Ivan Holloway always knew it was going to be a big ask to bring Mamzellle Tess out of retirement after it wasn’t her time in the breeding barn and then aim her for the $5 million All-Star Mile.

After paying $110,000 for the Group 2 winning mare at the Inglis Digital Online Sale last May, Holloway sent her to Merchant Navy, a stallion he has long admired, but the mare failed to get in foal.

Holloway noted that the daughter of Victorian stallion O’Lonhro was perhaps retired due to her age, rather than her form as she’d won the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at her second last start in March last year before being sold as a breeding proposition.

Her last race before Holloway bought the mare was in April last year when she ran a respectable fourth, beaten three lengths, in the VOBIS Gold Mile at Caulfield.

The eight-year-old returned to the track after 43 weeks in last Saturday’s Group Bellmaine Stakes when she finished seven of 11, beaten less than three lengths.

The first stage of the comeback was successful, but Holloway admits getting enough publicity and the necessary votes to get the mare into the richest mile race in the world will take some doing.

If she gets in, Holloway said it be would be a fairy tale.

The Irishman, who heads a global infrastructure company, is in the closing days of spending two weeks in quarantine after returning to his native country on business.

He was more than happy with what her saw of Mamzellle Tess’ comeback run.

“To be honest, nine months off the track, you couldn’t have wished for more,” Holloway said.

“She ran really well. It just seemed that she got tired the last 100m and she ran seventh in a Group race and was nine months off the track, was two and half lengths of a Group 1 winner who I know who was carrying a big weight but you couldn’t wish for a better return for a mare that was going to the breeding barn who then took a U-turn.

“I am very happy with her.”

Mamzellle Tess’  inability to get into foal to Merchant Navy left Holloway “twiddling” his thumbs as he’d more bad luck the previous year when he had a couple of barren mares.

With a year to kill before he sends the mare back to Merchant Navy, Holloway pondered about his options which including leaving her in the Hunter Valley until the next breeding season or bringing her back to Victoria.

In the end he decided to ring the mare’s trainer Leon Corstens for his opinion if it was a feasible option to bring her back into work.

“He had trained her for the last four or five years so I rang Troy and we had a quick chat with and asked him what he reckoned about bringing Mamzelle Tess back into training,” Holloway said.

“He said straight away, yes why not. When she came back to him she’d had good break that she normally wouldn’t have and came back better than ever.

“It was a solution time leaving her somewhere on a farm until the next year and by the looks of it she has got some potential.

“Originally what I liked about her was the toughness and that’s why I bought her, more than pedigree, so I think she has got a good chance of showing something this year.”

He has leased her to Corstens.

Holloway was looking for value when he saw Mamzelle Tess come on the market and thought he did well to pay $110,000 for a Group 2 winning mare who won more than $600,000 in prizemoney in her 49 starts.

Now with the comeback run a success, Holloway needs the public vote get her into the top 10 and split 10 per cent of any prizemoney with charities Pinchapoo and the Peter Mac Cancer Foundation which his business has previously supported.

“We are trying to give something back and create a bit of interest and with only a few days to go, she hasn’t been in the eye like all other horses over the spring and such,” Holloway said.

“She is probably a bit forgotten so how to get her there is the next question.

“I am not into marketing and social media so I am sort of old school in that that way and I am looking to other people for ideas.”

Holloway has reduced his broodmare band in recent years but currently has six after learning what he says was a valuable lesson in the breeding game – quality over quantity.

He breeds to race and sell and admits he’s tried to make the breeding pay for the racing.

“But it hasn’t quite worked out yet,” he laughed.

“It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon this game. I love it and love all the aspects of it and you learn from the people in the industry.”

Racing has been a lifetime obsession and love for Holloway who recalls to going to races all over Ireland as a child.

He then went into the ownership of horses which he said started with a leg, a tail and then he owned a couple of broodmares in Ireland.

“And then when I came over here I started getting into it a bit more seriously about six years ago,” he said.

“I brought a couple of broodmares from Inglis and Magic Millions and started small and the just built it up.

“I brought over horse from Ireland to race and my thing is to try bringing over a horse every year and try to make it work it that way. I also bring over foals and yearlings.

