Inform Newsletter - March 2008

In This Months Edition

• The Month That Was
• April Sporting Dates
• Sales and Breeding News
• AAP Racing Product News
• AAP Autumn Carnival Tipping Competition
• Equine Staff Website

March: The Month That Was

What a fabulous month of racing, which culminated with Flemington's Cadbury Guineas, Australian Cup and Newmarket Handicap meeting bringing together some of Australia's best horses for racegoers to enjoy.

Horses

Sirmione- Winning the Australian Cup
Image: AAP Image

Trainer Mick Price flagged a Cox Plate showdown with superstar Weekend Hussler after Light Fantastic's meteoric rise reached new heights in the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Only 40 minutes after Weekend Hussler demolished the older sprinters carrying a near record weight for a three-year-old in the Group One Newmarket Hcp (1200m), Light Fantastic threw out the challenge with a courageous neck win over Victoria Derby placegetter Marching in the 1600m Group One Guineas at what was just his fourth race start.

Price described Light Fantastic, who didn't race until last month and is still unbeaten, as clearly the best of eight Group One winners he has trained including last year's Australian Cup winner Pompeii Ruler. "I don't know when I will get the next horse to go from a maiden to Group One against some really good three-year-olds, all in the space in 33 days," Price said.

Star three-year-old Weekend Hussler lived up to the huge wraps placed on him by trainer Ross McDonald when he won his fourth Group One race in the $1 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. The last three-year-old to carry as much weight in the 1200m feature was Baguette who won with 56kg in 1971. Weekend Hussler ($1.70 fav) was sent out the shortest-priced Newmarket winner since Bernborough (4-9) in 1946. And he was the first three-year-old to complete the Oakleigh Plate-Newmarket double since the great sprinter Schillaci in 1992. "I think he's a superstar," McDonald said. McDonald indicated that the $1.8 million Doncaster Hcp (1600m) at Randwick on April 26 was the next major goal for the gelding. "But it's a long way away and we have to work out how to get to it," he said." Then next spring he'll be nominated for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup, but it seems the Cox Plate would be the most likely target."

A jubilant Anthony Cummings has the Doncaster Handicap in his sights after Casino Prince broke a frustrating run of outs in Group One races to claim the Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick. The four-year-old started favourite in the Golden Slipper two years ago but was never in the race after a slow start, and then beat all but Miss Finland in last year's Australian Guineas before his game last-start third in the Australian Cup. His turn in the Group One winner's circle finally came in Saturday's 1600m race. Casino Prince is raced by Cummings' wife Bernadette along with two owners who couldn't be at further ends of the spectrum. Ambulance officer Steve Smith won the stallion prospect in a Star City Casino raffle while the big-spending Nathan Tinkler recently bought a share in Casino Prince with a view to standing him at his property, Patinack Farm, when the horse retires.

Typhoon Zed bounced back from a luckless Melbourne campaign to give young rider Tim Clark his first Group One success with a narrow victory in The Galaxy at Randwick. The Zeditave four-year-old was placed in four feature sprints in Melbourne during the spring and was beaten less than four lengths when sixth to Weekend Hussler in the Group One Oakleigh Plate when resuming at Caulfield on February 23. Clark jumped the gelding quickly from his wide draw on Saturday and soon had him in the box seat behind leader Keen Commander to the turn. The pair settled down to fight it out in the run to the line with Typhoon Zed prevailing by a half-head from Keen Commander with the fast-finishing Fritz's Princess just a long head away third.

Racing lost some of its favourite gallopers in March with the retirement of Bentley Biscuit and Miss Finland. Bentley Biscuit suffered a bleeding attack during the running of The Galaxy at Randwick and trainer Gai Waterhouse confirmed Bentley Biscuit would not race again. Glamour mare Miss Finland has run her last race with leading trainer David Hayes and managing part-owner John Messara announcing her retirement after she finished fifth to Sirmione in the Australian Cup. Hayes said "She's the best two and three-year-old I've ever trained by a long way. She's given me the best ride. She's re-established me, so I owe her everything," Hayes added about his return to Australia after 10 years training in Hong Kong. Owner John Messara said Miss Finland would be mated with his Arrowfield Stud stallion Hussonet, the sire of star three-year-old and the Newmarket Handicap winner Weekend Hussler, this spring. Miss Finland's wins included the 2006 Golden Slipper, Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks and the 2007 Australian Guineas and Arrowfield Stud Stakes. She is the only filly to win the Golden Slipper-VRC Oaks double.

