One for the pedigree buffs: the Japanese Stud Book is available online at the following URL and can be accessed free of charge until September 2006.
The site is available in Japanese and in English. You do need to register to use it but apart from the usual "20 questions" it's a relatively painless procedure.
They were the 1962 space-age family who took our ideas of what was possible and thrust them directly into the future.
More than 40 years on you could forgive the average reader for having a Jetsons flashback when the headline "Tycoon bets on British firm's 'air taxi'" leaped out from the front page of today's SCMP business pages.
Charles Ming Ka-fook, a well-known local racehorse-owning tycoon plus an unnamed friend have paid HK$27.1mn for a stake in Avcen, a British company that is designing air taxi Jetpod.
The article goes on to state that Mr Ming Ka-fook believes "he has found a winner much faster than any of his runners on the track". The aircraft will cost £800,000 ($11 million), plus US$450,000 for both engines (reportedly cheaper than most helicopters). Eighty per cent of the components will be produced by a state-owned aerospace manufacturer in Shenyang , Liaoning (china). The engine will be supplied by Williams International in the US, with the final assembly in England.
Truer words could not have been spoken as race commentator David Raphael called the finishing order for today's Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup in Hong Kong - and with Scintillation victorious, Natural Blitz second and Planet Ruler third there was one name that was conspicuously absent.
"It's a sad day - Silent Witness is done" said Raphael after the world champion sprinter Silent Witness laboured to keep up from the 600m mark and was well beaten.
Edinglassie Stud's Mick and Michelle Talty have rightly earned a reputation as producers of exceptional horses. The stud's Group 1 graduates include God's Own, Nadeem, Sharscay, Miss Margaret, Suntain, Emerald Dream and Laisserfaire plus the stakes winners Catnipped, Miss Powerbird, Saboteur, Special Bond, St Shannon and Fabulous Frisco.
The stud had further cause for celebration today after it produced the winner and third place getter in the $1 million G1 AAMI Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield - the winner the $700,000 Redoute's Choice ex Candide Australian Easter yearling sales graduate - Nadeem; and the third place getter the $170,000 Magic Millions graduate Wonderful World (Agnes World ex Success Tale).
Meanwhile, another of the stud's graduates - Bentley Biscuit - kept his perfect record intact, scoring win number 8 at Rosehill; and back at Caulfield God's Own (Redoute's Choice ex Angel in Disguise) ran second in the G3 Schweppes Cup.
Edinglassie has enjoyed a solid year in the 2006 sales rings: at the January Magic Millions 13 lots were offered (10 sold) for a total of $1,270,000.00 (average: $127,000 and top price of $220,000) and at the recently concluded Inglis Classic Sale the stud offered 16 lots (11 sold) for a total of 568,000 (average of $51,636) and top price of $160,000.
Japan is en-route to opening up their racing program to horses trained outside of Japan as previously announced in Japan's internationalization program. In 2006, 70 group and 18 non-group races are open for participation by foreign trained horses and in 2007, the internationalization program will see 111, or 50 % of the black-type races opened to international competition, allowing Japan to be included as a Part I country in the ICS book.
On the flat, there are 35 Group 3 races which are open for foreign trained horses in 2006, and for both these and the non-group races, there is a wide range of races to choose from. There are dirt races, turf races, Fillies & Mares races, sprint races, distance races, handicap races, set weights with penalties races etc. The prizemoney for each individual race various slightly, but the minimum prizemoney to the winner for any of these Group 3 races is 39 million yen (approx. US$340,000).
There are also 21 Group 2 races open for international participation, and not surprisingly, the prizemoney is incredibly high, ranging between 55 and 65 million yen to the winner (approx. US$480,000 and US$560,000 respectively). These races are also run under various different conditions with something to suit every horse.
Then finally, the JRA has 12 Group 1s open for international participation in 2006. These races attract the best racehorses in Japan, and as there are only a limited number of Group 1 races in Japan, the winners of these races invariably go very close to being chosen as the Japanese champion in their respective division. All Group 1 races are run at set weights.
The first Group 1 race in 2006 open for foreign participation is the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen to be run over 1200m on turf on Sunday March 26. The race is run at the Chukyo course just outside Japan's 3rd largest city - Nagoya, and is one of only two Sprint JRA Group 1 races in Japan each year and the only Group 1 race held at Chukyo. The total prizemoney for the race is over 202 million yen (approx. US$1,760,000), and the prizemoney for the winner is 95 million yen (approx. US$830,000).
The next International Group 1 race this year is the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200m on turf at Kyoto racecourse. Last year this race received international attention when Australian mare Makybe Diva contested it, and this year the race will be held on Sunday April 30. It is open for 4yo&up horses (no geldings) and is worth over 280 million yen (approx. US$2,450,000) in all, with first prizemoney of 132 million yen (approx. US$1,150,000).
Next is a new Group 1 race, the Group 1 Victoria Mile for 4yo&up Fillies & Mares over 1600m on turf, to be run for the first time this year at Tokyo course in Tokyo on Sunday May 14. The total prizemoney for the race is over 192 million yen (approx. US$1,675,000), and the prizemoney for the winner is 90 million yen (approx. US$780,000).
The final leg of the Asian Mile Challenge this year is the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen over 1600m on turf at the Tokyo course in Tokyo to be held on Sunday June 4. This race has had significant international participation in the past with horses such as Heart Lake winning in 1995, and Silent Witness running a gallant 3rd last year. It is worth over 213 million yen (approx. US$1,850,000) in all, with first prizemoney of 100 million yen (approx. US$870,000).
The Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen is next, and although it is usually held at Hanshin racecourse in Osaka, it will be held at the Kyoto racecourse in 2006 due to construction at Hanshin. It will be held on Sunday June 25 and is a 2200m turf race open for 3yo&up. The total prizemoney for the race is over 280 million yen (approx. US$2,450,000), and the prizemoney for the winner is 132 million yen (approx. US$1,150,000).
The first Group 1 race of the Japanese Autumn carnival in 2006 is the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes. To be run over 1200m on turf at the Nakayama course in Tokyo on Sunday October 1, it will be the 6th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge this year, and will be known to many through the emphatic win of Hong Kong champion sprinter Silent Witness last year. It is worth over 202 million yen (approx. US$1,750,000) in all, with first prizemoney of 95 million yen (approx. US$830,000).
The first race of the prized "Older Horse Autumn Triple Crown" in Japan, the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) is open for foreign participation in 2006. This race is open for 3yo&up (no geldings) and is run over 2000m on turf at the Tokyo track in Tokyo on Sunday October 29. Total prizemoney for the race is over 280 million yen (approx. US$2,450,000), and the prizemoney for the winner is 132 million yen (approx. US$1,150,000).
