Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling and Broodmare Sale 2015

Further proof, if any were needed, of the outstandingly healthy state of the Australian thoroughbred market was apparent to all at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling and Broodmare sales last week. Vendors are becoming increasingly comfortable in offering quality weanlings for sale, which is being reflected in prices which are up 70% on two years ago.

Twelve months ago Segenhoe Stud presented an outstanding filly at this sale, a Lonhro filly out of True Blonde, from the amazing family of Snippets. She was secured by JHB for $710,000 on behalf of Edmund and Belinda Bateman and is now under the care of Team Hawkes. This year JHB again came away with an outstanding foal on behalf of the Batemans, Lot 111, the colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of Starfish from Bob Scarborough’s Wood Nook Dispersal. Bob is the breeder of a plethora of Gr.1 winners, such as Final Card, Gallica, Gold Ace, Hit the Roof, Leica Guv, Light Fantastic, Marble Halls, Sleek Chassis and Stella Cadente, so it was no surprise to see their offerings in high demand. This was a colt who was, physically, of the very highest order, and with a pedigree to match. He is a half-brother to Gr.2 placed two-year-old of this season Wolf Cry, as well as multiple city-winning mare Glenbawn Dame, who pleasingly gained her first stakes placing 6 days after this colt passed through the ring. The Bateman’s had also invested into Vancouver subsequent to his Breeders’ Plate win and before his brilliant Golden Slipper win, so Medaglia d’Oro is a sire they have already had success with.

The Kolivos family raced another Golden Slipper hero – Triple Crown winner Pierro and later sold him through JHB to Coolmore Stud as a stallion. It was, therefore, especially pleasing to see the stock of Pierro so well represented, selling for an average of over $190,000. A particularly impressive representative of his stock was the colt out of Walk Alone lot 216, secured by JHB on behalf of the Kolivos family for $280,000. This colt is a half-brother to the tough and consistent city performer You’ll Never, who went on to gain another city win 5 days after this colt passed through the ring. Walk Alone was a 5-time winner in Sydney herself, including at stakes level, and a half-sister to the dam of Rain Affair – so there is plenty of tough, sprinting blood in this colt.

With this sale following a buoyant yearling season, and aforementioned gains in weanling prices, it necessarily follows that the mare market will be similarly strong, as so it proved. In a market so strong it proved to be a waiting game, sticking true to principles of putting the right prices on quality stock, and not getting carried away in the heat of battle! In that respect we drew a blank in terms of purchasing on day 1, but it was incredibly pleasing to see a JHB yearling purchase leading the way. Sweet Idea was purchased with Gai Waterhouse for $240,000 as a yearling, and, beautifully handled by Gai, she’s gone on to win numerous Group races, including the Gr.1 Galaxy, placed in the Gr.1 Golden Slipper in an exemplary career which saw her return ten times her purchase price in prizemoney. It was one of her part-owners Nick Vass who came away successful in the bidding, giving $1,600,000 to call her completely his own. She will have every chance of proving her worth in the breeding shed – best of luck to Nick and Amy with this magnificent mare.

Days two and three bought a bit more luck on the purchasing front, with JHB coming away with a total of ten mares for six different breeders. The mares purchased are listed below

Lot 746 – Mabkhara, winning Anabaa mare out of a half-sister to Gr.1 winner Rewaaya, bought in foal to Sebring for $90,000

Lot 767 – Melrose Place, winner of the Listed Gucci Stakes at the Flemington Carnival, and bought in foal to Shamus Award for $140,000

Lot 816 – Nutkin, a sister to US Gr.1 winner El Brujo, and from a highly-productive US family, bought in foal to Snitzel for $325,000

Lot 826 – Our Pride and Joy, in conjunction with Michael Wallace acting on behalf of the China Horse Club. She is a winning half-sister to the top-class Criterion, from one of the most productive families of recent seasons, and bought in foal to Redoute’s Choice for $675,000

