The 2006 Cartier Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London. Champion racemare Ouija Board was named Horse of the Year and is the first horse to win the prestigious title on two occasions. Ouija Board was previously successful in 2004. The award winners were:-

Caspar Fownes continues to lead in the Trainer’s rankings having recorded 18 wins, 17 second placings, 19 third placings, 10 fourth placings and 13 fifth placings from 131 starters. John Moore is in 10^th position with 7 winners, 8 second placings, 6 third placings, 8 fourth placings and 12 fifth placings from 112 starters. David Hall is in 11^th position with 6 winners, 5 second placings, 5 third placings, 8 fourth placings and 3 fifth placings from his 64 starters.

Douglas Whyte has increased his lead again in the Jockey’s rankings and now holds a nine win advantage having recorded 26 wins, 19 second placings, 11 third placings, 17 fourth placings and 11 fifth placings from 151 rides. Brett Prebble is in fifth position with 11 winners, 14 second placings, 9 third placings, 9 fourth placings and 8 fifth placings from his 106 rides.

Current to 15 November 2006.

1. Fusaichi Pandora (Sunday Silence-Lotta Lace)

2. Sweep Tosho (End Sweep-Tabatha Tosho)

3. Dia De La Novia (Sunday Silence-Potrizaris)

1. Passage of Time (Dansili-Clepsydra)

2. Soldier of Fortune (Galileo-Affianced)

3. Empire Bay (Lomitas-Evil Empire)

1. Mr Line (Liers Fitz-Miss Maleva)

2. War Horn (Festin-Forili Vouz)

3. Big Easy (Spinning World-Nicole’s Niner)

Coolmore Ireland have announced the following service fees for their stallions in 2007:

Five-year-old Ouija Board added to her stature as the world equivalent of one of Australia's greatest modern racehorses Kingston Town when she trounced her opponents in taking out taking out the $2.2million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at the annual Breeders Cup Day in America recently for the second time. This five-year-old daughter of Cape Cross, a champion miler son of the Danzig sire Green Desert and the talented Ahonoora filly Park Appeal who commutes from Darley stud in Ireland to their Hunter Valley complex, won the race at three in 2004 and was second in it last year. In earning over Aust$7.6million, Ouija Board has now run 21 times for 10 wins including nine Group1 events. She was ranked the best three-year-old filly in the world after winning Breeders' Cup event and both the English and Irish Oaks and finishing third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at this age. She followed with only one Group1 win at four, the Hong Kong Vase over 2400m, but this year has had three successes at this level, appearances in the Breeders' Cup event and in England in the Royal Ascot Prince of Wales's Stakes and Goodwood Nassau Stakes. The correlation of Ouija Board with triple Cox Plate winning Kingston Town flows from the fact that they are related. The only stakes winner among her nine foals, Ouija Board is from Selection Board, a non-winner got by Welsh Pageant from Ouija, a daughter of Lunchtime's sire Silly Season and Samanda, a sister to Almah, the grandam of Kingston Town. Samanda is also the sixth dam of the Telesto sprinter Star of Florida, winner of 11 races, including the AJC San Domenico Stakes and two renewals of the AJC Challenge Stakes, and setter of Australian record time for 800m. The Filly & Mare Turf won by Ouija Board was one of the eight Group1 events that make up the annual American Breeders Cup one day program, one conducted this year at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and carrying a total value of US$20million. The day proved a show window for sires chosen to shuttle to Australia for the southern hemisphere seasons, half the races being won by their offspring and also being represented by some minor placegetters. The most awesome romp of the day was the 10 lengths victory of Street Sense in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile over 1700. He is from the first crop of Street Cry, a son of the Mr. Prospector sire Machiavellian standing this year at the Darley Stud at Seymour and who won the Dubai World Cup and finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Street Sense's dam Bedazzle was a handy non-stakes winning performer by the Northern Dancer sire Dixieland Band and from Majestic Legend, a Listed winning half-sister to Mr. Greeley, a high class American sprinter and sire who got very little support when he visited Victoria in 1996. The third dam of Street Sense is a half-sister to the grandam of the brother shuttle sires Danehill Dancer (the second most successful sire behind Danehill in Europe this year) and Colossus (a very smart 2YO Ireland in 2003). Danehill Dancer has done a big job out here at the Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley and Colossus has made his debut here this season at the Eagle Park Stud at Orange in central western NSW. Two of the Breeders Cup results that were very pleasing for the giant international Coolmore operation as their current Hunter Valley visitor Galileo, a Sadler's Wells English and Irish Derby winner, provided the winner, Red Rocks, of the Turf event over 2400m and former shuttler Storm Cat Word Champion Giant's Causeway had the runner up, Aragorn, in the Mile. Now one of the world's best young sires, Giant's Causeway is represented in the Hunter Valley by classic winning first crop sons Footstepsinthesand (Coolmore) and Shamardal (Darley). Miesque's Approval, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile, is a son of Miesque's Son, a sire who had two small books at Vinery in the Hunter Valley when he came out for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. He is a brother by Mr. Prospector to Kingmambo, the sire of this year's Metropolitan Handicap and Caulfield Cup winner Tawqeet. For the second successive year a South American bred performer by the Blushing Groom sire Candy Stripes has starred on the Breeders' Cup program. Last year Leroidesanimaux (Brazil) was a close second in the big Mile and this year the biggest event of the series, $5million Breeders' Cup Classic over 2000m of dirt, was annexed by Invasor (Argentine).

