On a Day History Was Made: Reflections from the 2005
Melbourne Cup
History will state that on Tuesday 1 November 2005 Makybe Diva became the
first horse to win three Melbourne Cups. More than 106 000 people would
stand as one to cheer her home, and in the moment when she lowered her head
on the line the crown passed from the chestnut with the mighty heart who had
ruled the same course 75 years earlier.
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Aussies Take the Spoils on Penang's Big Sprint Trophy
Day
The photos from the Penang Sprint appear in the Athlone Gallery
(photographs); the article was subsequently published in Breeding &
Racing (Australia) Issue 62 (November 2005) pp 44-45.
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Commercial Interests at Odds
Various sections of the thoroughbred industry have been involved in some
heated discussion of late. Recommendations by the Australian Pattern
Committee (“the Committee”) have seen black type races brought more in line
with the Australian metropolitan racing pattern in each of the four Age/Sex
categories (2YO's, 3YO's, Fillies and Mares and Open Age/Sex). It would
seem that history (courtesy of some detailed analysis of metropolitan race
programming) has finally caught up with Black Type listings. The disparity
between two year old and extended distance races compared to 3 year old,
open, fillies and mares distaff races and races over shorter distances has
seen (inter alia) the Committee downgrade or de-list a total of 24 stakes
races for two year olds. The changes are not new – they were announced more
than a year ago - but with them now in place, those who stand to be
affected, have suddenly become vocal. The article
first appeared on the Athlone Blog. It was subsequently published in
Breeding & Racing (Australia) Issue 62 (November 2005) pp 34-36.
Feedback: "Katrina Partridge, of Athlone Associates, runs an
exceptional industry website and if you haven’t seen it before or not
visited for a while, I’d strongly suggest you mosey on down to
www.athloneassociates.com/btm/blog.html
Katrina has penned, with John Baxter, an incisive and well balanced feature
entitled “Commercial interests at odds” and I’ve attached it for your
convenience. It’s a subject near and dear to the heart of all thoroughbred
breeders.
My apologies if you’ve already read it, but I reckon this one’s worth
repeating anyway."
Greg Tobin, Director of Marketing, Yallambee Stud, Victoria (Australia) 7
October 2005.
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Exclusive Interview With Philip Blacker
(Equine Sculptor)
It’s spring at Aintree and cherry blossoms drift in a sudden gust of breeze
and layer the bronze back of Red Rum. Across the Channel at Longchamp the
intelligent eye of Suave Dancer gazes over his domain; in Malaysia a
dressage horse is poised in the immaculate tension of the dramatic dance of
the piaffe; in the Hunter Valley in Australia Danehill strides in a muscular
trot across a Coolmore paddock, and back in England a Derby winner -
Generous - reigns at Epsom.
Champions and history captured in timeless perfection. But to their creator
Philip Blacker – a man acknowledged by many in both art and racing circles
as one of the finest equine sculptors in the world – that’s probably a bit
too much poetic spin for someone who prefers to keep things simple.
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Fledgling
Thoroughbred Enterprise Takes Flight in Victoria
Tim Breadmore is experiencing the highs and lows of overseeing his stud's
first commercial yearling sales draft. Yesterday it was inspection day at
the 2005 Melbourne Premier Sale and we were standing under freezing
Melbourne skies chatting about the 360 winners he had educated - one of
them, Roman Thunder, having won the previous evening at Moonee Valley -
whilst Clarrie Connors analyzed the Paringa Park sales draft alongside us.
Today the first lot is passed in on a rare perfect morning.
The article appears in the May 2005 issue of Breeding & Racing
(Australia) Issue 56 pp 16-17.
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Queensland's Derby Hopes Rest On Caloundra Trainer And 'The Boss'
Rodney Jackson is looking to stamp his name on more than business success in
this Saturday's Group 1 AJC Derby. The enigmatic Cairns businessman has his
hopes pinned on a pedigree page, Caloundra trainer Greg Kennedy and a gutsy
Grand Lodge gelding with a unique Japanese name.
Published: Cyberhorse
http://www.virtualformguide.com March 23, 2005 & Queensland Racing Web
News
https://www.queenslandracing.com.au/racingnews/230305QLDDerbyhopes.asp
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EU Commission Wields Potentially Lethal Shillelagh against Irish
Breeding Industry
An entire
Industry stands to be affected by the European Union Commission's recent
findings on Ireland's tax exemptions for stallion service fees. Ireland has
enjoyed more than three decades of industry prosperity courtesy of the
exemptions. Certain studs and individuals may, in fact, have prospered more
than others.
Whilst a recently commissioned report on the economic contribution of the
bloodstock and horse racing industry in Ireland and an evaluation of the
costs and benefits of the current tax treatment of stallion fee income may
have recommended that the current system remain unchanged, it seems that
Ireland's 'protected' status may be set to change. Such a situation would
potentially signal a major shift in investment (and global buying power) as
investors worldwide reassess the competitiveness of the Irish market
compared to others, most notably the United States.
The stud that would potentially sustain the biggest blow in terms of
profitability is one that has revolutionized the commercial breeding market
in countries far beyond Ireland - Coolmore. And for those that think that
the removal of Irish tax exemptions would have a marginal effect on
Australian bloodstock prices and competition generally ... you may wish to
read on.
Published: Cyberhorse
http://www.virtualformguide.com January 2005.
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Queensland Racing Breeding Feature - Profiling the
Major Queensland Studs
In the fifth article of the series we look at David and Debra Lucas’
Willowbend Stud at Beaudesert.
