Champion galloper Takeover Target scored a most impressive win in the Group 1 Krisflyer Sprint at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore on 18 May 2008 setting a new track record in the process. Congratulations to his breeder TBNSW member Mr Tony Hartnell of Meringo Stud Farm. Takeover Target (Celtic Swing(GB)-Shady Stream) was too good for compatriots Magnus (Flying Spur-Scandinavia) and Sanziro (Danzero-Will Fly) in third position. Takeover Target has now recorded 17 wins (including 12 black type wins – 6 at Group 1 level), 5 second placings and 4 third placings for $5,045,868 in career prizemoney.

A Falvelon filly from the family of this year’s Blue Diamond winner Reaan stole the show late in the day to set a new record price of $110,000 at the annual William Inglis HTBA Scone Yearling Sale on 22 May 2008. The filly, from the Defensive Play mare Defy Smytzer, was knocked down to Darrell Ible Bloodstock. Defy Smytzer is a half-sister to the dam of Ribe, who produced Inglis Easter graduate Reann to win this year’s Blue Diamond. In all, $2,151,700 was traded on 154 yearlings today at an average price of $13,972, with an excellent clearance rate of 87.5%. Coolmore stallions Rock Of Gibraltar and Lion Heart also had progeny in keen command. A Rock Of Gibraltar colt from the Our Poetic Prince mare Poetique was knocked down to prominent NSW country trainer Mac Griffiths for $70,000. Rock Of Gibraltar is Australia’s leading second season sire by stakes winners this season and Poetique is already the dam of six individual winners. Lion Heart, currently the leading freshman sire in the US, had the day’s second highest priced lot when a colt from the Marooned mare Wild Reef sold to Paul Blattman for $66,000. All horses sold are eligible for the $2.5million Inglis Race Series and for next year’s $100,000 Inglis Challenge. The statistics for the sale are as follows:-

 

Sale Statistics - Lots 1 to 203
Lots Catalogued	203		Gross Value	$2,151,700
Lots Sold	154	87.5 %	Top Price - Lot 195	$110,000
Lots Passed In	22	12.5 %	Average Price	$13,972
Lots Withdrawn	27	13.3 %	Median Price	$9,000

(Inglis Media Release)

Aushorse Chairman and Australian Thoroughbred Breeders President John Messara was honoured by the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association (HTBA) on 21 May 2008, when being named as the Presidents’ Award winner for 2008. "John was a most fitting recipient of this award," HTBA President Ollie Tait said. "Not only has he been extremely successful in the thoroughbred business of breeding and standing champion stallions, but he has contributed greatly to the industry as a whole. "Obviously this was highlighted by the work he did on behalf of the industry during the Equine Influenza (EI) crisis last year." Messara joins the likes of Geoff and Beryl White, John Inglis and Brian Agnew as winners of the prestigious HTBA award. His Arrowfield Stud continues to be one of the great forces in Australian breeding, with Australia’s Champion Stallions of the past two years, Redoute’s Choice and Flying Spur, joined by Champion Second Season sire Hussonet on a powerful roster at the Hunter Valley nursery. Messara was a towering force during the equine influenza outbreak last year, with his relentless lobbying of government and officialdom leading to the successful vaccination program, which not only salvaged the NSW and Qld breeding seasons, but also ensured the Victorian spring racing carnival went ahead without incident. TBA Chief Executive Peter McGauran was the Federal Minister for Agriculture at the height of the EI crisis and dealt with Messara on an almost daily basis. "The biggest problem - and potentially crippling for the breeding industry - was the complete ban on the movement of horses, which was imposed in response to the EI outbreak," McGauran said. "It was John Messara who argued the case for a zonal system, which would allow the breeding season to commence and operate as close to normality as the situation would allow. "It was no easy task, as veterinary advice to government in order to support the eradication strategies, was for a standstill of horses with no exceptions. "It took all of John’s renowned energy, dedication and skill to win the argument for the benefit of breeders. Thanks to John Messara and other industry leaders, the Australian breeding industry survived EI and has rapidly assumed its pre-eminent position internationally more quickly and successfully than would otherwise have been possible."

