Inform Newsletter - April 2008

In This Months Edition

• The Month That Was
• May Sporting Dates
• Sales and Breeding News
• AAP Racing Product News
• Book Review - "What the trainer saw"

April 2008 The Month That Was

April in Sydney is all about racing and the yearling sales. Both topics have dominated the headlines; In racing we've witnessed some stunning performances from top juvenile Sebring and the excitement machine Weekend Hussler, whilst at the yearling sales all sorts of records have been broken in one of the strongest sales ever seen in Australia. Read on to find out what else has been happening in racing in April.

Horses

Gai Waterhouse pulled off a stunning training performance to win her third Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday with Sebring, with big-race jockey Glen Boss triumphant on the colt after picking up the ride at the expense of the suspended Blake Shinn. Although Sebring missed the start, the always-confident Boss let him find his feet and he powered out of the pack at the 100 metres to hold off Von Costa de Hero by a half-head. Sebring had not raced for seven weeks after being treated for a temperature and missed the usual lead-up races. But punters remained loyal to the Waterhouse camp and sent him out the $6 favourite for the world's richest race for two-year-olds with prizemoney of $3.5 million. Waterhouse, who won the 1200m dash in 2001 with Ha Ha and again three years later with Dance Hero, trains Sebring for a huge syndicate put together by Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds. "This is what is so good about Australian racing," Waterhouse said. "You can buy a share in a horse for $20,000 and here we are winning a three-and-a-half-million dollar race. As if the Slipper wasn't enough, Sebring scored his second G1 win in the space of a week when he scored a commanding victory in the Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick. The colt kept his unbeaten record intact, notching his fifth straight win in Saturday's 1400m feature, and is on track to capture Sydney's juvenile triple crown by claiming next Saturday's final leg, the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Apache Cat completed a G1 hat-trick when he ran home over the top of Takeover Target in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick. The Greg Eurell-trained five-year-old made it 14 wins from 28 starts and took his prizemoney past $2.5 million with his fighting victory in the 1200m sprint which followed his successes at the elite level in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington and Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in February.

Glen Boss celebrates after
winning the 2008 Doncaster
aboard Triple Honour
Image: AAP Image

Weekend Hussler is set to become the highest-rated Australian horse since three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva after he was named the world's top three-year-old in the latest international rankings. Compiled by the ANZ World Classifications Committee and relate to the best individual performances between October 1 last year and March 31. Weekend Hussler with a rating of 122, was ranked equal eighth best horse in the world alongside 10 others including Cox Plate winner El Segundo, Godolphin superstar Ramonti, Hong Kong's champion middle-distance performer Viva Pataca and 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup runner-up Pop Rock. Weekend Hussler overcame his biggest test to date when he became the first horse since Kingston Town to win six G1 races in a season after saluting in the star-studded George Ryder Stakes (1500m) G1.

Tuesday Joy has had a huge carnival winning both the Ranvet and BMW Stakes. In the jubilation that followed the victory, owner Singleton started dreaming of Europe's best race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, after Beadman suggested the race would be a good target later this year. "The BMW and the Arc, that's something to think about," Singleton said. Darren Beadman once again showed why he is regarded in the same class as the legendary George Moore with a masterful display on Tuesday Joy in Saturday's BMW at Rosehill to bring his tally on the mare to three Group One wins from three rides.

The scene is set for outstanding filly Zarita to make it a hat-trick of Group One wins in the AJC Australian Oaks at Randwick later this week after she beat the colts and geldings convincingly in the South Australian Derby at Morphettville. The Pat Hyland-trained Pentire filly, ridden a treat by Greg Childs, took her record to seven wins and two placings from 11 starts for prizemoney nudging the magic $1 million mark with her commanding victory. She is currently the $3.70 favourite for the AJC Oaks.

Cox Plate winner El Segundo has started his comeback to the racetrack while his G1 winning stable mate Blutigeroo is back in work with trainer Colin Little. El Segundo has had stem cell tendon regeneration treatment on a superficial digital flexor tendon he injured in January and is now undergoing a rehabilitation program at Murchison in northern Victoria. El Segundo's program involves lot of treadmill walking in leg high water. "He will be there six to eight months," Little said. "We are taking it really slow with him." A winner of 12 races and more than $3.7 million in stakes, El Segundo hasn't raced since winning last year's Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Outstanding race mare Divine Madonna will be a star attraction at this year's Magic Millions National Broodmare sale at the Gold Coast in June. The four-time Group One winner was retired last week after she suffered a muscle injury during what was her last racetrack preparation. Purchased as a yearling from the Adelaide Yearling Sale by trainer Mark Kavanagh, Divine Madonna established herself as one of the great Australian mares of the modern era earning over $2 million from just 26 starts. She is best remembered for her come from behind wins in the Emirates Stakes, Queen Of The Turf Stakes, Myer Classic and Toorak Handicap - all at G1 level. "She was an absolute delight to train," Kavanagh said. "Not only a sensational racehorse, she was a real stable favourite." Kavanagh also announced Devil Moon's autumn campaign was over following her lacklustre performance in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Canterbury. The Turnbull Stakes winner will be spelled and brought back for the spring. Other class race mares retired and up for sale include Perfect Drop (injured) and Rendina (2007 AJC Oaks winner).