Jockeys

Champion jockey Damien Oliver grabbed yet another Group One win and Casino Prince landed his first when the Anthony Cummings-trained four-year-old stuck his head out when it mattered for victory in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick. Jockey Clare Lindop set another first for her gender by winning the $1.5 million Magic Millions Classic aboard Adelaide filly Augusta Proud on Monday. Lindop became the first female jockey to win the 1200-metre feature when she stormed home on Augusta Proud to edge out the Gai Waterhouse-trained She's Meaner by a head in a nail biting finish. Lindop previously made her mark when she became the first Australian woman to ride a Group One winner when she steered Exalted Time to victory in the 2006 Adelaide up.

Internationally acclaimed jockey Shane Dye celebrated his first winner at Randwick since returning full-time to Sydney's riding ranks. The 41-year-old, who has been riding in Hong Kong for the past eight seasons, steered the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fancyfree to victory in the Campbelltown Welter Handicap (1400m). Dye and Waterhouse forged a successful association in the past, combining to win the 1995 Victoria Derby with Nothin' Leica Dane. "He's very good Shane, he's a wonderful jockey who's ridden all over the world and it's nice to see him back," Waterhouse said. "I've got my team and we work very well as a team but they can't ride everything and so he may pick up some more rides for us."

Trainers

Mick Price - Could have 3
runners in the Cox Plate
Image: AAP Image

Peter Snowden landed five winners at Randwick on the 1st March meeting. Snowden's winners included Portillo in the Gimcrack Stakes, El Cambio in the Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes and Hoystar in the Group Three Frederick Clissold Stakes. Makybe Diva's three-quarter brother Musket won the National Jockeys Celebration Hcp, whilst Forensics returned to form in the Group Two Light Fingers.

Eighty-year-old trainer Bart Cummings landed his 13th Australian Cup with Sirmione at Flemington 40 years after he landed his first with Arctic Coast, and he was quite surprised by the ease of it. An upset winner of the Mackinnon Stakes at $61 on Derby Day at Flemington last spring, Sirmione gave Cummings the 248th and 249th Group One wins of the Hall Of Fame trainer's amazing career. "I think I'm learning with age," the master trainer quipped. Sent out at $3.80 and ridden by Peter Mertens, Sirmione swept around the field after settling back second last of the 10 runners and quickly had the race in his keeping.

Trainer Mick Price continued his run of group races in March with bold front runner Gotta Have Heart's dashing win in the G3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. Earlier in the month Light Fantastic won the G1 Australian Cup. Price may have as many as three Cox Plate runners this year including new stable addition Alamosa who he rates as the second best horse in New Zealand. "It's very exciting to get a horse of his calibre. He's spelling in New Zealand at the moment and will have another month in the paddock before he comes over."

Darren Weir landed a two-state feature double when Like It Is took out the Group Three Easter Cup at Caulfield soon after Virvacity won the Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank. Like It Is, who won the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown last spring, was beautifully rated in front by Melbourne's leading apprentice Sebastian Murphy. "That's Sebastian and his father's (Garry) forte. He (Garry) won a Ballarat Cup for me. They are both very good judges of pace. When they ride work they are never more than a second out," Weir said.

Industry News

Bob Ingham - has sold the Ingham
thoroughbred empire
Image: AAP Image

Bob Ingham's shock announcement he has sold his thoroughbred empire brings an end to Australia's most successful family racing and breeding operation. Ingham said he decided to sell after receiving an offer he could not refuse from the Australian arm of the global Darley Stud, owned by Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The purchase, believed to be in the region of $500 million, encompasses Ingham's two thoroughbred studs, training operations at Flemington in Melbourne and Warwick Farm in Sydney and a total of around 1,000 horses.

Ingham issued a statement Monday, saying he had not contemplated selling until approached by Darley which also has thoroughbred studs in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and Japan.

