Trotting Chat

After his defeat of 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) Sept. 14, Economics joined the top 5 in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings released Oct. 10.View the full article

The 1-2 finishers of Doncaster's May Hill Stakes (G2) rematch in the Oct. 11 Fillies' Mile (G1) at Newmarket. View the full article

NEWMARKET, UK — Blood will out. At 4,300,000gns a new record was set for a yearling colt at Tattersalls on Friday from the immediate family of the most expensive yearling ever sold in Europe. But he was far from the sole highlight in the final session of Book 1, which can only be described as a bonanza. Record turnover, average, median and a world record yearling price in 2024 were the key indicators of a sale that has lit up an otherwise somewhat underwhelming European yearling sales season so far in 2024. Whether this equine gold rush will in turn lift the fortunes of the breeders and consignors participating in next week's Books 2, 3 and 4 remains to be seen, but for now there were plenty of smiling faces departing Park Paddocks on Thursday evening. The numbers go a long way to explaining why. The final day's trade was stronger again than the first two sessions: a 54% rise in turnover to 44,760,000gns, with the median up by 48% to 230,000gns and the average nearly doubling at 403,243gns.  Overall, the aggregate, achieved from the sale of 345 yearlings – 46 fewer than was sold last year – was 127,823,000gns at a clearance rate of 88%. That represented a climb of 34%, while the median rose 39% to 250,000gns and the average price was up by 52% 370,501gns. This was an unprecedented upturn in fortune, even at this rarefied level of the market. Hitting It Out Of The Park Lodge Park Stud's sole offering at the sale, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB), joined a jaw-dropping list of purchases by Amo Racing this week, including the overall top lot, Tuesday's 4,400,000gns daughter of Frankel from Newsells Park Stud.  Described by Amo agent Alex Elliott as “spectacular”, the colt's dam Park Bloom (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-sister to the overall Book 1 record-holder, Al Naamah (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who sold for 5,000,000gns back in 2013. Put simply, this has been a sensational dynasty for the Burns family of Lodge Park Stud, emanating from the colt's third dam Park Express (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}). Jamie Burns led the colt through the ring and was joined in the aftermath by his mother Patricia and brother Paddy as realisation dawned. He said, “This family has always done us well and hopefully he will be the next one to enhance the pedigree. I wasn't really thinking when it went over four million; emotion took over, it was surreal. “He has been busy all week and has never turned a hair once. We have bred four generations on this colt's page, and we also had Park Appeal, who is in Wootton Bassett's pedigree, too.” The colt's dam Park Bloom is not just a full-sister to Al Naamah but also to the Oaks winner Was (Ire) and G2 Curragh Cup winner Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire). A generation back, under the list of offspring of the third dam, the champion race filly Park Express, is another Epsom Classic winner in New Approach (Ire) and his fellow stakes winners Dazzling Park (Ire) and Shinko Forest (Ire). If this colt proves good enough on the racecourse he unquestionably owns a stallion's pedigree, which was doubtless uppermost in the minds of Kia Joorabchian and his Amo Racing team as they continued to pitch in new bids. Joorabchian's spending spree has been quite the talking point at Park Paddocks this week. Whether solo or with partners Al Shaqab Racing, Valmont or Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, he has accounted for 27 yearlings during the past three days for a collective outlay of 23.2 million gns. At times, he has outbid some of the biggest spenders in the game. In the case of the Wootton Bassett colt, he had Coolmore's MV Magnier as his underbidder. Joorabchian, too, has been the underbidder on a number of the week's more expensive yearlings, with his desire to increase the quality of bloodstock purchased with an eye on future breeding plans in turn driving the ferocious market which has left most observers taken aback by its strength.  Reflecting on the team's desire to secure this particular colt, bloodstock agent Alex Elliott said, “I think if you wanted to paint a horse, you'd try to paint him. From the top of the page to the bottom of the page, the farm he was reared on has had the family for generations and he was one of the most spectacular horses I've ever seen. “I said to Kia when I showed him the horse, 'You've been second in two Derbys and there's every chance that this horse can take you one place higher.' And from that moment Kia locked on, with Mr Marinakis again, and the whole team – myself, Ben McElroy, Robson Aguiar – we all lined up and when everyone has the same opinion it doesn't take much to find horses like that.” Amo Racing's two Derby runners-up to date are Mojo Star (Ire), who now stands at Whytemount Stud in Ireland, and King Of Steel, another son of Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was second to Auguste Rodin (Ire) last year before winning the Champion Stakes. “King Of Steel is the best horse he has had, and we're going to try to find a home for him to stand,” added Elliott. “Wootton Bassett is one of the elite sires in the world and that colt has every chance of standing as a stallion. It's a colossal price for a horse.  “The first plan was to buy him. That was the hard part and then we have to sit down and work out where we are going to place him. “I must just say well done to the Burns family for producing a horse like that. That doesn't just happen. From Damian's father Seamus, all the way down, and Jim Bolger is part of it, there are so many people involved with making a family like that.” A Merry Result for Newsells Park  Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud teamed up to buy Shambolic (Ire) (Shamardal) from the Dukes of Devonshire and Roxburghe for 800,000gns back in 2019 and the principals of both operations, Graham Smith-Bernal and Craig Bennett, were united in their praise of the mare on Thursday. Her Siyouni (Fr) filly (lot 407) joined the list of Godolphin purchases at 3,700,000gns and Shambolic has already hit a bloodstock home run in producing the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was herself a 1,500,000gns yearling two years ago. “Tremendous. Graham's team has done a brilliant job and we are just very lucky to have her,” said Bennett of the eight-year-old Shambolic. Smith-Bernal added, “It's hard to believe where this market's at because it's obviously very strong. We knew she was very special, reflected in the fact that we had so many vettings, and look at the way she conducted herself up here. She's a beautiful filly and we wish her new owners the very best.” He added, “We're very happy because we have a beautiful Frankel filly foal and she is back in foal to Frankel with a colt. We'll keep the filly.” Smith-Bernal also divulged that he retains a share in the mare's two-year-old colt by Kingman (GB). Named Kaizen (GB), he is owned in partnership with Qatar Racing, China Horse Club and David Howden, and is in training with John and Thady Gosden. “The feedback from Oisin Murphy recently was that he could be a special colt,” he said. “This is a reflection of Julian's no-stone-unturned attitude, his attention to detail. We won't always achieve perfection, and that is what Kaizen means. It was the motto of my software business: seeking perfection, knowing that perfection cannot be achieved, but you still seek it.” Julian Dollar, as manager of Newsells Park Stud, has presided over a team which has topped the Book 1 consignors' table on eight previous occasions, and the draft's performance in 2024 will make that nine with 26 yearlings sold for a total of 17,185,000gns. Newsells Park Stud also topped the sale overall with the filly by Frankel (GB) out of another Shamardal mare, Aljazzi (GB), who was sold for 4,400,000gns to Amo Racing on Tuesday.  Sangster's Sense Of Style Reaps Reward A third-generation homebred daughter of Camelot (GB) delivered an excellent result for breeder Ben Sangster, who, through Camas Park Stud, sold the filly to Amo Racing for 2,900,000gns. The first foal of the Zoffany (Ire) mare Sense Of Style (Ire), lot 402 is closely related to the four-time Group 1 winner and Ballydoyle stalwart Luxembourg (Ire), who is a half-brother to the dam and also by Camelot. The Group 3-placed winner Sense Of Style also has a filly foal by Camelot.  Asked if he had been tempted to race the filly himself, Sangster, whose son Ollie is in his second season training at the family's Manton estate, said. “Very, but we will look for horses for him next week. “It's a strong market and she is a beautiful filly and when you get two to tango – I am just the lucky recipient. I'm a bit gobsmacked.” He added, “Everything that has happened this week has exceeded expectations. I have been lucky, and Camelot has had a great year and his daughter winning the Arc has just put him right up there.” Wootton Bassett in Demand The bell had only just rung out across the Tattersalls courtyard and moments later another millionaire yearling was added to the leader board when lot 311, the Castlebridge-consigned filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) out of the Group 3 winner My Titania (Ire), was bought by William Haggas on behalf of Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy for 1,700,000gns. Sitting across the ring from the main bidders' area with his wife Maureen, Haggas saw off underbidder Kia Joorabchian for the Sunderland Holdings-bred filly from a family he knows well. My Titania not only holds the accolade of having been the first group winner for her sire Sea The Stars (Ire) when she landed the G3 Park Stakes in 2013, but she has also developed into a significant broodmare whose three runners to date are the Group 2 winners My Oberon (Ire) and My Prospero (Ire) and Listed winner and Group 1 runner-up My Astra (Ire). “She'll join their broodmare band eventually,” said Haggas, the trainer of both My Prospero and My Astra, as well as their dam's half-brother, the treble Group 2-winning sprinter Muthmir (Ire). “She is very nicely made. We've had a few of the family and they are all quite big, as she is. We were very keen to buy her.” The owners of last season's Gimcrack Stakes winner Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never), Bloom and McAleavy's foray into the breeding side of the business has included the purchase at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale of Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), a half-sister to 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB), for 2,500,000gns. Godolphin Signs Up Kildaragh Gem Sea The Stars featured on the other side of the pedigree for the next seven-figure lot of the day, the full-sister to the stallion's G1 Prix de Royallieu winner Sea Silk Road (Ire) offered by her breeder Kildaragh Stud. Henry Lascelles and Kieran Lalor made a determined play for the filly but it was Anthony Stroud for Godolphin who had the final say at 1,600,000gns, having also bought another full-sister at this sale last year for 575,000gns. Peter Kavanagh of Kildaragh Stud said of the purchase of the Listed-winning dam Oriental Magic (Ger) (Doyen {GB}), “It was just the fact that she had class and she was from a good German family. We've worked with German families all the way through and they have been very good to us. They're sound, they're tough. “She's back in foal to Sea The Stars. She doesn't have a foal this year but if she can do that every second year it would