Odyssey Moon get his Group 3 in the Standish

A tough and consistent sprinter, Odyssey Moon was a brilliant winner of the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington this past weekend under an inspired ride from Noel Callow.

The son of Snitzel has performed with great credit throughout his career, making his debut in the Listed 1000m Inglis Nursery a winning one during a juvenile season which also saw him run Pride of Dubai to a close second in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick.

Odyssey Moon has shown a good liking for Flemington’s straight track, only once out of the placings in five visits and this past weekend he was right back to his best. He was quickly in front, controlling the speed, before putting his rivals to the sword inside the final 600m, running his final 600m in a very quick 33.65s.

Expertly prepared by Robert Smerdon, Odyssey Moon will now head over the Tasman for the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on January 21st, giving him the chance to boost his CV once again for his owner Belinda Bateman.

Champion 2YO Capitalist Retired to Newgate Farm

Capitalist, Australian Champion two-year-old in 2015/16 has been retired to stud after coming out of his final piece of work ahead of the Darley Classic with a small fetlock chip. The injury would require Capitalist to miss the Autumn, and as such connections have decided to retire him to Newgate Farm in preparation for the 2017 breeding season.

His co-trainer Peter Snowden said, “Capitalist was just the perfect two-year-old, blessed with a huge amount of precocity, ability and an excellent temperament. I am certain that without this injury he would have gone very close in the Darley Classic as his trackwork at Flemington was exceptional.” Jockey Blake Shinn was another fan, “Capitalist was the best two-year-old I’ve ever ridden, in the Breeders’ Plate it was like driving a Rolls-Royce. He was breathtaking in the Magic Millions and outstanding against a top-class field in the Golden Slipper.”

Capitalist was purchased and managed by James Harron Bloodstock, and of the colt James Harron said, “Capitalist ticked off a number of firsts, the first colt to win the Magic Millions and the Golden Slipper, and the highest-earning juvenile in history. I am privileged to be associated with such a freak of a racehorse and such a wonderful group of owners. To have a Champion two-year-old who is also a 10/10 physical marks Capitalist as a hugely exciting stallion prospect, and a huge thanks also have to go to Team Snowden and Blake Shinn for developing Capitalist to such amazing heights.”

Capitalist will stand at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley. Newgate’s Managing Director Henry Field said, “Australia is all about two-year-old racing, and to have a Champion 2YO standing at Newgate is what everyone strives for. Capitalist is the embodiment of what works in Australia – he will be heavily supported by his group of owners, who make up some of the leading breeders in Australia, to give him every chance of becoming a Champion Sire as well as being a Champion racehorse.”

Khan Dominant in the Breeders' Plate

When it comes to stallion-making races the 1000m Listed Breeders’ Plate at Randwick is right up there. With the likes of Baguette, Luskin Star, Choisir, Snitzel and Sebring all on the honour roll, along with exciting young stallions Pierro and Vancouver, it is a race which often throws up a future stallion. Last year saw the first crop for the James Harron Bloodstock Colts group hit the track, and the Breeders’ Plate saw a quinella with Capitalist leading home Detective. This year the green and gold colours once again emerged on top, with Khan producing a devastating turn of foot in the final 100m to record a powerful victory.

Khan, a son of perennial leading juvenile stallion Exceed and Excel, is a flashy colt who was a $260,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. His performance on Saturday was not just visually impressive, but was a smart one on the clock too, his final 600m time almost half a second faster than any of his rivals. Bred by Glenlogan Park, he is also in possession of a pedigree which very much suggests him as being a horse who will relish 1200m and beyond later on, making his sizzling display at Randwick all the more exciting. Khan will now head to the spelling paddock before returning to target the Group 1 Golden Slipper in the Autumn.

Once again the team at Snowden Racing deserve huge credit for producing this colt in superb condition on raceday, and our number one jockey Blake Shinn was superb in his handling of this special colt. Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Steve & Louise Gillard and Gary Diamond.

