Daily News | 19th June 2018

• Woodside Park's Written Tycoon Dominates Inglis GSS Day-2

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Demand for Champion Victorian Sire Written Tycoon was strong as the Woodside Park resident was responsible for the top three Lots on day two of the 2018 Inglis Great Southern Sale. Glenelg Park consigned two of those three, including the day's top lot, a colt out of High Above (Lot 244), purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $180,000. The stud also consigned Lot 341, a filly out of Miss Chard that sold for $155,000 to a team including Randwick Bloodstock, Suman Hedge Bloodstock and Milburn Creek. Paul Willetts paid $170,000 for the very last lot of the day, a colt out of Simply The Best, sold as Lot 460 by Woodside Park Stud. Glenelg Park's principal Danny Swain was very happy with their results. "Written Tycoon is the best stallion in Victoria and to be Victorian breeders, selling at a Victorian sale and having results like this is very rewarding," Swain said. "The two horses were in high demand in their inspections and that certainly carried through to the sale ring. We were confident they'd sell well and it was great to see such strong competition."

  

  In demand stallion Written Tycoon (pic: Woodside Park)

• Woodside Park Leading Overall Inglis GSS Vendor

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Yesterday's success for Woodside Park at the Inglis Great Souther Sale continued beyond the results of Written Tycoon (see above), as the stud is currently the sale's leading vendor by aggregate.  General Manager Commercial James Price reflected on what has so far been a pleasing sale for the stud. "Today provided another reminder of how well sought after Written Tycoon is," Price said. "It's been fantastic to see our unreserved reduction of weanlings being well received by the market. We decided to target this sale with several good quality weanlings that offered genuine commercial upside and they've sold very well." Day two of the 2018 Inglis Great Southern Sale saw a further 168 weanlings sell at a clearance rate of 79%. The overall sale average now stands at $24,969.

• Inglis Vic Chief Vivian Delighted With Inglis GSS Results

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Inglis' Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian was pleased with the results of yesterday's auction. "It's great to see the improvement with the market meeting the expectations of vendors," Vivian said. "The sale on the whole is now clearing 78%, and with further private sales currently under negotiation, we anticipate it increasing to over 80%. Vivian enthused, "It was particularly pleasing to see six horses sell for more than $100,000 today, certainly reflecting the demand for well bred and well conformed horses. There's still plenty on offer at the sale, with more than 150 weanlings to sell, as well as 300 broodmares and 150 racehorses." Day three of the 2018 Inglis Great Southern Sale begins today at 10am, where weanlings and broodmares will be offered.

• Ellicazoom Late Entry For MM Perth Winter Sale

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Stakes-winning mare Ellicazoom is a late supplementary entry for the Magic Millions Perth Winter Thoroughbred Sale and will go under the hammer this Sunday. A stakes-winner and group-performer on both sides of the country, Ellicazoom will be the star attraction of a quality packed catalogue when she is offered as a racing and breeding prospect. Trained during her career by Neville Parnham, Ellicazoom won a listed Burgess Queen Stakes in Perth and was placed in no fewer than five other stakes events. Among those placings were three runner-up finishes in Group Two events - the WA Guineas at Ascot (see below), the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield and the Kewney Stakes at Flemington. In her two Melbourne Group Two second placings she was beaten in photo finishes. From just 17 starts the beautifully related Testa Rossa four-year-old earned over $335,000. Ellicazoom, a half sister to the New Zealand stakes performer El Doute, is a daughter of the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes winner and $770,000 earner Ellicorsam. Also joining Ellicazoom in the sale is the lightly raced and two time winning Snitzel mare Snitz 'n' Giggles. She is from the stakes-winner For Your Eyes Only, making her a half-sister to this season's quality juvenile Secret Lady. Sunday's Perth Winter Yearling, Thoroughbred and Racehorse Sales has brought together a great line up of prospects with selling to commence at Belmont from 11am (WA time). The day's sale has attracted the entry of 44 yearlings, 53 broodmares, 63 weanlings and 36 racehorses.

• Triple Treat At Royal Ascot Today

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  This afternoon's meeting at Royal Ascot in England hosts a triple treat for racing fans around the world, with a Gr1 treble carded. In the first of the day, Godolphin's recent Gr1 Dubai Turf winner Benbatl and last-start French Gr1 winner Recelotos do battle with Ballydoyle's Gr1 Lockinge Stakes heroine Rhododendron. Second-up is Race 3, the Gr1 King's Stand Stakes, where US-bred mare Lady Aurelia and Shadwell's Battash are expected to be the testing material over the 5 furlong dash. One race later, dual Gr1-winning juvenile US Navy Flag gets the chance to turn the tables on Gr1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas conqueor Romanised when the pair clashes in the Gr1 St James's Palace Stakes (8 furlongs).  Gr1 English 2000 Guineas runnerup Tip Two Win is second favourite behind Frankel's undefeated son Without Parole, last start winner of the Listed Heron Stakes and one of the most exciting 3YO prospects in training. Without Parole's US owner-breeder John Gunther also bred this year's US Triple Crown hero Justify.