The second Fillies & Mares Group 1 of the year is the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, and it will be held on Sunday November 12, over 2200m on turf at Kyoto racecourse for 3yo&up fillies & mares. It is worth over 192 million yen (approx. US$1,675,000) in all, with first prizemoney of 90 million yen (approx. US$780,000).
The week after, on Sunday November 19, the Group 1 Mile Championship will be run, again at Kyoto racecourse, over 1600m on turf. This race has also had some international exposure in the past with the participation of prominent European miler Rakti, and then of course last year's race winner Hat Trick going on to be successful in the Hong Kong Mile last December. Total prizemoney for the race is over 213 million yen (approx. US$1,850,000), and the prizemoney for the winner is 100 million yen (approx. US$870,000).
The Japan Cup weekend has been a huge international event now for some years, and again this year, Tokyo racecourse will be the scene for the 2006 versions of the Group 1 Japan Cup (Dirt) over 2100m on dirt on Saturday November 24 and the Group 1 Japan Cup over 2400m on turf on Sunday November 25. The Japan Cup has a long history of international participation with the last foreign victor being Alkaased last year, and the Japan Cup (Dirt) has also attracted numerous foreign performers in its shorter history, with Fleetstreet Dancer being the only foreign horse to win the event at this stage (in 2003). The Japan Cup is worth over 533 million yen (approx. US$4,600,000) in all, with first prizemoney of 250 million yen (approx. US$2,175,000), while the Japan Cup (Dirt) is worth over 277 million yen (approx. US$2,410,000) in all, with first prizemoney of 130 million yen (approx. US$1,130,000).
The Group 1 Arima Kinen - sometimes called the Grand Prix - is the biggest race of the year in Japan. In 2006, the race will be run on Sunday December 24, over 2500m on turf at the Nakayama track in Tokyo. Although the prizemoney is less than the Japan Cup, the prestige associated with winning the Arima Kinen in Japan cannot be exceeded. The 2005 running of the race saw over 160,000 fans pack into Nakayama racecourse to watch Japan's 2005 Horse of the Year Deep Impact be defeated for the first time in his career by the 2005 Champion Older Horse of the Year, Heart's Cry. The Arima Kinen is historically the race boasting the highest betting turnover in the world, and although the JRA is determined to open up as much of Japanese racing to international participation as possible, the Arima Kinen has always been a race bringing together the best performed horses in Japan that year. As a compromise, the JRA developed a new condition for the Arima Kinen - allowing the participation to any foreign trained horse who is able to win the Japan Cup that year. To this date, no foreign trained horses have attempted the double, but the option is there for the victor of the Japan Cup in 2006 and in future years. Total prizemoney for the Arima Kinen is over 383 million yen (approx. US$3,350,000), and the prizemoney for the winner is 180 million yen (approx. US$1,570,000).
There are two Group jump races, the Nakayama Grand Jump and its official lead-up race, the Pegasus Jump Stakes. The lead-up, to be held on Saturday March 25 this year, is over 3350m at Nakayama racecourse in Tokyo, and is worth 18 million yen (approx. US$156,000) to the winner. Then the main event - the Nakayama Grand Jump - is to be held on Saturday April 15 this year, and it is over 4250m for the 80 million yen first prize (approx. $US 700,000). This race has been won in the past by international participants St. Steven in 2002, and Karasi last year.
Stallion Marketing 101 and the power of those mavens, connecters,and salespersons
Byron Rogers has written a compelling post titled Stallion Marketing 101 which looks at - not surprisingly perhaps - the marketing of stallions. The article explores the reasons behind 'trends' and the influence of three very key groups in the sales process - mavens, connecters,and salespersons.
On 9 February I mentioned a few famous owners who were involved in racing. I've received a few emails from people about other owners they know - including feedback on Flying Pegasus who former Adelaide trainer Les Samba's daughter Victoria (who works in the AJC Marketing department and is engaged to top hoop Danny Nikolic), is a part owner of.
Nonetheless one email in particular had a nice twist to it so I thought I would pass it on:
I was having a quick look through famous owners and while Deledio doesnt exactly fall under this category, Deledio who won at Bendigo today is named after Richmond AFL player Brett Deledio.
Deledio (horse) is by Testa Rossa out of Youthful Presence (sold by Yallambee on the Gold Coast last year for $85,000) and is trained by Lee Freedman. Deledio (jock) won the AFLs Rising Star award (think it was last year) - henceforth the play on Youthful Presence. According to the mail, Deledio is heading for the VRC Sires Produce-G1.
Deledio is part-owned by Karen Bytel, a flight attendant, who has owned 4 horses including Alinghi and all 4 of them have won.
Historically, the Sangster crew would have been pleased with the impressive win of the lightly raced mare Steflara in the $100,000 Group 3 Breeders' Classic over 1200 metres at Randwick on Saturday. Although they did not breed her and are not involved in her racing career, they bred Steflara's sire Zabeel and raced her American bred maternal grandsire Bluebird, one which has been a successful sire in both hemispheres.
Zabeel, a son of Sir Tristram and the unraced Nureyev mare Lady Giselle, was sold to a client of the Hayes stables at Lindsay Park, Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He raced on 19 occasions for seven wins including appearances in Melbourne in the Australian Guineas, Moonee Valley Stakes, Alister Clark Stakes and Craiglee Stakes.
The Sangsters also got rid of Lady Giselle, a mare who had mixed fortunes as a breeder. All told she had 15 foals for eight winners, but only two, Zabeel and the Kenmare colt Baryshnikov, were quality performers. Like Zabeel, Baryshnikov won the VRC Australian Guineas.
In winning the Breeders' Classic, the John O'Shea trained Steflara was having only her eleventh outing and was recording her first stakes success. She also became the hundredth stakes winner for the Cambridge Stud, New Zealand based Zabeel. Used only in New Zealand, the now 19-years-old Zabeel has phenomenal statistics of 621 winners (100 stakes winners including 33 successful at Group1 level) of over 2000 races - 240 black type events - and earners of $101million.
The biggest contribution has been from his runners in Australia where they have taken out over 1350 races (173 stakes) and earned $70 million. He has provided two Australian Horses of the Year in Might And Power - twice and Octagonal and the latter has had one of his sons, Lonhro, also claim this distinction.