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

Caspar Fownes continues to lead in the Trainer’s rankings having recorded 17 wins, 15 second placings, 18 third placings, 9 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from 117 starters. David Hall is the best of the Australians in 10^th position with 5 winners, 5 second placings, 5 third placings, 6 fourth placings and 3 fifth placings from his 55 starters.

Douglas Whyte has increased his lead in the Jockey’s rankings and now holds a five win advantage having recorded 22 wins, 15 second placings, 11 third placings, 14 fourth placings and 11 fifth placings from 134 rides. Brett Prebble is in fifth position with 10 winners, 13 second placings, 8 third placings, 7 fourth placings and 6 fifth placings from his 94 rides.

Current to 7 November 2006.

1. Invasor (Candy Stripes-Quendom)

2. Bernardini (A.P. Indy-Cara Rafaela)

3. Premium Tap (Pleasant Tap-Premium Red)

The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf 12 Furlongs

1. Red Rocks (Galileo-Pharmacist)

2. Better Talk Now (Talkin Man-Bendita)

3. English Channel (Smart Strike-Belva)

The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile 8 Furlongs

1. Miesque’s Approval (Miesque’s Son-Win Approval)

2. Aragorn (Giant’s Causeway-Onaga)

3. Badge of Silver (Silver Deputy-Silveroo)

The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Spring 6 Furlongs

1. Thor’s Echo (Swiss Yodeler-Helen of Troy)

2. Friendly Island (Crafty Friend-Island Queen)

3. Nightmare Affair (Out of Place-Beaux Arts Ball)

The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff 9 Furlongs

1. Round Pound (Awesome Again-Gift of Dance)

2. Happy Ticket (Anet-Love and Happiness)

3. Balletto (Timber Country-Destiny Dance)

The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf 11 Furlongs

1. Ouija Board (Cape Cross-Selection Board)

2. Film Maker (Dynaformer-Miss Du Bois)

3. Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval-Cuando Quiere)

The Group 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile 8.5 Furlongs

1. Street Sense (Street Cry-Bedazzle)

2. Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch-Circle of Life)

