Another Win For Kick 'N Chase
An impressive first up effort from Kick 'N Chase saw him become the 2nd winner for Vin Cox Bloodstock since Sydney's return to racing.
Carrying the top weight of 59kg he came up against some strong competition and won comfortable by half a length from Harrykay (winner of his 3 previous starts), who is a full brother to one of our 2007 yearling purchases now known as Beautifulhandshake.
Kick will now hopefully make his way to Melbourne where trainer Clarry Conners has bigger and better plans for him. Congratulations to the owners of Kick 'N Chase and we hope the winning run continues.
Vecchia Roma provides a winning return for Vin Cox Bloodstock
With our first runners returning to the track last Saturday since the Equine Influenza outbreak, it was great that Vecchia Roma gave us a winning return.
After settling 6th in the running Vecchia Roma pulled wide at the turn and came home with a bang down the Rosehill straight, just getting there in the final strides to win by a short head, defeating Al Be Nimble, Double Dip and fellow Vin Cox Bloodstock purchase Fleur Royale.
Purchased for just $75,000 from the Broadwater Farm draft at the Magic Millions Yearling sale in 2006, Vecchia Roma has won 3 of 10 starts winning over $190,000 in prizemoney and added a Group placing to her name when she finished 2nd to Chinchilla Rose in the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes in the lead up to the Golden Slipper earlier this year.
Congratulations to Vecchia Roma's connections Brian & Pat Ireland and Scott & Lisa Murray.
Absent Friends Impresses
Statuesque Dehere (USA) colt Absent Friends ran right up to his eye-catching good looks when he burst from the pack to score an impressive win at Randwick on Wednesday in the 1300 metre maiden.
Resuming from a spell of 44 weeks after an unplaced debut in the Group Two STC Pago Pago Stakes last autumn, Absent Friends was backed into favouritism and despite racing greenly for much of the race, he showed a brilliant turn of foot over the last 100 metres to win by nearly two lengths after looking no hope on the turn.
"Before the race when I was saddling him up I thought he was the prettiest horse I've ever trained and after seeing that, he may also be the best horse I've trained," said winning trainer Portelli.
"I was a bit worried about the 1300 first up and the soft track, but when they have the pedigree and the ability like he does, they don't take much training."
Absent Friends is raced by Mr and Mrs Geoff and Mary Grimish having been secured for them by astute Sydney bloodstock agent Vin Cox at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $600,000.
Bred by John Madgwick and foaled and raised at Willow Park Stud, Absent Friends is the second foal of former top class racemare Lady Mulan (NZ), a Group Two winner of the AJC Light Fingers Stakes and twice placed in Group One company.
Her first foal Hollaback (by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) is a smart metropolitan winner in the John O'Shea stable and her third foal, a filly by Lonhro fetched $350,000 at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and has gone to leading Rosehill trainer Tim Martin.
"Lady Mulan has thrown some outstanding looking horses and Absent Friends was magnificent. He'd be one of the best horses we've ever bred here on type," said Glenn Burrows of Willow Park.
"She has an Encosta de Lago filly for Easter this year that will be one of the highlights of our draft and produced a lovely Commands colt last spring."
Willow Park Stud will be heading to Melbourne in March for the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale with a draft of eight yearlings.
Absent Friends
Aussie Acquisitions continue at Keeneland
The Australian contingent of buyers at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale have continued to make their presence felt acquiring close to a dozen horses over the weekend.
Vin Cox Bloodstock have been very busy over the last few days purchasing six mares including Lot 1783 Summer Girlfriend (USA) for $US180,000 and Lot 1520 Dyna Slam (USA) for $US150,000. Both are stakes-winning four year-olds being offered as racing and breeding prospects.
Overnight Vin Cox Bloodstock added another mare to their growing tally in securing Lot 2658, Blue Orchid (USA) for $US70,000. A five year-old daughter of champion sire Kingmambo from a Black Type family, she becomes the ninth purchase at this sale for Vin Cox Bloodstock.
