For the third season in a row, Silent Witness (AUS) (El Moxie(USA)-Jade Tiara) bred by TBNSW member Mr I K Smith of Edinburgh Park Stud, has been named Champion Sprinter at the 2005/2006 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards. The TBNSW Committee and all TBNSW members send their congratulations to Ian.

This is the fourth year Silent Witness has been honoured at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards. In his four seasons of racing, Silent Witness has been named Champion Griffin, Most Improved Horse in Hong Kong, Champion Sprinter, Most Popular Horse as well as the coveted Horse of the Year title on two occasions.

The major achievements this season for Silent Witness were a win in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan over 1200 metres, a second placing in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup in Hong Kong over 1400 metres and a third placing in the 2006 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong over 1200 metres.

Silent Witness is the current record Hong Kong stakes earner with HK$58,761,896.

The 2005-2006 Hong Kong Champion Awards have been announced and the winners are:-

The TBNSW Committee and all TBNSW members send their best wishes for a speedy recovery to Shane Dye who was involved in a race fall in Hong Kong last weekend. Dye who has been moved from intensive care to a high dependency unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital, continues to improve.

1. Les Arcs (Arch (USA)-La Sarto (USA))

2. Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) (Xaar (GB)-Thats Your Opinion (GB))

3. Takeover Target (AUS) (Celtic Swing (GB)-Shady Stream (AUS)) bred by TBNSW member 

     Meringo Stud Farm

The Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale ended the first day in the most dramatic style, with Lot 270, a 4yo filly by OSCAR out of MARY KATE FINN, being purchased for the record price of €350,000. Given the filly’s looks and her connections, (she is a half-sister to FOTA ISLAND and also closely related to the unbeaten BLACK JACK KETCHUM), there was a great deal of anticipation leading up to her appearance in the ring, and in the final stages of the bidding, bloodstock agent Edward Daly had to fight off Paul Shanahan to secure the filly. The benefit of the new alphabetical catalogue came into play early on, with the first of the eight €100,000-plus purchases being made within the opening hour when Paul Shanahan bid €110,000 for Lot 17, a TURTLE ISLAND half-brother to LA MARIANNE (Grade 2 placed in 2006). The vendor, Phonsie O’Brien, was also responsible for Lot 104, a KING’S THEATRE gelding out of the black-type mare DISALLOWED, who was purchased by Ger Morrin, manager of Swordlestown Stud, for €120,000. Eddie O’Leary didn’t go away empty-handed either, buying three, including the second top-priced horse of the day and the highest priced gelding, Lot 243, a PRESENTING gelding from Parkville Stud, for €230,000. Tattersalls Ireland Chairman Edmond Mahony, naturally delighted with the record price also commented on the sale in general, "There seems to be a great deal of strength throughout the market, as well as in the upper levels. Today’s average [€43,000] was up 17% from last year, and even more tellingly, the median [€35,000] was up 21%. There was also an exceptionally high clearance rate of 80%. This all reflects the excellent quality of the horses consigned by the vendors. It is great to see so many overseas as well as domestic purchasers here and we are looking forward to another good day’s trade tomorrow." Day 1 statistics for the sale are as follows:-

(Tattersalls Media Release)

With just one meeting left in the season, the Australian contingent remain at the top in the Trainer’s ranking. John Size maintains his lead having recorded 76 winners, 52 second placings, 47 third placings, 59 fourth placings and 38 fifth placings from 544 runners. John Moore is in second position with 63 winners, 59 second placings, 51 third placings, 37 fourth placings and 49 fifth placings from 492 runners. David Hall is in ninth position with 31 winners. 34 second placings, 38 third placings, 23 fourth placings and 30 fifth placings from 316 runners.