“I started off buying tried horses and bringing them over but now it’s more breeding the horses over there and giving them their initial training in Ireland and they come over her if they are good enough to earn the flight over.”

Holloway has had some success and bad luck with Pivotal (GB) mare Procrastination (GB), which cost him $180,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale.

He said the mare, which was in foal to Exceed and Excel when he bought her, won two races in France and was stakes placed and more interesting is out of Rubiton mare Dilly Dally which won two Group 2 races over 1200m in Australia.

Holloway sold the Exceed and Excel colt at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $200,000 to Bill Mitchell who bought him for a Hong Kong client. Named Excellent Proposal, the now four year-old won three of his four starts in Australia before making his way to John Size in Hong Kong where he has won four of his six races, including his last start victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin to take his career earnings to $AUD1.8 million.

“Unfortunately the mother died after the second foal which I still have and he’s a Vancouver colt which is nearly ready to go with Robert Kingston,” he said.

Now a three-year-old, the colt is named Potato Pete as Holloway explained he names the horses after his children. Another of his horses is named Sophia’s Choice after one his daughters.

Holloway laughed when he explained that Potato Pete is his son’s nickname.

Sophia’s Choice, by Fastnet Rock and a winner of three races, is expected to join Mamzelle Tess in the breeding barn later this year.

“It would be a great fairy tale if things happened for Mamzelle Tess this year and then she went to the barn,” he said.

Holloway said he was with Segenhoe stud master Peter O’Brien when Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay) won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. He was also at the Curragh when the entire won the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes (1207m) and also witnessed the victory in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee (1207m) at Royal Ascot.

After being based in Australia for eight years, Holloway’s love of racing has continued to grow.

To submit your vote in the All Star Mile, click here.

Above: Shamus Award standing at Rosemont Stud

Carrying the colours made famous by her Cox Plate winning sire Shamus Award, Ethical Solution made thrip across Bass Strait worthwhile by capturing the Group III Kevin Sharkie Bow Mistress (1200m) at Hobart.

Ridden by Joe Bowditch for trainer Lloyd Kennewell, Ethical Solution looked in danger of securing a run at the 300 metres.

Bowdich found a narrow seam and Ethical Solution was strong to the line in defeating the Street boss (USA) mare Street Icon by two lengths with a further four and a quarter lengths back to the veteran Sebring mare Runaway Girl in third.

The first stakes success for Ethical Solution advances her record to six two two from 16 starts with earnings of $217,405.

Golden Grove Stud Farm bred the 4yo daughter of Shamus Award.

She is the best of three winners from five to race out of the South African Group III winner Miss Ethics (SAF).

A daughter of the Zafonic stallion Count Dubois, Miss Ethics has an unraced 2yo sister to Ethical Solution named Ethical Award and she has a colt foal by Shamus Ward.

Ethical Solution becomes the 10^th stakes-winner for Shamus Award who now stands at Rosemont Stud after beginning his career at Widden.

Article courtesy of Breednet

From trainer Shane Nichols’ Mornington stables, Streets of Avalon travelled an incredible amount of kilometres before finally breaking his maiden status at Bairnsdale.

The gelding went to Bendigo, Cranbourne, Morphettville, Echuca Dunkeld, and Pakenham before finally winning at Bairnsdale at his seventh attempt.

The trip to Dunkeld, nearly an eight hour round trip from Mornington, resulted in a third and a cheque of $1760.

The horse that finished first in that Dunkeld maiden, Sierradora finished his career with just one more win and prizemoney of $43,489. The second placegetter, Duanette finished her career in Port Lincoln with one win and a second and $24,886 from 12 starts.

Both are now retired.

Streets of Avalon, now a two time Group 1 winner after victory in last Saturday’s CF Orr Stakes (1400m), has prizemoney of $1.7 million from his 54 starts that have netted 10 wins, nine seconds and nine thirds.

Although the six-year-old doesn’t hold a nomination for the All-Star Mile, he is still a chance to win a free entry into the race like he did last year.

Phil Warren, who bred Streets of Avalon which is by Sun Stud stallion Magnus, races the six year-old with mates David Healy, Paul Farrell, David Dobe and Steve Foxwell.

After the gelding’s previous win, the Group 2 Australian Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, Warren continues to be amazed at his horse’s grit.