The market is strong, but in saying that there is plenty of value given the strength of our dollar and there are still some quality mares to come.
Julian Blaxland has picked up some really nice mares over the weekend and Steve Brem has also added to his tally having now bought five mares at the sale.
The level of interest coming into this sale from Australian breeders was the best it's ever been and that has been backed up in the results. The Australian contingent have purchased well and had a great time, so they will definitely be back for more next year.
Damon Gabbedy, Adrian Hancock and Vin Cox inspecting mares at Keeneland.
More Aussie action at Keeneland
The big news out of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Friday for Australian breeders was the result of John Cornish’s Torryburn Stud which offered a colt foal by Arch from Mambo Chatte that made $US220,000.
John purchased the Kingmambo mare Mambo Chatte at this sale last year for $250,000 when she was in foal to Arch and this foal is the result of that mating.
Mambo Chatte should have already been back in Australia, however she has been delayed here through quarantine issues arising from EI. She has recently tested positive to leading sire Awesome Again to Southern Hemisphere time and is just waiting to jump on the first plane out of here.
Offered as Lot 1261, the Arch colt is the first foal of Mambo Chatte, an unraced mare from a prolific Group One producing Chilean family.
Respected Sydney based bloodstock agent Steve Brem met with success during the fourth session, securing a pair of young stakes-winning mares in Chelsey’s Image (USA) and Grant’s Moon (USA) for $US170,000 and $US200,000.
Lot 1104, the three year-old filly Chelsey’s Image looks astute buying as her close relation Indy Rose (USA) (by A.P. Indy) is already in Australia for Darley and has produced a couple of foals including a colt by Exceed and Excel that was bought by Tim Martin at Easter this year for $120,000.
Martin also trains the three year-old from the mare, an Elusive Quality (USA) colt called Birthmark that won his only start at Kembla back in May.
Lot 1196, Grant’s Moon is a stakes-winner of seven races by Malibu Moon, while her next three dams are by legendary sires Nureyev, Halo and Alleged.
David O’Keefe of Lockyer Thoroughbreds added to his first day purchase when signing the docket at $US315,000 for Lot 1351, Shaunavon (USA) a stakes-placed El Prado mare in foal to Rock Hard Ten.
Vin Cox Bloodstock also picked up another mare for just $US70,000, successful on Lot 1285, Mt Mimosa (USA), a half-sister to three stakes-winners by Mt Livermore from the family of champion European galloper Swain.
The amazing thing about this sale is the sheer depth of quality and there will be many more opportunities over the next few days to secure well related mares particularly fillies suited to racing and then breeding on with.
Australians Active at Keeneland
After three sessions of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Kentucky Australian agents have secured a number of mares including Vicereine (GB) (a sister-in-blood to the dam of Australian Group Two winner Domesday) who was knocked down to Vin Cox Bloodstock for $US350,000.
Offered as part of the Swettenham Stud Dispersal, seven year-old Vicereine (Lot 620) claims super producer Best in Show as her third dam so is from arguably the hottest female family in the world - think Redoute's Choice, Rags to Riches, Peeping Fawn and the latest star Thewayyouare.
Her sister-in-blood In The Past (GB) made $A1,050,000 when bought by Tyreel Stud from the Inglis run Vinery Dispersal in 2005, so Vicereign looks exceptional buying at $US350,000 which equates to just $A378,000.
"The market over here has been very strong, with keen competition on the really good mares, but in saying that there are plenty to go around," said Cox.
"The Australians have done very well so far, buying a number of mares and there will be plenty of opportunities over the next few days with the Australian dollar so strong and quality mares still to come."
Vin Cox Bloodstock also secured Lot 460, Keystone Gulch (USA) for $US180,000, a stakes-winning daughter of Gulch from an outstanding female family.
Both mares will eventually find their way to Australia having been purchased on behalf of Australian based clients.
