The Hong Kong International Race Day was conducted at Sha Tin on Sunday 11 December 2005 with the running of the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint, the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup and the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase the highlights on a nine event program.

1. Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross-Selection Board)

2. Six Sense (JPN) (Sunday Silence-Daneskaya)

3. Best Gift (NZ) (Bahhare-Shark Attack)

The Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint 1000 metres

1. Natural Blitz (AUS) (Maroof(USA)-Miiharo(NZ)) – Bred in WA

2. Planet Ruler (AUS) (Danehill(USA)-Sequenza(IRE)) – Bred in NSW

3. Able Prince (AUS) (Hurricane Sky-Queen’s Choir(NZ)) – Bred in NSW

The Group 1 Hong Kong Mile 1600 metres

1. Hat Trick (JPN) (Sunday Silence-Tricky Code)

2. The Duke (AUS) (Danehill(USA)-Mer Du Sud (IRE)) – Bred in NSW

3. Dave’s Best (GB) (Bishop of Cashel-Brightside)

The Group 1 Hong Kong Cup 2000 metres

1. Vengeance of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel(NZ)-Danelagh)

2. Pride (FR) (Peintre Celebre(USA)-Specificity)

3. Maraahel (IRE) (Alzao-Nasanice)

The supporting races

Race 1 the Tokyo Handicap 1600 metres

1. Rice Field (IRE) (Imperial Ballet-Lypharden)

2. Booming City (NZ) (Colombia-Sonja Henee)

3. Greenessy (AUS) (Hennessy(USA)-Romantic River(USA)) – Bred in 

     NSW

Race 2 the Washington DC Handicap 1200

1. Floral Pegasus (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus(USA)-Crown Crest(GB)) – 

    Bred in NSW

2. Spinning City (AUS) (Spinning World(USA)-Futile) – Bred in NSW

3. Diligent (GB) (Ashkalani-Subtle Blush)

Race 4 the Paris Handicap 1800 metres

1. Flaming Lamborgini (GB) (Compton Place-Miss Rimex)

2. Hail the Storm (AUS) (Metal Storm(FR)-Sound Willie(NZ)) – Bred in WA

3. Pretty Trio (AUS) (Woodman(USA)-Crystal Palace(NZ)) – Bred in NSW

Race 6 the Dublin Handicap 1400 metres

1. Thistle King (NZ) (Anziyan-Miss Petite)

2. All’s Well (NZ) (City on a Hill-Alot of Music)

3. Sparkling Star (AUS) (Defecting Dancer(GB)-Surprise Box) – Bred in 

    QLD

Race 9 the London Handicap 1400 metres

1. Joyful Winner (AUS) (El Moxie(USA)-Northern Tycoon) – Bred in NSW

2. San Lorenzo (AUS) (Torrential(USA)-Tipped to Top) – Bred in VIC

3. Sirocco (ARG) (Shy Tom-Ma Lettre)

  Hong Kong Update

Douglas Whyte has extended his lead yet again in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a sixteen win advantage having recorded 43 winners, 37 second placings, 29 third placings, 28 fourth placings and 20 fifth placings from his 234 rides. Brett Prebble is in second position with 27 winners, 19 second placings, 14 third placings, 12 fourth placings and 13 fifth placings from 169 rides. Shane Dye is in fourth position with 19 winners, 15 second placings, 21 third placings, 11 fourth placings and 14 fifth placings from 184 rides. Chris Munce is in eighth position with 12 winners, 12 second placings, 12 third placings, 12 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 164 rides. Corey Brown is in tenth position with 11 winners, 14 second placings, 10 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 18 fifth placings from 172 rides.

The Australian contingent are still at the top of the Trainer’s ranking with John Size in the lead having recorded 31 winners, 22 second placings, 20 third placings, 27 fourth placings and 15 fifth placings from 203 runners. John Moore is in second position with 22 winners, 17 second placings, 19 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 154 runners.

