Rapido rounds them up at Canterbury

Rapido made a big impression in his final start last preparation, bolting clear at Newcastle to score by over four lengths. Returning this preparation as a gelding, he picked up where he left off at Canterbury today, again putting daylight between himself and his rivals under a great ride from Rachel King.

Rapido was a purchase for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, from the Twin Hills Stud draft.

Thanks to trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, and gongratulations to owners, Belinda Bateman, Doyle’s Breeding and Racing, Rob Love, John & Frances Ingham, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab, Marc & Lindy de Stoop, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, and Jean-Dominique & RIanna Huynh.

Three for James Harron Bloodstock at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale

It was an especially exciting edition of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale this year, with the first foal out of Champion Winx generating feverish excitement, and the entire Inglis team should be very proud of the great atmosphere that this generated.

We were in action, and delighted to come away with three high-quality yearlings for our owners, please see their details below

Lot 140 - Exceed and Excel x Media Sensation colt - $550,000

Our first purchase for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership was this colt by Exceed and Excel, secured from Sledmere Stud. He’s a very forward-looking colt, with lovely strength and a great attitude.

Exceed and Excel is one of the best sources of 2YO speed, and this colt is also out of Group 1 winner Media Sensation, who is by another good source of speed in I Am Invincible.

Lot 211 - Zoustar x Phantom Queen colt - $650,000

Our final purchase for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for this year was this quality colt by Zoustar, secured from Widden Stud.

He is bred on the same Zoustar x Charge Forward cross that produced multiple Group 1 winner Sunlight. Phantom Queen is herself well-bred, being a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sweet Idea.

Lot 227 - Zoustar x Prompt Response - $2,200,000

Our final purchase at Inglis Easter was this magnificent filly by Zoustar out of Group 1 winner Prompt Response, purchase from Widden Stud.

An incredible filly, with great size, substance and power, and being out of a top-class mare we were very excited to secure her.

Espionage dominant in Kindergarten Stakes on Day 1 of the Championships

After narrowly missing out on a start in the Group 1 Golden Slipper, Espionage lined up as a strong favourite in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Settled beautifully just behind the speed by jockey Tommy Berry, Espionage cruised into the race in the straight and powered clear in the final stages to win by over three lengths.

This was Espionage’s second Group race victory as a 2YO, after his exciting earlier win in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick in October. He by leading sire Zoustar and is out of the very smart Street Cry mare In Times of War and was secured from the Baramul Stud draft for the JHB Colt Partnership.

Espionage will now head out for a well-deserved break, and looks a very exciting prospect as we look towards his three-year-old season.

Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Rob Love, Fergus Doyle, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, John & Frances Ingham, Jean-Dominique & Rianna Huyhn, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab, Marc & Lindy de Stoop, and Gerry & Katie Page Harvey.

Aardvark flies home to win Talindert Stakes at Flemington

Capitalist colt Aardvark was secured on behalf of the JHB Colt Partnership after a pair of impressive early-season jump outs, and confirmed the promise of his October debut, when third to Coleman in the Listed Debutant Stakes, when running out an impressive winner of the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington this weekend. In doing so he became the fourth 2YO stakes winner for this crop of the JHB Colt Partnership.

Settled beautifully behind the speed under jockey Damian Lane, Aardvark powered through to lead in the final stages, winning with his ears pricked.

Many thanks to trainers Troy and Leon Corstens, who had Aarvark well prepared, and a big congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Rob Love, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Jean-Dominique & Rianna Huynh, Marc & Lindy de Stoop, Tom & Leslie Kennedy, Ron Gilbert, Peter and Michelle McMahon and Dean Harvey.

Bodyguard dominant in Blue Diamond Prelude

Put away after a dazzling debut at Flemington, Bodyguard returned to the races this weekend in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield and produced a top-drawer performance. Never better than three-wide from a tricky barrier, he powered past his rivals in the straight under Mark Zahra to win comfortably against a very strong field of race-fit rivals.

Bodyguard was secured from the Emirates Park Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for the JHB Colt Partnership, and is one of five 2YO colts to have secured black type this season so far, from a crop of just eleven. He is out of Tumooh, a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, and by Champion Sire I Am Invincible.

A huge thanks to trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, and congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Doyle’s Breeding and Racing, Rob Love, John & Frances Ingham, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab, Marc & Lindy de Stoop, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Jean-Dominique & RIanna Huynh and Emirates Park Stud.

Bodyguard now head to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday 24th February.

Eight for JHB at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale continues its inexorable rise, with the entire fortnight becoming an incredible fusion of top-class racing, yearling sales and more recently showjumping and polo.

At the sales, in a typically buoyant and exciting market, we were delighted to come away with eight quality yearlings for our clients.