Vadamos Gets His Group 1 In The Prix Du Moulin

John and Deb Camilleri purchased a half-share in Monsun colt Vadamos as a three-year-old through James Harron Bloodstock and de Burgh Equine in 2014. Since then, like so many by his sire, he has proven to be a highly-progressive performer, improving his timeform rating by an impressive 13 points while taking out a Group 3 and a pair of Group 2s. He improved yet again when runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois in August, and gained his first and well deserved Group 1 this weekend when an impressive winner of the Prix du Moulin this weekend, cementing his place as one of the very best milers in Europe.

As a miler Vadamos somewhat differs from the majority of Monsun’s stock, but such is his tactical speed that he is tremendously effective at this distance. Monsun’s stock tend to prove at their best at middle-distances, with the likes of top-class performers Fiorente, Shirocco and Manduro his best among an incredible 41 Group 1 winners. Vadamos is now a winner from a mile to a mile and a half, giving his connections huge scope when considering future targets. He looks likely to be well suited to the 2040m Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October, which is reportedly under consideration.

Congratulations to all involved, notably owners John Camilleri and Andreas Putsch’s Haras de Saint Pair, who also bred Vadamos.

Detective becomes stakes winner at Flemington

After a juvenile campaign which saw him twice stakes-placed, including on debut in the Listed Breeders’ Plate and in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Detective has come back in fine style as a three-year-old. He broke his maiden two weeks ago at Wyong and followed that up with a very tough win in the Listed Starlight Express Room Stakes over 1400m at Flemington this weekend.

He drew a sticky barrier in 12 at Flemington, with the first turn over 1400m almost straight away, but under a great ride from Chris Parnham he was able to overturn this disadvantage quickly with a quick start putting him in a great position. His rivals were lining up to challenge halfway up the straight, but once again Detective showed a fantastic attitude to pull away, very strong through the line in the manner of a horse who will relish 1600m.

Detective was a $220,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for the James Harron Bloodstock colt venture. He is by leading stallion Snitzel and out of Group 1 Railway Stakes winner Covertly. Thanks to the whole team at Snowden Racing for a beautifully-prepared colt, and congratulations to winning owners  Belinda Bateman, Newgate Farm, Matthew Sandblom, Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Donna & Rob Love, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab and APB International.

Snitzel colt Decorated Soldier wins at Newcastle on debut

After a promising trial victory at Rosehill, Decorated Soldier didn’t disappoint on his race day debut on Newcastle’s Beaumont track, running out a ready winner. He jumped and settled well in the run, and was too strong in the straight for his more experienced rivals. It was no mean feat to concede ground and experience on what was a very heavy track, indeed of the four races run over 1150m, Decorated Soldier was the only horse to break the 1:09 barrier, running the distance in 1:08.84.

Decorated Soldier is the second winner out of his dam, At Ease, who is a winner of the then-Listed Sheraco Stakes, a race which now a Group 3 event. He will be well suited to stepping up in distance, giving him great scope for further improvement and wins as he works through his grades.

Big thanks to trainers Peter & Paul Snowden, to jockey Mitchell Bell and congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Newgate SF, Matthew Sandblom, Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Donna & Rob Love, Vince Pavia, Anthony Guido and APB International.

Mediterranean, a cousin of Capitalist, impressive at Canterbury

The pedigree of JHB-purchased Magic Millions and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist is already one of the best in Australia, with the likes of Golden Slipper winner Merlene, Group 1 winning sprinter Miss Pennymoney, VRC Oaks winner Dear Demi and top 2YO filly of her year Bold Promise, all featuring. Capitalist is the most recent black type winner to adorn this pedigree, and on Wednesday at Canterbury another to carry the green and gold JHB silks, Mediterranean, put up his hand to become the next such galloper from the family with an impressive maiden victory.