3. Great Hunter (Aptitude-Zenith)

The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillings 8.5 Furlongs

1. Dreaming of Anna (Rahy-Justenuffheart)

2. Octave (Unbridled’s Song-Belle Nuit)

3. Cotton Blossom (Broken Vow-For Dixie)

  2006 Tattersalls December Sales - Europe’s Premier Breeding Stock Sale

The history of Australian and New Zealand racing owes much to the importation of breeding stock from Europe with the introduction of both stallions and mares into the gene pool combining to bolster the quality of the local population. The breed shaping stallions STAR KINGDOM, SIR TRISTRAM and DANEHILL all had their roots in England whilst legendary racehorses OCTAGONAL, MIGHT AND POWER and MAKYBE DIVA are all out of mares that were purchased in England and more specifically at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. MAKYBE DIVA created history last year when becoming the first racehorse to win the time honoured Melbourne Cup for the third time, a feat many believe will never be repeated. As has been well publicised, owner Tony Santic came to own MAKYBE DIVA when he purchased her dam TUGELA through bloodstock agent John Foote for 60,000 guineas at the 1998 Tattersalls December Mare Sale carrying the future history maker in utero. With MAKYBE DIVA retired to the breeding barn, it was her half-sister, named VALKYRIE DIVA, who kept the flag flying for their dam TUGELA when winning the Group 3 Inglis Mile last week on Cox Plate Day. With Australian and New Zealand racing conducted almost exclusively on turf, it is understandable that the most suitable mares for the Australasian market are to be found at the Tattersalls December Sales and the results reflect this. In the last three years fillies or mares purchased at the Tattersalls December Sales whose progeny have won Group or Listed races in Australia and New Zealand include: Group 1 winners MAKYBE DIVA and LAD OF THE MANOR, Group 2 winners DOMESDAY, SPURUSON and ZARIUS, Group 3 winners CHANT, TALL TIMBERS and VALKYRIE DIVA, and the Listed winners ASCOT ISLE, CINQUE, HILLFA, MUTATE, ROANOKE, SNIPPETSON and TAKEN. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. The Tattersalls December Mare Sale, which looks to be a vintage renewal, takes place on November 27 - 30 and Australian and New Zealand buyers are eligible for airfare assistance subject to purchase. Catalogues are out now and are available in Australia from: Jenny McAlpine (03-9376 9736; j.mcalpine@tattersalls.com).

(Tattersalls Media Release)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club first hosted international racing in January 1988 and this season's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races will be the 20th running of a world famous meeting that has gradually developed into the Turf World Championships. o celebrate this landmark and generate added interest in the 10 December extravaganza, the Club's website is for the first time displaying each one of the 53 international races staged to date in the name of "Hong Kong International Races 20th Running · Review" at www.cxhkir.com accessible from www.hkjc.com. 

The first batch of videos (1987/88 - 1998/99 racing seasons) from this amazing collection will be posted on the website from 28 October 2006, while the second batch (1999/2000 - 2005/06 racing seasons) will come on line starting 2 November. The mini-site is a treasure trove of some of the most celebrated moments in the history of Hong Kong racing and dates right back to the horse that started it all: the Brian Kan-trained Flying Dancer who defeated rivals from Singapore and Malaysia in the Hong Kong Invitation Cup. Other gems lie in wait for aficionados of international racing including River Verdon and Motivation prevailing in the Cup in 1991 and 1993, and the great Indigenous winning the Vase in 1998 - he's still the only home-based horse to take out the stayers' championship. Viewers will also find out how Grey Invader from New Zealand stormed home to win at the longest odds of 73/1 to date for the HKIR; see Midnight Bet from Japan breaking the record time for Sha Tin's 1800M distance in 1998; watch Monopolize from Australia achieving back-to-back victories, both photo-finishes, in the Bowl (the Mile's former name); relive the breathtaking clash between Michael Kinane's Winning Partners and Frankie Dettori's Marina Park in the 1993 Bowl; and witness Red Bishop from France landing the inaugural Vase, clocking 2:25:1 that remains the course record for 2400M. In the meantime, a photo album of Hong Kong International Races will also be released on www.cxhkir.com, bringing back many wonderful memories for racing fans. Hong Kong International Races Website : http://www.cxhkir.com

(Hong Kong Jockey Club Media release)

  Hong Kong Update

Caspar Fownes continues to lead in the Trainer’s rankings having recorded 15 wins, 13 second placings, 15 third placings, 7 fourth placings and 9 fifth placings from 102 starters. John Moore is the best of the Australians in 12^th position with 4 winners, 6 second placings, 4 third placings, 7 fourth placings and 10 fifth placings from his 82 starters.