Lot 886 – Sagrada, a 1000m winning half-sister to stakes winner Lucha Libre, out of a half-sister to Gr.1 winner Ensign Ewart bought in foal to Smart Missile for $55,000

Lot 932 – Successful Lass, another 1000m winner, and half-sister to very smart Gr.3 winning 2YO Squamosa, bought in foal to Mossman for $90,000

Lot 1089 – Cheeky Nature, a half-sister to US Stakes winner Dover Dere, out of a half-sister to Champion European Sprinter Committed, bought in foal to Sizzling for $30,000

Lot 1116 – Crystal River, a 2YO-winning half-sister to Hong Kong and Dubai Gr.1 winning sprinter Amber Sky, out of Gr.2 winner Truly Wicked, bought in foal to Zoustar for $120,000

Lot 1152 – Elusive Leone – a winning half-sister to Champion 3YO Star Witness and very smart sprinter Nostradamus, bought in foal to Nostradamus’ sire Medaglia d’Oro for $550,000

Lot 1211 – Greytfilly – a 2YO winner and placed in a Slipper lead up, the Gr.3 Sweet Embrace Stakes. Out of a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Face Value and bought in foal to Denman for $170,000

Two JHB runners at Royal Ascot

A win in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas marked JHB purchase Wandjina as a valuable stallion prospect, a pulsating second, splitting the two best sprinter/milers in country in Dissident and Chautauqua, in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes at the weekend set him up for so much more. He will now be set up for a tilt taking on Europe’s best in the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday of Royal Ascot, before heading to the birthplace of horse racing, Newmarket, for the July Cup.

Showcasing the brilliance that was always present in Wandjina has been a training masterclass from Gai Waterhouse, who has nurtured this colt through to Group 1 glory. The recent Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling sales were a timely reminder of how small the racing world has become, as the elite of the world descended upon Australia. The world has taken notice of the health and vibrance of the Australian racing industry, and most importantly, the toughness and brilliance of the Australian thoroughbred. Taking Wandjina to England is to showcase to the world a horse who embodies Australian racing – a tough, speed horse with more than a touch of brilliance.

The Bateman family has always retained great faith in their colt, and were sporting in their attempt to race their other Gr.1 winning colt, Foxwedge, in England – a long-term favourite for the Golden Jubilee, he was unable to travel after contracting a throat infection. The Bateman family were also partnered in Foxwedge by Newgate Farm, who have done an exemplary job in promoting and managing this exciting young stallion to great yearling results this year. With that in mind, it is also particularly pleasing that Newgate will once again partner with the Bateman family, and join them in racing their latest super colt at Royal Ascot.

JHB purchases will now, most excitingly, make up two of the four Australian raiders so far confirmed for Royal Ascot, with last-start Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate winner Shamal Wind for Donna and Rob Love already well on the path for the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes on the Tuesday – everybody better get their suits and top hats ready!

Back to the Source

The Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale has been a happy hunting ground for JHB in recent years. It was where Gr.1 winning sprinter and young stallion Foxwedge was bought, and, in the same year, Gr.2 winner Satin Shoes. It is where stakes-winning juvenile Georgette Silk was sourced, as well as Gr.3 winning juvenile Ashokan. Just recently the latest JHB Easter purchase to put his name down as a top-flight racehorse was Gr.1 Australia Guineas winner Wandjina – proving his worth many times over to become a valuable stallion prospect.

This year there were again a multitude of top-class horses available, both in terms of physical type and outstanding pedigrees. First buy for JHB was a strong Manhattan Rain colt, lot 30, who was as good a physical specimen as you will see and beautifully prepared by Arrowfield Stud, the same consignors as was the case with Wandjina. This colt was bought for $250,000 and is to be trained by Scone trainer Rod Northam, who has done a great job with another JHB purchase from Inglis – the Gr.1 placed juvenile Odyssey Moon.

