in his first-up win but was replaced by Steven Arnold for today's race.
Craig Newitt had the pick of the two Mick Price gallopers and went with Rubiscent, only to be upstaged by Baster on the stablemate.
“I've been a bit quiet the last few months but it's good to get some opportunities today,” Baster said, having ridden a winning double by earlier scoring on Believe N Succeed in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
“Shinzig didn't have any cover but most importantly traveled nicely, wasn't keen and thankfully got to the line nicely.”
Shinzig has been a problem horse for a number of stables so far, Price being his fourth, but his new trainer was thrilled with a Group 1 win for the six-year-old.
Price said the entire had had plenty of racing with other trainers so now tries to keep him fresh and as happy as possible and save his best efforts for raceday.
It was the first win for both trainer and jockey in the race and Baster's sixth success at Group 1 level.
Hoofnote: The win of Shinzig provided yet another Group 1 win for Pacific Bloodstock's trainer, Mick Price who is having a great season.
It was part of a double for Price who trained Vivacious Spirit to win earlier on the program. She incredibly was another filly by Bel Espirit to win for Mick.
Pacific Bloodstock purchased a Bel Espirit which will be trained by Mick Price and has been syndicated amongst the Melbourne Tigers basketball club.
Shinzig is another great story for syndication having been recently syndicated for stud duties by Eliza Park. Pacific Bloodstock has Two Steps Ahead at Eliza park and she is in foal to the brilliant Gods Own.
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RACING FINALLY SHAKES OFF QUINE INFLUENZA CRISIS
Article courtesy of : Herald-Sun, author Matt Stewart
AUSTRALIA'S equine influenza crisis is over and a day at the races will return to normal, starting at Echuca today.
While the cost of EI has run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, and is rising, the disease itself has been beaten.
The Department of Primary Industry and Racing Victoria Limited will announce on Thursday morning that the virus has almost certainly burned out.
The DPI and RVL met yesterday and will meet again tomorrow with key industry players. DPI chief veterinary surgeon Dr Hugh Millar reported yesterday there had been no EI outbreaks since well before Christmas.
Dr Millar said final tests in purple zones, where EI ran rampant, would be finalised soon and movement bans would be abolished by mid-March.
He said quarantine regulations of three days each side of the journey between previously infected areas of New South Wales and Victoria would be reduced to one day within weeks.
Interstate trainers who had baulked at sending horses to Melbourne's upcoming summer racing festival now have little reason to stay away.
Key carnival contenders Takeover Target and De Lightning Ridge, the Canberra-trained Blue Diamond Stakes favourite, are now probable runners.
Trainer Joe Janiak, keen to tackle the big summer sprints, had been waiting for weeks to hear news about a relaxation of travel restrictions.
RVL chief executive Stephen Allanson said racing in Victoria would now be "virtually back to normal".
"Of course there is still the huge cost of EI to deal with, but all the barricades which have driven everybody mad will come down and I think we're very close to declaring ourselves officially over this disease. I'm expecting that announcement within days," Allanson said.
He said EI had cost the racing industry $15 million through lost turnover and hundreds of millions in other areas, such as the breeding industry.
Equine influenza invaded Australia for the first time in August last year, believed to have been carried into the Eastern Creek quarantine centre in Sydney by an imported stallion.
It spread like wildfire through most of NSW and southern Queensland.
Dr Millar said he was confident there would be no new cases.
"We're going to be very vigilant with on-going testing but it is looking very, very good," Dr Millar said.
EI horse and human movement restrictions caused huge headaches through the spring carnival.
Owners and trainers were separated at the races, owners were banned from trackwork and jockeys and strappers endured extreme bio-security hygiene protocols.
Hoofnote: Praise the Lord and raise the tambourine !!!!!!... Common sense has finally prevailed.
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ONE STERIODS TEST REQUESTED AT SALE
by Ron Mitchell (courtesy Bloodhorse.com)
Though Keeneland’s January horses of all ages sale was the first to be conducted under new policies allowing buyers the right to request testing for exogenous anabolic steroids in weanling and yearling purchases, there was only one such request made during the seven-day auction at which almost 1,500 horses were sold.
Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales, said the low number of requests does not indicate a disinterest in steroids testing, but is attributable to the fact that yearlings sold at this time of the year are still essentially foals. Foals of 2007 became yearlings Jan. 1, 2008, under the universal birthdate for Thoroughbreds.
“(Administration of steroids) is more prevalent in yearlings, and these ‘short’ yearlings are still foals for all intents and purposes,” Russell said.