The details of our purchases are below, with the first six all secured on behalf of the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership. Thanks as always to our owners for their support, and many thanks to Barry Bowditch, Gerry & Katie Page Harvey’s Magic Millions team who have once again put together an outstanding fortnight of all things equestrian on the Gold Coast.

Lot 164 - King’s Legacy x Serenade colt - $775,000

This is is a very imposing and quality colt by JHB Colt Partnership graduate stallion King’s Legacy. This family has already worked very well with Redoute’s Choice blood, with Group 1 winner Stratum Star (by Redoute’s Choice’s son Stratum) and Group 1 runner-up Prague (by Redoute’s Choice), both standing at stud.

Serenade was herself a smart sprinter, and a precocious 2YO, running second in the Inglis 2YO Classic pre-Christmas, while she has already produced city winner Israelite Bay, and her current 2YO Wolfgang is also a city winner and ran in this year's Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Lot 339 - Zoustar x Villami colt - $1,000,000

This is a very forward, and precocious looking son of Zoustar, out of a very fast racemare in Villami.

His dam was a very fast race filly, beating the colts in the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick, and was also close up at Group 2 level on several occasions. She is from a great family, that of top-class stallion Centaine.

Lot 349 - Extreme Choice x Wanted Lady colt - $1,600,000

This colt is an outstanding physical type, by a stallion in Extreme Choice, who is running at 25% stakes-class 2YOs to runners, which is truely elite.

His dam has already produced two decent winners by Extreme Choice (Lady Extreme is a 4YO who has won since the catalogue was published), including Abseiler, who was not far away in a Blue Diamond lead-up.

Lot 669 - Capitalist x Fimatino colt - $800,000

This is a powerful colt by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist. He is a half-brother to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero, and comes from the family of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award. The crossing of Capitalist with Redoute’s Choice blood has been very successful so far, with 13.7% stakes horses to runners bred on this cross.

Lot 675 - Capitalist x Flamboyant Lass colt - $360,000

This is another very precocious-looking son of Golden Slipper winning Capitalist. He’s got great strength, and a very purposeful action and looks every inch a 2YO. He’s a half-brother to a pair of smart 2YOs in Nitrous and Command Approved, and out of Flamboyant Lass, who was placed in a Blue Diamond lead up.

Lot 838 - Zoustar x Lady Cosmology colt - $1,300,000

This is a very impressive colt by Zoustar, out of the very fast mare Lady Cosmology. He’s got great quality, exceptional girth and a lovely action. His dam was a top-class mare in Western Australia, where she beat the subsequent top-class Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen.

Lot 909 - Wootton Bassett x Majestic Sea filly - $400,000

This filly is an exceptional physical, with an outstanding action and great depth of girth. She’s from the first Australian-bred crop of Wootton Bassett, an exceptional stallion in Europe, and from a very productive family of sprinter/milers, which is also what she presents as physically.

Lot 786 - Snitzel x In Times of War filly - $1,400,000

This is an exceptional daughter of Champion Sire Snitzel, and she is a half-sister to the JHB Colt Partnership’s recent Group 3 Breeders’ Plate winner Espionage. She’s got lovely shape, a purposeful action and an unflappable attitude.

Seven for JHB at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale continues its inexorable rise, with the entire fortnight becoming an incredible fusion of top-class racing, yearling sales and more recently showjumping and polo.

Our week began with a great performance from the James Harron Bloodstock team in the new $1.45 million showjumping event to gain a very gallant third place finish. A big thanks and congratulations to our team members Peter McMahon, Amber Fuller, David Cameron and Emily Patterson who all gave it their very best!

On to the yearling sales, and in a typically buoyant and exciting market, we were delighted to come away with seven quality yearlings for our clients.

The details of our purchases are below, with the first five all secured on behalf of the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership. Thanks as always to our owners for their support, and many thanks to Barry Bowditch, Gerry & Katie Page Harvey’s Magic Millions team who have once again put together an outstanding fortnight of all things equestrian on the Gold Coast.

Lot 279 - Zoustar x Ravenous Lass - $850,000

Lot 279, secured from Lime Country Thoroughbreds for $850,000 is a quality colt, with a great action and substance. He is a full-brother to Group 3 winner Zoushine, and out of a tough, Melbourne metropolitan winning mare Ravenous Lass.

He is inbred to Redoute’s Choice, which has been a very successful pattern with Zoustar, producing 16% black type horses to runners.

Lot 390 - Capitalist x Single Sapphire - $400,000

Lot 390, secured from Newgate Farm for $400,000 is a strong, powerful colt with great quality and a lovely, sprinter-style action, out of a Not a Single Doubt mare and from the family of top-class 2YO Twilight Royale. Capitalist continues to do a tremendous job as a source of high-class 2YOs, especially now that the tracks have dried up through Australia.

