Inglis Easter Preview 2016 by Bluebloods

VICTORIA. THE STATE TO BREED, OWN & RACE. VOBIS GOLD NOMINATIONS FOR 2014-BORN FOALS CLOSE WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST 2016 With more than $20m in prizemoney and bonuses on offer across Victoria’s lucrative Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold incentive schemes - look for the logo and share in the rewards! Only Super VOBIS yearlings can be nominated to VOBIS Gold. For more information visit owner.racing.com

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Racing Victoria 400 Epsom Road, Flemington VIC 3031 T 03 9258 4694 F 03 9258 4326 E vobis@racingvictoria.net.au

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B HIMA Take a sneak peek at our 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft Lot 157

Bay Filly

All Too Hard x Absolute Faith

Lot 228

Brown Filly

Savabeel x Causeway Queen

Lot 262

Bay Colt

Ocean Park (NZ) x Distinctive Lass

Lot 299

Chestnut Colt

All Too Hard x Fibrillation

Lot 374

Bay Filly

Encosta de Lago x Lacada

Lot 443

Bay Filly

Exceed And Excel x Nureyev’s Girl

Lot 447

Bay/Brown Filly

Fastnet Rock x Oh Goodness Me (GB)

Lot 476

Bay Colt

I Am Invincible x Court Flying

Lot 477

Bay Colt

I Am Invincible x Court House Lane

Lot 501

Chestnut Colt

Choisir x Indycatfighter (USA)

Lot 531

Bay Colt

All Too Hard x Our Joan Of Arc

Lot 549

Bay Colt

Smart Missile x Rose Darmore

Lot 570

Bay Colt

Starcraft (NZ) x Star Of Broadway

Scissor Kick

Heatherly www.bhima.com.au

“

Breeders put their best horses in the Easter sale... It’s been good to us over the years. A lot of horses I’ve bought haven’t been expensive, they’ve been around sale average... There’s always a good one, you just gotta find it.

”John Foote

John Foote – Leading Bloodstock Agent and buyer of Hong Kong Derby winner Luger for John Size and Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance for Darren Weir.

Australian Easter Yearling Sale 5-7 April 2016 Newmarket, Sydney inglis.com.au

“ Some are born great,

some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” William Shakespeare

CA OUTAL T N OG OWUE

VENDORS Amarina Farm

Arrowfield

Attunga Stud

Bhima Thoroughbreds

Corumbene Stud

Cressfield

Edinburgh Park

Edinglassie

Emirates Park Stud

Eureka Stud

Fairview Park Stud

Kia Ora Stud

Marquee Stud

Middlebrook Valley Lodge

Milburn Creek

Mill Park

Newhaven Park Stud

Riversdale Farm

Sledmere Stud

Southern Cross Breeders

Turangga Farm

Tyreel Stud

Vinery Stud

Widden Stud

Yarraman Park Stud

ADVERTISERS Arion Pedigrees Arrowfield

Inside Back Cover

The thoroughbred racing industry in Australia is the envy of those around the globe. Recent prizemoney increases have further boosted confidence in the industry and this has already been reflected in the buzz around yearling sales in 2016.

WHEN Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was a kid, he would fight for the wishbone from the Sunday roast chook. His wish was always the same, he wanted his own horse, but living in suburbia and from a blue-collar family, it wasn’t going to happen. So he improvised . . .

14 New Sires RACETRACK rivals Pierro and All Too Hard should provide plenty of excitement at Inglis Easter 2016 with large drafts of first crop yearlings. With 78 lots between them (13.4% of the catalogue), they are among eight freshmen represented, plus there are five yearlings by UK-based superstar Frankel.

21 Buyer’s Perspective THE Inglis Australian Easter Sale at Newmarket in Sydney from April 5-7 attracts buyers from around the globe to buy the cream of our yearling crop. In this article five of our most experienced buyers explain what they look for when selecting a young equine athlete.

11 19

IAH

Inglis

4-5

MacCallum Inglis

Pryde’s EasiFeed

The Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is renowned for attracting the biggest names in Australia’s thoroughbred industry, and becoming more common is international names partnering with locals, both of whom recognise the abundance of opportunity at all levels to be found throughout the catalogue.

32 Where to stay and eat

A selection of some of the best places to stay and eat while in Sydney. From beautiful Sydney harbour to the iconic Coogee Bay beach which is just minutes from the sale yard. You will find something in here to suit you.

Inside Front Cover 7

Bluebloods PO Box 286, Richmond NSW 2753 Phone: +61 2 4587 8110 Fax: +61 2 4587 8145 Email: accounts@bluebloods.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY Steve Hart, Inglis, Georgie Lomax, Joan Faras, Kirsty Luckins

PUBLISHER Andrew Reichard

PRODUCTION MANAGER Margaret Reichard

EDITOR David Bay

PRODUCTION Hotham Street Creative, David Reichard

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Margaret Ross

DATABASE & STATISTICS Arion Pedigrees

AUTHORS Susan Archer, David Bay, Renée Geelen, Kristen Manning, Ryan McEvoy, Dane Squance, Sarah Peatling, Lindy Maurice, Liesl Baumann, Donna Stoddart, Michael Vincent, Warren Wruck

PUBLISHED BY BADRANAD PTY LTD ABN 98 002 825 069 Printed by Graphic Impressions, Mulgrave, Vic

ADVERTISING Warren Wruck +61 414 385 216 warren@bluebloods.com.au

6 EASTER PREVIEW

28,30 Buyers at Easter

8-9

Horsepower

Vinery

25 Movers & Shakers

Front Cover, 3

HQ Insurance

Super VOBIS

10 Welcome

Back Cover

ATC - The Championships Bhima

CONTENTS

Bluebloods would like to thank all the participating vendors who provided their own photos.

While every care is taken in the compilation of this magazine, neither BlueBloods nor any of its agents will be held liable for any errors or omissions contained herein or their consequences either in original material or in any material (including advertisements) supplied.

BUY THE BEST Apart from standing world class stallions, Vinery has a rich tradition as a nursery and vendor of sound, tough, quality racehorses. Vinery’s Gr.1 winning Easter graduates include –

SAMAREADY - MVRC AJ Moir S. Gr.1

SHAMUS AWARD - MVRC Cox Plate Gr.1

DELECTATION - VRC Darley Classic Gr.1

ENTISAAR - Allan Robertson C’Ship Gr.1

The Grand Finals of Australian Racing

2 & 9 April 2016 New Public Area Marquees including – TAB Sports Bar and Gourmet Food & Beverage Pop-Up Bars Award winning Hospitality | Myer Fashion on the Field Buy a Golden Ticket – $30 for entry to all 6 days of the Sydney Autumn Carnival

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS RACE PROGRAM The Championships Day 1

Saturday 2 April 2016, Royal Randwick Race Name

Prizemoney Conditions

The Star Doncaster Mile (GR1) The Mile Championship

$3,000,000

1600m. Open Hcp. 3YO & Upwards.

Darley TJ Smith Stakes (GR1) The Open Sprint Championship

$2,500,000

1200m. SWFA. 2YO & Upwards.

BMW Australian Derby (GR1) The 3YO Classic Championship

$2,000,000

2400m. Set weights. 3YO.

Inglis Sires’ (GR1) The 2YO Championship

$1,000,000

1400m. Set weights. 2YO.

($AUD)

The Country Championships Final

$400,000

1400m. Restricted to NSW Country Qualifiers.

Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (GR2) TAB Adrian Knox Stakes (GR3)

$300,000

2600m. Quality Hcp. 3YO & Upwards.

$200,000

2000m. Quality Hcp. 3YO Fillies.

Sebring Kindergarten Stakes (GR3)

$200,000

1100m. Set weights. 2YO.

Dilmah Tea PJ Bell Stakes (GR3)

$200,000

1200m. Set weights + pen. 3YO.

Carbine Club Stakes (GR3)

$200,000

1600m. Set weights + pen. 3YO.

TOTAL

$10,000,000

The Championships Day 2, Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day Saturday 9 April 2016, Royal Randwick Race Name

Prizemoney Conditions

Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (GR1) The Weight for Age Championship

$4,000,000 2000m. SWFA. 3YO & Upwards.

Schweppes Sydney Cup (GR1) The Stayers Championship

$2,000,000 3200m. Open Hcp. 3YO & Upwards.

James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (GR1) The 3YO Fillies Classic Championship

$1,000,000 2400m. Set weights. 3YO Fillies.

Queen of the Turf Stakes (GR1) The Fillies & Mares Championship

$1,000,000 1600m. SWFA. 3YO & Upwards F&M.

Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (GR2) The 3YO Sprint Championship

$500,000 1200m. Set weights. 3YO.

IG Markets Percy Sykes Stakes (GR3) The 2YO Fillies Championship

$500,000 1200m. Set weights + pen. 2YO Fillies.

The Provincial Championships Final

$400,000 1400m. Restricted to NSW Provincial Qualifiers.

Sapphire Stakes (GR2)

$300,000 F&M.

McGrath Estate Agents South Pacific Classic (LR)

$150,000 1400m. Quality Hcp. 3YO.

TFE Fernhill Handicap (LR)

$150,000 1600m. Quality Hcp. 2YO.

TOTAL

($AUD)

1200m. Set weights + pen. 3YO & Upwards.

$10,000,000

WELCOME TO EASTER

In another Easter first, the first Southern Hemisphere crop of Europe’s undefeated Champion Frankel will be offered this April. Anticipation surrounds these five yearlings all specifically bred with the Easter Sale in mind. Frankel represents champion and cult status, and the opportunity to secure his blood at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is attracting enormous interest from across the globe. Three of Frankel’s yearlings are also the first foals of their respective dams; Group 1 winning two-year-old Chocolicious (Lot 237), Group 2 winner Jeu de Cartes (Lot 357) and Group 2 winner More Strawberries (Lot 423). There are over 90 yearlings at Easter that are the first living foals of their dams. They include the offspring of New Zealand Filly of the Year Planet Rock, Singapore’s Champion Stayer Better Life, Oaks winner Invest and Tattersall’s Tiara victor Pear Tart, plus other stakes winners such as Pane In The Glass, Aliyana Tilde, Bliss Street, Colorado Claire, Crafty Irna, Empress Rock, Hallowell Belle and Shaqira, whose colt is the only Shamardal in the catalogue.

Welcome The thoroughbred racing industry in Australia is the envy of those around the globe. Recent prizemoney increases have further boosted confidence in the industry and this has already been reflected in the buzz around yearling sales in 2016. Anticipation builds for this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, with the catalogue reading as a definitive ‘who’s who’ of thoroughbred families adorned with black type. Easter is steeped in tradition, yet the 2016 sale prepares for a number of firsts; eight first-season-sires, the first Southern Hemisphere crop of Frankel, the first foals of Group 1 winning dams and six first-time vendors. Always hotly anticipated at Australian yearling sales are the progeny of first season sires. This year is no different with the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale featuring progeny from eight of the most exciting freshmen. From yearlings by Pierro, the first winner of Australia’s two-year-old Triple Crown in over forty years and highest-rated two-year-old since 1977, winner of no less than five Gr1 races to the first crop from Animal Kingdom, a dominant Dubai World Cup winner, along with arguably one of the fastest sons of Fastnet Rock at stud Your Song, the Easter first season sires cater to all shortlist requirements. Continuing the first season sires is Delago Deluxe, which is the epitome of the colonial sprinting type having been unbeaten Champion two-year-

10 EASTER PREVIEW

old in South Africa. Continuing the international first season sire flavour is Dalakhani, a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner and highly accomplished sire in the Northern Hemisphere. One of his two yearlings to be offered is that of Lot 15, a colt out of Ponte Piccolo which makes him a half-brother to Able Friend. The 2012 Inglis Easter graduate is Head of the 2015 World Thoroughbred Rankings (Sprint), Hong Kong Horse Of The Year 2014/15 and Hong Kong Champion Miler 2014/15. Rounding out the first season sires are Ocean Park, Excelebration and All Too Hard. Ocean Park unites the blood of Champion sires Thorn Park, Zabeel and O’Reilly and himself being a five-time Group 1 winner. A highlight of his progeny to be offered is Lot 437, a filly out of Nina From Pasadena, the dam of Group 1 winning two-year-old Pasadena Girl. Excelebration was close to being the best miler seen in Europe in recent years, and is a son of Champion Exceed And Excel. Last but not least of the first season sires is Black Caviar’s Champion Three-YearOld half-brother All Too Hard. Himself a former Easter sale topper, All Too Hard went on to became a quadruple Gr1 winner and is represented by 37 outstanding yearlings.

Inglis is delighted to welcome first-time Easter vendors Goldin Farms, Daandine Stud, Victoria Park, Element Hill, Davali and Elle’s Lodge, who between them consign 13 youngsters by sires including Redoute’s Choice, I Am Invincible, High Chaparral and So You Think. Easter has a habit of delivering successful firsts. Outstanding Easter fillies Mossfun, Bounding, Entisaar and Faint Perfume were all the first foals of their respective dams, Sterling City was the first Group 1 winner for his sire, Shamus Award was the first colt to complete the W.S. Cox Plate / Australian Guineas double, while all three of Fastnet Rock’s first crop Group 1 winners were sold at Easter; Rock Classic, Wanted and Irish Lights. Paul Whelan, Wilf Mula and the other owners of Flying Artie will be hoping to create history with their colt in the coming weeks. The first and only yearling by Artie Schiller to be offered at Easter, Flying Artie was purchased for $50,000 from Session II in 2015. The Group 2 winning colt flew home into second place in the Blue Diamond, and with the Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce in sight it could be fairytale few weeks for his owners. The Inglis Easter Yearling Sale has seen many firsts with each drawing excitement and attracting interest from racing enthusiasts around the world. It is these firsts that shape the future of breeding and racing both nationally and internationally, so don’t miss the 2016 edition to witness first-hand the first of many more champion-making sales.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Matching yearlings and buyers is

JJ’s FORTE If you have been to a yearling sale anywhere around Australia over the past few years, chances are you have come across JJ, aka John Jeffs. Ditto if you were at a NSW racetrack in the 1970s and 80s, or a visitor to Sha Tin during the early 1990s. Story by KRISTEN MANNING

John Jeffs at Sha Tin in 1990

12 EASTER PREVIEW

Such is the varied and fascinating career of John Jeffs that his friendly face is recognisable to many around Australia and abroad. The ever-jovial equine fanatic always makes sure he is never far away from thoroughbred action. Having been born into a racing family at Queanbeyan in April 1942, as his father was a part-time trainer at the now defunct Peak Hill racecourse, Jeffs has been around horses all his life. One of a family of 13, he had ponies as a child and it never even entered his mind that he would work in any other industry. Not that he has ever really considered what he does as being work. Despite being faced with early starts, long hours, the pressures of responsibility and all that goes with a career with horses over the years, Jeffs has enjoyed every minute. “Work is not hard if you enjoy it. For me it has been more like a hobby,” he said. This “hobby” has taken him around Australia and beyond, Jeffs working as secretary firstly at the Cowra Jockey Club, before taking on the same role at several clubs in the area including Canowindra, Gooloogong and Grenfell. From there it was on to Rosehill where, from 1973, he worked as assistant to racecourse manager David Ross. Within three years he was racecourse manager at Rosehill and Canterbury and in 1989 was offered the role of Clerk of the Course, overseeing Sha Tin and Happy Valley. “We had five good years there,” Jeffs recalled, adding that in hindsight he would have relished more time in Hong Kong but with his four children in Australia John and his wife began to feel a bit homesick. “It was a great experience,” he said, still somewhat in awe of the way in which

the Hong Kong Jockey Club goes about its business. “It was some culture shock. I went from controlling two tracks with 65 staff and a $3.5m annual budget to looking after two tracks with 900 staff and a budget of more than $35m!” “The HKJC was great to work for and the then CEO, Major General Guy Watkins, one of the finest men I ever met. During my time there two tracks were introduced, first equitrack then netlon.” There was, Jeffs recalls, plenty of controversy with equitrack (and not just in Hong Kong) and eventually it was pulled up. “As a surface when it was good it was great, when it was bad it was horrid!” The HKJC never hesitated when an improvement was required. “I was told that if at the end of each season I was not happy I should just pull up the track and start again. We never had to do that at Sha Tin but it is on reclaimed land so it settles a bit and each year we had to rebuild part of it. “It is an amazing track and I found horses who liked a bit of give in the ground were really suited. And with its sand base it had amazing drainage. I remember one day we had 27 inches of rain in the 48 hours leading up to race day and the meeting still went ahead.” Working briefly as a freelance consultant back in Australia, Jeffs accepted the post of racecourse manager at Randwick in 1995 where he remained for three years. It was then, “after four decades of dealing with committees,” that Jeffs decided it was time to retire. But there was no way that he was facing a traditional retirement. Whilst finding time during his early racecourse management days to teach his kids how to ride on the clerk’s ponies, Jeffs had been away

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

Jeffs with clients at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale

from every day close contact with horses and he was missing it. “To go into a horse’s box and just spend time with them is a great thing,” he said, chuckling at the memory of something his father used to say. “He said if you throw a shovel of manure down and don’t want to roll in it you are not a horse person!” And so, while continuing on as a consultant to an impressive list of clients, Jeffs jumped at the opportunity to become part of the yearling sale circuit when STC Chairman Jim Fleming, owner of Tyreel Stud, suggested that Jeffs work for him. And so John became the stud’s “meet and greet” person at the major yearling sales. And it was a role that suited him perfectly. He has great memories of his time with Tyreel. “I remember in 2008 we took a draft of 12 to Easter and they all sold for a total of more than $11m, an average of $930,000. It was unbelievable!” One moment from that year sticks in Jeffs’ mind; that was when an Encosta de Lago colt out of the dual Gr.1 winner Republic Lass entered the ring. “The auctioneer said, ‘do I have $400,000, $500,000?’ And there was silence. And then he said ‘ladies and gentlemen we have an opening bid of $1.2m’.” John remembers the excitement of the sales ring as the colt was quickly knocked down to the Inghams’ sole bid. Such was Tyreel’s reputation at this time that Jeffs with track staff at Happy Valley in 1991

many of the trainers and owners Jeffs knew would walk right by, not taking the time to inspect the draft. “I would ask people why they weren’t coming to have a look and they’d say ‘we love your horses but we just can’t afford them’.” But Jeffs was not to be deterred and one of his skills is identifying the right horse for the right person. Such as when Ivan Allen, who he describes as “one of the greatest judges of horses I have known,” walked by and he grabbed him and said, “I have a beautiful Danehill colt who suits you down to the ground.” A $1m later and the colt, who would race with distinction in Gr.1 company as Danehill Express, was Allen’s. “He was a lovely horse who, if not for suffering from stomach ulcers, could have had an even better record.” During Jeffs’ time with Tyreel the stud sold $43m worth of yearlings at Easter. “They had 30 wonderful mares who went to the best stallions. Whenever a Gr.1 mare came on the market it would be inspected and invariably bought for Tyreel.” After the death of Jim Fleming John began working at sales for other studs, for several years with Eliza Park and of late for a mixture of farms including Rushton Park at the recent Inglis Melbourne Premier. At the upcoming Inglis Easter sales he will be working for Kitchwin Hills.

A typical day at the sales for Jeffs kicks off at around 7am when he arrives on site, making sure the horses have had a good night and getting the staff ready. By just after 8am he is off and rolling, ready to “meet, greet and show everyone what they want to see.” Matching horses to buyers is not a skill that everyone has but after years of experience and a vast knowledge of racing people Jeffs has it. Often he will show potential buyers the horses they have asked for and then will add one or two in. “What about having a look at this nice one too?”

“I am so lucky to have found this niche. I have had great employers who have always let me run things how I want, they know the horses and the sales are my babies.” Many a sale has been achieved in this manner, something that Rushton Park’s David Johnson fully appreciates. “JJ is just a star to work with. He is great at putting names to faces, he knows everyone. And he is so good at knowing the links between people. He knows the buyers so well, who will like which horse.” For John the sales are not only a place where he gains great work satisfaction, but where he gets to catch up with the many friends he has made along his racing journey. “You see people at the sales you have not seen since the previous years sales,” he said, always enthusiastic about a job he loves. “I am so lucky to have found this niche. I have had great employers who have always let me run things how I want, they know the horses and the sales are my babies.” EASTER PREVIEW

FIRST SEASON SIRES

RACETRACK RIVALS MEET AGAIN IN THE SALE RING Story by DAVID BAY

14 EASTER PREVIEW

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

EASTER PREVIEW 15

FIRST SEASON SIRES

Rivals Pierro and All Too Hard battle for Easter glory RACETRACK rivals Pierro and All Too Hard should provide plenty of excitement at Inglis Easter 2016 with a large drafts of first crop yearlings. With 78 lots between them (13.4% of the catalogue), they are among eight freshmen represented, plus there are five yearlings by UK-based superstar Frankel. Frankel has already had the sale-topping $NZ1.3m ($1.1m) colt at Karaka, while Pierro had a colt and filly sell for $1.5m and $1.4m at the Gold Coast to top the first crop average there ((37; $262,568) ahead of Animal Kingdom (USA) (three; $250,000) and All Too Hard (31: $221,842). Arrowfield’s Animal Kingdom has seven lots at Inglis Easter, international success story Dalakhani (IRE), who shuttles to Cornerstone, has two from his first southern crop, Newhaven Park’s Gr1 winning 2YO Delago Deluxe has four and Coolmore shuttler Excelebration (IRE) has one. NZ-based Cox Plate Hero Ocean Park (NZ) has eight as has Widden Stud’s Gr 1 sprinter Your Song. The demand for Pierro and All Too Hard youngsters is sure to take centre stage as both had superb careers on the track. They met just four times and

16 EASTER PREVIEW

shared the honours, Pierro defeating All Too Hard into second (1.75 lengths) in the ATC Sires’ Produce-Gr.1 at two, the first defeat for the latter who had won his first three starts at two. Pierro again came up trumps in the Run to the Rose-Gr.3 (1200m), with Your Song second on this occasion and All Too Hard 2.9 lengths astern in fifth. All Too Hard defeated Pierro by a half-length in the Caulfield GuineasGr.1 (1600m) and then finished a narrow second to Ocean Park in the W.S. Cox Plate-Gr.1 (2040m) with Pierro 4.1 lengths back in third. Gai Waterhouse rates Pierro (LonhroMiss Right Note (IRE) by Daylami) as the best horse she has trained in a long career, which is really saying something. Undefeated in six starts at two, he was the Champion Two Year-Old of Australia in 2011-12 winning the Golden Slipper-Gr.1

(1200m), ATC Sires’ Produce-Gr.1 (1400m) and Champagne Stakes-Gr.1 (1600m) and was precocious enough to win the historic Breeders’ Plate-LR (1000m) at Randwick on debut, going on the collect the Silver Slipper-Gr.2 and Todman Stakes-Gr.2 before his Gr.1 Juvenile Triple Crown wins. He was the highest rated juvenile colt since 1977. Pierro won five of eight starts at three when he was acknowledged as the Leading Three Year-Old Male (Sprint) on the World Thoroughbred Rankings. He won the Canterbury Stakes-Gr.1 (1300) from More Joyous and the George Ryder-Gr.1 (1500m) from King Mufasa and was runner-up to Sacred Falls in the Doncaster Mile-Gr.1 (1600m). He retired to Coolmore in 2013 as the winner of 11 of his 14 starts (plus two seconds and a third) for earnings of $4,536,650. Pierro covered 199 mares in his first season (at $77,000) and there are 151 foals from that first crop. His second book was 220 (160 foals) and he looked after 140 mares in 2015, again at $77,000. His Darley-based sire Lonhro (OctagonalShadea by Straight Strike (USA), an Australian Horse of the Year in 2003-04 won 26 of his 35 starts (11 Gr.1) and was Champion Sire in 2010-11. His other Gr.1

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by DAVID BAY

FRANKEL (GB)

(Galileo (IRE)-Kind by Danehill (USA))

FRANKEL was UK Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and his 14 wins included the Dewhurst-Gr.1 at two (Champion 2YO Colt) and 2000 Guineas-Gr.1 at three. His Gr.1 wins also included the Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Sussex Stakes (twice), the Lockinge Stakes and St James’ Palace Stakes and his record of nine consecutive Gr.1 wins is unsurpassed (shared with Zenyatta). Bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms and trained by Henry Cecil he retired to Banstead Manor Farm in Suffolk in 2013 (£125,000) and covered a limited book to southern time later in that year. His five Easter yearlings are a result of those covers and begin with Lot 217, a colt from Might and Power’s

stakes placed half-sister Buenos Aires (IRE) (Rainbow Quest), offered by Cressfield. This colt is a half-brother to four winners including Listed winner and Group placed Buenos Dias (Peintre Celebre). Lot 237, a chestnut filly offered by Three Bridges (for Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock) is the first foal from South African Gr.1 winner Chocolicious (by Machiavellian’s son Kahal); Lot 357 from Cressfield is a bay filly, the first foal of Gr.2 winner Jeu de Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky), a half-sister to Gr.1 winner Nom de Jeu, both from dual Gr.1 winner Prized Gem (Prized (USA)), while Lot 417 is a bay filly born in England from the stakes placed mare Mocca (Sri Pekan). Offered by Widden Stud, she is a half-sister to English Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 placed Kiyoshi (Dubawi). The final Frankel youngster is from John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud and sells as Lot 423. This colt is the first foal of Gr.2 winner and Golden Slipper-Gr.1 third More Strawberries (More Than Ready (USA)-Milva (USA) by Strawberry Road (AUS)). The dam is a half-sister to Gr.1 winner and sire All American and this colt’s third dam, Tersa (Mr. Prospector), won the Prix Morny-Gr.1 and was the leading French juvenile filly of 1988 before a successful stud career where her offspring included dual Gr.1 winner and sire Rock Hard Ten. This colt certainly has the pedigree to be a stallion when his racing days are over.

