Victoria Derby Winner Helenus Deceased

Former Gr1 Victoria Derby-winning stallion Helenus (Helissio-Worldwide Elsie, by Java Gold) has died at Wattle Grove Stud, reports racingnetwork.com.au. The triple Gr1-winning stallion & former champion Australian 3YO colt had stood the past couple of seasons at Wattle Grove Stud in the NSW Southern Highlands. Leon Corstens, who trained Helenus, commented: "We're still not sure what happened but he developed some issues and he died on the operating table – it's very sad because he was now starting to make a name for himself as a really good sire of stayers." Helenus is currently the sire of 5 stakes-winners, including Gr1 winners Cedarberg & Ethiopia.

Foreplay To Stand At Wattle Grove In NSW

An agreement has been reached between Woodside Park in Victoria and Wattle Grove Stud in NSW to relocate the Danehill stallion, Foreplay, to NSW. In announcing the switch, Wattle Grove principal Ian Macpherson explained that he approached Woodside Park in order to secure a proven, and well recognized stallion, to stand at his property at Berrima in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Foreplay is well regarded in NSW as a result of his initial foal crops when he was based at Yarraman Park. He produced Gr1 Golden Slipper runner-up Decision Time from his first crop and has a current winners to runners ratio of 60%. Foreplay's well publicized fertility issues are a problem of the past with him covering 82 mares and achieving a fertility rate of 86% at Woodside Park last year, and Woodside Park will continue to support Foreplay by walking mares out to Wattle Grove from their Tylden farm. Foreplay will stand at Wattle Grove for a fee of $8,800, and Wattle Grove will be offering a transport rebate so that Victorian breeders may continue to support Foreplay. Bookings can be made by contacting Wattle Grove, or calling Macpherson on 0404 839 453.

$8.8k Shellscrape Heads 2012 Wattle Grove Fees

Wattle Grove Stud announced its service fees for 3 stallions standing the upcoming 2012 Australian breeding season:

• $8,800 Shellscrape (Dane Shadow-Kisma, by Snippets) same
• $6,600 Master Harry (Magic Albert-Sri Lanka, by Sri Pekan) new
• POA Helenus (Helissio-Worldwide Elsie, by Java Gold) last year $6,600

Wattle Grove Adds Master Harry To 2012 Sire Roster

Wattle Grove Stud on the outskirts of Bowral in the NSW southern highlands has added triple stakes-winning 4YO stallion Master Harry (Magic Albert-Sri Lanka, by Sri Pekan) to join Shellscrape & Helenus on its 2012 stallion roster. Master Harry will stand at $6,600 & Ian McPherson (who runs Wattle Grove with Varda Green) told The Sydney Morning Herald: "Master Harry was a most precocious sprinter & gains a lot of his speed from his dam Sri Lanka, who was one of the major families owned by the late John Cobcroft. The family includes the likes of speedsters Salaam, Hot As Hell & Flaming Hot." Master Harry (a $100,00 yearling consigned by Kanangra at the 2009 Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney) recorded 3 wins (in 2011's Gr2 Royal Sovereign Stakes over 1200m at Randwick & Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap over 1000m at Flemington, plus 2010's Listed Streets Ice Cream Stakes over 1000m at Flemington) & a placing from 11 starts for $277,500 earnings.

Ulundi Wins Lord Stakes

Wattle Grove Stud’s triple Gr1-winning stallion & former champion Australian 3YO colt Helenus (Helissio-Worldwide Elsie, by Java Gold) added a black-type success when 4YO gelding Ulundi (Helenus-Willow, by Woodman) scored a 1.25-lengths victory in December’s $100,000 Listed Lord Stakes (1600m) at Mornington in Victoria. Ulundi (ridden by Damian Lane for trainer Pat Carey) defeated 7YO gelding La Rocket (Rock Of Gibraltar-La Bella Dama, by Desert Sun) & 7YO mare Our Spirits Bay (Stravinsky-Amidala, by Zeditave). Ulundi (a $70,000 yearling consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the 2009 Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne) took his record to 4 wins & 6 placings (including 2011’s Gr3 Eclipse Stakes over 1800m at Sandown) from 22 starts for $179,628 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)

Mega Steel Wins Farnley Stakes

Wattle Grove Stud’s triple Gr1-winning stallion & former champion Australian 3YO colt Helenus (Helissio-Worldwide Elsie, by Java Gold) added a black-type success when 6YO gelding Mega Steel (Helenus-Cabernet Queen, by Marauding) prevailed in a 3-way photo-finish to the $80,000 Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) at Belmont Park in Perth. Mega Steel (ridden by Jason Brown for trainer Bruce McClune) scored by a neck from fellow 6YO gelding Big Ted (Marooned-La Bolero, by Salieri) with a further head to favoured 5YO gelding Bridgestone (Pentire-Golden Dawn, by Gold Brose). Mega Steel (a $30,000 weanling purchase by agent John Chalmers at the 2006 Magic Millions Key Farm Dispersal Sale) took his record to 7 wins (also including 2009’s Listed Belmont Classic over 2200m at Belmont Park) & 12 placings (including both 2010’s Listed Towton Cup over 2200m at Ascot & Listed York Stakes over 1600m at Belmont Park, plus 2009’s Listed Belmont Guineas over 1600m at Belmont Park) from 33 starts for $362,840 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)