“If you had sat down with David Lucas 17 years ago and asked him to predict
what the future of Willowbend Stud would hold his answer may in fact have
been very different from the current reality. His Beaudesert property that
consisted, in 1987, of a mere 42 acres that focused on spelling and
breaking-in services, would, by the start of the 2004 breeding season stand
arguably Queensland’s most accomplished stallion and have expanded the
original boundary fence ten times over…”
The article appears in the January 2005 issue of Queensland Racing (Breeding
Feature pp 16-17 ).
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Queensland Racing Breeding Feature - Profiling the Major Queensland Studs
In the fourth article of the series we look at strategic initiatives coming
to fruition at Gary and Phoebe Turkington's Wattle Brae Stud.
"Anyone involved in the breeding industry will know that initiatives
undertaken seven years ago will (all things going to plan plus incorporating
an all important dash of luck) only start to bear fruit a significant number
of years down the track. As the Turkingtons watch the 2 year old campaigns
of their freshman sires they can rest assured that they have done a thorough
job at positioning Wattle Brae to emulate the deeds of their forefathers..."
The article appears in the December 2004 issue of Queensland Racing
(Breeding Feature pp 12-13).
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Glenlogan
Park Reinvigorates Queensland Breeding
It’s a Queensland stud challenging all the rules – particularly when it
comes to colonial-bred stallions.
The article appears in the November 2004 issue of Breeding & Racing
(Australia) Issue 50 pp 26-30 and February 2005 issue of Queensland
Racing.
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Queensland Racing Breeding Feature – Profiling the Major Queensland Studs.
In the third article of the series we look at the history and future of the
well-known Nolan Family’s Raheen Stud.
“Mention ‘Raheen’ to anyone involved with thoroughbred horses in England and
they’ll immediately know what you’re talking about …”
The article appears in the November 2004 issue of Queensland Racing
(Breeding Feature pp 12-13).
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David Raphael: The King of Hong Kong Commentators
Listen to David Raphael call a race and you’ll fast realize why
others in the Industry have alternatively called him “the life-blood
of the Hong Kong Jockey Club commentary team”, “a man with a flair
and passion for race calling” and someone whose calls can be both
“energetic and thrilling.”
The
article appears in the October 2004 issue of
Breeding & Racing (Australia) Issue 49 pp 70-72.
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Queensland Racing Breeding Feature – Profiling the Major Queensland
Studs.
In the second article
of the series we look at historic Eureka Stud.
There aren’t too many Darling Downs studs that can claim a
connection to not just one of the world’s most famous
mathematicians, but also to Australia’s only ‘official’ rebellion.
The
article appears in the October 2004 issue of
Queensland Racing (Breeding Feature pp 22-23).
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Lyndhurst Continues to Make an Impact
Lyndhurst Stud and the Kruger family were last month inaugural
inductees into the new 'Associates' section of the Queensland Racing
Hall
of Fame. This is the first in a series of articles on prominent
studs in Queensland and traces the history and success of this
family-run institution.
The article appears in the September 2004 issue of
Queensland Racing
(Breeding Feature pp 22-23: edited version) and Breeding & Racing
(Australia) Issue 48 pp 18-22.
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Sponsorship: A Fair Cut?
The distinct whir of a sewing machine joined the twin spires, mint
juleps and the emotive strains of “My Old Kentucky Home” on May 1,
2004. Five jockeys had just won a landmark legal battle that
allowed them to wear logos and a Jockey’s Guild patch on their
breeches. And with the hours being ticked off to the start of
America’s most distinguished horse race, the US District Judge’s
decision prompted the Kentucky Horse Racing Association to announce
that it would allow all jockeys – not just the five who brought the
action - to wear advertising in the big race.
Published: Australasian Turf
Monthly, August 2004, Volume 54 pp.40-42
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Zabeel Stallion Set to Make His Mark in Queensland
Published: Australasian Turf Monthly, July 2004,
Volume 53 #12
p.145
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Twist of Fate Led to Stud Ownership Change
Published: Queensland Racing, June 2004, p. 50
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Behind-the-Scenes at the Dubai World Cup
It’s the world’s richest horse race from an entirely
different perspective… that of the broadcast box alongside renowned race
caller Terry Spargo.
Published: Breeding and Racing Magazine (AUSTRALIA), Issue 44, May
2004 pp 72-75
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Australian Trainers Don't Understand Dirt Racing'
... Or do they?
Martin Talty (Manager, Emirates
Racing Association) responds to Fin Powrie's 24 March 2004 comments
to the Racing Post.
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Interview with MARTIN TALTY: Manager - International
Department DUBAI RACING CLUB.
The phrases “steady she goes” and “all things in moderation” would
probably cause consternation if they ever came up in an Emirates Racing
Association (ERA) board meeting. Expressions like this simply don’t
exist in an organization that in less than a decade has re-defined the
concept of world-class racing.
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For Sale to the Highest Bidder: ‘Perfection’ and her
Sister, ‘Rarity’ In the hypothetical auction of the century, two of
Australia's most valuable sisters are put up for sale. The question is:
their value – and why?
An abridged version of this article can be seen in
Breeding and Racing
Magazine (AUSTRALIA), Issue 42, March 2004. |
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Top Lots 2002 - Under the Microscope This article examines how the top ten lots of the Australasian Majors
2002 (as well as the cheapest graduate of the same year) have shaped in
their racing careers thus far.
Published: Breeding and Racing Magazine (AUSTRALIA),
Issue 39, December 2003 pp 26-28
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