Lot 124 was an exceptional Exceed and Excel filly from Segenhoe Stud and she was secured for $650,000. She has an interesting pedigree in that she is out of a mare by the Champion USA stallion Distorted Humor who was born, raced and very certainly named in Ireland. Named Radharcnafarraige (…view of the sea…), she was twice a Group 3 winner, including as a two-year-old, where she also ran well at Royal Ascot. She was a fast race filly, and speed is undoubtedly the universal language of pedigrees. Exceed and Excel is himself out of an American-bred mare, and has combined well with mares with American sirelines, producing the likes of Guelph and Kuroshio to name but two recent Australian speedsters – hopefully this filly will be one who shows similar pace.

A success story from last year’s Easter sale has been that of JHB purchase Kimberley Star. Purchased for $40,000 she has already won her purchase price back on the track with a gutsy second in the Listed Inglis Nursery (to fellow JHB purchase Odyssey Moon), and it was for her great group of owners that lot 287, the Smart Missile filly out of Apennine was purchased for $160,000 from Southern Cross Breeders. Smart Missile was very much a case of what might have been, withdrawn at the barriers for the Golden Slipper after defeating the ultimate winner of the race, Sepoy, in the Todman Stakes just two weeks previously. His first crop have impressed at the sales, and this is a most attractive and strong filly. She is out of a winning Dubai Destination mare, and mares by this stallion have thrown some handy runners. They are responsible for the smart European runners Postponed and and Ihtimal as well as the smart Gr.3 winner in Australia, Slightly Sweet.

Another great nursery is that of Ron Gilbert’s Highgrove Stud, the source of Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap winner Wanted amongst others, and they presented a top-notch Stratum colt, lot 406, who was bought for $620,000. He is a full brother to Flamboyant Lass, who was secured by JHB with her trainer Gai Waterhouse at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year. On the track she has developed well, an impressive Saturday winner and third in the Gr.2 Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies – she very much looks like a Group winning filly in the making and she will have every chance of getting there with Gai. This colt is out of a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Pasikatera, who is also the dam of smart stakes-winning sprinter Planet Voyage, with this being the further family of dual Gr.1 winner Tempest Morn.

In terms of producing stallion prospects of the highest order, Northern Meteor has been taking all before him in the last two seasons and his untimely loss was a great one to the Australian breeding industry. Lot 448 from Gainsborough Lodge was a particularly impressive representative of Northern Meteor and was secured for $260,000. He is out of a mare who won over 1000m as a two year old and was in turn out of a smart juvenile – Danari – who was second in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes. This colt’s dam, Indulgent, is also by Stravinsky, who is building up an impressive record as a broodmare stallion. His daughters are responsible for four Gr.1 winners, headed by outstanding sprinter Lankan Rupee, exceptional filly Mosheen and the promising young European stallion Rip Van Winkle.

The final purchase for JHB came late in the second session of selling, with lot 549 bought for $100,000 from Sledmere Stud. The filly, who will race in the heart silks of the Love family, is a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner Stratum, who lists fellow Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily amongst his best progeny, as well as another great racemare – Streama. This is a filly with a lot of page backing her up. Her dam, the winning Charge Forward mare Girls Night Out, is a half-sister to dual Gr.1 winner He’s No Pie Eater and this is the family of a multitude of Gr.1 winners, including Redoute’s Choice, Hurricane Sky and Manhattan Rain.

A Day for the Imports

Make no mistake – the British are coming. And the French. And the Germans. These came together to varying degrees at Rosehill when a pair of JHB purchase imports took out a pair of Group 3 events in great style.

