Daily News | 19th January 2021

• NEW MM Establishes Southern Hemisphere Record

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Records tumbled across the board as the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale came to a close yesterday after seven sensational days of selling. With two yearlings sharing the honours at $310,000, the Book Two and Book Three sales helped push the sale gross to over $211 million - smashing last year's record of $187.5 million - becoming the highest grossing yearling sale in Southern Hemisphere history. Colts by Iffraaj and Deep Field proved the day's highest sellers when they were both knocked down for $310,000. The Book Two component of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale rounded out with a gross of over $13.7 million and an average price of $60,353 and clearance rate of 83%. The Gold Coast Summer Racehorse Sale held following the yearlings grossed $812,000 with all 14 lots selling at an average price of $58,000. Stakes performer Hilo topped the Godolphin draft when the four-time winner sold to Heinrich Bloodstock for $220,000. Some $212,560,500 was grossed across all sales over the week at an average price of $206,169, a median of $150,000 and a clearance rate of over 87 per cent.

  

  Gerry Harvey and Barry Bowditch had plenty to celebrate (pic: magicmillions.com.au)

• NEW Elite Ocean Park Performers in The Wars

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Two of the leading daughters of underrated Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park have found themselves in different warzones. According to racingnews.co.nz, smart filly Moana pulled up worse for wear following a bumping duel with boom colt Brando in Saturday’s Gr1 Levin Classic (1600m) in which she finished seventh behind Bonham, who narrowly prevailed from Brando. The Chad Ormsby-trained daughter of Ocean Park was angling for a run between horses under Vinnie Colgan when the incident occurred 400m from home. The filly required post-race vet treatment for lacerations to the left foreleg and she will undergo further scans this week. “She had an examination, and she has pulled up okay in herself, but there is a bit of skin off in a compromising spot on the back of a tendon, so she will have further scans once the swelling has subsided,” Ormsby said. Meanwhile, Group 1 winner Tofane is set to miss autumn racing after suffering a kidney complaint. The New Zealand-bred mare spent a week at the U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital after falling ill and may be out of action until the Brisbane winter carnival. The Mike Moroney-trained five-year-old, who landed the Gr1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last April, was last seen finishing seventh in the Gr1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) in November. The daughter of Ocean Park will now spend some time in a grass paddock as she recovers from the illness.

  

  Tofane is recovering from an illness (pic: Mark Gatt)

• Adelaide Cup Target for Dundeel Gelding

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  The win of 4YO gelding Coolth (Dundeel-Killarney Heights, by God's Own) on Saturday has the McEvoy stable targeting the Adelaide Cup, reports racing.com. "He was quite disappointing last start, I thought, even though he only got beaten three lengths, I expected more from him that day," co-trainer, Calvin McEvoy told RSN927. "He really dug in for the fight yesterday which was great to see." Coolth won his first two starts over 1600m in April and May 2020, then ran third twice behind Persan (Pierro-Ofcourseican, by Mossman) before a spell. Persan went on to win the Gr3 Bart Cummings and finish fifth in the Gr1 Melbourne Cup. This time back in, Coolth has run fourth over 1600m, then fifth over 1720m before Saturday's win over 2000m. "We know he's a genuine stayer and we sort of earmarked the Adelaide Cup and worked our way back from that, hence the month between runs, but up to 2000m with the blinkers on, it was really good to see him bounce back like that." He will now head to the Torney Cup over 2500m at Moonee Valley on February 12, before the Adelaide Cup on 8 March. Coolth was sold by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale for $180,000 to Mark Pilkington and McEvoy Racing.

• Bosson Loses Crucial High Court Appeal

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Champion jockey Opie Bosson is set to miss New Zealand's richest race meeting, the Karaka Million at Ellerslie on Saturday, after his High Court appeal against careless riding charges was unsuccessful on Monday, reports NZ Racing Desk. Bosson received two suspensions for careless riding at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and had already failed in a bid to reduce the severity of the bans which saw him outed until January 30. The champion hoop rode the winner of both $1 million races last year and was set to partner favoured runners in both the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) for champion trainer Jamie Richards. It follows Bosson’s amazing achievement of being aboard the past four Karaka Million 2YO winners for the Te Akau team, with victories on Melody Belle (2017), Avantage (2018), Probabeel (2019) and Cool Aza Beel (2020).