• Kiwi Star McDonald In Royal Ascot Spotlight

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Champion Sydney hoop and ex champion NZ apprentice and senior jockey James McDonald is set to make his mark on the famed Royal Ascot meeting having secured rides across all five days of the illustrious card, reports NZ Racing Desk. Prime amongst his book (as reported in yesterday's news) looms as the Charlie Hills trained Equilateral (Equiano-Tarentaise, by Oasis Dream) in the Gr1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) on Friday (Sat Aus/NZ time). McDonald will also partner stablemate Pogo in the Gr2 Coventry Stakes (1200m) as well as the Sir Michael Stoute trained trio Mirage Dancer on the opening day in the Listed Wolverton Stakes (2000m), Expert Eye in the Gr3 Jersey Stakes (1400m) on day 2 and Elector in the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) on day 4. Trainer Hugo Palmer has also invested in McDonald's skills, set to leg him aboard Silver Quartz in the Gr3 Hampton Stakes (2000m) and Curiosity in the Britannia Stakes (1600m), both on day 3. McDonald will then reunite with Hills aboard Hawayel in the Gr3 Albany Stakes (1200m) on the fourth day of the meeting. Having notched up 11 winners since returning from an 18th month ban for a betting violation, McDonald is refreshed and focused, "I'm really enjoying it and I couldn't have asked for a better start really. Nearly every meeting I've ridden a winner. It would be nice if I could carry that form on to Royal Ascot." McDonald has already had success in the UK having ridden 25 winners, including Gr2 wins aboard Dutch Connection and Big Orange two years ago at Goodwood. He added, "I've won at Ascot before but not as part of Royal Ascot week and that's something I'm very keen to do. It would be nice to put that right this week."

• Australia's Poy Prominent At Chantilly

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Meanwhile, also on the international stage, and amidst the high fashion and hoopla of the recent French Oaks meeting at Chantilly, promising South Australian based apprentice Michael Poy made his own footprint on the international stage with a close second (see below) aboard the Flevez Ecurie-trained First Company  in the Future Racing Stars Handicap (1600m), reports racing.com. The second year apprentice and son of champion ex jockey Michael Clarke was invited to represent Australia in the event with Racing Victoria's Careers Development Manager Melissa Weatherly ecstatic with Poy's performance, saying, "We are absolutely thrilled with how Michael has embraced this opportunity and how he rode today on a big international Group 1 race day in front of more than 40,000 people. Considering he's not yet even ridden at a Sandown midweek meeting in Victoria, Michael was not overwhelmed by the occasion and conducted himself in a very professional manner." She added, "To ride out for Nicolas Clement in the Chantilly training grounds and sit in the jockey rooms today with the likes of Frankie Dettori, Jamie Spencer and Christophe Soumillon has been a life changing experience for him."

• Strong Weekend For Darley's Dawn Approach

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  One of the most striking shuttle stallions on view at Darley's open day last year was Dawn Approach (New Approach-Hymn of the Dawn, by Phone Trick). The powerfully built chestnut entire, boasting Gr1 wins as both a 2YO and 3YO on the track, has had a terrific run over the past weekend. In addition to son Haddaf's Listed Scurry Stakes win at Sandown in the UK (see full report yesterday), at Moonee Valley on Saturday his 2YO daughters Tahitian Dancer and Sunrise Dancer finished 1st & 3rd respectively in a 1200m juvenile sprint. To top it off, his Northern Hemisphere-bred 3YO daughter Musis Amica went within a neck of landing the prestigious Gr1 Prix de Diane (2100m) for Godolphin at Chantilly. The runner-up has developed a penchant for switching off earlier in her races and then rattling home, and the Oaks distance looks an appealing prospect moving forward. Also the sire of Gr2-placed local winner Gongs among his 8 stakes-performers so far, Dawn Approach will stand the 2018 season at Darley's Kelvinside property for an appealing $19,250.