(Leroidesanimaux-Dalicia by Acatenango)

winners among his 57 stakes winners include the successful young sire Denman, Bounding, Beaded, Mental and Benfica. His 2015 fee was $88,000. Pierro’s dam Miss Right Note (IRE) won in France and Australia (1600m-2400m) and is a half-sister to the European multiple Gr.1 winner and sire Laverock, by Pierro’s grandsire Octagonal (Zabeel), also an Australian Horse of the Year. Miss Right Note is by 1999 European Horse of the Year Daylami (Doyoun-Daltawa by Miswaki), whose 11 wins included the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Britain’s weight for age championship, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 at Royal Ascot. Second dam Sky Song is a daughter of multiple champion UK sire Sadler’s Wells and Miss Right Note is bred on a very successful cross of Mill Reef/Sadler’s Wells, further reinforced as Pierro’s third dam, Listed winner Criquette, is a daughter of Derby winner Shirley Heights, like Doyoun a son of Mill Reef. Pierro carries a 5fx5m,6m cross of Mill Reef’s sire Never Bend (plus a line of Never Bend’s half-brother Bold Reason in the fifth remove), a 4mx5m of Mr. Prospector and he has the half-siblings Nureyev and Fairy Bridge 5x4. Pierro has the biggest draft of any first crop sire with 41 lots catalogued including several tracing to flying filly and wonderful taproot mare Mumtaz Mahal, also the ancestor of Octagonal’s dam Eight Carat (GB), another great broodmare of the 20th century. These include the brown colt (Lot 202)

ANIMAL KINGDOM (USA)

won five races (two Gr.1) and was five times runner-up (three Gr.1) in 12 starts for earnings topping $8m. He won at two, three, four and five, his major wins coming in the Kentucky Derby-Gr.1 (10f) and Dubai World Cup-Gr.1 (2000m). He stands at Arrowfield and is from the Blushing Groom male line. His seven Easter offerings include a colt (Lot 168) from Arrowfield, the first foal of Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 runner-up Aliyana Tilde (Snitzel) and a filly from Arrowfield (137), from Victory Party (USA) (Yankee Victor), the dam a half-sister to Gr.1 winners Beholder and Into Mischief.

(Thorn Park-Sayyida by Zabeel)

OCEAN PARK (NZ)

THE 2012-13 NZ Horse of the Year won eight races and included the Cox Plate among his five Gr.1 wins. He is from the same family as leading NZ sire O’Reilly and the Waikato Stud sire had first crop yearlings sell to $NZ325,000 at the 2016 Karaka Premier. His eight at Easter include Lot 208, a bay colt from NZ Oaks-Gr.1 winner Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistlerooy (USA)), offered by Trelawney Stud and a bay filly (Lot 437) from Blandford Lodge. She is from Nina From Pasadena (Redoute’s Choice) and is a half-sister to Champagne Stakes-Gr.1 heroine Pasadena Girl (Savabeel).

EASTER PREVIEW 17

FIRST SEASON SIRES Story by DAVID BAY

(Encosta de Lago-Succeeding by Flying Spur)

YEARLINGS by Newhaven Park’s dual Gr.1 winner Delago Deluxe, a horse inbred 3mx3f to Rolls (USA) (Mr. Prospector) and from the immediate family of Duporth, Tickets and Excites, were all the rage at the Inglis Classic where nine averaged $60,000 on a top of $105,000. His four at Easter include Lot 467, a filly from proven producer Betrille (Don’t Say Halo (USA)) offered by Newhaven Park. The stakes placed dam has already produced stakes winner Turban and stakes placed Fly Higher. Lot 572, also from Newhaven Park, is a filly from stakes placed Sweet Ransom (Red Ransom (USA)), dam of Group placed Collect and a daughter of Gosford Belle of the Turf-LR winner Rubitoff (Rubiton), a sister to dual Gr.1 winner Rubitano.

DELAGO DELUXE

(Darshaan-Daltawa by Miswaki)

ARC DE TRIOMPHE-Gr.1 and French Derby-Gr.1 winner Dalakhani (IRE) was Horse of the Year in Europe and Champion Three Year-Old in 2003 and has a superb stud record in Europe with the likes of Conduit and Integral. His French Derby-winning son Reliable Man triumphed in the Queen Elizabeth-Gr.1 at Randwick before beginning stud duty in NZ (first crop yearlings). Shuttling to Cornerstone for the Aga Khan, Dalakhani has two Easter entries. First up is Lot 15, a bay or brown colt from Listed winner and Group (IRE) placed Ponte Piccolo (NZ) (Volksraad (GB)), offered by Fairview Park (for Ausbred). He is a half-brother to HK Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter (WTR) Able Friend (13 wins and $8.8m). Lot 325, from Element Hill, is a bay colt from the unraced Global Dance (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells), a half-sister to Irish Oaks-Gr.1 winner and English Oaks-Gr.1 runner-up Moonstone (Dalakhani). The dam is also a half-sister to Prix Saint-Alary-Gr.1 winner Cerulean Sky (by Dalakhani’s sire Darshaan).

DALAKHANI

(Exceed and Excel (AUS)-Sun Shower by Indian Ridge)

EXCELEBRATION (IRE)

COOLMORE’S outstanding miler and triple Gr.1 winner Excelebration (IRE) was unlucky to be racing at the same time as Frankel and was three times second at Gr.1 level (and once third at Gr.1) to that champion. Still, he won eight of 15 starts and is a son of champion Australian sprinter and leading sire Exceed and Excel (Danehill). His sole Easter offering is Lot 494, a chestnut colt offered by the Vierra Group. His unraced dam Further (More Than Ready) is a daughter of Gr.3 winner Shelbourne Lass (Brocco) and a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Elusive Touch (Elusive Quality (USA)).

(Fastnet Rock (AUS)-Zembu by Fuji Kiseki)

SONS of Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock are already flying high with Hinchinbrook leading the first and second crop lists for Yarraman Park, so the eight Easter yearlings by Your Song are sure to attract attention. The Widden Stud sire, by champion sprinter and sire Fastnet Rock from the city winner Zembu by Fuji Kiseki (Sunday Silence), won the BTC Cup-Gr.1 over 1200m at Eagle Farm and his second and third dams are by breed shapers Mr. Prospector and Nijinsky. Millie Fox Stakes-Gr.3 winner A Country Girl (Singspiel) has a bay colt (Lot 453) in the Muskoka Farm draft. His stakes winning second dam, Verdict Declared (Mr Henrysee (USA)), is a sister to Doomben 10,000-Gr.1 winner and sire Mr Innocent. Edinglassie has a bay colt (Lot 64) from Gr.2 winner and Oakleigh Plate-Gr.1 runner-up Segments (Mossman), while Corumbene will offer a bay colt (Lot 87) from Spirit of Grace (Dr Grace) who is a half-brother to dual Gr.1 winner and sire Turffontein.

YOUR SONG

18 EASTER PREVIEW

from Gr.3 winner Bliss Street (Flying Spur). This colt’s fourth dam Loreef (GB) (by the Mill Reef horse Main Reef) is out of Lora, a three-quarter sister to Eight Carat’s dam Klairessa. Similarly bred is another from Coolmore, the bay colt (Lot 354) from Listed winner Irongail (Canny Lad), whose second dam, Young Vic (by the Sadler’s Wells son Old Vic), is a granddaughter of Lora, while Carramar Park’s bay colt (Lot 552), from Danehill daughter Rosnaree (IRE), has the champion sprinter Habibti (Habitat) as his third dam. She is a half-sister to Eight Carat. Others sure to attract plenty of attention in the draft of Pierro first croppers include Segenhoe offering (for Fairway Thoroughbreds) of Lot 25, a brown Pierro filly from triple Gr.1 winner Private Steer (Danehill Dancer), dam of three winners including Second Bullet, Kia-Ora’s brown colt (Lot 223) from Gr.3 winner and classic-placed Carribean Sunset (IRE) (Danehill Dancer) and the bay filly (Lot 250) from champion mare Dane Ripper (Danehill), whose four Gr.1 wins included the Australian Cup and Cox Plate. In the Coolmore draft this filly is inbred 5mx4m to champion sire Sir Tristram and this is a very good pedigree from a mare who has already left two stakes placed runners among four winners. Sir Tristram’s champion sire son Zabeel is doubled 4mx2f in the pedigree of Lot 267, a bay filly by Pierro from Australian Oaks-Gr.1 winner Dizelle (Zabeel), offered by Coolmore. Her second dam, Danelagh (Danehill), won the Blue Diamond and third dam Palatious (Semipalatinsk) won the Perth Cup-Gr.2. Dizelle has already produced Listed winner Dizlago and there is enormous residual value here. Segenhoe (for Fairway) offers Lot 283 and this brown Pierro colt is from dual Gr.2 winner Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock) and from the family of Silent Witness, while Muskoka’s colt (Lot 320) from Irish Gr.2 winner Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) is from the family of multiple Gr.1 winner and sire Hector Protector. There will be plenty of eyes turned when Lot 399, a bay/brown colt from the Willow Park draft enters the ring. This Pierro colt from Gr.3 winner and proven producer Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet) is a half-brother to seven winners including multiple Gr.1 winner and $7.2m earner Criterion, Gr.2 winner Varenna Miss and Listed winner and stakes producer Silently. Another noted producer is responsible for Lot 326 (Yarraman Park), the filly from star WA juvenile Most Secret (Bletchley Park), dam of eight winners including Railway Stakes-Gr.1 heroine Covertly

A quick snap shot of Horsepower clients’ results at the

INGLIS EASTER YEARLING

SALE

results over the pas t 5 years 2011

3 of the top 5 Leading Vendors by Average were Horsepower clients

1st, 4th & 5th 2012

3 of the top 5 Leading Vendors by Average were Horsepower clients

1st, 4th & 5th 2013

3 of the top 5 Leading Vendors by Average were Horsepower clients

2nd, 3rd & 4th 2014

3 of the top 5 Leading Vendors by Average were Horsepower clients

1st, 3rd & 5th 2015

4 of the top 5 Leading Vendors by Average were Horsepower clients

1st, 2nd, 4th & 5th

Good Luck to all our clients at this years Sale

180 0 681 117

THIS MAN IS A BLOODSTOCK AGENT

PINHOOK FILTER By using the new pinhook filter in our sales ‘price guide’ previews he was able to save so many hours work he can now afford to spend a little time on the beach improving his tan. Look for the ‘price guides’ heading on our home page.

www.stallions.com.au

PAGE

BUYER’S PERSPECTIVE

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

Finding the next champion

Story by WARREN WRUCK

With recent graduates the likes of Catkins, Super Cool, Karacatis, Krupt, Aeronautical, Lets Rocknroll, Testamezzo and Wowee doing the farm proud, the quality continues unabated for Amarina Farm.

caption

Proven stallion Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of Lot 112, a bay colt from dual stakeswinning Danehill mare Princesa, already the dam of Reset filly Star of Giselle (SAJC Queen of the South Stakes-Gr.2, MRC Mannerism StakesGr.3), Street Cry filly Solicit (VRC A.V. Kewney Stakes-Gr.2), and three other winners. “This fellow stands over plenty of ground and has great scope.”

How long have you been selling at Easter and your top graduates? Lot 135, a bay filly by Northern Meteor from the Exceed and Excel mare Riptide, a metropolitan winner at two, is closely related to River Dove, Cross Current, Kulgrinda, Oneworld, Willow Creek and boom juvenile Headwater. “All Class!” Another filly, this time a bay by champion sire Street Cry (IRE), is Lot 190 from the talented Flying Spur juvenile Sleek Chassis (VRC Blue Diamond Stakes Gr.1). This is also the family of Gr.1 winner Marble Halls. This is the final of just three foals from the mare, who died aged 10, in 2014. The next from Amarina is on the second day with Lot 348, a filly by Golden Slipper winner Sebring from well related and city-winning Perugino mare Crystal Fairy, a half-sister to Golden Slipper-Gr.1 winner Crystal Lily. “A filly with scope who might get over more ground than her pedigree suggests.” High Chaparral’s colt, Lot 367,

from Di Falco (NZ), a Zabeel half-sister to Gr.3 winner Valpolicella (dam of Gr.2 winner Vilanova), is sure to attract interest. “As his pedigree suggests, will need time but will mature into a lovely three year-old.” Lot 382, a chestnut filly by champion sire Exceed and Excel, is from Elusive Desire (Elusive Quality), a metropolitan winner and half-sister to stakes winner Secret Liaison. “She has good girth and forearm, and looks an early running type.” From the family of Princess Tracy and Typhoon Tracy, the bay colt (Lot 397) by dual Cox Plate winner So You Think (NZ) from the Redoute’s Choice metropolitan-winning mare Fanfares, is sure to have plenty of admirers as he is a half-brother to Listed winner Raffles Pegasus. “He’s a leggy individual with a good fluent action,” Craig said. Lot 411 continues Amarina’s day two offerings and is a chestnut filly by Exceed and Excel from the stakes placed winning Lonhro mare Fly Higher. “Neat feminine filly with a good attitude.” A filly with immense appeal is Lot 416, the bay or brown by More Than Ready from the dual Gr.1-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Gallica (SAJC Schweppes Oaks-Gr.1, MRC 1000 Guineas Gr.1). Denman NSW 2328 t: 02 6547 1261 e: office@amarinafarm.com.au amarinafarm.com.au

Craig said this filly, bred on the successful More Than Ready/Danehill cross is “fairly typical of the More Than Ready stock with good athleticism.” Lot 430 is a bay colt by Snitzel from the Gr.1 placed winning American mare Hamsa (by Fusaichi Pegasus), from the family of Gr.1 winners Astronomer Royal (USA), Vicar and It’smyluckyday. “This is a strong colt with good presence and a great eye.” The penultimate yearling into the ring for Amarina is Lot 439, a bay colt by English Derby winner New Approach (Galileo) from metropolitan-winning Danehill mare Homecoming Queen, already the dam of two stakes placed winners in Elusive King and American Dream plus two further winners. “Strong individual, staying type.” The draft is rounded out with the presentation of Lot 463 near the end of day two. A bay colt by More Than Ready, he is out of the stakes placed winning Encosta de Lago mare Jujube and is closely related to Sleek Chassis and

Story by RENEE GEELEN Photos by KIRSTY LUCKINS & STEVE HART EASTER PREVIEW 21

VENDORS BUYER’S PERSPECTIVE

Experts reveal what they look for in an Easter yearling THE Inglis Australian Easter Sale at Newmarket in Sydney from April 5-7 attracts buyers from around the globe to buy the cream of our yearling crop. In this article five of our most experienced buyers explain what they look for when selecting a young equine athlete. THE Inglis Australian Easter Sale at Newmarket in Sydney from April 5-7 attracts buyers from around the globe to buy the cream of our yearling crop. In this article five of our most experienced buyers explain what they look for when selecting a young equine athlete.

James Harron, bloodstock agent EASTER is a very exciting sale for us. It’s a great time of year and Inglis, in conjunction with the great breeders we have in Australasia, always comes up with the goods in terms of a superb catalogue. We approach the sale much like any other, looking at every horse on the grounds and pulling together our shortlist from there. I’m looking for a strong, forward individual with a good, purposeful action, and am a great believer in buying the best physicals. I’m also keen to see how the horse copes with the sales process as it is a high-pressure time for a young horse, and in that regard if a horse is handling the sales well you can have more confidence he will cope well with life in a racing stable.

Gary Cuddy, general manager Spendthrift Australia OUR criteria for buying yearlings at Spendthrift don’t change by sale. We have a strict process for each individual, starting with the pedigree and following through to type. Our team will try to look at every yearling, even those who don’t meet our pedigree requirements, as this provides a good education for everyone. As a farm, we are new to Australia, and by creating a process, where we inspect every yearling and make comprehensive notes, we can keep an eye out for patterns to ensure we don’t miss anything going into the future. And, at the end of the day, it is this local knowledge and experience that

22 EASTER PREVIEW

tends to be the best method for picking a good horse. As far as the individual requirements, it is really a horse-by-horse basis. Some issues can be forgiven, for example a small filly can cope with some problems better than the same issue on a larger colt and vice-versa. I guess you could say that Spendthrift is interested in the overall outcome for each yearling. As a business, we spend a fair amount of time on risk mitigation. In America it is becoming standard practice to perform pre-sale scopes on yearlings. It makes sense for us to do this, as it buys us options and time. For example, if we buy a lot and it fails the post-sale scope, during the time this takes more than 20 lots can go through the ring. If we like a lot only five horses after the first one, we run the risk of missing both if we have to wait for the post-sale scope. This year, the competition for horses has been strong. We only bought four colts at Magic Millions and had plenty of big international buyers up against us for the lots we really liked. I think this investment will continue through the year. In particular, the interest from overseas is great for the local industry, and while it makes buying a good horse harder for us, it is good to see as we are planning to be in Australia for the long term.

James Bester, bloodstock agent FIRST and foremost, at Easter or any other yearling sale, I’m looking for athleticism. Whether or not Usain Bolt’s parents could run becomes largely irrelevant when you see his physique. Cathy Freeman’s brothers, whom I saw celebrating her great Sydney 2000 win, were certainly no Olympians. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for super sires like Fastnet Rock, but pedigree page is much like fashion labels. I prefer to use them primarily as a guide

2016 2016 AUSTRALIAN AUSTRALIAN EASTER EASTER YEARLING YEARLING SALE SALE Story by RENEE GEELEN Photos by KIRSTY LUCKINS & STEVE HART to price, and also as an indication of likely distance range. What do I look for in an equine athlete? Firstly it must have the requisite size, scope and strength. The relative importance of those three factors depends on whether I’m looking at a sprinter, miler or stayer. Then I want to see quality, a good head, large bright eye, nostrils like soup plates and a jaw space you could almost fit your head inside. A good length of rein is a plus, as is a lovely sloping shoulder, deep girth and well sprung ribs. I also want to see a good forearm and gaskin, with strength and length, atop of relatively short cannons, with pasterns that are at a good 45-degree angle. Similarly, hindquarters must be strong with the correct angles (neither sickle or post-legged), and vitally possessing a good hip or pelvic length. Finally, I love to see a good action, a horse who is reaching and extending in front and overstepping behind, with a swing of hip and a strong, purposeful thrust. I have become convinced that action is more important in Europe than in America and Australia. In Australia, because of the way we train and race here, a strong physique tends to trump an elegant action. That said; if I see both in the same animal, I’m inclined to go for broke! The great thing about the Easter catalogue is that it manages to successfully combine the best of both pedigree page and type. It is still the sale of first choice for most breeders lucky enough to have animals who qualify and of course for buyers with the wherewithal to compete there.

Peter Snowden, trainer THE first thing you need at Easter is a good owner! On a more serious note, really it is type that matters the most. Pedigree is not the be-all and end-all as all the best families at are Easter. Personally, I want an up and running type; an athlete with good bone and lots of muscle tone. Importantly, they need to have a good nature and can parade well all day without getting upset. This shows they will cope with the workload of two year-old racing. In the end, experience will tell you if they will come to hand quickly. I haven’t had a lot of luck with horses who are back at the knee. Sometimes this issue is just immaturity and they will come right, other times it will stay with them and I’ve found horses like that seem to have more knee problems, like bone chips. Most other issues you can work with. I find that a horse who is long in the pasterns takes more time to be ready. Being offset in the knee, or toed in or out doesn’t really matter provided the horse has the natural gait you want to see. Even at a walk you can usually tell if a horse will cope with a problem or not. The Easter sale takes some of the

Gr1 winner WANDJINA as a yearling at the 2013 Inglis Easter sale (purchased by James Harron)

guesswork out of it, because the horses are three months older than at other sales, so they are closer to their mature height. You tend to get what you see in front of you, rather than having to guess how much a horse will mature. On the other hand, this can make it hard to find value. This year the market is very strong, and it is easy to get roped into paying overs for a horse. I have to remember to stick to my budget for what a horse is worth and be willing to wait for the next one if a horse goes over the set budget. Because our stable has to on-sell horses to owners, and often into syndicates, deciding on value and keeping to budget is very important.

Gai Waterhouse, trainer

WANDJINA winning the Gr1 Australian Guineas

WHAT I look for in a yearling, at any sale, is an athletic type. This is the most important criterion when buying a horse. When I go to Easter, the horses have a more serious pedigree and I want to blend the superb athlete with the superb pedigree. The horse must live up to the page. When I am buying at Easter, I am usually buying for people I call boutique buyers. These people are looking for the longer-term investment, be that a good broodmare or a stallion prospect. Regardless of that long-term view, I always must buy the racehorse first. It’s very straightforward. If the horse is not a racehorse, then the long-term investment isn’t there. And, as always, I look for value. I want the athlete for the best price for my clients

EASTER PREVIEW 23

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by DONNA STODDART together and she’s enjoying the whole experience.”

Q: Were you another “sporty” person at school, as most racing folk seem to be? A: “Oh of course, I loved all sports. At school I played cricket, basketball, rugby league, rugby union (we only had one rugby team at school as it was only a small school, so we had to do both). I also played hockey for a while, I loved squash and played in competitions of a weekend. Loved tennis also, really any sport I could get into. Having had three brothers and with only a year in between each of us, we were always playing sport of some kind.”

Q: Now while at school, you became interested in joining the navy. Where did that interest lead?

Mark Webster WHEN Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was a kid, he would fight for the wishbone from the Sunday roast chook. His wish was always the same, he wanted his own horse, but living in suburbia and from a blue-collar family, it wasn’t going to happen. So he improvised . . . Q: How did you get around your desire for your horse “fix”?

Q: And you would also go to the races as a child?

A: “Well I worked at McDonald’s from the age of 14 and the money I was earning I would use to go trail riding at the local riding schools. My brothers and friends and I would stage our own Melbourne Cup on these riding school horses. We would pull a stick each off the branch and line our horses up and race across the paddock out at Scenic Hills, near Ingleburn. There was also a riding school at Menangle, we would go to both of them.”

A: “Yes, my father used to love horses too and he would take us kids along to Warwick Farm racecourse and we’d run around there while the races were on. We’d take a cricket bat as well and my brothers and I would just enjoy a day at the races, it just really got in my blood from there. “My father unfortunately passed away at 60 from cancer, but my mother is still alive and healthy and actually has a share in a Lope de Vega colt that we are racing

A: “Well it started in Year 12, some friends of mine were heading into town to the defence recruiters with the prospect of going to the defence academy which was opening in Canberra the following year. I really only just went along with them to see what it was about, it certainly wasn’t a lifetime goal or anything. I got caught up in the whole ADFA (Australian Defence Force Academy) thing that was going on at the time, there was a lot of publicity about it and I liked the idea of going into the military, getting a degree and becoming an officer. “I met the recruiters for the army, navy and air force and I really thought that the navy sounded the best. Going on ships and travelling around the world, it just sounded really appealing. “I went through ADFA first, for three years and then did a year at the Naval College down in Jervis Bay to graduate as an officer, as a sub-lieutenant. I quite liked all the training and the education and picked it up pretty quickly. I was the dux of the college and then went on to specialise in navigation and further again into warfare. I did a principal warfare officer’s course, which is basically the most elite training you can do in the navy. “I did training in Australia, in San Diego and in the UK and then was deployed on various ships such as the Brisbane and the Perth to use all those skills that I had learnt. I was lucky enough to spend time on other ships as well. I was on an American aircraft carrier, working for an American admiral for a time using those warfare skills. I spent a bit of time in submarines during that time as well, learning how to attack ships from a sub-mariner’s perspective. So there was a lot going on at that time learning about warfare and how to compete.”

Q: So how has what you learned in the navy, helped you in other roles you have filled in your working life? EASTER PREVIEW 25

MOVERS & SHAKERS

A: “There was a lot of knowledge poured into my head by the time that I left, but obviously only the more ‘generalised’ things I could take with me. Certainly the competition side of things stayed with me when I went to News Ltd. As News was competing against Fairfax and other media all the time and now at Inglis we are competing against other sales organizations, the art of competing and strategy, planning, teamwork and accountability, they are all good skills I learnt in the navy and applied elsewhere.”

Q: I guess working at News Ltd you would have some skills to bring to the table when you started at Inglis? A: “I’d say definitely the discipline of business planning. It’s quite a rigid, thorough system for budgeting and strategy planning and understanding how to resolve challenges within a business. I think another thing I learned from Rupert Murdoch in particular which is very relevant, is if you try something and it doesn’t work, then just cut it and move on. “The worst thing you can do is keep persisting with things that don’t work. In my time at Inglis we’ve tried different things, like moving sales around, but if we find they are not working I just cut it and try something else. “Another important point I got from

26 EASTER PREVIEW

Rupert was not to layer new initiatives on top of old ones. So with every new expense that comes in you’ve got to find something to cut. If for example the marketing team wanted to spend $200,000 on some new idea to connect with clients, well that is all great, but I would want to look if there’s an area where we are spending money that is not working, that’s not delivering. You look where you want an addition and where you can take away. “News Ltd also provided me with a good understanding of media. I also learned the importance of client management and how to develop a good relationship with your clients. Also looking specifically at technology, my time running all the digital side of things with News gave me a pretty good grasp of technology and how to use it to grow a business. When I came to Inglis it gave me a really good opportunity to apply it and be really innovative within the company. In the first couple of years I got stuck into new things such as online bidding, an online repository, you know we were the first to do that; online ‘make an offer’ services, the Inglis IPad app, we developed them also. There’s been so many innovations we’ve developed and we have a good team of people around us, but I have no doubt that the confidence I gained at News Ltd certainly did help in that area.

“I’d like to emphasise that in all my roles I have surrounded myself with good people, this is key. The current team at Inglis is brilliant, they make me look good.”

Q: Now, getting back to your involvement in horse racing, I understand you were breeding thoroughbreds when you left the navy? A: “Yes my wife Natasha and I bought a share in the stallion Nothin’ Leica Dane, he was coming off the track after winning the Victoria Derby. Natasha and I bought a couple of cheap broodmares for $2000 and $1000 at the Inglis sale and we started breeding. I stopped breeding though when I started working for Inglis because we have a company policy that we don’t engage in horse breeding, so as we don’t compete with our clients. We’ve stayed involved in the racing side of it though, we’ve raced a few over the years with family and friends, which is good fun.”

Q: Have you had any success on the racetrack with your horses? A: “Well there have been no big superstars, but probably the most successful I’ve raced in the last few years would be one called Fill the Page. I bought her for $12,000 with some work colleagues and she won $250,000, with one of her wins being the Listed Canberra

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by DONNA STODDART Cup, which was nice. We have one racing at the moment with Barbara Joseph called Darts Away, who has won three now. “It would be nice to own a Gr.1 winner, but I just really enjoy racing with the family. The Lope de Vega colt I purchased last year that I’m racing with them, well there are 13 in the syndicate and 12 of them have never been involved with a horse before. They are all really enjoying it, and the horse came out as a two year-old and won his first trial. Unfortunately he went shin sore, and is out in the paddock, but he will be back. Being a part of a syndicate you can still have that racing experience and all the fun, without having to spend a fortune.”

Q: And now you are also involved with horses of a different breed too? A: “Yes, the whole family is into Quarter Horses. I’m the president of the Sydney Quarter Horse Association, in my spare time and my wife is also on the committee. We run all the Quarter Horse shows in the Cobbity area, which is where we live, and we both also compete. I have three horses that I compete on, my wife has two and our kids compete as well. Actually both daughters in the past have been the champion youth riders of New South Wales in western events. Our son Harry, who is nine, has a little Welsh pony he rides around, he’s not competing on a Quarter Horse yet. “At the moment I am training and showing a two year-old in addition to my older horses. So yes we are right into it, we’ve got a couple of broodmares at home too, we breed a few foals each year and it’s a real love.”

Lankan Rupee, Dissident, Fawkner, Sacred Star, Foxwedge, Hucklebuck, Star Witness, they have siblings entered. “It’s a shame to only mention a few, but there’s such depth there it’s impossible to name them all. It will be great theatre sitting through the three days of the sale with all these celebrity yearlings coming through.”