Douglas Whyte has increased his large lead yet again in the Jockey’s ranking, and now holds a forty eight win advantage. Whyte has recorded 111 winners, 85 second placings, 75 third placings, 66 ourth placings and 41 fifth placings from his 635 rides. Brett Prebble is in second position with 63 winners, 44 second placings, 49 third placings, 36 fourth placings and 41 fifth placings from 472 rides. Chris Munce is in third position with 49 winners, 31 second placings, 38 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 39 fifth placings from 447 rides. Shane Dye is in fifth position with 43 winners, 43 second placings, 55 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 36 fifth placings from 471 rides.

All statistics current to 28 June 2006.

1. Deep Impact (Sunday Silence-Wind In Her Hair)

2. Narita Century (Tony Bin-Princess Liebe)

3. Balance of Game (Fusaichi Concorde-Hall of Fame)

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

2. Hurricane Run (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE)-Hold On (GER))

3. Laverock (IRE) (Octagonal (NZ)-Sky Song (IRE))

1. Donaldson (GER) (Lando (GER)-Daytona Beach (GER))

2. Schiaparelli (GER) (Monsun (GER)-Sacarina (GB))

3. Salutino (GER) (Monsun (GER)-Saderlina (IRE))

The forthcoming Tattersalls July Sale (July 11th - 14th) received a number of major catalogue updates at Royal Ascot adding further appeal to the record 870 lot catalogue which is already widely regarded as the strongest of recent years. The first race of the five day Royal Meeting saw two-year-old colt HELLVELYN maintain his unbeaten record with an impressive win in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. The son of first crop sire ISHIGURU was purchased for 32,000 guineas at the 2004 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, and his six-time winning half-sister CUMBRIAN PRINCESS is catalogued as lot 91 in the July Sale. By MTOTO, CUMBRIAN PRINCESS is to be consigned from North Farm Stud and is in foal to the highly promising Darley first crop sire TOBOUGG to a February cover. The last race on the opening day of Royal Ascot provided an equally significant catalogue update when the Sylvester Kirk trained two-year-old ELHAMRI won the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes. By first crop sire NOVERRE, ELHAMRI is the first foal out of the winning BARATHEA mare SEAMSTRESS, whose winning SPECTRUM half-sister PETITE SPECTRE, in foal to proven Group 1 sire BAHAMIAN BOUNTY, is lot 172. Consigned from Barton Stud, PETITE SPECTRE is also a half-sister to Group 3 winner RAG TOP and to the Listed placed RED TOP as well as being a great granddaughter of the hugely influential Classic winning broodmare FRONT ROW. Day two of Royal Ascot saw another impressive performance from a two-year-old and another major Tattersalls July catalogue update when GILDED won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. Recording her fifth win from six starts, the daughter of another first crop sire REDBACK has a winning half-sister JASMINE PEARL catalogued as lot 5. By KING OF KINGS, the five-year-old JASMINE PEARL is out of the three-time winning ARAGON mare TUMBLEWEED PEARL who is herself a half-sister to multiple Group 3 winner TUMBLEWEED RIDGE, and will be consigned from Brook Farm Racing Stables. Away from Royal Ascot, where a remarkable 15 of the 30 winners were sold at Tattersalls, the four-year-old gelding ALFIE FLITS was another to add significant lustre to a July Sale sibling when winning the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes. The son of MACHIAVELLIAN was purchased as an unraced three-year-old at last year's Tattersalls July Sale by his trainer Alan Swinbank for 15,500 guineas from Shadwell Estates, and is now a Listed winner as well as a three-time bumper winner and placed fourth at Aintree. His three-year-old INTIKHAB half-brother, who has been placed once in three starts to date, is lot 723 and is to be sold from Marcus Tregoning's Kingwood House Stables on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's Shadwell Estates Company. The 2006 Tattersalls July Sale catalogue is out now and can also be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com

(Tattersalls Media Release)