"The sale of the bloodstock business was not something I was contemplating," Ingham said. "Once approached by Darley, I decided it was an opportunity that I should accept." The sale is on a walk-in, walk-out basis. I will however be keeping our racing colours and will continue to race horses. "Not only is it in the long-term interest of the company, it also secures the continuation of the bloodstock business and the employment of the team. Further it takes the business under Darley, a global breeding and racing operation, into a new and exciting phase. It's a win-win for all parties". Ingham and his late brother Jack made a fortune in the poultry business and diverted some of that cash to building their thoroughbred operation. Jack was the public face of the business and when he died in 2003 there was speculation Bob would get out of racing. But in the past few years, he has made his presence felt at the yearling sales and was the biggest buyer at the 2007 Easter Sale.

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April 2008 Sports Calendar

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Sales and Breeding News / Horse sale dates

Sales Dates

Session 5 and 6
Sunday 30 March - Commencing 10am
Monday 31 March - Commencing 10am

Session 7 and 8
Tuesday 1 April - Commencing 10am
Wednesday 2 April - Commencing 10am

To view the above catalogues online, visit http://www.magicmillions.com.au/online_catalog.html

Australian Easter Yearling Sale

Select Session Part 1 - 20, 21 & 22 April
Select Session Part 2 (evening session) 24 April
Classic Session - 27, 28 & 29 April

To view the above catalogues online, visit
http://www.inglis.com.au/auctions/auctions.php

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AAP Racing Product News

Runner's to Watch

AAP's "Runners to Watch" is a free service on AAP Racing's homepage, which lists horses identified by our racing staff that are ready to win now! It's updated regularly and you can see the latest horses by going to our homepage at www.aapracing.com.au

Blackbook

AAP Racing's Blackbook allows you to track your own list of horses and receive email notification when your selected horses have been accepted for a race meeting. Best of all, the Blackbook is FREE! You can register for free and list as many horses as you wish, complete with your own form comment. When horse within your "stable" is entered to race, AAP will send you an email with the race details, date and time. You'll never miss a winner again! Join today by following this link: www.aapracing.com.au/blackbook

NetForm - get your form for the Autumn Carnival

AAP Racing's NetForm offers online form for every meeting in Australia and New Zealand which are available from nominations through to weights and final acceptances. Detailed form covers the last 15 starts for every horse and shows:

• Stewards reports
• Barrier trials
• Positions in-running
• Sectional time
• Track conditions
• Class of race
• Betting fluctuations
• Career win
• Place percentage
• Prize money won

To find out more, visit www.aapracing.com.au call 1800 811 358 or email salesandadmin@aap.com.au Weekly, Monthly and Yearly subscriptions available.

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AAP Autumn Tipping Carnival Competition

Over $5,000 worth of AAP Racing services and prizes to be won!

During April and May AAP are giving you the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes' by being involved in our Tipping Competition.

AAP Racing has selected 16 races over the Autumn Carnival. All you need to do is submit your selection for each of the designated races and cheer your horse home!

If your selection runs 1st, 2nd or 3rd, you'll earn points - the more points you earn the better chance you have of sharing in the fantastic prizes on offer.

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Equine Staff - New Industry Website

After several months of development, Equine Staff has launched their new web page. The new site allows horse enthusiasts to find and promote jobs in the horse industry.

With this new site, horse studs and businesses looking for staff can gain access to experienced applicants looking for work in studs, stable hand and track positions, as well as trainers, managers and bloodstock assistants.

Equine Staff can pre screen, reference check and organise interview times leaving you to handle what you do best- business!

Each month more than 1000 users visit the site. According to one jobseeker "Equine Staff makes finding horse jobs easy as new jobs are being sent directly to my email, or one of the staff contacts you about the position if you don't have the net".

On the other hand, employers can be certain that their job vacancy gets the visibility it deserves. Equine Staff offers detailed job ads with description, contact details, location, and a stud photo or business logo. Unlike other recruitment services Equine Staff also has a replacement guarantee of 3 months and no placement fees.

Last but not least, Equine Staff provides equestrian businesses with a wide array of advertising and recruitment services with our prices starting from just $80 (for a one month advertising package). We can also advertise your vacancy (s) in any newspaper or magazine of your choice; you pay for advertising whilst directing applicant enquiries to us. This allows your business details to remain confidential until such time as a suitable applicant is selected by Equine Staff.

We currently have over 20 positions in the Racing and Performance Horse Industry which can be seen online at http://www.equinestaff.com.au or by phone 0429859597

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