Q: You have some yearlings by Frankel too, it will be interesting to see how they are received. A: “Yes I think it will be a feature having the five Frankels there, there was one in New Zealand who sold well. It should be another drawcard to get people there. I’m getting good feedback on them, in particular the colt out of More Strawberries I’ve been told is a real star!” I think there will be a lot of interest in them, not only from the international buyers, but I think there will be locals who will be really intrigued by the Frankel yearlings.”

Q: Now one question we always like to ask is do you have any advice for someone, in particular a young person, who wants to work within the industry?

A: “Don’t be afraid to go and talk to people, don’t be intimidated. We are all just people, whether it’s me, a trainer, a breeder, we all like to talk to others. Come up and say hello, tell us what your goals are, what your interests are. We can’t find something for you if we don’t know that you are interested. “Another thing, don’t try and start at the top. We’ve had people come in who don’t want to get their hands dirty; just get the runs on the board first. Sometimes you might need to start off with an internship or even just work experience. And if you can show that you have good people and communication skills, they are also very important for this industry.”

Q: There’s a move coming up for Inglis in the future I hear? A: “Yes, I’m excited about the future and the relocation of the Sydney operations to Warwick Farm. I feel this will be an important legacy for the company and the industry in general. The new facility will be incredible, it will blow every other horse selling facility away! Even those who are resistant to change will fall in love with it.”

Q: Getting back to the topic of Inglis, you have recently held the Classic Sale and your results were very pleasing? A: “If you looked at some of the other sales, they have been up 15-20% on averages, and I was hoping that we might be up 20%. But for the average to be up 37%, well I was just delighted, but probably even more telling is the median for the sale, which was up 47%, that is huge! We have also doubled the gross turnover for the sale in the past two years and had a clearance rate of 90% of the yearlings. “I think moving the timing of the sale back a few weeks, changing the format of the sale to starting on Saturday night after the races and also focusing on getting better horses into the sale really paid off. We also focused on trying to ensure we have plenty of buyers for every level of horse at the sale.”

Q: Moving forward to Easter, you have some quality yearlings entered? A: “There are 47 siblings to Gr.1 winners and such a depth there too. Names like Criterion, Able Friend, Winx, EASTER PREVIEW 27

PICTORIAL

BUYERS at EASTER 2015

28 EASTER PREVIEW

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

PROPERTY Stud property agent Michael Burke has been based in Scone with MacCallum Inglis since 2003. As an agent, Michael had a “running start in the game” with a pedigree steeped in stock and station agency, and racing history. Both his father (Terry) and grandfather (Patrick) served as president of the Tamworth Jockey Club, and both held agency licenses (Terry Burke is the current licensee of Burke and Smyth Country, Tamworth). Following the start of the partnership between MacCallum and Company, and William Inglis and Sons in 2004, Michael become a partner in the business the following year, and quickly jumped at the opportunity to specialise in stud property marketing in the heart of thoroughbred country. This has yielded great results with Michael selling “undeveloped” country to a large number of the major international studs in the area, and selling established stud farms for clients. In the past 10 years Michael has sold or advised clients on the sale of over 65% of the total stud properties sold in the Upper Hunter. “To me, success is not only based on sales results, but also the amount of repeat clients that I work with. This continuation of the working relationship post sales has given me the opportunity to sell some stud farms as many as three times. I believe that an honest and ethical approach to the relationship is integral to its success, and I pride myself on providing the correct advice from the start to the end of the sale process”. “Currently I see a great deal of strength in the middle tier of the stud property market, and this is a direct

result of the outstanding yearling sales, and robust state of New South Wales racing. This strength can partly be attributed to the professionalism shown by the Upper Hunter’s stud property owners which is something to be commended. Generally speaking, the district’s stud properties are well developed, their staff well trained and their marketing is outstanding. I have seen sales results of as much as $43,000 per Acre based around a moderately sized 1 stallion business that was immaculately presented. Like a yearling at sale time, presentation of a property can make such a difference to the sale result”. Michael Burke is a partner of MacCallum Inglis based in Scone. Contact details for Michael are mobile 0429 692 454 or michael@maccalluminglis.com.au.

LOOK

to a proven and long record of success when it comes to selling stud property. MacCallum Inglis, based in the heart of thoroughbred country have served as the predominant agency for prospective purchasers looking to secure, or vendors looking to sell a thoroughbred stud property in the Upper Hunter Valley. Having sold country to: • Arrowfield • Segenhoe • Coolmore • Emirates Park • Patinack Farm • Middlebrook Park In the past 12 months MacCallum Inglis have been the sole agents for, or introduced the purchasers to the sales of four Upper Hunter Broodmare farms (Bhima, Redman Park, Part Crowning Stone and Goanna Downs). In addition, MacCallum Inglis have sold some of the Upper Hunter’s largest grazing properties over the same time such as Glenrock Station (76,000 Acres east of Scone). Our advantage is local knowledge, coupled with a database put together over a decade. Daily contact with the Upper Hunter’s studs gives us an intimate understanding of the local market and its’ nuances. Our holistic approach to our clients is unique, and our reach is wide with half of this year’s property sales being to interstate, or international purchasers.

LOOK to MacCallum Inglis for tried, and proven results. If you are looking to either buy or sell a thoroughbred property in the Upper Hunter Valley, contact Michael Burke for a confidential discussion with regards to your requirements. Contact Michael Burke email:

michael@maccalluminglis.com.au

mobile:

0429 692 454

View our listings online at www.maccalluminglis.com.au

Ph 02 6540 1200 Fax 02 6545 2687 198 Kelly Street, Scone NSW 2337 www.maccalluminglis.com.au

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

Phil Sly and Katsumi Yoshida at Inglis Easter Politeness wins the 2015 Gr.1 VRC Myer Classic

The joys of ownership have no borders The Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is renowned for attracting the biggest names in Australia’s thoroughbred industry, and becoming more common are international names partnering with locals, both of whom recognise the abundance of opportunity at all levels to be found throughout the catalogue. The colours of Australian owner Phil Sly are well known to race callers down under, while the strength of Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida can be seen on racetracks around the globe. Together the pair have formed a successful bond, grown from sharing in the success of Easter graduates. The Sly-Yoshida partnership began with star filly Mosheen. A $250,000 buy from Bylong Park Thoroughbreds’ draft at Easter in 2010, the daughter of Fastnet Rock showed plenty of promise from day one. Racing for Sly, at just her second start Mosheen showed her raw talent finishing second to Sepoy in the Golden Slipper, gaining the attention of Yoshida, one of the world’s largest breeders. A win in the VRC Oaks as a threeyear-old cemented Mosheen’s position as one of the best of her generation and a deal was brokered for Yoshida to buy a half-share in the filly. Subsequent Group 1 victories in the Australian Guineas, Randwick Guineas and Vinery Stud Stakes saw Mosheen’s value skyrocket and at the end of her racing career Yoshida purchased the remaining stake in the mare and added her to his illustrious broodmare band. After experiencing the joys of Group 1 success with Mosheen, together Sly and Yoshida decided to buy a few yearling fillies in partnership at the sales. $185,000 Easter purchase Lumosty has won just shy of $500,000 and saluted at Group 2 level twice for the partnership, while Politeness, a modest $115,000 buy from Sledmere Stud’s draft in 2012, is the latest chapter to the Sly-Yoshida story.

30 EASTER PREVIEW

Politeness won at Group 3 level as a three-year-old and a modest four-yearold season almost saw her shipped off to Japan last July. But Sly wanted to give the mare her chance in the Melbourne Spring Carnival, and a great decision that was with the daughter of Street Sense winning the Group 1 VRC Myer Classic to the loud cheers of trackside Phil Sly and Yoshida’s representatives. At Easter this year Sledmere Stud will present a colt from the last crop of Street Cry out of Berengaria (Lot 197), making him a three-quarter brother to Sly and Yoshida’s million dollar earner. Sledmere’s Catriona Murphy commented of the colt “He is not too dissimilar to Politeness; he is a very attractive colt with good size and scope. Very much like his big sister in that he has an exceptional athletic walk; a real gentleman to handle.” Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller prepares horses for owners based all across Australia and the globe. They include Group 1 winning colt Vanbrugh, who was purchased by an Irish based bloodstock agent and now races for part-owners that are based in both Sydney and California. International bloodstock agent Mick Flanagan is open that “I got bitten by the bug of racing in Australia” during his time in the Darley Flying Start course and in 2014 came to Easter with “a relatively small budget” to find a few colts for his American based clients. One of those was Vanbrugh, an Encosta de Lago colt purchased from Widden Stud for $100,000. Trained by Chris Waller,

Vanbrugh’s spring campaign culminated in an impressive victory in the Group 1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes for the USA-based Merriebelle Stable and Sydney-based owners Francis and Barbara Kennedy. Flanagan is certainly a big fan of the opportunities that Easter provides for buyers at all levels commenting “you can be big, small or huge – it’s got everything. Certainly the year we came down we didn’t find it very hard to find our horses. We got them bought and we’ve never looked back.” One colt that Antony Thompson of Widden Stud is keen to show Flanagan, Waller and the Kennedys this year is Lot 567, a So You Think half-sister to Vanbrugh. Widden have been selling with Inglis for over 100 years and as a major event for the stud’s commercial breeding program Thompson knows how important Easter is. “Everything at Easter from our point of view we want to do right. It’s a great time to really showcase the farm, from the Widden Valley to Newmarket we want to try and show people what we do and the way those horses are cared for and grown out is a reflection on everything the farm does and a real advertisement for us,” Thompson says. “Easter has an incredible atmosphere, there’s a great build up. Sydney for the Easter Yearling Sales is all about racing and you get the sense from the community, everyone in the city understands the racing at that time of the year and the importance of the Easter Yearling Sale,” Antony adds. All local, national and international thoroughbred enthusiasts will be drawn to Sydney in early April. The 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale will be held between Days One and Two of The Championships, where prizemoney totalling $20 million will be offered over the two days of racing, including eight Group 1 races. Maybe a few partnerships between Australians and our overseas guests will be formed with future Championships in mind, just like those already experiencing the joys of racing Easter graduates such as Politeness and Vanbrugh.

PRESENTS

nvited earling y y You are i t i l a u t this q c e p s n i o t

EASTER YEARLING SALE

Pictured: Able Friend winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile (G1).

Lot 15 - Brown colt by Dalakhani – Ponte Piccolo by Volksraad Half-brother to Able Friend, 13 wins $8.95 million, 4 x G1’s - Head of the 2015 World Thoroughbred Rankings (Sprint). Equal Leading Older Male on the 2015 WTR (Mile). Horse of the Year & Champion Miler in Hong Kong 2014-15. Dam is a half-sister to Global News G1. Family of Apercu G1, Ivory’s Irish G1, Reward for Effort G1, Overreach G1, Turffontein G1 etc.

Raised at Fairview Park Stud on Livamol Feed Optimiser Pellets and finished on Livamol. Ausbred® is a registered trademark of International Animal Health Products Pty Ltd.

WHERE TO EAT & STAY

Dining and Accommodation

32 EASTER PREVIEW

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

Catalina Rose Bay Restaurant Lyne Park, Rose Bay NSW 2029 t: (02) 9371 0555 w: www.catalinarosebay.com.au Reservations can be made online - www.catalinarosebay.com.au Trading Hours: Open daily for lunch from 12pm. Dinner service Monday to Saturday, bookings from 6pm Catalina is one of Australia’s great destination restaurants situated on a landmark Rose Bay site on Sydney Harbour’s eastern foreshore. Rose Bay was the site of Australia’s first international airport. From 1938 flying boats, including the famous Catalinas ruled the skies. Michael and Judy McMahon extensively renovated the old Caprice restaurant and night club in 1994 with a simple goal: to be Sydney’s favourite place to eat the best by the water. The wine list currently carries more than 800 wines, representing Old and New World, with a minimum of 30 wines available by the glass. Catalina is one of only a few restaurants in Sydney whose kitchen remains open from midday to late (bar menu available between 3-6pm). Catalina recently attained its most recent award - People’s Choice Award - Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2016, but this is just one of many - visit our website - www.catalinarosebay.com. au - to read more

Burnt Orange 1109 Middle Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088 t: (02) 9969 1020 w: burntorange.com.au Trading Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm daily The Café at Burnt Orange is located on a wraparound verandah with stunning views of Sydney Harbour round to Mosman Bay and Manly. Our menu focuses on buying the best quality ingredients from the top suppliers in Sydney and we change our menu seasonally. Burnt Orange serves breakfast lunch and high tea. BREAKFAST - highlights include buttermilk pancakes, breakfast bruschetta, fresh juices and Single Origin coffee.

LUNCH - Signature dishes for LUNCH include the Burnt Orange fish pie, Tasmanian salmon cake, and the Pumpkin & goats cheese tart with carrot jam. Desserts are a speciality for us and customers love our passionfruit tarts and crumbles. HIGH TEA - proving very popular, our version of high tea is served on Avoca crockery and includes finger sandwiches & savoury tarts, homemade scones & jams, plus sweet treats and a tea or coffee (or a glass of bubbles if you feel like it) AFTERNOON MENU - for those who just want a scone, slice of cake or some antipasti & wine it’s a very civilized way to pass the day, no reservations required.

Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Sydney 242 Arden Street, Coogee NSW 2034 t: (02) 9315 7600 w: crowneplazacoogee.com.au Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach offers a diverse range of dining options - if you prefer, you don’t have to leave the hotel at all! Choose from: BLUESALT RESTAURANT - beachside buffet breakfasts, and a la carte grill restaurant by evening. Bluesalt Restaurant is perched above the beach, with uninterrupted views to revitalise any day. Savour the fresh buffet breakfast, with a wide selection of fruit and vegetable juices, a variety of eggs cooked to order, fluffy pancakes, and coffee made by the hotel’s experienced barista.

In the evening, Bluesalt turns into an a la carte restaurant, with a comprehensive menu showcasing the best of sustainably sourced local produce. BLUESALT BAR - the perfect place to meet friends over a light meal, coffee, glass of wine or cocktail. OCEANS DINING & DRINKS specialising in generous tasting plates to share, wood-fired pizzas, inspired by the fresh, home-spun way in which food is created in Southern Europe. Live music on weekends, and a relaxed beachside vibe make it a popular gathering place for locals who are drawn to its ocean view terrace and its refreshing cocktails, fantastic full-bodied reds or crisp aromatic white wines. EASTER PREVIEW 33

WHERE TO EAT & STAY

Royal Oak Hotel 28 Bay Street, Double Bay 2028 NSW t: 02 9363 3935 Bookings: email bookings@royalhotels.com.au Trading Hours: 7 days a week, Mon – Thurs 10am – Midnight, Fri & Sat 10am-1am & Sun 10am -11pm The Royal Oak Hotel has been serving quality food, wine and beer for more than a century. A Double Bay icon, The Royal Oak has everything to offer; leafy surrounds, a cool and relaxed atmosphere and a harbourside location, right in the heart of the Bay. With it’s recent makeover, The Royal Oak has re-established itself as a local

favourite among Eastern Suburbs types and the recent addition of “Phil’s”, upstairs brings a vibrant atmosphere that is apparent throughout the venue. It is also home to one of Sydney’s most iconic sports bars along with the best TAB facilities. The Royal Oak offers an extensive wine list, a wide range of tap beers and authentic pub food of the highest quality and the kitchen operates daily from 12pm till 10pm serving up modern Australian cuisine. The signature steaks are hugely popular - you will not be disappointed! The extensive menu also includes vegetarian & gluten free options.

Sciue Sciue Ristorante Italiano 440 New South Head Road, Double Bay NSW 2028 t: 02 8041 3737 Sciue sciue (pronounced shoe-eh) in the Neapolitan dialect means something simple and delicious, an easy bite. Sciue Sciue is a highly respected Double Bay restaurant and is a new young cousin of Machiavelli Ristorante in the city. Paola Toppi, daughter of Machiavelli and La Strada matriarch Giovanna delivers on all fronts. Suited waiters in white shirt and black tie are a rare breed in Sydney along with the starched white table cloths, clean walls and breezy

Bolagna-ness all combine to make a simple, warm space. Portions are very generous and the wine list is sophisticated but BYO is also available from Mondays to Thursdays with a corkage charge of $10. If you are in need of a big bowl of spaghetti marinara served by a gentleman, do as the Neopolitans do. “Paula just comes out, she tells me what’s fresh, the fish or the pasta. I just choose what she says. Sometimes she puts together a little selection” Napoleon Perdis, make-up maestro from Double Bay and Los Angeles.

HOTELS

InterContinental Double Bay 33 Cross Street, Double Bay, NSW 2028 02 8388 8388 www.icsydneydoublebay.com Sydney’s newest luxury hotel, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay is an exclusive bayside retreat, uniquely situated in Double Bay village in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Designed to resemble an elegant and luxurious residence, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay features 140 guest rooms and suites, most strung with private balconies, wrapped around a French provincial courtyard at the heart of the building, which overlooks the exclusive Club InterContinental lounge. Completing the experience are world-class facilities and range of dining options from fresh-produce driven Stockroom restaurant and grill, to Stillery cocktail bar and the stunning Rooftop Bar & Lounge overlooking the bay.

34 EASTER PREVIEW

Just 5km from the city, the hotel offers a central location and unique village atmosphere, with Double Bay delighting visitors with its leafy laneways, beautiful

beaches, yacht-dotted bay, high-end fashion boutiques and collection of cafes and restaurants.

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

InterContinental Sydney 117 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 200 t: (02) 9253 9000 w: www.intercontinental.com/Sydney Some people visit Sydney’s icons. Others stay in them. Set in a 19th-century building, this elegant luxury hotel is an 11-minute walk from Sydney Opera House, a 7-minute walk from the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and 3 km from Darling Harbour.

Chief Concierge of InterContinental Sydney, David Patt, and his team are delighted to be at your service and to ensure every guest is given the opportunity to experience a once-in-alifetime trip to Sydney. The team are here to help you experience Sydney and the surrounds from a local’s perspective. InterContinental Sydney is located in the cultural end of Sydney, just footsteps from the famous Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens, Circular Quay and a short distance from iconic

Sydney must-see’s such as Harry’s Café de Wheels, and The Rocks precinct and Darling Harbour for high‐end shopping and sightseeing. Sydney Airport is conveniently located only 12 kms from the hotel. Plush rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks; many have views of Sydney Harbour Bridge or Sydney Opera House. Suites add separate living and dining areas.

Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Sydney

Make the most of a Sydney short break, by staying at Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach. In close proximity to the CBD and only 20 minutes drive from the Airport, the hotel enjoys the best of both worlds - a Sydney city location, with a prime lifestyle setting by the beach.

range of accommodation options for all travellers, from a romantic escape or family holiday, to the business traveller. Ideally situated directly across from one of Sydney’s most stunning beaches, the hotel features stunning, uninterrupted ocean views; Sydney’s iconic coastline is sprawled before you, shimmering from every angle - sandy beach, dramatic headland and emerald ocean the backdrop for a memorable stay.

Allow for a re-energising stay, with a

Step outside the hotel and onto Coogee

T. +61 2 9315 7600 W. crowneplazacoogee.com.au 242 Arden Street, Coogee

Beach for a surf or swim, or stroll along the famous Bondi to Coogee coastal walk and visit the many celebrated beaches within walking distance of the hotel. Neighbourhood bars and restaurants are right on our doorstep where you can experience the best of Sydney’s renowned cafe culture. Wake up to the sounds of the ocean, enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your balcony and spend quality time exploring all that Coogee has to offer EASTER PREVIEW 35

VENDORS

AMARINA FARM 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. F

Sepoy

Republic Lass

B. C

Fastnet Rock

Sevruga

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Slapstick

156

B/Br. C

So You Think (NZ)

A Fairy's Kiss (NZ)

200

Br. F

Written Tycoon

Betula Belle

293

B. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Fanfares

330

Ch. C

Snitzel

Grand Journey

400

Br/Blk. C

Sebring

Midnight Gold (NZ)

523

Ch. F

Sebring

Mickelberg

541

Ch. F

Sebring

Princess Emmy (NZ)

Amarina’s 2016 draft is a ten out of ten Once again Amarina Farm takes a quality draft of yearlings to the Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Bluebloods spoke to Amarina’s Craig Anderson about the ten yearlings the farm will be presenting. How many years have you been selling at Easter? “It must be 26 years or so with the last 10 under the Amarina banner. I attended the sales in many capacities from an earlier time, so you could say, many years actually being there.

What are some of your leading graduates from the sale? “To name a few - Krupt, Miss Marielle, Work the Room, Shovhog, Mnemosyne and of course many from various other sales over the years.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings to your best mares? “There are two ways to look at it. You can look for value in a young sire that you feel the market will want come sales time or you can go to a proven stallion and pay the fee. In both cases you aim to gain the maximum benefit as a type, a racing prospect and in sales ring return.

Do you treat your Easter bound yearlings any differently from others? “No, they all are treated the same.

36 EASTER PREVIEW

How much emphasis do you place on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? “Once we wean them, we engage in a continual program: groups of weanlings come into the stables, get rugged, put on a walker, hosed down and so on. As we work through the groups, they all end up having about a month in the program. We give our yearlings an eight week prep depending on what they need.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? “We are following an American trend from years ago. The importance of X-Rays is no longer having the same bearing.

Tell us about your draft. Lot 38 the Sepoy-Republic Lass filly is a half-sister to the South African Gr.2 winner The Conglomerate and four other winners. Her dam Republic Lass won two Group Ones including the AJC Australian Oaks .”She is a stronger type than previous foals and she has good residual value as well.”

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by WARREN WRUCK

Lot 200 the Written Tycoon- Betula Belle filly is a full-sister to multiple group and stakes winning Howmuchdoyouloveme. “A neatly framed filly with a good attitude.” individual. Great walker and out of a staying bred mare who is bred on a cross that works.” Lot 400 the Sebring-Midnight Gold colt is the first foal of a winning Zabeel mare from the immediate family of Exceed and Excel. “A lovely scopey horse with a good demeanour.” Lot 523 the Sebring-Mickelburg filly is the first foal of a winning full sister to Auckland RC Railway Handicap-Gr.1 winner Gold Trail. “A neat first foal who with time will furnish into a nice individual.” Lot 541 the Sebring-Princess Emmy filly is a full-sister to Gr.3 and Listed winner Thurlow, and only the third foal of stakes winning Princess Emmy (CJC Canterbury Belle Stakes-L). Family of Travel Light and Only a Lady. “She is an early running 2YO type.”

What are your freshman sire picks? “All Too Hard has been well-received in earlier sales and seems to be a sire of consistent types. I also like Delago Deluxe - he appeals too.”

When in Sydney where do you go to relax/dine out after a day at the sales? “I go to Randwick Ritz to watch a movie and turn the phone off - a good way to unwind. My favourite restaurant is The Little Kitchen in Arden Street, Coogee. Lot 69 the Fastnet Rock-Sevruga colt is a third foal and a half-brother to a winner while his full brother is the promising 2YO Pittsburgh, from a good family including Langoustine and One World who are both half-sisters to this colt’s dam. “A strong individual - pretty typical of the sire.” Lot 76 the Fastnet Rock-Slapstick filly is the daughter of a Gr.3 winner, closely related to Virage de Fortune and descended from Emancipation. “Great walking filly, good attitude and fairly typical of the family. A neat type.” Lot 156 the So You Think-A Fairy’s Kiss colt is a half-brother to dual stakes winner Destiny’s Kiss. His dam is a stakes placed winner of four races by Stravinsky from Crimson, a Gr.2 winning Zabeel mare. Family of Omnicorp, Abidewithme, Miss Scarlatti, etc. “A nice scopey colt. He will furnish into a lovely horse with time.”

Lot 200 the Written Tycoon-Betula Belle filly is a full-sister to multiple group and stakes winning Howmuchdoyouloveme. “A neatly framed filly with a good attitude.” Lot 293 the Street Cry-Fanfares colt is a half-brother to the stakes winner Raffles Pegasus and two other winners from three to race. “He’s a good walking horse and is not a typical Street Cry in that he lends himself to be a real early type.” Lot 330 the Snitzel-Grand Journey colt is a son of the WATC Derby winner Grand Journey and is a half-brother to a winner and a placegetter from her only two to race. Close up in the family is the very well-performed Griante a Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 placed. “A big imposing Denman NSW 2328 t: 02 6547 1261 e: office@amarinafarm.com.au amarinafarm.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

ARROWFIELD STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

Gr. F

So You Think (NZ)

Platinum Passion

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Rekindled Applause (GB)

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Secluded

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Secret Silence

Ch. F

Animal Kingdom (USA)

Star Prize (ARG)

113

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Top Cuban

137

B. F

Animal Kingdom (USA)

Victory Party (USA)

151

B. F

Redoute's Choice

Zarakiysha (IRE)

168

B. C

Animal Kingdom (USA)

Aliyana Tilde

180

B. F

Animal Kingdom (USA)

Anapine

183

Br. F

Snitzel

Antique

184

Br. F

Pierro

Antique Rose

189

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Azmiyna (IRE)

207

Br. F

Pierro

Bossypants

233

B. C

Manhattan Rain

Charming Estelle

240

Ch. C

Not A Single Doubt

Colorado Claire

253

Br. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Dariana

375

B. C

Animal Kingdom (USA)

Lady Zabelia (NZ)

378

B. F

Redoute's Choice

Later Gator (NZ)

384

Ch. F

Animal Kingdom (USA)

Lilac Garden

388

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Love Wings (USA)

395

Gr. C

Snitzel

Mandistana (FR)

410

B. F

Smart Missile

Miss Helsinki

433

B. C

Redoute's Choice

National Colour (SAF)

438

B. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

Nobentleyforme

Leading the way for thirty years Arrowfield Stud is renowned for bringing quality drafts of exceptionally well-bred, naturally reared and superbly prepared yearlings to Easter. More importantly, many Arrowfield graduates appear on the Sale’s honour roll, including 2015 Australian Guineas winner Wandjina, champion South African filly Majmu and Golden Slipper winners Flying Spur, Catbird, Miss Finland and Forensics. Manager Paul Messara shares his thoughts on the Stud’s approach to breeding and sale preparation, and the highlights of this year’s draft.

How many years have you been selling at Easter and what are some of your best sale graduates? We’ve been selling Group 1 winners under the Arrowfield banner for as long as we’ve been in business, including Easter graduates Mahaya, Baryshnikov, Flying Spur, Inspiration, Miss Finland, Mentality and Forensics, and most recently Majmu and Wandjina.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? Although we can plan matings to produce horses that are likely to make the Easter Sale, so much can happen in the two-and-a-half years between conception and the sale-ring that it’s impossible to be definitive.