We all knew NSW bred horses were good, now the world knows it again as well. A new name has been added to the honour roll of NSW bred horses who have saluted in the black type arena internationally. Takeover Target bred by TBNSW member Meringo Stud Farm is our latest addition having scored in the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes on Day 1 of the carnival at Royal Ascot. Congratulations to Meringo Stud Farm. Readers will remember that it was the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot where Choisir created history in 2003 for the Australian racing and breeding industry, when he was the first Australian trained sprinter to ever compete at Royal Ascot. Choisir, who was bred by TBNSW member Mr R Daisley, gave a dominant display that year to score and Takeover Target’s win this year was just as impressive. Despite a wide draw, Takeover Target was able to cross over to the grandstand side of the track and sit just off the pace. Taking the lead with some 300 metres to go, Takeover Target showed exceptional courage, determination and ability to hold off all challenges to salute. Takeover Target (Celtic Swing(GB)-Shady Stream) was too strong for Benbaun (IRE) (Stravinsky(USA)-Escape to Victory) with Pivotal Point (GB) (Pivotal(GB)-True Precision) in third position. Takeover Target has now recorded 12 wins (8 at black type level), a second placing and 2 third placings from 19 race starts and has accumulated some $2.3 million in prizemoney to date. Takeover Target is now assured of taking out the Global Sprint Challenge having won the first leg of the series, the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on 4 February 2006. The King’s Stand Stakes is the first leg of a two pronged attack on the world renowned Royal Ascot meeting, with Takeover Target set to back up in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday.

  Major Race Results – Britain

1. Takeover Target (AUS) (Celtic Swing (GB)-Shady Stream (AUS)) bred by TBNSW member  

     Meringo Stud Farm

2. Benbaun (IRE) (Stravinsky (USA)-Escape To Victory (GB))

3. Pivotal Point (GB) (Pivotal (GB)-True Precision (GB))

The Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes 8 Furlongs

1. Ad Valorem (USA) (Danzig (USA)-Classy Women (USA))

2. Court Masterpiece (GB) (Polish Precedent (USA)-Easy Option (IRE))

3. Proclamation (IRE) (King’s Best (USA)-Shamarra (FR))

The Group 1 St James Palace 8 Furlongs

1. Araafa (IRE) (Mull Of Kintyre (USA)-Resurgence (GB))

2. Stormy River (FR) (Verglas (IRE)-Miss Bio (FR))

3. Ivan Denisovich (IRE) (Danehill (USA)-Hollywood Wildcat (USA))

The Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes 1¼ miles

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

2. Electrocutionist (Red Ransom (USA)-Elbaaha (GB))

3. Manduro (GER) (Monsun (GER)-Mandellicht (IRE))

The Group 1 Gold Cup 2½ miles

1. Yeats (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA)-Lyndonville (IRE))

2. Reefscape (GB) (Linamix (FR)-Coraline (GB))

3. Distinction (IRE) (Danehill (USA)-Ivy Leaf (IRE))

The Group 1 Coronation Stakes 1 mile

1. Nannina (GB) (Medicean (GB)-Hill Hopper (IRE))

2. Flashy Wings (GB) (Zafonic (USA)-Lovealoch (IRE))

3. Nasheej (USA) (Swain (IRE)-El Nafis (USA))

  Hong Kong Update

As the season draws to a close the Australian contingent maintain their dominance in the Trainer’s ranking. John Size continues to lead having recorded 75 winners, 51 second placings, 44 third placings, 59 fourth placings and 37 fifth placings from 530 runners. John Moore is in second position with 62 winners, 58 second placings, 51 third placings, 37 fourth placings and 47 fifth placings from 482 runners. David Hall is in ninth position with 29 winners. 31 second placings, 38 third placings, 23 fourth placings and 30 fifth placings from 308 runners.

Douglas Whyte maintains his large lead in the Jockey’s ranking, holding a forty six win advantage. Whyte has recorded 107 winners, 83 second placings, 71 third placings, 66 ourth placings and 41 fifth placings from his 617 rides. Brett Prebble is in second position with 61 winners, 43 second placings, 48 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 40 fifth placings from 456 rides. Chris Munce is in third position with 48 winners, 31 second placings, 37 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 35 fifth placings from 432 rides. Shane Dye is in fifth position with 43 winners, 43 second placings, 54 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 36 fifth placings from 469 rides.

