Image: Credit, Swettenham Stud) Australia’s extraordinary appetite for European bloodstock has cooled dramatically, with thoroughbred imports from the region almost halving in just two seasons. But the decline in volume does not necessarily mean the appetite has disappeared. Instead, it may point towards a more selective market, where Australian buyers remain prepared to compete for... Read More

Image: Shinzo (Credit, Coolmore) With a much larger freshman crop on the horizon, breeders and sales companies face a delicate balancing act between catalogue representation, buyer demand and commercial opportunity August is a busy time, a crop of new foals is hitting the ground, stallion parades mark the countdown to the breeding season and amongst... Read More

Image: Sass Appeal, (Credit Racing Photos) A bit of champagne breeding looks set to continue fizzing for some time after the stakes-winning Sass Appeal (So You Think) won her fifth race on the bounce – and fourth at Flemington – last Saturday from six starts. Danny O’Brien’s later-blooming four-year-old mare is a budding star of... Read More

Image: Aviatress (Credit, Sportpix) The twin strategies of training and trading horses are very closely aligned in Liam Ruddy’s business model and the ambitious horseman is hopeful those two worlds can collide at Randwick this Saturday, when Aviatress (Smart Missile) contests Sydney’s first stakes race of the new season. Despite bemoaning the fact that this... Read More

Image: Puro Magic (Credit: Japan Racing Association) While Japan has traditionally been renowned for producing elite middle-distance and staying horses, the blistering performance of Puro Magic (Asia Express) over the weekend has perhaps put The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) slot-holders on notice that her home nation’s sprinting ranks are ready to showcase their wares on... Read More