August 2003
Happy Strike for Reavill Farm 26 August 2003
When smart sprinting three year old Happy Strike saluted in the MRC Vain Stakes L at the weekend it put the finishing touch on a remarkable transaction.
Let’s step back in time to the 2000 Australian Broodmare Sale where my good friend and client John Rippon was on the look out for a quality broodmare with a proven producing record.
The Haulpak mare Rich Haul (dam of Happy Strike) fitted our profile and I was able to secure her with a bid of $160,000. She was 15 years old, had produced three stakes-winners and was in foal to a $15,000 first season stallion in Gold Fever (USA).
The resulting foal was an absolute cracker! There’s no other word to describe him.
Right from the word go, the young Happy Strike stood out as something special. John considered offering him at Easter and he was certainly good enough for that market, however we felt that by selling in January he could be a real standout.
And standout is exactly what he did……topping the 2002 Classic Yearling Sale at $180,000 to the bid of Rick Hore-Lacy for Melbourne based owner Sam Li.
It’s a big thrill in itself for a breeder to produce a sale-topper, but to see that horse go on to win in stakes company must be the icing on the cake!
Rich Haul did a good job again this year, her Redoute’s Choice filly fetching $140,000 at the Magic Million, sold to Belmont Bloodstock.
Congratulations to John Rippon and all the team at Reavill Farm.
PLUS, another piece of good fortune for Reavill Farm this time from America, with news that classy filly Personal Legend finished a close third in the Del Mar Oaks Gr 1.
Her dam Highland Legend (USA) is a member of the Reavill broodmare band, purchased for $US115,000 at the 2000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Her first Australian bred foal, a filly by Redoute’s Choice, will go under the hammer next year.
Future Bright for Horse Racing in China 22 Aug 2003
Vin and Rogers Beasley at the Great Wall (Nice wet weather gear fellas!)Just returned from a whirlwind four day trip to China for a first hand look at their rapidly progressing racing and breeding industry.
A day at the Beijing races in the company of Rogers Beasley, the Director of Racing at Keeneland, proved to be an eye opening experience……for all the right reasons.
Kevin Connolly, Racing Director Beijing Jockey Club, John Bryden BJC Vet, Mr Y P Cheng, Rogers Beasley, Direcor of Racing Keeneland USA, MeThe horses were presented in good condition and the quality of racing and enthusiasm shown by all participants proved a winning combination. An eight race program featuring full fields of 12 runners apiece provided exciting competition and a great day out.
Of course when you go to China one of the first questions people ask on your return is, “Did you see anything by Mouawad?” He’s the champion brother to Octagonal, who had the breeding world at his hooves before being found to have serious fertility problems which finished him as a stallion prospect in this country.
Mouawad 3 year oldThe Chinese have managed to resurrect Mouawad to a degree and I was lucky enough to see one of his progeny go around at the races. A big scopey individual, he was very much in the Zabeel mould and well fancied in the market. Unfortunately he failed to flatter, maybe just needing a little more ground and some time to mature.
Now back to the serious stuff.
Limited betting on win, place and quinella was available to the 1200 patrons on course and a free to air television coverage of the race meeting was broadcast on the local station to take the action further afield.
Betting at the tote windowsThe Beijing Jockey Club has an excellent website www.beijingjockeyclub.com, which can be accessed for all information regarding their racemeetings. Full form on all runners is provided, plus video replays of the races, jockey and trainer premiership tables and even studbook information.
Gambling on horseracing in China is yet to be officially sanctioned by the Government, however there are indications to suggest a change in policy may occur in the near future. Any such change would have immediate benefits for the burgeoning Chinese bloodstock industry.
Jacinta Tynan interviewing steward John Gilmour for a documentary being made on it all by the ABCOf the horses currently racing in Beijing, some 30 to 40% are actually bred in China, a percentage that will rise dramatically with every passing year.
The Huajun Stud has become a thriving thoroughbred breeding operation, home to 24 active stallions and a busy team of staff who foaled down more than 470 mares last season. That number will increase further over time, boosted by the arrival of additional imports including the 35 youngsters purchased at the Autumn Yearling Sale which are due out of quarantine any day.
The Domeland Syndicate has sent some 17 plane-loads of mares (including their very best) to China in a clear demonstration of genuine commitment to the ongoing success of the venture.
Just a few of the high class matrons who have made the long journey to China include:
Only a Lady, Group One winner and stakes producer
Mandarin Princess, stakes-placed by Danehill (USA)
Sunny Song, a half-sister to champion Sunline
Silence is Gold, by Royal Academy (USA) from the Eight Carat (GB) family
Date a Champion, half-sister to Snippets by Thunder Gulch (USA)My continuing association with the Domeland Syndicate has fuelled a keen interest in their bloodstock activities in China. This recent visit has only served to confirm my belief in their ability to create a viable racing and breeding industry, which in time will be recognized throughout the world.
Looking for a Value Stallion? 15 August 2003
Broodmare owners are faced with a bewildering array of talent in the stallion ranks this season. At the top end of the market you find that 6 of the 12 stallions standing in Australia for a fee in excess $40,000 aren’t proven under our conditions. more