be lovely.” Of Book 1 trade he added, “Funnily enough it hasn't been ecstatic for us up until now. We've had things that were just short of the top tier and it's not as buoyant there. But when you hit the home run you don't know where it will stop. The number of people that were on her – and all high-end users – you just need everything to align and come together. You have a set of 36 x-rays and anything on one of those can turn half your purchasers away.” Of the potential of Sea The Stars as a broodmare sire, Kavanagh said, “He's just kicking in. He's going to be a massive influence. I'd say he'll emulate even Galileo. They just seem to have such exceptional temperaments and they are so easy to mate as well. He seems to work with speed and stamina.” Stroud, who has guided the Godolphin team through 18 purchases this week to the tune of 22,020,000gns, added, “Funnily enough we were very keen on Sea Silk Road when she went to the sales. I thought she was a very nice filly, a smaller type of Sea The Stars, she looked very racy and it's a wonderful pedigree. I think she'll be a valuable asset once she's finished racing for the paddocks.” Coolmore's Prize Exhibit By their own powerful standards, Coolmore has been quieter this week than some but MV Magnier, often in partnership with Peter Brant of White Birch Farm, has still signed for eight yearlings. Lot 353, Barronstown Stud's filly by Frankel (GB) out of the dual Grade II winner Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), went to Magnier solely at 1,500,000gns. “She is a very nice filly and we have been very lucky with buying horses from David and Diane [Nagle],” he said of the three-part-sister to G3 Cornelscourt Stakes winner History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “They are great breeders and have bred very good horses in the past. We bought History here a couple of years ago and she is in foal to Justify carrying a colt.” Reflecting on one of the liveliest weeks ever witnessed at Park Paddocks, he added, “The sale has been incredible and Tattersalls has done a great job getting everyone here. You could feel a couple of days before the sale a great buzz around the place.” He also wished Amo Racing good luck after they signed for the day's top lot, the colt by Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett on which he was underbidder. Magnier continued, “Wootton Bassett has had 10 stakes-winning two-year-olds this season and he is the perfect outcross for Galileo mares. He seems to work with anything. He has started to become an international horse and his juveniles in Australia are hitting. The colt is a stunning horse and well done to the Burns family. We are very sorry not to get the horse. He made a lot of money and I hope he is lucky for Kia and his crew.” A Mehmas For a Million Tally-Ho Stud's half-brother to treble Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) gave his sire Mehmas (Ire) a first million-guinea sale. The colt out of the Frozen Power (Ire) mare Sagely (Ire) is joining the Godolphin team, which also stands his talented sibling at Dalham Hall Stud.  Tally Ho's Tony O'Callaghan said, “The mare we bought for 40 grand here at the December Sales seven years ago and she's done well. It's amazing what can happen – sometimes you get lucky.” His view of the sale echoed those of plenty of others on both sides of transactions this week. He said, “It's been an amazing week really. There's never been a Book 1 like this. No one predicted it. They were all talking about minus ten per cent, but long may it last. It's good for everyone – the breeding side needs it badly.” On the rise and rise of their home stallion Mehmas, who is rivalled at Tally-Ho only by the stalwart Kodiac (GB), he added, “There's no law. The Americans like him and they want him in Australia too. We'll cover mares for Australia too. We all know what it's like when [stallions] don't click but this makes up for it.” Cox Praises 'Outstanding' Sale By Adam Houghton Yulong have enjoyed significant success with their Tattersalls graduates, notably with the Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), picked up for 305,000gns at Book 1 in 2020, and more recently with Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a three-time Group 1 winner in Australia since being purchased for 2,700,000gns at last year's December Mares Sale. Lucky Vega (Ire) is another Yulong success story and the team got behind their first-season sire on Wednesday when buying lot 204, one of two yearlings by the G1 Phoenix Stakes winner in the catalogue, for 180,000gns. That filly was one of eight purchases made by Yulong at this year's sale for a total of 3,940,000gns. The pick of them was Watership Down Stud's Dubawi (Ire) colt who also went through the ring on Wednesday as lot 268, the first foal out of the G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). He was knocked down to Yulong on a bid of 1,100,000gns. “He will stay in Europe in the medium term and if he wins some nice races here that would be fantastic,” Yulong's general manager Vin Cox said after that purchase. “If he is good enough to race in Australia as well, that would be great. He is by Dubawi, one of the best stallions of all time, and he's out of a Group 1 winner. He's a good-looking horse.” He added, “The quality of the horses here this week has been outstanding with beautiful horses everywhere you went. Competition has been justifiably strong on the quality that is here and all credit to Tattersalls for getting a wonderful bunch of horses here and a buying bench that is very competitive. We have been a vendor here, too, and we sold a Frankel colt [on Tuesday] for seven figures, which was fantastic.” View At The Top By Adam Houghton The Mahon family's Mountain View Stud enjoyed one of the more notable pinhooking results on Thursday with lot 382, a Blue Point (Ire) filly out of the winning Cityscape (GB) mare Roseau City (GB). She went the