All statistics current to 14 December 2005.

  The 2005 Hong Kong International Sale

The 2005 Hong Kong International Sale which was held at Sha Tin on 10 December 2005, saw gross proceeds of HK$48 million up 11.6% on last years sale although the average price of HK$1,778,000 was down 21.5%. The top five lots for the sale were:-

The 2005 northern hemisphere racing exploits of Australian bred Hong Kong superstar sprinter Silent Witness (El Moxie (USA) - Jade Tiara, by Bureaucracy) and the New Zealand sired 2004 AJC Australian Derby winner Starcraft (Soviet Star (USA) - Flying Floozie, by Pompeii Court (USA)) have been recognised by them being given two of the highest ratings for the year by the historic authoritative England based Timeform. A few years ago a galloper of Silent Witness's stature would not have got a mention in the assessments for all his racing has been in Hong Kong and Japan, however, Timeform has changed to include a few performers outside Europe as many horses from the region are competing in North America, Asia and Australia. Their ratings, a measure in pounds weight of class and potential, are a recognition of the ability at all levels of horses competing each year in Europe and, although primarily designed for wagering purposes, are a very valuable guide to racehorse owners and breeders in assessing breeding stock potential and also as a measurement of the class of the sires. Developed in England over 60 years ago by the late Phil Bull, the ratings accompanied by essays on the performances and breeding of each horse are published weekly in the "Timeform Black Book" and upgraded or down graded through the year. At the end of the year they are brought together in Timeform's annual publication 'Racehorses,' with the one covering the year of 2005 due out at the end of February. Copies of the 'Timeform Black Books' or the annual 'Racehorses' can be secured by contacting Portway Press Ltd, Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK, HX1 1XF, fax 0018 44 1422 398017 or email timeform@timeform.com and forwarding credit card details. This writer secures the annual 'Racehorses' and one 'Timeform Black Book' each year. The latter is the last one published for the year, coming out in the first week of November, the official end of the flat racing season. This publication provides a list at the front of the most highly rated horses in three divisions - two-year-olds, three-year-olds and older horses. Equal on 131 at the top of the 2005 assessments for the latter brigade are Roses In May (USA) (Devil His Due -Tell A Secret, by Speak John) and Australian bred Silent Witness. Bred by Ian Smith at his Edinburgh Park Stud at Taree on the NSW mid north coast and sold at the Sydney Classic yearlings sale for $55,000, Silent Witness had appeared seven times in 2005 through to the end of November for five wins, a second and a third. All told his career to that date added up to 20 starts,18 wins including 17 in succession and earnings of Aust$8.2million. His only losses have been when asked to go 1600 metres. Roses in May, the five-year-old stallion who shared the top rating among the runners four and up with Silent Witness, appeared only twice during the year, winning the Dubai World Cup-Gr.1 over 2000 metres decisively by three lengths after being a Group1 second in America. He has run 11 times for eight wins including Group 1, 2 and 3 events in America and been second in the 2004 renewal of the Breeders' Cup Classic-Gr.1. Roses In May is by the Kentucky based mutiple Group1 winner Devil His Due (by the Halo champion American two-year-old Devil's Bag) and from Tell a Secret, a Group placed grandaughter of Retirement, a mare by the exported 1946 Caulfield Cup winner Royal Gem. Immediately behind Roses In May and Silent Witness on 130 in the assessment of the older horses are two by former Hunter Valley shuttle sires in Night Shift (USA) (represented by Europe's best performer at 2400 metres, Azamour) and the deceased Danehill (USA) (the best stayer, Westerner). Challenging for the distinction of being the best European performer for 2005 at 1600 metres is the Australian classic winning Starcraft on 128. A five-year-old bred in New Zealand by G.J. Chittick and sold for $80,000 at the New Zealand sales to Paul and Lyn Makin's Gold Coast based Paulyn Syndicate, Starcraft ran three times during the year for two Group1 wins in Europe, the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Newmarket. Now part owned by the Makims and the Arrowfield Stud at Scone, Starcraft is to start his stud career in England early in the new year and then come out here for the 2006 southern hemisphere season. Two three-year-old colts received the highest ratings of the year. They are Irish Derby-Gr.1 and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Hurricane Run (Montjeu - Hold On, by Surumu) 134 and leading miler Proclamation (King's Best - Shanarra, by Irish River) 132. King's Best is the Darley Kingmambo sire who has been a visitor to their Hunter Valley complex, while Montjeu is the outstanding European middle distance performer now standing beside his sire Sadler's Wells at Coolmore in Ireland. He has been a sensation as a sire with his oldest only three-year-olds in 2005 and also including English Derby-Gr.1 winner Motivator, the third highest rated in the age group. Montjeu brought Sadler's Wells 14 year run as champion Great Britain Ireland sire to an end in 2005 through the efforts of his stock but had to bow to Danehill as far as the European champion sire title is concerned. Danehill's best three-year-old was Oratorio, one of four colts in this division on the rating of 129. Another was Shamadal, unbeaten winner in three outings with the successes including the prestigious classic double of French Derby and Two Thousand Guineas. Retired prematurely through injury, Shamardal has just completed a season at Darley in the Hunter Valley. He is in the first crop of the former Coolmore shuttle sire Giant's Causeway (USA), a Storm Cat winner of six Group1 races in Europe who could have a big influence in Australia. Two of his first crop sons were in the Hunter Valley in the past season, the other being the unbeaten two and three-year-old Footstepsinthesand. This winner of the English Two Thousand Guineas-Gr.1 at his only start at three was on the Coolmore roster. Three of the five highest Timeform assessed two-year-olds of 2005 were by former shuttle sires. Two of these performers, the Timeform juvenile champion Horatio Nelson (123) and the best filly, Rumplestiltskin (116) were got at Coolmore in Ireland by Danehill, while the other, Opera Cape (117), is a colt by Barathea (IRE), a Sadler's Wells England Horse of the Year used at the Widden Stud in the Widden Valley. Danehill was also a contributor to the top rated two-year-olds through his son Mozart. A leading European three-year-old in 2000, Mozart died after only one season at stud in Ireland but he left at least 17 two-year-old winners including the brilliant Amadeus Wolf, the third highest rated in the juvenile assessments with 118. A bay colt, Amadeus Wolf is from a daughter of Mark of Esteem, the sire also of Sir Percy, the second top juvenile with a Timeform of 122. A Darley sire based at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, England, Mark of Esteem was the European champion three-year-old miler in 1996. He is by the Shirley Heights French Derby winner Darshaan and from a daughter of the Northern Dancer European Group1 winning two-year-old and three-year-old sprinter Ajdal.