“He is just incredibly competitive,” Warren said.

“He has been extraordinary and what’s he won now – $1.7 million.

“It’s not about the money, but this horse has delivered us some amazing moments.

“He had a pretty disappointing spring when he was a victim of some bad barriers and conditions but he has come back incredibly well.

“Maybe he is a better horse in the autumn. Some horses are like that and he’ll only have a light autumn and Shane is talking about maybe only one or two more runs and see how we go again in the spring.

“But it’s extraordinary.”

Warren owns Streets of Avalon’s dam Kamuniak (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory), a mare that was unplaced in all her seven races but has been a bigger success in the breeding barn.

A full sister to Streets of Avalon, Orlando Grove, was also bred and raced by Warren and friends and has had three starts for a win and second, breaking her maiden at Sandown in January as the $3.80 favourite.

Kamuniak has a colt foal at foot to Magnus and is again in foal to the stallion.

“That combination is working well I might as well keep it going,” Warren said.

And the mare has also produced an unraced two-year-old filly, Stormy Mistress, by Rosemont Stud stallion Starspangledbanner. The filly, like Orlando Grove, is in Nichols’ care and also raced by Warren and a group of his friends.

“Stormy Mistress is big and strong and is very different to Streets of Avalon and she’ll probably get to a trial this time in and she’ll be a spring horse before she gets to the track,” he said.

Warren bought Kamuniak as a yearling at the 2009 Karaka sales in New Zealand for $75,000 and raced her with OTI Racing and Bloodstock.

She is a full sister to multiple New Zealand Group winning entire Jokers Wild.

“I bought her and raced her for six or seven starts and she didn’t go well on the track but because she was bred so well, I kept her and started breeding from her,” he said.

But Warren’s first crack at breeding didn’t work.

Warren said Nichols then introduced him to Supreme Thoroughbreds at Romsey and admits the first two stallions he sent Kamuniak to – Street Boss and Bushranger – were his choice and probably based on price and naivety, rather than a good breeding match.

“And then when I took her to Supreme Thoroughbreds, they have got an expert there in mating and bloodstock, Neil Shaw, and he recommended Magnus and away we went,” he said.

“I owe him plenty.

“Streets of Avalon hadn’t been on the track really when I went to Starspangledbanner and then again, Neil recommended it. I obviously liked Starspangled banner as a horse and obviously he had some fertility issues early on.

“I thought it was interesting to go there and try it out and the filly looks nice.

“I breed to race and I don’t really sell so on that basis I’ll just keep going back to Magnus. It’s probably not worth trying anything else but saying that, I would actually consider a Written Tycoon or something next time but I’ll wait and see as I haven’t given it too much thought for next time.

Warren said the services free of some stallions are priced for their progeny to be “sellers.”

He said if he wanted to race he’d go to Magnus but if he wanted to breed to sell, he’d go to a stallion like Written Tycoon.

As well as Kamuniak, he has another broodmare named Scrunchie (Stravinsky x Recollection) which has an unraced two-year-old gelding by Rich Enuff , named Rich Strings, which he has talked former Australian basketballer Michelle Timms into taking a share in.

“Again Supreme Thoroughbreds is assisting with the breeding and recommendations for her as well,’’ he said.

“Scrunchie also has a filly by Fiorente and she just foaled down as well but she hasn’t been served this season as she was quite late with an Akeed Mofeed colt.

“Scrunchie is quite well bred too and has some Zabeel blood and she won a couple of races.”

Warren said he became involved with horses through former Australian cricketer Simon O’Donnell when he was syndicating horses with OTI.

He raced horses with O’Donnell for about six or seven years and then decided he might try it on his own.

“Simon has been fantastic and has taught me plenty about horses and stuff,” Warren said.

“I just thought I’d have a crack myself and over the journey I have had a bucket-load of horses that have produced nothing and from a return perspective I think this is probably about one of about two or three that has actually returned a profit over the journey.”

While Warren hasn’t got any plans on buying any more broodmares, he said Streets of Avalon’s full sister Orlando Grove might replace Kamuniak at some stage.