(Aushorse Media Release)

Limited seats are available on the Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club (ATBC) 2008 Western Australian Stud and Race Tour. Departing from Sydney by plane on 8 September 2008, the twelve day trek includes tours of Western Australian and South Australian Stud Farms and attendance at the Kalgoorlie Gold Cup Meeting on 13 September. The return journey, which is by coach, will see participants cross the Nullarbor Plain into South Australia for stud tours and then home via Mildura, Hay and Cowra. For further information contact the Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club on telephone (02) 4577 6120 or by email atbc@atbc.com.

AUSTRALIA'S specialist national bloodstock breeding publication, the monthly Australian Bloodhorse Review, has a change of name and format. Developed over a quarter of a century ago by longtime writer on breeding Brian Russell but now owned by a company headed by Andrew Reichard, it is now published under the name of Blueblood, is more compact in size and considerably upgraded in paper quality. The changes took place from the current issue, the May edition, one which comprises 156 pages and contains as usual very valuable information for breeders, racehorse owners and trainers. Important tools for breeding and horse selection are the monthly review of Australian stakes race results, including five generation pedigrees with inbreedings highlighted and accompanied by extended family details. An updated index gives winners under their sires and broodmare sires. In another section, the leading 150 sires on the general list and their current updated statistics for the year are shown every month. They are supported by the statistics for the leading 80 broodmare and juvenile sires. Recent Australian bred overseas winners with their immediate breeding is in another section and another provides results of international stakes race results and five generation pedigrees of major winners. A speciality being continued in Blueblood is full results of Australian thoroughbred sales. The current issue has results and statistics for the Sydney Easter and Classic sale and for the Dubbo yearling sale and a Perth mixed sale. There is a month of reading in every issue of Blueblood with a wide variety of articles on sires, new and old, racing and breeding in general and on personalities. Blueblood can be secured through newsagencies or by subscription. Subscribers enjoy the benefit of receiving free a copy of annual Stallions, a register of over 300 sires available in Australia, plus Stakes Winners Annual and Yearling Buyers Guide. Subscription for all Australian States in $198 including GST. Contact Bluebloods, P.O. Box 286, Richmond, NSW, 2337, phone (02) 4588 5355, fax (02) 4588 5478, email accounts@bloodhorsereview.com.au or web www.stallions.com.au.

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

An outstanding supplementary catalogue of over 130 lots has been assenmbled for Australia’s premier breeding stock auction – the Magic Millions National Sale. Magic Millions is pleased to announce the supplementary catalogues are also now online for viewing. Catalogues will also be available at the sales complex. The Gold Coast based National Sale, which kicks away with the first of four days of weanlings on Tuesday, is shaping as the bloodstock sale of the year. Buyers from around Australia and abroad are expected to converge on the Gold Coast to compete for an outstanding offering of thoroughbreds of all ages. This year's supplementary catalogue is made of five weanlings, five stallion shares, 53 mares, one stallion, 57 racehorses and 14 yearlings. Among the mares are stakes performers Class Success, Gaily Funky, It's You, Kosi Bay, Night Club, Royal Snip, Rue Des Reves, Scenic Mist, Shalt Not, Strange Lady, These Days and Timeless Winds. Also in the supplementary are the dams of stakes performers including Amelia's Dream, Hustle Bustle, Mica's Pride and Money Begets Money. The mares in this group of entries were served last spring by the likes of Dubai Destination, Elusive Quality, Fastnet Rock, Ferocity, Flying Spur, Fusaichi Pegasus, Holy Roman Emperor, Hussonet, Not a Single Doubt, Redoute's Choice, Reset, Royal Academy, Show a Heart, Snitzel and Testa Rossa. Yearlings in the supplementary are by sires including Cape Cross, Choisir, Falvelon, Hussonet, More Than Ready, One Cool Cat and Royal Academy. The racehorse section - comprising 57 lots - includes a number of exceptionally bred fillies and mares. Plenty of proven gallopers will be going under the hammer including Sydney stakes winner Anwaar and recent city winners Damnation, Feline Hunter, Firedrake, Impetus and Mr Bachelor. To view the supplementary entries for the sale log onto the Magic Millions website and click on the relevant links on the home page. The supplementary selling schedule is as follows:-