38 EASTER PREVIEW

Inglis Easter graduate and Group 1 winner Wandjina carries the stallion-making Arrowfield brand

What works for us is to stand stallions we really want to breed to, across a range of aptitudes, buy and retain mares we really want to work with and aim to breed an athlete with every mating. Then we make sure that what we bring to Easter is what we’re proud to present.

Are your Easter yearlings managed differently from other youngsters on the way through? All our young horses are given the same level of care and management from the time they’re born through to the sale-ring. The only difference for our Easter horses is that they have a little longer to develop, so buyers will find a few more of the horses we think will be Classic 3YO types in our Easter draft. That said though, we have sold five Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond winners at the Easter Sale!

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

It’s a big statement to make, that we have the very best Redoute’s Choice yearlings we’ve ever brought to the Easter Sale, but I’ve seen hundreds of his progeny and this group is right up there.

Agent James Harron and his wife Alison celebrate the success of Group 1 Arrowfield Easter graduate Wandjina with Gai Waterhouse’s Racing Manager Adrian Bott

X-Rays. Your thoughts? Basically, X-rays have helped to re-define what’s saleable at what price by giving buyers and vendors more information about each horse’s conformation. When they were introduced, buyers tended to exclude too many horses, but X-rays are now a very well-accepted part of the sale process and just one of many tools that can be applied to yearling selection. I think breeders, agents, vets and trainers have learned to use them sensibly, alongside what their own eyes, knowledge and experience are telling them. The fact that very good horses slip through the net, like Alverta at Inglis Easter or Spill The Beans at Inglis Classic, just confirms there are always opportunities for buyers to operate successfully below the top level of the market.

What’s the best advice you can give a potential buyer? Take your time, do the homework and the legwork, get the best advice and help you can, use the available tools and focus on vendors with strong graduate records over a decent period of time. And buy the horse you really, really want!

What are your freshman sire picks? Our own sire Animal Kingdom represents the kind of shift that Danehill was for Arrowfield in the 1990s, so he’s an exciting prospect whose first yearlings are exactly what we hoped to see.

The filly out of Victory Party, from the family of champion US filly Beholder, is beautifully made, with plenty of strength, size and substance. The Aliyana Tilde colt is a superathletic, two-year-old type and a lovely mover, and the Anapine filly is a ripper, a very classy Oaks style of filly with great balance.

Away from the thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? My wife Alice and I have three lively sons, Frank, John and Freddie, so they keep us fairly busy at home. I’ve also taken up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which I’m really enjoying, it’s very technical and a great challenge for me.

When in Sydney where do you go to relax and dine, after a day at the sales? Whenever I’m in Sydney I like to spend time with my parents and siblings. The sales are usually quite stressful and not that relaxing. Most evenings would be spent around our family dinner table discussing the day’s results and what’s on for tomorrow.

What are some of the top lots in your draft? It’s a big statement to make, that we have the very best Redoute’s Choice yearlings we’ve ever brought to the Easter Sale, but I’ve seen hundreds of his progeny and this group is right up there. It’s just about impossible to pick out one of our six colts, they’re all spectacular, but the colts out of Secluded, Top Cuban and Love Wings are my personal standouts - three stunning horses. And there’s everything to like about our Redoute’s Choice fillies out of Zarakiysha and Lator Gator, they’re both very good sorts. Redoute’s Choice is one of those rare stallions whose class lets him rise above fashion - every year is a good time to buy his progeny. He still has so much happening for him, including two crops to race in Europe, and his sire sons and broodmare daughters are having tremendous success at stud.

Sheikh Hamdan’s Racing Manager Angus Gold (left) & champion trainer David Hayes (right) have had notable success with the progeny of Redoute’s Choice, among them Group 1 winners Nadeem, Majmu, Anamato and Miss Finland.

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 9909 5555 (Sydney) 02 6545 3999 (Scone) John Messara t: 0419 220 774 Jon Freyer t: 0408 583 888 Paul Messara t: 0438 248 258 Andy Williams t: 0437 167 258 e: arrowfield@arrowfield.com.au arrowfield.com.au EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

ATTUNGA STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

Smart Missile

Royal Babe

124

B. C

Snitzel

Ubiquity

359

B/Br. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Kaaptive Empress

456

B. F

High Chaparral (IRE)

Adaline

512

B. F

Smart Missile

Lateral

560

B. C

So You Think (NZ)

Shezaten (NZ)

Impressive draft makes a statement Attunga Stud brings another quality draft to Easter with siblings to dual Group 1 winner Press Statement and 2yo stakeswinner Horizons headlining. Bluebloods spoke to Principal Brian Nutt about Attunga’s draft and the approach he takes to breeding and preparing yearlings for Easter. How many years have you been selling at Easter? Attunga Stud has been selling at Easter under our own banner since 2001.

What are some of your leading graduates from this sale? One of the first Gr.1 winners we sold was Jam Alley (Peintre Celebre - Lyphard Street, by Lyphard) who became a Gr.1 winner in South Africa and stands at stud there. More recently, in 2014 we

40 EASTER PREVIEW

sold Son of Maher (Al Maher-Dance Hit, by Tights) for $42,500 and he is already a Gr.1 placed three year-old who recently won a Listed race. Other Gr.1 horses from our Easter draft include Sacred Star (Flying Spur-Irish Nova, by O’Reilly) who made $200,000 in 2011 and is a dual Gr.1 winner in NZ that is still racing.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires? Obviously the mare has to be of Easter standard before you start thinking about stallions. At Attunga, we tend to avoid first season sires for Easter, as we think purchasers tend to buy proven stallions at this sale. In terms of defining proven, for us, it’s mostly about the stallion’s type, foremost and how he matches the mare. We also look at stallions who have good statistics early and are on the way up, like Hinchinbrook. Given our position in the middle of the Easter market, we have to hunt for value, and want stallions who have current winners and are showing promise.

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by RENÉE GEELEN

2015 Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement returned to the track in style in February winning the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes. His half-sister by Street Cry will be offered as Lot 359.

Okay, you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? No, we treat them exactly the same as everything else on the property. They are not molly-coddled and are placed into mobs determined by their physical size, not by where they are selling. The Easter yearlings get a slightly longer preparation than earlier sales because the sale doesn’t cross over with the breeding season, and this puts less pressure on the yearlings.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? We start handling them from birth, and can’t over-emphasize how important we feel continual handling is in our operation. Every horse has been through our box system at least three times before they start their sales preparation. They have done all the basics, rugs, washbay, and so on. By the time they start their preparation, they are calm and used to being handled. This is also important as it is safer for our staff, as well as being good for the horse. We have fewer injuries to horses and people because the horses are handled early and often.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? Use them to avoid a disaster. It’s about risk mitigation, but even then, the x-ray results can be proven wrong. In 2013, we offered a filly at Easter who had a foot issue on her x-rays that was declared high risk. She only made $15,000 to an online bidder, and is probably one of the cheapest yearlings sold at Easter in recent times. Named Fitocracy, the foot

issue obviously didn’t bother her, as she won as a two year-old, and is a Gr.3 winner as a three year-old.

What are some of the top lots in your draft? The three yearlings in Session One are excellent types. Lot 359, the Street Cry filly who is a half-sister to Press Statement (Hinchinbrook-Kaaptive Empress, by Kaaptive Edition) will headline our draft. She is very much in the mould of her sire; athletic with good conformation and an amazing attitude. Lot 124 is by Snitzel and he is a half-brother to Listed winner Horizons (Choisir-Ubiquity, by Hurricane Sky). He is a lovely colt; big and strong who walks well. We expect that he will sell extremely well. The colt, Lot 45, by Smart Missile from stakes winner Royal Babe (by Rory’s Jester) is strong, forward with a genuinely good temperament.

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? First impressions are always the best impressions. Look for reasons to buy the horse, not to say no. Too many people just find faults and you’ll end up buying nothing if you only look for problems.

Lot 359, the Street Cry filly who is a half-sister to Press Statement (Hinchinbrook-Kaaptive Empress, by Kaaptive Edition) will headline our draft. She is very much in the mould of her sire; athletic with good conformation and an amazing attitude. horse and rating experts said his times at Randwick were exceptional. We never saw the best of Your Song.

Away from the thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? I love fishing, even catching a carp in the creek here on the farm gives a good thrill. I also love a good wine.

Those are two hobbies that go together well. What is your current favourite match with fish? Of the Australian wines, I’d say a good match is the Brookland Valley Chardonnay from the Margaret River region.

What are your freshman sire picks?

When in Sydney where do you go to relax, dine out, after a day at the sales? Favourite restaurant or nightspot?

Everyone will be talking about both Pierro and All Too Hard as the obvious choices, but outside of them, I give Your Song a chance. He is a lovely type of

I really enjoy the atmosphere at Del Punto at The Spot in Randwick. It’s a Spanish restaurant that specialises in tapas.

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 9509 e: attungastud@bigpond.com Brian Nutt t: 0418 264 012 attungastud.com

attunga stud

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

BHIMA THOROUGHBREDS 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

157

B. F

All Too Hard

Absolute Faith

228

Br. F

Savabeel

Causeway Queen

262

B. C

Ocean Park (NZ)

Distinctive Lass

299

Ch. C

All Too Hard

Fibrillation

374

B. F

Encosta de Lago

Lacada

443

B. F

Exceed and Excel

Nureyev's Girl

447

B/Br. F

Fastnet Rock

Oh Goodness Me (GB)

476

B. C

I Am Invincible

Court Flying

477

B. C

I Am Invincible

Court House Lane

501

Ch. C

Choisir

Indycatfighter (USA)

531

B. C

All Too Hard

Our Joan of Arc

549

B. C

Smart Missile

Rose Darmore

570

B. C

Starcraft (NZ)

Star of Broadway

42 EASTER PREVIEW

New name, same successful approach Selling under the Bhima banner for the first time at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Mike and Kate Fleming head to the prestigious sale with a draft of 13 quality youngsters by a selection of both proven as well as exciting up and coming young sires. Really looking forward to the opportunity of showcasing the five fillies and eight colts at Easter, Bhima’s reputation of sale success is founded on producing outstanding quality yearlings that are secured by leading judges within the industry. The Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Heatherly leads the way for recent Easter graduates for the Flemings and is typical of the quality that has been produced in recent years. An impressive winner on debut, the Lonhro filly backed it up two starts later when finishing a narrow short neck second to fellow Bhima graduate Ready For Victory at Listed level. Back with two placed efforts after a lengthy spell, Heatherly put together three consecutive victories, highlighted by a five-and-a-half length demolition of her opposition in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield, leaving Group 1 winner Politeness floundering into second. Set to head to the Group 1 sprints over the remainder of the Autumn carnival, it would be no surprise to see the talented filly become another Group 1 performer for Bhima.

A long head second in the Group 1 Golden Rose behind Hallowed Crown, multiple stakes winner Scissor Kick is another Easter graduate for the Flemings who looks more than capable of adding a Group 1 feature to his impressive resume this campaign, ensuring the son of Redoute’s Choice a prized position on the Arrowfield Stud stallion roster when he retires from racing. While the Flemings are known for the time and effort they put into quality yearling preparation, they also foal down and raise many for outside clients with Group 1 winner First Seal, a recent winner of the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes just one of many produced by the team. Heading into the pinnacle of the southern hemisphere yearling selling season, Bhima’s Easter draft is highlighted by Lot 443, an Exceed And Excel three-quarter-sister to Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner King’s Rose, a winner of over $1million for connections. From the family of Champion two-year-old Anabandana, the filly is not the only one of her sex set to star from the draft.

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by DANE SQUANCE The progeny of WS Cox Plate winner Savabeel have been all the rage at the yearling sales to date in 2016, and Lot 228 is an impressive filly out of the Listed-winning Causeway Queen, a half-sister to the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes winner Solar Charged. Taking his tally to 48 with two new recent stakes winners, it is interesting to note that while both the colts and the fillies have 24 stakes winners apiece, Savabeel’s fillies have produced 56 stakes wins versus the 39 for the colts. Ocean Park, a Waikato Stud barn mate of Savabeel will be represented by a small but select draft of eight yearlings at the sale and Bhima’s Lot 262 is the fourth foal out of the Listed performer Distinctive Lass. From the family of multiple Group 1 winners Special and Bomber Bill, the colt is a half-brother to Denman’s triple Listed-winning, multiple Group 1 placed son Kuro.

Bhima’s Easter draft is highlighted by Lot 443, an Exceed And Excel threequarter-sister to Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner King’s Rose, a winner of over $1million for connections.

Another sure to have plenty of international appeal is Lot 447, a filly by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock out of the Group 3-winning, Group 1 placed Galileo mare Oh Goodness Me. Bred on a cross that has produced 80% winners to runners highlighted by 10 stakes performers including Group 1 winners Qualify and Magicool, this filly is sure to prove extremely popular. Yarraman Park’s boom sire I Am Invincible will be represented by a pair of colts in Bhima’s draft both from the same Group 1 performing family. Lot 477 is a half-brother to the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes winner Court Command, a gallant third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas of his year, while Lot 476 is out of a Flying Spur half-sister to Court Command.

First season sire All Too Hard, himself a $1.025million Easter graduate, will be represented by two fillies and a colt as part of the 13 strong Bhima draft, with Lot 157 the second foal of the Group 1 placed Not A Single Doubt mare Absolute Faith from the family of multiple Group 1winning Champion 3yo colt Helenus. Lot 299 is the All Too Hard colt, first foal of the Group 3 winner Fibrillation, a runner-up in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, while Lot 531 is the third foal of the Group 3-winning Beautiful Crown mare Our Joan Of Arc.

From the penultimate crop of Coolmore Stud’s Champion Encosta de Lago, Lot 374 is a filly who has Oaks written all over her. A half-sister to the stakes performers Giant Turtle and Zacada, the filly is out of Lacada, a sister to Group 2 Avondale Cup winner Showcause, both out of the Group 1 winner Showella, descended from champion Show Gate. Colts by Choisir, Smart Missile and Starcraft round out the first Inglis Easter draft to be offered by Bhima, and it could well be the final yearling offered by the farm at the sale that could produce an exciting result. By the multiple Group 1 winner Starcraft, Lot 570 is out of Star Of Broadway, a half-sister to the outstanding Champion and multiple Group 1 winner Naturalism, and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Crystal Palace. A daughter of influential broodmare sire Quest For Fame, Star Of Broadway is already the dam of the South African raced Listed winner Alinga as well as a further four winners from six foals to race. All in all, Bhima’s draft will give buyers the opportunity to secure a yearling from a farm that not only has a proven history on its side, but where the outlook of future success is evident.

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 1000 e: office@bhima.com.au Mike Fleming t: 0448 254 365 e: mikefleming@live.com.au Kate Fleming t: 0409 311 794 e: kate@bhima.com.au bhima.com.au EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

CORUMBENE STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

Encosta de Lago

Posta

B. C

Your Song

Spirit of Grace

117

B/Br. F

Sepoy

Tropicana Girl

143

Br. C

More Than Ready (USA)

Wasimah

185

B. C

Snitzel

Apple Martini

214

Ch. F

Snitzel

Brightest

264

B. F

Sepoy

Diva's Magic

281

Br. C

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Emissary

329

B. F

Snitzel

Gourmet Garage (NZ)

371

B. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

La Boisselle

Breeding for winners No stranger to success, Corumbene Stud has bred some of Australia’s most well-known thoroughbreds including the Golden Slipper winners and Champion 2YOs Sebring (now a leading sire) and Overreach as well as Blue Diamond-Gr.1 heroine True Jewels, and the Gr.1 staying Marscay mare Heart Ruler, a winner of the Metropolitan Handicap-Gr.1.

The farm also bred Gr.2 winners Wager, Bennetta and Ichihara and continues to breed countless other stakes-performing race horses such as Mahara and Nayeli. Perhaps the most recognisable of all graduates to come off Corumbene Stud in recent years is the Golden Slipper winning son of More Than Ready, Sebring. Winning the Gr.1 Golden Slipper of his year, the Champion Two-year-old of the 2007/2008 season is out of Corumbene Stud’s Flying Spur mare Purespeed and is now a successful sire in his own right crowned leading Second Season Sire in Australia in 2014. With the 2016 Easter Yearling Sale approaching George Altomonte and his Stud Manager Toby Frazer took some time out to tell us about their draft for the upcoming sale in April.

How many years have you been selling at Easter? George: I’ve been selling at Inglis since 1972. Toby has managed the farm for the past 17 years and has been attending the sales for 42 years.

44 EASTER PREVIEW

What are some of your leading graduates to be sold at Inglis sales? George: Nayeli is one of the most recent Group winners we’ve sold through Inglis. We sold her at the 2013 Easter Yearling sale for $260,000. We’ve sold numerous stakes and group performers at Inglis over the years and True Jewels, who comes from one of our older families, was bought from us by Paul Moroney at the 2000 Inglis Classic Sale before going on to win the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes where she beat the likes of Lonhro. Going back even further, we sold Paris Opera to Tommy Smith in 1988 and he ran second in the Golden Slipper before standing at stud in New Zealand.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? George: We have 35 mares. I do all of my own research and determine which stallions I’m going to use for the season. I narrow the list down to 10-12 stallions and following a lot of study I then try

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by MICHAEL VINCENT

One of our top lots is Lot 143, a More Than Ready colt out of stakes-placed and four-time city winning Danehill mare Wasimah. He’s a full brother to dual Gr.3 winner Nayeli and is a very nice horse - big and strong, typical of the family.

Multiple stakeswinner Nayeli will have a full brother offered at Easter (Lot 143)

and mate my mares to one of ten or so sires. I breed to get winners, not to just satisfy the market. You have to breed a good type with a pedigree. If you’re breeding just for pedigree for this sale, it’s not guaranteed to work.

Okay, you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? Toby: Our yearling sales preparations are all approached in the same way. We monitor our horses individually as they’re getting ready to enter a yearling preparation as well as when they’re younger. You don’t want them too fat as they enter the preparation because then you have to try and knock it off them and risk losing condition as the sale approaches. We manage this predominantly through their feed. You might put them in a paddock where they’re doing it a bit tougher if they’re doing too well. You can’t feed them all the same.

give them time, many issues will rectify themselves. We bred Pureness, a half-brother to Sebring. He had a stifle issue as a yearling. We gave him 12 months in the paddock with non-surgical treatment before being broken in. By then the stifle was perfect. If he had gone to a sale, the vets would have said “Don’t touch him”. He went on to win five races and $250,000 in prizemoney. We believe too much emphasis is placed on X-rays, particularly for smaller issues.

What are some of the top lots in your draft? Toby: We’ve got a very nice draft of six colts and four fillies that we’re taking to Easter. This includes three nice Snitzel yearlings who are all nice walking horses, good types, and stand over a bit of ground. One of our top lots is Lot 143, a More Than Ready colt out of stakes-placed and four-time city winning Danehill

mare Wasimah. He’s a full brother to dual Gr.3 winner Nayeli and is a very nice horse - big and strong, typical of the family. He’s also a half-brother to the talented stakes-placed mare Brightest and is closely related to a host of stakes winners including Kaphero, Princesa, Solicit and Star of Giselle. We also have a Your Song colt we’re selling on behalf of Pat Carroll. He’s a very nice colt from a good female family. Being offered as Lot 87, this bay colt is out of the Dr Grace mare Spirit of Grace who has already produced numerous good horses including dual Gr.1 winner and now successful sire, Turffontein. We’ve got a very nice draft and welcome everyone to come and visit us at Easter.

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? Toby: For someone new to the industry, they need to have someone who knows what they’re doing to pick a good horse out for them. You have to find someone you trust to give you good, level-headed advice. A lot of the bloodstock agents are excellent - they can’t afford not to be. There are a lot of little things to look out for.

Do you have a pick for the first season sire? George: It’s a very strong gropup of first season sires, hard to single one out. They will be worth keeping an eye on in future.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock? Toby: We wean our foals with great care and this starts even in their first few days after birth, when we handle them, rub their mouths and get them used to humans. After they’re weaned we put them through the stables in the winter, where they’re rugged and introduced to the walker - it’s their first taste of stable life. When they come in to get prepared for the yearling sales later, they don’t stress as much. They’ve been there before and they think “this is ok”. A horse that hasn’t been there before can stress a lot and lose condition - not a great start to their sales preparation.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? Toby: Time is a marvellous thing. If a horse needs a bit of time and you

Dunedoo NSW 2844 t: 02 9418 5556 (Sydney Office) Toby Frazer t: 0428 115 528 e: tfrazer@alto.com.au corumbenestud.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

CRESSFIELD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

All Too Hard

Regimental Gal

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Star Satire (NZ)

217

B. C

Frankel (GB)

Buenos Aires (IRE)

259

B. F

Exceed and Excel

Dezign

279

B. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Emancipationist

357

B. F

Frankel (GB)

Jeu de Cartes (NZ)

402

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Mightier

411

B. F

SnitzelWITHDRAWN

Miss Judgement

463

Ch. F

Stratum

Battle Line

Frankel yearlings lead a fresh look draft 2016 brings a new look to Cressfield’s Easter yearling sale draft. Of the eight mares represented only two have featured at previous Easter sales while for four mares, this is the first time that any of their yearlings have been offered for sale in Australia. Undoubtedly much of the buzz surrounding Cressfield’s draft will be due to the inclusion of two yearlings by the undisputed, unbeaten European champion Frankel. With only five lots by Frankel offered at this sale, Cressfield, offering both a colt and a filly, believe they have two high quality representations of a limited commodity whose pedigrees are laden with Group performers. Lot 357, the Frankel filly is the first foal out of the New Zealand Group 2 winner of nine races Jeu De Cartes (NZ). Out of Group 1 winning Prized Gem (NZ), the Champion older female with nine wins up to 3200m, Jeu De Cartes is therefore a half- sister to the NZ Champion Nom Du Jeu. This yearling is described as being a good boned, robust, mature filly, with an excellent swinging walk set upon sound broad feet. Lot 217, the second Frankel offering is a classy colt out of the Irish bred Buenos Aires (IRE). With colouring reminiscent of his sire, this quality colt is a typical European style thoroughbred, showing an intelligent head and a lovely loose free walk. The Dam of French Listed

46 EASTER PREVIEW

winner and Group 1 placed Buenos Dias, Buenos Aires, despite her suffix, has a well-known Australasian pedigree. She is out of the sensational broodmare Benediction, making her a half- sister to Group 3 winning Matter of Honour and the Twice Champion Horse of the year Might And Power, an unforgettable earner of over $5 million, including the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate (won in track record time). This mouth- watering pedigree includes multi -million dollar earner Mosheen and two stallions that went on to stud duties Lucky Owners and Time For War. Many similarities to this pedigree pop up in another colt in Cressfield’s draft. Lot 402, a colt by Redoute’s Choice is the first foal out of the Zabeel mare Mightier. Mightier is out of Miss Power Bird, making her a half- sister to Lady Zabelia, the dam of Time For War. Benediction also featuring as the 4th dam on the page. A scopey, good boned individual this colt will catch the eye of buyers looking to secure an athlete. Another Zabeel mare to have her first offspring available for sale is the immaculately bred Dezign. She is

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

With only five lots by Frankel offered at this sale, Cressfield, offering both a colt and a filly, believe they have two high quality representations of a limited commodity whose pedigrees are laden with Group performers.

Lot 217 - colt by Frankel ex Buenos Aires (IRE) (Rainbow Quest)

represented here by her second foal, Lot 259, a filly by Exceed And Excel. Dezign’s first foal, The Chairman, by High Chaparral, has already had two wins and is currently in training with Mick Price. Dezign is out of Group 1 mare Elegant Fashion, who earned in excess of $6 million and is the dam of two stakes performed horses in the Group 3 winning, Group 1 placed Star Fashion, and listed placed Classy Fashion. From a family hailing back to thoroughbred royalty in Highclere, this elegant and athletic yearling filly looks to fit the bill of a likely racetrack performer with residual stud value. Two Group 1 winning mares each have standout lots within the draft, Lot 35 is an All Too Hard colt out of the Champion Group 1 race mare Regimental Gal. This muscular colt’s attributes include a powerful hindquarter, attractive head, good bone and tractable temperament. He is a half -brother to the Group 3 winning Lilliburlero, and to the listed placed Vimy, herself having a smart current 2YO Lonhro colt named Souchez who is heading towards major 2YO races. Also out of Regimental Gal is the promising colt Regimental Force, who after a nine length trial win was surrounded by Golden Slipper buzz. A minor injury

saw him place in his first start and he has now recovered and is back in work. This colt is the first to represent his quality family at Easter for some time, giving buyers a wonderful opportunity. Lot 93 a Fastnet Rock filly out of joint champion 3YO Group 1 New Zealand filly Star Satire is another outstanding type from the mare whose Redoute’s Choice filly Satya sold for $1million at Easter in 2013. This powerful, well -proportioned laid back yearling filly is also a half-sister to Group 2 winners Satin Shoes and Zarzuela, the latter having also left the More Than Ready Group 2 winner Serious Satire. Joining Cressfield’s draft are two quality lots consigned on behalf of Evergreen Stud Farm. Hailing from the family of sire sensation Fastnet Rock Lot 279, is a bay filly by Street Cry from Emancipationist. Emancipationist is out of the full sister to Fastnet Rock, Cirque du Soleil, who can be credited with two Group performers in Emotional Circus and Twirl. This yearling is a well- balanced, great walking filly that

Lot 357 - filly by Frankel ex Jeu de Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky)

oozes class. Lot 463 is a Stratum filly out of the half- sister to the two Hong Kong performers Self Flit and Quick Speed in Battle Line. This is a forward type of filly defying her late foaling date and will impress those looking for an athletic type. Cressfield is a magnificent property on the outskirts of Scone where the management and staff have established an enviable reputation for rearing and presenting yearlings that look good and live up to their promise on the racetrack. The Cressfield yearlings will have had the best possible start in life, further glory awaits for potential buyers.

Parkville NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 0338 Wayne Bedggood t: 0419 226 551 e: wayne@cressfield.com.au cressfield.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

EDINBURGH PARK 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

123

B/Br. F

Pierro

Turnstiles (NZ)

167

B. C

Pierro

Alice's Smart (USA)

220

B/Br. F

Sebring

Caiguna

331

B. F

Savabeel

Gypsy Rose Lee (NZ)

341

B. C

All Too Hard

Honey Flower

356

Ch. C

Sebring

Jester's Girl

390

B/Br. C

Pierro

Lucky Moment

407

Br. F

All Too Hard

Miss Fidler

Well-bred draft sure to bring rewards Bluebloods chatted with Edinburgh Park Stud’s Ian Smith about his upcoming Easter draft and the preparation that goes on behind the scenes... How many years have you been selling at Easter? “On and off since 2003.”

Who are some of your leading graduates from this sale? “Sister Madly is our best to have come through Easter,” Smith said of the three times Group winning half-sister to the best horse he has bred, the Hong Kong superstar Silent Witness.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? “We match them on physical type to start with, making sure the stallion suits the mare. Then we ensure the pedigree matches as well. Then you hope to get the foal you want and if you do get it right you get the rewards in the sale ring.”