And as far as the All-Star Mile goes, after getting a free ticket into last year’s $5 million race by winning the Futurity Stakes (1400m), Warren said they would race again if they got a free entry in the race with a repeat victory in the Futurity at Caulfield.

“Even though he is a 1400m specialist at Caulfield, he just flies around The Valley,” Warren said.

“We’d certainly have a crack at The Valley, but if it was anyone else, I don’t think we would.”

Streets of Avalon has won only once beyond 1400m and that was over 1500m at Moonee Valley.

Warren said they didn’t enter Streets of Avalon for The All-Star Mile because they didn’t think they’d get the votes.

“And if you don’t get the votes, you have to win your way in, so let’s win our way in,” he said.

Warren operates popular sporting app, Team App, with O’Donnell and a few other partners.

Trainer Shane Nichols said the chance of racing in The All-Star Mile at The Valley makes its more appealing, even though he is not suited by the 1600m.

“He’ll go to the Futurity and he may run in the William Reid after that,” he said

“He can’t cope with a high pressure race at a mile. In those big fields and big handicaps, it’s very tricky for him and he would run a mile in good company like a Group 2 mile but it would have to be where he could control a bit of the tempo.

“He was okay in the All-Star Mile last year. We didn’t nominate last year either and we got a free ticket into because when won the Futurity.”

Nichols said it would be hard to knock back a free ticket into this year’s All-Star Mile because of the $5 million prizemoney on offer.

“You get $100,000 for running a place and the horse is a gelding so we’d certainly consider it,” he said.

Nichols has had a long association with Sun Stud’s Magnus and reckons he trained the stallion’s first winner Miss Joolia and first stake’s placegetter How Swede It Is which finished second in the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

“I have had a lot of the stallion on the way through,’’ he said.

“Magnus has been good to me, and this one is a ripper, ripping horse.

Nichols said he was always knew Streets of Avalon would develop into a good horse but first he had to furnish and initially was what the trainer described as a little soft boned and needed time to harden-up.

“Where he has become unique is that he has improved a lot from from three to four and four to five and potentially five to six,” Nichols said.

“And that is really where has come into his own as he has improved with time and age which a lot of horses can’t do that because they get niggling issues and things.

“We have been able to keep him fairly sound and well.”

Nichols described Streets of Avalon as a freak which he demonstrated when he fought back after being headed in the straight to win by half a length last Saturday.

Above: General Beau winning the Listed Blue Diamond Preview

Last Week’s Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) winner General Beau (Brazen Beau) will return to Caulfield this weekend to tackle the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude, looking to stake his claims for the G1 Blue Diamond S. a fortnight later.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained colt, bred and raced by David Moodie’s Contract Racing, is not nominated for the $1.5 million juvenile feature, however, a decision will be made after Saturday as to whether a late entry fee will be paid.

While General Beau is going into the Group 3 with less than two weeks between run, Zahra said he is in good order for his next assignment.

“He obviously wasn’t completely wound up for that race, if anything he was a bit underdone knowing that we had to peak him in a month’s time, so he’s made good improvement. He had a nice gallop on the grass this morning and we couldn’t be happier with him,” Zahra told TDN AusNZ.

Zahra said General Beau physically looks in better condition coming off his first-up run and expects him to prove that in Saturday’s race.

“You have a good look at them a couple of days after the race and he looked better for the run, he just tightened up nicely,” he said.

“Going into that run he was on the tubbier side, so he’s tightened up a lot and he had a good gallop this morning and he had a nice blow, so we know that on Saturday he’s not going to peak, he should peak perfectly third-up.”

“We know that on Saturday he’s (General Beau) not going to peak, he should peak perfectly third-up.” – Simon Zahra

General Beau had two runs in the spring where he won the Darley Spring 2YO Preview over 900 metres, before finishing second to Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) in the 1000 metre Listed Maribyrnong Trial S.

The 1100 metre Blue Diamond Prelude will be the colt’s first run over further than 1000 metres but Zahra expects him to relish the extra ground.

“He’s quite the professional sort of horse,” Zahra said. “He’s a horse that has always done what you want him to do so he’ll be happy to drop his head and go to sleep.

“They’ll still run along quite quickly and he can just be on the back of the speed to hit the line.

“I don’t think going up to 1100 and 1200 metres in the next couple of weeks is going to worry him too much.”