Wednesday 28th May
Lot 808 to sell after Lot 413

Thursday 29th May
Lots 809-811 to sell after Lot 606

Friday 30th May
Lot 812 to sell after Lot 807

Monday 2nd June
Lots 1898-1907 to sell after Lot 1103

Tuesday 3rd June
Lots 1908-1913 to sell after Lot 1285

Wednesday 4th June
Lots 1914-1918 to sell after Lot 1287
Lots 1919-1936 to sell after Lot 1491

Thursday 5th June
Lots 1937-1945 to sell after Lot 1702

Friday 6th June
Lots 1946-1947 to sell after Lot 1897
Lots 1951-2007 (racehorses) to follow

Tuesday 10th June
Lot 2769 to sell after Lot 2319

Wednesday 11th June
Lots 2770-2776 to sell after Lot 2538

Thursday 12th June
Lots 2777-2782 to sell after Lot 2768

(Magic Millions Media Release)

  Hunter breeders celebrate world class racing and breeding season

Weekend Hussler, recently rated the equal-best 1600 metre horse in the world with the World Rankings Supervisory Committee rating the three-year-old on 122 alongside Hong Kong hero Good Ba Ba, scooped the prizes at the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ (HTBA) Awards held at Scone racecourse on 21 May 2008. As well as winning the Ladd Hudson Architects Champion 3YO Award, the gelding took out the Pryde's Easifeeds Champion Racehorse Of the Year Award at the dinner attended by more than 300 guests. Weekend Hussler matched the feat of legendary Kingston Town scoring his sixth Group 1 win in a single season when he won the G1 George Ryder Stakes on April 19 at Rosehill, a feat that took his overall record to nine wins from 11 outings and earnings of A$2,384,900. The $80,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale graduate began his autumn campaign winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate on February 23, then added the Group 1 Newmarket Hcp. to his record, before winning the Group 1 Randwick Guineas on Mar. 29 and the George Ryder Stakes on April 19. The Ross McDonald-trainee announced his presence last spring winning the G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Ascot Vale Stakes. Weekend Hussler is the second foal of the unraced Helissio mare Weekend Beauty, herself bred by Katsumi Yoshida. Weekend Beauty is out of Group 1-placed Not On Friday. Weekend Beauty has a two-year-old gelding by French Deputy, named Weekend Soldier, and a colt by Not A Single Doubt (Aus). She was bred back to Hussonet last spring. Samantha Miss, who bravely denied Sebring Triple Crown honours when she scored a short head win in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick May 3, won the International Animal Health Champion 2YO Award. She is the fifth consecutive juvenile by an Arrowfield sire to win the award, after Dance Hero (2004), Fashions Afield (2005), Miss Finland (2006) and Forensics (2007). Sold for $1.5-million by Willow Park Stud at the 2007 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, she is the 13th individual Group 1 winner for her sire. Samantha Miss is also the first juvenile Group 1 winner for Redoute’s Choice since Miss Finland (Aus) won the 2006 Golden Slipper Stakes. After narrowly missing a berth in the Golden Slipper, Samantha Miss chased Sebring home in the G1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 26 before turning the tables on the Slipper winner in the Champagne Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Samantha Miss is the second foal from Zabeel mare Milliyet, a sister to G1 Adelaide Cup winner Cronus and to MSW and producer Pravda. Milliyet has an Anabaa filly at foot and is back in foal