First to the crease was British import Excess Knowledge who with a win in the Doncaster Prelude took his Australian haul to three of his last four starts. Showing great tenacity to hold off Malice, the fact that Excess Knowledge is doing his winning over distances well short of what will prove his optimum augers exceptionally well for his bright future. He is by the incredible German stallion Monsun, sire of an oustanding 17% stakes winners to runners, and his representatives in Australia led by Melbourne Cup winners Fiorente and Protectionist. It was with a tilt at the greatest race in Australia in mind that Excess Knowledge was purchased on behalf of clients of the Gai Waterhouse stable, and with this confidence building and light Autumn campaign, Gai looks to have given him the perfect grounding going into the Spring. He’s shown the kind of speed that marks a modern-day Melbourne Cup winner, and with his likely stamina for the distance he looks an ideal candidate for Flemington glory.

Representing the French imports was Pornichet, who took out his second Group race in Australia with a most impressive score in the Neville Sellwood Stakes. Pornichet has shown that it is not just with stayers from Europe which one can win good race in Australia, but also with horses who have excelled at shorter trips. Pornichet was sourced from the Nicholas Clement stable in France after a fine run over 1600m to be third in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, otherwise known as the French 2000 Guineas. He was put through the inaugural Goffs London Thoroughbred Sale and, after failing to meet his reserve, was secured privately through JHB and again for clients of the Gai Waterhouse stable. Pornichet is representative that there is a good angle and good reward in bringing over horses from Europe who have shown their talent at lesser distances, and he is sure to be one of many to exploit this approach.

Big Days

There are big days and there are big days. In Australian racing and breeding there is no more influential day than Golden Slipper day at Rosehill. The history and reputation of this being a race to make stallions was apparent from the very outset. The first edition, in 1957, was taken out by a colt named Todman, a son of the imported stallion Star Kingdom. Sent over from England, where he had been known as Star King in his guise as a smart sprinter, Star Kingdom and his progeny quickly made the Golden Slipper their very own. Todman was the first of an incredible five winners in a row for Star Kingdom, who was also Australian Champion sire of 2YOs seven times. Since then the race has been taken out by Champion stallions such as Marscay, Vain, Flying Spur and other important sires such as Luskin Star, Rory’s Jester, Marauding and Canny Lad – all great examples and progenitors of good Australian juvenile speed. More recently the race has been won by current top-class stallions Stratum and Sebring, while very recent winners Sepoy and Pierro are two of the most in-demand young stallions in the country. The 2013 and 2014 editions had passed without a colt winner, Overreach too speedy in 2013 and the first seven home all fillies in 2014, so it was pleasing to see a colt back on top this year. More than pleasing was the fact that the colt was JHB and Gai Waterhouse yearling purchase Vancouver, who followed up a devastating victory in the Todman Stakes with a pulsating Golden Slipper triumph this past Saturday.

Purchased for $185,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vancouver has done everything asked of him in increasingly impressive fashion to remain unbeaten in four starts, and to deal with a horror barrier (under an excellent Tommy Berry ride) of 18 with such aplomb marks this colt down as one cut from the very finest of cloths. Just as important is that it places Vancouver down as a stallion prospect who will be in high demand, with outstanding good looks and a top-class international pedigree to complement his exemplary race record. Honours go to a magnificent piece of training from Gai Waterhouse, who equalled her father T.J. Smith’s record of six Golden Slipper winners after the previous successes of Ha Ha (2001), Dance Hero (2004), Sebring (2008), Pierro (2012) and Overreach (2013). Plaudits also go to a fantastic group of owners who are enjoying every minute of the fantastic experience that this magnificent colt is providing them with – and a well deserved experience that is.

Saturday also saw, at last, a well-deserved Group 1 for fellow JHB and Gai Waterhouse Magic Millions purchase Sweet Idea. The former bridesmaid grabbed the bouquet in aggressive fashion to stun her rivals in the Galaxy, such an impressive win over 1100m first up surely the sign of a most productive preparation in store for the daughter of Snitzel. This was another top training performance from Gai to get this filly to begin her campaign in such impressive fashion. Despite this being her first Gr.1 victory, Sweet Idea’s career has highlighted just how lucrative it can be to race horses in the vibrant Australian environment at present. As befitting a filly as good-looking as she is, Sweet Idea was by no means a cheap yearling at $240,000, but her purchase price pales in comparison to what she has now earned on the track. Saturday’s win took her earnings up to an incredible $2,415,350 for a filly who has only twice in her life finished out of the first four. Congratulations to her ownership group who have had a fantastic run with this filly and one which looks well set to continue.

