Hong Kong Update

D Whyte has increased his lead yet again in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a 17 win advantage.  D Whyte has recorded 75 wins, 63 seconds, 50 thirds, 49 fourths and 38 fifths from 433 rides. Shane Dye is in fifth position with 32 wins, 29 seconds, 24 thirds, 21 fourths and 30 fifths from 372 rides. Craig Williams is in seventh position with 26 wins, 25 seconds, 32 thirds, 30 fourths and 18 fifths from 302 rides. Brett Prebble is in ninth position with 24 wins, 18 seconds, 26 thirds, 20 fourths and 35 fifths from 307 rides.

Tony Cruz has increased his lead to a 21 win advantage in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Tony Cruz has recorded 64 wins, 44 seconds, 36 thirds, 18 fourths and 28 fifths from 317 runners. John Size is in second position with 43 wins, 32 seconds, 32 thirds, 38 fourths and 31 fifths from 336 runners. John Moore is in fourth position with 29 wins, 29 seconds, 31 thirds, 25 fourths and 21 fifths from 327 runners. David Hayes is in eighth position with 22 wins, 30 seconds, 36 thirds, 22 fourths and 23 fifths from 365 runners.

All statistics current to 23 March 2005.

  Hong Kong Update

D Whyte has increased his lead yet again in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a 15 win advantage.  D Whyte has recorded 71 wins, 61 seconds, 44 thirds, 47 fourths and 38 fifths from 415 rides. Shane Dye is in fifth position with 32 wins, 28 seconds, 24 thirds, 21 fourths and 29 fifths from 366 rides. Craig Williams is in eighth position with 25 wins, 25 seconds, 29 thirds, 28 fourths and 18 fifths from 286 rides. Brett Prebble is in ninth position with 21 wins, 18 seconds, 26 thirds, 19 fourths and 33 fifths from 292 rides.

Tony Cruz has increased his lead to a 19 win advantage in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Tony Cruz has recorded 61 wins, 43 seconds, 35 thirds, 18 fourths and 27 fifths from 305 runners. John Size is in second position with 42 wins, 32 seconds, 28 thirds, 37 fourths and 30 fifths from 324 runners. John Moore is in fourth position with 29 wins, 27 seconds, 29 thirds, 23 fourths and 21 fifths from 313 runners. David Hayes is in eighth position with 22 wins, 26 seconds, 35 thirds, 21 fourths and 22 fifths from 352 runners.

All statistics current to 16 March 2005 .