way of Henry Lascelles for 725,000gns, having previously sold for 165,000gns here at the December Foal Sale. Mountain View Stud offered four horses at Park Paddocks this week, with the others including a Kingman (GB) filly (lot 246) who is heading into training with Ed Walker after being bought by Ed Sackville for 750,000gns on Wednesday. “She's a beautiful filly and the lads at home have done a great job with her,” Barry Mahon said of the daughter of Blue Point. “She's going to a wonderful owner in Lady Bamford and she was well selected by Henry Lascelles. Hopefully, she can turn out to be lucky. “She'd been very popular and we knew she was going to sell well. It's phenomenal the amount of buyers that are here. We probably didn't think she was going to get to that level, but in fairness she'd had a lot of admirers–it was a great result.” Clifton Farm's Hugh Bleahen was another man receiving plenty of congratulations after his Sea The Stars (Ire) colt had sold to Federico Barberini for 510,000gns, a significant upgrade on the €50,000 it had cost Bleahen to secure the son of the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Shahah (GB) (Motivator {GB}) at the Goffs November Foal Sale. Americans in Action  By Adam Houghton The influx of American buyers at Park Paddocks played no small part in pushing the figures to record heights this week, certainly in the case of Klaravich Stables who bought 12 yearlings for a total of 3,595,000gns through agent Mike Ryan. Mike Repole's buying team made four purchases across the first two days, for an aggregate of 1,190,000gns, while Dean Reeves of Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) fame was involved in the recruitment of five yearlings in various partnerships. “Keep that under wraps–my wife's not very happy that I've bought five!” joked Reeves, who was effusive in his praise of lot 330, a Lope De Vega (Ire) colt from Camas Park Stud who he was involved in buying for 325,000gns. “We thought he was the best horse in the sale,” he added. “We were shocked that we were able to get him. They're all heading back home and Christophe [Clement] will be training them. We're thrilled to get them all because it's been very competitive.” Those sentiments were echoed by Andrew Cary, a first-time visitor to Tattersalls who picked up two yearlings on behalf of Wells Watson, including a Kingman (GB) filly (lot 341) from the Newsells Park draft for 400,000gns. “I've always wanted to come here and I've got an amazing client now in Wells Watson,” said Cary. “We hooked up a couple of years ago and we've had some success. We went to Goffs last year and bought three. One of them was a nice filly called Celtic Motif who was third in the Goffs Million for Joseph O'Brien. “We bought two there last week and we've bought two here this week. It's been an incredible sale, very strong, and it's a credit to Tattersalls, the horses that they brought here and the people that they brought here. We were really just trying to hone in on certain pedigrees and hoped that they would fall within what our budget was.” Talking Points By Brian Sheerin By close of play on Thursday, 16 millionaires had walked through the ring at Park Paddocks. That is nine more than last year and equals the 16 that highlighted the sparkling trade of 2022.  Godolphin [eight] and Amo Racing [five] accounted for more millionaire lots than any other buyer with William Haggas, MV Magnier and Yulong signing for one apiece. The record turnover for Book 1 was set in 2022 when the aggregate was over 126 million guineas from the sale of 424 horses. That figure was eclipsed this week with the aggregate standing at a colossal 127,823,000gns. Post-sale interviews can be drab affairs at times, especially when the buyer can't reveal future plans for a horse and instead offers only to speak in cliches. However, there was plenty to be gleaned from Alex Elliott's interviews this week, especially concerning where Amo Racing's stallion prospects are heading next year. According to Elliott, Bucanero Fuerte will take up stallion duties at Tally-Ho Stud in 2025. Meanwhile, a stud has yet to be found for King Of Steel.  This was a big sale for Camelot. Less than a week after his daughter Bluestocking flew the flag for the Coolmore-based stallion, one of his yearling fillies [lot 402] sold for 2.9 million gns to Amo Racing. That highlighted a terrific week for Camelot, with 11 yearlings selling for an average of 555,000gns.  There was a time where top agent Mike Ryan could come to Book 1 and pretty much cherry pick some of the best yearlings imaginable to race back home in the States for Klaravich Stables. Not any more. In many ways, Ryan has become something of a victim of his own success in that he paved the way for so many international buyers to make their way to Park Paddocks in search of big-race riches. Not to be deterred, Ryan ended the session as the sixth busiest buyer with nine yearlings sourced for 2,765,000gns. If somebody told you at the start of the week that Godolphin were going to spend 22 million gns on 18 yearlings but another buyer outside of Coolmore would end Book 1 just shy of 2.5 millions gns behind that aggregate, you would have said they were cuckoo. Amo Racing is by no means a new name on the buyers sheet but nobody expected such a flex this week.  Golden Touch By Brian Sheerin Paul McCartan is one of the best in the business. The master of Ballyphilip Stud has had many top-notchers through his hands – Battaash, Nando Parrado, Harry Angel, Kodi Bear, Tiggy Wiggy and more recently Fairy Godmother – but even he admitted to approaching Book 1 with some trepidation this week.  Any fears McCartan may have harboured about the strength of the market were blown away when his Blue Point filly, who he sourced at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 110,000gns, was knocked down to Godolphin for 600,000gns.  