  

  Oppie Bosson will miss the Karaka Million meeting (pic: Trish Dunell)

• Miller Flirts with Options For Star Mare

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Trainer Simon Miller told rwwa.com.au he had two options for star mare Flirtini (Artie Schiller-Ajaweed, by Hennessy) after her Listed Miss Andretti Stakes win on Saturday. Either he can run her in the Scenic Blast Stakes in a fortnight where she is likely to carry 60kg, or he can send her out for a short spell. "Will 60kg or 60.5kg pull her up?" Miller asked Tabradio rhetorically. "It's something I'm going to have to sit down this week and chat to Barry and Jan (McRostie) about. Whether we want to chance our arm at that weight or go out again and come back for a Northam Sprint or Roma Cup. Even the Marjorie Charleson at set weights and penalties. There are a few different ways to manoeuvre, it's just which way we go. I'll chat to Barry and Jan and come up with a plan of attack." Miller conceded, "She deserves what weight she's got because she has been a model of consistency. It's a good problem to have." Flirtini has won six of her 23 starts including the 2019 Gr3 Colonel Reeves Stakes, 2019 Gr3 Prince of Wales Stakes, and Saturday's Listed Miss Andretti Stakes with earnings over $550,000. She was a $150,000 purchase by Barry McRostie at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, offered by Emirates Park, and she is a half-sister to Listed winner Truson (Al Maher).

• Australia Stakes Nominations Extended

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  With only five entries for the Gr2 Australia Stakes on Friday night, nominations have been extended until today, reports racing.com. The $200,000 race over 1200m at Moonee Valley was won last year by Gr1 winner Scales of Justice (Not a Single Doubt-Beymatilla, by Umatilla). The five nominations to date are Listed winner Isaurian (Exceed and Excel-Byzantine, by Elusive Quality) who galloped at The Valley on Monday morning and last raced on Boxing Day where he ran third in the Listed Falvelon Handicap. Streets of Avalon (Magnus-Kamuniak, by Black Minnaloushe) is the highest rated of the entries at 103 and hasn't raced since November 2020. The others are Widgee Turf (Turffontein-Greyhound, by Kala Dancer), Tavisan (Tavistock-Evanescence, by Volksraad), and Arcadia Prince (Pierro-Arcadia, by Redoute's Choice) who is a Gr3-winning full brother to Gr1 winner Arcadia Queen. Nominations are extended until 10am.

• Tickler to Show His Depth at Wagga

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Trainer Kurt Goldman hopes Tickler (Deep Field-Kissame Mucho, by Fastnet Rock) will prove he is worth a chance at the Country Championships in today's Murrumbidgee TC Valet Park & Fly Handicap over 1400m at Wagga, reports racingnsw.com.au. "He just got run off his legs over the shorter trips at his first two runs this time in at Randwick and then he stepped up to 1200m last start at Moruya where he missed the start and got back, which was quite uncharacteristic for him," said Goldman. "He's had a jumpout since and he did everything right there. The blinkers go on him on Tuesday and hopefully he can win and get his rating up as he heads towards the Country Championships Qualifer on February 14. I may give him another run before Nowra, but I'll see what happens on Tuesday first." Tickler won on debut over 1100m back in May 2020 and has since had two fourths and a last start second in his five starts since then. He is the fourth winner from as many to race for his dam, and he was not offered at public auction. The $150,000 SERA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) will be run at Nowra on February 14.

• Three in Succession for Improving Supalopo

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Trainer Adam Trinder believes lightly raced Supalopo (Needs Further-Molopo, by Quest for Fame) will develop into a stayer to watch, reports tasracing.com.au. On Saturday night at Launceston, Supalopo made it three wins in succession when he won the TTC Dine & Win an MG ZS SUV Handicap over 1620m. "Last start he came from well back in the field, tonight and the pre-race plan for this assignment was to allow him to do the same and it's worked out well," Trinder said. "Brendon and I spoke before the race and I asked him not to be concerned with him being what might look too far back because he just needed to trust him, because I loved the way that he relaxed at his previous start and was still able to win. We went with a tried and tested formula for this horse and he never let us down." Supalopo now has three wins and four seconds from seven starts.

  

• Treble for Hickmott And Four for Eaton in SA

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Trainer Michael Hickmott continued his impressive 2020/21 season by winning three of the first five races at Murray Bridge on Saturday, reports theracessa.com.au. "These horses are a little away from their grand final," Hickmott said. "You're going to see significant improvement." UK import Don'tdreamit'sover (Mukhadram-Danehill Destiny, by Danehill Dancer) won the first over 1600m while Echoes in Eternity (Reward for Effort-Corinella, by High Chaparral) won the third race, and Pindaric (Fastnet Rock-Champagne Cath, by Street Sense) won the fifth. Pindaric is now unbeaten in three starts, and is the first foal of Listed winner Champagne Cath. All three Hickmott winners were ridden by Jessica Eaton who now holds a seven-win lead over Todd Pannell in the Adelaide jockeys' Premiership. "It is a goal, but regardless of whether it happens or not, I'm very proud of where I'm at as a rider and the success I've had to date," Eaton said before the weekend. "I probably didn't imagine getting so much success and so many opportunities from moving to another state. Things will definitely change once I transition to a senior. It'll probably be a bit tougher, but I'm willing to work really hard." She also rode Bolt By (Night of Thunder-Scarlet Moretta, by Fastnet Rock) to win for Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas to make it four for the day.

