June 2003
Market Synopsis 30 June 2003
Choisir Raises Classification Issues
The resounding success enjoyed by Choisir and his connections at Royal Ascot last week is likely to have a great flow on effect for the Australian bloodstock industry.
Market Synopsis 19 June 2003
There are some thoughts on this year's sales on the Market Synopsis page, including a report from the Inglis Autumn Yearling Sale in Melbourne where I filled an order for 35 horses destined for mainland China. Also included are some comments on some of the Stallion Nominations which are available.
Pedigree Plus for Highland Legend 17 June 2003
Good news for my valued friend and client John Rippon, with a Group Three placing in America for Personal Legend, whose dam Highland Legend (USA) is a member of his select Reavill Farm broodmare band.
We purchased Highland Legend (USA) at the 2000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $US115,000 with a positive service to Gulch.
We decided to keep the mare in America immediately after her purchase and she duly foaled a nice filly.
We sold the Gulch filly as a weanling for $US100,000 at Keeneland November the following year and Highland Legend (USA) was shipped back to Australia for a mating with Redoute’s Choice.
Highland Legend (USA) is by a great stallion in Storm Bird and comes from the family of champion mare Miesque and a host of other international Group One performers.
She also had some ability on the track, winning twice in England as a juvenile and then earning Black Type at three with a stakes placing in a Listed event at Goodwood.
Before Personal Legend came along, she had produced two foals to race that had both won including Hanover Hollywood, a four time winner of more than $US100,000 in prizemoney.
Personal Legend is a lightly raced three year old filly by hot young sire Awesome Again. From just four starts she’s recorded a win and two second placings, her Black Type coming with a good second in the Regret Stakes Gr 3 on the turf at Churchill Downs.
We’ll be keeping a close watch on Personal Legend as her career unfolds in the coming months. As for Highland Legend (USA), she’s done her part too, producing a smart filly to Redoute’s Choice in her first Australian season at stud.
Centella Wins and Heads to China 13 June 2003
Superbly bred filly Centella bowed out of racing on a high note, scoring a well deserved win at Kyneton for trainer Danny O’Brien and her owners the Domeland Syndicate.
Centella was a standout on pedigree at the 2002 Premier Yearling Sale and I had no hesitation going to $130,000 to secure her on behalf of Domeland. She is by Spectrum (IRE) from Kashya (NZ), a half-sister to Group One winner Stella Cadente.
It’s the family of Bint Marscay and her star daughter Bollinger, who won the STC Coolmore Classic Gr 1 this season and is now off to America to race.
Centella showed tremendous ability in her first preparation as a two year old, gaining valuable Black Type with placings in the VRC Bloodhorse Breeders Stakes Gr 3 and MVRC Silver Jubilee Stakes L.
Despite her considerable value as a broodmare on the domestic market, Mr Cheng has decided to send Centella over to China. He is very serious about getting things right over there and is determined to build on the quality of the Chinese thorougbred.
Centella impressed me enough to purchase both of her half-brothers. A two year old by El Moxie (USA) called No Tricks, who is also prepared by Danny O’Brien and a yearling by the same sire who will go to Tim Martin.
More Sales reports and purchase info available 13 June 2003
The latest reports from some recent sales are now online here, including a report from the Inglis Autumn Yearling Sale in Melbourne where I filled an order for 35 horses destined for mainland China.
Breeze Up Purchase Wins in Hong Kong 5 June 2003
Shining Dragon, a horse I purchased at the Australian Breeze Up Sale for $110,000 last year, opened his winning account in Hong Kong with an easy victory at Happy Valley.
He showed the benefit of recent race experience by beginning quickly from barrier two and travelling comfortably to the lead. From then on he dominated the race, going on to win easily for the Sean Woods stable.
Shining Dragon is from the first Southern Hemisphere crop of ill fated sire End Sweep (USA) and was originally offered at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he caught the eye of astute horse trader Ron Dufficy, who purchased him for $100,000.
Dufficy then re-offered the colt at the Breeze Up Sale where he came to my attention.
He had a great action and was a medium sized horse who wasn’t going to get too heavy. I thought he’d be a great candidate to be out and running early and recommended him to my client Benedict Chung, a Hong Kong based doctor who also has a practice in Melbourne.
I’m thrilled to see he’s come out and won a race and given the depth of pedigree on his dam’s side (his dam is a sister to Cronus and Pravda) there should be more wins in store.
Vin Cox appointed Australasian Representative for Keeneland
North American-based auction company and race course Keeneland announced recently that Vin Cox will be their new Australasian Representative.
The full press release can be found here:
http://www.keeneland.com/news/pressdetail.asp?PID=1292Vin will serve as Keeneland’s general liaison in Australia and the surrounding region. He will assist with the promotion and advertising of the sales and with the distribution of sales catalogs.
More can found on Keeneland at their web site: http://www.keeneland.com/
Inglis Premier Purchases
As expected the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne was very strong this year. Full report here