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

The Tattersalls December Sales concluded with 227 fillies and mares selling for 1,728,000 guineas at an average of 7,612 guineas and a median of 5,500 guineas which pushed turnover for the four day December Mare Sale to an astonishing 46,525,800 guineas, 46% up on last year's total for the 901 lots sold, and 20% higher than the previous record sale in 2003. The average rose 21% to 51,638 guineas whilst the median rose 16% to 22,000 guineas. The turnover for the two week long December Sale, encompassing yearlings, foals and breeding stock realised a record 74,156,000 guineas, up 40% on last year's sale and 17% on the record 2003 sale. At the conclusion of the record breaking 2005 Tattersalls December Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented: "Coming into the December Sale we had already enjoyed an exceptional year, but nothing prepared us for the frenzied demand for the breeding stock which has rounded off 2005 in such spectacular fashion. We were confident that we had a good solid catalogue, although perhaps a little short of being a truly vintage one, but the level of trade this week has been truly astounding. "The whole sale has grossed a massive 74,156,000 guineas which is 40% more than last year, and the total for the breeding stock has been an equally staggering 46,525,800 which is a rise of 46% on last year. The dispersal of Ian Matthews' mares from Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud was obviously the highlight of a truly memorable week, but as well as the individual highlights it will be the breathtaking depth to the trade which people will remember for a long while. "The strong yearling and foal sales clearly engendered huge confidence in the buyers, but the key to the pre-eminence of the Tattersalls December Sale is its ability to attract a global buyer base like no other sale. The sheer number of people at Park Paddocks this week has been phenomenal and the demand, both domestic and international, has been unrelenting. "Each year throws up new challenges and after a year in which every Tattersalls sale has broken records for turnover we will have a hard act to follow in 2006, but if there is a recurring issue at the moment it is the growing numbers which we are cataloguing in so many of our sales. By common consent the format for our yearling sales this year worked extremely well, but regarding the December Sale it may be that if the numbers continue to grow we may have to make some minor changes to the format to relieve the pressure on the stabling."
(Tattersalls)