to Redoute’s Choice. Coolmore’s flagship Australian sire Encosta de Lago proved unstoppable this season with 12 individual stakes winners and a trio of Group 1 winners, led by the Bart Cummings-trained Australian Cup winner Sirmione (Aus), an effort that landed him William Inglis & Son Champion Sire Award. With Group 1 performers including outstanding juveniles such as Golden Slipper runner-up Von Costa de Lago and AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes runner-up Love and Kisses, sprinters such as Shadoways, tough-as-teak milers such as Racing To Win and middle-distance performers of the ilk of Sirmione and multiple Group 1 placed Princess Coup, Encosta de Lago has cemented his place as a dominant and versatile sire. Group 1 All-Aged Stakes winner Racing to Win was Encosta de Lago’s third Group 1 winner in Australia since August 1, joining Sirmione and Shadoways, while this term, Princess Coup has won at the elite level in New Zealand and Sacred Kingdom in Hong Kong. Encosta de Lago has 11 Group 1 winners overall. With progeny earnings of A$8,918,615, Encosta de Lago has a runaway lead from Zabeel, whose A$5,616,740 earnings were bolstered considerably by the A$3,100,000 first prize purse of Melbourne Cup victor Efficient (NZ), illustrating the across-the-board dominance of Encosta de Lago, who is also runaway leading sire by individual winners with 110 ahead of Commands on 86. The incomparable Danehill won HTBA champion sire title no less than 11 times and the mantle looks set to pass to his immensely exciting son Exceed and Excel, winner of the Livestock Transport Group First Season Sire Award, with five first crop stakes winners and a further four stakes performers. The Lee Freedman-trained Exceedingly Good announced the arrival of a vital new force in Australian stallion ranks last spring winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes and then the G3 Maribyrnong Plate. Stablemate Sugar Babe (Aus) quickly repeated the dose, winning the Listed Debutants Stakes at Caulfield to give Exceed and Excel two stakes winners from his first two runners. It was a theme that would continue throughout the season with G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winners Wilander and Believe ‘n’ Succeed, Listed Anzac Day Stakes winner Outdo and stakes-placed Kalash, Mazuka, Offsider and Giotto. The Scone Veterinary Hospital Champion Broodmare Award went to outstanding producer Surrealist whose son Racing to Win recorded his fifth G1 win in the All-Aged Stakes at Randwick earlier this month, bringing his record to 19:11-6-0 and earnings of $3,350,385. Coolmore prevailed at Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in June 2006 to secure Surrealist, in foal to young Danehill stallion Fastnet Rock (Aus), for A$1.6 million. Sent to Encosta de Lago (Aus) after foaling a Fastnet Rock colt, Surrealist produced a full brother to Racing to Win (Aus) Oct. 21, and she is back in foal to Encosta de Lago (Aus). Surrealist is also the dam of Tale of the Cat colt Purrealist (Aus), a Group 3 winner and short-priced favourite for the Caulfield Guineas last spring before injury curtailed his campaign. She is also the dam of SP Distilled (Aus). Long-time Swettenham NSW manager Alan Morton won the HTBA Service Award, while Arrowfield managing director John Messara’s efforts on behalf of the industry in his roles as Aushorse Chairman and TBA President were recognised when he won the HTBA President’s Award. The full list of award winners are:

 
(This article courtesy of Bronwyn Farr’s Eight Monkeys Media and Marketing)

Zizou only won one race at two in 2006-07, an eye-catching fast finishing 1.5 lengths success on debut in the spring of the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes-LR, but he was undoubtedly one of the best of the age group. A solidly made bay son of the Mr. Prospector Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) closely related to champion racehorse and prominent sire Snippets, he went on to prove this with four seconds in Group events in his next four appearances. All in autumn racing, the sequence started off with two efforts at Caulfield, appearances in the Blue Diamond Prelude-Gr.3 (beaten a long neck by Shrewd Rhythm) and the Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 (1.3 lengths, Shrewd Rhythm third), and then in majors at Rosehill Gardens, the Todman Slipper Trial-Gr.2 (a neck to Meurice) and in the race that is arguably the world's premier juvenile test, the Golden Slipper-Gr.1. It took what has emerged as a very classy filly, the Flying Spur product Forensics, and her 2 kg sex allowance to keep Zizou at bay by a short neck in the Slipper. He beat the third placegetter, Meurice, by a three-quarter length and among those further back in the 16-runner field were Murtajill, Hurried Choice, Press the Button and Sleek Chassis. A Slipper previewer was correct in his prophesy when he summed up Zizou's prospects. "Destined to put himself up near to the front, in a winning position. He's that kind of horse, professional." He backed up a week after the Slipper in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes-Gr.1, his final juvenile outing, but was unable to take up his customary sit, never being more forward than sixth. The juvenile campaign was followed by seven starts at three, including a short half head second under top weight of 60.0 kgs in the Harrolds Fashion Plate (1200m) at Caulfield, leading until caught on the line. After two runs in Sydney at this year's autumn carnival, Zizou was acquired from his owners, a Coolmore syndicate, as a foundation sire for one of the best quality breeding operations in the Hunter region, Stuart Ramsey's Turangga Stud at the entrance to the historic Segenhoe Valley, a short drive away from Scone. Owner of a major meatworks on the NSW north coast, Stuart Ramsey has become involved in racing and breeding in a big way in recent years. His breeding operation includes an 80-strong high quality broodmare band, many of which will give Zizou every chance to be another brilliant Golden Slipper performer make it as a first class sire. His base in the Hunter Valley, the Turangga Stud, has a history of horse breeding stretching back more than a half a century. In the early 1950s it was owned by Woolworths store chain heir George Christmas and under the name of Oak Range was the launching pad for Emperor (FR), one of the best and most brilliant performers of his time in Europe and a highly successful speed influence out here. Turangga in more recent years was conducted by highly regarded veterinary surgeon Philip Redman and he developed the stud extensively. If the now in residence at the Turangga Stud new sire Zizou had claimed Forensics on the line in last year's Golden Slipper, it would have provided his sire, the Coolmore shuttler Fusaichi Pegasus, with the rare feat of having three stakes winners on the one major program. Earlier in the afternoon he had been represented by second crop 3-year-olds stars Haradasun, the winner of the George Ryder Stakes-Gr.1, and Tipungwuti, successful by 3.8 lengths in the Tulloch Stakes-Gr.2. Zizou's paternal grandsire Mr. Prospector was in the breeding of each of the first four placegetters in George Ryder won by Haradasun, himself booked to start his sire career this year in the Hunter Valley, joining the elite line up at Coolmore. Another son of Mr. Prospector, Lion Cavern (USA), was represented by third placed Apache Cat and second and fourth went to progeny of Flying Spur. He is by Danehill and from a Mr. Prospector mare. A $450,000 Gold Coast yearling, Zizou comes from one of the best modern families in Australia, including not only being closely related to Snippets, but also to the filly that stole his Slipper glory, Forensics. Zizou's dam Natural Is My Name was a tough performer who won five metropolitan races to 1615m and who listed placed three times. She is a half-sister by the very talented Palace Music (USA) performer Naturalism (10 Group 1 efforts were wins in the AJC Derby, STC Rosehill Guineas and MRC Caulfield Stakes, seconds in the VRC Derby, Australian Guineas, STC Ranvet Stakes, MRC Caulfield Guineas, STC Canterbury Guineas, AJC All-Aged Stakes and Japan Cup) to Not a Single Doubt (a stakes winning son of Redoute's Choice standing at the Arrowfield Stud) and to Hanky Panky (Group 2 juvenile second by Anabaa (USA). Hanky Panky is the dam of Fun In Flight, a Fusaichi Pegasus filly whose first five outings at two comprised two wins, one of them a Listed stakes at Flemington, and three seconds. Zizou also has the benefit of having a Golden Slipper winner who was a brilliant sire, Rory's Jester, as the sire of his grandam Singles Bar, a winner twice and a stakes third at two. She is from the famous broodmare Easy Date and is a half-sister to four stakes winners, including Snippets, Co-Champion Australasian 2YO and Champion Australasian 3YO Sprinter and a phenomenal sire of nearly 600 winners of over 2,200 races and $74million. At least 100 of his runners were winners (57) or placegetters in stakes races. A stakes winning filly from Easy Date, True Blonde, is a three-quarter sister by Naturalism to the dam of Zizou and is the grandam of Forensics, and another, Asawir (by Last Tycoon (IRE), is the second dam of Rewaaya, winner of the MRC Invitation Stakes-Gr.1 and runner up in the MRC Thousand Guineas-Gr.1, Toorak Handicap-Gr.1 and MVRC William Reid Stakes-Gr.1. The only inbreeding in Zizou's five generation pedigree is on the fringe, represented by a 4x5x5 of Northern Dancer. Overall he could be suitable for a wide spectrum of influences, including doubling up Mr. Prospector and Danzig, the sire of the dam of Fusaichi Pegasus and of course of the awesome Danehill. Stuart Ramsey is launching Zizou on a fee of $16,500 including GST. The Turangga Stud can be reached on 6545 3862.