Represented by 19 lots in the catalogue for the coming Australian Easter yearlings sale, Zabeel got his latest stakes winner Steflara from Blue Storm, a Bluebird Melbourne dual Group 3 sprint winner and STC Coolmore Classic fourth owned in NSW by J.M. Ryan. She was the only foal to have anywhere near the class of her dam, the great John's Hope racemare My Gold Hope. The latter mare won 11 races including the AJC Doncaster Handicap, All-Aged Stakes and Auckland Railway Handicap.
Steflara was sold for $170,000 at the Easter yearling sale in Sydney through Philippa Duncan Bloodstock. Coolmore is to offer her half-sister by Danehill Dancer at the coming Easter yearling sale.
John Messara's observations on the 2006 Oakleigh Plate
In handicap races the role of the handicapper is “allot(s) weights that, in his opinion, will make each horse’s chance of winning equal to the chances of all the other horses.” Don Scott (1985) Winning More.
The weights released for this Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate fail to provide an adequate spread so as to truly equalise the chances of all the horses to win the race. Sixteen of the seventeen horses allotted weights were within 1.5kg of each other.
Furthermore, eleven horses, all of varying ability, were assigned the limit weight of 51.5kg. Such an outcome is an anomaly.
How is a multiple Group 1 winner (Virage De Fortune) the equal of a Group 3 winning 3YO filly (Queen Of The Hill) or an open handicap sprinter from South Australia (Grace And Power) or a Listed winning 3YO colt (Gonski) or a 3YO gelding(Pirate Island) who is the winner of a Class 3 in South Australia?
While we might sympathise with the handicapper who is currently constrained by Racing Victoria’s Ratings Based Handicapping Policy and an imposed minimum weight schedule the results that such protocols throw up are simply inequitable.
The Oakleigh Plate is one of Australia’s oldest open feature sprint handicaps, first run in 1884. It has effectively evolved into a quality handicap, similar to the path that the Melbourne Cup is taking, whereby the best horses in the race are favoured at the handicap due to a smaller spread in the weights.
Former High Court Judge Michael McHugh, in his article “Racing Badly Handicapped by Fixed-Weight System” in the Sydney Morning Herald (6 January 2006)made some interesting observations when referring specifically to handicap races in Sydney, “the handicapper is now required to weight from the top down, with the topweight seldom being allotted more than 60kg and more often than not being allotted about 56.5kg. Commonly, almost half the field carry the limit weight with no realistic chance of winning.”
He went on to suggest a solution, “The best remedy for this state of affairs is the Hong Kong class and rating band system.” Such a system would be advantageous in his opinion as the ratings used, “reflect the handicapper’s estimate of the true difference in ability between horses. Handicapping in HK is based on merit, not class.”
Alternatively, if handicappers are not willing or able to properly assign weights to horses according to their ability so as to equalise the chances of all horses to win a race, then why don’t we just abolish handicaps and run all stakes races in Australia at either set weights or weight-for-age?
The demands of a hectic schedule and now writing for 2 blogs are fast taking their toll in terms of also keeping the Athlone blog up to date. The Dubai International Racing Carnival blog will take priority until after the World Cup (5 weeks to go) - until then I probably won't be posting my usual daily update on this - simply because there just aren't enough hours in the day at the moment!
There is quite a bit of content on the DRC blog if you're interested in the Dubai Carnival. The following is a list of what I've contributed to it in the past week (the usual Asia/Australia flavour in there for you):
And in case anyone was still wondering after reading the press release ... the filly in question made AUD$200,000
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MAGIC MILLIONS - GENERAL NEDIYM FILLY EQUALS ALL TIME PERTH RECORD
Media Release Tuesday, 14 February, 2006 For immediate release
The all time record for a yearling at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale was equalled less than half an hour into today's first session at Belmont.
The sales complex came to a standstill when the much talked about filly by General Nediym stepped into the ring as lot number 13.
A half sister to the group performer Chaumont the filly was purchased by top Sydney based bloodstock agent Kieran Moore on his first trip to the Perth sales.
"She was the best General Nediym filly I'd seen anywhere in the country this year," Moore said.
"She walked like a panther. She had a great head and outlook."
"We bought Regimental Gal as a broodmare last year (for $800,000) and this filly looks very similar," Moore added.
The filly was consigned by Applecross based Dawson Stud, the vendors of the exciting Lee Freedman trained filly Brockman's Lass.
"The staff have worked tirelessly and the draft is very well presented," Dawson Stud's Christine Daws said,
"She was a good looking filly and by General Nediym and he is really flying at the moment."
Daws said she was delighted with the final price.
"It exceeded our reserve by a long, long way," Daws revealed. "But she certainly deserved a high price."
The price for the General Nediym filly was the same as last year's record breaking Rory's Jester filly. Purchased by Mark Pilkington she now races as Gran Bella with David Hayes and is an unbeaten city winner.
A short time later another offering from the draft of Dawson Stud proved extremely popular.
The filly by Bletchley Park was purchased by local businessman Peter Walsh for $75,000.
The Thoroughbred Times has launched its 2006 Triple Crown website. The site features all the latest news leading up to the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1), and Belmont Stakes (G1).
They were famous long before they became involved in racing but ironically, a number of these 'well known faces' have also been remarkably successful when it comes to trying their hand at a whole new sport/business - that of racehorse ownership. Here are just a few examples:
* Grant Hackett (Olympic swimmer) co-owns the aptly named Freestyle.
* Paul McNamee (ex-Davis Cup player and winner of the Wimbledon doubles championship with fellow Australian Peter McNamara in 1980 and 1982 and chief executive of the Australian Open tennis) part owns El Segundo who won last year's Gr 1 Caulfild Stakes. El Segundo was the first horse McNamee had ever owned.
* Regreagan (2c ex Social Scene by Grand Lodge) made an impressive debut at Randwick last weekend. His part-owners include Australian Rugby League superstar Andrew Johns and his high profile brother Matthew, who sometimes doubles as Footy Show personality Reg Reagan.
* Western Bulldogs AFL club president David Smorgon part-owns Lotteria
* Like his father Sir Frank, whose colours were carried by such good horses as Foresight, Travel Boy and Columnist, Kerry Packer owned or part-owned a number of turf stars. The best may have been dual Derby winner Mahogany, but others included Golden Slipper winner Merlene, Spring Champion Stakes winner Easter and the Biscay horse Christmas Tree. At various stages, those horses too raced in the family colours of green and white hoops, red cap.
* Frank Sedgman (fomer Australian tennis star) part-owned Hareeba.
* Simon Poidevin (fomer Australian rugby star) part-owned Kablammo.
* Broadcasting legend Alan Jones (also the fomer Australian rugby coach, not the formula 1 champion) owns part of Alinghi.
* Sir Alex Ferguson (of Manchester United fame) "owned" part of Rock of Gibraltar.
