October to December 2008
Peregian Stakes Placed at Oak Tree
6 October 2008 - Over the weekend Peregian ran a very credible third in the Oak Tree Swingtime Stakes, over a mile on the "lawn." She has seemingly come out of the race very well and will be looking to race again in 3 weeks
Aussie Upside from Breeders Cup Results
The star-studded Breeders Cup meeting at Santa Anita last weekend provided many intriguing results and more than a little upside for some Aussie bloodstock investors that have taken the plunge and added to their portfolios with some USA mares.
At the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2006, the Touch Gold mare Fleeting Touch (USA) was secured by Vin Cox Bloodstock for $US130,000 on behalf of Victorian breeder Robert Anderson, who had reason to cheer on Sunday when her half-brother Midshipman won the Group One Breeders Cup Juvenile.
Prepared by Bob Baffert for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation, the Unbridled’s Song colt took his record to three wins from four starts in taking the prestigious event by a length and a quarter.
Fleeting Touch
An unraced half-sister to a Group Two winner in Fast Cookie from a Group Two winner in Fleet Lady, Fleeting Touch was already a valuable mare at the time of sale, but as a half-sister to a horse that seems certain to be crowned champion US two year-old for 2008, Fleeting Touch has proven to be an outstanding purchase.
“I have had a few agents ring me and ask me to put a price on her. She is obviously a very valuable mare and there may come a time where she has to go back to America however we are very happy to have the mare who will no doubt be a half sister to American’s Champion 2YO,” said Robert Anderson.
Sent to Australia straight after her purchase, Fleeting Touch was covered by Golden Slipper winner Stratum last spring in her first season at stud with this chestnut colt the result of that mating and she is now in foal to last season’s champion sire of two year-olds More Than Ready (USA).
Some more Aussie breeders to find upside in Breeders Cup results are Bill and Scott Gibson of Dalmore, who acquired young stakes-winning Forestry mare Forest Code (USA) at the 2008 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale when Vin Cox Bloodstock bid successfully to $US350,000.
Forest Code is a half-sister to two other stakes-winners and one of them, Desert Code, scored the most lucrative win of his career when taking out the $US1million Breeders Cup Sprint on turf at Santa Anita.
Trained by David Hofmans, four year-old E Dubai entire Desert Code took the six and a half furlong feature by half a length taking his overall record to six wins and six placings from 19 starts with prizemoney in excess of $US1million.
Forest Code was sent to Australia earlier this year and has been covered for the first time this spring by champion sire Flying Spur, whose triple Group One winning son Mentality is from a USA bred mare in Synaesthesia (USA).
Chasing home Desert Code for third place in the $US1million Breeders Cup Sprint on turf was smart sprinter Storm Treasure, whose two year-old half-sister She’ll Be Right was purchased at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Vin Cox Bloodstock for $40,000.
By Sky Mesa from Boogie Beach Blues, She’ll Be Right is raced by a group of Aussie guys and is trained for them by Tom Proctor who scored stakes success with another Aussie owned US bred filly in Moonee Ponds.
Keeneland Breeding Stock market well Down
As expected in the current environment, the Keeneland Breeding Stock market was well down on last years figures. It doesn’t matter which way you slice it, the market is off around 40%. The greatest impact is largely felt in the lower middle and lower end of the market, where in a lot of cases this market was bottomless. Interestingly there was still strong demand for good quality mares and strong demand for quality weanlings, where pinhookers seemingly confident in the 2009 yearling market. Watch this space. Our purchases are on the results page.
Other Australian activity was quite strong with Dean Fleming’s Tyreel Stud purchasing Hip 10 for $1.3Million, and Gavin Murphy partner in Amarina Farm purchasing a number of mares through Bowden Global Bloodstock.
Origins of Group 1 winning Dams
28 November 2008 - It is interesting to note that of the 24 group 1 races run this year; 8 winners are from USA mares, 7 from Australian mares, 6 from NZ mares and 1 each from Ireland, England and Japan.
The results speak for themselves.
Huge Upgrade for Patinack
At the Keeneland September Yearling Sale we purchased 6 yearlings on behalf of Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm. One of the 6 was a filly by Awesome Again, who was purchased for US$60,000. This filly’s 2 year old full sister won the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct by a staggering nine and a half lengths on November 29th.
A good result all round, congratulations to Patinack Farm.