A Good Day’s Sport

Some days everything goes right, some days everything goes wrong. This past Saturday everything went right.

First up to bat was Vancouver, who was both bought by JHB in conjunction with Gai Waterhouse and in whom also JHB obtained a share in on behalf of Edmund and Belinda Bateman after the colt had been an impressive winner of the Breeders’ Plate. The colt faced a quality, select field in the Group 2 Todman Stakes at Royal Randwick, notably recent Group 2 Silver Slipper winner Headwater. In the race a quality colt became a potential superstar as Vancouver produced a performance out of the very top drawer to simply destroy his rivals and bound clear in the manner of a top, top class horse. Gai’s handling of this colt has been nothing short of outstanding, always with the Golden Slipper and Triple Crown in mind. His owners, Barbara & Francis Kennedy, Angelo & Alison Konstantatos, Julia Ritchie, David & Susan Healey and Edmund & Belinda Bateman should be proud and excited in equal measure as their colt will line up in the Golden Slipper firmly as the horse to beat. For a two-year-old to beat the juvenile record and be within touching distance of the track record proper at a circuit so historic as Royal Randwick marks Vancouver as something very special.

Second to the crease was Wandjina in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington. This colt by stallion sensation Snitzel was an outstanding yearling, secured by JHB on behalf of Edmund and Belinda Bateman for $1 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and had won the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes on his previous start. Wandjina has come of age this prep, and blossomed into a colt who is at the very top of the tree and demonstrated that to tremendous effect with a performance marked as much by toughness as it was by brilliance. Breaking brilliantly, Wandjina quickly took control of the race and gave a relentless display of galloping, quickening off a fast pace and putting two lengths on his rivals in the manner of an exceptional colt. The others were entitled to close on him late, but to do all the work and sprint away from a class field in 33.37 for his final 600m marks Wandjina as a colt as being at the top of the tree. All credit goes to Edmund and Belinda Bateman for having faith in their colt who has rewarded them greatly in becoming a high-class stallion prospect, to Gai Waterhouse once again, who had him cherry ripe and to Brett Prebble for an outstanding front-running ride. Special mention and commiserations go to Damien Oliver who has been an instrumental part of Wandjina’s preparation, riding him in all of his fast work and jump outs as well as for the C.S. Hayes win – he was unable to take the ride on Saturday due to suspension, so here’s hoping that he’ll get another chance to get a Group 1 win on this exciting colt.

Third stakes winner of the day was Nayeli, another purchased by JHB in conjunction with Gai Waterhouse and owned by the Kolivos family. Nayeli was a top-notch two-year-old when winner of the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield and on Saturday she bounced right back to her best to beat a high-class field in the Listed Fireball Stakes at Royal Randwick. Credit once again goes to Gai and the Kolivos family who have been patient with this filly after a challenging preparation last time in and Gai looks to have Nayeli right back to her best now and should be in for a productive time with this smart filly.

The Good Days

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

This famous phrase is never truer than when applied to racehorses. Planning for Group 1 races begins months in advance, and each of those months must pass by perfectly and without setback, so small are the margins for error at the top level. After the suitable races have been identified and the preparation executed, even the most fitting of races have up to twenty rivals, for each of whom the race has been a plan and for each group of connections a win is the dream.

Such a plan had been the case with Shamal Wind, a JHB private purchase for the Love family in May last year. This explosive daughter of Dubawi had yet to gain a breakthrough win at Group level, though had been placed four times at both Group 3 and Group 2 level and gaining a win at this level was the express aim behind the purchase for a mare clearly capable of such a victory.