Douglas Whyte has extended his lead yet again in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a thirteen win advantage having recorded 39 winners, 34 second placings, 27 third placings, 27 fourth placings and 19 fifth placings from his 217 rides. Brett Prebble is in second position with 26 winners, 18 second placings, 14 third placings, 12 fourth placings and 12 fifth placings from 166 rides. Shane Dye is in fourth position with 17 winners, 15 second placings, 21 third placings, 8 fourth placings and 14 fifth placings from 174 rides. Corey Brown is in ninth position with 11 winners, 14 second placings, 9 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 16 fifth placings from 162 rides. Chris Munce is in tenth position with 11 winners, 10 second placings, 11 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 151 rides.

The Australian contingent continue their dominance at the top of the Trainer’s ranking with John Size in the lead having recorded 29 winners, 21 second placings, 20 third placings, 25 fourth placings and 14 fifth placings from 191 runners. John Moore is in second position with 18 winners, 17 second placings, 17 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 143 runners.

All statistics current to 7 December 2005.

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continued its remarkable march into the record books with a further 232 lots selling for 12,184,500 guineas, taking the three day total to 44,797,800 guineas, a record for the December Mare Sale by a wide margin, with one day still remaining. Turnover for the day was up 32% on last year's corresponding session whilst the average rose 7% to 52,519 guineas whilst the median rose 22% to 30,500 guineas. Late in the evening the Classic placed five-year-old mare SUMMITVILLE was sold to Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida for 450,000 guineas after he held off the efforts of locally-based bloodstock agent John Warren. The daughter of GRAND LODGE, who finished third in the both the Oaks at Epsom as well as the Yorkshire Oaks in 2003, boosted her race record when she finished second in the recent Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Out of the SHIRLEY HEIGHTS mare TINA HEIGHTS, SUMMITVILLE won more than £250,000 in prizemoney under the tutelage of James Given at his Mount House Stables in Lincolnshire. The second highest priced lot for the day was the 410,000 guineas given by McKeever St Lawrence's Johnny McKeever for the MACHIAVELLIAN mare DELAUNCY. The eleven-year-old Listed placed mare, whose first foal is the Listed winning and Group 2 placed DELSARTE, was consigned by Voute Sales in foal to sire-of-the-moment PIVOTAL. BBA Ireland's Patrick Cooper and Big Red Farm's Shigeyuki Okada both made bold bids for the mare, as did the Niarchos family's racing manager Alan Cooper, but none were able to match McKeever, who was stood alongside Coolmore's Paul Shanahan. One of the highlights on the third day was the consignment from the Aga Khan Studs which grossed 1,246,000 guineas for the nine lots sold. The highest priced of these was the Listed placed RAINBOW QUEST mare KARLIYNA who was purchased by locally based bloodstock agent Richard Frisby. The three-year-old filly out of the Listed placed LAST TYCOON mare KARLIYKA is a half-sister to Group 2 Doncaster Cup winner KASTHARI and the Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed KARASTA. Locally based agent Grant Pritchard-Gordon secured KALAMBARA for Paul Makin for 280,000 guineas after he outbid London Thoroughbred Services' James Wigan. The seven-year-old mare, who was offered in foal to LINAMIX, is a half-sister to Grade 1 Breeders Cup Turf winner KALANISI and Group 2 winner and Group 1 Eclipse Stakes third KALAMAN. Pritchard-Gordon indicated that KALAMBARA will be mated with STARCRAFT whilst her LINAMIX foal will be offered at next year's Tattersalls December Foal Sale. TUGELA, dam of triple Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner MAKYBE DIVA was part of the Juddmonte Farms draft in 1997 when she was purchased for 21,000 guineas and there is always great interest in the consignment of fillies from Prince Khalid Abdullah's nursery. Their consignment of thirty-five fillies realised a total of 1,191,500 guineas at an average of 34,042 guineas with the KINGMAMBO mare SAME PAGE the highest priced at 125,000 guineas when knocked down to Australian bloodstock agent Kieran Moore. Moore is one of numerous purchasers from the southern hemisphere to make an impact at the December Sales, having bought eight lots so far for 363,000 guineas.

