Monday, October 8, 2018

New Arrivals

Black Caviars new foal to I Am Invincible born 8/10/2018
  • Yarraman Park -- I Am Invincible filly out of Lusitania the last mare of Alinghi's mum, Oceanfast born on October fourth.  

Reward for Effort colt born recently at Chatswood Stud

 
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Sunday, July 15, 2018

Coolmore Australia

         Following the win of Merchant Navy in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot and with the news of him being shipped back to Coolmore Australia for the breeding season ahead. Its dreams of what could of been for this talented galloper and a bit of sadness seeing him depart the racetracks just as he hits his peak. It happens too so many but I suppose when you layout nearly 30 million dollars you dont want to be taking risks, wanting a return, quickly on your investment so its off to the breeding barn. 
The girls arrive for Merchant Navy and Caravaggio

  • Fastnet Rock and Coolmore -- I thought it time to cover the Coolmore operation in the Southern Hemisphere. The Fastnet Rock entire will join a group of A listers in the stallion department at the stud. American Pharoah has just returned for his second service season down under at the complex. The top echelon of stallions like Pierro and So You Think plus the old kings of Coolmore, Fastnet Rock and Choisir all have been having good seasons at home and overseas. No Nay Never by Scat Daddy is another interesting addition to the team.    
  • History -- The stud farm occupied by Coolmore today has a long history with Australian racing dating back over one hundred years. The 1920 Melbourne Cup winner Poitrel was bred on the Jerry Plains property but it was in 1975 when John Magnier joined forces with Robert Sangster and Vincent O’Brien to build the large operation it is today. 
So You Think with the owners of his daughter Sopressa this week at Coolmore
  •   Fastnet Rock -- continues to produce plenty of winners around the globe lately and while the win of Merchant Navy in the Diamond Jubilee was hard to beat, for performances. On Saturday at Rosehill we saw the gelding Dreamforce x Eskimo Queen, by Shinko King who has been so consistent and knocking on the door of a stakes success score a tenacious victory in the Listed ATC Winter Stakes.
  • No Nay Never -- A promising stallion with his first crop of two year olds having plenty of success across the globe. Aiden O'brien trained Land Force a dual winner in the UK. Mae Never No who won at Belmont Park. Cosmic Law a dual winner at Epsom. Vanilla Gold the winner of the Prix de L'Avenir in France.
  •  So You Think -- A champion racehorse who leaves his mark on his sons and daughters. They always have that beautiful classic look of their father. This season has seen so many good performance from his progeny with Sopressa winning the group one Australian Oaks. While his son D'Argento won the Rosehill Guineas. So You Too is a dual group 2 winner this season. While other promising performers were Heavenly Thought, Smart as You Think, Kaching and So and So.  
  • Pierro -- I would have to rate this stallion above all, bar Fastnet Rock at Coolmore Australia on performances. He has left some courageous sons and daughter this season. They have a real warrior in them with his daughter Pinot doing the job early in the season with a runaway win in the Group one VRC Oaks but i think it was the courageousness in his son Levendi who made me a fan of the breed. He has an enormous will to win and his win in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes and Group one Australian Derby were just such memorable efforts. 
Levendi winning the Australian Derby

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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Blue Gum Farm And Encosta De Lago

         Former golf professional Graham Campbell purchased his first horse in the late 1950's called Serene Image and after having moderate success with the mare, racing became a passion especially the breeding side. Then after retiring from the golfing profession in the late 1970's. It was 1980 when he purchased some land in Euroa for the family and named the property, Blue Gum Farm. Graham and his son Phillip sent six yearlings to the 1981 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales which would put the farm on the map. One of these was a Planet Kingdom colt out of Fairway Fun who was the first yearling to sell for over $100,000 in Victoria. They used innovative ideas to sell them like videos of the yearlings, brochures, stall cards and brass name plates for the head collars.
       It was 1985 when US breeder William duPont III of Lexington, Kentucky would send the  French bred Noalcoholic to Blue Gum Farm . He would become Australia’s Champion First Season Sire of the 1987/88 season. Then followed a string of successful sires Rancho Ruler, Umatilla, Kenvain, Rubiton. In the next decade the farm continued to produce a list of good winners until the arrival of the son of the King. 

Encosta De Lago
Vic Health Cup
 
        In 1997 they would make a decision which would forever put the farm, high on a pedestal . They shuttled the brother of  the legendary Sadlers Wells by the name of Fairy King to Australia for a meeting with Shoal Creek, a Star Way mare. The brothers were by Northern Dancer out of a mare by the name of Fairy Bridge.  That mating would produce the great Encosta De Lago. On the track he was talented but in the breeding barn as a stallion he was sensational. Standing at an initial service fee of  just $8,500, Encosta de Lago would established himself in the very top echelon of sires in the country. Producing the sensational Alinghi as well as Hong Kong's champion Sacred Kingdom and the grey flash, Chautauqua. 