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock? “It is an immense priority. It is all about education, for horses to be exposed to and have an understanding of

48 EASTER PREVIEW

everything that is ahead for them. We start with them as foals through the weaning process and onto the yearling preparation. Time and effort in this regard is absolutely paramount and it helps breakers and trainers in the future and minimizes the chances of accidents and injury.”

X-Rays. Your thoughts? “They are a very good tool but should only be used as one and not in exclusivity. There have been plenty of examples of successful horses who have had x-ray issues.”

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? “Look at every aspect of the yearling as well as the farm they come from and the success they have had on the track. And you have to really want that horse.”

Away from the thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? “With breeding horses being so time consuming my priority is spending quality time with my family, enjoying the breaks we do get and having a lot of fun together.”

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by KRISTEN MANNING

Another proven high class stallion in Savabeel is represented in the Edinburgh draft with lot 331, a filly out of the Pins mare Gypsy Rose Lee. She is a sister to Listed winner Legsman and to the dam of Queensland Derby-Gr.1 (2400m) winner Brambles (also by Savabeel)

Smith labels Pierro and All Too Hard as the two first season sires to watch and sons and daughters of both are features of Edinburgh’s Easter draft. The first of which is lot 123, a Pierro filly out of the stakes placed Anabaa mare Turnstiles. Bred on a 4m X 3f cross of Zabeel, she is a half-sister to the talented last start Group placed three-year-old Golden Spin and the promising two-year-old Revolving Door. A granddaughter of the Group Three winner Zabeel’s Angel, she is “a big, strong, scopey filly and typical of the type the mare throws, all quality.” Also by Pierro is lot 167, a colt out of the imported Smart Strike mare Alice’s Smart whose dam is the stakes winner Darling Alice. This is a family that has already proven its worth in Australia, producing the multiple Group One winner Criterion and the talented in-form Bull Point. “He is an absolutely stunning colt, the pick of our colts. He has been a stand-out from day one.” The third of Edinburgh’s Pierro trio is lot 390, the second foal for the city winning Lucky Owners mare Lucky Moment, half-sister to the Group One sprinter Samaready and the two times Group winner Night War. “He is a big,

correct, leggy colt, a good moving horse with plenty of style.” The first of Edinburgh’s All Too Hards is lot 341, the first foal for the stakes winning Bel Esprit mare Honey Flower who hails from the prolific Stage Hit family. Boasts an interesting genetic mix bringing together the sire (Bel Esprit) and dam (Helsinge) of Black Caviar. “Black Caviar is the reason we sent the mare to All Too Hard and we think he is a colt who will appeal to many. He is a strong looking horse, typical of the All Too Hards we saw sell so well at the Gold Cost. He is a good bodied colt, very much a sprinting type which is typical of the family. He has plenty of size with nice bone.” It is a similar cross for lot 407, an All Too Hard filly out of Miss Fidler by Bel Esprit’s sire Royal Academy. She is a 3/4-sister to the Listed winner Whisper Bay and a half-sister to the Group One mare Hurtle Myrtle from the family of Star Watch. “She is a nice short coupled filly who looks an early running

two-year-old type, another one typical of what All Too Hard is siring.” A couple of Sebrings also come under the Edinburgh draft, lots 220 and 356. The former is a filly out of the stakes winning Caiguna, daughter of Dubai Destination who has really been leaving his mark as a broodmare sire in the northern hemisphere. “She is a big strong correct filly with great bone. She is a very attractive filly who oozes class which is why she is at Easter” The latter is a colt out of the stakes winning Commands mare Jester’s Girl whose dam How Funny by Rory’s Jester was also successful at Listed level. Three of this fellow’s first four dams are stakes winners including his grandam How Funny who was second to Polar Success in the Golden Slipper Stakes-Gr.1 (1200m). “He has two-year-old written all over him. He is from a speed family and is just top shelf!” Another proven high class stallion in Savabeel is represented in the Edinburgh draft with lot 331, a filly out of the Pins mare Gypsy Rose Lee. She is a sister to Listed winner Legsman and to the dam of Queensland Derby-Gr.1 (2400m) winner Brambles (also by Savabeel) from the family of multiple Group One winner Slight Chance and successful stallion Dane Shadow. “It is the neater Savabeel fillies who excel on the track and she is one of those, a very feminine filly whose pedigree speaks for itself.”

Wingham NSW 2429 t: 02 6553 0096 Ian Smith t: 0419 637 892 e: info@edinburghpark.com.au edinburghpark.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

EDINGLASSIE STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

Plumm

Br. F

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

See the Music

B. C

Your Song

Segments

B. F

Commands

Sevillano

B. C

Smart Missile

Storm Signal (NZ)

176

Br. C

Sepoy

Amelia's Dream

344

Ch. C

Choisir

Hudoo (GB)

511

B. F

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Lalonde

529

B. F

Hinchinbrook

Nena Candida

50 EASTER PREVIEW

A real Group One nursery Edinglassie stud consists of 500 acres of prime horse country nestled on the banks of the Hunter River near Muswellbrook within easy access of all the major stallion farms. It is run by vastly experienced horseman Mick Talty and his wife Michelle, their horsemanship widely recognised throughout the industry. No better testament to their skill can be provided than the distinguished list of knowledgeable buyers that have purchased yearlings from Edinglassie in recent years. Names such as Mick Price, Paul Perry, Boomer Bloodstock, Shadwell, Gai Waterhouse, Kris Lees, James Harron, Peter Moody, John Ferguson, Spendthrift Farm, Magic Millions as agent, Inglis as agent and too many more to mention indicate that the Edinglassie yearlings are a keenly sought after product. Not only do they sell well, the horses reared and sold by the Taltys have gone on to establish a wonderful winning record in Gr.1 races around the nation. Apart from the products of their “wonder mare” Listen Here who has produced Gr.1 winner Shooting to Win and his Gr.1 placed brother Deep Field (both now very “hot” young sires at leading farms), Edinglassie has bred or sold exciting Gr.1 winners such as Bentley Biscuit, Nechita, God’s Own, Wonderful World, Nadeem, Sharscay and Miss Margaret. It is a record any farm would be justifiably proud of. Edinglassie are taking an exciting draft of well-bred yearlings to the 2016

Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April. They are offering five colts and four fillies by leading sires including High Chaparral, Commands, Medaglia d’Oro and Choisir as well as by promising up and coming sires such as Hinchinbrook, Sepoy, Smart Missile and Your Song. We recently caught up with Edinglassie’s Mick Talty to discuss their Easter draft, which includes some precocious sprinting types as well as several classic, staying types.

How many years have you been selling at Easter? We’ve been selling at Easter for twentyfive years.

What are some of your leading graduates to be sold at Easter? We’ve sold many winners and many good horses at Easter over the years. Some of our top graduates include Bentley Biscuit (sold for $120,000 - won over $1.4M), Deep Field (sold 440k and now standing at stud) and Nadeem (Blue Diamond Stakes), who fetched $700,000 in the sales ring before earning the same on the track and retiring to stud. Going

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by MICHAEL VINCENT

Triple Gr.1 winner Bentley Biscuit Shooting to Win, winner of the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas

Edinglassie has bred or sold exciting Gr.1 winners such as Bentley Biscuit, Nechita, God’s Own, Wonderful World, Nadeem, Sharscay and Miss Margaret. It is a record any farm would be justifiably proud of. back a few years we sold Sharscay and Miss Margaret at Easter and more recently we sold Muwaary (O’Reilly x Silently) who won a Gr.3 race in South Africa earlier this season.

What are some of the key steps in your process of yearling preparation? Yearling preparation is a long process and it all starts with the in-foal mare. It is important for our mares and young horses to be out in the spring fields where they receive the benefit of all the natural minerals and vitamins as well as a nutritious and well-balanced diet for their growth and development. Attention to detail, especially corrective trimming and leg work is important to the selling of our yearlings. We have an excellent master farrier in Michael Neville who has worked with us for over 20 years. We like to give our Easter yearlings an 8-week preparation. Getting the feed to exercise ratio correct for each horse is very important. All yearlings are treated as individuals and worked and fed accordingly. We like to keep things as natural as possible allowing the horses to exercise in yards; I feel it is important to have our yearlings relaxed and happy.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? X-Rays have their place and are here to stay. However I’d personally like to see a

panel of vets at each sale responsible for interpreting the images and providing objective advice to buyers. Too many horses with ‘forgivable’ minor issues are pigeon-holed as not desirable by vets. All this does is lead to high quality yearlings not recognising the sale results and not being given the opportunities befitting of them.

What are some of the top lots in your draft? We have a really nice draft of yearlings again this year. They include a really nice High Chaparral colt out of a stakesplaced Encosta de Lago mare, a Medaglia d’Oro filly out of a full sister to Mentality, a Commands half-sister to Edinglassie graduates Parriwi and Scream Machine (the latter sadly passing away recently), a Smart Missile colt out of multiple stakeswinning mare Storm Signal (a ¾ brother to the 2015 Dalrello Stakes-LR winner Destruction), a chestnut Choisir colt out of a winning half-sister to 2008 Caulfield Cup winner All The Good, a Medaglia d’Oro filly from the family of First Seal and her dam Episode, a Hinchinbrook filly from a winning half-sister to Blue Diamond winner Nadeem and a Sepoy

colt out of the very fast and very talented Amelia’s Dream. Amelia’s Dream is a daughter of Redoute’s Choice and Shalt Not who at just her second race start won the Silver Slipper stakes by a whopping seven lengths. This emphatic victory quickly saw her installed as the Golden Slipper Favourite. She unfortunately broke down before the big race, which was ultimately won by her stablemate Sebring.

Do you have a pick for the first season sire in the 2015/16 season? All Too Hard and Pierro were great rivals on the track and both have great credentials to succeed at stud. That said, I think the eight first season sires represented at Easter are a particularly strong group.

Muswellbrook NSW 2333 Mick Talty t: 0412 045 694 edinglassie.net.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

EMIRATES PARK 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

Br. C

Dream Ahead (USA)

Schiaparelli

348

Br. F

Dream Ahead (USA)

Ilhaam

488

B. C

Denman

Edgeton

558

B. C

Dream Ahead (USA)

Shaan

Dream draft boasts four beautifully-bred youngsters With their proven stallions Artie Schiller and Al Maher in great form and their younger boys on the block Dream Ahead and Mulaazem showing plenty of promise, things are looking good for the two state operation that is Emirates Park. Selling at Easter since the early 1990’s, the farm boasts a long list of successful graduates, top of the list being the Group One winning champion stallion Encosta de Lago, a horse of whose achievements Emirates Park’s Dr Sahu is justifiably proud. And he has also enjoyed cheering home the likes of the Australian Guineas-Gr.1 (1600m) winner Al Maher who returned to Emirates to stand at stud, the Hong Kong star Elegant Fashion and the Epsom Handicap-Gr.1 (1600m) winner Fat Al. The likes of Fatoon and Jivago have also been good Easter advertisements for Emirates and the farm is looking forward to showcasing four of the stud’s high quality yearlings at this year’s sale. The winner of several of the UK and Europe’s most prestigious sprinting contests, earning him a Cartier Award, resident stallion Dream Ahead has made a most encouraging start to his stud career in the northern hemisphere, represented by 21 individual winners including the Group winners Donjuan Triumphant and Final Frontier. He is also off and running with his

52 EASTER PREVIEW

first Australian bred crop which has produced the stakes placed Dream First and the runaway Ipswich winner Game Of Dreams. Three of Emirates Park’s Easter yearlings are by him... Lot 58 br.c Dream Ahead - Schiaparelli A half-brother to the two times Group winning emerging young stallion Rothesay and to the dam of in-form Melbourne galloper Falago out of a winning daughter of the triple Group One winning Bletchingly mare Canny Lass, a sister to the Golden Slipper Stakes-Gr.1 (1200m) winning outstanding stallion Canny Lad. He hails from a prolific black-type family represented in recent years by the likes of multiple Group One winners Sepoy and Guelph. “He’s a nice type of horse with the stamp of his sire,” according to Sahu. Lot 348 br.f Dream Ahead - Ilhaam Bred on a 5f x 4m cross of Roberto, she is a half-sister to the Champion 2YO Colt Almalad, a winner at Group One level in Brisbane and recently successful at Sha Tin where he races as Friends Of Ka Ying. This filly’s dam is a sister to

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by KRISTEN MANNING

Gr.1 winner Almalad is a half-brother to Lot 348, a filly by Dream Ahead

Emirates Park’s resident stallion Dream Ahead will be represented by three lots

Selling at Easter since the early 1990’s, the farm boasts a long list of successful graduates, top of the list being the Group One winning champion stallion Encosta de Lago the city winning high class broodmare Samar, dam of the Group One sprinter Samaready and the dual Group winner Night War. She is also a half-sister to the triple Group One winning stayer County Tyrone. “She is my pick of them, a very nice type, correct, strong and well balanced.” Lot 558 b.c Dream Ahead - Shaan Bred on a 5m x 4m cross of Danzig via two of his finest sons in Green Desert and Danehill, he is a half-brother to the Hong Kong winner Eastern Promise out of a city winning half-sister to the excellent broodmare Regard, dam of the Group One fillies Atlantic Jewel and Commanding Jewel. His grandam Nanshan by Nashwan is a daughter of the Irish Champion 2YO Filly Pass The Peace, dam of another Group One winning juvenile in Embassy. “Shaan always produces a good type and this is one of them. He is a very nice, well grown colt.”

Emirates also sell Lot 488, a Denman colt out of the Listed winning sprinting Racer’s Edge mare Edgeton. A half-brother to the stakes placed multiple city winner Umgeton, he hails from the family of the Group One gallopers Golden King, Zonda, Surprize Surprize, Charming City, Mr Murphy, Kenvain and The Party Stand. Emirates Park’s Easter draft is not a big one but it is select. The stud does not set out to breed Easter specific yearlings Sahu explained, noting that His Excellency Nasser Lootah prefers to concentrate on just breeding the best racehorses he can, with a preference to using the stud’s own well credentialled stallions. The stud’s Easter yearlings, who have

already been well handled, come in for ten weeks of sale preparation. A qualified vet, Sahu offers an interesting insight into the use of x-rays at sales. “If you are spending large sums, particularly on behalf of others, then you want to check on everything,” he said. “But these are young horses going through a growth phase and there were plenty of good horses purchased in the time before x-rays were made available.” When asked for his first season sire selection, Dr Sahu put forward Pierro’s name, citing the outstanding juvenile form that saw the son of Lonhro claim the 2YO Triple Crown. “He was such a great two-year-old who was able to win at Group One level from 1200m to 1600m. He has to have a good shot.”

Murrurundi NSW 2338 t: 02 6546 6550 Dr Shalabh Sahu m: 0408 466 777 e: sks@emiratespark.com.au Bryan Carlson m: 0415 275 885 e: bryan@emiratespark.com.au emiratespark.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

EUREKA STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

287

B. F

Smart Missile

Express Air

563

Ch. F

Choisir

Silky Gold

Renowned stud brings two of the best Whether it’s breeding and agisting mares, rearing foals, raising and preparing yearlings, or spelling racehorses, Eureka Stud’s philosophy is to allow horses to relax and roam free over undulating hills or across miles of natural pasture or crop-sown paddocks to assist in their development, progress and peace of mind. Over the years Eureka has earned the title of leading Queensland stud and has stood successful Queensland stallions, Semipalatinsk (USA), Brave Warrior and Piccolo (GB) amongst others. The recently retired dual Gr.1 winner Spirit of Boom and Red Dazzler (sire of Gr.1 winner Tinto) are the current resident stallions at Eureka. Eureka mares have won Queensland Broodmare of the Year Awards on no fewer than five occasions, most recently with Temple Spirit - dam of Gr.1 winners Spirit of Boom and Temple of Boom. The stud owes much of its success to a historical (yet increasingly rare) approach of supporting foundation mares and their daughters over decades, a strategy Stud Manager Scott McAlpine says is “also supported by world renowned owner/ breeder, the Aga Khan”. Eureka will take two colts to the 2016 Australian Easter Yearling sale in April and I recently caught up with Scott McAlpine to discuss the upcoming sale.

How many years have you been selling at Easter?

54 EASTER PREVIEW

We’ve sold at Inglis Easter alternatively over the years and have taken a draft to Sydney the past three years running. We try and only take the horses with the right kind of pedigree who are the right match for that particular sale.

Why do you like selling at Easter? Being a later yearling sale it offers an opportunity for the yearlings to develop further than they may have if prepared for the earlier sales. The Easter Sale is a premium sale that attracts owners and trainers from all over Australia and even overseas. It’s a sale we particularly target with yearlings that are out of our betterbred mares and by the top-end sires.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? It’s a combination of pedigree and type. It’s important to breed horses by fashionable sires from nice mares. We’re taking two horses to Easter this year. The first

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by MICHAEL VINCENT

We can only ensure the horses we’re offering have the best opportunity to grow and develop both mentally and physically. We produce a lot of winners including a lot of group winners and have done so for many years and they’re all prepared the same way.

filly is out of a Gr.2 winning mare and is by exciting first season sire Smart Missile, and the second filly is a half-sister to a Listed winner by Choisir and out of a winning General Nediym mare.

Okay, you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? All of our yearlings work on the same routine. The Easter yearlings though probably come to hand that little bit quicker - just being that few months older.

them in July as weanlings to see if we have any problems. We then do the sales X-rays six weeks before they go through the sales ring. We have to prove to potential buyers that the horses we’re trying to sell them are the cleanest and most correct they can be.

How would you describe your yearlings? Our Smart Missile filly is out of the very smart Queensland Guineas-Gr.2 winner Express Air and Express Air is a half-sister to the Snitzel colt we sold

in January for $500,000. This filly is her fourth foal. She’s had two Snitzels and a So You Think. The So You Think colt was sold to South Africa last Easter for $150,000. The first Snitzel filly was retained by us and didn’t race - she is now in foal to Spirit of Boom. This filly is a nice robust yearling, typical of the Smart Missiles. She’s correct, a good size and is well-balanced. Express Air has a Spirit of Boom foal on the ground now and he’s probably the best foal on our farm and the mare is in foal to him again this season. Our second filly being offered is a very well-grown Choisir filly out of a winning General Nediym mare who was a good size herself. This filly is a half-sister to Anagold (by Anabaa) who is a winner of the Ipswich Cup-LR and approximately $300,000 in prizemoney. This filly has a real mix of Choisir and General Nediym - she’s a very athletic chestnut.

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? We’re selling a product. People know what they want and what criteria they’re looking for. We can only ensure the horses we’re offering have the best opportunity to grow and develop both mentally and physically. We produce a lot of winners including a lot of group winners and have done so for many years and they’re all prepared the same way.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? We don’t want our yearlings injuring themselves, our staff or the public and so handling the yearlings from a young age is important to us. Our exercise regime includes a healthy combination of exercise and education. The more educated they are as the yearlings the more tractable they are and easier to handle when it comes to breaking-in and the remainder of their juvenile training programs. Our yearlings typically have a 10-week sale preparation that includes being worked off a lead pony three times a week.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? It’s an expected and done thing and we X-ray all of our horses. We screen

Cambooya QLD 4358 t: 07 4696 1204 Scott McAlpine t: 0408 700 724 Jenny McAlpine t: 0411 504 803 Angus McAlpine t: 0417 745 347 e: eurekastud@bigpond.com eurekastud.com.au

EUREKA STUD

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

FAIRVIEW PARK STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B/Br. C

Dalakhani (IRE)

Ponte Piccolo (NZ)

Ch. F

Sebring

Shalimar Sky

109

B. F

Smart Missile

Tiffinco

186

Br. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Assertive Guest

464

Br. F

I Am Invincible

Bella Cassani

Keeping the game real They may be classified as a ‘small breeder’, but boy can they produce a top quality racehorse, as evidenced by Fairview Park’s leading Easter sales graduate, 2014 Golden Slipper heroine Mossfun (Mossman x Eye For Fun). But that was no fluke because other high quality gallopers to come off the Grose Valley-based farm include 2011 Gr.1 Randwick Guineas victor and sire Ilovethiscity (Magic Albert x Kensington Rose), Snowden Racing’s multiple winning mare Nancy (Big Brown x Shalimar Sky), Unequivocal (Not A Single Doubt x Chocaholic) who beat Group 1 winners Delectation and Peggy Jean at just her second start, city winner Niccoco and Mossfun’s half-brother Mawahibb (by Magic Albert) who Fairview sold for $750,000 to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and continues to show promise after a city win at Moonee Valley for Team Hawkes. With 45 mares grazing on the 150 acre farm on the Grose River near Hawkesbury, Fairview Park is a stunning fourth generation property full of undulating land which is owned and operated by Linda Duckworth, and her sister Heather McKinnon. “The rainfall is good here as is the quality of pasture and we’ve got both flat and hilly areas, so we’re in a great spot to raise horses - which we’ve been doing for the last two generations now, although Heather and I have only been managing the business for the past 12 years.

56 EASTER PREVIEW

“Our main aim is to not over stock the property as we like to give our horses plenty of space,” explained Linda. Yearlings at Fairview go through an eight to ten week sales preparation which involves a 30 minute hand walk every day, lunging in the sandroll, and lots of time in the paddock. “In addition to learning manners and basic education, I’m a big believer of giving them their space to be a horse, whether that be galloping in their paddocks, bucking, or playing around. “Weather permitting, they’re out in yards as much as I can possibly have them.” The perks of being married to a vet while running a boutique breeding operation are obvious, however Linda’s husband is integral to their success, going above and beyond to help make Fairview the top quality farm that it is. “Ian is my backstop and helps me whenever I need a hand. “He obviously does all of the vet work at the farm - and without being biased, he is a fantastic vet - but he’ll also help with the yearling preparation whether it be walking, lunging, or pulling any unruly colts into line, and will even muck out stables before he visits his other clients.

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by SARAH PEATLING

“He’s even built me extra stables when I’ve needed them…so I’m extremely lucky to have his support.” Linda and Ian also plan the matings for a majority of mares on their farm, which include 12 of their own, with a focus on supporting the local product. “We prefer to use colonial-bred stallions and female families that have raced in Australia if possible because we know that they are best suited to Australian racing conditions. “We’re mostly big supporters of the leading farms in the Hunter Valley - and it seems to be a recipe that’s worked for us.” Staff turnover is low at Fairview Park which is testament to the environment and conditions Linda and Heather have helped create, with Darren Pullman their longest serving staff member who has worked at Fairview for over 20 years. “We’ve got a small but fantastic support team led by Darren, who’s our right hand man and longest serving staff member, so we’re pretty lucky. Darren also bred Mossfun with us so that was an incredible experience for all involved. “Winning the Golden Slipper or a Group 1 race is a ride you want every small breeder to go on because it keeps the game real,” beamed Linda.

Sky who was handy in her own right winning five times between 1000 and the mile. From four named foals, three have raced and won (Sky Prince, Seyla and Nancy). This lovely Sebring filly offers great movement, great balance, and is very well put together. She’s got a lot of spunk about her. Lot 109 bay filly Smart Missile Tiffinco This is the mare’s first foal and the filly is very smart. She’s a big and rangy type of Smart Missile; and we’re really happy with where she’s going. Lot 186 brown filly Street Cry (IRE) Assertive Guest Street Cry is doing amazing things all over the world so being sired by him alone should bring some attention but, further to that, she’s a strong filly, who’s powerfully built and offers a lot of strength, so we think she’ll be popular. Lot 464 brown filly I Am Invincible Bella Cassani She is a very neat filly, an early running type, by a very hot sire, who has an attractive head. You’ll see her in the E 2 session.

With 45 mares grazing on the 150 acre farm on the Grose River near Hawkesbury, Fairview Park is a stunning fourth generation property full of undulating land which is owned and operated by Linda Duckworth, and her sister Heather McKinnon. So what drives Linda in this ever competitive market place as a small breeder and horse trader? “Everyday is different. I get real enjoyment out of seeing a foal go through the full cycle of developing into a yearling and racehorse - and if they’re good enough to make it as a commercial broodmare or stallion - well that’s job done. “I also love getting my yearlings ready for the sales, and take great pride in presenting them. In the earlier days I used to cry in the ring when the hammer went down knowing they were leaving, but I’ve toughened up now,” laughed Linda. “The thrill of a race win and the thrill of a good sale ring result can’t be beaten.”

Here is a summary of the Fairview Park Easter Yearling Draft: Lot 15 bay or brown colt Dalakhani (IRE) - Ponte Piccolo (NZ) He’s a half-brother to Hong Kong’s champion miler and Horse Of The Year Able Friend so it’s an honour to be able to present him. This guy is developing into a really nice strong colt. He’s got great length, a great walk, and is an intelligent and kind horse. Everything we’re doing with him he’s handling really well. Lot 70 chestnut filly Sebring Shalimar Sky

Grose Wold NSW 2753 t: 02 4572 1696 Linda Duckworth t: 0416 179 440 e: kianben@summit.net.au

A great client bred and raced Shalimar EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

KIA-ORA STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Reggae (IRE)

144

B. F

All Too Hard

Waveline (USA)

170

Ch. F

Exceed and Excel

Allegra

223

Br. C

Pierro

Carribean Sunset (IRE)

254

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Decelerator (USA)

295

Ch. C

Sebring

Fast 'n' Witty

336

B. C

Fastnet Rock

Heart Ashley (USA)

385

B. F

Exceed and Excel

Lisson Grove

424

B. F

Fastnet Rock

More Than Real (USA)

58 EASTER PREVIEW

Historic stud continues to make its mark at Easter It was back in 1917 that Kia-Ora Stud offered its first draft of yearlings at Easter and ever since then the historic Scone farm and Inglis have enjoyed a profitable association.

Under the guidance of manager Alex Kingston for the past few years, Kia-Ora has continued to thrive and 2016 is an exciting one for the farm with a stellar Easter draft. “I thought as we were growing these horses out that we had a pretty nice draft,” Kingston said, “but since they’ve been all together for their sale preparation I have been pleasantly surprised by what a great group of yearlings it is. I am really looking forward to the sale.” Achieving an excellent median of $400,000 at Easter last year with its yearlings fetching up to $700,000 Kia-Ora just keeps making its mark and there is plenty of race track success to go with the sales ring results. Group One placed in Sydney and Singapore, the Group Two winner Zululand, a $1.5million graduate of Kia-Ora’s 2013 Easter draft, has been flying the flag for the stud. And in Hong Kong they have a nice one in the making, the $1million Easter colt People’s Knight looking good winning three of his first six starts in Hong Kong for trainer John Moore. After spending six years in the United States working at major farms, Alex Kingston has worked enthusiastically

implementing the best of overseas practices. “I learned an enormous amount in America,” she said, and it is subsequently no surprise to see American influence in the pedigrees of Kia-Ora’s Easter draft... Lot 34 bay colt Street Cry - Reggae Half-brother to Group Two placed Unique Quality out of a sister to Spartacus and Johan Cruyff. Bound to be keenly sought after by Asian buyers, he hails from the family of Hong Kong stars Super Satin and Blazing Speed. “He is a nice, neat, compact colt with a good walk,” Kingston said. Lot 144 bay fill All Too Hard - Waveline The second foal of a US stakes winning Stravinsky mare from the family of Group winners Crystal Castle, Secrage and Teapot Row. “She is a quality filly with good conformation.” Lot 170 chestnut filly Exceed And Excel - Allegra A sister to the dual stakes winner Eximius and to the promising People’s Knight from the family of Mossfun she is “a good bodied filly who will be keenly sought after.”