(Tattersalls)

The appropriately name MOMENTS OF JOY sold for 1,650,000 guineas as the consignment from Ian Matthews headlined a record breaking second day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. A total of 219 lots were sold for 21,060,500 guineas, a rise of 47% on last year's second day for a total that represents the largest turnover on a single day at auction in Europe. Turnover for the sale at the end of the second day now stands at 32,613,300 guineas, surpassing last year's four day total. The average on the second day was up 19% to 96,167 guineas whilst the median rose 12 % to 47,000 guineas. A packed sale ring greeted the consignment of five mares and two fillies from Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud on behalf of owner/breeder Ian Matthews which promised to be one of the highlights of the catalogue. The seven lots were not to disappoint realising 3,709,000 guineas with MY EMMA and MOMENTS OF JOY both breaking the seven figure barrier. The jewel in the crown looked to be the 1996 Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille winner MY EMMA who was offered in foal to Cheveley Park Stud's star stallion PIVOTAL. By MARJU out of the HIGH TOP mare PATO, MY EMMA is a half-sister to the St Leger winner CLASSIC CLICHE and is dam of the Listed winning DARSHAAN mare MOMENTS OF JOY and the Listed placed LIGHT OF MORN. Grant Pritchard-Gordon, standing alongside STARCRAFT's owner Paul Makin opened the bidding at 300,000 guineas and the price quickly raced towards 1 million guineas with locally based bloodstock agents Richard Frisby, Hugo Lascelles and Pritchard-Gordon trading bids along with Shadwell Estate's Angus Gold and BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll. As the price passed 1 million guineas, it was only Gold and Nicoll who remained and when the hammer came down with the price at 1,300,000 guineas, it was Nicoll who was victorious. Nicoll indicated that MY EMMA has been purchased for Coolmore Stud principal John Magnier. The next lot in the ring was MY EMMA's Listed winning daughter MOMENTS OF JOY who was offered in foal to Darley Stud's four-time Group 1 winner REFUSE TO BEND. A plethora of agents sought to bid on the five-year-old mare with Hugo Lascelles, London Thoroughbred Services' James Wigan, Kern/Lillingston Association's Luke Lillingston all registering bids along with new Plantation Stud owner Dermot O'Rourke. Angus Gold and Coolmore Stud's Racing Manager Tammy Twomey soon entered the fray as the priced raced into million guinea territory and past the price set moments earlier. When Twomey quickly countered Gold's bid of 1.5 million bid she looked to have secured the mare as the Shadwell Estate's representative waved the white flag, but Darley Stud's John Ferguson entered proceeding's with a bid of 1.6 million guineas. Twomey countered quickly again, and this time secured the daughter of DARSHAAN for 1,650,000 guineas on behalf of Coolmore principal John Magnier and indicated that she was likely to visit resident stallion SADLER'S WELLS. Australian owner/breeder Paul Makin has been busy at the December Mare Sale acquiring well bred mares to send to his multiple Group 1 winner STARCRAFT when he retires to Cheveley Park Stud early next year. Grant Pritchard-Gordon has been advising and bidding for Makin and the pair have caught many by surprise by opening the bidding at elevated levels. That was certainly the case when Pritchard-Gordon opened the bidding at 500,000 guineas for the three-year-old SINNDAR mare MOONLIGHT DANCE. The Group 3 International Stakes winner, out of THE MINSTREL mare STYLE OF LIFE is a half-sister to Group 1 Irish Derby and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner GREY SWALLOW and was offered in foal to dual Derby winner HIGH CHAPARRAL. Makin and Pritchard-Gordon were to meet stiff opposition however in the form of Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida who immediately countered their opening bid and following some quickfire bids, had secured the mare for 800,000 guineas. Pritchard-Gordon and Makin also opened the bidding on the Listed winning four-year-old mare MADHYA but were to be bettered again, this time by German International Bloodstock's Rudiger Alles who purchased the daughter of GONE WEST for 750,000 guineas. MADHYA, out of the Group 3 winning HERO'S HONOR mare KHUMBA MELA, was another mare offered in foal to PIVOTAL, whose yearlings and foals have been in such great throughout the year. MADHYA was purchased by Alles on behalf of German owner/breeder Baron Georg Von Ullman and will head to his Gestut Schlenderhahn where a mating with resident stallion MONSUN is likely. Von Ullman has enjoyed great international success recently with MONSUN colt SHIROCCO who won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf recently. High class fillies have been in great demand on the opening two days of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale and the Listed winning four-year-old GUADALAJARA also had placing's in the Group 2 Prix de Pomone and Group 2 Prix de Royallieu to recommend her. The daughter of ACATENANGO out of the UNFUWAIN mare GUERNICA is a half-sister to Group 1 Oaks d'Italia winner GUADALUPE and out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner ROYAL REBEL. Interest in the European Sales Management consigned filly came from all corners of the sales pavilion, with Japan's Big Red Farm making a bold bid along with locally based bloodstock agent Richard O'Gorman, but the pair were usurped by Darley's John Ferguson who bought the filly with a single bid of 800,000 guineas.

