The Inferno
We all know the value of meticulous planning in breeding but also of its apparent antithesis – luck. Sometimes those two powerful forces combine. Sometimes one blows the other out of the water. It was lucky Pierro took ill in his third season of 2015. Not for Coolmore and his shareholders of course, but, six... Read More
Bentley lands early strike at Happy Valley opener
Demonstrating the benefits of an exhaustive three-month stint at the end of last season, Harry Bentley put hard-won lessons into immediate effect with victory on Turin Redstar (Kyllachy) in the Class 3 Community Chest Cup Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley yesterday. Snaring the first points in the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge, Turin Redstar gave... Read More
Magic Millions on the radar for McCall’s promising son of Pariah
Berava the latest talented juvenile by a first season sire unearthed at Queensland barrier trials Queensland’s Nat McCall is daring to dream of Magic Millions glory after a colt she trains by Arrowfield Stud’s first season sire Pariah (Redoute’s Choice) demonstrated his natural ability and professionalism to win a Brisbane barrier trial yesterday. Berava (Pariah)... Read More
Deep Bond heads into Foy test as Japan winds up for another Arc
Deep Bond (Kizuna) will launch this year’s instalment of Japan’s decades-long quest for an elusive victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) when he races on French turf for the first time in the Prix Foy (Gr 2, 2400m) at Longchamp on Sunday. The Ryuji Okubo-trained galloper has been lodging at... Read More
Four studs, four stories
Four leading New Zealand studs each had varying stories to tell this week. They experienced the highs, as well as the exasperations associated with racing and breeding. Grabbing headlines is not new for Waikato Stud’s Savabeel (Zabeel). Even when he sires the winner of the first two-year-old race for the season it is old hat.... Read More
15 for Churchill
New first season sire winners Churchill (pictured above) Snaffles (2 c ex Annabelle Ja by Singspiel) gave his sire Churchill (Galileo) his 15th individual winner when he easily took the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden (7f) at Down Royal on Friday for trainer Joseph O’Brien. Despite ducking left out of the stalls, Snaffles was settled... Read More