Of course, it's not the first time McCartan has done well with the progeny of Blue Point. Just last year, the County Limerick operator sold a half-brother by the stallion to Baattaash for an eye-watering 1,500,000gns.  “I joked with somebody yesterday that we should have a statue built in memory to Blue Point at home in the yard,” McCartan laughed after the sale of lot 315. “We might have to go and do that now! “He's been a brilliant sire for us but, to be honest, I didn't see this coming at all. I was actually quite concerned about the market coming over this week. I was only hoping it would hold up well. What has happened here this week has taken us all by surprise.” He added, “As a breeder, you are losing money hand over fist at the other end of the market. There is no floor in it whatsoever. But the flip side of that is the top is extremely strong. Stronger than even I dreamed it was. I am just so thrilled for all of the breeders and pinhookers who got a touch this week. We all know how hard this game is so it's been brilliant to see.  “The atmosphere and the buzz over here is amazing really. I've never seen so many smiling faces. Blue Point stamps his stock so well and the two yearlings I sold by him this week were very nice horses. There was a lot of Shamardal in them, particularly the heads. Let's hope they go on to be good racehorses.” Buy of the Day  On a memorable day with many millions flying across the ring, it might be easy to think that there was no value to be had for buyers. Mark Johnston is not any old buyer, though, and sniffing out value is what he does best. In the case of lot 345, an Australia (GB) colt consigned by Baroda Stud, it's fair to assume that the Johnston team picked up a bit of value at 57,000gns. For starters, the April-born colt meets Johnston's criteria, in that he is out of a highly-rated dam, Porthilly (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), who won at Listed level and placed twice in Group company for John Hammond. This is exactly the type of horse the Johnstons have done so well with down through the years and it would be no surprise to see him develop into a useful three-year-old over middle distances.  Mahony Lauds 'Spectacular' Book 1 Reflecting on the record trade at Book 1, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Every year Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale produces the highest percentage of superior racehorses of any European yearling sale and that simple fact has played out in spectacular fashion over the past three days at Europe's premier yearling sale.  “The breeders and consignors consistently send the cream of the European yearling crop to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the outstanding quality of the yearlings they send to this very special sale year after year is the key to attracting so many of the world's most successful and influential racehorse owners to Tattersalls. They come in confidence, knowing that they will find an elite collection of yearlings, more of which will go on to achieve great things on racecourses around the world than from any other European yearling sale. “All in all it has been an extraordinary yearling sale. The statistics tell a remarkable story with massive year-on-year rises in average, median and turnover. The sale turnover has risen year-on-year by around 30 million gns, the average price well in excess of 300,000gns is unprecedented, as is a median which has surpassed the previous record of 200,000gns by a very significant margin, and all of this has been accomplished alongside an enviable clearance rate in excess of 85%. “ He continued, “Newsells Park Stud's 4.4 million gns sale-topping Frankel filly out of Aljazzi is the highest-priced yearling to be sold in the Northern Hemisphere this year and Lodge Park Stud's 4.3 million gns Wootton Bassett colt out of Park Bloom is not only the highest price for a yearling colt in the world this year, but also a new European record for a yearling colt. The very top of the market has been outlandish with an unprecedented eight yearlings selling for 2 million guineas or more, 16 selling for seven figure sums, and almost 70 yearlings realising 500,000gns or more. “The buyers who have made all of this possible have come from far and wide. The contribution from throughout the Gulf region has been such a feature of sales at Tattersalls for a very long time and their continued support should never be underestimated. This year they have been joined by an almost overwhelming number of overseas buyers with the large contingent of American buyers making a massive contribution alongside buyers from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and throughout Europe, all of whom have been competing with strong domestic demand, most notably from Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing which has become such a force on the global racing scene. “There are so many people that can take an enormous amount of satisfaction from this sale and to see so many being so richly rewarded has been a huge boost to the British and Irish breeding industries. Every breeder, every consignor, every handler and all the teams back at the farms throughout Britain, Ireland and further afield who have raised these yearlings; they have all played their part and they should be proud of the collective achievement which is phenomenal. “We will turn our attention very quickly to Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which starts on Monday 14th October, but in the meantime we can reflect on a week which has shone a bright light on a great industry.”   The post ‘Outlandish’ Book 1 Ends With Record £134m Turnover   appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It’s Friday night, and what a Friday night it is with a massive night of Group and Listed races at Addington.  