Russell said the marathon Keeneland September yearling sale would be the litmus test for how much interest there is in testing for anabolic steroids in sale horses.
Steroids testing will not be done at the Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale because that auction is conducted under rules of racing for the state of Kentucky. Currently, those rules permit administration of anabolic steroids, Russell said.
Kentucky regulators recently began the process of studying regulation of steroids in racehorses.
Under policies adopted by Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, administration of anabolic steroids to weanlings and yearlings is banned within 45 days of the date of sale. A purchaser can check a box on the sales receipt requesting a blood test of a horse at a cost of $500.
If the horse tests positive for anabolic steroids, the buyer must notify Keeneland within 24 hours of obtaining the test results to rescind the purchase and request reimbursement of some expenses, including a refund of the $500 testing fee.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock would welcome the introduction of testing for steroids in yearlings, similarly to the extensive use of x rays by buyers. Australian yearling purchasers would welcome the facility to test for illegal and harmful drugs in yearlings and acknowledge the widespread use of steroids is harmful to the breeding industry in gereral.
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BRITISH TBA AWARDS 2: JUDDMONTE WINS DEVONSHIRE BRONZE
Story courtesy of Breeding and Racing
Highlight of the TBA Awards ceremony was Juddmonte Farms winning the Andrew Devonshire Bronze "in recognition of the far-reaching contribution the organisation has made to the thoroughbred breeding industry through the past 3 decades". Prince Khalid Abdullah (born in Saudi Arabia in 1937 & the driving force behind Juddmonte) purchased his 1st yearlings in 1977 & had his 1st winner in Britain with Charming Native at Windsor in May 1979. He was the 1st Arab owner to win an English Classic when Known Fact took the 1980 Gr1 2000 Guineas. In May 1982 Abdullah purchased Cayton Park Stud in Berkshire from Gerald Leigh & renamed it Juddmonte Farms. The Juddmonte empire now incorporates farms in Britain, Ireland & the US, with Banstead Manor in Newmarket home to leading stallions including Dansili who will stand for £75,000 (A$180,000) in 2008, Oasis Dream ( leading 2007 British-based 1st-season sire), Beat Hollow, Three Valleys, Cacique & Dansili's 2006 Gr1 Arc winner Rail Link. The British arm of the operation also includes Side Hill Stud in Newmarket, Juddmonte Dullingham & Estcourt Estate in Gloucestershire. Juddmonte also has Ferrans Stud & New Abbey Stud in Ireland, while Juddmonte Farm in Kentucky boasts home-bred 2003 Gr1 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker (a son of the great Juddmonte broodmare Toussaud, who also produced Gr1-winners Chester House, Chiselling & Honest Lady). (Jan 10)
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock have purchased three fillies from Juddmonte, the breeders of the dam of Makybe Diva. Twin Town the first has won three to date, the second Marche Avant was sixth at her only start for Peter Moody and resumes at Warrnambool, the third Two Steps Ahead is now in foal to Gods Own after sustaining an injury in training. Top
TRANQUILITY BASE RESUMES IN STYLE
Tara Madgwick - Saturday, January 05, 2008
Courtesy Breednet
Promising General Nediym filly Tranquility Base resumed from an extended spell of 43 weeks to score a stylish win at Sandown on Saturday in a restricted fillies event over 1200 metres.
Given a perfect ride by Sebastian Murphy from barrier one, Tranquility Base wasted no energy mid race and burst to the lead along the fence when a gap opened, scoring by more than a length.
Trained by Gary Portelli for John Valmorbida, Tranquility Base hasn’t been seen since chasing home quality filly Chinchilla Rose in the Group Three AJC Sweet Embrace Stakes after placing behind another smart subsequent stakes-winner in Gamble Me on debut back last February.
Sidelined with a bone chip after those early efforts, Tranquility Base is now in good order and Portelli hopes to take the filly through her grades and possibly aim up at some Black Type down the track.
A half-sister to three other winners being from the Rubiton mare Ruby Dream, Tranquility Base comes from a renowned family nurtured by Kingston Park Stud with Group One winners such as Rose of Kingston, Spirit of Kingston, Kingston Rule and Coup de Grace all featuring in her pedigree.
Tranquility Base is yet another winner for General Nediym who is flying this season with some 45 winners placing him second behind only Encosta de Lago in terms of leading sire by individual winners since August 1.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock have a General Nediym filly from a daughter of champion mare Research with Mick Price at Caulfield.