• Dubai Possibility for Hong Kong Dirt Specialist

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  The dominant win by Elusive State (All American-Jarada, by Redoute's Choice) on Sunday at Sha Tin has trainer Tony Millard contemplating sending the gelding to either next month's $US20 million Saudi Cup over 1,800m or the $US12 million Dubai World Cup over 2,000m in March, reports scmp.com. "It's just lovely to have a horse like this but also to have a dream and that's what it's about," Millard said. "It's about having a goal and trying to get there and seeing if it comes off. If it doesn't, we'll go to plan two, but definitely plan one now is overseas." The logistics around travel with COVID19 will make the trip a challenge. "One would have liked to have gone to Saudi … that would be the actual race for him," he said. "You never know, the [Jockey] Club said they can move mountains, let's see them do that, because I think Saudi would be the number one choice and Dubai number two. [If we go to Dubai] we'll definitely be going for the World Cup instead of the [Godolphin] Mile, because Joao feels that with him losing his early speed, he reckons that will be the right race for him." Elusive State has won ten of his 42 starts, with his only race outside of Hong Kong being his debut win in New Zealand back in 2016.

• $300k for Lunaspur Granddaughter at Gold Coast

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  A well related filly by Scissor Kick topped Day Six of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Sunday afternoon. Offered by Arrowfield Stud, the filly was knocked down to All Winners Thoroughbreds for $300,000. The latest yearling from 100 per cent winner-producer Moonlight Hussey, the bay filly is a half-sister to this season's city winning juvenile True Moonlight. Her dam Moonlight Hussey was a two-year-old winner and twice stakes-placed before retiring to stud. She is out of Lunaspur, a stakes-winning two and three-year-old. "She's a lovely filly by Scissor Kick," Arrowfield's Paul Messara said. "She's well related and is from a great family - the family of Gunnison and Colorado Claire.” Messara pointed out that Arrowfield Stud sold a Snitzel filly from Colorado Claire for $425,000 (to Annabel Neasham and Brian McGuire) earlier in the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. "She's a fantastic type and those good sorts are well found," Messara added.

• All Too Hard Colts Dominate MMGC Book 2

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  The top selling colts for Sunday’s Book 2 Sale at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale were a pair by Vinery’s high-flying sire All Too Hard. Currently just five points off being a Top 4 Black Type Premiership Sire, All Too Hard’s big sellers included colts offered by Vinery Stud and Cressfield. Vinery’s All Too Hard-Poppet's Treasure youngster was purchased by local trainer Kacy Fogden for $200,000. Cressfield’s colt, out of quality producer Nikkirina (four from four to race), was picked up by Duncan Ramage’s DGR Thoroughbred Services and leading Brisbane trainer Chris Anderson. Across four four hours of selling for the session, almost $5 million changed hands on 83 lots sold at an average price of almost $60,000 and an impressive clearance rate of 81 per cent. "Book Two has a wonderful record of producing Group 1 horses at good value prices," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

  

  Cressfield's All Too Hard-Nikkirina colt (pic: magicmillions.com.au)

• New Executive Director for New York TBA

  Tuesday, 19th January 2021
  Najja Thompson has been announced as the new Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB), reports bloodhorse.com. The former Executive Jeff Cannizzo stepped down after twelve years in the role. "When I saw Jeff was leaving, I became intrigued with becoming a part of the New York Breeders," Thompson said. "I had been involved with the racing end of the business, but I always understood the necessity of breeders in the sport. Without them, we don't have a sport." Thompson is a lifelong racing fan who grew up near Belmont Park in Westbury, New York, and has worked for the New York Racing Association (NYRA) for the past nine years. He will be the only African American working as an executive director in a top five state breeders association. "It's about time to have some diversity," said Thomas Gallo III, NYTB's president of the board of directors and a member of the three-person search committee. "He was the right person. It's a very positive move. It brings a new perspective to the job. Change is good. You have to look at it as an opportunity to move forward and do things better." Thompson will also replace Cannizzo on the boards of both NYRA and the New York Breeding and Development Fund.