By Michael Guerin Harness racing’s King Midas has been back in Canterbury this week and he likes what he sees. But even Mark Purdon admits winning won’t come easy at a star-studded Addington meeting tonight. The meeting hosts six black type races which when you add it to Alexandra Park tonight and Aussie champions Leap To Fame and Just Believe racing at Melton tomorrow to prepare for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week, we have the strongest weekend of harness racing of the year so far. That is one reason Purdon, who these days lives in Matamata, has been back down in Canterbury helping son and training partner Nathan prepare their team headed by one of NZ’s best pacers Don’t Stop Dreaming, who returns in tonight’s Get Your Cup Week Tickets Now at addington.co.nz Handicap Pace (8.55pm). “Nathan has been doing a great job with them and the horses look good but it has been nice to be back down here training together this week.”   Purdon says Don’t Stop Dreaming (R9, No.11) is in a good place and while he will improve with the run he can still win from his 20m handicap even up against some race hardened rivals in Tact McLeod and Republican Party, to who he has to concede a 10m start. Add in former Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo, now trained by the Dalgetys, and it is an interesting NZ Cup lead-up. On a night of stunning age group racing the older glamour trotters also clash and Purdon is tipping Oscar Bonavena (R5) to be a big improver in the $40,000 Group 3 Dancinginthedark M (USA) Canterbury Park Cup. “He went really well last week and has come on from it and I think he might be our best winning chance of the night,” he suggests. That is a huge call considering Oscar Bonavena opened $9 and meets New Zealand’s best trotter Muscle Mountain and rising star Bet N Win, who was super impressive pushing Don’t Stop Dreaming close at the trials last week. If he can step cleanly and stay in front of the backmarkers Bet N Win can continue his rise up the ranks but after getting as short as $2.50 this week that didn’t leave much meat on the bone. One of the Purdon’s stars who was backed as soon as the markets opened for tonight was Chase A Dream in the Group 1 $100,000 Canprint Flying Stakes and while he can clearly win Mark warns he could be vulnerable if the race becomes anything like last year’s hectic version. “It is tricky for a colt going into these races fresh up and if Blair [Orange,driver] burns early I reckon the pressure will keep coming.” Chase A Dream meets arch rival Cold Chisel, who chased home Merlin in the open class race at Alexandra Park last Friday, and the latter looks the better value of the two in what is a super race. Of the other feature races the NZB Standardbred Harness 2YO Million Trot (Race 3 – 5.44pm) looks a lottery, with differing concerns over the three form horses while the very talented Odina can win but she is on debut. Northern mare Mantra Blue (R6, No.7) is favoured by the draw in the Group 2 $60,000 Woodlands Stud Mares’ Spring Sprint Classic and her driver Zachary Butcher can also win the $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Fillies Pace for the juveniles with Im Sandra Dee. She has been brave with no luck lately but finally gets a draw to work with in a crop that is still very much working itself out and the best of the fillies may not even be here. The $200,000 NZB Standardbred 2Yo Colts and Geldings Harness Million (9.28pm) has a hot favourite in Marketplace, who was spectacular in both of his recent wins and if he can handle being used early, as he will almost certainly need to be, then he should win. Castana leading the charge for McGowans at Alexandra Park  By Michael Guerin Dave McGowan isn’t surprised by his stable’s hot form, he just had to be patient waiting for it. McGowan and his wife Clare trained four winners in seven days last week, with three Alexandra Park winners and one at Cambridge on Tuesday.  That comes after Liaison won a $35,000 Metro Trot Final at Alexandra Park last month to gives their stable their biggest month of success in a few years but while McGowan, one of the gentlemen of northern harness, is thrilled he is not surprised. “We knew we had horses with talent, we just had to wait for some of them to put it together,” he says. “We have 26 horses in work and 22 of them are trotters. We love training trotters but they are a lot of work. “We have some lovely two and three-year-olds as well so we have some exciting horses around us and it is nice to be able to go to The Park and win races.” Four of the in-form team head to the Alexandra Park meeting tonight which will play the support role to the huge night at Addington. The McGowans have last-start winner Castana and the usually reliable Liaison in the main trot (Race 7), the On Track – Strength in Racing Handicap Trot, which has drawn a small but tidy field. “We love them both but I think Castana is actually the best horse in the stable,” McGowan told HRNZ. “He has taken a while to come to it but he is an open class horse and one day we think he can win a major race. “It won’t be this year or maybe not even in the next 18 months but he will win a big one.”  Castana (R7, No.1) beat many of those he meets tonight last Friday but comes in up to 15m worse off so will need to be right at his peak in a race where Liaison could also threaten if he produces his best. “I don’t know what happened last start (gallop at 450m) but he is a chance almost every week.” Earlier in the card the McGowans line up Love On Line and It Ain’t Me Babe in Race 3, the Border Fencing Services Handicap Trot, the latter winning in a 1:59.7 mile last start but copping a 10m handicap tonight because of that. “I think for sheer talented Love On Line might be better but she is still getting there while It Ain’t Me Babe is a big strong beautiful mare but she can be a bit timid. “She needs some life experience,” laughs McGowan. Tonight’s feature, the Sweet Lou at Woodlands – Tender Closes 1 Nov Handicap Pace, sees a small field racing for a great $20,000 stake considering they don’t have to take on the big boys of open class pacing while throughout the card smart pacers like Hawkeye Pierce (R2, No.7), Wicked Wanda (R4, No.5) and The Jolly Roger (R8, No.6) get their chances albeit from tricky draws.     View the full article

