Daily News | 25th May 2018

• Opening Day’s Trade at MM National Weanlings Up Strongly

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  With the second session starting at the Gold Coast at 10am today, on Day-1 of the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, $11.6 million was traded on 191 lots sold at an average price of $60,942. The clearance rate was a healthy 82 per cent. All figures across the board are well up on last year's opening day's figures. "We're really pleased with the day's proceedings," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said. "It's a good, solid start to the National Weanling Sale." There's good confidence in the market and there's a great spread of buyers on the sheets. No one is really dominating among the buyers - that is very pleasing.” Key stats are below with 2017’s Day-1 figures in brackets):
  • Lots Catalogued: 280 (290)
  • Lots Sold: 191 (194)
  • Lots Passed In: 43 (51)
  • Lots Withdrawn: 46 (45)
  • Sale Gross: $11,640,000 ($10,535,500)
  • Top Price: $650,000 ($525,000)
  • Average Price: $60,942 ($54,307)
  • Median Price: $40,000 ($30,000)
  • Sold %: 82 (79)

• Coolmore Quartet Tops MM National Weanling Session

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  The Hunter Valley’s Coolmore draft provided the top four priced weanling sellers on the opening day of the 2018 Magic Millions National Sale, headed by a superbly bred colt by Fastnet Rock sold which fetched $650,000 to top proceedings. Catalogued as Lot 138, the colt is the second foal of the Gr1-winning Savabeel mare Diademe. Her first foal sold for seven figures when sold as a yearling earlier in the year. It is the perfect start to the breeding career for Diademe who is scheduled to go under the hammer at next week's National Broodmare Sale. Leading local bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell, through his Boomer Bloodstock operation, was pleased to secure the day's highest priced lot. "He's a lovely colt," Rounsefell said. "He's obviously by Fastnet Rock - huge pedigree being out of a Group One winner - just an exciting colt to get." The second top seller on the day and the highest priced filly was a half sister to multiple Gr1 winner Preferment and their group-winning sibling Rezoned, who sold to the China Horse Club for $625,000. The filly from the top producer Better Alternative is by Vancouver, a former Magic Millions sales purchase who won a Golden Slipper before retiring to stud.

• Status Quo for Youngstar

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  Trainer Chris Waller has opted not to add blinkers to Queensland Oaks favourite Youngstar in Saturday's $500,000 fillies Classic at Doomben, reports Sky Racing. Youngstar (High Chaparral-Starspangled, by Danehill) was expected to sport blinkers for the first time on Saturday, but Waller changed his mind after watching her work on Tuesday. Waller's Queensland stable manager Paul Shailer said Youngstar wanted to go too hard in her gallop. "It was too big a risk for a Group One race and she will race the same way she did in the Roses," Shailer said. Youngstar was installed as favourite for the Oaks after finishing strongly to land the Gr2 Magic Millions The Roses (2000m) two weeks ago. The highly talented filly easily accounted for her stable-mate Another Dollar on that occasion, but Shailer said the latter would be tougher to beat this time around. "Another Dollar has finally drawn a good barrier [two]. She has had no luck at all lately," said Shailer. The Waller yard will also have Savacool, Impulsive and Miss Shanti engaged in the race. Youngstar, who is chasing her fourth consecutive victory, is currently the $2.80 TAB favourite for the Oaks, ahead of Another Dollar at $5 and Aloisia at $7.