Adelaide based agent Adrian Hancock has also signed for two mares claiming Lot 297 on the first day of the sale from the Swettenham Dispersal for $US140,000.
A daughter of champion sire Storm Cat, Subtle Breeze (USA) is a three-quarter sister to champion European filly Balanchine and half-sister to Group Two winner Red Slippers, the dam of this year's French Oaks winner West Wind.
He followed up during the second session paying $US450,000 for Lot 323, a South African bred mare Warning Zone (SAF), rated the champion two year-old filly of her generation in her home land and then a stakes-winner in North America as a five year-old.
Lockyer Thoroughbreds featured on the first day purchasing Lot 36 for $US310,000, a five year-old Danehill mare called Almost Innocent (IRE) that was offered by Swettenham Stud.
From a prominent Black Type family she was in foal to leading sire Pulpit, who stood last year for $US80,000 and is the sire of Breeders Cup Dirt Mile winner Corinthian.
Another successful Aussie buyer was Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock who secured Lot 589 for $US220,000, the stakes-placed three year-old filly Suzy Smart (USA).
A grand-daughter of English Group One winner Minstrella, Suzy Smart is by the reigning champion US sire Smart Strike, sire of Breeders Cup winners Curlin and English Channel.
For more information contact Vin Cox Bloodstock, Australasian Representative for Keeneland on 0418 471061 or email vin@vincoxbloodstock.com
Geelong Win for Port Isabel
Melbourne, October 5
The midweek win at Geelong of promising Encosta de Lago filly Port Isabel provided a high spot in the week for Vin Cox Bloodstock, who purchased the filly for $350,000 at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on behalf of American based breeder Helen Alexander.
The owner of Middlebrook Farm in Kentucky, Miss Alexander has extensive thoroughbred interests and is also a Director of the Keeneland Association.
She has had a long involvement in Australian breeding going back to the days of Derby King Ranch, which was the farm that is now Woodlands Stud.
Miss Alexander still owns a number of horses in Australia and tasted success just a few years ago with the Grahame Begg trained mare Prenuptial, a Listed winner of five races who is now at stud.
Prepared by Lee Freedman, Port Isabel was having her second race start after finishing third at her debut run on September 4. Ridden back from a wide gate, she charged home to score a three quarter length win in the 1200 metre maiden.
Bred and offered for sale by Stratheden Stud, Port Isabel is the first foal of the Zeditave stakes-winner Calming and is bred on the exact same, Encosta de Lago/Zeditave cross as rising Hong Kong star Sacred Kingdom.
Port Isabel has also received some massive pedigree updates since the time of the sale as her dam Calming is a half-sister to outstanding producer Royal Solitaire, the dam of South African Group One winner War Artist and Group One placed filly Sashenka.
3 year old filly Port Isabel, a second start winner at Geelong
EI Can't Stop the Winners for Vin Cox Bloodstock
4 October 2007
Another win in the USA for a Vin Cox Bloodstock purchase, Eight Eighty Eight a filly by the recently deceased Maria's Mon out of Imaginary Gold by Mr. Prospector. Vin Cox Bloodstock purchased Eight Eighty Eight a grey filly from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2005 for $50,000 US.
Her latest run was in an Allowance race at Turfway Park on September 26th. Turning into the straight it looked like all hope was lost, she then angled out off the fence and got the run she was looking for and finished with a late burst of speed to win pulling away by 1 ¾ at the ripe odds of 40/1. Did any of the connections have any money on her? No, they are to smart for that!
In a 7 start career Eight Eighty Eight has won twice and placed second once amassing over $30,000US in prizemoney. Her placing came in her first start and then she turned in three below par performances, since changing to the Tom Proctor stable she has won two of her three starts. Her next assignment is yet to be decided and I would not write off seeing her racing in Australia one day.
Also, at Bendigo yesterday Lucky Duke a $75,000 2006 Magic Million purchase for some Hong Kong based clients, turned in a fast finishing 4th and looks like he will be hard to beat next start over some more distance.