What followed was an exciting, yet ultimately frustrating preparation where Shamal Wind was placed a further four times at Group level, including when beaten a mere inch in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, a race she had been a similarly close second in twelve months previously. Donna and Rob Love retained faith in their mare, and she rewarded them on her return this January, looking as good as ever when slamming her rivals in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes, a race she had also won twelve months earlier. Then, in consultation with trainer Robert Smerdon, Donna and Rob, it was decided to keep her fresh for a run at the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

The thinking behind a run in the Oakleigh Plate is that a Group 1 placing would add plenty to her broodmare value, and just as much that 1100m under handicap conditions at her home track is certainly what Shamal Wind does best. In the run up to the race, Robert Smerdon executed the plan to perfection, keeping the mare fresh and well between runs and for her part, Shamal Wind was electric.

Rider Dwayne Dunn again excelled in having Shamal Wind in the right position, and though that position looked impossibly far back on the home turn, when he asked Shamal Wind to get down and race, she unleashed her trademark devastating sprint. With ears firmly pinned, she ran home in a world-class 32.99 seconds for the final 600m, with her final four 200m sections run in an average of 10.85 seconds – it would have been no surprise to see burn marks on the Caulfield surface!

To place in a Group 1 was the best laid plan for Shamal Wind, for her to win was the ultimate thrill. Her owners, the Love family, could not be more deserving of this win at the top level – the first in their unique love heart colours – and look sure to have plenty more big days with this incredibly tough mare, both on the race track and later in the breeding barn.

Wandjina Comes of Age

Sometimes it takes a bit longer to harness a talent. One such horse who has always demonstrated a huge amount of talent, but has taken a bit of knowing and figuring out is JHB purchase Wandjina, who broke through for his first stakes win this past weekend in the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Wandjina was an exceptionally good-looking yearling when bought at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, and in training quickly showed that had the talent to go with his looks. He was out early, and an impressive winner at the first official 2YO trials at Royal Randwick. Despite doing plenty wrong, he went on as a 2YO to be an impressive winner of his maiden at Warwick Farm, and in the frame in two Slipper lead-ups, learning all the time.

During his 3YO Spring campaign we learned plenty about Wandjina. In the Caulfield Guineas Prelude he came from an impossible position, still 13th at the 400m pole to fly home for fourth, gaining rapid ground on a top-class field. It was a similar story in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas where he again stormed home, running the fastest final 1200m, 1000m, 800m, 600m and 400m of the race in the manner of a horse with a high-class future. He was then set the daunting task of a Cox Plate start against the best horses in Australia, and again emerged with a huge amount of credit. This time breaking well on terms with the field, he showed his speed once again, right on the pace in one of the fastest-run Cox Plates in history, the final time just outside Might and Power’s track record. Wandjina’s talent was again evident, making a bold move on the home turn and beaten just 3.5 lengths in an outstanding field.

After showing such strong form in Melbourne, it was decided to keep Wandjina down in Victoria and aim at the Gr.1 Australian Guineas for his Autumn campaign. Stage one of the plan was to take in the Gr.3 C.S Hayes Stakes and Wandjina very much came of age to break through at stakes level, battling strongly to fend off Disposition and Stratum Star. This time he was again up with the pace, but well rated by Damien Oliver and again came home in some high-class sectionals, now in the manner of a racehorse approaching the finished article.

Congratulations must go to Wandjina’s owners, Edmund and Belinda Bateman who have shown great faith and patience in this colt, to trainer Gai Waterhouse who had him ready to go for this first-up assignment and also to jockey Damien Oliver who has got to know Wandjina very well this preparation and given great insight into getting the very best out of him. His win on Saturday was the latest step along this path.