Last year’s Champion Jockey Douglas Whyte has taken in the lead in the Jockey’s rankings having recorded 16 wins, 12 second placings, 10 third placings, 13 fourth placings and 11 fifth placings from 119 rides. Brett Prebble is in fifth position with 8 winners, 12 second placings, 8 third placings, 6 fourth placings and 5 fifth placings from his 78 rides.

Current to 1 November 2006.

1. Daiwa Major (Sunday Silence-Scarlet Bouquet)

2. Swift Current (Sunday Silence-Whitewater Affair)

3. Admire Moon (End Sweep-My Katies)

1. Mount Nelson (Rock of Gibraltar-Independence)

2. Spirit One (Anabaa Blue-Lawayssiere)

3. Yellowstone (Rock of Gibraltar-Love and Affection)

  Major Race Result – Singapore

1. Lim’s Classic (AUS) (Dehere(USA)-Augustine)

2. Always Fast (AUS) (Scenic(IRE)-Speech of Praise)

3. Jeram Special (AUS) (Tayasu Tsuyoshi(JPN)-Playtoss)

  Classic and Group 1 Winning Fillies Head Outstanding Tattersalls December Sale Catalogue

The 2006 Tattersalls December Sales catalogues are out now and can also be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com. Numbering 2822 lots, the sale, which takes place from Monday 20th November to Thursday 30th November features nearly 300 yearlings, 1131 foals and 1391 broodmares and fillies and horses in training. For the first time the December Foal Sale will take place over five days starting the day after the yearlings on Tuesday 21st November and concluding on Saturday 25th November with the four days of breeding stock selling from Monday 27th to Thursday 30th November. In what looks to be a vintage December catalogue a quartet of 2006 and 2005 Classic and Group 1 winning fillies comprising recent Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes winner SPINNING QUEEN, Group 1 German Oaks winner ALMERITA, Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner LA CUCARACHA and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner DONNA BLINI, look set to be amongst the highlights. Other outstanding fillies include the Classic placed Group winner SHORT SKIRT, French Group 2 winner SATWA QUEEN, Irish Group 2 and 3 winners POUT and GALATEE, multiple Group 3 winner LA CHUNGA and the Group 3 and Listed winning two-year-olds BAHAMA MAMA, DHANYATA and PRINCESS IRIS. The quality of the fillies is matched by equally exciting broodmares. Group 1 winners and producers include ALEXANDROVA's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winning three-parts sister MAGICAL ROMANCE, in foal to PIVOTAL, EXCITING TIMES, the dam of Grade 1 winner GORELLA and PORTO SANTO, in foal to DUBAWI, Grade 1 winner DIMITROVA, in foal to GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, 1000 Guineas winner SPECIOSA's dam SPECIFICALLY, in foal to DANEHILL DANCER, and Group 1 winner MAY BALL in foal to TIGER HILL. The consignors index lists the top owner/breeders from throughout Europe including the Britton House Stud dispersal, Cheveley Park Stud, Darley, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, Haras du Quesnay, Juddmonte Farms, Shadwell Stud, and the Wertheimer brothers amongst many others while the index of covering sires includes all of the current top fifteen active British and Irish sires including CAPE CROSS, DANSILI, GALILEO, MONTJEU, PIVOTAL, SELKIRK and SADLER'S WELLS. The December Foal catalogue makes equally impressive reading with 28 of the current top 30 active sires in Britain and Ireland well represented including BARATHEA, CADEAUX GENEREUX, CAPE CROSS, DANSILI, GALILEO, GREEN DESERT, MEDICEAN, MONTJEU, PIVOTAL, SINGSPIEL and SADLER'S WELLS, as well as half-brothers and sisters to more than 130 Group and Listed winners including the SADLER'S WELLS half-brother to French 2000 Guineas winner LANDSEER, the REFUSE TO BEND half-brother to Irish Derby winner GREY SWALLOW, the NIGHT SHIFT half-brother to this year's French 1000 Guineas winner TIE BLACK, the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR half-brother to the German Classic winners NEXT DESERT and NEXT GINA, and the KYLLACHY half-sister to unbeaten dual Group 1 winning two-year-old DUTCH ART. Commenting on the 2006 Tattersalls December Sales, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said; "The catalogues for this year's December Sales are superb in every category. We have some very high class yearlings to start proceedings, followed by five days of quality foals and a breeding stock catalogue which is truly outstanding. We have an exciting dispersal, 2006 Classic and Group 1 winners, dams of 2006 Classic and Group 1 winners and, most importantly, the strength in depth throughout the sale that should ensure the usual global demand." Catalogues for all three sales are online now at www.tattersalls.com.