All statistics current to 17 June 2006.

  Further Tattersalls Success at Royal Ascot

The run of success for Tattersalls graduates continued on the third day of Royal Ascot with DUTCH ART and MONT ETOILE recording Group 2 wins in the Norfolk and Ribblesdale Stakes, SIR GERARD winning the Britannia Stakes and UHOOMAGOO winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes. DUTCH ART made it two wins from as many starts when he ran out an impressive 1 ¾ length winner of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam and owner Mrs Susan Roy. The son of MEDICEAN out of the SPECTRUM mare HALLAND PARK LASS was purchased for 14,500 guineas at the 2004 Tattersalls December Foal Sale by the Curragh Bloodstock Agency, having been consigned to the sale by Charlie Mason's Silfield Bloodstock. MONT ETOILE came with a late run to score a surprise 25-1 win in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for trainer Willam Haggas, beating the favourite SCOTTISH STAGE in a blanket finish. The three-year-old daughter of sire-sensation MONTJEU was purchased at the 2003 Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 60,000 guineas by part-owner Tony Hirschfeld, having been consigned to the sale by Paget Bloodstock. SIR GERARD provided Jamie Spencer with his fourth victory of the Royal Ascot meeting when he ran out an easy two-length winner of the Britannia Stakes for trainer James Fanshawe. The three-year-old son of MARJU was purchased by Anthony Stroud for 56,000 guineas at the 2005 Tattersalls Breeze Up Sale, having been consigned to the sale by Kilminfoyle House Stud. The three-time winner was originally purchased for 20,000 guineas at Part 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Michael Fitpatrick, having been consigned by Whitsbury Manor Stud. Veteran galloper UHOOMAGOO rounded off a successful day for Tattersalls graduates when he doggedly fought off APPALACHIAN TRAIL to win the Buckingham Palace Stakes for trainer Kevin Ryan. Purchased at the 2000 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale for 13,500 guineas, UHOOMAGOO has now won 17 races and prizemoney of more than £230,000.
(Tattersalls Media Release)