Above: Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra

While many 2-year-olds targeting the rich juvenile races this autumn have only begun their racing careers over the past few weeks, Zahra believes the fact that General Beau already has one preparation under his belt holds him in good stead for the significant amount of racing over the coming weeks.

“The advantage that he’s got over the others is that he’s had two runs pre-Christmas so history will tell you that you’ll find a lot of the Blue Diamond and Slipper winners have come from horses that have run pre-Christmas,” he said.

“They just hold up with all the racing, they’ve been seasoned a bit more than those horses have in their first starts in Preludes.

“Yeah, they might get the win on the board but they seem to train off quite quickly. Our advantage is that he’s had two runs pre-Christmas, he’s had seven weeks in the paddock and he looks like a 3-year-old so he’s really coping with it all.”

Fee no issue

If General Beau is to contest the Blue Diamond, of which he is currently a $15 chance for on the TAB, connections must pay a late-entry fee of $50,000.

The stable said immediately after his Preview win that he would contest the Prelude before the fee was paid, but Zahra said that as long as he performs well on Saturday, they are likely to send him to the Blue Diamond on February 20.

“If he wins or runs an unlucky second or he hits the line strongly, as long he shows that he’s going to be competitive, paying the late nom is not really going to be an issue,” Zahra said.

“It’s just a matter of him going around and performing to what we think he can do and if he does that and looks like he can win or be competitive in a Blue Diamond, the late entry fee will be paid.”

Article courtesy of  TDN

Above: Lot 470 Tosen Stardom x Awaayed colt

Noorilim Park at Arcadia is off to the 2021 Classic Yearling Sale at Sydney for the first time and they’ve got three horses to offer – two fillies and a colt.

Japanese stallion Tosen Stardom is represented with a colt out of Hard Spun mare, Awaayed.

Noorilim Park’s Sherah Sullivan remarked the colt is an outstanding type and didn’t think there was one person who had seen him that didn’t like him.

“He is really correct and I think people will find him a lot more forward than what they would expect of a Tosen Stardom,” she said.

“He has got a decent amount of hindquarter on him and is just a lovely moving colt and looks like he’ll get up and run. He potentially looks like he’d suit someone who was looking to trade a horse as well, a Hong Kong option or something like that.”

Sherah said she prepared the colt for the Classic Sale off the back off it generally being a “type sale” and she felt that being such a nice type, selling him in Sydney was the best option.

The dam Awaayed is related to handy South African mare Mythical Play which was the champion three-year-old classic filly in 1999/2000.

The Impending filly offered by Noorilim Park is out of 11-time winning Written Tycoon mare, Tycoon Queen, which finished second eight times and third 10 times in her 68-race career.

Above: Lot 399 Impending x Tycoon Queen

“The mare was pretty quick and she was probably unlucky not to have sneaked black type,” Sherah said.

“She won almost $300,000 on the track and this is our first foal.

“The filly is just a really good mover and she is not overly big but just has a massive action on her. I think from what I’ve seen of the Impendings, a lot of them have a really good action and I’d be very surprised if he can’t leave a racehorse just based on how well they move.

“This filly is really athletic and has got a great constitution and looks like a really early runner and I suspect you could just stick a saddle on and go, really.”

Sherah said while it was a shame Tycoon Queen didn’t get black type, Written Tycoon can’t do anything wrong at the moment which was a big bonus.

Noorilim Park’s Shooting to Win filly is a half-sister to Cranbourne trainer Enver Jusufovic’s handy sprinter, O’Malley.

Out of Pink Champagne, Sherah said the filly has got a good head, a good shoulder, is a good size and moves well.

“She is probably not as early as the Impending filly but she is from the family of Kinky Boom so she has got pedigree there as well and she is just a really attractive as well.”

Sherah said Pink Champagne had done a reasonable job as a broodmare and had a colt at foot by Street Boss, the sire of O’Malley.

Noorilim Park is also taking 18 yearlings to Melbourne Premier, but didn’t have any horses at the Magic Millions.

“This the first time that we’ve taken horses up to the Classic and I just wanted to spread them out a little bit this year,” Sherah said.