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by KRISTEN MANNING

Achieving an excellent median of $400,000 at Easter last year with its yearlings fetching up to $700,000 Kia-Ora just keep making its mark and there is plenty of race track success to go with the sales ring results.

Lot 223 brown colt Pierro - Carribean Sunset

Lot 385 bay filly Exceed And Excel Lisson Grove

Son of an imported Danehill Dancer mare who won at Group Two level in Ireland and in Listed company in the US. “He is a well balanced athlete.”

Half to the Hong Kong winner Dashing Ceramibo out of Listed winning half-sister to the Group One winner Only A Lady. “A nicely balanced neat, well developed filly.”

Lot 254 bay filly Fastnet Rock Decelerator Daughter of an imported Dehere mare, a Group Three and dual Listed winner in America and a granddaughter of the Group One mare Fabulous Notion. “She is a lovely, well balanced filly.” Lot 295 chestnut colt Sebring - Fast ‘N’ Witty The second foal of a sister to the stakes placed Fast Talker from the family of Crystal Lily, he is a “compact, well developed, quality colt.” Lot 336 bay colt Fastnet Rock - Heart Ashley Out of a US dual Gr.3 winning half-sister to stakes winners he is, says Kingston “a stand-out. He has great size, scope and strength, just a lovely horse.”

Lot 424 bay filly Fastnet Rock - More Than Real Daughter of a US Gr.2 winner whose dam and grandam are both stakes winners. “Her sister ($430,000 at Easter last year) Miss Debutante was impressive winning a recent Randwick trial for Gai Waterhouse and this lovely filly is strong and athletic.” Plenty of thought is put into Kia-Ora’s breeding plans with a focus on conformation. “We plan physical matings with a commercial focus on the best types to suit Easter,” Kingston said.

The Easter yearlings are not raised differently to any others, each horse on the property handled from day one and “treated as individuals. We plan a sale for them from the day they are born and try to follow that through, though things may change as they develop and progress.” With so much time spent with each horse “as soon as they hit the ground,” the Kia-Ora babies are well practised by the time it comes to sale time, making “our yearling preparations a breeze.” Kingston has mixed thoughts regarding x-rays at yearling sales, seeing them as a useful provider of information but sometimes taken too seriously. “There have been plenty of examples of horses who look high risk on x-ray who end up being good performers. It seems that the results of x-rays play out more in the sales ring than they do at the race track.” With Kia-Ora major share holders in All Too Hard, Kingston is looking forward to seeing how his Easter debut goes and she has been pleased with what she has seen so far, noting that “he had some absolute crackers at the Gold Coast.” Kingston will be hard at work in the lead-up to Easter and at the sales themselves, not having much time to herself though in recent times, being a new mum, she has got better at juggling her work and personal life. When it comes to work however she “lives and breathes Kia-Ora” and her dedication will be on show when buyers see the polish on the stud’s Easter draft.

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6543 7105 Alex Kingston t: 0447 264 718 e: alex@kiaoraestates.com.au kiaorastud.com

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

MARQUEE STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

Br. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Pagan Princess

111

B. C

All Too Hard

Timbourina

116

B. F

Commands

Triple Six

234

B. F

Exceed and Excel

Charmview

258

B/Br. C

More Than Ready (USA)

Devil's Thumbprint

274

Br. C

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Dreamworker

574

B. C

Manhattan Rain

Tango Fire

Strong draft boasts winning pedigrees Marquee Stud principal Mark Alati spoke to Bluebloods about his Easter draft his farm, their approach and just about everything in general. How many years have you been selling at Easter? “I have sold at Easter for several years through other studs prior to owning Marquee Stud and this is the third year that Marquee has sold at Easter.”

What are some of your leading graduates from this sale? “We haven’t been selling for long enough to build up a large resume in this respect although there is a promising type from last year’s sale in the shape of King of War who won a barrier trial in good style before a good run in the Silver SlipperGr.2 for 5th beaten only 3 lengths behind Astern. He looks to have a bright future.”

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? “We look at the whole mix - the size and type of stallion to match the mare, crosses that work and we also try to cater for what the market wants. We go to stallions that are commercially viable and provide racetrack results. We do have a very strong broodmare band and we will always operate at the elite level.”

60 EASTER PREVIEW

Okay, you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? “On our farm we treat them all the same. One has to be careful, cautious even, during the sales preparation with so much going on as sale time looms. They constantly move from paddocks to stables, to walkers and so on, but all that prepares them for the next stage of their lives in a racing stable.”

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? “We handle the foals from birth. Our farm, under managers Garry and Denise Isaac, has a specific regimen of foal/ weanling/yearling handling and contact with people. They get 10 weeks preparation and with the constant interaction they parade better at the sales and handle the whole experience like old stagers.”

X-Rays. Your thoughts? “X-Rays are very important to instil confidence. They should be read in conjunction with a thorough physical

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by WARREN WRUCK

I have to say the best is the Exceed and Excel Charmview filly. We sold her full brother last year for $775K and she is arguably a better type? examination of the yearling by a veterinarian. They can also be very subjective different vets have different opinions on what is low risk and what is not but as a whole I think they have been of great benefit to the industry.“ I am of the belief that most X-Ray issues can be addressed with time and patience.

What are some of the top lots in your draft? “We have a beautifully balanced draft with yearlings possessing great pedigrees and by highly sought after stallions. “I have to say the best is the Exceed and Excel - Charmview filly. We sold her full brother last year for $775K and this filly is arguably a better type. The colt now races as King of War and we spoke of him earlier. The Snowden camp has a very big opinion of him. “Then there is the All Too Hard Timbourina colt. All Too Hard is a boom stallion and our colt is out of one of the best families in the studbook. A very impressive colt who has been well and truly stamped by his sire. Others in our draft are the sale’s first lot into the ring Lot 1, our Street Cry - Pagan Princess filly. Her dam was a twice stakes placed two time Sydney winner and is from the family of GCTC Magic Millions Guineas winner Saluter and by a modern day great stallion that is sorely missed. “Another filly, by Commands ex Triple Six-is from another stakes placed two time Sydney winner and is from a good deep family of stakes winners

including champion NZ sprinter and Gr.1 winner Calveen and the stakes winning Fireworks. “The More Than Ready - Devil’s Thumbprint colt is a half-brother to Triple Six the dam of the Commands filly and the family also boasts the top shelf broodmare English Wonder, dam of Dr Grace and Asia. Our colt by Medaglia D’Oro ex Dreamworker, a city winning daughter of Encosta de Lago out of Timbourina (dam of our All Too Hard colt) is closely related to the multiple group winning and four times Gr.1 placed Media and with Medaglia sure to feature in the Slipper again with boom son Astern, our colt will be very well received. “Our final lot is in Session Two and is a colt by Manhattan Rain from the Anabaa mare Tango Fire. This colt is a three quarter sister in blood to the Gr.2 winning Tango’s Daughter and his third dam Oakmead ran 3rd in both The Oaks and the Irish Oaks having won the Lingfield Oaks Trial. A strong pedigree and a cracking type.”

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? “First and foremost, decide on the type of horse that you want. Do you want a 2YO type, a slower maturing 3 year old miler or a stayer. In other words do

you want to dream of having a Slipper winner, a Doncaster winner or a Derby/ Oaks or Cups winner? Then get down to business. And, the horse they buy has to be a great athletic physical specimen that hopefully takes their breath away.”

What are your freshman sire picks? “All Too Hard simply for the fact that he stamps his stock and my bloke is no exception. He was a superstar racehorse from arguably one of the top families in the stud book, in the world. I cannot see him not succeeding.” He simply fits every criteria possible.

Away from the thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? “Definitely hanging out with my family. I have a lovely family and they are everything to me. We have a lot of fun together. I also enjoy the gym and playing golf with my son. And I run a number of businesses which keeps me off the streets.”

When in Sydney where do you go to relax, dine out, after a day at the sales? Favourite restaurant or nightspot? “I have a few favourite restaurants. If it is a client type function I like China Doll and Manta both at Woolloomooloo Wharf, and if it is a romantic evening with my beautiful wife Lisa, I am fond of Pendolinos, a beautiful Italian restaurant in the Strand Arcade in George Street. Wilcom EmbroideryStudio – Level 2

Z: 1.00

Marguee

H: 84.3 mm W: 81.2 mm Stitches: Colors: Color changes: Stops:

3906 1 0 1

Machine: Trims:

Tajima 9

Left: Right: Up: Down:

40.6 mm 40.6 mm 42.2 mm 42.2 mm

EndX: EndY:

Willow Tree NSW 2339 t: 02 6747 1789 e: info@marqueestud.com.au Gary Isaac t: 0429 480 755 marqueestud.com.au

0.0 mm 0.0 mm

Max Stitch: Min Stitch: Max Jump:

6.2 mm 0.5 mm 6.5 mm

*MARGUEE* Colorway: #

Colorway 1 St.

Descr Code

1 3904 white 13 Brand: Wilcom Total Bobbin: 5.25m

Author:

Last Saved: 7 Dec, 2011

Printed: 3 Jul, 2013 12:50

Keywords:

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

MIDDLEBROOK VALLEY LODGE 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Pampurr

B. C

Redoute's Choice

So Sharp it Hurts

311

Ch. C

Choisir

Forest Beauty

422

Br. F

Pierro

Moonlight Music

458

B. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

Amouage (NZ)

470

B. C

Stratum

Byatt

483

B. F

Pluck (USA)

Danasierra

532

B. C

Hinchinbrook

Our Kitty (NZ)

542

B. C

Choisir

Princess Nemo

Draft of nine offers a wealth of choice Verna Metcalfe is a familiar sight at Easter, involved in the selling of yearlings at the Newmarket yards for around 25 years, the last eight of those with Middlebrook Valley Lodge. Bluebloods spoke with Verna about her approach to breeding and preparing for Easter and the draft the stud will present. Easter star All Too Hard, a seven figure Easter yearling who excelled himself on the track with his four Group One victories, was born at the Scone property and that young stallion’s first group of yearlings are exciting many including Metcalfe who names him as the first season sire to watch. When planning the breeding of Easter type yearlings, Metcalfe plays close heed to the physical type of both the stallion and the mare as well as their previous progeny; “we take a good look at them and are careful to avoid doubling up on any faults.” Middlebrook’s Easter yearlings are given an eight week preparation for the sale, Metcalfe keen to give them as natural a lead up as possible, noting that “you can over prepare a yearling. Our young horses come in a couple of times after weaning but we leave them in the paddock as much as we can, we like them to be happy and quiet when they get to the sales.” Metcalfe is not a fan of x-rays, labelling their use as “Over-rated. Too many people have missed out on good horses because of them,” she said, noting that a couple of the stud’s better performers have had x-ray issues.

62 EASTER PREVIEW

Careful inspection of a young horse, she says, is more important and over the years she has noticed that the good judges come back three or four times just to watch a horse they like. “And I think the best advice I can give a buyer is to keep watching that horse, follow them up to the parade ring and see how they handle it all.” When asked if she has outside interests, Metcalfe laughed, noting that the breeding and raising of thoroughbreds is all encompassing. “It has to be your passion which it is for myself and my husband David. I have spent all my life around horses and I love it.” Middlebrook takes nine well related yearlings to Easter and their sale kicks off early with lot 2, a lovely strong filly bred on the successful Fastnet Rock/ Storm Cat cross that results in a duplication of the excellent mare Crimson Saint. Her dam Pampurr, a daughter of the Group Two winning Sir Tristram mare Bracken Bank from the family of big race winners Subzero and Marscay has made a terrific start to her stud career, her first two foals Denpurr and Purrific both stakes placed.

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by KRISTEN MANNING

“The best advice I can give a buyer is to keep watching that horse, follow them up to the parade ring and see how they handle it all.” Next up for Middlebrook is lot 79, a colt by the champion sire Redoute’s Choice out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare So Sharp It Hurts, daughter of the WA Derby-Gr.1 (2400m) and Oaks-Gr.2 (2400m) heroine Beaux Art who has done a great job at stud producing the stakes winners Proart, Shamardashing and Imaginaire. Described by Metcalfe as “a really nice, horse, a cracker,” he is “typical of Redoute’s Choice, not huge; nice and neat.” A son of the always popular Choisir is lot 311 out of the two times winning Thorn Park mare Forest Beauty, a half-sister to the durable Group One galloper Mourinho from the family of the great stallion Storm Bird. “He is a well put together, athletic type; an excellent first foal, very much the same type as Big Money.” The first crop of five times Group One winner Pierro will be keenly sought after at Easter and Middlebrook has lot 422, a half-sister to the juvenile stakes winner Moonlight Hussler out of the metropolitan winning Redoute’s Choice mare Moonlight Music. “A neat, scopey, very athletic filly,” she hails from the prolific international Fanfreluche family that has been so well represented in Australia via the likes of Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur. From the penultimate crop of Sadler’s Wells’ wonderful son High Chaparral is lot 458, a half-brother to the stakes placed Le Mans from the family of big race winners St Reims and Champagne. “He is one of the better High Chaparrals we have had, he is a nice neat colt with good bone and good attitude.”

Lot 470 is a Stratum colt the second foal for Byatt, a half-sister to the stakes placed Parachute Man. “I like him a lot,” Metcalfe said of the bay whose third dam is the Group One winner Shindig, dam of the C.F Orr Stakes-Gr.1 (1400m) winner Shinzig. Metcalfe is hoping that Gasoline (bred and reared by Middlebrook), a Pluck colt showing great promise in New Zealand, can win a stakes race by Easter, ensuring that buyers will be keen to inspect the progeny of Pluck, sire of lot 483, a filly out of the stakes placed Danehill mare. “A very nice, neat package,” she is the first foal for her dam, a sister to the four times Group One winner Dane Ripper. “Just a stunning colt, a stand-out,” is lot 532, a son of Hinchinbrook and the Group Three placed multiple city winning Tale Of The Cat mare Our Kitty. Recent South African Group Two winner Ovidio hails from this family as do the outstanding racehorses and stallions Lonhro and Grosvenor. Wrapping up Middlebrook’s sale is lot 542, a Choisir colt out of Princess Nemo, a sister to the dual W.S Cox Plate-Gr.1 (2040m) champ Fields Of Omagh. “Very much a Choisir, a nice type who is very strong,” she can also boast amongst her relations the Group winners Infinite Grace, King Brian, Malcolm and Fontein Ruby.

2YO stakeswinner Moonlight Music will have a half-sister by Pierro offered (Lot 422)

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 0270 Verna Metcalfe t: 0488 762 923 e: vernametcalfe@bigpond.com middlebrookvalleylodge.com.au

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VENDORS

MILBURN CREEK 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

Ch. C

Snitzel

Red Typhoon

Ch. C

Snitzel

Roses 'n' Wine (CAN)

133

B. F

All Too Hard

Valdemoro

190

B. F

Sepoy

Baby Corn

192

B. C

Zoffany (IRE)

Bally Aura

212

Br. C

Commands

Brave and Bold

239

B. C

All Too Hard

Climatic

326

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Gold Chant

332

B. C

Fastnet Rock

Hallowell Belle

383

Br. C

Redoute's Choice

Life in a Metro

527

B. F

Sebring

Moulin Rouge

540

B. C

Smart Missile

Pozitave

64 EASTER PREVIEW

Milburn’s Easter dozen In the stunning southern highlands of New South Wales at Wildes Meadow, John and Trish Muir’s Milburn Creek has enjoyed immense success over the years breeding and rearing top class yearlings, and none more so than in 2015 when they sold last year’s Easter sales topper for $2.2million. The colt, by Snitzel out of Admirelle - making him a full brother to Group 1 winner Sizzling who now stands at Newgate Farm, was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa who sent his prized investment to the in-form Snowden Racing stable and by all current reports, the youngster is ‘coming along nicely’. But what was even more successful for Milburn Creek is that their six yearlings at that sale, sold for $4,075,000 and an average of $679,166 which made Milburn Creek the leading vendor on average (3 or more lots sold), making it a vintage year for the farm which has now been selling at Australia’s most prestigious sale for 37 years. In charge of the Milburn Creek’s yearlings and broodmares is Scott Holcombe, who in previous roles at Tyreel, Makybe, Woodlands and Arrowfield has managed Flying Spur, Kenbelle, and All Too Hard as youngsters, and believes the team is in for another good year as it puts the final polish on Milburn Creek’s dozen yearlings for Easter 2016. “Last Easter was a great thrill for all of the staff and especially John and his family. He’s put in a lot of money and time developing

the property and planning the broodmare matings so when a special colt like the Admirelle comes along, it makes it very rewarding. We knew he was a cracking type as a foal, and felt he was always going to do extremely well at Easter,” said Scott who enters his 26th year preparing yearlings for Easter. “Yearlings on the farm generally enter a nine week program and during that time they will be lunged and introduced to the walker plus they get out for grass time daily, seven days a week. We work hard on educating them to have good manners because being able to walk well at the sales is absolutely vital. A good suitable feeding program is everything, so we work off a basic breakfast then individual feeds from thereafter. We do a lot of grooming and being based in the Southern Highlands our yearlings always wear rugs out in yards.” Milburn Creek also bred and raced the Gai Waterhouse-trained Group 1 Champion Stakes winner Hampton Court (by Redoute’s Choice out of Roses ‘n’ Wine), so we start with that wonderful mare’s colt this year with special commentary from Scott:

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by SARAH PEATLING

Lot 44 Snitzel x Roses n Wine colt This colt is more mature at the same stage than his full brother was last year which sold for $600,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Julian Blaxland, he’s a strong forward type with a touch of old style strength about him with mum’s head. Lot 133 All Too Hard x Valdemoro filly A lovely filly with a strong hip and shoulder and a deep girth; uses her hips well when walking. Lot 212 Commands x Brave and Bold colt Good looking colt who takes after his sire; we are hoping his half-sister “Black Canary” will step out in the Autumn as connections think highly of her so far. Lot 239 All too Hard x Climatic colt A neat, correct, quality colt out of an amazing family who reminds me of his father. Lot 326 Fastnet Rock x Gold Chant filly This lovely filly is the full sister to Group 1 winner Amicus who continues to win in Group company; I had Amicus at Tyreel and this filly is very much like her - needs time but is all quality. Lot 332 Fastnet Rock x Hallowell Belle colt This cracking colt is the first foal of the Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placed Hallowell Belle, earner of almost $1million, winner of the prestigious Gilgai S-Gr2 and runner up in both the Blue Diamond as a 2YO and Flight Stakes as a 3YO among a host of other stakes wins and placings. She was clearly one of the best of her generation and this is her first foal, a real stallion prospect.

Lot 383 Redoute’s Choice x Life In A Metro colt Forward, neat and extremely attractive; I would think he will be right up with the top colts of the sale. Q&A with Scott Holcombe:

Is there an advantage for buyers in April? I would say yes because Easter horses obviously get the benefit of a bit more time to mature and develop; plus it also provides time to see which two-year-old progeny are performing and to see what trainers think of the freshman horses from the previous season that they have in the stable.

What makes Milburn Creek stand out as a boutique operator? Aside from breeding and racing top class racehorses for a long period of time, John has spent a lot of time and money making Milburn Creek look a treat. He is passionate about his horses, and while we have clients’ horses boarding, we are very mindful not to over stock the farm, so with all of that combined it makes Milburn Creek a successful boutique operator.

Who is in the Milburn team for Easter this year? My wife Debbie, Assistant Manager Claire Whitmore, Jaymee Lord and two other talented staff members from the

John Muir (left) and Scott Holcombe with the Easter 2015 saletopper they sold for $2.2million, a colt by Snitzel ex Admirelle

“Last Easter was a great thrill for all of the staff and especially John and his family. He’s put in a lot of money and time developing the property and planning the broodmare matings.” UK, Karis Clarkson and Peter Atkinson. Gavin and Ivan look after the farming side of the business, so while they won’t be at the sales, their role is equally important. Without a great, hard-working team who are dedicated, it wouldn’t be possible to achieve great results. We are looking forward to meeting both old and new clients at the sale.

Wildes Meadow NSW 2577 t: 02 4886 4025 John Muir t: 0418 232 546 e: john@milburncreek.com.au milburncreek.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

MILL PARK STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

136

B. C

Lonhro

Very Discreet

230

Ch. F

Sebring

Celebrity Girl

249

Br. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Dane Belltar

Topline producer brings three topline yearlings With a history of churning out Group 1 winners - including three Caulfield Cup winners in the last decade - Mill Park Stud knows what it takes to produce a topline performer. Bluebloods recently spoke to General Manager Chris Watson about the farm’s approach to breeding and preparing for Easter. How many years have you been selling at Easter? We have been selling under our own brand at Easter since 2008 and have only presented a select few lots each year at Easter. We had been selling under other vendor names for a couple years prior to that.

What are some of your leading graduates from this sale? We have been lucky enough to have a good record through the Inglis sales; some of our leading lights are from the mare Dane Belltar. Fawkner is her leading Gr.1 Inglis graduate but the best through the Sydney Easter sale would be her two other sons. Viking Star (by Red Ransom), unfortunately retiring too early to show his best but did manage to reach Group class with a stakes placing in the Gr.2 Mitchelton Wines Vase. Tanby (by Galileo) was our best through the sale, with multiple Gr.2 wins, including the Zipping Classic and the Adelaide Cup. Tanby is still racing and is testimony to the longevity of the Mill Park product.

66 EASTER PREVIEW

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? Obviously choosing a commercial stallion is paramount. We spend a lot of time researching pedigrees, matching based on our pedigree theories. Aptitude and type selection are criteria we consider vitally important and are probably the most important criteria when choosing a stallion to match a broodmare. Obviously the resulting foal has to be exceptional to reach the level of an Easter type, so planning is important but other factors also come into play like growing out the foals properly so they reach their full potential.

Okay, you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? We don’t treat a potential Easter yearling any differently to our other sale yearlings. It can be a bit of a trap to protect them and ‘molly-coddle’ them too much. You can end up selling well

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by RENÉE GEELEN

We have been lucky enough to have a good record through the Inglis sales; some of our leading lights are from the mare Dane Belltar. What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? Buy an athlete, and buy from a farm that has a proven track record on the race course.

What are your freshman sire picks?

but in the end it’s all about the race track. If you protect them too much, you can end up impeding their potential racetrack ability. That’s what Mill Park is all about, results on the race track.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? Handling and educating young stock is vitally important for stress management and eventual racetrack temperament. Our young stock are handled every two months throughout their life on Mill Park. Their final sale preparation is anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks depending on the individual’s needs.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? I think there is enough empirical evidence to show that a lot of faults found on x-rays, that are assumed to inhibit racetrack ability; are in fact inconsequential. I think it has become a case of vets working with their clients and knowing their client’s training habits in order to understand what may be a possible x-ray issue for the individual combination of horse and trainer.

You have three lots in your Easter draft. Tell us about them. We have a Street Cry colt (Lot 249) who is a half-brother to Fawkner and Tanby. He is very typical of the family, they are all big and rangy but very athletic. He’s a real racehorse, he has a lovely temperament and eats everything put in front of him. We also have a Lonhro colt (lot 136), from the famous Discreet family. His dam won six races, four at Listed level and was Gr.1 placed. Her first foal, a three year-old, was a winner on debut in early February. This is a quality colt and one of the best looking progeny of Lonhro that we have had anything to do with. He has a real presence to him. Our other lot is a Sebring filly (Lot 230) out of dual Listed winner Celebrity Girl, she is a leggy type, a very typical example of a Sebring. A beautifully moving filly.

All Too Hard is a favourite of mine. He was an exceptional racehorse and I think the types he is producing are an image of him. They look athletic, a tough style of horse. Obviously Pierro is another who looks extremely promising.

Away from the thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? I love spending time with the family and playing some sport with the kids. I also try to get away with some mates each year and head to Hawkes Bay in New Zealand for a few pheasant drives at Tuna Nui. Sampling a few of the best wines of New Zealand is also a favourite pastime!

When in Sydney where do you go to relax, dine out, after a day at the sales? Favourite restaurant or nightspot? Usually Coogee and Bondi are good spots to relax in a local pub or restaurant after the sales. The Bridge Room and Four In Hand are a couple of favourite restaurants I enjoy taking clients to either celebrate or commiserate!