1. Dionisia (USA) (Tejano Run (USA)-Essie’s Maid (USA))

2. Twardowska (ITY) (Daylami (IRE)-Todeschina (GB))

3. Souvenance (GB) (Hernando (FR)-Summer Night (GB))

The Group 1 Gran Premio Di Milano 1½ miles

1. Shamdala (IRE) (Grand Lodge (USA)-Shamadara (IRE))

2. Groom Tesse (GB) (Groom Dancer (USA)-Vicomtesse Mag (FR))

3. Vol de Nuit (GB) (Linamix (FR)-Bedside Story (GB))

With the Derby, Oaks, 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas already on the 2006 scoreboard, Tattersalls graduates continued to dominate at the highest level with ARAAFA landing the first Group 1 race at the 2006 Royal Ascot, and the first Group 1 race at the magnificent newly designed showpiece of British racing. ARAAFA, already the winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, established himself as a genuine star performer with a deeply impressive performance in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes. The son of MULL OF KINTYRE, trained by Jeremy Noseda, landed the Group 1 contest by two lengths from the French trained STORMY RIVER, taking his earnings to £330,165 from three wins and six career starts to date. Purchased as a yearling for 150,000 guineas at Part 1 of the 2004 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, ARAAFA, who is out of the POLAR FALCON mare RESURGENCE, was knocked down to Tony Nerses on behalf of his owners Saleh al Homaizi and Imad al Sagar, and was consigned from Paul Shanahan's Ashtown House Stud. Shanahan had originally purchased ARAAFA from Castletown Stud for 48,000 guineas at the 2003 Tattersalls December Foal Sale. Another Tattersalls foal purchase, HELLVELYN, had earlier taken the first 2006 European Group 2 race for two-year-olds, when winning the Group 2 Coventry Stakes for owner Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed and trainer Bryan Smart. The son of first season sire ISHIGURU out of the PETONG mare CUMBRIAN MELODY, was purchased for 32,000 guineas at the 2004 Tattersalls December Foal Sale by Margaret O'Toole. Consigned from Trickledown and Paradise Farm the colt is unbeaten after three starts and his six-time winning half-sister CUMBRIAN PRINCESS, by MTOTO and in foal to promising first-crop sire TOBOUGG, is catalogued as lot 91 at the forthcoming Tattersalls July Sale which takes place from Tuesday 11th - Friday 14th July and numbers 870 lots. Mick Channon's four-year-old colt BADDAM, a 15,000 guineas purchase at Part 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale won the Ascot Stakes for owner Noel Martin before ELHAMRI won the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, taking the number of Tattersalls sold winners on the day to four including both two-year-old races. ELHAMRI was purchased by his trainer Sylvester Kirk at Part 2 of the 2005 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 28,000 guineas from Osberstown Stud, who had purchased him from Robert Percival's Glen Andred Stud for 30,000 guineas at the 2004 Tattersalls December Foal Sale. ELHAMRI is the first foal of the BARATHEA mare SEAMSTRESS whose SPECTRUM half-sister PETITE SPECTRE, in foal to BAHAMIAN BOUNTY, is catalogued as lot 172 at the Tattersalls July Sale.
(Tattersalls Media Release)

The Champion Awards Judging Panel has elected the final nominees for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards 2005/2006 as follows:

The Judging Panel is made up of six members from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Association of Hong Kong Racing Journalists. The HKJC votes are made by the Chief Executive, Mr Lawrence Wong, Executive Director of Racing, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Head of Handicapping, Race Planning & International Racing, Mr Ciaran Kennelly. The other three members are from the Association of Hong Kong Racing Journalists: Chairman Mr Tsui Wai Man, Committee Members Mr Andy Tsui and Mr Ho Wing Keung, whose opinions reflect the results of a vote made by AHKRJ members. The Panel commended the connections of each of the final nominees for the excellent performances by their horses in this season. Winners of the Champion Awards and the Most Popular Horse and Jockey of the Year will be announced on Tuesday 27 June at the 2005/2006 Champion Awards presentation ceremony held by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. In addition, the trainer, jockey and Apprentice jockey with the highest number of wins in the season will be crowned the Champion Trainer, Champion Jockey and Champion Apprentice.

(The Hong Kong Jockey Club)

  Hong Kong Update

With the season drawing to a close the Australian contingent maintains their dominance in the Trainer’s ranking. John Size continues to lead having recorded 75 winners, 51 second placings, 43 third placings, 58 fourth placings and 37 fifth placings from 523 runners. John Moore is in second position with 61 winners, 57 second placings, 50 third placings, 36 fourth placings and 45 fifth placings from 475 runners. David Hall is in ninth position with 28 winners. 31 second placings, 37 third placings, 23 fourth placings and 30 fifth placings from 300 runners.

Douglas Whyte has increased his lead yet again in the Jockey’s ranking and now holds a forty six win advantage. Whyte has recorded 106 winners, 83 second placings, 69 third placings, 65 fourth placings and 41 fifth placings from his 607 rides. Brett Prebble is in second position with 60 winners, 43 second placings, 47 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 38 fifth placings from 447 rides. Chris Munce is in third position with 48 winners, 30 second placings, 36 third placings, 34 fourth placings and 34 fifth placings from 425 rides. Shane Dye is in sixth position with 42 winners, 42 second placings, 52 third placings, 33 fourth placings and 36 fifth placings from 463 rides.

All statistics current to 10 June 2006.

