We Told You So!
15 December 2006
Absolute Champion has done it again. One of 13 runners in the Group 1, Hong Kong International Sprint on December 10, he blitzed the field winning by 4 ¼ lengths and smashing his own track record that he set back in October in the Hong Kong Premier Bowl.
Purchased by Vin Cox Bloodstock in 2004, the David Hall trained 5 year old looked a picture of health in the paddock and didn't disappoint under jockey Brett Prebble. Sitting midfield and running on pace, Absolute Champion scorched away from the field to take the race from former dual winner, Silent Witness and British horse, Benbaun. Felix Coetzee the jockey of Silent Witness was said to comment " The winner was a firecracker today!"
Absolute Champion (Maruading ex Beauty Belle) was one of 8 Australian bred horses in the race and in winning continued the trend where Australian-bred horses have one every HK Sprint race since the race's inception in 1999.
We told you he was a champion and this time even more so.
Alice in Keeneland
11 December 2006
November in the very much ‘globalized’ thoroughbred world is full of highlights. For most Australians November is that ‘First Tuesday’, an unofficial national holiday and a good excuse to hit the bar. However, this year it meant a trip to Kentucky for a group of eager industry participants. The full story of Alice's adventure in Keeneland is available here: Alice in Keeneland.
2006 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale
14 November 2006
The 2006 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale has been an overwhelming success as predicted and despite the obvious strength of the market we've still been able to purchase some quality mares for realistic money. The sale attracted buyers from all over the world and it was pleasing to see good Australian participation particularly from the Cornish family's Torryburn Stud which secured four lots for over $US1million. List of purchases on the Sales page
What an Absolute Champion!
2 November 2006
On Saturday 29th October, former Australian galloper, Absolute Champion shocked the crowd and won the Group 3 HSBC Premier Bowl, breaking a 21 year track record.
Absolute Champion, formerly known as Genius and Evil (Marauding ex Beauty Belle), was a horse sold privately to Hong Kong by Vin Cox Bloodstock in 2004.
Brilliantly ridden by HK Jockey Eddie Lai, the 34/1 rank outsider shaved three-tenths of a second off the previous standard for Sha Tin’s six furlong, formerly held by world champion sprinter Silent Witness.
Absolute Champion came to HK with an international rating of 91, now rated 116, trainer David Hall will be hoping to get a run in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on December 10. In the same race last year, he ran 6th and from the turn of foot he demonstrated on Saturday he looks in good form to better his placing.
At Sha Tin trackwork this morning, David Hall commented that he will have to wait to see what the HKJC committee decides regarding entries for the race. He will not race between now and then. What is certain, if given a run, is he will need all his energy to battle Takeover Target!
Vecchia Roma Beats The Boys
31 October 2006
Much vaunted colts Arlington and Pistols were forced to play second fiddle at Rosehill in the open two-year old event last Saturday, beaten into the minor placings by Vecchia Roma, a $75,000 Magic Millions purchase for Vin Cox Bloodstock.
An athletic racy brown filly by former champion racehorse Testa Rossa, Vecchia Roma is raced by Brian and Pat Ireland and Scott and Lisa Murray.
“They are lovely people who were introduced to me via the friend of a friend and Vecchia Roma is their first Sydney winner, although they’ve been involved in shares of other horses in the past,” said Vin Cox.
Selected by Cox from the draft of Broadwater Farm as agent, Vecchia Roma is the third foal of the Rustic Amber (IRE) mare Mirror Image, a metropolitan winning half-sister to stakes-placed Red Rascal from a fast running, predominantly Victorian family.
“She’s eligible for the Magic Millions in January, so David Payne will keep her in work and quietly ticking over for a couple of runs until then,” added Cox.
Vin Cox Bloodstock were active buyers at the major yearling sales this year securing 30 yearlings for a total of $5.1 million and already 11 have made it to the early two-year old barrier trials.
“It’s satisfying to see so many of them get to this stage and we’ve had five of those that trialled go on to the races and all have shown ability including Weekend in Paris which ran fourth in the Gimcrack and Kick ‘n Chase, a good fifth behind Vecchia Roma,” said Cox.
The Vin Cox Bloodstock team was also in the winner’s circle with three-year old filly Peregian, which scored a tidy win at Canterbury on October 20.
The John Hawkes trained daughter of Grand Lodge (USA) looks to have a bright future after winning two of five starts in her initial campaign and banking close to $50,000 in prizemoney.
A modest $40,000 purchase from the draft of Collingrove Stud at the 2005 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale last June, Peregian is the second foal of Unbridled Victory (USA), a three-quarter sister to Group Two winner Fappaburst by leading US sire Unbridled.
“She’s a filly we bought on spec and then liked so much we decided to retain a share in her to race, along with co-owners Mark Flagg of Barellan, near Griffith and Michael Collins, who lives at Peregian Beach, hence the name!” said Cox.
Peregian has now gone for a break but certainly has the potential to warrant testing her against the better fillies next time in over the longer journeys