* Chris Munce (Australian jockey)'s wife owned part of Brave Warrior.
Then of course on a slightly different note, you've Mick Channon, former Southampton and English soccer star, who is now in the top echelon of UK trainers. That's like David Campese turning to horse training and ending up more famous for it than for his rugby. Equally Philip Blacker (well known jumps jockey) went on to become one of the world's most famous equine sculptors when he retired from the saddle.
Fairy King Prawn. One of Hong Kong's all time best horses. But where did his name derive from?
Long before HK became synonomous with glass and skyscrapers it was well known as a traditional fishing village. 'Little prawns' did not, however, refer to shellfish caught in the harbours; rather it was a term of endearment that local fishermen called their children.
Fairy King Prawn literally translates as "the most beautiful child”and according to my local Cantonese sources it is a very affectionate term; sounds almost like “baby king".
I then started asking the inevitable questions - what does lobster translate as? Is there such a thing as a crayfish?
Apparently there is no distinction in Cantonese between the types of shellfish - basically they are all prawns ... a lobster is simply a dragon prawn !
“We always wondered why people who speak English invented so many words!”lamented my friend (a rather ironic comment I thought given Cantonese has 9 tones [Mandarin only has 4 - bless it] so expats, if they're not careful, can easily confuse a taxi driver by telling them to go to "Sofa Chicken" instead of the intended "Flower Road", your request for dumplings could be misinterpreted as you wanting some sleep, and there was an amusing situation recently where a request for a passport was greeted with an awkward pause ... the male Chinese recipient not entirely sure how to deal with the demand for sanitary napkins!
Same day, different headlines, but in combination they said it all:
"Silent Witness' Little Sister Flops" - Virtual Form Guide (Victoria,Australia). Master trainer Bart Cummings will go back to the drawing board with Empress Jade after the half-sister to Hong Kong superstar Silent Witness failed on debut.
"Silent Witness fans stunned after track flop" - Brisbane Courier Mail (Queensland, Australia). World champion sprinter Silent Witness shocked his supporters when he was easily beaten in a barrier trial at Sha Tin in Hong Kong yesterday.
Hmmm, not a good start to the Year of the Dog for the Jade Tiara youngsters it would seem. One minute the toast of the world and the next, well ... in the spotlight but without all the pleasant trimmings that attach to it when things are going well.
Silent Witness was beaten five lengths into third behind local sprinter Natural Blitz in the second fastest trial ever clocked at the track over 1000m (57.5sec) yesterday. The trainer says the horse is 9 kilos overweight, others mutter other reasons ... the fans just sit quietly and pray the fairytale hasn't ended.
And as for Empress Jade? Well, if all else fails and she doesn't take to racing, at least she has a career in breeding courtesy of her half brother.
Just how popular is blogging? According to the latest research completed by Technorati the blogosphere is now more than 60 times larger than it was merely three years ago, and it continues to double in size every 5.5 months.
Technorati claims to now be tracking over 27.2 million blogs, with 75,000 new weblogs being created daily - or, on average, a new blog every second. Technorati also tracks about 1.2 million new blog posts each day - roughly 50,000 per hour.
That's a huge number of words being added to the WWW every day ! My question always is when I see statistics like this is however "ok, but just how many people are updating their blogs regularly?" That, alas, is the million dollar question we don't have the answer to.
The news that Stevie Wonderboy had suffered a hairline fracture to his off fore ankle is just another chapter in the lengthening story concerning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby.
Just like the 21 that went before him, Stevie Wonderboy has added his name to the list of horses that have won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but then failed to win the Kentucky Derby seven months later.
Strange how the divisional champion of one year cannot recapture that form seven months later. Is it due to the more mature types coming through as three-year-olds or those that haven’t had a busy two-year-old season?
There will no doubt come a day when the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner goes on to win the Kentucky Derby ... but yet again, it won’t be this year.
For those of you that are wondering, here is the complete list.
1984 - Chief's Crown (3rd to Spend A Buck) 1985 - Tasso (Didn't run) 1986 - Capote (FTF behind Alysheba) 1987 - Success Express (Didn't run) 1988 - Is It True (Didn't run) 1989 - Rhythm (Didn't run) 1990 - Fly So Free (5th to Strike The Gold) 1991 - Arazi (8th to Lil E Tee) 1992 - Gilded Time (Didn't run) 1993 - Brocco (4th to Go For Gin) 1994 - Timber Country (3rd to Thunder Gulch) 1995 - Unbridled's Song (5th to Grindstone) 1996 - Boston Harbour (Didn’t run) 1997 - Favorite Trick (8th to Real Quiet) 1998 - Answer Lively (10th to Charismatic) 1999 - Anees (13th to Fusaichi Pegasus) 2000 - Macho Uno (Didn't run) 2001 - Johannesburg (8th to War Emblem) 2002 - Vindication (Didn't run) 2003 - Action This Day (6th to Smarty Jones) 2004 - Wilko (6th to Giacomo) 2005 - Stevie Wonderboy (Will not run)
Did anyone notice the names of each race at Ascot yesterday? Except for Race 2 which was sponsored by 96FM, each carried a Chinese New Year related name:
Race 1 - THE CHINESE NEW YEAR Handicap Race 3 - THE CHINESE ARITHMETIC Handicap Race 4 - THE FORTUNE COOKIES Handicap Race 5 - THE GOOD HEALTH & PROSPERITY (A WELTER) Race 6 - THE EASTERN TEMPLE CLASSIC Race 7 - THE YEAR OF THE DOG (A WELTER) Race 8 - THE BEIJING OLYMPICS Handicap
Speaking of the Ascot track, here are some trivia questions for you:
1. How far from the Perth city (in kms) is Ascot race track situated ? 2. What is the circumference of the track and how long is the straight? 3. Is there a slight incline in the final 400m to the winning post? 4. What are the names of the Group 1 races held at the track each year?
1. 8 kilometers north of the Perth City Centre 2. The circumference of the track is 2022 metres with the straight being 294 metres long. 3. Yes 4. The Kingston Town Classic (3YO+ Open wfa) over 2000m; The Railway Stakes (3YO+ Open hcp) over 1600m; The WATC Derby (3YO Open sw) over 2400m; C B Cox Stakes (3YO+ Open wfa) over 2400m; The Karrakatta Plate (2YO Open sw) over 1200; Lee Steere Stakes (3YO+ Open wfa) over 1400m.
I wrote about Vroom Vroom's remarkable comeback some weeks back. The fomer Argentinian star won again yesterday and in an interview with Tim Habel from the Melbourne Sun, trainer David Hayes gets the quote of the week:
"The Hong Kong people won't believe this," Hayes said. "He was just hopeless that way of racing, instead of going north-south he was going east-west."