  Major Race Results – United States

1. Jazil (Seeking the Gold-Better Than Honour)

2. Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat-She’s A Winner)

3. Sunriver (Saint Ballado-Goulash)

The Group 1 Manhattan Handicap 10 Furlongs

1. Cacique (Danehill-Hasili)

2. Relaxed Gesture (Indian Ridge-Token Gesture)

3. Grey Swallow (Daylami-Style of Life)

The Group 1 Acorn Stakes 8 Furlongs

1. Bushfire (Louis Quatorze-Traki Traki)

2. Hello Liberty (Forest Camp-Witness Post)

3. Last Romance (Wild Rush-Fond Romance)

The Group 1 Whittingham Memorial Handicap 10 Furlongs

1. Lava Man (Slew City Slew-Li’l Ms Leonard)

2. King’s Drama (King’s Theatre-Last Drama)

3. Red Fort (Green Desert-Red Bouquet)

  Major Race Result – South Africa

1. National Spirit (SAF) (National Emblem-Meretrix)

2. Kapil (SAF) (Jallad-Outstanding Star)

3. Sushisan (AUS) (Fuji Kiseki-Meine Tochter) bred in NSW

MERMAID ISLAND, a Listed-placed half-sister to recent Irish 1000 Guineas winner NIGHTIME, looks set to be one of the highlights of the forthcoming Tattersalls July Sale which numbers a record 870 lots and will take place over four days from Tuesday 11th July - Friday 14th July. The four-year-old daughter of MUJADIL is carrying a GALILEO three-parts brother or sister to her illustrious Classic winning half-sister and is to be consigned by the Castlebridge Consignment which has 10 lots catalogued and also features EYEQ, a five-year-old Group 3 winning daughter of CADEAUX GENEREUX, in foal to first season sire and multiple Group 1 winner ORATORIO. Comprising horses and fillies in training as well as top quality broodmares, the record sized catalogue features major consignments from leading owner/breeders including Darley, Gainsborough Stud Management, Juddmonte Farms, Moyglare Stud, and Shadwell Estates and for the first time has been extended to four days to accommodate the increased numbers. Commenting on the catalogue, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said; "The July Sale has grown out of all recognition in recent years and the increase in size has been more than matched by the quality. Ten years ago we catalogued only 312 lots and this year we have nearly 900 including consignments from most of the top European-based owner/breeders which feature beautifully bred fillies and broodmares as well as high class horses in training. The July Sale has traditionally been hugely popular with both Flat and National Hunt connections and also buyers from throughout the world and the 2006 catalogue looks to be the strongest to date with plenty to attract the usual cosmopolitan crowd." The largest consignment comes from Darley and numbers 105 lots comprising 28 broodmares, 50 fillies in/out of training and 27 colts and geldings in/out of training. The broodmare covering sires include EXCEED AND EXCEL, FANTASTIC LIGHT, GREEN DESERT, HALLING, HIGHEST HONOR, MARK OF ESTEEM, MOTIVATOR, NOVERRE, and RED RANSOM, while the Darley fillies are by such top sires as DANEHILL, ELUSIVE QUALITY, GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, INDIAN RIDGE, KING'S BEST, MACHIAVELLIAN, PIVOTAL, RAHY, RAINBOW QUEST, and SINGSPIEL. Another impressive consignment comes from Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. Numbering 57 lots the Juddmonte team comprises eight broodmares, 25 fillies in/out of training and 24 colts in/out of training, while the late Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud Management has a significant consignment numbering 49 lots including the BLUSHING GROOM mare BLUSHING BARADA, dam of this year's Lincoln winner BLYTHE KNIGHT, in foal to ALHAAARTH, and the GREEN DESERT mare STATE SECRET, dam of SONG OF SILENCE, second in this year's Listed Masaka Stakes, in foal to SELKIRK. Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's Shadwell Estates, which has been the source of recent star performers ALKAASED and IKTITAF as well as the great ISTABRAQ, all sold as horses in training at Tattersalls, has an eyecatching team of 66 catalogued. Amongst them is the smart DIESIS three-year-old colt BAAN, currently rated 102 by 'Timeform' after being placed in two Group 3 Derby trials this year, as well as the 107 rated JALAMID, and the three-year-olds JIDAAR, MARSAM, MUZHER and NUSOOR, all winners of their latest starts and all rated more than 80 by 'Timeform'. Other high class horses in training include Jim Bolger's Group 3 winning three-year-old colt RHYTHM'N ROOTS, three-time winning three-year-old ZACHAROVA, also trained by Bolger, the Dermot Weld-trained Group 3 winner CAIRDEAS, who is a DARSHAAN half-brother to proven Group 1 sire DESERT KING, German trained Group 3 winner APEIRON, Roger Charlton's NIGHT SHIFT three-year-old ADVANCED, who was third in this year's Listed Free Handicap and the multiple Group and Listed-placed sprinter TURNKEY trained by Mick Channon. The catalogue for the four day sale can already be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com and will be published on Monday 19th June.