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FIRST WINNER FOR LUCKY OWNERS
Tara Madgwick - Sunday, January 06, 2008
Courtesy Breednet
Champion Hong Kong miler Lucky Owners was represented by his first winner when the David Payne trained two year-old filly Soho Secret overcame difficulties to score at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Backed into favouritism after being beaten in somewhat unlucky circumstances when making her debut at Rosehill on December 15, Soho Secret turned that form around to score a tenacious victory after again proving a touch tardy at the start.
She seemed to hesitate momentarily after jumping but soon made ground to be up running third on the home turn and finished full of running to hold on and win by a short neck, with another Lucky Owners first starter in Iron Lady motoring home for fourth.
“She’s very talented, but also very immature so we’ll put her out for a break now,” said Payne, who has dominated the juvenile events in Sydney since racing resumed at the start of December.
Soho Secret was bred and retained to race by the Lucky Owners Syndicate managed by Mr Leung, who raced Lucky Owners with great success in Hong Kong before his retirement to Widden Stud in 2004.
Soho Secret is a half-sister to Group Two winners Sportsman and Prisoner of Love as well as stakes-winner King of Prussia being from the outstanding producer Professionelle (NZ).
Professionelle was bought by Mr Leung at the 2004 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $525,000 with the specific intent of sending her to Lucky Owners.
In foal to Danehill Dancer (IRE) at that time, she subsequently produced a colt from the mating, which Widden Stud sold for Mr Leung at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $750,000.
Her next foal was Soho Secret, so it’s been a phenomenal result for Mr Leung who also has a yearling full sister to Soho Secret and a filly foal from the mare by Redoute’s Choice.
By legendary sire of sires Danehill (USA) from a three-quarter sister to champion racehorse Might and Power, Lucky Owners was rated the Champion Miler of Hong Kong, so his progeny can only be expected to get better with time.
Footnote: Pacific Bloodstock has a lovely two year old filly for syndication by Lucky Owners. To be trained by Mick Price, shares are at $3500 per 10% interest.
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RAINBOW QUEST DIES AT 26
Taken from the Racing Post
By Nancy Sexton
RAINBOW QUEST, the most successful British-based stallion in recent years, died on Saturday at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Newmarket as a result of complications following emergency surgery for colic.
The 26-year-old son of Blushing Groom, who had stood the past 21 years under the Juddmonte banner, had covered 47 mares this year at a fee of £25,000. The colic was caused by strangulation of his small intestine by a fatty tumor.
“He had just completed his 21st season at stud under the management of Juddmonte, and we have lost both a very good friend to us and a stallion of international renown,” said Phillip Mitchell, general manager of Juddmonte Farms.
“It was a great privilege to work with Rainbow Quest, especially as he has made such a significant mark on the stud book through his sons and daughters,” said Simon Mockridge of Banstead Manor. “He will be sorely missed, in particular by John Gilbert, who cared for him for most of his career.”
Since his first crop hit the racecourse in 1989, Rainbow Quest has remained at the forefront of the British stallion ranks, siring 18 Group/Grade 1 winners and 95 stakes winners, results which have earned him tenth place in the all-time leading pattern sires' list. He has also excelled as a broodmare sire, with his daughters producing the Derby winners North Light and Kris Kin, as well as the crack miler Rakti.
“Virtually throughout his long stud career, Rainbow Quest was simply the best sire in service in England,” said Tony Morris, the Racing Post's bloodstock expert on Monday. “The statistics are unequivocal about that.”
“Over the last few years he also became more important as a broodmare sire, and his influence in that regard will continue to grow. He has made a tremendous contribution to British racing and breeding.”
At $950,000, Rainbow Quest was the second highest-priced yearling sold at the 1982 Fasig-Tipton July sale when purchased by James Delahooke on behalf of Khalid Abdullah.
He was the second foal out of the Group 3-winning Herbager mare I Will Follow, and was closely related to Slightly Dangerous, the dam of stars such as Warning and Commander In Chief.
Sent to Jeremy Tree, he didn't make his debut until August of his juvenile year, when sent off the third favourite in a 30-runner 7f maiden at Newmarket.
He didn't disappoint, winning impressively, and it was a similar story when he won his next start, the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes over 1m at Newbury, despite shouldering a 5lb penalty.
Brought back a furlong to contest the Dewhurst Stakes, Rainbow Quest was the only runner able to challenge the subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner El Gran Senor, although the Ballydoyle-trained colt was not hard pressed to win by half a length.
Rainbow Quest started his three-year-old season by running Lear Fan to a short head in the Group 3 Craven Stakes, but a distant fourth in the 2,000 Guineas saw him stepped up in trip for the French Derby, in which he finished thirdbehind the subsequent top-class sires Darshaan and Sadler's Wells. He finished second to El Gran Senor in the Irish Derby, but he regained the winning thread when taking the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, earning him the accolade of champion three-year-old stayer.