Considering the horse's career has also involved all points of the compass I thought it was a somewhat amusing comment (and not least in reference to his inability to handle right handed tracks).
The Lightning Stakes may be the shortest Group 1 event in Australia but like all good races it has spawned a huge number of media reports. So what makes the better stories stand out from the crowd?
To me it is the stories that include the extra threads that add lustre and depth to the final 'material'. You don't need to be a Pulitzer prize writer to do it - you just need to remember to look for the detail before you start writing.
Case in point - simple review of yesterday's Lightning Stakes in The Thoroughbred Times but even within the first sentence there's that lovely reference to the fact that the winner is not owned or trained by your usual high flyer to add extra appeal. Further down this thread is enhanced by explaining the trainer's unwillingness to travel to the UK:
"Takeover Target, trained by a part-time cab driver, blitzed the field in the first Australian Group 1 race of 2006 when he won the Victoria Racing Club's $378,984 Lightning Stakes, down Flemington's famous straight stretch.
"Asked if he would be taking Takeover Target to Royal Ascot, which host's two legs of the Global Sprint Challenge: the King's Stand Stakes (Eng-G2) on June 20 and the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 24, Janiak said: "He's going, but I don't know about me, but he's earned his chance."
"Janiak's apparent doubts about his making the trip were sparked by his discomfort at wearing the morning suit and top hat expected at Royal Ascot."
Some people may be surprised to learn that it isn't the articles/blogs/research or other various marketing jobs that produces the most work for Athlone; rather it is the merchandising we do for various companies around the world. Athlone is, as you know, based in Hong Kong. Our staff speak 4 languages fluently, we have an extensive network of contacts with Chinese factories on the mainland, and we have racing experts overseeing both the design and final product ... the rest is history.
The latest contract we completed was for the same company we designed a blog for - The Dubai Racing Club.
On a lighter note, given it's the end of the week I thought you might like to see some images of the quality control process for merchandise that leaves the Athlone office:
A reminder to check out the 2006 Dubai International Racing Carnival blog.
For those interested in Asian racing my weekly profile for Dubai concerns Angela Norton who is responsible for the Macau horses at this year's Carnival.
I also analyze the current form of all the Australian horses nominated for the Gr 1 Dubai Duty Free and The Gr 1 Sheema Classic. That article can be found at the following URL.
One of America's best female writers - Michele McDonald - is one of the 2006 blog writers. Her focus is the US horses and her posts are superb reading, so if you haven't checked them out recently I would certainly encourage you to do so.
The Kentucky Derby is to be sponsored by Pizza Hut.
WHAT ?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?
In an article in today's The Washington Times Tim Lemke states:
"The grandest event in horse racing no longer is the Kentucky Derby. It's the Kentucky Derby, presented by Pizza Hut. And Taco Bell. And KFC.
"Churchill Downs Inc. yesterday announced a five-year deal with Yum Brands, the world's largest owner of restaurants, that will give the race a presenting sponsor for the first time in its 132-year history.
"The race officially will be called the Kentucky Derby, presented by Yum Brands."
Athlone is 100% involved in marketing/PR but even we cried out in shock when we read this. Tradition + commercialism = um, not always a match.
"Welcome to the 2006 Kentucky Derby ! What was that you ordered Madam/Sir? A mint julep? Would you like fries with that ?"
I'm not fond of printing 2 media releases from the same company in the same day but the marketer in me was hopelessly intrigued by this latest offering from Magic Millions!
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Think you are a bloodstock and sales expert? Enter the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale Top Ten Challenge and put it to the test!
Open to members of the public, the challenge gives you the opportunity to choose the top ten prices for the upcoming Morpettville auction and win a great prize in the process.
Simply choose then ten yearlings who think will prove the top sellers at the Adelaide Sale. The person who selects the ten horses that sell for the highest combined total will win a fantastic Magic Millions pack - comprising wine and Magic Millions merchandise.
In the event of a tie - the person who correctly selects the overall sale topper and if necessary the closest to its sale price will be declared the winner.
The Malaysia Airlines Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale catalogue is out now and can also be viewed on the Magic Millions website.
The sale will be held at Morphettville from March 14-19.
Entries will close at 11am on March 14 when the first yearling steps into the Adelaide sales complex.
"Worlds Richest Sales Incentive Race Series" gets even bigger
In 2007, three new races will be conducted as part of Magic Millions “Worlds Richest Sales Incentive Race Series” (now worth over $4.93 million.)
In March of next year the inaugural $100,000 Magic Millions Rockhampton 2YO Trophy, and the $100,000 Magic Millions Premier Sale 2YO Plate (Gold Coast) will be conducted in Queensland, and in Adelaide a $200,000 3YO Trophy will be added to the raceday at Morphettville.
David Chester, Managing director of Magic Millions Sales Pty Limited commented.
“The Gold Coast Premier Sale we conduct in March has always had a great support from buyers in Central Queensland, it is a sale offering a wide cross section of yearlings and the 426 selected yearlings (Many QTIS) we offer this year will be eligible for the $4.93 Million Race Series”
“To be able to offer two $100,000 races, one in Rockhampton, the other on the Gold Coast at this time of year, gives plenty of incentive to Queensland buyers”.
The Magic Millions Race Series offers races for horses of all ages not just two and three year-olds.
The Race Series for 2006/2007 now includes:
$1 Million - Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$1 Million - Magic Millions 3YO Trophy, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$500,000 - Magic Millions Cup, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$250,000 - Magic Millions Open Sprint, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$250,000 - Magic Millions Stayers Cup, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$200,000 - Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$100,000 - Magic Millions Maiden Plate, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$100,000 - Magic Millions 2YO Plate, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$100,000 - Magic Millions No Metropolitan Win, Jan 2007 (Gold Coast)
$400,000 - Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic, Mar 2007 (Adelaide)
$200,000 - Magic Millions Adelaide 3YO Trophy, Mar 2007 (Adelaide)
$250,000 - Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic, Feb 2007 (Perth)
$100,000 - Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic, Feb 2007 (Tasmania)
$100,000 - Strawberry Hill 2YO Slipper, Dec 2006 (Wyong)
$80,000 - Magic Millions Wyong 3YO Stakes, Dec 2006 (Wyong)
$100,000 - Magic Millions Toowoomba 2YO Trophy, Nov 2006 (Toowoomba)
$100,000 - Magic Millions Premier Sale 2YO Plate (March), Mar 2007 (Gold Coast)
$100,000 - Magic Millions Rockhampton 2YO Trophy, Mar 2007 (Rockhampton)
It can be difficult to pinpoint the moment when the sight or sound of a horse moving past you makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Some people will recall the first startling blur of tears as a favoured horse flashes across the line; others the thrill of holding the flimsy ticket stub that a knowing bookmaker hands them; still others the roar of the crowd, or the gleaming wave of horse flesh and jockey silks in the parade to the post.