Meningie SA 5264 t: 08 8575 6033 e: info@millparkstud.com.au Chris Watson t: 0417 838 489 millparkstud.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

NEWHAVEN PARK 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

Ch. F

Sebring

Secrets Sleeping (NZ)

125

Gr. C

Reset

Unabated

159

Br. F

Sebring

Absolutely Flying

163

B. C

Delago Deluxe

Aemilee

203

B. F

Denman

Blizzardly

292

B. C

Delago Deluxe

Family Girl

294

B. F

Redoute's Choice

Fashion

300

B/Br. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

Fiction (NZ)

335

B. C

Redoute's Choice

Harrow

351

B. C

Fastnet Rock

Invest

396

B. C

Fastnet Rock

Media

413

B. C

More Than Ready (USA)

Miss Marielle

432

B. C

All Too Hard

Mystically (USA)

446

B. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

Offer

452

Br. F

Sepoy

Zigzag

459

Ch. C

Foxwedge

Angel of Avalon

467

B. F

Delago Deluxe

Betrille

474

Ch. F

Sebring

Christmas

497

Ch. F

Reset

Heriz

521

Br. F

Oasis Dream (GB)

Maxi Dress (IRE)

572

Br. F

Delago Deluxe

Sweet Ransom

68 EASTER PREVIEW

Newhaven Park staff with Delago Deluxe

The tradition continues An overwhelmingly successful yearling sale season in Australasia comes to a climax at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney and Newhaven Park have saved their best for last. Four generations of the Kelly family have been breeding thoroughbreds at Boorowa on the south western slopes of NSW since the 1920s and their success not only spans the years, but also the globe. The modern day Newhaven Park bred horses have achieved success in all quarters with Absolute Champion an international Group 1 winning star in Hong Kong, Wylie Hall, a Champion 3YO in South Africa and Zac Spirit, the Champion Sprinter of Singapore in 2014. “Success is a great thing, but as with all farms, you are only as good as your last winner, so hopefully in the autumn we’ll have some nice horses flying the flag for us,” said John Kelly. Charlie Boy got the ball rolling when winning the Group 3 ATC Liverpool City Cup at the end of February, while two obvious stars to be flying that flag are classy older mare Peeping, who is headed towards the Group 1 ATC Coolmore Classic and last season’s Golden Slipper runner-up English, who recently won the Group 2 ATC Challenge S at Randwick first up after a series of spectacular trial wins. Prepared by Gai Waterhouse, the three year-old daughter of Encosta de Lago will now progress towards the Galaxy (Group 1) and TJ Smith Stakes (Group 1),” Kelly

revealed. Her devastating finishing burst in the Challenge Stakes marks her out as a real star of the upcoming Autumn carnival and The Championships. Newhaven Park will present a draft of 21 yearlings for Inglis Easter including four by the farm’s exciting young sire Delago Deluxe, whose progeny have captivated buyers at earlier sales this year. “We went into him because we thought he was a great chance and he’s as good a looking horse as you would ever see,” said John Kelly. “He’s replicated that in his progeny and we’ve known that for the last two years sitting here watching them be born and then grow and develop. “You see it and you know it, but to take them to the marketplace and have that confirmed is very satisfying. His effort to return 17 times service fee at the Gold Coast was nothing short of amazing and he was the leading first season sire at Inglis Classic against all comers.” The highlight for Delago Deluxe at Inglis Easter is unquestionably Lot 163, a strapping bay colt from good producer Aemilee, a half-sister by Grand Lodge (USA) to Group 2 winner and Group 1 producing sire Magic Albert. Quality abounds in the Newhaven

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

High profile graduate English, runner up in the 2015 Gr.1 Golden Slipper Resident stallion Delago Deluxe will be represented by four yearlings in Newhaven Park’s Easter draft

Newhaven Park will present a draft of 21 yearlings for Inglis Easter including four by the farm’s exciting young sire Delago Deluxe, whose progeny have captivated buyers at earlier sales this year. Park draft with Lot 294 tipped as outstanding, a Redoute’s Choice filly from stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Fashion, a daughter of Blue Diamond winner True Jewels. “She’s a magnificent filly and bred on the Redoute’s Choice x Encosta de Lago cross which has been very successful,” Kelly said. Lot 396, by Fastnet Rock from Group 2 winner Media is a superb individual while colts by High Chaparral (IRE) from Fiction (Lot 300) and Offer (Lot 446) have the pedigree and type to please the most discerning buyer. There has never been a better time to

become involved in Australian racing. “I believe it’s a tribute to what Racing NSW have achieved with the gaming parity and increased prizemoney which is really starting to flow through our industry and obviously the impact of increased participation from China on our market. “There are a lot of positive things happening.” Boorowa NSW 2586 t: +61 2 6385 8335 John Kelly t: +61 412 654 620 e: newhavenpark@bigpond.com newhavenpark.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

RIVERSDALE FARM 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B/Br. C

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Remotely

160

Ch. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Academy Idol

315

Br. C

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Frontal

338

B. F

All Too Hard

Heretis

342

B. F

Encosta de Lago

Honeysuckle Street

486

Gr. F

Sebring

Decoree (GB)

496

B. F

So You Think (NZ)

Goolash

524

Ch. C

Snitzel

Miss Rainmaker

525

B. F

Animal Kingdom (USA)

More Than a Monty

543

B. F

Sebring

Prostar

551

Ch. C

Sebring

Rosie's Reward

Buyers spoilt for choice with diverse draft Riversdale Farm is presenting eleven athletic yearlings at the upcoming 2016 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The draft includes a good mix of fillies and colts by proven sires such as Street Cry, Medaglia d’Oro, Encosta de Lago, Snitzel and Sebring, as well as by up-and-coming sires such as All Too Hard, So You Think and Animal Kingdom. We recently spent some time with Riversdale’s manager Nick Hodges who believes they’re offering a balanced draft of yearlings - something for everyone. How many years have you been selling at Easter? We’ve probably been selling at Easter for the past 7-8 years.

What are some of your leading graduates from the farm? In recent years we’ve sold stakes performers such as Longeron, Miss Idyllic, and Claudia Jean. Both Longeron (by Lonhro) and his older half-brother stakesplaced Black Jag (by Excites) have recently led all the way to win at Melbourne metropolitan meetings. Black Jag is a warrior with a massive heart. His most recent win was at start number seventy-two. He’s won over $600,000 in stakes now, a dream horse for any owner. We also sold Platinum Diva in 2015 the very first winner for Foxwedge in New Zealand. Bred by Orange Grove Thoroughbreds and foaled and raised at Ashleigh Thoroughbreds, she’s a filly showing such promise that her trainer Lisa Latta has Gr.1 aspirations for her.

70 EASTER PREVIEW

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? I like to breed on type. You need to know what your mare throws, rather than what type she is herself. A good example is Black Jag’s dam. She’s a tiny mare but she produces lovely, big, strong horses. It’s not just matching type on type, but rather knowing what is thrown in each family. For the Easter sale we try to match the younger mares to proven sires, and with the more successful mares we’re prepared to try out the newer stallions.

Okay, you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? We treat a horse as a horse. They get the same preparation whether they’re going to Scone or Easter. At this time of year they get more rugging but that is

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by MICHAEL VINCENT The second of our Medaglia D’Oro colts (Lot 315) is out of winning Charge Forward mare Frontal. He’s a strong, forward type who has a lot of presence about him and he looks likely to be more early-coming than the average Medaglia d’Oro. Lot 524 is an outstandingly-bodied horse. He’s a strong forward 2yo looking type with a massive hindquarter. By Snitzel out of a twice-winning Hurricane Sky mare, this colt will have admirers. The cross has already worked with the mare already producing six foals by Snitzel. All six have raced and won and three of those winners have been city winners.

probably the only difference. We prepare the horses to have them looking their best for the sale but without putting too much pressure on them.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? We like to give them a nine week yearling sale preparation. It takes a while to get some of them going. Those raised on the farm have an orientation stint through the stables as weanlings, which can give them a head start as well as the benefit of being handled more from a younger age.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? I think they can play a significant role in the price of a yearling. I think they play very little role, however, in a horse’s racing potential or long-term career prospects. I’ve sold horses with undesirable X-rays who have gone on to win races as early 2yos before going on with it as older horses. From a buyer’s point of view I think X-rays should be used as a guide to avoiding complete disasters, but as a whole, I think there is too much emphasis placed on them.

What are some of the top lots in your draft? We are offering seven fillies and four colts in April and there’s a mixture of forward, early-running two-year-old prospects as well as your more classic, staying types. We have three yearlings by Sebring (Lots 486, 543, 551) and four lovely fillies by the sires All Too Hard (Lot 338), Encosta de Lago (Lot 342), So You Think (Lot 496) and Animal Kingdom (Lot 525).

We are offering seven fillies and four colts in April and there’s a mixture of forward, early-running twoyear-old prospects as well as your more classic, staying types. It’s always difficult to single out our top lots however we probably have three colts and a filly who are sure to draw their share of attention. Our Street Cry filly (Lot 160) out of Academy Idol is a real standout. She’s a very neat filly and she’s a great walker, is lovely bodied, has a good temperament and is the sort of filly you fall in love with. The young mare has already produced stakes-performers Miss Idyllic and Chosen Idol (Golden Idol in Macau) and she has a promising Sepoy two-yearold colt trained by Gerald Ryan, who trialled well recently. Lot 37 is a lovely big colt with a lot of scope. By Medaglia d’Oro, this colt is very much like his sire. He’s got a great walk and is very correct. Out of a half-sister to Arena, this colt is sure to be popular amongst those looking for a classic type of horse. The mare’s first foal by Poet’s Voice will race as Mr De Niro and will be trialling soon for Peter Moody, who has a good opinion of him.

What are your freshman sire picks? I really like All Too Hard. From the family he’s from and given what he and Black Caviar have done on the track, he’s the one for me. Having said that, you can’t discount any of them really. You never know where they’re going to come from.

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? I would suggest using a reputable agent unless you’re an established horse person yourself. There are plenty of good agents out there who know what they’re doing and it can reduce the chances of possible heartbreak.

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 2498 Nick Hodges t: 0410 310 296 e: riversdale@hunterlink.net.au riversdalefarm.com.au EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

SLEDMERE STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. F

Pierro

Pinezero

B. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Planet Rock

B. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Seeking Attention

129

Br. C

Sebring

Upper Crust

172

B/Br. C

Lonhro

Alteza Real

197

B. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Berengaria

204

Br. F

Commands

Bluevien

280

Br. F

More Than Ready (USA)

Emaurismo

324

B. F

Exceed and Excel

Girls Night Out

328

Br. C

Lonhro

Golden Millennium

372

B. F

Hinchinbrook

La Camille

414

Ch. C

All Too Hard

Miss Tizzy (USA)

454

Ch. F

Star Witness

Abscond

460

B. C

Hinchinbrook

Arcangela

487

Gr. F

Commands

Dynamic Flyer

500

B. C

High Chaparral (IRE)

Indirect

513

Ch. F

Sepoy

Lauras Flagg (NZ)

537

B. F

Foxwedge

Piglet's Gold

553

B. F

Hinchinbrook

Russian Caravan

556

B. F

Smart Missile

Scarlet Vanhara (NZ)

Sledmere graduate Politeness wins the 2015 Gr.1 Myer Classic

72 EASTER PREVIEW

Walking on sunshine Fresh from roaring success at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where they enjoyed a 100 per cent clearance rate and sold five yearlings over $130,000 - highlighted by the $305,000 Written Tycoon x Zals colt and the $260,000 Pins x Da Vinci Code colt, Sledmere Stud is walking on sunshine as it approaches the grand final of Australian yearling sales; Sydney Easter. Facts will tell you that Sledmere Stud is quickly becoming a major player as a producer of top quality yearlings as evidenced through sales results and the gradual increase of numbers and quality in recent years. Sledmere’s 2016 Easter sales offering is the farm’s strongest to date with up to 20 yearlings getting ready under the close care of Catriona and Royston Murphy. “We were delighted with our recent Classic sales results and it’s just proven that if you bring the right product to the right sale you get just rewards,” said Royston. “But now the focus is back on Easter and I can confidently say we are represented with some standouts and that this is without doubt our strongest ever draft for Easter. “It’s the sale to bring your top yearlings to as Inglis generally capture a worldwide buying bench, so we’ve spent the last four years in particular, on expanding our numbers and quality for this and it’s all starting to pay off.” Sledmere’s leading racetrack graduates from Easter include talented Group 1 winning mare Politeness who with eight wins - six at Group and Listed

level, just keeps going from strength to strength for owner Phil Sly and trainer Robert Smerdon. Here’s a breakdown of the other graduates: • Group 1 winner Politeness (Street Sense x Berengaria) - 2012 Easter sold for $115,000 to Malua Bloodstock and Bahen Bloodstock - trained in Victoria 27:8-2-3. Is the winner of over $1 million in prizemoney and still going • Group 3 winner Ready To Attack (More Than Ready x Gaze) - 2014 Easter sold for $200,000 to James Bester Bloodstock - races in South Africa 6:2-0-0 • Listed winner Buckinghampshire (Lonhro x Seeking Attention) - 2014 Easter sold for $80,000 to Hassen Adams - races in South Africa 8:2-1-0. Buckinghampshire defeated Seventh Plain in his Listed win and it was the only time that dual Group 1 winner Seventh Plain was beaten during his juvenile season • Anjaal (Lonhro x Miss Portofino) - 2013 Easter sold for $90,000 to Shadwell - races in South Africa 15: 2-1-1. including third in Group 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes at Greyville

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by SARAH PEATLING

I can confidently say we are represented with some standouts and that this is without doubt our strongest ever draft for Easter. Lot 63 Street Cry x Seeking Attention colt Quality colt that moves exceptionally well. He has good bone and scope is an athletic looking type from a very speedy family. He will be very well received and we expect him to sell well. Lot 197 Street Cry x Berengaria colt Lovely colt who is a three quarter brother to the Group 1 winner Politeness. He is well-balanced with a brilliant action and temperament. He would rate as one of the best individual types the mare has produced and by Street Cry, is certain to draw some attention. Lot 324 Exceed And Excel x Girls Night Out filly

The average yearling preparation for Team Sledmere consists of 12 weeks in total, which is probably a tad longer compared to most other farms, and within this time the babies get a lot of attention and care. “A balance of good feeding and exercise is generally enough to get them looking their best for the sale,” explained Royston. “We believe that getting them out to grass yards each day for a run around and play is beneficial to keeping their minds right during this intense preparation. “We also believe that having the extra time to sell in April gives those later foals a chance to catch up and have every opportunity when presented at the sales.” Once a hot topic of conversation, the issue of analysing yearling x-rays at the sales seems to be something which is becoming less important to the sales process according to Royston. “I think over the last couple of years we have noticed a big change in people’s perception regarding x-rays. Buyers are more forgiving and more understanding of the effects of different issues of x-rays. “I am sure every vendor including ourselves can give you a long list of horses they have sold with high-risk x-rays that have gone on to win many races including stakes races - and it’s good to have as much information available as possible when buying, but I think there is definitely a swing in perception now.”

Sledmere’s Top 5 sellers at Easter • California Joy (Fastnet Rock x Laetitia) - 2014 Easter, $600,000 to Asian Bloodstock Services

Stand out filly to look at and from one of the best families in the stud book. She has a great action, looks like she can run, and has an unflappable temperament, so overall is a high quality filly. This female line has been a very commercial family and we are very excited to be offering her for sale.

Royston and Catriona Murphy

• Madrid (Medaglia d’Oro x Miss Portofino) - 2015 Easter, $460,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Julian Blaxland, unraced 2YO in Waterhouse stable • Fataawy (Street Cry x Seeking Attention) - 2015 Easter, $410,000 to Shadwell Australia • Alpina (Denman x Berengaria) - 2014 Easter, $300,000 to China Horse Club • Aviator (Snitzel x Dynamic Flyer) - 2015 Easter, $290,000 to Vinery Stud

Key Lots from Class of 2016 Lot 8 Pierro x Pinezero filly Classy filly that is out of a very sharp Listed winning mare in Pinezero. She has everything going for her and is a lovely moving filly with good bone and scope. She has a nice deep girth and will catch the eye. Lot 10 Street Cry x Planet Rock colt This is no doubt one of the highlights in our draft and probably overall at the Easter sale. He has been an exceptional type since the day he was born and we are really excited to be offering him. Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 2039 Catriona Murphy t: 0409 369 965 e: treen@sledmerestud.com.au Royston Murphy t: 0428 418 926 e: royston@sledmerestud.com.au sledmerestud.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

SOUTHERN CROSS BREEDERS Be quick to inspect this impressive Easter draft It has been a good year for Ashleigh Thoroughbreds and Bluebloods spoke to principal Senga Bissett.

Quick Feet as a yearling at Inglis Easter 2015 led by Wendy Peel

“We’ve had two to race from fillies we offered at Easter last year and both have won - Quick Feet and Platinum Diva. Quick Feet is very promising and we have a lovely half-sister to her.”

Platinum Diva as a yearling at Inglis Easter 2015

So You Think-Crevette colt at Inglis Easter 2015 (half-brother to recent first start winner Crevettine) led by Nathan Curry

74 EASTER PREVIEW

“We’ve had two to race from fillies we offered at Easter last year and both have won – Quick Feet and Platinum Diva. Quick Feet recently ran a great second in the Reisling S-Gr2 and we have a lovely half-sister to her. Of interest too is that this filly’s sire Smart Missile is from a half-sister to the dam of Northern Meteor. This filly is very similar to Quick Feet – neat and strong and a forward type. “Platinum Diva was passed in at Easter falling short of her very realistic $75K reserve, but eventually found a buyer and she recently won at only her second start in New Zealand for trainer Lisa Latta and looks to have the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires as her main target this preparation, in early April. “From our 2014 Easter draft we have Easy Hedge by Medaglia d’oro, doing the job very well in Hong Kong. He is very promising and quite likely a derby type for the John Size stable for whom he has won over HK$1 million already, never out of a place in his first five starts. This leads us to a lovely Medaglia D’Oro colt out of the Carnegie mare Mrs Post who will go into the ring as Lot 428 this Easter, he is well worth inspecting, a great walker, typical of the sire. Moving on to the others, Lot 97 the Choisir colt out of the stakes placed High Yield mare Street Sign is a very muscular type, very strong behind and looks a real sprinting type with a great walk. “Our other fillies are a great bunch. Lot 107 is a Perro filly, the first foal of a stakes winning American mare That’s How I Roll who is by one of the USA’s best sires Speightstown. This filly is well grown, big and strong, very much in the mould of her Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro. Lot 197, the Redoute’s Choice filly out of Anamour, a mare by influential broodmare sire Anabaa is a lovely big scopey athletic type and is the best foal the mare has produced. Lot 256 is a neat athletic filly by champion

sire Fastnet Rock out of the Gimcrack Stakes winning More Than Ready mare Defiant Dame whose first foal to race is Grand Cross, a winning full brother to this filly who is just the third foal of the mare. Lot 257 follows right behind into the ring and is a very exciting filly, by talented young sire Smart Missile out of the Strategic mare Delaluna whose first foal is the brilliant Sydney metro winner and now Gr2 placed Quick Feet, one of the best 2YO fillies in training. This Smart Missile filly is her second foal, and is even more closely related than first appears, not only is she a half-sister, but her sire Smart Missile and Quick Feet’s sire Northern Meteor are from the same immediate stallion producing family. Lot 303 the Foxwedge-Figure of Eight is a lovely big filly – very strong, very good walker and just a really nice type. Lot 303 is a glorious filly by successful young first season sire Foxwedge out of the Testra Rossa mare Killcare Beach. She is very athletic, good size and scope and looks a real racehorse. We also asked Senga about her experience in the industry and her thoughts.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? “They are handled from birth - handled really well as babies. We are very strong on this as it encourages confidence in the horses. When we bring them in they take to it easily. They get three hours paddock every day and they’re happy horses. We usually give them an eight week prep.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? “In my experience, unless it something very, very serious, they grow out of it.”

What is the best advice you would give a potential buyer? “If they are inexperienced, find a member of the Federation of Bloodstock Agents.”

Ashleigh Thoroughbreds Scone NSW 2337 Senga Bissett t: 0410 588 200 e: sengaB@bigpond.com Byerley Stud Sandy Hollow NSW 2333 Kelvin Williams t: 0428 880 276 e: byerleystud@bigpond.com southerncrossbreeders.com.au

ASHLEIGH THOROUGHBREDS DRAFT Lot 97 ch.c Choisir - Street Sign (by High Yield) Bred on the same Choisir/Storm Cat cross as the Group winners Hurried Choice and Wouldnt It Be Nice, he is a son of a stakes placed half-sister to three stakes winners.

Lot 107 br.f Pierro - Thats’s How I Roll (by Speightstown) Boasting multiple Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector crosses, she is the first live foal produced by an imported stakes winner whose dam Chatter Chatter was twice successful at Listed level.

Lot 179 b/br.f Redoute’s Choice - Anamour (by Anabaa) Half-sister to two winners out of a daughter of the Sadler’s Wells mare Humour. Third dam is the blue hen Princess Tracy. Family of Typhoon Tracy, Master of Design.

Lot 256 b.f Fastnet Rock - Defiant Dame (by More Than Ready) Bred on the same Fastnet Rock/More Than Ready cross as the Group One winner Atlante.

Lot 257 b.f Smart Missile - Delaluna (by Strategic) Half-sister to the promising two-year-old Quick Feet out of a sister to the Group One sprinter Mistegic. Bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Strategic cross as the stakes winning juvenile Missrock.

Lot 303 gr.f Foxwedge - Figure Of Eight (by Octagonal) Bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Zabeel cross as the Group One winners Atlantic Jewel and Planet Rock, she is a half-sister to the South African Group Two winner Eight Street and Ottimo.

Lot 363 br.f Foxwedge - Killcare Beach (by Testa Rossa) Dam is a sister to the dual Group Three winner Publishing and half-sister to the Listed winner Miss Mooney Mooney and to the dam of multiple stakes winner Better Than Ready.

Lot 428 br.c Medaglia d’Oro - Mrs Post (by Carnegie) Half-brother to the metropolitan winner Sharp Turn out of a winning daughter of the four times Group One winner Mannerism who produced ten winners from as many to race including the Group winners Dandify and Manner Hill.

Lot 504 b.c Foxwedge - Jannah (by Carnegie) Half-brother to three winners including the city winner Athanea. Grandam Significant Moment, produced the Group Three winning Golden Slipper Stakes-Gr.1 (1200m) runner-up Crowned Glory, dam of the dual Group One winner Hallowed Crown.

BYERLEY STUD DRAFT Lot 266 br.c So You Think - Dixie Paradise (by Dixie Union) Half-brother to Flagship Shine and Dixie Chick.

Lot 376 br.f Sebring - Lara’s Glitter (by Don Eduardo) Dam a stakes placed winner of 4 races.

Lot 435 br.f Pierro - Nella Dane (by Danehill) Half-sister to 5 winners from a full sister to Tennessee Morn.

Lot 522 b.f All Too Hard - Maybe I (by Red Ransom) Dam Maybe I winner of 2 races and Gr.3 placed 2nd in STC Run to the Rose, etc.

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

TURANGGA FARM 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

All Too Hard

Panipique

B. C

Casino Prince

Private

120

Br. F

More Than Ready (USA)

Trust Antonia (SAF)

154

B. C

O'Reilly (NZ)

Ziya (IRE)

213

Br. C

Pierro

Bridal Veil

235

B. F

Charge Forward

Chatelaine

391

B. C

Lonhro

Magistra Delecta (NZ)

401

B. F

Charge Forward

Midnight Joy

425

B. C

Sepoy

Morning Cloud

469

B. C

Hinchinbrook

Bukhoor

495

B. C

All Too Hard

Galvez

547

Br. F

Hinchinbrook

Redwood Dancer (USA)

Since debuting this season Kangarilla Joy has won 3 from 5 starts as well as a close up 2nd in the Gr.2 Light Fingers Stakes. Her half-sister will be offered as Lot 401.

Well-related draft set to continue winning ways It has been another exceptional year for Turangga Farm highlighted by the sale of a $1.6million colt at Easter 2015 (colt by Sepoy ex Ancient Song), Able Friend continuing his Gr.1 exploits in Hong Kong (HKJC Champions Mile) and Kangarilla Joy exploding onto the scene in Sydney. Bluebloods spoke to Turangga’s Stuart Ramsey about the Easter Yearling Sale and his outstanding draft. How many years have you been selling at Easter? We’ve been selling for 13 years under the Turangga banner.

What are some of your leading graduates from this sale? Able Friend, Mr Murphy and Headway are all Group One winners. Also top gallopers Elite Falls, Highly Recommended, Golden Fawn, Kishkat, Tampiko and Kangarilla Joy.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? We always try to breed a Gr.1 winner with every mating. I breed to genetics, not necessarily for Easter specifically but if they are accepted for Easter then all well and good.

So, for those selected for Easter, do you treat them any differently?

76 EASTER PREVIEW

They all run together in groups so they make racehorses not show horses. They receive lots of handling and we treat them as horses - we let them be horses.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? We ensure they are tractable and can go to the breaker with a head start. We give them a 60-70 day preparation.

X-Rays. Your thoughts? X-Rays are self-explanatory. They’re like children with growing problems that with time tend to disappear. You only have to see the number that have failed or been rejected at auction to see that. Often the best doers grow more quickly and so produce X-Ray issues which resolve themselves with time. That’s my humble opinion.

Some comments on your draft?

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by WARREN WRUCK Lot 469 bay colt Hinchinbrook x Bukhoor (Jeune) Half-sister to Gr.3 placed Lucky Eighty Eight from a half-sister to Gr.1 winner Rewaaya. “Typical well balanced Hinchinbrook colt bred on the successful Easy Date and Grey Sovereign crosses.” Lot 495 bay colt All Too Hard x Galvez (Zizou) Dam a three times city 2YO placed half-sister to Huegill. Grandam the Gr.1 winner Trust Antonia. “Absolutely stunning colt showing great scope, balance and athletic ability. A real standout colt.”

Lot 235 is a full sister to champion filly Headway (Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, 2nd Gr.1 Golden Slipper)

Lot 23 bay colt Casino Prince x Private (Encosta de Lago) Half-brother to Gr.2 winning 2YO Believe Yourself from a 100% producing mare who has three to race all winners. Grandam is Gr.1 winner and top filly on Australasian 2YO Classification Good Faith, dam also of Gr.3 winner Tully Dane and stakes winner Mygoodgrace, and closely related to Champion 3YO in NZ Daffodil. “An extremely athletic colt showing great quality and constitution.” Lot 120 brown filly More Than Ready x Trust Antonia (SAF) (National Assembly) Full-sister to Gr.1 placed Huegill and two other winners from four to race for her dam, Trust Antonia a Gr.1 winner in South Africa. “An outstanding full-sister to Huegill and has the quality and looks of an early runner. Cracking type much like Huegill.” Lot 154 bay colt O’Reilly x Ziya (IRE) (Lion Cavern) Half-sister to stakes placed Hello Fuji. Her dam is a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Zayyani and to the dams of South African Horse of the Year Igugu and Zerpour, Zafsala, Honorius and Thank You Bye Bye. “Scopey colt from one of the Aga Khan’s superior families. Possessing a pedigree oozing with top class winners and by champion sire O’Reilly.” Lot 213 brown colt Pierro x Bridal Veil (Haradasun) The first foal of a half-sister to Elite Falls both from the Gr.3 winning Danehill mare Niagara Falls. “Sensational Pierro colt with great scope and quality as you would expect from this superior family.” Lot 235 bay filly Charge Forward x Chatelaine (Flying Spur) Full-sister to Champion 2YO Filly Headway and to multiple city winner Beckon. Dam Gr.2 and Gr.3 placed. “Sensational full-sister to Headway. Well

We always try to breed a Gr.1 winner with every mating. I breed to genetics, not necessarily for Easter specifically but if they are accepted for Easter then all well and good. balanced filly with the look of a future champion. Beautiful type.” Lot 391 bay colt Lonhro x Magistra Delecta (NZ) (Al Akbar) Full brother to Gr.3 winner Mecir from the Gr.1, Gr.2, and Gr.3 placed Magistra Delecta from the famous New Zealand “Heights” family. “Magnificent colt who has been a standout from when he was foaled. Quality from nose to tail.” Lot 401 bay filly Charge Forward x Midnight Joy (Zeditave)

What would be the best advice you could give a potential buyer? Buy from a farm that consistently produces winners and stakes horses.

What are your freshman sire picks? A dead heat between All Too Hard and Pierro, with Ocean Park the “sleeper”.