“Obviously we have got quite a big draft as we didn’t go up to the Gold Coast this year and our better standout horses that would have gone to the Coast are going to the Premier this year.

“We’ve got a pretty good draft heading that way.”

Sherah said she wanted to send three really good types to the Classic.

“Historically it has been known as a type sale so I just thought I’d pick out three so we could have a decent crack for our first year,” she said.

“It’s the first live sale I’ve done since Adelaide last year so it will be good to back out and see everyone.”

To view Noorilim’s draft at the Classic sales, click here

Above: Lot 590 Written Tycoon x Empress O’Reilly filly

Fresh from the success of the Gold Coast Magic Millions, Yulong heads to Sydney for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables from February 7-9.

With one withdrawal – lot 518 – seven Yulong yearlings will go under the hammer.

Yulong’s Sam Fairgray said five colts and two fillies will be offered and three of those are by first season sires.

“It’s a neat little group of horses and there are a couple of proven stallions in there,” he said.

“We have a nice Written Tycoon filly out of Empress O’Reilly (NZ) who was a fast mare.

“Written Tycoon is going really well and she is an attractive filly.”

Yulong’s lot 96 is by proven stallion Choisir and lot 143 is by another proven stallion, Sebring.

Fairgray said the two colts were both nice types that were very trainable horses and would fit in extremely well at the Classic Sale.

A No Nay Never (USA) filly, out of She Said No, will give her new owners plenty of fun when it comes to selecting a name for her.

She is big, strong filly, according to Fairgray.

“She has got a lovely head on her, a good shoulder and hindquarter and is a big powerfully built filly,” he said.

Three colts are on offer are by first season sires – Highland Reel (IRE), Pariah and Caravaggio (USA).

“The Highland Reel is strong and compact and looks like he will be a bit earlier than your normal sort of Highland Reels,” Fairgray said.

“He has got a lot of strength about him.”

The Highland Reel colt is out of unraced mare Amazing Pier (Pierro x Amazing Tale) and this is her first foal.

Fairgray said Highland Reel had some nice results on the Gold Cost and people weren’t afraid to purchase one by him.

The Pariah colt – lot 465 – is out of a Zabeel mare, Askari.

Above: Lot 465 Pariah x Askari colt

Fairgray said the colt had that little bit of a Zabeel look about him. His half-brother Captain Stardust (Star Witness) raced in Australia six times for two wins, two seconds and a third before being sold to Hong Kong where he races as Celestial Power and has won two of his three starts there.

“He will probably create a bit of interest over there,” Fairgray said.

The Caravaggio grey colt, out of Causeway Lass, is described by Fairgray as big, strong and precocious which should make him popular. He goes through as lot 519.

All the dams are from Yulong’s broodmare band.

Asked to compare the yearlings with what Yulong sent to the Magic Millions, Fairgray said: “Obviously the Gold Coast might be a step ahead but it’s all about trying to place horses in the right sale.

“This is a sale where obviously there a lot of the country New South Wales trainers and these horses are ones that people can buy and take home and they are ready to go.

“The Classic sale has got stronger and stronger the last few years and I can see no reason why following in from the Magic Millions that the Classic Sale isn’t going to be a strong sale.”

With three yearlings by first season sires, Fairgray said Caravaggio’s yearlings sold extremely well at Magic Millions.

“He was a fantastic racehorse,” he said.

“This colt is out of Causeway Lass (Giant’s Causeway x Canny Lass) and she was a good race mare here in Australia and she actually ended up over in Europe and had a few foals over there and then Mr Zhang (Yulong owner) ended up buying her and we bought her back  to Australia in foal to Frankel.

“And the Caravaggio colt is the foal after that. Causeway Lass is from a really nice family and there is a plenty of depth in the pedigree.”

With the death of Sebring in 2019, the last of his yearlings are on offer.

Fairgray said Sebring had been a good consistent sire and people can’t go wrong by buying one by the stallion.

The Sebring colt – lot 143 – offered by Yulong is out of Mexican Gal (Encosta De Lago x Mexican Rose).

Fairgray said they were happy with the results they achieved with their yearlings on the Gold Coast.

To view Yulong’s draft, click here.