• Terra Sancta Treading Familiar Oaks Path

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  Kiwi trainer Tony Pike is hopeful Terra Sancta can follow a proven path and give him a second Group 1 win in the Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Doomben on Saturday, reports Racing Queensland Webnews. Terra Sancta (Pierro-Galshaan, by Galileo) finished eighth in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks in March and was then sent to Australia with the aim of qualifying for the Queensland Oaks which Pike won with Zabeel filly Provocative in 2016. Provocative and Terra Sancta were in the same position when they first arrived in Australia, needing prize money to qualify for the fillies Classic. Terra Sancta achieved that goal by winning first-up over a mile at Ipswich on 7 May, before saluting again in a class two race over 1800m at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday. Pike expects Terra Sancta to handle the quick back-up, but says holding off Chris Waller's five-strong Oaks team won't be easy. "I don't think the back-up will matter. I've had a lot of success backing up horses in the past," said Pike. "Jim [Byrne] was very easy on her at Caloundra and she'll be hitting the ling well. I think she's a genuine place chance at worst and she'll see the trip out better than most." Pike added: "Beating the Waller army is virtually impossible but she'll be right there at the finish." Terra Sancta is currently an $18 chance with TAB for the QLD Oaks.

  

• Group 1 QLD Oaks: History & Preview

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  If the market is any guide, Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Doomben is shaping as a three-horse contest. The favourite for the 2018 edition of the race is the Chris Waller-trained Youngstar. The daughter of High Chaparral has shown a plenty of raw ability to date, culminating in her impressive last-start victory in the traditional Oaks lead-up, the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) on 12 May. TAB currently have Youngstar (barrier 4) listed as the $2.80 favourite, ahead of stable-mate Another Dollar (barrier 2) at $5, and last season's Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia (barrier 7) at $7. All other runners are at double figure odds. The exciting Youngster looks to be open to more improvement than her rivals and is likely to prove too strong once again. First run in 1951, the 3YO fillies Classic has been won by some champion fillies and broodmares including celebrated blue hen Denise's Joy (1976), Surround (1977), Lowan Star (1980), November Rain (1981), Bravery (1988), Triscay (1991), Slight Chance (1993), Giovana (2000), Ethereal (2001), and of course the world's best racehorse, Winx (2015).

• Top Kiwi Mare Ready for Australian Debut

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  Co-trainer Graham Richardson says stable star Volpe Veloce is in grand order as she prepares to make her Australian debut in the $700,000 Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) at Doomben this weekend, reports NZ Racing Desk. Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge-Bardego, by Barathea), who has won 10 of her 15 starts, marked herself as one of the best mares in New Zealand when winning the Group 1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. She then tuned up for her winter carnival campaign when resuming with a solid second under 60kg at Te Rapa last month. "We're very happy with her. She's well in herself and looking great," said Richardson. Richardson said the timing of Saturday's sprint feature was perfect for the 4YO mare, who will be ridden by Jake Bayliss from barrier eight. "She's much better off with her races spaced out," he said. Volpe Veloce is also entered in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Doomben on 23 June. Volpe Veloce is listed as a $14 chance with TAB for the Kingsford-Smith Cup.

• Kavanagh Loses Appeal

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  The NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal has dismissed Sam Kavanagh's appeal against his conviction for the Midsummer Sun cobalt saga. The Tribunal rejected Kavanagh's arguments but did order the appeal to be relisted for penalty submissions. In September 2015, Racing NSW stewards disqualified Kavanagh for six years and three months and fined him $3000 after Midsummer Sun returned a positive sample to cobalt and caffeine following his win in the Gosford Gold Cup in January of that year.

• Weekend Black Type Feature Schedule

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  Headlined by the $700,000 Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) & $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) in Brisbane, there are 15 stakes races across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore & Hong Kong this weekend. Brought to you by International Animal Health Products, below in AEST order are Saturday's and Sunday's scheduled stakes races incorporating integrated fields, form, indicative odds and runner news:

  Saturday

  • 11:46pm: Gr3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) Doomben
  • 12:21pm: Gr3 Premier's Cup (2200m) Doomben
  • 1:00pm: Gr3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1630m) Doomben
  • 1:09pm: Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) Pukekohe
  • 1:40pm: Gr2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1350m) Doomben
  • 2:20pm: Gr3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) Doomben
  • 2:59pm: Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) Doomben
  • 3:15pm: Listed McKell Cup (2400m) Randwick
  • 3:37pm: Gr1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) Doomben
  • 4:16pm: Gr3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) Doomben
  • 8:50pm: Gr1 Lion City Cup (1200m) Kranji
  • 9:25pm: Gr1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) Kranji
  • 10:05pm: Gr1 Kranji Mile (1600m) Kranji