  Danehill beats Sadler's Wells for 2004 title of best European sire

Although the Coolmore Stud based Sadler's Wells ended 2004 by taking out the Great Britain-Ireland sire's championship on earnings for the thirteenth successive year, he was not the most successful sire of European bred progeny for the period.  This honour for the second time in the past three years went to another Coolmore used sire, none other than the deceased giant of dual hemisphere usage Danehill(USA).  In 2004 Danehill's Ireland sired foals comprised 127 winners of 200 races and 5,572,560 pounds sterling including place money compared to Sadler's Wells statistics of 117 winners of 149 races and 5,259,050 pounds.  Over 4,000,000 pounds of the Sadler's Wells money was contributed by runners in Great Britain - Ireland but nearly half of that for Danehill came from the exploits of his offspring in other countries including France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United States, Japan and Hong Kong.  The Danehill statistics do not include the efforts through 2004 of the progeny got at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley . During that 12 month period these offspring won about 170 races and $9,600,000 in Australia and also gained successes overseas including in New Zealand and Hong Kong .  It is estimated that collectively for that year the Danehill northern and southern hemisphere progeny included 230 winners of 380 races and the equivalent of $22million Australian.  According to the Bloodhorse Review's website T20L statistics through to early March since Danehill entered stud in Ireland and Australia in1990 he has been responsible for 1242 winners, including 272 stakes winners, of  3755 races and over $265million. They are all world records but it must be taken in account that he has had two crops every year.   In 2004 Danehill and Sadler's Wells finished equal for most number stakes winners in Europe from their Ireland sired offspring with 30 each. Sadler's Wells with16 beat Danehill 14 for the most number of Group winners but Danehill had winners of 25 Group events compared to his rival's 21.  In the category of Group1 racing Sadler's Wells finished one ahead of Danehill by winners (5) and races won (6).  Sadler's Wells was also the most successful broodmare sire for European racing by Group winners and wins with nine successful in 13 races. It was a list that saw the five-years younger Danehill also making his presence felt with four winners of four Group races.  Five sires used on the shuttle system in this part of the world finished in the top ten by money for 2004 in the list of those who got their winners from use in Europe . Besides Danehill, they are Marju(Ire) (by Last Tycoon), Desert King(Ire) (Danehill), Barathea(Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Night Shift(USA) (Northern Dancer).  Marju, a sire who has visited New Zealand and then Collingrove in Victoria , finished third most successful sire with 83 winners of 149 races and 2,333,865 pounds.  By the same sire as current leading Queensland juvenile sire Iglesia, the good New Zealand winner getter O'Reilly and the prematurely deceased Just Awesome, Marju gets a few middle distance performers in Europe but in the main is the source of sprinter-milers.  That they are tough horses is shown by the performances in 2004 of some of his stock including Soviet Song (four wins at 1600 metres), Prince Aaron (six at 1200 metres) and Don Mariolino (seven wins in the 1200 - 1600 metre range).  Fourth leading sire in this list is Pivotal(GB), a Group1 winning sprinter by the Nureyev champion European sprinter Polar Falcon. Pivotal had 97 winners of 131 races and 2,291,756 pounds for the year including 13 stakes winners and 20 two-year-old winners.  Desert King, the Danehill Irish Two Thousand Guineas and Derby winner used at the Coolmore Studs in Ireland and the Hunter Valley , supplied 53 Ireland sired winners of 66 races and 2,272,756 pounds. He had five stakes winners including one who supplied over half the earnings, the Australian champion staying mare Makybe Diva.  Although all her money flowed from her efforts in Australia , Makybe Diva contributes to the Desert King money because she was sired in Ireland .   Machiavellian(USA), the Mr Prospector sire who died last year, maintained his consistency as a superior winner getter by being the sixth most successful of the European used sires, finishing with 87 winners of 141 races and 2,157,584 pounds. All his six stakes winners were in the 1000-1600 metre range.  He was followed by the Sadler's Wells champion miler Barathea(Ire), a former visitor to the Widden Stud, with 84 winners of 144 races and 1,812,866 pounds.The best of his six stakes winners were Tante Rose (three wins at 1200 metres) and Pongee (two at 2200 metres).  Barathea has proved a versatile sire in both hemispheres with his Australian runners including the Group1 sprint winner Easy Rocking, now a promising sire with his first crop two-year-olds got from use at the Wattle Brae Stud in Queensland, and Barawin and Shirazamatazz, both successful up to 2400 metres.  Barathea finished only a few dollars ahead of Night Shift(USA), a Northern Dancer sire who did three seasons at the Woodlands Stud in the Hunter Valley resulting in 140 winners of over 400 races and $6.6million.  He has been a prolific European sire and 2004 was no exception to this record as his Ireland sired foals included 94 winners of 145 races and 1,812,866 pounds.  The source world-wide of winners of over 2200 races, Night Shift has been another good example that lack of proven racing excellence is not  necessarily and impediment to being a top sire, He had seven starts in America for one win at 1200 metres and two thirds resulting in about $12,000 in earnings. He is, however, a brother to the Canadian Horse of the Year and outstanding producer Fanfreluche, the third dam of Flying Spur and fourth dam of Encosta de Lago.  Polish Precedent(USA), the Darley owned Danzig sire based at their Dalham Hall Stud at Newmarket , England , was the ninth most successful sire in these statistics for 2004 with 36 winners of 43 races and 1,795,813 pounds.  His principal winners for the year were the Group1 winners Rakti (Ascot Prince of Wales's Stakes and Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes) and Polish Summer (Dubai Sheema Classic).  Only two of the top ten most successful sires by European sired foals are not representatives of the Northern Dancer male line. They are Machiavellian (grandam a half-sister to Northern Dancer) and the tenth most successful sire, Selkirk(USA).  Represented last year by 75 winners of 125 races and 1,749,632 pounds, Selkirk is a former champion European miler by the Native Dancer grandson Sharpen Up and from Annie Edge, an Irish One Thousand Guineas third by Nebbiolo, a leading two-year-old and English Two Thousand Guineas winner.  Nebbiolo's grandsire Red God is the Nasrullah horse who made a big contribution to world breeding through his son Blushing Groom.  The most successful two crop sire of 2004 was Cape Cross (Ire) with 55 winners, including eight stakes winners and14 two-year-olds, of 84 races and1,695,288 pounds.  Heading the honour board of this champion miler son of the noted Danzig sire Green Desert and the Ahonoora mare Park Appeal based at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland was England Horse of the Year Ouija Board and three others successful in Group 2 or 3 events.  The source of winners in Australia from use in New Zealand , Cape Cross is to visit Darley, Hunter Valley in 2005.  Eight other shuttle sires high up in the statistics - earnings in pounds - through their European sired foals in 2004 were Sri Pekan(USA) (Red Ransom(USA) - Lady Godolphin, by Son of Ange),109 winners, 192 wins, 1,584,208; Grand Lodge(USA) (Chief's Crown - La Papagena, by Habitat), 100 winners,162 wins, 1,547,255; Singspiel(Ire) (In The Wings - Glorious Song, by Halo), 63 winners, 95 wins,1,365,105; Spectrum(USA) (Rainbow Quest - River Dancer, by Irish River), 89 winners,143 wins,1,297,907; Desert Prince(Ire) (Green Desert - Flying Fairy, by Bustino), 59 winners, 91 wins,1,224,258; Danehill Dancer(Ire) (Danehill - Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up), 72 winners, 118 wins, 1,01,720; Orpen(USA) (Lure - Bonita Francita, by Devil's Bag), 66 winners 108 wins, 961,292; Peintre Celebre(USA) (Nureyev - Peinture Bleue, by Alydar), 38 winners, 55 wins, 937,073.  Orpen's oldest progeny were only three-year-olds and the Peintre Celebres four-year-olds. Both have been used at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley . This stud also played host for three seasons to Sri Pekan, the second leading sire by wins.