(Tattersalls Media Release)

The main juvenile races in the New Zealand in the first 12 days of June were taken out by youngsters got by sires in the Hunter Valley for NSW breeders. Particularly impressive and looking to have a big future was Magic Cape, a first crop Magic Albert youngster who romped to a 6.5 lengths win when he made his debut at Auckland's Ellerslie racecourse on Monday June 5. His sire Magic Albert is the dashing Zeditave two-year-old and sprinter who was successful in seven of 13 starts and who looks set to be a top sire from his base alongside Golden Slipper winner Catbird at the Mitchell's Yarraman Park Stud, Scone. He is also sire of the Freedman trained colt Renmin Road, one which followed up a first up second at Sale on May 28 with a comfortable win at Moonee Valley on Monday of this week. Another winner bred by the Queensland Nolan clan, in this incident G.P. and J.A. Nolan, Renmin Road became the eleventh individual winner for Magic Albert. Nine of these winners, including two others successful in Melbourne, have been in Australia and the others in New Zealand. The other two-year-old flying the flag for Australian breeding last week was Narredson, a Red Ransom gelding who was also having debut success in taking the event for the age group at the Waikato meeting. Bred by J. Costigan, NSW, he is from Bellquin, a Perth winner and Western Australian St Leger and Belmont Oaks third by the Mr. Prospector sire Bellotto. A major source of brilliant two-year-olds in Australia and also of Group 1 winners in the northern hemisphere, Red Ransom is the Roberto sire who shuttles to the Vinery Stud in the Scone district. A horse, who was got in America by Nureyev and foaled and out here by an imported mare subsequently re-exported, had a first crop stakes winning two-year-old at Foxton, New Zealand on June 5. Recording her second stakes victory, both Listed events, the winner is Chartreuse and she is one of four runners in the first crop of New Zealand based St Petersburg and is from the minor Sir Tristram winner Imzadi. Prior to going to stud St Petersburg had 11 starts in Australia and showed up as very smart galloper, winning two sprints, including the VRC Chivas Royal-Gr.3, and running fourth in the VRC Lightning Stakes-Gr.1 and Ascot Vale Stakes-Gr.2. He is the second foal of the Valid Appeal mare Miss Bold Appeal, following on from the American bred and raced Belong to Me filly Jersey Girl, a champion at three, a year she won all seven outings including three at Group 1 level. After she had a foal, the unraced Bold Expectations, from a mating with Danehill in Australia Miss Bold Appeal was sent back to America where two matings with Danzig have produced two minor winners.

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

1. Sir Percy (GB) (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))-Percy’s Lass (GB))

2. Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler’s Wells (USA)-Alakananda (GB))

3. Dylan Thomas (IRE) (Danehill (USA)-Lagrion (USA))

The Group 1 Vodafone Oaks 12 Furlongs 10 yards

1. Alexandrova (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA)-Shouk (GB)) </