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

William Inglis & Son have announced the sale dates for their Major 2009 Yearling and Broodmare Sales. The schedule will take on the familiar pre EI look, but the minor adjustments to the Easter format, which worked so successfully this year, will remain. The Sale Dates are:

Classic Yearling Sale (3 sessions): February 8, 9 and 10.

Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale (4 sessions): March 1, 2, 3 and 5.

Australian Easter Yearling Sale (4 sessions including Easter Part II): April 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Australian Easter Broodmare Sale (3 sessions): April 14, 15 and 16.

Classic returns to its traditional spot as Inglis' first sale of the year in 2009. The last time it was in this position, a record number of yearlings sold for $100,000 or more, including a sale high of $340,000. "This year’s Sale went extremely well in the enforced new timeslot, with a pleasing clearance rate of 82%, indicating the buying bench was there, but the precocious forward type of colts that traditionally sell extremely well at Classic were missing," William Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said. "Back to early February, these types of yearlings should be strongly sought after again in 2009." The Melbourne Premier Sale continues to go from strength to strength, with the Victorian government getting right behind this sale. Premier I soared to an average of almost $85,000 in 2008, highlighted by an Exceed And Excel colt selling for a record $750,000 to Darley Australia, who became a new player in the Victorian yearling market this year. Easter continued its upward spiral with 28 individual million dollar yearlings sold in the first three sessions, which averaged a record $375,522. The surprise packet of the sales season was Easter Part II, which saw 43 yearlings sell for $100,000 or more. "Though we were thrilled with the inaugural results, Easter II still has scope for improvement and we will go for a smaller session of horses in this sale next year," Webster said. "That way, the horses in Session II can be stabled at the same time as Easter Part 1 horses and can be sold without a day’s break between the sessions, which will help this sale develop and provide vendors of those horses with an even stronger buying bench." The Broodmare Sale will then follow on from the Easter yearlings, as has been the case in the past few years. This has proven a successful format and we are happy to continue with that schedule," Webster said.

(Inglis Media Release)

Coolmore Australia have announced the following 2008 Stallion Fees:-

(Coolmore Australia Media Release)

Sarrera recorded her second Group 1 success (in consecutive starts) when she scored in the Group 1 Doomben Cup run at Doomben on 17 May 2008. Congratulations to her breeder TBNSW member Letmar Investments Pty Limited. Sarrera (Quest for Fame(GB)-Zamzong(NZ)) was too good for Rampant Lion (Lion Hunter-La Gypsy) with Like It Is (Distorted Humor(USA)-Out In Style) third. Sarrera takes her race record to 8 wins (three at black type level), 5 second placings and 3 third placings from 33 career starts with $1,027,350 in prizemoney.

When Court scored in the Group 2 Champagne Classic run at Doomben on 17 May 2008 she gave her breeder TBNSW member Newhaven Park Stud yet another Group success. Congratulations to Newhaven Park Stud. Court (Anabaa(USA)-Splish) scored from Captain Fantastic (Fantastic Light(USA)-Regal Ash(GB)) with Cat D’Antibes (Tale of the Cat(USA)-What Fun) bred by TBNSW members Mr W C & Mrs P Alchin and Mrs A Nutman in third place. This is the first win and black type success for Court who finished second at her only other race start to date.