Wyong Magic Millions Day
It was great to see Belle Soleil (Redoute's Choice - Summer’s Glory; 2007 MM $220,000) win with such authority in the $100,000 Wyong Magic Million 3YO Classic. Gary Portelli always said she was a filly that would improve with time and maturity, even though she won her first start as a 2YO at Rosehill. Jockey Glyn Schofield got her back early in the race, however when one took off around Belle Soleil, Glyn went with them and found himself in front four wide before they had straightened. He let Belle Soleil down from that point on and she won as she liked. For owners Peter and Katherine Campbell it was a big thrill. They have invested very heavily into the business and fully deserve to win a race of that nature.
http://www.breednet.com.au/news2006.asp?id=45488
http://www.racenet.com.au/news/454/Belle_Soleil_easily_in_Wyong_Magic_Millions_3YO_.asp
For Vin Cox Bloodstock, it could have been a sensational day with Koblenz (Charge Forward - Halo Dehere; 2008 MM $62,500) going down a long neck in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Slipper. Koblenz is a filly with a bright future and will make an ideal type to aim at the big race on the Gold Coast. She settled in running and hit the line very strongly. If all the Charge Forwards are like this filly, he will be a certain success. She is relaxed, tractable, eats and runs with conviction. Owner Glen Lawrence has an exciting few weeks ahead. By his own admission he hasn't had horses racing at this level and now he is off to the Gold Coast with a live hope in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Double At Randwick
15 December 2008 - On a wet and wild day at Randwick, Vin Cox Bloodstock purchases had a double. The first being Test Edition (2005 Sires’ Produce $52,500 by Testa Rossa – Lili Marlene) who has been a great earner for connections now the winner of 5 races and in excess of $145,000.
In the last race of the day, Yoburg (2006 Classic $40,000 Johannesburg – You Jest) put it two on end having won last start at Wyong. Yoburg is owned by our very good clients from Hong Kong, who over the years have had some terrific horses, including Down The Wicket, Letter Of Intent, Cigar Royale, Lucky Duke, etc. Now Yoburg has won 4 races and nearly $75,000.
On Saturday, Talaana (2007 Easter $155,000 Tale Of The Cat – Valaana) very nearly gave Chris Munce his first city winner back from his well documented time away from racing. Talaana has always shown good potential and as he matures is really starting to put it together. A win is only around the corner.
Iguana Jo Flies In Florida
16 December 2008 - At the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, we purchased a Dynaformer - Guana filly for Bruce and Jill Johnson proprietors of Twin Palms Stud. The now two year old filly, named Iguana Jo after the “Iguana Gate” scandal involving politicians Belinda Neill and John Della Bosca, won her first start at Tampa Bay Downs on December 13th.
Starting favourite she barely got out of third gear to blow away a solid maiden field. She will now head to Gulfstream Park for some allowance races and possibly some black type during the northern hemisphere spring.
4th-TAM, $17,000, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:40, fm.
+IGUANA JO (f, 2, Dynaformer--Guana {Fr}
{SW & GSP-US, SP-Fr, $137,418}, by Sillery),
A $200,000 KEESEP yearling, was a close fifth through an easy opening half of :50.29. With Ronald Allen Jr. aboard, the 3-1 chance began to rally while wide on the far turn and came charging down the stretch to take it by 2 ¼ lengths over fellow first starter Islandia (Johar). Wrestling (Gone West) finished a non-threatening sixth.
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,200.
O-Bruce Johnson. B-T F VanMeter, D Hendrickson &
Michael Lowenbaum (KY). T-Thomas F Proctor.
TDN 14/12/08
Magic Millions A Boomer
17 January 2009 -What a start to the Southern Hemisphere yearling sale season. Right from the very first horse the Magic Millions Yearling sale was off to a good start. The sale's real strength was the guts to the middle market, the 50-400k horse, competition was strong and varied. As with all sales there were holes in the market. The elite horses struggled for genuine competition and most of the bigger prices appeared largely organised. The bottom end of the market was a struggle, which has always been the case. Despite the global financial crisis the vibe at the sale was extremely upbeat from buyers and vendors alike. Full credit to Magic Millions for creating such an environment.
VCB had a good sale. We were lucky enough to purchase 10 lots, 8 fillies and 2 colts, for a total spend of $1,464,500. This was an extremely pleasing result as a month out from the sale it wasn't looking too good.
Magic Millions Race Day
17 January 2009 -We were lucky enough to have 4 runners on the day. The results weren't startling but none the less our owners had a great day out in what is a fantastic day. Koblenz disappointed in the big one, pulling up shin sore. Belle Soleil was desperately unlucky in the 3yo Trophy going over the line hard held. False Accusation ran his usual consistent race to finish 4th in the 2yo Plate and Mr Unforgettable finished 5th in the Class 6 Plate.
We all loved the day and look forward to many more runners and success in the future.