• Australian Sires Premiership Update

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  After forty six weeks of the 2017-18 racing season, Arrowfield Stud's incumbent Champion Australian Sire Snitzel maintains his record-breaking lead at the top of the national sires leader board with record progeny earnings in excess of $28 million. Occupying second position with almost $15 million is Yarraman Park's high-profile sire I Am Invincible, while Coolmore's former Champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock rounds out the top three. According to arion.co.nz, the Top 10 ranked stallions in Australia (as of 18 June) are:
  1. Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) - $28,113,109
  2. I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) - $14,934,276
  3. Fastnet Rock (Danehill) - $14,683,160
  4. High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) - $14,816,584
  5. Street Cry (Machiavellian) - $12,035,215
  6. Not a Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) - $10,483,056
  7. Sebring (More Than Ready) - $9,952,918
  8. Written Tycoon (Iglesia) - $9,018,807
  9. Pierro (Lonhro) - $8,149,652
  10. Lonhro (Octagonal) - $8,030,524

• NZB Graduates Take Five At Singapore

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  The latest meeting at Singapore's Kranji racetrack produced a windfall for New Zealand Bloodstock Sales with five graduates saluting across the card, reports nzb.co.nz. Desert Fox (Not A Single Doubt), a NZ$120,000 2012 Premier Sale purchase kicked off proceedings in the opening race, taking his tally to to 6 wins for NZ$407,795 in earnings. Donna Logan, expat NZ trainer, took out race 2 with Burkaan (Burgundy), a NZ$30,000 2017 South Island Sale purchase to take his tally to 1 win from only 3 starts and NZ$56,000 already. Alamak (Alamosa), a NZ$36,000 2016 Select Sale yearling and NZ$55,000 Ready To Run Sale purchase, was ultra impressive in also winning his maiden to also be 1 from 3 with his sale price and change already banked. Interestingly, the other two winners in the quintet were half-brothers Refresh (Rock 'N' Pop) and Soonbaby (Redwood). Both are from Stravinsky mare Wahaha, now the dam of 8 winners from 8 runners and also a half-sister to Gr1 winner Wall Street (Montjeu). Refresh was passed in as a weanling in 2015 but sold as a 2016 Ready To Run option for NZ$31,000. Galloping clear by 2 lengths on Sunday in a 1400m contest, he took his record to 2 wins from 10 starts and 2 placings for NZ$88,500. Meanwhile, close relation Soonbaby, a NZ$20,000 2015 Ready To Run graduate, lasted by a half-length in a S$60,000 affair to go to 2 wins and 2 placings for NZ$91,654. 6 additional Karaka graduates also placed at Sunday's meeting.

• Tuesday Odd Spot: Kiwi Hoop Global Youtube Hit

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  In a scene more akin to the Cirque de Soleil big-top than Awapuni racetrack, ex NZ softballer turned jumps jockey Aaron Kuru became a global Youtube hit on the weekend after a Rocky style victory aboard steeplechaser Des De Jeu (ironically French for "the game"). NZ Racing Desk reports that despite falling at the first fence  on the 3200m journey, Kuru instinctively remounted before joining the main field and eventually being part of a miraculous victory. Opting for radio silence and a hunting trip to Taranaki rather than the media post race, Kuru, last year's NZ Champion jump's jockey, switched on his mobile on Sunday to field some questions. He noted bashfully, "It's just one of those things that just happened. It was his first go over the bigger fences and I think he was probably a bit fresh and he's just jumped the fence a bit big and we've landed a bit steep. Looking at the replay, my mount went down and as he stopped sliding he was coming back up onto his feet and I did exactly the same and got back on." He added, "The horse felt one hundred percent. I would have been the first jockey to pull him up if he didn't feel sound. I'm only a small factor in the win, the horse was out there running and jumping and it's all credit to him. He was amazing."

• Missrock Seeking Group One Coronation

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Robbie Laing's ultra talented daughter of Fastnet Rock is set to make her Queensland debut on Saturday in the quest of securing her debut Gr1 victory and in turn add substantially to her broodmare CV, reports racing.com. Defying all but the in-form Santa Ana Lane in the Gr1 Goodwood in April, Missrock is one of 37 fillies entered for the $500,000 Tattersall's Tiara at Doomben, the final Gr1 one the season. Having already banked $1.3 million in stakes and placed three times at the highest level, victory in the Tiara would be more than deserved for the mare as she enters the mid point of her racing career and still with so much upside. Laing commented, "She deserves a group 1 and I thought if we put all our eggs into the spring basket - which is going to be tough - we should eliminate all the males and run against the girls only in this race." He added, "She's been placed three times in group 1s. Her CV is so good and her page is only getting bigger and bigger but I'd love to get her that group 1 she so thoroughly deserves." Riding duties are still to be decided but at this point it appears to be a choice between local hoop Matthew Cahill or her Goodwood partner Ben Thompson.