TBNSW member Woodlands Stud recorded yet another black type success when El Cambio scored in the Group 3 BTC Classic at Doomben on 17 May 2008. Congratulations to Woodlands Stud. El Cambio (Commands-Chaparra) saluted from Mr Unforgettable (Rubiton-La Marama) with Diplomatic Force (Oamaru Force-Talk It Over) third. El Cambio has now recorded 5 wins (four at Group level) and 4 second placings from 10 race starts for $569,950 in prizemoney to date.

Congratulations to TBNSW member Mr G Harvey the breeder of Kert the winner of the Listed Gibson Carmichael Stakes run at Flemington on 17 May 2008. Kert (General Nediym-Brocco’s Delight(USA)) was successful from Mio Roiale (Tale of the Cat(USA)-Royal Season) with Darrange (Grandera(IRE)-Diamonds and Dust) in third position. This is the first black type success for Kert who takes his record to 2 wins and a third placing from only 5 race starts.

Online Bidding and Emerging Markets feature in Great Southern Results. The William Inglis Great Southern Sale came to a close in Melbourne on 19 May 2008, with a Secret Savings mare from the family of Easy Date topping today's session when sold for $100,000. Victorian buyer Peter Butterss signed for the mare Raising High, a daughter of Wide Horizon, who is in turn a half-sister to Easy Date, whose Group 1 winning descendants include Snippets, Forensics and Rewaaya. Raising High was sold in foal to Coolmore's Fastnet Rock. Overall, another 221 horses sold today bringing the total for the Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock section of the Great Southern Sale to $3.152million. Buyers came from all states of Australia and also included a number of international players. "We had a diverse buying bench throughout the sale, but it was particularly pleasing to see overseas interest from places like the Philippines and Vietnam," Inglis Director Peter Heagney said. "Our Vietnamese guests were purchasing stock for a newly established stud in their Highlands and it is satisfying to see the efforts of Inglis' International representatives rewarded in developing these emerging markets." In all, 15 lots were knocked down to M'Drak, Vietnam operation. Another pleasing aspect was the interest shown in all lots throughout the sale by on-line bidders. Across the entire Great Southern Sale, no less than 15% of the lots offered received an on-line bid.

 

Sale Statistics - Lots 401 to 1010
Lots Catalogued	610		Gross Value	$3,156,800
Lots Withdrawn	90		Average Price	$7,700
Lots Sold	410	78.8 %	Top Price - Lot 802	$100,000

(Inglis Media Release)

Champion 3YO We Can Seek (Chi) will commence stud duties in 2008 at Ilala Stud, near Scone. A triple Group One winner, We Can Seek broke his maiden impressively over 1200m on debut and two starts later proved his class when he defeated the best of his three year old crop in the Premio Polla de Potrillos (Chi-G1), the Chilean 2000 Guineas, on the turf by 1¼ lengths. At his very next start We Can Seek (Chi) made it two Group One wins in a row on the turf when he won the Gran Premio Nacional Ricardo Lyon (Chi-G1). The highlight of We Can Seek’s classic year was when he beat the older horses in winning Chile's most important race for three-year-olds and older the Gran Premio Hipodromo Chile (Chi-G1). Finishing behind We Can Seek (Chi) that day included the recently announced Trotomondo (Chi). Unsurprisingly We Can Seek (Chi) was named Champion 3YO colt on turf in Chile in 2005. Sent to campaign in North America, We Can Seek (Chi) raced against the best of the best with one of his better performances being a 4^th placing behind Horse of the Year Invasor in the time honoured Whitney Hcp (G1). In a career of 26 starts, We Can Seek (Chi) won three Group 1 races and a Group 2, while placing 11 times at stakes level. We Can Seek (Chi) is a son of Gone West’s prolific son Seekers Reward. Like another Chilean stallion that has made a big impact here in Hussonet, Seekers Reward is a Mr Prospector Line stallion and is the sire of 21 stakes performed horses from only 133 progeny to race giving a starters to stakes performers ratio of nearly 16%, a remarkable feat in itself. With a female family drenched in black type, including Champion 3YO filly in the United States, Heavenly Prize (Four Gr 1 wins), We Can Seek (Chi) boasts a strong distaff pedigree. Other Group 1 winners from his female family include Dancing Spree, Furlough, Fantastic Find, Finder’s Fee, Good Reward and Oh What a Windfall. Stakes performers include Weekend Trip, We Can Leave, Extend, Warning Zone, Blitey, Happy Hunting and leading North American first crop sire Pure Prize. Standing at 15.3 ½ HH, We Can Seek (Chi) is an immensely attractive horse, with excellent conformation, a wide chest and deep girth. Powerfully built, he displays attractive musculature and excellent bone, typical of his sireline. A brilliant but tough and durable racehorse he put together 26 starts in two years, and is sure to inject some required toughness into the modern breed. "We are delighted to have secured a stallion prospect as good as We Can Seek. As his record suggests he danced every dance and raced against the best in South and North America. He is a fantastic type of horse and we are sure that breeders will be delighted when they see him, "said Ilala Stud’s George Fraser. We Can Seek (Chi) will stand his first season at stud in 2008 at $8,800, with payment terms to suit every breeder. As with all Ilala stallions 10% of our income from We Can Seek (Chi) will be donated to SIDS research and related causes. Book to We Can Seek (Chi) in 2008 and make your stallion service fee help the wider community.