  Sunday

  • 4:00pm: Gr3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) Sha Tin
  • 6:05pm: Gr1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) Sha Tin

  

• Saturday 11:46pm: Gr3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 12:21pm: Gr3 Premier's Cup (2200m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 1:00pm: Gr3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1630m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 1:09pm: Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) Pukekohe

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 1:40pm: Gr2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1350m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 2:20pm: Gr3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 2:59pm: Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 3:15pm: Listed McKell Cup (2400m) Randwick

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 3:37pm: Gr1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 4:16pm: Gr3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) Doomben

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 8:50pm: Gr1 Lion City Cup (1200m) Kranji

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 9:25pm: Gr1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) Kranji

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 10:05pm: Gr1 Kranji Mile (1600m) Kranji

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• Sunday 4:00pm: Gr3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) Sha Tin

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• 6:05pm: Gr1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) Sha Tin

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  

• NZ Winner for Champ Seachange

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  Sea Goddess, a daughter of former champion New Zealand mare Seachange, showed she has inherited at least some of her famous mum's ability when scoring a stylish first-up win at Hastings yesterday. Owned and bred by The Oaks Stud, Sea Goddess (Darci Brahma) became just the second winner for Seachange when bounding to a decisive 2 length win in a 3YO maiden over 1300 metres. The rising 4YO improved her record to 1 win from 3 starts with the promise of many more to come. Sea Goddess is just the third of Seachange's seven foals to make it to the racetrack, with her best performed progeny being Divan (Zabeel) who was second in a Gr3 Bendigo Cup. Twice named New Zealand Horse of the Year, Seachange (Cape Cross) won 14 of her 28 starts including seven races at Group 1 level. She sits only behind 8-time Group 1 winner and fellow dual NZ HOTY Mufhasa with the most top-flight victories in NZ racing history.

• Zacinto To Stand at Valachi Downs

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  Exciting young sire Zacinto is being relocated to Kevin and Jo Hickman's Valachi Downs for the 2018 breeding season, reports NZ Racing Desk. The beautifully bred Zacinto (Dansili-Itacha, by Distant View), who has stood at Inglewood Stud just north of Christchurch since his retirement to stud in 2012, has already sired five stakes winners from just 57 runners (8.8 per cent), including New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Ugo Foscolo. Other youngsters to impress include juvenile stakes winners Zigwig and Secret Allure, while last month Vassilator became Zacinto's second individual stakes winner at Flemington when he won the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m). Valachi Downs general manager Jonathan Scully said it is an exciting time for the stud. "We've been involved in Zacinto from the get go with 25 per cent ownership and while we've increased our shareholding in the horse, the ownership group of Valachi, Inglewood and Windsor Park Stud still remains the same," said Scully. "We have bred more than 40 mares to Zacinto since he first retired to stud, so we certainly have an idea of the type of quality stock he leaves and the exceptional record he has started to amass at stud." Scully added: "It's a big move for Valachi to enter the stallion game. But in Zacinto and Savile Row we have two stallions that will get the venture off to a flyer." Zacinto will stand the 2018 season at Valachi Downs Stud for a fee of $15,000 + GST (LFG).

• Changes to NZ Handicapping Policy

  Friday, 25th May 2018
  New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced that it will introduce changes to handicap rating bands for the 2018-19 racing season, reports NZ Racing Desk. From 1 June 2018, the majority of races will also have a re-rating ceiling for the first five placegetters. This means no winner will be given more than 12 rating points, with a maximum of five points for finishing from second to fifth. However, the maximum re-rating will not apply to Listed or Group races or to races that are restricted by age. The changes follow NZTR's annual handicap review meeting last month. Click here for full details.