At four he trounced the Italian Derby hero, Old Country, in the Group 1 Coronation Cup, proving that his free, extravagant action was no hindrance around the undulations of Epsom.
After boiling over when a well-beaten second behind Pebbles in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes, he ran a much better race when a close third to Petoski in a thrilling finish for the Group 1 King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
However, it was to be his next victory, in the 1985 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for which he would be best remembered.
Rainbow Quest crossed the line a neck behind the previous year's winner, Sagace. But a head-on film of the race revealed that Sagace had bumped Rainbow Quest more than once inthe run to the line, enough for the Abdullah colt to be awarded the race.
His regular rider, Pat Eddery, said: “I have great memories of Rainbow Quest, just fantastic. Sagace interfered with us three times and beat us only a neck in the Arc, and we got the race in the stewards' room. Rainbow Quest was an exceptionally good horse and without doubt one of the best I ever rode.”
Rainbow Quest was given an International Classifications rating of 133 in 1985, making him the joint-top older horse in training in Europe, as well as Blushing Groom's best performer, ahead of Nashwan and Arazi.
As the winner of six races and £482,812 in prize-money, Rainbow Quest was always destined to be popular with breeders, and he retired to Juddmonte Farms at Wargravein 1986, where he stood for two seasons at a fee of £25,000 before his transfer to Banstead Manor Stud.
Although his first juveniles only produced three domestic winners, they were a crop of immense promise. By the end of the 1990 racing season, his first three-year-olds included the Derby winner Quest For Fame, who provided Tree's former assistant, Roger Charlton, with a first British Classic win, Arc winner Saumarez, and Irish Oaks winner Knight's Baroness.
They were a firm barometer of what was to come, as his next 18 crops produced the Classic winners Spectrum, successful in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, and Millenary and Nedawi, both winners of the St Leger, as well as other Group 1 winners such as Croco Rouge, Fiji, Rainbow Dancer, Raintrap and Urgent Request.
Unlike some stallions, his fillies were just as talented as the colts.
Rainbow Quest is likely to be remembered as one of the best broodmare sires in recent times. Not only have his daughters produced two Derby winners, but they have also bred the 2,000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand, Arlington Million winner Powerscourt, as well as Group/Grade 1 winners Meteor Storm, Polish Summer, Marotta and Rebelline. As such, Rainbow Quest was crowned champion broodmare sire in 2003 and 2004.
Hopes were high that his sons would also leave their mark, but there have been more disappointments than successes in that department, although Nedawi has made an excellent start in Brazil.
Spectrum sired the 2,000 Guineas winner Golan, but a mixed bag of results saw him banished to South Africa, also the home of Saumarez, the damsire of Authorized. Croco Rouge was re-patriated as a jumps stallion in 2006 after a stint in Japan, while Quest For Fame now stands in Australia following some moderate results in the US. Armiger left little in Japan, while Urgent Request and Millenary stand under the jumps banner in France and Ireland.
Rainbow Quest stood the majority of his career at a fee ranging from £25,000 to £30,000, and was never advertised for more than the £50,000 that he commanded from 2000-2002.
Rainbow Quest's death marks the end of an era. Few top-class racehorses are able to churn out high-class performers in the consistent manner that was to become his trademark, and his influence is likely to be felt for some time to come. Quite simply, he was the whole package.
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WHAT NEXT FOR FLYING SPUR?
Monday, 2 July 2007: (courtesy Racing and Sports)
It seems as if there is nothing Flying Spur can’t achieve this season.
 The 1996 Golden Slipper winner has chalked up the titles of Leading Australian Sire and Leading 2YO Australian Sire and is sire of the greatest number of individual stakes winners (16), sire of the greatest number of Graded stakes winners (10) and equal as sire of the greatest number of Group 1 winners (4) with Redoute’s Choice.
On June 30 Flying Spur also passed the magical $10 million in seasonal earnings, a feat achieved only five times by other sires - namely Redoute’s Choice, Danehill and Zabeel.
It was fitting that Flying Spur topped the $10 million mark with yet another stakes winner -his 57th overall - when Maslin’s Beach (Flying Spur – New Acquaintance by King’s Island secured victory in the $100,000 Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas at Caloundra.
Now a 3-time winner, the Anthony Cumming’s trained Maslin’s Beach ran fourth at her previous start in the G2 Queensland Guineas on June 11 following a second in the Listed Brisbane Plate on June 2.