Sacred Kingdom Tribute  
 

       He remained a resident at Blue Gum Farm until the 2004 breeding season. When following the death of the great Danehill at Coolmore's Hunter Valley Farm it was decided to transfer him from Blue Gum. He was retired from stud duties in 2015 at the age of 21 leaving his dynasty in the hands of his sire sons, Manhattan Rain,Northern Meteor and newcomer Racing To Win.
                                                   Manhattan Rain Blue Gum Farm

            Blue Gum also produced the great Elvstroem winner of the 2003 VRC Derby, 2004 Caulfield Cup and overseas recorded a victory in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes. At the moment Blue Gum Farm stands Turffontein standing at $8,800 who is  by the unbeaten, World Champion Two Year Old Johannesbug. Fast making a name for himself as a sire of sires. His son Scat Daddy was Champion Freshman Sire in the US and sire of 68 stakes winners including the 2018 Kentucky Derby winner Justify .

 
       Its good to note that Fairy Bridge's final foal was a colt by Danzig called Perugino who was a successful stallion in Australia and her mum Special produced the great broodmare producing stallion Nureyev.While Her son Saddlers Wells dominates the European racing circuit she has plenty of influence in the southern hemisphere as well.
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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Cornerstone Stud

      Cornerstone Stud formerly known as Lindsay Park Stud, owned and run by the legendary Colin Hayes. His passion for thoroughbred breeding left a large legacy in the state of South Australia. He established Lindsay Park Stud which became one of Australia’s most dominant sources of successful sires. The likes of Without Fear, Arch Sculptor, Godswalk, At Talaq, Bluebird, Military Plume, Scenic and Jeune all stood at the Angston property and helped shape its history . Colin was also one of the first, along with his close friend and associate Robert Sangster to shuttle stallions to Australia. The stud is now run by his grandson Sam Hayes.
They stand two of my favourite stallions right now. Good Journey and the new kid on the block Ambidexter.
Good Journey

 The Nureyev stallion could well be a light to follow in seasons to come with his broodmares . His progeny are very tough and honest. They take a few preparations to hit their full potential but once they hit form, are so consistent.


Ambidexter 

Ambidexter by Commands and is a son of Group Two winning mare Dextrous who was awarded the title of Hunter Valley Broodmare of the Year in 2013. He  retired to stud as a Group Two winner and genuinely consistent Group One performer.

Here is Ambidexter watching everyone having lunch recently.

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Wednesday, September 27, 2017


 Thoughts on the days racing from 27/09/2017 and the key indicators for stallions standing at stud.
 For $16500
 He is  by Exceed and Excel out of a Singspiel mare ! 
 On Wednesday the 27th of September 2017 his gelded son My Three Sons trained by Phillip Stokes and ridden by Dominic Tourneur won a 1600m maiden at Balaclava. He is from the Marscay mare Classic Status. While at headquarters, Flemington his 4yo daughter Spanner Head won the 1400m Martini Henry Hcp. Ridden by Jordan Childs and trained by Archie Alexander. 


Pierro is by champion galloper Lonrho and at Flemington today he had two winners.The first was ridden by Dwayne Dunn and trained by Mick Price . A three year old colt, Octabello, is out of the Secret Savings mare Charlotte de Belle. The second winner was Pinot who is from the Oaks winner by Zabeel , Damzelle. The Waterhouse/Bott trained and was ridden a treat by Stephen Baster. She sat on the leaders tail until straightening then kicked clear to win the 1800m derby trial, easily. 
 

The 4yo mare, Invincibella won the Mcgrath Estate Agents Hcp at Rosehill over 1300m. Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Hugh Bowman she is out of the Galileo mare Abscond. I wanted to highlight the breed because on Sunday at Wyong they scored a double with 3yo filly Shudabeen over 1000m maiden, ridden by Corey Brown and 5yo gelding, Invincible Quest over a 1000m in a BM 74 also ridden by Corey Brown.  
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Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Aquis Farm


     Aquis Farm started out, when Wadham Park Racing Facility combined with three large acre properties in the surrounding area and created a world class  facility. The previous owners had invested over $30 million on the land and facilities . Aquis Australia has invested even more capitol in the areas to ensure the horses at Aquis Farm are safe, secure and allowed the opportunity to shine at the highest levels. It is located in the Gold Coast hinterland with around 447 hectares of land with sand and grass tracks, a 65 metre pool for the horses . Their motto ! Every horse is treated like a champion. 



   Aquis has paid millions of dollars at Australia’s top yearling sales over the past two years building a stable of young horses and stallion prospects. Their dream is to create Queensland and Australia’s premier thoroughbred racing, breeding and training facility with a special focus on the Asian sector which is where they believe,  the future of Australian horse racing and breeding industry lies.
Aquis Farm, backed by Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung, had a huge desire to expand its Australian thoroughbred operation and started by forming a joint ­venture with Emirates Park.Under the deal, Aquis will manage Emirates Park stud at Murrurundi in the upper Hunter Valley and the stallions Artie Schiller, Dream Ahead and Al Maher. Emirates will retain ownership of the stud property and its broodmare band.