Lot 504 - I Am Invincible x Tumooh - $1,600,000

Lot 504 was secured from Emirates Park Stud for $1,600,000. This is a powerful, imposing colt - an incredible physical type by Champion sire I Am Invincible.

He is out of an unraced daughter of Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, who is now the dam of recent Sydney Group 3 winner Dajraan (by Frankel). The cross of I Am Invincible over a Fastnet Rock mare has also been very successful, with 27% black type horses to runners.

Lot 789 - Snitzel x Diana’s Star - $900,000

Lot 789, secured from one of Australia’s best producing farms in Segenhoe Stud for $900,000 is a very imposing and powerful colt by Champion sire Snitzel, and out of a half- sister to Horse of The Year Dissident. He’s got a lovely action, incredible girth and a big, strong hip.

Lot 967 - Zoustar x In Times of War - $1,000,000

Lot 967, secured from Baramul Stud for $1,000,000, is a strong, powerful son of Zoustar. He has great girth, a lot of quality and a good, strong hind leg. His dam In Times of War was a smart filly, who won at Saturday level in Sydney, while she is out of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Military Rose.

Lot 259 - Trapeze Artist x Princess Wildfire - $360,000

Lot 259 was secured from Widden Stud for $360,000 for our Filly Partnership in conjunction with Michael Freedman. She is a daughter of Trapeze Artist, who has made an eye-catching start with his first runners, and out of the blue-blooded Princess Wildfire, a half-sister to top-class sprinters Star Witness and Nostradamus.

Lot 918 - Written Tycoon x Gypsy Flyer - $260,000

Lot 918 was secured for $260,000 from Newgate Farm for Jean-Dominique Huynh. She is a daughter of Champion Sire Written Tycoon and out of a dual-winning full sister to the top-class sprinter Invincible Star. An outstanding physical, she was great buying in a very strong market.

Philosopher powers home on debut at Caulfield

After a pair of sparkling jump outs, where he defeated the older horses in great style, Philosopher made his debut today at Caulfield and showed his contemporaries a similarly clean pair of heels.

Quickly into the lead under Damien Oliver, Philosopher galloped along at a strong pace with his ears pricked, and, after forcing his rivals off the bridle on the home turn, powered up the straight to score in fast time.

Philosopher was secured for $800,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 from the Widden Stud draft on behalf of our JHB Colt Partnership. He is the first foal of his dam, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Atmospherical, Gai’s Choice and Peron, this being the further family of Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Eagle Falls.

Thanks to trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, and congratulations to owners Rob Love, Belinda Bateman, Fergus Doyle, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Danny & Pauline Saab, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond and Widden Stud.

Aslav powers home on debut at Hawkesbury

At a rare Hawkesbury midweek city meeting, Vancouver colt Aslav made an impressive winning debut today, showing a great attitude throughout to power through the pack and win with his ears pricked under Champion jockey Hugh Bowman.

Patiently and beautifully prepared by his trainer Chris Waller, Aslav was a $260,000 James Harron Bloodstock purchase at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale as a 2YO in October, and we now look forward to stepping him up in grade, possibly with an eye on the Brisbane Winter Carnival, where Chris has such a good record.

He was selected after a particularly impressive breeze, which was the fastest time recorded of the catalogue for those who breezed in Melbourne, and joins multiple stakes winner Odyssey Moon as a JHB-selected graduate of this sale.

Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Rob Love, Fergus Doyle, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab.

Aslav (Vancouver x Anatole) during his breeze up for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale

Five quality yearlings for JHB at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale

After what has been a very competitive and healthy yearling sales season, it was no surprise to see the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale post strong gains both on last year’s pandemic-affected selling but also on what was a very strong sale in 2019.

We were delighted to come away with five exceptional yearlings, with their details below.

Lot 36 - Pariah x Real Stolle colt - $375,000

Our first purchase was lot 36 from Newgate Farm, a very strong and forward colt by our young stallion Pariah, who stands at Arrowfield Stud. The Pariah stock have been very impressive all year and this was an outstanding example. He is a three-quarter brother to 2YO stakes winner Nomothaj (by Snitzel), and out of 2YO stakes winner Real Stolle, so this is very much a 2YO orientated pedigree.

Lot 53 - Fastnet Rock x Rostova filly - $1,100,000

Our second purchase was a very athletic filly by top-class stallion Fastnet Rock, secured for $1,100,000 from Coolmore Stud. She is out of Group 1 winner Rostova and is a full-sister to the very smart sprinter Anaheed.