Away from thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? Family is important, and I have a deep interest in livestock production, especially cattle, after the horses. I haven’t got time to follow a little white ball around - it would drive me mad! I haven’t seen a happy golfer yet.

When in Sydney where do you go to relax, dine out after a day at the sales? Catalinas is my favourite restaurant, but I am a bit like a chook - I go to bed when it’s dark and I am up at sunrise. Gr.2 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Believe Yourself is a half-sister to Lot 23, a colt by Casino Prince

Half-sister to exciting filly Kangarilla Joy (winner of 3 of 5 starts and 2nd ATC Light Fingers Stakes-Gr.2).Grandam Top Filly on 2YO Classification, Midnight Fever. Dam a half-sister to dam of VRC Australian Guineas-Gr.1 winner Rock Classic. “Stunning filly showing the balance, scope, and strength that you would expect from this family.” Lot 425 bay colt Sepoy x Morning Cloud (Exceed and Excel) Second foal of a daughter of Gr.1 winner Cannsea and a half-brother to stakes placed Weighted. Family of Procol Harum. “Well balanced colt showing stunning athleticism. Looks a ready made 2YO.” Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 3862 e: office@turanggafarm.com.au John Ramsey t: 0427 847 685 turanggafarm.com.au EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

TYREEL STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

145

B/Br. C

Manhattan Rain

Whisper Bay

243

Ch. C

Sebring

Crafty Irna

291

B. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Family Crest (NZ)

333

B. F

All Too Hard

Happy Hippy

350

B/Br. F

Commands

Intendment

New owners bring a terrific first up draft Selling under the Tyreel banner for the first time Wallings Bloodstock has shown it is dedicated to producing the quality of yearlings the farm has been historically renowned for. Tyreel’s Linda Monds offers her opinions on this 2016 Easter draft and approach to breeding. How many years have you been selling at Easter? This is a very exciting year for us as we will be selling the first draft of Easter yearlings for Wallings Bloodstock. In 2014, we took the opportunity to expand our Thoroughbred business and purchase Tyreel Stud. This draft includes the first crop of foals born on this farm, and they have been raised in the same meticulous manner as previous years by our dedicated team. We have taken great pleasure in watching them grow and bloom into exceptional individuals and we are proud to present them at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

When planning to breed an Easter type, what is your approach to selecting sires and planning matings for your best mares? Every stud master aspires to breed horses capable of earning a place at the Easter sales. The reality is that our industry is now driven by the physical type and the athlete must match its pedigree. We endeavour to mate our mares according to their physical type

78 EASTER PREVIEW

and to complement their own pedigree with a view to produce the best athletes. Even with this in mind thoroughbred breeding is not an exact science and we only take our best to Easter. Buyers travel from all areas of the globe coming in search of the best and as a result we select only the strongest individuals for this sale.

Okay - you have bred the Easter types. What next? Do you treat them any differently from other youngsters on the way through? Every horse receives the same high level of care at Tyreel as every animal has the potential to be a high quality racehorse. As breeders we pride ourselves on giving every horse every opportunity to excel.

How much emphasis do you put on handling young stock and how long a preparation do you give them? Young stock at Tyreel spend plenty of time in our system throughout their young lives ensuring they are educated slowly and calmly. This makes our sales

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by RENÉE GEELEN

preparation extremely straight forward and allows us to tailor each prep to each horses individual needs and ensures that every horse gets the best opportunity.

What are some of the better graduates from your previous Easter drafts? This is our first draft selling under the Tyreel banner and we hope to continue the excellent success rate that this farm has produced in the past. The property here has produced athletes such as recent Gr.1 winners Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago - Vivacious Spirit, by Bel Esprit), and Amicus (Fastnet Rock Gold Chant, by El Moxie). From recent previous Easter drafts, Tyreel has sold the stakes winners Amah Rock (Fastnet Rock - Gainesville, by Afleet), Jester’s Girl (Commands - How Funny, by Rory’s Jester), and Ondina (Manhattan Rain Mermaid Island, by Mujadil).

What are some of the top lots in your draft? Each of our five lots are lovely horses that we are excited to present at this sale. The opening lot is a colt, Lot 145, by Manhattan Rain from Whisper Bay (Royal Academy). His dam is a stakes winner of four races including two as a two year-old. She is a half-sister to the dam of Gr.1 winner Hurtle Myrtle; and her first foal to race was a city placed two year-old who is now a winner. This colt is a strong bold individual who has a great claim to being an early progressive type. The first foal of Gr.3 winner Crafty Irna (Starcraft), Lot 243, is a colt by Sebring. This colt’s first two dams are stakes winners, with his second dam being dual Gr.1 winner and Singapore Horse of the Year Zirna (Deputy Governor). He is an impressive first foal who stands over plenty of ground and will be sure to make many shortlists. Another first foal is Lot 291, by Street Cry from group performed mare Family Crest (Fastnet Rock). The Street Cry Danehill cross has been proven multiple times to the highest level and this filly is from Street Cry’s last crop. She is a

striking filly who possesses the ultimate blend of looks and pedigree to perform at the highest level. A filly by popular freshman sire All Too Hard, Lot 333, is out of young stakes winning and Gr.1 placed Happy Hippy (Shamardal). This filly’s combined strength and presence will make her a must have for all racing enthusiasts. The final yearling we will present in the ring is Lot 350, a filly first foal by Commands from Intendment (Strategic). She is an unraced half-sister to four time Gr.1 winner Appearance (Commands) and stakes winner Mascareri (Commands). The decision to send Intendment to Commands was easy given that the result is a three-quarter sibling to Appearance. This filly has strong residual value and given her ‘appearance’, she should be extremely popular.

We have taken great pleasure in watching them grow and bloom into exceptional individuals and we are proud to present them at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. What advice would you give a buyer? Buyers at Easter generally come with experience in the industry and they are buying towards a long term plan. If they buy one of Tyreel’s yearlings, then they obviously know what they are doing! It has been very exciting to watch these yearlings develop through their prep. It’s an incredible thing to watch them improve and strengthen into the athletes they will become.

Agnes Banks NSW 2753 t: 02 4776 1142 Robert Sims t: 0419 974 104 e: rob@tyreel.com tyreel.com

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

VINERY STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

Ch. C

Sepoy

Polar Success

B. F

More Than Ready (USA)

Poppet's Treasure (GB)

B. F

All Too Hard

Prerequisite

B. C

Sepoy

Quiet Meadow (USA)

B. F

More Than Ready (USA)

Sacred Choice

B. C

More Than Ready (USA)

Starwish

122

B. C

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Tully Thunder

138

B. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Vittoria (NZ)

171

B. C

All Too Hard

Allez Wonder

205

B. C

All Too Hard

Bollinger

245

B/Br. C

Commands

Crossyourheart (NZ)

265

B. C

All Too Hard

Divine Rebel (NZ)

369

Ch. C

All Too Hard

Kyria

403

B. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Millie Milou (NZ)

455

B. F

Rothesay

Acacia Bay

461

B. F

Casino Prince

Arziki

All Too Hard

80 EASTER PREVIEW

Delectation - 2013 Vinery Inglis Easter graduate. 2015 Gr.1 winner.

A delectable draft from proven Gr.1 vendors As we approach the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on April 6, 7 and 8, we take a look at Vinery Stud’s record at the sale and some of the farm’s draft picks to keep an eye on. It’s regarded as one of the most prestigious yearling sales in the world where bluebloods prevail, wallets are deep and the stakes are high - and one of the main players to watch as they prepare for their seventeenth year of selling at Easter is Vinery Stud. Some of Vinery’s leading racetrack graduates which have been sold through their Easter draft include dual Group 1 winner Samaready - whose career highlights feature the 2012 Blue Diamond, and the Moir Stakes where she beat Buffering, while others at the elite level include 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award who created history by becoming the first maiden horse to win Australia’s premierweight-for-age contest, Victoria Derby winner Benicio and Darley Classic victor Delectation. “We are very proud of the quality of racehorse we have produced off Vinery in recent years. To have sold winners of races such as the Blue Diamond and Cox Plate as well as international Group 1 winners gives buyers the confidence to come back,” said Vinery’s head of bloodstock and sales, Adam White. “These international Group 1 winners include South Africa’s Champion

two-year-old filly of 2015, Entisaar, who was purchased by Shadwell Stud’s Angus Gold. Delectation who was a recent Easter graduate of Vinery’s won the VRC Darley Classic during the spring and he too could go abroad and represent our country internationally, quite possibly Royal Ascot.” Resident Vinery stallion More Than Ready who continues to shuttle successfully between Australia and America is the farm’s best performed sire at Easter, having also sired the aforementioned stars; Samaready, Entisaar and Benicio. “More Than Ready is a world renowned stallion and has been an incredible horse to work with over the years and his success does not look like slowing down anytime soon. He has been such a fantastic stallion for us to sell stock with at Easter. We ourselves have sold three individual Group 1 winners by him at Easter, Samaready, Benicio, and of course Entisaar.” But it is not just world renowned proven horses that Vinery are excited about this year. Australian Champion 3yo, All Too Hard, is well known in Australia first for being an Easter sale-topper himself and then for his deeds on the track. Overseas buyers

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by SARAH PEATLING

Entisaar - 2014 Vinery Inglis Easter graduate. 2015 Gr.1 winner, SA Champion 2yo.

will know him due to the exploits of his famous half sister Black Caviar. “A lot of thought goes to conformation of course, but generally the better mares will go to the more commercial stallions. Consideration is also given to those families which overseas buyers will recognise, so we’ll look at mating those mares to stallions that will also interest them,” explained White. “Every sale in Australia is important and we owe it to our clients to have their yearlings presented as best we can regardless of what sale it is but Sydney Easter generally has more of the bigger players in the industry in attendance so it’s important to show case the yearlings well to promote our Australian product. Q&A with Adam White

What do you think are some of the highlights in the Vinery draft? We have had some great drafts this year on the sales circuit and Sydney Easter is no different. We have three really nice More Than Readys which are highlighted by Lot 50, a beautiful filly from dual Group 1 winner Sacred Choice (Choisir x Sacred Habit) who of course won the 2011 Doncaster Handicap and the Myer Classic the year before beating Typhoon Tracy and Hot Danish - both top quality mares. This cross is proven and she is a real quality filly. We are again excited to be taking a nice bunch of yearlings by our first season stallion All Too Hard. The positive talk at the sales has been backed up by the tremendous results that he is achieving with stock in the ring. Two key colts we have by him are from Group 1 winning mares Bollinger

(Lot 205) and Allez Wonder (Lot 171) and these two are exceptional individuals. Another quality colt is the product of two Golden Slipper winners being by Sepoy from Polar Success (Lot 13) so we think buyers will really like him.

Are yearling x-rays now an essential part of the sales process? I really think the buyers are more educated when it comes to certain x-ray issues with horses. They are more forgiving in some areas than they used

been very strong. Our clearance rate at the sales this year is 90% so that is a healthy market and I hope it continues at Easter. I don’t see why it won’t.

Is there an advantage for buyers in April because they can see young stock more developed? I don’t think so. Some yearlings may benefit from the extra time no doubt, but I think the buyers that get to Sydney Easter generally have a good eye for a horse anyway.

“We are very proud of the quality of racehorse we have produced off Vinery in recent years. To have sold winners of races such as the Blue Diamond and Cox Plate as well as international Group 1 winners gives buyers the confidence to come back.” to be. Talking to a lot of buyers this year they feel they have missed out on buying too many good horses when putting too much emphasis on the x-rays.

Best advice for buyers at Easter? Start at Barn 4 rows E and F!

Going off the results from the Magic Millions and Classic Sale this year - do you think we’ll see one of the strongest buying benches in history this Easter? Those two sales and New Zealand have

What’s involved in an Easter preparation for your yearlings? Their preparation is the same as for other yearling sales, so they get around nine weeks. The weather can start to get a bit cooler so a few little things may differ but the actual preparation is the same.

Away from the thoroughbreds, what other interests do you have? Spending time with my family. I do like travelling but having two-year-old twins has slowed that down for a little while.

Scone NSW 2337 Call Peter, Adam, or Conor t: 02 6543 8333 vinery.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

WIDDEN STUD 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. C

Star Witness

Pearl of the Sea

Br. C

More Than Ready (USA)

Provence

B. F

Exceed and Excel

Queen's Fashion

B. F

Stratum

Sayahailmary

B. C

Shamardal (USA)

Shaqira (GB)

B. F

Sebring

Solar Charged

105

B. C

Sepoy

Tariana

110

Br. C

Sebring

Tigress Lily

152

Br. F

Street Cry (IRE)

Zarita (NZ)

165

B/Br. C

All Too Hard

Ailalea (USA)

178

Ch. F

Sebring

Anabarbarian

191

Ch. F

Sepoy

Bacchanal Woman

199

Ch. C

Sebring

Better Life

209

Ch. C

Sebring

Bourgogne

219

Ch. F

Sebring

Cabernet

241

Ch. C

Stratum

Combat Kitty

246

Ch. C

Sebring

Cute Emily

255

B. C

Stratum

Decidity

260

B. C

Sebring

Diana's Secret

276

Ch. F

Sebring

Earthsea (FR)

296

B. F

More Than Ready (USA)

Faster Pussycat

304

B/Br. C

Sebring

Firemaid (USA)

307

Ch. C

Stratum

Fleeting Touch (USA)

327

Ch. F

Star Witness

Golden Delicious

381

Ch. C

Sepoy

Leone Chiara

417

B. F

Frankel (GB)

Mocca (IRE)

418

B. F

All Too Hard

Modonna

471

B. F

High Chaparral (IRE)

Can't Hackit (NZ)

505

Ch. C

Sebring

Jessica Rose

539

B. C

Stratum

Positive Flyer

544

B. C

Sebring

Purrfection (NZ)

562

Ch. C

Star Witness

Silk Shantung

565

Br. C

Charge Forward

Snipify

567

B. F

So You Think (NZ)

Soho Secret

571

Br. C

Your Song

Steal My Love

82 EASTER PREVIEW

The best is still to come With a long and successful history at the Easter sales and an undeniable track record of producing Group 1 racehorses as well as successful sires, Widden Stud’s draft is one that should always be studied and inspected as a priority for any potential buyer. This year the historic stud is bringing what it considers is the strongest draft it has ever produced for Newmarket. How many years have you been selling at Easter? Widden shares a unique history with William Inglis & Son given we are the only modern-day farm to have been involved in the inaugural Easter Yearling sale almost 150 years ago. Obviously proud of the history we have shared together and none more so than the many great racehorses we have sold here at Newmarket.

What are some of your leading graduates from the Easter sale? Of recent years that has included champion sprinter-miler ALL SILENT, Caulfield Guineas winners HELENUS and ANACHEEVA, in addition to Gr.1 winners in Hong Kong FLORAL PEGASUS and HAPPY ZERO, Gr.2 winners RUNNING TALL and ADMIRATION in addition to the likes of Stakes winners BANAADEER, TAWTEEN and THURLOW. In 2014 we sold the Spring Champion Stakes Gr.1 winner VANBRUGH to Mick Flanagan and Garry Murray who purchased the horse on behalf of Merriebelle Stables, USA.

What is the secret to Widden graduates enjoying such wonderful success of recent years? In 2014/15 - an amazing 10% of Group One races run in Australia were won by horses that were Widden born and raised. Widden prides itself on ensuring every foal born on the farm is given the grounding and foundation to compete at the highest level. You never know when you are raising the next champion. In the last 12 months we’ve seen the likes of Australian Horse of the Year DISSIDENT, Group One winners BONARIA, THUNDER FANTASY, SHAMAL WIND, STRATUM STAR, HUCKLEBUCK, VANBRUGH, Group One performers LIZARD ISLAND and FAST ‘N’ ROCKING, Group performing 2yos this autumn STAR TURN and CONCEALER - they’re all not simply a coincidence they’ve been brought up in the Widden system. We’ve worked hard on establishing the brand and believe it is respected across the world.

Do you treat the Easter horses any differently from other youngsters on the way through? How long a

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE

In 2014/15 - an amazing 10% of Group One races run in Australia were won by horses that were Widden born and raised.

2014 Easter graduate Vanbrugh - winner of the 2015 Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes

preparation will they be put through leading into Easter? Not particularly. The big advantage young horses have at Widden is the size of the paddocks. We have 16 magnificent yearling paddocks to rotate the young horses through. Each paddock is an undulating 8 hectares (20 acres) and we let the weanlings and yearlings grow and strengthen naturally in a herd of eight. This gives them the best possible start in life and regardless of their breeding or value this is important. The Widden yearlings, for all major sales, are given an 8-9 week preparation with the focus on educating and conditioning for what is quite a strenuous 10 days of inspections and sales. We place huge emphasis on teaching the yearlings to walk as well as ensuring they are fit enough to handle the workload required at a busy sale such as Easter and are ready to begin the breaking in process.

You must be thrilled with the emergence of Sebring as a potential Champion Australian sire? Sebring’s versatility is unquestionable and we believe he is on the verge of Champion sire status. He is again well positioned in the Top 10 Australian General Sires by both prizemoney and individual winners and it goes without saying, he is clearly the youngest stallion (with only 4 crops of racing age) in this Top 10. He is currently 4th on the list of Australian based, active stallions with prizemoney, to this point, nudging $5million for the season. The likes of up and coming stars SUPIDO, LIZARD ISLAND, TULSA, CANDIKA, CATCH A FIRE, SEABURGE

and of course superstar CRITERION have him in a great position to again produce a strong finish to the season. Next year we look forward to seeing yearlings from mares such as PRIVATE STEER, STEPS IN TIME, KARUTA QUEEN, DANE BELLTAR, NO LOOKING BACK, LEONE CHIARA, KULGRINDA, MIDNIGHT MARTINI etc. One yearling that will unlikely be offered for sale but we’re particularly excited about is of course the Sebring colt from the great BLACK CAVIAR. I’ve been lucky enough to see him and he is an absolute stunner. The future for Sebring couldn’t be more exciting.

How is the draft shaping up for this year’s Easter sale? Unquestionably the strongest, sharpest group of horses we have taken to Newmarket. Sebring has the highest representation in the sale behind Fastnet Rock, and includes standouts fillies from stakes winning mares such as Solar Charged and Cabernet whilst there are ripping colts such as the full to DISSIDENT, a half to SHAMAL WIND and the first foal of champion mare BETTER LIFE. We have half relations to Gr.1 horses STAR WITNESS, VANBRUGH, ELEGANT FASHION, LIZARD ISLAND, PERON, ADMIRATION, BANAADEER, STRAIGHT GOLD, SENSIBILITY as well as a beautiful daughter of dual Widden Valley NSW 2328 t: 02 6549 9999 e: info@widden.com Antony Thompson t: 0427 470 507 Derek Field t: 0408 492 495 Ryan McEvoy t: 0439 802 837 widden.com

Resident sire Sebring will be well represented at Easter with 43 yearlings on offer including 12 from Widden

Group One winner ZARITA by Street Cry. Golden Slipper fancy Star Turn has a full sister that is just special and we’re honoured to consign a gorgeous filly by the great FRANKEL for Qatar BloodStock who wouldn’t be out of place at any sale in the world. A draft of pure racehorses. We’re very proud of it.

What are your freshman sire picks? Your Song. He was a freakishly fast sprinter who dominated the older sprinters at Group One level. Given the early success of sons of Fastnet Rock he represents a great opportunity as he was clearly the most brilliant of his Group One winning sons at stud. History says that Group One winning sprinters in Australia by Champion stallions generally succeed so we’re quietly confident as to his chances given the appearance of his stock. Eye-catching, strong types that move well much like their sire. All Too Hard has thrown some lovely types and we have a very nice colt out of the Stakes Winning mare AILALEA.

Valley of Champions

EASTER PREVIEW

VENDORS

YARRAMAN PARK 2016 EASTER DRAFT Lot

Col/Sex

Sire

Dam

B. F

Fastnet Rock

Perfect Persuasion

B. F

Not a Single Doubt

Royal Commands

Ch. F

Sepoy

Ryzhkina (IRE)

108

B. C

Exceed and Excel

Thirst (USA)

166

B. C

Hinchinbrook

Al's Magic Miss

181

B. F

I Am Invincible

Andromache (NZ)

215

B. C

Hinchinbrook

Bronislava

334

B. F

I Am Invincible

Harlem Heat

349

Br. F

I Am Invincible

Impressions

355

Br. F

Pierro

Jaipur Princess

362

Br. F

Foxwedge

Khepri (NZ)

365

Br. C

Medaglia d'Oro (USA)

Kiss the Sun

416

B. C

Fastnet Rock

Mizzle (USA)

426

Br. F

Pierro

Most Secret

427

Ch. F

Sebring

Mrs Kipling

481

B/Br. C

Street Cry (IRE)

Damah Lady

482

B. C

Dream Ahead (USA)

Damzelle Pedrille

484

B. C

Choisir

Dance With Zeel

503

Br. C

Nicconi

Is Amazing

509

Br. C

Smart Missile

Kohinoor

575

Br. C

Foxwedge

Thebe

577

B. F

Foxwedge

Twisted Heart

578

B/Br. C

Smart Missile

Velasco

84 EASTER PREVIEW

Top sires and winning families a recipe for success In operation under the care of the Mitchell family since 1968, Yarraman Park has been consigning yearlings to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale since 1970 and when asked who are some of the good horses they have sold there, Harry Mitchell replied “there are stacks of them!” With such a long and proud history it is little wonder that Yarraman has fared so well at the sale and the farm’s successful graduate list is too lengthy to put in print here though in recent times the likes of Harlem River, Suyoof (South Africa), We’re Gonna Rock, Sense Of Occasion, Jade Marauder, Soft Sand, Celebrity Girl and Sharnee Rose have flown the Yarraman flag at stakes level. Yarraman’s approach to breeding an Easter type is a simple one keeping in mind that it is Australia’s premier yearling sale, “you just have to use the high profile stallions.” The Easter draft is prepared for eight weeks with plenty of handling, Mitchell noting that “we like them all to be quiet and well behaved at the sales.” Mitchell has definite thoughts on the use of x-rays at sales, considering them “a very small part of the equation. They don’t enhance your chances of buying a good horse.” Always a fan of the Easter sale, Mitchell said that despite the hype around the top sellers there are still bargains. “If you take the time to look at each horse and do the homework it is a terrific sale for value.”

Mitchell is looking forward to seeing how the progeny of first season sires fare at Easter and he has particular time for Delago Deluxe whose yearlings sold so well at the Gold Coast and for the imposing All Too Hard. Yarraman’s Easter sale (which consists of 15 session one yearlings and eight in session two) kicks off early with a Fastnet Rock filly out of Alinghi’s stakes placed sister Perfect Persuasion. A sister to the Group Three placed Lady Sharapova, she “is typical of the family, big and scopey.” Mitchell labels Yarraman’s second Fastnet Rock (lot 416) “a star.” A half-brother to the stakes winner Soft Sand he is “a cracking good type, the best Fastnet Rock colt we have ever taken to Easter.” Fastnet Rock’s sire Danehill certainly makes his mark on the Yarraman draft and lot 46, a Not A Single Doubt filly out of the stakes winner Royal Commands is line-bred to him. “She is a very nice filly who has a bit more scope than many of the breed. The mare had a lovely yearling last year too (a $450,000 Snitzel), she has started her career off well.”

2016 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE Story by KRISTEN MANNING

Mitchell labels Yarraman’s second Fastnet Rock (lot 416) “a star.” A half-brother to the stakes winner Soft Sand he is “a cracking good type, the best Fastnet Rock colt we have ever taken to Easter.” and a fantastic walker. She has the best action of any of the yearlings in our draft.” A colt who “will sell well” is lot 365, a “magnificent” Medaglia D’Oro colt who Mitchell praises as one of the best colts of our draft. He is real quality.” A half-brother to the Group Two placed Kimberley Star, he is out of a half-sister to the Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 (1200m) winner Undoubtedly. A daughter of Sebring and the stakes winning Exceed And Excel mare is lot 427, a “nice, scopey filly. A typical Sebring with a good outlook on life.” Yarraman’s second session yearlings by Choisir, Nicconi, Smart Missile, Street Cry, Dream Ahead and Foxwedge have also pleased Mitchell and amongst that group are siblings to Luckygray, Devoirs, Diamond Drille and Speed Baby.

Another mare with her second foal at Easter (her first fetching $420,000 at last year’s Melbourne Premier) is Ryzhkina, a daughter of Storm Cat and the Group Three winning Sadler’s Wells mare Lucky. Her filly by Sepoy (lot 49) is a “neat, strong, fast looking filly.” The dam of three winners from as many to race, imported mare Thirst (whose dam is the French Group One winner Seven Springs) has lot 108, an Exceed And Excel colt described as “a very attractive two-year-old type who is bound to be well received.” Mitchell always enjoys selling the progeny of his own stallions and he has two Hinchinbrooks at Easter, lots 166 (son of the stakes placed Al’s Magic Miss) and 215 (son of the Group Three placed Galileo mare Bronislava). “Lot 166 is one of the best colts in our draft. He is a magnificent rich bay with a real Danehill look. He is an outstanding type who will sell well.” “Lot 215 has a lovely, loose walk and he is a big, scopey colt who has a fair bit of Galileo about him.” Fellow Yarraman stallion I Am Invincible is always popular at the sales, providing the stud with the sale topper at the recent Classic sale, a $410,000 colt out of Quirina. Mitchell is very happy with the hot young stallion’s three Easter entries kicking off with lot 181, a daughter of the stakes placed Andromache whose dam is the South African Champion 3YO Classic Filly Mythical Play. “She is a lovely, strong filly, a very powerful sprinting type with

great hindquarters. She will be popular.” A half-sister to the juvenile stakes winner Harlem River is lot 334 who Mitchell describes as “one of our best Easter fillies. She is a magnificent type, a great mover with a lovely head.” A sister to the two-year-old city winner I Am Impressed is lot 349 out of a sister to the multiple Group winner Hosannah. “She is more of a two-yearold type than her sister, very correct, very racey. I really like her.” A couple of Pierros also feature in Yarraman’s draft, lot 355 the first of those. Line-bred to Zabeel, she is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Jaipur Princess whose grandam is the terrific mare Tycoon Lil. “She is a big scopey filly who looks a middle distance type. She has a great walk.” Lot 426 is a daughter of the excellent broodmare Most Secret, Listed winning dam of the Group One galloper Covertly, the Group Three winner So Secret and the Listed winner Secret Link. “She has a great head and eye and she is a strong filly with a lovely action. She is a great advertisement for Pierro.” A half-sister to the smart Hong Kong galloper Redwood Baby, lot 362 is a daughter of Foxwedge and the stakes placed Khepri. “She is a very strong filly

Hinchinbrook

Scone NSW 2337 t: 02 6545 1961 e: studoffice@yarramanpark.com.au Harry Mitchell t: 0412 280 576 Arthur Mitchell t: 0412 495 687 yarramanpark.com.au

EASTER PREVIEW

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