Mick Rush couldn’t tell you when his love affair with horses started either. But you suspect that if he was to have told you he would have smiled and said that he was sold on this business from the moment he was old enough to tag after brothers David and Jack to the local track (or even the trots), or those early mornings he spent leaning on the family’s front gate to watch horses, including Rising Fast, stride past on their way to a swim at Mentone beach.
As an adult, Mick (like many in his family) pursued a career in law. His love for racing and the many personalities that populate it continued unabated and ensured that the well-known barrister was retained by many people associated with the Industry. One such client was John Cappellin, a name familiar to many as the owner of the colt who would win six times at Group 1 level, and be crowned Australia’s Most Popular Racehorse in 2001 and Champion 3yo Australasian sprinter. On 7 November 1998 Mick was on course with Cappellin to watch the bay son of Perugino win his second start in the Maribyrnong Plate. The soon to be famous Testa Rossa would swiftly become the favourite of Mick - and son Martin - alike.
Four years later, on June 22, 2003, a bay weanling filly would tentatively step into the sales ring at Oaklands in Melbourne. The weanling's sire was the same as Testa Rossa's; her dam - John's Legacy (by Dolphin Street), a handy mare in her day, winning 4 times (3 at city level) and placing 6 times from just 13 starts to amass the tidy sum of $153,175. Unusually, she also carried the name of Mick Rush's long term friend and football coach - John Sanders (his wife naming the mare in his honour after his death some years earlier). To Mick, brothers David and Jack, partner Mandy, son Martin, and close friends Terry Forrest, John Noonan, Peter McDonnell and Chris O'Neil - the ‘signs’ could simply not be ignored. And fortunately for their budget, the market acquiesced. In its typical anomalous way, a currently out of vogue sire combined with a pedigree page that held insufficient interest for the black type enthusiasts ensured that the filly garnered a final bid of just $16,500.
The new owners seemingly left their good fortune at Inglis that day. Mick was diagnosed with terminal brain tumours within the week.
Ross McDonald was entrusted with training the filly. Listen to the other owners talk of the relationship he and his wife Marg shared with Mick in the final 18 months of his life, and you could be excused for confusing them all for family.
"Mick just loved being close to the action," David reflects. "Most trainers don't seem to tell you what's going on with your horses but the McDonald's seem to get upset if you DON'T come down to the stables on a Friday afternoon ! Mick was always down there watching what was happening and they involved him in everything - even offered to let him ride in the truck to the races if he wanted to and to Mick that was the most amazing invitation.
"Mick always followed Ross' horses - the last day he was able to get to the track he backed a winner - that was Turnbull Stakes Day. And his final decent bet was on Tahni Girl when she won on Oaks Day at 10/1."
Fittingly perhaps, on the day Mick finally succumbed to his illness, McDonald’s mare Tully Bellotto saluted in the listed TBV Summoned Stakes. The trainer who had held Mick in his arms when he collapsed at the stables some weeks earlier, quietly recognised his departed friend in his speech when he said "this horse had an extra 2 legs guiding it home today."
A single word would appear on the back of Mick's funeral program. From the Latin word for 'faith' ('to believe'), “Fidemus” is also the name of the filly Mick and his son Martin had purchased so many months before, the filly whose debut, despite Ross' best efforts, Mick missed seeing by just six weeks.
This Saturday Fidemus takes her place in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes at Flemington. No-one doubts that Mick still watches over the adventure. There have been a number of 'auspicious' signs within Fidemus' career: on Friday 13th January she started from barrier 13 at Moonee Valley in a race named in honour of the late Frank Dempsey (the Dempsey family were long time family friends); Mick’s brothers David and Jack were celebrating their birthdays on the same day. The filly's first city win was seemingly pre-destined at the odds of 25-1.
Win or lose this Saturday, Fidemus has certainly brought faith to all those involved with her. From just 11 starts, the 3yo has recorded 2 wins, 3 seconds and a third and has already put more than 3.5 times her purchase price in the bank.
David says that "whatever the outcome this Saturday I'm sure [Mick] is getting some satisfaction watching her come on. I just want to see her run a good race for all the reasons to do with our involvement in her and all the people associated with her as well - particularly Mick's mates and children, and also for Ross and Marg."
Stakes winner of the future - perhaps - Fidemus' story just goes to show that it pays for us all to believe, and to remember that it is the small details in life that can so easily change coincidence into history.
In Mick's parting words (much like his idol Ned Kelly) 'such is life'.
1. Fidemus' Moonee Valley win on 13 January 2006 (image (c) TVN) 2. Fidemus as a yearling 3. Ross McDonald and Mick Rush a few weeks before Mick passed away 4. Mick and family/friends at Flemington -(front row - Mick and his mother; beind them stand (left to right) Mick's sons Joseph, Martin (sunglasses -blue tie) and Daniel (white tie). 5. The 5 Rush siblings: Annie, David, Mick, Jack, Mary 6. Mick's partner Mandy (left) and Sue Rush with Fidemus
I'm not sure how jockey Christophe Soumillon handles a car but put him in a Ferrari in your everyday Hong Kong traffic jam and I have a fair idea how he'd try and get through it!
Soumillon partnered another of HK's good El Moxie geldings at Shatin on Tuesday and not surprisingly given the resulting ride, had the HK crowd on its feet in the final stages of the Class 1, HK$1.6m 1400 Metres CHINESE NEW YEAR CUP.
The John Moore trained Joyful Winner was having his first start since he won a Class 1 Handicap on International Day last December but the heavily backed favourite was anywhere but in the thick of things for the first 800 metres.
Surging from almost last at the 600m mark, the 5yo gelding weaved his way up along the rails, ducked between horses as if they were standing still, almost came to a complete standstill 100m out - yet still went on to win.
No doubt the horse gave the jockey the evil eye back at the saddling enclosure but wow, what an utterly extraordinary ride ! It really did have to be seen to be believed.
You can watch the race replay at the following URL.
Meanwhile keep an eye on this horse as the big races start to open up. He has already won 5 and placed once from just 8 starts and certainly looks like a future star in the making.
(and if you look out of your car window and see that a certain jockey is driving the vehicle next to you , I'd quietly suggest getting out of the way !)