It’s a massive meeting at Addington Raceway tonight and commentator Matt Cross has done the form on all 12 races.   Race 1  4:56pm NZB STANDARDBRED 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS MOBILE PACE I was impressed with Midnight Miki here last week. He buzzed off the gate and was only worn down late by The Lazarus Effect. He’s the only horse on the second row here and it looks like he may get a chance to work into the race at some point. Two starts back he ran some excellent sectionals behind Marketplace who is the favourite in the $200k feature tonight. Strikem continues to run well this prep. Both of his starts this time in he has run into Marketplace. He drew four the second-row last time and I thought considering the extra ground he covered for the last 800m it was a top run. If he’s a couple of spots closer, he can win. Sacetas is a danger, in what looks to be a slight drop in class for him he can also win with the right trip. Coba Charged had no luck getting carted back last time and it much better than his price is suggesting, he might be worth including as a roughie here. Midnight Miki is the one to beat in my opinion even from the draw. Selections 9-6-4-7 Race 2 5:19pm THE CANTERBURY WEST COAST AIR RESCUE TRUST 3YO MOBILE PACE To be fair this race looks all over before it’s even begun. Renegade is drawn one, he’s got gate speed, he’s dropping back from running a luckless second to Harrison John and was unlucky to miss a start in the Group 1 tonight, he was just on the border. Take the shorts he should win this for fun. Twista follows him out so he’s the logical place bet if you don’t want to take the short odds around the fav, he ran second to Mantra Blue two starts back and shouldn’t have to do anything other than follow the leader and hope for the best. Dave Duley is as honest as they come, drawn 9 makes it tough to say he can win it but can run second. Commander Joe ran second to Renegade two starts back and had nothing go his way last time and is another that shouldn’t be too far from the placings. I’m picking most people agree that Renegade looks to have them all at his mercy here hence the $1.50 on offer. Selections 1-10-9-2 Race 3 5:44pm $75,000 NZB STANDARDBRED HARNESS MILLION 2YO MOBILE TROT (Listed) The first of our Harness Million races here for the 2YO Trotters is headed up by Meant To Be. He is a big raw talent drawn the unruly which I don’t think is all that bad. He can find his feet from there and gradually work into the race. He’s a great looking horse with a lengthy stride and looks the one to beat in this. Odina is on debut from the Hope stable. She’s a full sister to Muscle Mountain. She’s extremely well gaited much like her brother. She’s shown gate speed at the trials so she should cross early. She’s a live hope even on debut. Higher Power has the ability, but early mistakes have been costly to his chances in his two runs this time. The blinds go on, just cross everything with him at the start. Ya Rite Darl is the logical respect in the race too. She had to sit parked last time which I don’t think suited here. She’s won three of five and isn’t out of this. Meant To Be and Odina look a pair of talents. Selections 11-3-8-5 Race 4 6:09pm AVENUE BLOODSTOCK MOBILE PACE Still Rockin comes north for the Ricky Gutsell barn. He’s got good gate speed and finds a suitable race here fourth up this preparation. He’s got Robbie Holmes on, so I’d guess he’s going forward at the start. He’s a nice staying type so he will give you something to cheer for. The Coalman is first up for 124 days. He loves 2600m. He trialled well in a hot field. Look for him running over the top late. Jack Tar and Warloch are both top three chances, they’ve been there and done that. If they go hard that brings them right into it. Tough race to suggest anything with too much confidence. Maybe Warloch to run a place, you might not be far away with him. Selections 7-13-12-11 Race 5 6:44pm DANCINGINTHEDARK M (USA) CANTERBURY PARK CUP (HCP TROT) (Gr3) This is an exciting contest. Bet N Win returns after strutting his stuff in Brisbane over the winter. He trialled enormous; it took Don’t Stop Dreaming to get past him. They ran a slick last half, and he couldn’t have been any more impressive. He can run quick time here at Addington, I’m excited to see him back. Muscle Mountain is first up for 140 days. He goes super fresh (8-6-1). Just the one trial, but the Hope stable know how to get him fired up first up. He was second off 20m in this race last year. The horse that beat him was Oscar Bonavena. Oscar was fifth here first up – he still ran 1.3secs faster than the winner. His closing splits on The URB were 56.3 and 26.6. There’s very few faster than him over the last 400m. Both he and MM will need some things to go their way off 20m, but class takes them very close. Mighty Logan keeps stepping up, he will have to again but if he steps fast and gets a decent gap between him and the back markers he will give you a sight. Bet N Win is the new kid on the block, he looks like he will give Oscar and Muscle Mountain something to chase. Great to have them all in the same race, nonetheless. Selections 11-14-13-6 Race 6 7:17pm WOODLANDS STUD MARES’ SPRING SPRINT CLASSIC (MOBILE PACE) (Gr2) Mantra Blue and Princess Meritaten look like they will lock horns here. They’ve both won 5 of their 9 starts. Mantra Blue draws one spot inside of Princess Meritaten, does that mean she’s the one to beat this time around? Maybe? Maybe not? Both are very talented mares, I’m loathed to pick one of the two, it might be easier to play the quinella and then it won’t matter who wins. If Sweet Diamond is to play any part here, she must go forward early. If she goes back, she settles last