Best days ahead for JHB purchase Adrift

When Adrift was purchased at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale by James Harron Bloodstock, she was bought as a filly for whom an Oaks would be an ultimate aim. Prior to last weekend all had been going to plan, with her winning her second two starts in impressive fashion, over 1850m and 1600m and in the style of a filly who will relish getting over an Oaks trip.

Fast forward to her current preparation, and she was sent straight into the fire for the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes. With First Seal, Peggy Jean, Mossfun and Amicus all Group 1 winners, the field was an exceptionally strong one and Adrift was taking these proven Gr.1 horses on at level weights. In the event, Adrift, carrying the famous colours of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, quite simply came of age with a brilliant performance, showing tremendous natural speed and the tenacity of a highly-promising filly to hold off First Seal.

Adrift is a three-parts sister to Maldivian who, while a Group 1 winner at 1400m, was at his best beyond that distance in a career which was highlighted by a Cox Plate win. They are both by the incredible Zabeel, and a delve into the statistics points to some amazing facts with regard to Zabeel’s progeny. Adrift is only the second filly by Zabeel to win a Gr.2 or Gr.1 race at 1200m, the other being Peruzzi who also won the Light Fingers fully 20 years ago in 1995. Indeed, Zabeel sired just one winning filly at 1200m in the whole of 2014, that being Katie’s Cove who won a maiden at Matamata, and was later second to Chautauqua in the Hawkesbury Guineas. Zabeel’s statistics over further distances are quite extraordinary. He is the sire of seven individual Oaks winners, amongst thirteen Gr.1 winning fillies at 1800m and beyond.

With that in mind, it’s quite amazing how Adrift was able to defeat a top-class field on fillies at 1200m in her first foray into Saturday company, let alone her first try at Group level. Congratulations go to her great group of owners, and with her pedigree and profile in mind, Adrift surely has her best days well ahead of her.

Golden Colt

Something that the very best horses have is a touch of the X-Factor, and that is certainly the case with JHB and Gai Waterhouse purchase Vancouver who followed up his all-the-way win in the Listed Breeders’ Plate with a brilliant come-from-behind win in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill this past weekend. For a two-year-old to have shown such versatility at an early stage is a certainly a rare event, and doing all of that while giving 3kg to a very promising field of colts marks Vancouver down as a Golden Slipper prospect of the very highest order.

Vancouver was a $185,000 purchase from the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud on behalf of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds. Most excitingly, Vancouver has the pedigree to back up both this early racetrack brilliance, and to suggest that he will only improve as he develops and matures. He is out of the stakes-placed Skates, already dam of a Gr.1 winner in the shape of Juste Momente. Skates is out of Doncaster winner Skating, who is also the dam of Breeders’ Plate winner Murtajill and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Bradbury’s Luck.

Congratulations to a fantastic group of owners in Vancouver, including majority shareholders Francis and Barbara Kennedy, who have now incredibly been involved with the past three Breeders’ Plate winners, as well as long-time JHB clients Edmund and Belinda Bateman who secured a share in this exciting colt prior to the Canonbury Stakes. This also represented a great training effort from Gai Waterhouse, getting Vancouver ready on the day with so much on the line on his path to the Slipper. A colt with the ability, pedigree, looks and with a touch of the X-Factor, Vancouver is the kind of horse to keep everyone associated with him dreaming big.

Shamal Wind does the job

There can be no horse more deserving of getting their head in front than Shamal Wind, and there certainly aren’t many owners who deserve to win more than the Love family, so it was a thrilling day when their tough, speedy mare, Shamal Wind, got the job done in the Listed W J Adams Stakes at Sandown this week. Donna and Rob Love are great supporters of racing, so it was great to see their mare deliver the equal highest-rated performance of her career.

Shamal Wind was a private purchase by JHB on behalf of the Love family, and since then she’s gained four further Group placings in addition to Monday’s win – task number one now will be getting that first and well deserved Group win! Special thanks must also go to trainer Robert Smerdon and rider Dwayne Dunn who executed the race to perfection.