Above: Gerard Jones and Hannah Brewis with Rosemont Stud 2019 TBV Awards

In a year which saw the 2020 Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Awards night forced to be celebrated online, the Victorian Thoroughbred Industry Rising Star Award was virtually presented to Rosemont Stud’s Operations Manager, Gerard Jones.  

Sponsored by Tim Patterson’s Digital Media Creations, the Award provides an important opportunity to reward and recognise the industry’s grassroots participants working their way up the ranks.  

Nominated by his colleague Nick Konstantinidis, Gerard, or ‘Gezza’ as he is known, is recognised for being an outstanding leader both at Rosemont and within the industry.   

“For me, Gezza has been one of the greatest role models I could’ve ever asked for,” said Nick.  

“Teaching me about patience and taking pride in the work I do and to never let the little things get to you. From simple tasks to complex situations he is a man that coaches people through and before long, has staff performing tasks and jobs in which they’d never thought they’d be able to do!” 

Rosemont Principal Anthony Mithen, agrees.  

“Gezza is a humble guy who doesn’t really want the limelight,” said Anthony.  

“But he’s our shining light here at Rosemont, that pulls everything together. He’s the glue that binds us and does it always with a smile on his face. We couldn’t be prouder of Gezza and this award for him.”  

Above: Gerard Jones at Rosemont Stud

Growing up north of the border in Wagga Wagga, Gerard’s involvement with horses started at a young age, as his parents had Clydesdales.  

“My grandfather would make the big haystacks and we’d use the Clydesdales to drive the carts and bring them in,” recalls Gerard.  

As a teen, he then went to work for his relative and local racehorse trainer Wayne Carroll, before moving to Wangaratta with mates to complete a 12 month equine TAFE course.  

Gerard credits course teacher Frank Oliver, as a strong influence and mentor.  

“I learnt a lot from Frankie,” said Gerard. “He always put you in good placements and could pick out those students who needed a push.” 

“Frankie got me a placement with Huntworth Farm then at Yallambee Stud with Rick and Christie Woodward. I ended up there for about 5 years and learnt so much about work ethic from Christie.”  

Veterinarian Ian Douglas is another mentor and teacher Gerard holds in high regard, in particular with his teachings on thoroughbred reproduction. It was at Ian’s urging that Gerard joined, and then spent the next 10 years of his career, at Woodside Park Stud, and was part of the team who secured the now multiple Champion Victorian sire, Written Tycoon, for the farm.  

Gerard joined the Rosemont team in August 2017, where he has played an integral part in the Stud’s recent growth and success.  

Rosemont Stud is a state-of-the-art farm in Gnarwarre, on the outskirts of Geelong. With operations now spread across three properties along the picturesque Barwon River, the Stud’s honour roll boasts names such as Ruthven, Mr Quickie, Runaway, Montoya’s Secret and the Rosemont-born and returned champion stallion Starspangledbanner. 

Gerard’s award win celebrations were short-lived as he and the team prepared their solid draft for the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. It was a successful sale, where they sold 18 of the 22 horses offered. Attention has now turned towards the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in late February, where they will present 29 yearlings through the ring.  

And after the curve balls of 2020, is there anything Gerard is looking forward to for 2021?  

“I don’t really have resolutions but I am looking forward to catching up with everyone I haven’t been able to see over the past 12 months thanks to Covid. I have my nephew in Ireland who I’d also love to get over to see.”  

TBV congratulates Gerard on his award win and we wish him continued success. Click here to view Rosemont’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.  

Elite dual G1-winning mare and graduate of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Pippie (Written Tycoon) is among the first confirmed entries for the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

After announcing herself a top-level racing prospect from the outset of her career with a 5L debut victory, Pippie has raced against – and defeated – the best Australian sprinters on offer in some of our leading G1 sprint races.

The lightly raced 5YO won the first of two G1s to date early last year when taking out the prestigious Oakleigh Plate over 1100m at Caulfield .

She returned in the spring to win the G1 Moir Stakes in September.

During her career to date Pippie has defeated the likes of Bivouac, Trekking, Tofane, Bella Vella, Hey Doc, Hanseatic, Exceedance, Mystic Journey, Scales of Justice, Amphitrite and Aloisia.

Pippie (pictured) has raced just 13 times for 6 wins and 2 minor placings and $1,221,950 in prizemoney.