Lot 162 - I Am Invincible x Wild Rain - $610,000

Our third purchase was this exceptionally powerful and precocious looking daughter of leading stallion I Am Invincible secured for $610,000 from Cressfield Stud. She is the second foal of the very fast and classy G2 winning sprinter Wild Rain and from the family of Horse of The Year Northerly.

Lot 173 - I Am Invincible x Zamzam colt - $1,150,000

Our fourth purchase was lot 173, the very strong I Am Invincible colt out of Zamzam secured alongside Coolmore Stud for $1,150,000 from the Yarraman Park draft. He is the second foal of the very smart 2YO Zamzam (by Redoute’s Choice) who was third in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes as a 2YO.

Lot 428 - Capitalist x Miss Interiors - $1,050,000

Our final purchase was this very impressive and strong colt by Capitalist, secured from Torryburn Stud for $1,050,000. He is by our young stallion Capitalist who is going from strength to strength as a stallion at Newgate Farm, with already ten stakes horses from his first crop. This colt also boasts an outstanding dam side to his pedigree, with his dam having already produced G1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Aysar and this season’s G2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Home Affairs from her first two foals. Further this is the exceptional family of dual G1 winning sprinter Russian Revolution.

Dual Group 1-winning 2YO King's Legacy retires to Coolmore Stud

Following what was an excellent effort in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas on Saturday, the decision has been made to retire dual Group 1-winning 2YO King’s Legacy to Coolmore Stud.

Of the announcement, his yearling purchaser James Harron stated “It was a great effort by King’s Legacy on Saturday and jockey Tom Marquand reported that had he not been held up at a crucial stage in the straight he could have made things very interesting. King’s Legacy has been a tremendous horse for us and we could not be more excited looking forward to his future at Coolmore Stud. Some of Australia’s biggest breeders are involved with this colt and he will be strongly supported with outstanding mares throughout his stud career."

An outstanding physical, as befits his $1,400,000 Magic Millions yearling price tag, King’s Legacy is the only horse by multiple champion sire and established sire of sires Redoute’s Choice to win more than one Group 1 as a 2YO. He won both the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes in great style, beating multiple Group 1 winner Ole Kirk on both occasions, whilst he also beat the likes of Farnan, Tagaloa and North Pacific through his career.

He also boasts an impeccable pedigree, being a more accomplished racehorse than his three-quarter brother Not A Single Doubt, who currently leads the general sires’ table, while Snippets is another top-class sire from his family. King’s Legacy has also won more Group 1 races than Redoute’s Choice’s best sire sons Snitzel, Not a Single Doubt and Beneteau. 

Coolmore principal Tom Magnier said, “King’s Legacy is aptly named and is everything Australia is looking for in a young stallion prospect. He won the Sires’ Produce and then, after we joined the ownership, he added the Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick. We’re delighted he will now take his place on our roster. He’s by an outstanding sire of sires and has an exceptional pedigree and an imposing physique. He will be heavily supported by both Coolmore and some of Australia’s leading breeders who remain in the ownership."

A fee will be announced at a later date.

Kalashnikov hits the target in Group 3 Black Opal Stakes

Capitalist colt Kalashnikov has now got his act together in a big way, breaking his maiden in great style against older horses despite being stuck three wide, and he followed that up this weekend at Canberra in fantastic style in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes to book his place in the Group 1 Golden Slipper in two weeks’ time.

Well rated by James McDonald, Kalashnikov relished the strong pace and showed a great attitude along with a sparkling turn of foot once in the clear to take out this important race.

He becomes the first group winner for his sire, JHB yearling purchase Capitalist, his third stakes winner amongst no fewer than ten stakes horses, which is a phenomenal start. Kalashnikov was a $600,000 JHB yearling purchase for our colt group at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud.

He will now head to attempt to emulate his sire in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes, where he will be ridden by Mark Zahra.

Kalashnikov guns down his Gosford rivals

Kalashnikov (Capitalist x Rough Ride)

Capitalist colt Kalashnikov has always shown good talent at the barrier trials, and it was super to see him bring this form to race day in great style today at Gosford during their metropolitan meeting.

Kalashnikov was able to win here despite things conspiring against him, being forced to race three wide without cover, no small task for a 2YO facing older rivals.

Kalashnikov was a $600,000 JHB yearling purchase from Segenhoe Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is the sixth winner for the hugely exciting young stallion, JHB’s Golden Slipper winner Capitalist. His dam, Rough Ride, is a winning daughter of Flying Spur and a half-sister to four stakes winners, notably Group 1 winner Eagle Way.

Congratulations to owners Rob Love, Belinda Bateman, Fergus Doyle, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Danny & Pauline Saab, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond and Kevin & Lesley Maloney. Thanks as always to jockey Jason Collett and trainers Peter & Paul Snowden.