(Tattersalls Media Release)

  Major Race Result – New Zealand

1. Jurys Out (NZ) (Faltaat (USA)–Tarantia (NZ))

2. Rosina Lad (NZ) (Faltaat (USA)–Arctic Life (FR))

3. Sir Slick (NZ) (Volksraad (GB)–Miss Opera (NZ))

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale finished on a high on the fourth day with TRAFALGAR BAY yet another lot to break the 100,000 guineas barrier, taking the six figure count for the week to 46, almost double the 2005 total of 24. A total of 197 lots were sold on the final day for a total of 2,877,000 guineas, at an average of 14,604 guineas and a median of 9,000 guineas. Over the four days of the sale a total of 884 lots were sold for 23,988,600 guineas, a rise of 22% on the record-breaking 2005 renewal of the sale with the average up 24% to a record 27,136 guineas and the median up 8% to a record 13,000 guineas. Sylvester Kirk's three-year-old colt TRAFALGAR BAY was the only lot to breach the six figure barrier on the fourth and final day when knocked down to BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe for 110,000 guineas. Consigned from Kirk's Cedar Lodge Stables in Lambourn, the son of FRUITS OF LOVE out of the FAIRY KING mare CHATSWORTH BAY also garnered interest from North Yorskshire based trainer David Barron, but he was unable to match Donohoe who was stood alongside Middleham trainer Karl Burke. Burke indicated that TRAFALGAR BAY, rated 100 by 'Timeform', was a candidate to join the multitude of graduates from this year's sale to head to Dubai for the International Racing Carnival in 2007. David Barron was also the underbidder on the four-year-old colt DIKTATORIAL, a winner of the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes as a two-year-old and rated 92 by 'Timeform'. The son of DIKTAT out of the DAMISTER mare REASON TO DANCE was consigned from Gerard Butler's Churn Stables in Oxfordshire and after a protracted battle between Irish agent Bobby O'Ryan and Barron, it was the former who prevailed, securing DIKTATORIAL for 85,000 guineas. O'Ryan indicated that the horse was purchased on behalf of the dual-purpose Durham based trainer Howard Johnson. At the conclusion of the record breaking 2006 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented; "Withdrawals, or more specifically private sales, remain a frustration but that aside we have enjoyed another hugely successful week and the vendors have been richly rewarded for their confidence in the sale. Last year's Autumn Horses in Training Sale achieved records across the board and the 2006 renewal has done the same except by far wider margins. The average and turnover have both risen by more than 20% and at almost 24,000,000 guineas, the turnover has nearly doubled since 2002 which is a remarkable achievement. Equally impressive has been the tally of six figure lots which has risen from 24 in 2005 to 46 this year. "The key to the sale's popularity has been the consistent success of graduates from the sale both here and abroad, and it is great to see so many buyers from all over the world returning year after year, as well as new faces from emerging markets. Middle Eastern buyers have yet again made an enormous impact on the sale buying at all levels, European buyers have been equally prominent, and American buyers have also been out in force. On the domestic front the National Hunt fraternity have as ever given the sale a massive endorsement with one of the 440,000 guineas joint sale toppers destined for a hurdling career."

(Tattersalls Media Release)

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