Bright Track Weekly - 12th September 2024

A Bright Start to a New Season In a world where challenges often take centre stage, we will bring focus on the positive. This new, weekly newsletter, Bright Track Weekly, will highlight a selection of racing and breeding snippets, celebrating the vitality of our great sport. Yearling Sales Booming Following a record-breaking Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale in August, which saw over US$82,000,000 (A$122m)  worth of yearlings changing hands, the stage moved to Kentucky for Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week. The incredible momentum continues unabated, with records once again being surpassed. Book 1 (the first two days of a 12 day sale) concluded with an average up 10.8% to US$586,000 (A$876,230)  and a median up 18.75% to  US$475,000 ($A710,260). Pictured above is the sale-topping US$5m (A$7.48m) Curlin x Cavorting colt, sold by Indian Creek on behalf of Stonestreet Stables to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Strong start for three-year-olds When any crop of juveniles return for their three-year-old season there is great anticipation to see if they can measure up against their elders. With that in mind it was exciting to see Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi and Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot perform with great credit to be second and third respectively against the older horses in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last Saturday. This sets the stage for an exciting season ahead for the very highly-regarded three-year-old crop. Dual Group 1 breakthroughs There have been two Group 1 races in Victoria so far this season, and both have seen trainers taking out their first victories at the elite level. Pictured above on the left is Gavin Bedggood alongside his revitalised sprinter Mornington Glory, who took out the Group 1 Moir Stakes at $9. On the right is Enver Jusufovic with his Group 1 Memsie Stakes winner Pinstriped, victorious at odds of $14. Congratulations to all involved! Excellent Frankel colt for Emro Our Broodmare Partnership welcomed a new arrival this week in the shape of a Frankel colt out of Emro. She was purchased by James for US$425,000 in foal to Constitution at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The resultant yearling filly by Constitution sold for US$500,000 to Lael Stables at the  Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale this August, so Emro is off to a cracking start in her broodmare career!  Mexico for the Equimillion The thoroughbred is an incredibly versatile breed, able to take on any number of disciplines. Mexico, who was Group 2 placed in the Roman Consul Stakes for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, was retired just six months ago, and is proving to be a great comrade for his new owner Victoria Bloch (both pictured above). The Equimillion is a new initiative, showcasing and celebrating the adaptability and suitability of thoroughbreds in new careers, with $1,000,000 in prize money available over four days of competition. We are very proud to sponsor Victoria and Mexico as they work towards this new event in early October.