Features

Yearlings contend with ‘worst in decades’ flooding in Hunter

In recent days parts of Australia’s thoroughbred breeding heartland in the Hunter Valley of NSW were hit by the worst rain event experienced in decades.  The deluge caused flash flooding and serious disruption to some of the region’s biggest farms, including Willow Park Stud located just outside of Scone, whose draft of yearlings are the... Read More

Bright Blue Sky (AUS)

Bright Blue Sky (AUS) 2 f  Fastnet Rock – Blue Blue Sky by Lonhro O: Te Akau 2021 Fillies’ Breeding Syndicate B: Katom T: Jamie Richards S: David Ellis and Andrew Williams Bloodstock V: Coolmore Stud P: $600,000 W: Fasttrack Insurance 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1100m), Te Rapa, November 20 Champion trainer Jamie Richards could well... Read More

Count De Rupee

The beauty of yearling sales is they’re like the lolly display in the old corner shop: there’s something for everyone.  Japanese sires have proven a little hard to market in Australia. And many buyers might eschew lightly-framed horses, or unraced dams.  But those factors meant three big ticks for Rob Price at the Gold Coast... Read More

Golden Sixty needs a sterner test to enhance his international profile

Golden Sixty’s (Medaglia D’Oro) latest demolition of the best milers Hong Kong can scrape together has left the gelding’s trainer Francis Lui hoping that a serious challenger will enter the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s ‘racing bubble’ to take on his stable’s champion when he bids for a second Hong Kong Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) victory... Read More

25 for Churchill

New winners Churchill (pictured) – Bouchra (2 f ex Morzine by Miswaki) gave her sire Chuchill (Galileo) his 25th individual winner when she stayed on well to win the Hendaye Maiden Stakes (2000m) at Pau. Trained by Didier Guillemin, the two-year-old filly broke nicely from stall eight and made all under six-pound claimer Clement Merille... Read More

Willow Park – A yearling’s journey

This week, Jo McKinnon paid a visit to Willow Park Stud in the Hunter Valley to take a first-hand look at the progress of their draft of ten yearlings being prepared for the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Jo spoke with stud manager Jade Rossington as the youngsters that have now been in... Read More