(This article courtesy of Brian’s Russell’s Racing & Breeding News)

  Hong Kong Update

D Whyte has increased his lead yet again in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a 13 win advantage.  D Whyte has recorded 67 wins, 58 seconds, 41 thirds, 46 fourths and 37 fifths from 397 rides. Shane Dye is in fourth position with 31 wins, 26 seconds, 23 thirds, 18 fourths and 29 fifths from 352 rides. Craig Williams is in seventh position with 25 wins, 25 seconds, 26 thirds, 26 fourths and 18 fifths from 273 rides. Brett Prebble is in ninth position with 20 wins, 18 seconds, 26 thirds, 19 fourths and 32 fifths from 284 rides.

Tony Cruz maintains his 16 win advantage in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Tony Cruz has recorded 58 wins, 41 seconds, 34 thirds, 17 fourths and 24 fifths from 286 runners. John Size is in second position with 42 wins, 30 seconds, 25 thirds, 35 fourths and 28 fifths from 309 runners. John Moore is in third position with 28 wins, 25 seconds, 28 thirds, 22 fourths and 21 fifths from 299 runners. David Hayes is in ninth position with 20 wins, 26 seconds, 34 thirds, 19 fourths and 21 fifths from 338 runners.

All statistics current to 9 March 2005 .