Maslin’s Beach is a half sister to G1 VATC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Knowledge (Last Tycoon) and the Hong Kong stakes performer Multidandy.
Last season Flying Spur hinted at what was to come when he secured the title of the nation’s leading sire of individual winners (131).
This season Flying Spur has sired 16 stakes winners for 23 stakes wins.
The sire of 10 Group 1 winners to date, his four Group 1winners this season are Forensics (Golden Slipper), Sleek Chassis (Blue Diamond), Mentality (Randwick Guineas) and Magnus (The Galaxy).
Flying Spur will stand the 2007 season at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $99,000.
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COMMANDS RULES AT CANTERBURY
Tara Madgwick - Thursday, June 28, 2007 (courtesy Breednet)
Woodlands Stud based Commands ruled at Canterbury with a winning treble on Wednesday featuring Comesca, Sacred Orders and Under Command.
Bargain purchase Comesca got the ball rolling when she took out the first event for South Coast trainer Chicka Pearson, winning her third race from 12 starts after leading throughout in the 1250 metre restricted contest for three year-old fillies.
A $16,000 purchase from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2005 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for Meringo Stud, she has already returned $46,200 in prizemoney.
Comesca is the fifth foal of the Zoffany (USA) mare Della Francesca, who hails from an international family featuring European champion filly Park Express.
Commands struck again with three year-old gelding Sacred Orders who was sent out hot favourite in his restricted event over 1250 metres and scored by a long neck.
Retained to race by his breeder and trained by John Hawkes, Sacred Orders has won twice and run three seconds from just seven starts.
He is a full brother to metropolitan winner Sacred Hit being from the Sanction mare Blessed Vengeance who died in 2005.
Last but by no means least was the Prime Thoroughbreds runner Under Command, who showed his class with a stylish win in the last race.
The Kris Lees trained five year-old showed the benefit of his first up fourth at Canterbury on June 6, powering away to win his 1250 metre event by a length in an encouraging performance.
A $35,000 purchase from the draft of Willow Park Stud at the 2003 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Under Command has proven a fine horse for connections in winning $271,300 in prizemoney.
Group One placed as a three year-old when third in the MRC Caulfield Guineas behind Econsul, Under Command has had his share of soundness issues but if he can hold form is certainly capably of winning far better races.
He is the second foal of the Kenvain mare Shudder, who was covered last season by Flying Spur.
Commands is currently running seventh on the general sires list by earnings with half a dozen stakes-winners this season led by Group One winner Undue and seasonal earnings of $4.6 million.
He will stand the coming season at Woodlands Stud at a fee of $66,000.
Hoofnote: Why not race your own Commands , we have shares available in a gorgeous filly by the sire and to be trained by Peter Moody who is currently third on the Melbourne trainers premiership. Call Pacific Bloodstock today 1300 655 007 or email for the PDS.
AUSSIES TRIFECTA JUVENILE SPRING TROPHY
Tara Madgwick - Monday, June 25, 2007 (courtesy Breednet)
The Juvenile Sprint Trophy over 1200 metres at Sha Tin on Sunday featured a smart field of two and three year-olds with the Flying Spur youngster Lucky Hero, prevailing in a tight finish from Super Genki (Dehere (USA) and Grand Store (El Moxie (USA).
Rated perfectly in front from barrier one, Lucky Hero had enough left at the finish to hold off a late challenge from Super Genki to claim his second win from four starts having placed at his two other appearances.
Prepared by John Moore, Lucky Hero was a $70,000 purchase from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Lucky Hero is the first foal of the Fuji Kiseki (Jpn) mare Nishikawa, a half-sister to Group Three winner Enforced, who was subsequently sold to Hong Kong and raced there under the name of Championship.
Nishikawa produced a colt by Mossman last season and was subsequently covered by Testa Rossa.
Lucky Hero is one of 10 winners for Arrowfield Stud’s Flying Spur in Hong Kong this season.
Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur has enjoyed the best results of his entire career in the 2006/2007 racing season and will be crowned Champion Australian Sire by earnings with some $10 million won by his progeny highlighted by 15 stakes-winners that include the Group One winners Forensics, Sleek Chassis, Mentality and Royal Ascot place-getter Magnus.
Flying Spur's fee has been raised to $99,000, a sum more in line with his achievements as the best performed sire in Australia this season.
Hoofnote: Pacific Bloodstock has a yearling Flying Spur filly who has been broken and shows nice promise, while the sire of the second placed, Dehere is the sire of Pacific Bloodstock's sole two year old, Seamless who is getting close to the trials.
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