Jockeys

Big-race jockey Glen Boss won the G1 Doncaster Handicap for the third year running when Triple Honour ran away with the $1.8 million feature at Randwick. Boss won the race on Haradasun last year and Racing To Win in 2006 following earlier Doncaster victories on Private Steer in 2004 and Sprint By in 1996. "I've had a bit of luck in this race," was Boss' understatement. "I'm so excited, it's amazing." Boss' fifth Doncaster win came just a week after he captured the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Sebring.

Darren Beadman once again showed why he is regarded in the same class as the legendary George Moore with a masterful display on Tuesday Joy in the BMW at Rosehill to bring his tally on the mare to three Group One wins from three rides. Tuesday Joy's effusive owner John Singleton could not praise Beadman enough after the now Hong Kong-based rider returned triumphant. "It was an unbelievable ride, Darren Beadman is the best in the world," Singleton said.

New Zealand raider Nom Du Jeu gave former champion South African jockey Jeff Lloyd his first Australian G1 win when he scored an upset victory in the AJC Australian Derby at Randwick.

Big-race jockey Jim Cassidy missed the Golden Slipper meeting and will spend at least a month on the sidelines after confirmation he sustained multiple fractures to his right hand in a fall at Randwick. Cassidy came off Andretti when the two-year-old knuckled over as he was being pulled up following the Listed TL Baillieu Stakes in which the colt was unplaced. Over the past two years, the dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey has suffered more than his share of injuries with two long stints on the sidelines due to a shoulder reconstruction and a broken ankle. "I'm due for a change of luck," Cassidy said. "At the end of the day it could have been worse and I'll be back." Cassidy is one of an elite club of jockeys to have won the four major races on the Australian calendar - the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Golden Slipper.

Trainers

Bob Ingham - prolific buyer at the Inglis
yearling sales
Image: AAP Image

New Zealand-born trainer Chris Waller came to Australia seven years ago with a handful of horses and a dream. On Saturday at Randwick the 34-year-old lived that dream when he celebrated his first G1 victory with three-year-old Triple Honour who took out the time-honoured Doncaster Hcp (1600m) aided by a brilliant ride from big-race jockey Glen Boss. Just weeks ago the same gelding was a heartbreaking second to Weekend Hussler in the G1 Randwick Guineas in a deceptive photo-finish but it was Waller's moment to shine. Waller arrived in Australia with just "three or four" horses but gradually built up his team and is now established among the top five trainers in Sydney. He has enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months, preparing his first stakes race double on Golden Slipper day last year and just weeks ago being given the plum job of trainer for Bob Ingham who recently sold his racing and breeding empire to Darley Stud. The Hong Kong-based Boss became the first jockey in more than 80 years to ride three successive Doncaster winners having scored aboard Racing To Win (2006) and Haradasun (2007) who, like Triple Honour, won the race as three-year-olds.

The trans-Tasman training partnership of Graeme Rogerson and Garry Newham is to end after just one year. Newham joined forces with Rogerson to head the New Zealand arm of his operation in Hamilton at the beginning of this season, on August 1."It's not really what I'm looking for," Newham said. "A big team of horses, it doesn't really suit me to do that. I like a more hands-on, smaller-type set up." Newham, 57, moved from the Gold Coast in Queensland to take up the position. Newham said he was looking at remaining in New Zealand.

Industry News

The Inglis Yearling sale broke a number of records and saw several main groups dominate the buying at the top end of the sales. Bob Ingham who recently sold his racing and breeding empire to Sheik Mohammed's Darley Stud, continued to show he would be a major industry force at the Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney. Ingham Bloodstock purchased eight horses at the third session bringing their total to 24 yearlings at a cost of just over $18 million. Other major buyers were Darley 20 yearlings purchased for $19M, Anthony Cummings 18 for $7.6M, Shadwell Stud Australasia 7 for $5.1M, Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock 12 for $4.6M and Nick Willams 11 for $3.4M. For a full update read our sales and breeding update.

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May 2008 Sporting Fixtures

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Sales and Breeding News / Horse sale dates

Sales Dates

William and Inglis sales dominated the breeding news for the month of April.

The dramas of the Equine Influenza outbreak of last year that bought a majority of Australian racing industry to a standstill, were long forgotten as the William Inglis Easter Yearling Sale set phenomenal records and statistics.

The four day sale saw an amazing 28 yearling sell for 1 million dollars or more, including four that fetched winning bids of over 2 million dollars!

Lot 373. Encosta De Lago x Skates fetched $1.7million.

Usual suspects Redoute's Choice and Encosta de Lago headed the leading sires with progeny fetching an average $791,000 and $588,000.00 respectively.