  The Hong Kong Jockey Club honour Silent Witness with a website

www.silentwitness.com.hk

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has launched a website dedicated to Champion galloper and reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Silent Witness. Silent Witness (AUS) (El Moxie(USA)-Jade Tiara) who was bred by TBNSW member Mr I K Smith of Edinburgh Park Stud has now recorded fifteen wins from as many starts and has earned HK $40,571,900 (approx. AUS $6.6 million) in career prizemoney. 

To visit the Silent Witness website click here. www.silentwitness.com.hk

  Lashed finishes race career with a Group 1 placing

Multiple Group 1 winning mare Lashed finished in third place in the Group 1 Darley New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie in New Zealand on 5 March 2005 at her final race start.  Lashed (AUS) (Encosta de Lago-Traffic Watch) bred by TBNSW member Mrs C M Upjohn faced the starter 37 times in her career for 7 wins (six of which were at black type level), 5 second placings and 7 third placings for some $940,000 in stakes.  Lashed was successful in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes, the Group 1 International Stakes, the Group 1 Zabeel Stakes (Autumn Classic), the Group 2 Kewney Stakes, the Group 3 Sires Produce Stakes and the Listed Go-Easy Handicap.  Lashed finished in second place in the Group 1 Victorian Oaks, the Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks, the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes and the Group 3 The Vanity as well as recording third placings in the Group 1 International Stakes, the Group 1 Thorndon Stakes, the Group 1 Zabeel Stakes, the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes, the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes and the Group 3 Jumeirah Stakes.  Lashed who is in foal to Champion Stallion Zabeel, retires to her owner, Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud. 

  Hong Kong Update

D Whyte has increased his lead yet again in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a 12 win advantage.  D Whyte has recorded 63 wins, 57 seconds, 39 thirds, 43 fourths and 34 fifths from 379 rides. Shane Dye is in fourth position with 30 wins, 23 seconds, 22 thirds, 18 fourths and 27 fifths from 339 rides. Craig Williams is in eighth position with 21 wins, 25 seconds, 25 thirds, 24 fourths and 18 fifths from 256 rides. Brett Prebble is in tenth position with 19 wins, 17 seconds, 25 thirds, 18 fourths and 30 fifths from 266 rides.

Tony Cruz has extended his lead to 16 wins in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Tony Cruz has recorded 56 wins, 39 seconds, 34 thirds, 15 fourths and 23 fifths from 276 runners. John Size is in second position with 40 wins, 28 seconds, 24 thirds, 32 fourths and 27 fifths from 296 runners. John Moore is in third position with 27 wins, 25 seconds, 28 thirds, 22 fourths and 21 fifths from 289 runners. David Hayes is in ninth position with 19 wins, 26 seconds, 34 thirds, 19 fourths and 21 fifths from 327 runners.

All statistics current to 2 March 2005 .

  Silent Witness does it again !!

Fifteen wins from as many starts, that’s the career record of reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Silent Witness who was bred by TBNSW Mr I K Smith of Edinburgh Park Stud.  Awesome!!  The latest win for Silent Witness was in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup, the second leg of the Champion Sprint Series run at Sha Tin on 27 February 2005 .  As was the case in the first leg of the series, the Group 1 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, New South Wales bred horses provided the trifecta in the event.  For the record Silent Witness (AUS) (El Moxie(USA)-Jade Tiara) scored, as we have come to expect, as he liked but officially by two lengths from Country Music (AUS) (Danzero-Paris Nights(NZ)) with Multidandy (AUS) (Danehill(USA)-New Acquaintance) bred by TBNSW member Stratheden Stud in third position.  Silent Witness who has now earned some HK $40,571,900 (approx. AUS $6.6 million), now heads to the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, the final leg of the Champion Sprint Series on 3 April 2005 .  International interest will be higher than ever for the half sister to Silent Witness, by Encosta de Lago, who will be offered by Edinburgh Park Stud at the William Inglis & Son Australian Easter Yearling Sale to be held in Sydney from 29-31 March 2005.

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