(Tattersalls)

The richest mile series in horse racing history has been launched in Tokyo with the announcement that the 2006 Asian Mile Challenge will be worth approximately US$12.6million in prize-money and bonuses. The Asian Mile Challenge was first run in 2005 and incorporated the Hong Kong Jockey Club's US$1,033,000 Champion's Mile in Hong Kong and the Japan Racing Association's US$2,000,000 Group 1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo. But for 2006, the Asian Mile Challenge has been expanded to include Melbourne Racing Club's Group 1 US$527,000 Futurity Stakes and Dubai Racing Club's Group 1 US$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free. Open to horses from around the world, the Asian Mile Challenge will begin at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on March 4 before continuing at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai on March 25, Sha Tin in Hong Kong on May 7 and concluding at Tokyo Racecourse on June 4. Collective prize-money for the four races totals approximately US$8,600,000 however a bonus structure has been put in place to further reward those willing to take on the challenge and travel their horses. A bonus of US$4,000,000 will be paid should a horse win all four races in the Asian Mile Challenge, US$2,000,000 will be paid for three wins and US$1,000,000 for any two wins. To further emphasise the commitment and spirit of co-operation of all four Clubs to International racing, travel subsidies for horse, trainer, owner and jockey will be in place to further entice runners from around the world to the four jurisdictions.