The Premier Sale of the 80th National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka has finished in strong style at Karaka.
The final Sale average was NZ$127,072, a 7.5% decrease from 2005 but up 14% from 2004. Notably, the sale average in 2005 without the 20 yearlings from the final southern hemisphere crop of Danehill, was NZ$120,620. This year's average reflects a 5% increase on that figure.
The clearance rate was 81% (down from 82% in 2005) and the Sale median was NZ$80,000, down from $90,000 in 2005 and up 10% from $72,500 in 2004. Total takings were NZ$49,558,000 for 390 lots sold, down from NZ$53,446,500 for 389 lots sold last year.
New Zealand Bloodstock Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Petrea Vela, summed up the Premier Sale results, "Leading into the Sale we knew that the absence of Danehill, and the reduced number of yearlings by Zabeel that we had to sell, would likely prevent the final statistics from reaching the record-breaking heights of last year which saw the sale average up 23% on the previous year. The catalogue wasn't as strong this year overall, so what we hoped for was to see an increase from 2004. We are therefore very pleased to achieve the results we have over the past three days.
"Importantly the buyers were here in force and had plenty to spend on good quality individuals. A good barometer of the strength of a Sale is always the buyers reaction to how easy or difficult it is to buy the horses they like, and by all accounts it was extremely competitive ringside.
"We were particularly pleased to see such strength from the Australian and New Zealand buyers. To have David Ellis and Graeme Rogerson the leading two buyers this year is an enormous boost to our domestic industry. We were also very pleased to see Japanese buyers so active this year, securing a total of 11 yearlings.
"Many buyers have impressed upon us the importance of the New Zealand industry providing the strongest catalogue possible and this is something that New Zealand Bloodstock will endeavour to address over the coming months."
The highlight of the final day was at Lot 461, the Zabeel colt from Cambridge Stud out of Miss Power Bird which fetched NZ$1.6m to the bid of Graeme Rogerson. From the family of champion racehorse Might and Power (by Zabeel), and Hong Kong champion performer, Lucky Owners (by Danehill), all eyes were on him to see whether he would be the second horse in the Sale to reach the magical million dollar mark.
The colt didn't disappoint the packed auditorium, although Rogerson had to go higher than he expected to beat underbidder, Australian trainer, John O'Shea. Rogerson commented "I believe he was one of the nicest colts in the Sale. While I didn't expect to have to spend that much money on him, I back my judgement and I guess we'll see in two years time whether I was right."
Buying Bench
There was considerable depth to this year's buying bench, with the results sheets reflecting buyers from New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Following David Ellis' purchase on Day 2 of the top lot of the Sale, the Stravinsky x Grand Echezeaux colt for NZ$2.2m, he finished up leading buyer overall with 29 yearlings bought for a total of NZ$7,090,000. His purchases included four of the top seven lots, including today's acquisitions of Lot 440, a colt by Zabeel from the regally bred mare, Marquise, for NZ$800,000 from Cambridge Stud; Lot 505, Zabeel x Pretty Buttons also from Cambridge Stud, for NZ$560,000; plus yesterday's purchase of a Dehere filly at Lot 318 out of Fleur de Chine, for NZ$700,000.
Japanese buyers were prominent this year, purchasing a total of 11 yearlings, with Mr Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm buying six yearlings including a filly at Lot 150 by Rock of Gibraltar, out of Whatcanisay, purchased on the first day for NZ$500,000. Mr Okada of Big Red Farm bought four yearlings this year.
Australia was represented on the buyers tables by prominent agents and trainers including David Hayes, Lee Freedman, John Hawkes, Robert Roulston, Kieran Moore, John Foote, John O'Shea, Peter Moody, Danny O'Brien, Bruce Elkington, Wadham Park, Pat Hyland, Steve Brem and John Morrisey.
Robert Roulston was the third leading buyer with 12 yearlings for a total of NZ$1,692,500, including his top priced lot of NZ$450,000 by Zabeel out of 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year, Singalong, at Lot 62.
Hong Kong buyers accounted for more than 50 yearlings, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club the fifth leading buyer of the Sale having secured another 10 yearlings for the HKJC International Sale in Hong Kong in December. These included a colt by Cape Cross out of Showzeel at Lot 57, purchased for NZ$250,000. The HKJC also bought colts by Danasinga, Montjeu, More Than Ready, O'Reilly, Stravinsky, Tale of the Cat, Traditionally and Volksraad.
Vendors
The leading vendor by aggregate for the 25th year in a row was Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud, with 39 yearlings sold for an aggregate of NZ$8,363,500. His top priced lot was the Zabeel colt at Lot 461 which was sold for NZ$1.6m.
The leading Stud by average was Peter and Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud, with 18 yearlings sold for an average of $311,806. This was highlighted by the top priced lot of the Sale for NZ$2.2m (Lot 341), plus two NZ$500,000 yearlings at Lots 211 and 495. Lot 211 was a colt by freshman sire, No Excuse Needed out of Beyond the Sunset (by Gone West), purchased by Gary Hennessey for Hong Kong, and Lot 495 was a colt by Zabeel out of Paint Me A Dream (by Deputy Minister) bought by David Ellis.
Sires
Top of the sires tables was Arrowfield Stud's sire sensation, Redoute's Choice, who had 5 entries in the Sale, with three sold for an average of NZ$481,667. His top priced lot came at the end of Day 2, with Lot 343 out of Great Bouquet (Zabeel) selling for NZ$725,000. This was purchased by Australian bloodstock agent, Kieran Moore.
Second leading sire was Zabeel with 24 entries in the Sale, with 21 sold for an average of NZ$374,286.
Leading first season sire was Rock of Gibraltar with 12 sold for an average of NZ$227,917 with a top priced lot of NZ$520,000. That came on the final day at Lot 445, a colt out of Mazarine (by Zabeel) bought by New Zealand bloodstock agent, Bruce Perry.
Leading New Zealand first season sire was No Excuse Needed, standing at Garry and Mark Chittick's Waikato Stud. Twelve yearlings by No Excuse Needed sold for an average of NZ$141,458 including a top price of NZ$500,000 for Lot 211, out of Beyond the Sunset, from the Pencarrow Stud draft.
The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series continue with the Select Sale starting at 11am tomorrow at Karaka. For results and online webcast, visit www.nzb.co.nz.