(Ilala Stud Media Release)

Multiple city winning mare Dyna Myta topped the Broodmare session of the William Inglis Great Southern Sale 0n 18 May 2008, when selling to Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock Agency for $95,000. A daughter of Keltrice from the Scenic mare Keshiki, Dyna Myta has won at Caulfield, Flemington and Moonee Valley in a race career that has netted five wins and more than $250,000 in prizemoney. Overall, 187 horses sold today for a gross of $1,956,150 at an average of $10,461. Grand Lodge mare The Kulm, dam of recent G3 South Australian Oaks winner Queen Of Queens, fetched $90,000 when knocked down to William Inglis as Agent. She was sold in foal to dual G1 winner Niello. Stakes placed El Qahira mare Wellington Dreamer, the dam of last year’s G3 SA Oaks winner Watches, also sold for $90,000. The mare was purchased by Tim Stewart & Associates (Vic), who also secured the day’s fourth top lot, the Encosta De Lago mare Fashion Gala for $84,000. Both Wellington Dreamer and Fashion Gala are in foal to Elvstroem. The Great Southern Sale concludes tomorrow with the remaining offering of broodmares, which include the supplementary entries of the stakes placed mares Lezayre (by Keltrice) and Forest Native (by Forest Wildcat,) both in foal to Fastnet Rock, and the regally-related Danehill Lass (Danehill), in foal to More Than Ready. Tomorrow’s bloodstock session will then be rounded out with a selection of racing and breeding prospects.

 

Statistics - Lots 401 to 680
Lots Catalogued	280	Gross Value	$1,956,150
Lots Sold	187	Top Price - Lot 603	$95,000
Lots Passed In	64	Average Price	$10,461
Lots Withdrawn	29	Median Price	$4,000

(Inglis Media Release)

The Weanling session of the William Inglis Great Southern Sale concluded on 16 May 2008 with the figures holding steady on yesterday’s strong start. Redoute’s Choice’s first Golden Slipper winner Stratum was responsible for today’s top lot, with Park Lane Stud’s bay filly from the Bluebird mare Gypsy Frolic selling to John Chalmers Bloodstock (WA) for $55,000. The two second highest lots for the day were from mares by Australia’s reigning Champion Sire Flying Spur. Lindsay Park’s young sire Face Value had a filly from Fly Me Home sell to Colm Santry for $50,000, while a Spinning World filly (ex Miss Spitfire) made the same amount to the bid of Victorian buyer Barry Griffiths. In all, 133 lots sold today for an additional $1.18million, bringing the sale total to $2.797million at an average of $10,477. Inglis Director, Peter Heagney said: "It was satisfying to see vendors who offered well presented weanlings with good conformation receive above expected prices. Weanling sales have become an integral part of the sales calendar, however it is disappointing that some vendors do not understand the importance of presentation." The sale continues on Sunday from 10.30am with the first of the broodmares and will conclude on Monday May 19.