• Hot Fillies Set For Canterbury Wednesday Clash

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  The opening race at Canterbury tomorrow will pit some pricey and well bred yearlings purchased at some of the showcase auctions across Australia last year. Top of mind will be Jen Rules (Redoute's Choice - Fate Rules, by Encosta de Lago), a $500,000 Australian Easter graduate on debut from the draft of Highgrove Stud. The filly, from a half-sister to Gr2 Caulfield Sprint Handicap winner and sire Jet Spur, is sure to be another well tuned commodity from the Snowden Stable. Task and Purpose (Zoustar-Combat Kitty, by General Nediym), a $550,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling graduate will be second-up after running a nice third on debut a fortnight ago for trainer Chris Waller. Also representing the Waller stable will be the well-named Seles (I Am Invincible-Defy The Odds, by Galileo), a $170,000 Melbourne Premier yearling and half-sister to Gr1 Australian Derby winner Leicester on debut. Other notable entries include Churning (Lonhro-Emmalene, by Jet Spur), a $280,000 Magic Millions yearling from a Listed winner and the family of Gr2 winner Captiva; Mizzy (Jouster-Missy Cummings, by Magnus), a $200,000 Inglis Easter yearling from a Listed winning mare; Positive Peace (Stratum-Warpath, by Reset), a $260,000 Inglis Easter yearling from a Listed winning half-sister to Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Limestone. Of all the entries, 2017 Inglis Classic graduate ($60,000) Martha Heights maybe has the best family. By Epaulettes from Octagonal mare Demanding, she'll debut for the astute Gerald Ryan yard. And she's a three-quarter-sister to Gr2 winner Washington Heights and half-sister to stakes winners Supply and Demand, Spacecraft and brilliant WA galloper Phenomenons.

• French Winner for Redoute's Choice

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Eight days after unbeaten juvenile The Autumn Sun became his 33rd lifetime Group 1 winner, Arrowfield's Redoute’s Choice added a new stakes winner from the first of his two European-conceived crops when Wajnah landed the Listed Prix Urban Sea (2000m) at Le Lion-d’Angers in Western France on Sunday. Trained by her co-breeder Francois Rohaut, Wajnah had shown enough ability earlier in her career to be sent around in the Group 1 French 1,000 Guineas, where she finished a decent fourth before unplaced finishes over longer distances in Group 3 company. Wajnah was bred by Rohaut and Haras de Saint Pair which offered her at the 2015 Arqana October Sale where she was sold for €260,000 to Mandore International acting for owners Al Shaqab Racing. She is the third stakes winner out of three-time winner Benzolina (by Second Empire), from the family of Group 1 winners Balbonella and her brilliant son Anabaa. Benzolina has a 2YO filly by Siyouni and a yearling filly by Olympic Glory. Haras de Saint Pair also played a part in the history of Redoute’s Choice’s 3YO daughter Lady Athena, who put up a fine effort for sixth in Sunday’s €1 million Group 1 Chantilly Prix de Diane (French Oaks). Worldwide during the 2017/18 Southern Hemisphere season, Redoute’s Choice has been represented by 14 stakes winners of 15 Group & Listed Races. His career tally now stands at 159 stakes winners, or just over 12 per cent of all his runners.

• Belle Josephine Fetches £720K at Goffs London Sale

  Tuesday, 19th June 2018
  Dubawi mare Belle Josephine and her colt foal by Pivotal emerged as the top sellers at last night's Goffs London Sale at Kensington Palace Gardens when fetching £720,000. The 10YO mare, who has already bred this year’s Group 2 Dante Stakes runner-up Mildenberger, and is in foal to Siyouni, was one of six lots purchased by agents Alastair Donald and Ed Sackville on behalf of Thai billionaire businessman and Leicester City Football Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Srivaddhanaprabha's other purchases all hold entries at Royal Ascot this week, including the Karl Burke-trained Shine So Bright (£375,000) who will carry the owner’s blue-and-white King Power Racing colours in the Coventry Stakes tonight. A total of 13 lots sold on the evening, with total turnover reaching almost £4 million. Goffs CEO Henry Beeby commented: "Although the sale didn’t match last year, such are the vagaries of Horses In Training sales and we’re perfectly happy with the trade for the horses that sold." Beeby added: "This is a unique sale in many ways in that many vendors are happy to keep their horses and go to the Royal Meeting, so if they get a good price they’re delighted but they’re also content to keep the horse and see it race at Ascot."

  

  Belle Josephine and foal (image: Goffs)