Above: Pippie triumphs in the Moir Stakes (Natasha Morello/Racing Photos)

That overall career record, combined with her physique and breeding, makes her a rare and highly sought-after acquisition for any global breeding operation.

Pippie is being targeted at further G1 glory this Autumn with the Lightning Stakes at Flemington and The Galaxy at Rosehill.

Managing owner Glenn Heran said: “She is a spectacular mare who is up there with the fastest racehorses in the world and she is a delight to have around in terms of her relaxed nature and temperament.

“She is a daughter of Written Tycoon and I think it’s fair to say there is no better-performing stallion at the moment than Written Tycoon and she is right up there at the top of that list.

“She’s made a name for herself as being a world-class sprinter and I have no doubt she will also be a world-class broodmare.’’

The 2021 Chairman’s Sale will be held at Riverside Stables on Friday May 7.

The Inglis Chairman’s Sale has generated extraordinary results over the last 2 years with 8 fillies or mares sold for $1m or more including Maastricht who sold for $2.25m in 2019 and In Her Time who sold for $2m in 2020, a record Australasian price for a breeding proposition of her age.

“We are very proud of what the Chairman’s Sale has become since its inception a few years ago and we are excited by the prospect of further enhancing it in 2021 as a sale and a spectacle,” Inglis’ General Manager of Bloodstock Sales and Marketing Sebastian Hutch said.

“There is no better sale, arguably in the world, in terms of delivering bespoke, targeted promotion of catalogued lots and it’s borne out in the results with race fillies and mares averaging over $545,000 and pregnant mares averaging over $405,000 across the last 2 renewals.

“When we have been given the opportunity, we have worked exceptionally hard to deliver outstanding results for our clients and the fact that 3 of the 4 highest-priced pregnant mares in Australia in the last 2 years have been sold at the Chairman’s Sale is a testament to the quality of the sale and the work of our team.

“The timing and the convenience of the sale are very significant factors, particularly for pregnant mares and we are looking forward to working with clients to deliver another outstanding group of mares for the 2021 renewal.’’

Entry forms for the 2021 Chairman’s Sale will be available in the coming weeks and anyone who wishes to discuss opportunities to participate in the sale are encouraged to contact a member of the Inglis Bloodstock Team.

Article courtesy of Inglis

We are very much looking forward to the 2021 renewal of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Australasia’s best value yearling sale.

Our COVID-safe plan, devised in conjunction with the NSW Health Department, will be in effect for the sale. Attendees at the Riverside stables complex will be required to check-in on arrival using the Services NSW App and consent to a temperature test. These measures will be in place for the safety and well being of all patrons. Mask wearing is not mandatory, but recommended. Patrons are requested to practice social distancing at all times.

Please watch the below video for all you need to know about attending the Classic Yearling Sale this week.

For all you need to know about attending the 2021 Classic Yearling Sale, Click here

Current NSW Government restrictions mean that the capacity of the sales auditorium will be significantly reduced during the sale. Access to the auditorium during the sale will be restricted to registered buyers, agents, trainers and syndicators. Restrictions mean that we will not be in a position to facilitate all buyers in the auditorium during the sale and we ask that participants be conscious of this when planning their visit to the sale. Regrettably, there will be no access to the sales auditorium for the general public. However, the complex at Riverside Stables will have alternative seating facilities on the grounds, while the Newmarket Restaurant, the 1867 Bar, the Newmarket Café and the Lawn Café will be fully operational in the lead-up to and during the sale.
The relaxation of border restrictions means that interstate visitors from Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will be able to visit New South Wales for the sale with little or no requirements for their return journey. Significant restrictions remain in place for persons wishing to return to Western Australia having attended the sale. All patrons are encouraged to follow the health advice from the relevant state government authorities.

If you are not in a position to attend the sale or simply prefer to follow from home, the sale will be broadcast live on Inglis.com.au, hosted by industry experts Caroline Searcy and Richard Haynes with previews, reviews and interviews from the sale.

We wish all participants in the sale every success and look forward to buyers finding the next winner of The Golden Slipper, The Melbourne Cup or The Everest, all races won by Classic graduates in recent years.

Article courtesy of Inglis