                                                                       Al Maher  -- 
Quality Danehill stallion and regular producer of classy thoroughbreds Stands at Aquis for $13200.




    Al Maher is a frequent producer of good quality horses and Darryl Hansen on the Sunshine Coast Queensland has got another, with Monsieur Gustave. His win in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich could be the beginning of a successful association because on Saturday, he added the Listed 1400m Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra to his resume,as well. Adam Hyeronimus, snapped up the ride on Monsieur Gustave and let him roll out in front and was'nt headed, beating Snippets Land by half a length.
Hansen said, “When he was able to lead easily I knew he would be hard to beat.
At this stage I am inclined to spell him. We aimed him at the Eye Liner and the Glasshouse and he has won both.”  Monsieur Gustave now has the overall record of six wins and three placings from 16 starts with earnings of $338,900. The well-related son of Al Maher was a $34,000 purchase by McLachlan Place Racing Stables at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The stud also stands Husson, Spill The Beans, Holy Roman Emperor, Furnaces, Domesday, Sweet Orange and Benfica.

                                                                  Domesday -- 
The Red Ransom stallion out of the Octagonal mare Ruddigore is free of Danzig blood. 

     Ruthven -- After he won the Group 1 Queensland Derby. The owners had a 2.5 million dollar offer from Hong Kong connections linked to the John Moore stable, they couldnt refuse. He now has won 3 from 10 starts and was sired by the Aquis Farm bargain stallion Domesday out of a Falbrav mare. Last year, Eagle Way was snapped up after the Derby by Hong Kong owners as well and has been successful there , this year. Aquis Farm has a special connection through our owners with the Hong Kong racing industry. We regularly transfer our horses to Hong Kong to race and receive retiring horses from Hong Kong.

Ruthven Queensland Derby Victory 2017  

                                            
                                             Aquis Director of Racehorse Development 
                                                                     Greg Bennett

     Greg Bennett, who has been a leading trainer in country New South Wales for several years. Recently took on the role of Director of Racehorse Development at Aquis Farm, his work will include overseeing the education of all racing stock and developing relationships with appointed trainers.
"I am sad to leave training but I am excited by the opportunity this appointment creates for me and I look forward to getting to the Gold Coast and getting into it at Aquis Farm," Bennett said.
    Aquis Farm was one of the most active buyers at the recently concluded Magic Millions Yearling Sale and is rapidly expanding its stud operation in the Gold Coast hinterland."The development of the horses and their management from the time they are acquired to the time they are retired is a vital role,"
"A role in which we, at Aquis Farm, think we need to have the very best in charge - and in Greg we think we have the very best."Aquis Farm chief executive officer Justin Fung said.
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Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Sun Stud

            Sun Stud formerly Eliza Park  is the most progressive thoroughbred operation in Australia with farms in both Victoria and Queensland, featuring leading stallions. First established at Kerrie in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges in 1998 .The stud expanded its operation to include a Queensland division at Innisplains in 2012. They have recently appointed Joe Heather as manager of their Queensland operation.

 Kerrie Victoria
  • Fighting Sun -- Northern Meteor out of Irish Darling . He is standing for a fee of $13750 and his first crop are looking like strong individuals.
  • Palentino -- The new kid on the block is looking super this morning. He is standing at service fee of $17,600. 
  • Fiorente -- Monsun stallion out of a Desert Bloom mare. The winner of the Melbourne Cup is standing for a fee of $17,600 .
  • So You Think -- Former champion racehorse and leading second crop sire So You Think sired his third promising maiden winner this week when three year-old gelding Solo Heart saluted as a short priced favourite at Cranbourne on Friday evening. While, just yesterday, we saw Fournette win a maiden at Kembla.
So You Think winning the 2010 Cox Plate 


  • Moshe -- He is the full brother of Black Caviar and stands for $7,700.Here is Moshe's 3yo son El Venetian winning the maiden at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.

  • Ready For Victory -- More Than Ready stallion out of  Crillion a Zabeel mare. First crop on the ground this year and he is standing for $6,600. 

  • Magnus -- Flying Spur out of Scandinavia. His group one successful son The Alfonso in Macau went close to scoring a second group one on the weekend just being beaten in The Hong Kong Trophy.
Innisplain Queensland
  • Bel Esprit -- Sire of Black Caviar. Still producing winners with Tactical Advantage getting the job done at Doomben on Saturday winning the QTIS 3yo Plate.He is from the Encosta De Lago mare Above Connection and trained by James Cummings.  At a standing fee of $12,000 could still be a good option.  
  • Statue of Liberty -- Star Exhibit has been a leading son on the track recently and could easily pick up another big race in the near future after his close up finish in the Doomben Cup on Saturday. The Perth Cup winner keeps racing consistently. The Storm Cat stallion stands at their Queensland Stud for $7,700.
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