The 2006 Asian Mile Challenge

Bonuses

US$4,000,000 to the horse that wins all four races

US$2,000,000 to a horse that wins any three races

US$1,000,000 to a horse that wins any two races

(Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Douglas Whyte has extended his lead in the Jockey’s Ranking and now holds a twelve win advantage having recorded 37 winners, 34 second placings, 27 third placings, 26 fourth placings and 17 fifth placings from his 210 rides. Brett Prebble is in second position with 25 winners, 17 second placings, 13 third placings, 11 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 153 rides. Shane Dye is in fourth position with 15 winners, 12 second placings, 20 third placings, 8 fourth placings and 14 fifth placings from 162 rides. Corey Brown is in ninth position with 11 winners, 12 second placings, 9 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 14 fifth placings from 152 rides. Chris Munce is in tenth position with 11 winners, 8 second placings, 10 third placings, 9 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 140 rides.

The Australian contingent continue to dominate at the top of the Trainer’s ranking with John Size in the lead having recorded 27 winners, 20 second placings, 19 third placings, 22 fourth placings and 13 fifth placings from 179 runners. John Moore is in second position with 17 winners, 17 second placings, 17 third placings, 9 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 134 runners.

All statistics current to 30 November 2005.

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale got off to a flying start with turnover in excess of 11 million guineas and the classy stakes winning filly RUBY ROCKET selling for 340,000 guineas. A total of 223 lots were sold for 11,552,800 guineas, a rise of 82% on last year's opening session whilst the average rose 35% to 806 guineas and the median rose 60% to 32,000 guineas. RUBY ROCKET, the two-time Listed winning daughter of INDIAN ROCKET topped proceeding's on the opening day at 340,000 guineas when purchased by BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll. The Hughie Morrison trained four-year-old filly, who has won five races and almost £120,000 in prizemoney to date, recieved a timely catalogue update when her half-sister ALEXANDER ALLIANCE easily won the Listed Flame of Tara Stakes at the Curragh in early October. Nicoll secured the filly after he saw off the determined efforts of Lodge Park Stud's Seamus Burns as well as London based agent Charlie Gordon-Watson and Cottage Stud's Paul Monaghan. The filly was purchased for a partnership who will board the mare at Peter Stanley's New England Stud. Paul Monaghan had earlier secured the the four-year-old mare DREAM VALLEY at 300,000 guineas for his family's Cottage Stud in Co. Kildare. The daughter of SADLER'S WELLS out of the KINGMAMBO mare VALLEE DES REVES is a half-sister to the Group 1 Coronation Stakes winner MAIDS CAUSEWAY and from the Wildenstein family that includes the Group 1 winners VOLGA, VALLEE ENCHANTEE and VESPONE. VALLEE DES REVES is also the dam of the MONTJEU filly who realised 825,000 guineas at this year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1. DREAM VALLEY, who Monaghan secured after seeing off the challange of Irish bloodstock agent Hubie De Burgh, was purchased in foal to the dual Group 1 winner ONE COOL CAT. TIMBER ICE, the WOODMAN own-sister to the Niarchos family's Group 1 Grand Criterium winner WAY OF LIGHT proved the highlight of the Haras de Fresnay-le- Buffard consignment when selling for 320,000 guineas to the bid of Coolmore's Kevin Buckley. The five-year-old mare is a daughter of the NIJINSKY mare SALCHOW, herself a half-sister to the Group 1 winners MACHIAVELLIAN, COUP DE GENIE and EXIT TO NOWHERE, and was offered in foal to DANZIG stallion ANABAA. Buckley outbid locally based bloodstock agent Richard Frisby to secure the mare on behalf of Canadian owner/breeder Charles Fipke. Late in the evening London based bloodstock agent Jamie McAlmont purchased the two-year-old ELUSIVE QUALITY filly VAGUE for 300,000 guineas. The Group-placed filly was purchased by McCalmont on behalf of Californian based Canadian J Paul Reddam for whom McCalmont purchased the 2004 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup winner WILKO. The daughter of the PALACE MUSIC mare APRIL IN KENTUCKY will stay in training in England with her current trainer Jeremy Noseda at his Shalfleet Stables in Newmarket. McCalmont landed the filly following a protracted bidding duel with Freddy Seitz of Brookdale Farm in Kentucky.