Not surprisingly, Redoute's Choice sire the top lot of the sale. An outstanding colt knocked down to Darley Stud for an impressive $2.7million. The dam, Salameh is from the top producing Dancing Show family and closely related to group 1 winner and now stallion, Al Maher.

Joining the top two stallions this year was More Than Ready, sire of Golden Slipper and Sire's Produce winner, Sebring. More Than Ready had two lots break the million dollar mark, those being a filly out of well related mare, Regrowth for $1.6m and a half sister to grand performer Grand Armee for $1.8m.

"The sale has exceeded all expectations given what has transpired over the past six months within the industry," William Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.

"I'd like to thank the breeders who supported it with their best yearlings and the buyers who arrived from around the globe."

"It was particularly pleasing to see such a high clearance rate of 85% and we couldn't have possibly wished for a better result this week."

At time of publishing, Inglis were also conducting their Australian Easter Yearling Sale - Classic sessions from 27th, 28th and 29th April. A sale sure to attract plenty of attention as those who were looking to secure a yearling during the Select Sessions and could not afford the exuberant prices, will be forced to shop elsewhere.

If it's a breeding prospect you looking for, Inglis have that base covered as well. The Easter Broodmare sale is set for the 4th and 5th of May.

The sale will include Doncaster winner, Triple Honour's dam, Myrrh along with last year's Australian Oaks quinella, Rena's Lady and Perfect Drop.

The big prices and buoyant bloodstock market look set to continue.

UPCOMING SALES

Red Centre Yearling Sale - 2nd May, Alice Springs.

Australia Easter Broodmare Sale - 4th, 5th and 6th May, Newmarket NSW

Autumn Yearling Sale - 11th and 12th May, Oaklands VIC

Great Southern Sale - Weanlings - 15th and 16th May, Oaklands VIC

Great Southern Sale - Bloodstock - 18th and 19th May, Oaklands VIC

HTBA Scone Yearling Sale - 22nd May, Scone NSW

May Monthly Sale - 2nd May, Gold Coast QLD

National Weanling Sale, Select Sessions - 27th to 29th May, Gold Coast, QLD

National Weanling Sale, General Sessions - 30th May, Gold Coast, QLD.

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AAP Racing Product News

AAP's Fastform Five Ratings - Big results in the all the big races!

AAP's exclusive Fastform Five Ratings have come to the fore over the Autumn Carnival.

Not only have Fastform Five Ratings identified the winners of the big races, more importantly for the users, they've also identified value runners!

Each runner is assessed based on a combination of factors including class, weight, race time and sectional time factors and awarded a FastForm Five Numerical Rating. Ratings are calculated as soon as acceptances are received.

Users of Fastform Five Ratings also have the option making their own adjustments, setting their own market percentages and viewing Ratings for wet and dry track conditions.

Here's some of the winners Fastform Five have identified over the Autumn Carnival to date.

GOLDEN SLIPPER DAY 19th APRIL

DERBY DAY 26th APRIL

Fastform Five Ratings are available via AAP's Form Analyser service and cover every TAB meeting!

To be armed with an unfair advantage or more details on Fastform Five Ratings, visit http://www.aapracing.com.au/products/form-analyser or call AAP Racing toll free on 1800 811 358 today!

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Book Review

What the Trainer Saw - by Peter Bent.

There's no shortage of form information these days for thoroughbred racing.

Comprehensive formguides, websites and extensive television coverage means that there's not one aspect of a horse's form, readily available to the racing enthusiast.

Sectional times, career stats, track conditions, 1st up record and career performances are components of form that punters literally spend hours pouring over in the hope of finding that elusive winner.

But what about studying the horse itself? Surely the most integral part of form analysis.

Peter Bent's new book, "What the Trainer Saw" gives readers a great insight into what the formguides do not contain.

During Peter's twenty years in the racing industry as a successful racehorse owner and professional punter, he has amassed a great insight from leading trainers and equine veterinarians, into what characteristics are identified in selecting and training a successful thoroughbred.

"What the Trainer Saw" begins in the sales ring and discusses what physical characteristics and personality traits most trainers look for and, more importantly, which ones they avoid.

Peter than follows the distinctive stages of a thoroughbred's career in great detail.

From the early education and training of the yearling, to how the thoroughbred is constantly assessed and reassessed when brought back into work to commence their racing career.

The different methods that trainers apply to their charges as the horse's career progresses and their ability for sprint or staying events is established is described in detail. Accompanying worksheets of a sprinter and stayer are used to illustrate.

"What the Trainer Saw" also examines how a horse's individual action can dictate its ability to perform on a wet or dry track surface, likely race patterns and the preparation of your own Speed Maps.

"What the Trainer Saw" is full of information that all keen punters and racing enthusiast will enjoy reading, discussing and potentially, putting into action.

It will definitely ensure that all who read the book, peruse the form guide in a new and more knowledgeable light.

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