OVERALL PREMIER SALE AVERAGE
$127,072 (2005 Final Premier Sale Average $137,395)
AGGREGATE
$49,558,000 (2005 Aggregate $53,446,500)
LOTS CATALOGUED
516 (2005 Lots Catalogued 522)
LOTS SOLD
390 (2005 Lots Sold 389)
CLEARANCE RATE
81% (2005 Final Premier Sale Clearance Rate 82%)
MEDIAN
$80,000 (2005 Median $90,000)
TOP PRICE
Stravinsky x Grand Echezeaux (Lot 341) $2,200,000 (2005 Top Price - Danehill x Encens (Lot 385) $1,300,000)
TOP 10 LOTS
Lot Type Breeding Vendor Purchaser Location Price 341 b.c Stravinsky / Grand Echezeaux PENCARROW STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $2,200,000 461 b.c Zabeel / Miss Power Bird CAMBRIDGE STUD ROGERSON BLOODSTOCK HAMILTON $1,600,000 59 b.f Zabeel / Silk Slipper CAMBRIDGE STUD MR DAVID HAYES VICTORIA $850,000 440 b.c Zabeel / Marquise CAMBRIDGE STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $800,000 343 bb.f Redoute's Choice / Great Bouquet ASCOT FARM KIERAN MOORE BLOODSTOCK NSW $725,000 318 b.f Dehere / Fleur de Chine WINDSOR PARK STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $700,000 505 b.c Zabeel / Pretty Buttons CAMBRIDGE STUD MR DC ELLIS TE AKAU $560,000 445 b.c Rock of Gibraltar / Mazarine ASCOT FARM BRUCE PERRY BLOODSTOCK MASTERTON $520,000 150 c.f Rock of Gibraltar / What Can I Say RICH HILL THOROUGHBREDS MR K YOSHIDA JAPAN $500,000 211 br.c No Excuse Needed / Beyond the Sunset PENCARROW STUD MR GARY HENNESSY HONG KONG $500,000
LEADING BUYERS BY AGGREGATE
Purchaser Number Aggregate Mr DC Ellis 29 $7,090,000 Rogerson Bloodstock 30 $4,745,000 Robert Roulston Bloodstock 12 $1,692,500 New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd 11 $1,415,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club 10 $1,375,000
LEADING SIRES BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)
Sire Sold Average Redoute's Choice 3 $481,667 Zabeel 21 $374,286 Dehere 3 $323,333 Encosta de Lago 4 $272,500 Rock Of Gibraltar 12 $227,917
LEADING FIRST CROP SIRES BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold)
Sire Sold Average Rock Of Gibraltar 12 $227,917 Johannesburg 6 $168,667 No Excuse Needed 12 $141,458 Hussonet 3 $108,333 Jungle Pocket 8 $103,438
LEADING VENDOR BY AVERAGE (3 or more sold) Stud Sold Average Pencarrow Stud 18 $311,806 Ascot Farm 10 $218,000 Cambridge Stud 39 $214,449 Curraghmore Stud 22 $150,727 Lyndhurst Farm 11 $147,500
It has to be said - keeping a blog up to date is, on occasion, akin to facing a plate of half-cold brussel sprouts (brussel sprouts equivalent to a visit to the dentist in my book). Fortunately a good friend rang me this afternoon with an 'idea' for a story which will appear later this week - I confess that it completely ruined any 'real work' I intended doing for the next 6 hours but the lethargy (and writer's block) miraculously cured itself and I'm back on track (thank god for friends).
Question for you: where should a horse be laid to rest?
Reading about the NZ/Australian debate re where Phar Lap's remains should finally be laid to rest made me ponder the thorny question: where exactly should a horse be laid to rest? In the country where it did the majority of its racing? Where its owners are based? Or somewhere else?
Phar Lap's skeleton is permanently based in New Zealand but his heart resides at the National Museum in Canberra. Plans to travel the heart to Wellington Race Club to go on short-term display with the skeleton at the Museum of New Zealand as part of centenary celebrations of the Wellington Racing Club were abandoned a few weeks back as the abnormally large organ (weighing more than 6kgs) was said by curators to be too fragile to make the journey.
There are some that argue all of Phar Lap's remains should reside in New Zealand but to say that Australia's Depression Hero is a "New Zealand" horse just because he was born there is something akin to a ludicrous game of political semantics.
Makybe Diva was born in Europe but should the Europeans have the right to her remains in the unfortunate circumstance that she passes away?
What about Silent Witness? He's Hong Kong's world champion sprinter despite being born in Taree, NSW. Personally I couldn't care what Australian State he was born in. He's a Hong Kong horse despite the number of PR sources that ride his success to promote Southern Hemisphere sprinters.
Anyway, back to good old Phar Lap. If you want to learn about the 1.5cm tear in his heart that has kept his heart from traveling to NZ you can download (and listen) to the story at the following URL.
Please note that all material on this site (including photographs) is copyright ATHLONE & ASSOCIATES LTD (2004 - 2006) and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the author.
They were the 1962 space-age family who took our ideas of what was possible and thrust them directly into the future. 
It can be difficult to pinpoint the moment when the sight or sound of a horse moving past you makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Some people will recall the first startling blur of tears as a favoured horse flashes across the line; others the thrill of holding the flimsy ticket stub that a knowing bookmaker hands them; still others the roar of the crowd, or the gleaming wave of horse flesh and jockey silks in the parade to the post. 
Four years later, on June 22, 2003, a bay weanling filly would tentatively step into the sales ring at Oaklands in Melbourne. The weanling's sire was the same as Testa Rossa's; her dam - John's Legacy (by Dolphin Street), a handy mare in her day, winning 4 times (3 at city level) and placing 6 times from just 13 starts to amass the tidy sum of $153,175. Unusually, she also carried the name of Mick Rush's long term friend and football coach - John Sanders (his wife naming the mare in his honour after his death some years earlier). To Mick, brothers David and Jack, partner Mandy, son Martin, and close friends Terry Forrest, John Noonan, Peter McDonnell and Chris O'Neil - the ‘signs’ could simply not be ignored. And fortunately for their budget, the market acquiesced. In its typical anomalous way, a currently out of vogue sire combined with a pedigree page that held insufficient interest for the black type enthusiasts ensured that the filly garnered a final bid of just $16,500.
"Mick just loved being close to the action," David reflects. "Most trainers don't seem to tell you what's going on with your horses but the McDonald's seem to get upset if you DON'T come down to the stables on a Friday afternoon ! Mick was always down there watching what was happening and they involved him in everything - even offered to let him ride in the truck to the races if he wanted to and to Mick that was the most amazing invitation. 
Win or lose this Saturday, Fidemus has certainly brought faith to all those involved with her. From just 11 starts, the 3yo has recorded 2 wins, 3 seconds and a third and has already put more than 3.5 times her purchase price in the bank. 
