Jelfs a refreshing addition to the bloodstock world

Scrolling through my Twitter feed something so refreshing and authentic bobbed up. It was a video post by Annabel Neasham Racing featuring an interview with former Sky Racing presenter Lizzie Jelfs standing alongside a Hellbent (I Am Invincible) filly she had purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. For a number of reasons,... Read More

‘I don’t think the pandemic has hurt racing at all’

Lee Freedman has seen yearling sale trends come and go – the booms and the busts and the burst bubbles.  And the 65-year-old is convinced the record numbers at this week’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale are no pandemic-inflated anomaly.  Theories have been proffered to explain the prices paid in the past week, particularly for relatively... Read More

Freedman happy to hunt for bargains on the Coast

Emerging trainer Mitch Freedman’s budgets demand he must raid yearling sales with a rapier rather than a scattergun, but he’s optimistic he’s found his touch with two Magic Millions yearlings.  The Ballarat horseman yesterday paid $130,000 – among the higher prices on day one of Book 2 – for a Eureka Stud-consigned filly by Encryption... Read More

Moreira flush with Hong Kong Classic Mile options after Sha Tin four-timer

Joao Moreira will deliberate overnight before deciding which of the several leading contenders he will ride in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (Listed, 1600m) on January 30 following his four-timer at Sha Tin yesterday. Boosting his lead in the jockeys’ championship over arch-rival Zac Purton to ten – 62 wins to 52 – Moreira has... Read More

Eleven Eleven retains Magic Millions Cup crown

The Greg Hickman-trained Eleven Eleven (5 g Fastnet Rock – Smokin’ Alice by Smoke Glacken) successfully defended his Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) title with a narrow victory in the 1400-metre race at the Gold Coast yesterday. Having his fourth start this preparation, the five-year-old son of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) stayed on strongly to snatch... Read More

The Autumn Sun top of the charts after standout colt in final session

The Autumn Sun top of the charts after standout colt in final session The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) saved his best until the second-last lot of Book 1 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale yesterday, when Justin Bahen and trainer Kris Lees fought off fierce competition to purchase a colt by Arrowfield’s young... Read More