(Tattersalls)

  Major Race Results – Japan

The Group 1 Japan Cup

1. Alkaased (Kingmambo-Chesa Plana)

2. Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence-Irish Dance)

3. Zenno Rob Roy (Sunday Silence-Roamin Rachel)

The Group 1 Japan Cup Dirt

1. Kane Hekili (Fuji Kiseki-Life Out There)

2. Seeking the Dia (Storm Cat-Seeking the Pearl)

3. Star King Man (Kingmambo-Princesse Timide)

  Major Race Result – New Zealand

The Group 1 Levin Classic

1. Wahid (NZ) (Almutawakel(GB)-Rory’s Helen(NZ))

2. Shikoba (NZ) (Chief Bearheart(CAN)-Summary(AUS))

3. Izzat (NZ) (Almutawakel(GB)-Wauwinet(NZ))

  Records Tumble at Tattersalls December Foal Sale

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale concluded with foals by OASIS DREAM again in demand and records for turnover and median. The final session saw 178 lots sold for 6,320,600 guineas, at an average of 35,509 guineas and a median of 22,000 guineas, taking the four day total to 809 lots sold for a record 23,295,600 guineas, a rise of 27% on last year's four day total. The average rose 9% to 28,796 guineas and the median rose 24% to a record 18,000 guineas. Two foals by Juddmonte Farms' OASIS DREAM broke the 200,000 guineas barrier yesterday and the trend continued on the final day as a son and daughter of the dual Group 1 winning son of DANZIG did the same. Lot 1393, a filly out of the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes second SPINNETTE, consigned from Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud on behalf of Lyons Demesne, sold for 200,000 guineas to the bid of Darley Stud's John Ferguson. SPINNETTE's half-sister NAISSANCE ROYALE, a 310,000 guineas graduate of the 2003 Tattersalls Houghton Yearling Sale, gave the pedigree a significant boost when she won the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga in August and not surprisingly Ferguson had to fend off stiff opposition from London based bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson and Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown. Lot 1450, a colt by OASIS DREAM out of the RAINBOW QUEST mare BOURBONELLA, herself a half-sister to Champion racehorse PERSIAN PUNCH, topped proceeding's on the final day at 260,000 guineas when knocked down to Shadwell Estates' Angus Gold. Gold secured the Voute Sales consigned colt after a protracted bidding duel with Camas Park Stud's Timmy Hyde, who was standing alongside Ashtown Bloodstock's Paul Shanahan. Progeny by first season stallion OASIS DREAM have been in demand all week and the 19 foals by OASIS DREAM sold over the four days of the foal sale totalled 1,990,500 guineas at an average of 104,763 guineas. At the conclusion of the 2005 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented; "Strong yearling sales tend to produce strong foal sales and we have seen the feelgood factor from our record breaking yearling sales very much in play throughout the December Foal Sale this week. "New records for turnover and median tell their own story but the surge in the median is the real feature of the four days. The 24% rise in the median shows the amazing depth to the trade and it has been a pleasure not only to see the vendors richly rewarded but also to see such sustained competition for the foals from start to finish. "We have a good solid December Mares catalogue starting on Monday, but looking further ahead we may have to tweak the format of the Foal Sale in future years. The 2005 Foal catalogue is the largest we have ever compiled and the numbers have undoubtedly placed some strain on the stabling. If next year's catalogue is of a similar size we may have to consider spreading the sale over five days, or look at other ways in which best to accommodate the numbers."

(Tattersalls)

2005 - 2006 Overseas News Archives

2004 - 2005 Overseas News Archives

2003 - 2004 Overseas News Archives

2002 - 2003 Overseas News Archives

2002 - 2003

2001 - 2002 Overseas News Archives

2001 - 2002