and potentially gets nothing. She’s third up this prep and does have a great dash of early speed if needed. A good stake on offer at Group level there’s a chance they may go forward. Insarchatwist will keep going all day too. She may not have the class of a couple, but she’s got a big heart, don’t leave her out. Take the Q – 7 & 8. Selections 7-8-9-5 Race 7 7:50pm CANPRINT FLYING STAKES (MOBILE PACE) (Gr1) Chase A Dream gets barrier 3 for his resumption. Two trials, hard to gauge them as he just sat back in the first and then trialled from a stand where he missed away badly. If he gets to the pegs early, he’s the one they must beat. Cold Chisel is back south again, tactics will be interesting with him early drawn wide. With his second to Merlin last time out you’ve got confidence that he’s in a good place. Mako is the value in the race. I think he is a top horse in the making. Once we get out to 2600m for the Derby in a couple of months you might see the best of him. He can win this at a price. Bettor Knuckle Up will be coming home as good as anything from the second row. There are many other chances too. Chase A Dream & Cold Chisel are the class horses. Mako the smokey. Selections 3-8-12-15 Race 8 8:23pm $150,000 NZB STANDARDBRED HARNESS MILLION 2YO FILLIES MOBILE PACE (Listed) Winelight is a great each way bet here. She followed a hot speed to win first up and just had to go too early last time around. She got tired late but there was enough merit in her run to say she can play a part here. I’m Sandra Dee finally gets a draw to use. She was left out to dry in a Group 1 at her latest start, racing three wide in the open for most of the race. Expect some early speed from her off a nice draw. Stella Rouge couldn’t have asked for a worse draw. She gets the inside second row so she’s going to need a magic drive and a ton of luck to be winning. I think she’s one of the best 2YO fillies going around, but from a betting perspective it could be a tough watch if she can’t get out. Allets was huge here last time, she worked hard early, got held up at the turn, and kept trying to the line. Play Winelight each way. Selections 5-3-9-12 Race 9 8:55pm GET YOUR CUP WEEK TICKETS NOW AT ADDINGTON.CO.NZ HCP PACE Republican Party might have looked a bit below par last time, but he wasn’t on the clock. His URB sectionals were 1:52.5 – 54.6 – 27.5. He’s a stocky little entire so if anything, you’d think his best runs would be third or fourth up. He’s third up here and with a clean start I think he’s the one to beat. Don’t Stop Dreaming is the best horse in the race by a long way. The worrying thing if you’re backing him is that he’s fresh up off 20m against race fit horses that can step fast and run a good tempo early. This isn’t his grand final, it’s just a ‘preseason’ match if you will. I wouldn’t back him here even though he’s the best horse in the race. Alta Meteor is a top horse, a great third in the Canterbury Classic, he should only be improved for this. I think that the front markers can play a major role with good beginnings. Both Mo’Unga and Charlie Brown can step very fast and give the back markers something to chase. Rock N Roll Doo has trialled up poorly for his standards so it’s hard to know how he will go. Tact McLeod isn’t without a chance of winning again either. Republican Party each way is worth a shot. Selections 8-6-2-5 Race 10 9:28pm $200,000 NZB STANDARDBRED HARNESS MILLION 2YO C&G MOBILE PACE (Listed) Marketplace will run as the favourite here. And for good reason. His sprint is amazing. The big question is from the front row draw with $200k on offer do they use him early to take a better position than he has had in his two runs back? Or do they not change what’s not broken and go back and let him unleash late? Either way I don’t think it will matter he looks a very good racehorse. Got The Chocolates will come off the gate and go forward you can guarantee that. Lock him in for your place bets. If Confederate can cross early, he’s going to get his chance. Rubira needs luck from his draw. Demon Blue can fill a place. Marketplace deserves favouritism by a long way, even if you don’t back him just tune in to watch a mighty fast horse. Selections 6-7-3-11 Race 11 9:53pm THE TYRE GENERAL HANDICAP TROT Tyron Eros broke the 3YO record for 2600m here at his latest start. He was off 20m then as he is in this race. There’s nothing to say he can’t do it again. Masterly should step and run, he could land in front and from there he will give you something to cheer for. I did think his price was skinny enough though. Eurokash is also off 20m, but we know his class when he’s right. He’s second up after a decent break so you might see a sharper version here. El Conqueror is third up and he’s a bit better than the price that the bookies put up for him. Tyron Eros is the best horse in the race. Selections 18-8-17-16 Race 12 10:23pm GOLD BAND TAXIS MOBILE PACE The Big Lebowski gets in here so well at the ratings. He does have a nom for the NZ Cup, he’d have to go well here and pick up one of the lead up races though if he were to get in. He’s third up after 471 days away from the races, he might press on from the wide draw. He was 5.8L from Merlin last start and that good enough for me to have him on top here. Jimmy James Maguire is a great follower of speed, with the right trip he can win. His third behind Wag Star most recently will have his fans right on board. Wish Me Luck I though last time was still a week or two away in the coat so I expect he will keep getting better this prep. He has the gate speed to lead early. Borrisokane although up in grade I think he’s a better horse when they go hard up front. Watch out for him sneaking up the pegs late. The Big Lebowski on top here. Shopping the trifecta with him, Jimmy James Maguire and Wish Me Luck. Selections 9-8-3-1 Best Bet R12 The Big Lebowski Value Bet R8 Winelight Roughie R7 Mako (Courtesy of trackside.co.nz) View the full article