Mediterranean is, by virtue of his own dam Ekali being a half-sister to Capitalist’s dam Kitalpha, a cousin of Capitalist. He is a colt who has always shown a great deal of ability in his trackwork, and after a couple of decent efforts in top company last preparation he has returned this time a bigger, stronger colt. After two impressive barrier trial victories, the latter a five and a half length demolition job, Mediterranean was sent off a $1.50 favourite to break his maiden at Canterbury and did so in effortless style, making a very early run from back in the field and much too good despite having to travel very wide. Further merit to the performance comes from a look at the times, with his final 600m comfortably the fastest of the day.

A $280,000 purchase from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Mediterranean is now likely to work towards the good Spring races, when he will hopefully join his cousin as the latest black type winner from this ever productive family.

Thanks to Peter & Paul Snowden for another beautifully prepared colt and to Kerrin McEvoy for a cool ride at the tricky Canterbury track. Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Newgate SF, Matthew Sandblom (who also bred Mediterranean), Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Donna & Rob Love, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab and Gurmet Singh.

Attention Stands Tall Again

Three of the most obviously desirable qualities in a racehorse are ability, attitude and good-looks. Attention is a colt with all three in abundance, and this exceptionally good-looking colt notched up his second Group win this past weekend when a thrilling winner of the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes. Beautifully prepared by Peter and Paul Snowden, he is thriving in the Queensland sunshine and was a picture of health in the mounting yard. In the event he once again demonstrated his fantastic will to win, putting his rivals to the sword in the straight and never in any real danger of being reeled in under a superb ride from Blake Shinn.

Attention was bred by outstanding breeders Ron and Deb Gilbert at their Highgrove Stud, who presented him as a stunning yearling at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale last year.

He has come through the run in fantastic order and heads to the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes at the newly-renovated Eagle Farm in two weeks time. 

Big congratulations go to owners Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham and Gary Diamond.

Foxwedge colt looks like a star on USA debut

The late Dr Edmund Bateman was a visionary, who very much applied his tremendous business success into his approach towards horse racing. After racing Group 1 winning sprinter Foxwedge with his wife Belinda, he was very keen to ensure that his stallion got every chance in the Northern Hemisphere, where he stood three seasons at Whitsbury Manor Stud.

Edmund and Belinda travelled over to England in 2013 on a trip to view Foxwedge at Whitsbury Manor, taking in a visit to Royal Ascot. While in England we had many discussions about how to go about supporting Foxwedge in the Northern Hemisphere in the most effective way, and a plan was hatched to purchase some Foxwedge foals at the sales and send them out of the harsh European winter to continue their growth and development in the warm Florida climate. Wesley Ward was identified as an obvious choice to train the horses given his exceptional record at Royal Ascot – he had sent No Nay Never to run out a hugely impressive winner of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes in the year of our visit.

As part of this mission Hubie de Burgh put in the hard yards, travelling the length of Ireland and England inspecting all of the Foxwedge foals, and three foals at the Tattersalls Foal Sale were identified as good candidates for the project. The first of those through the ring was lot 294, a colt out of Celestial Empire, and he was secured for 40,000 guineas. Comparing Foxwedge’s sales averages that year is an interesting insight into the opportunities that the increasingly international nature of the thoroughbred industry can offer. His first-crop weanlings in Australia averaged very close to $150,000, while in Europe this figure was the equivalent of $46,000.

The three colts were then sent straight to Wesley’s farm in Florida to grow and develop in the sunshine state. The hope that one of them may be able to add to Wesley’s fantastic record with juveniles at Royal Ascot became a much firmer possibility overnight as the colt out of Celestial Empire, now named Star Empire, made a spectacular debut in a $100,000 five furlong maiden at Belmont Park.

Sent off a well-fancied 8/5 shot after some impressive morning workouts, Star Empire duelled in the lead with Fuhrlong at a quick pace (22.23 seconds for the opening quarter mile), before sauntering clear in the straight to win eased down by six and a half lengths. He looks a colt with a very bright future, and with all things going to plan will head over to England later this month on the Royal Ascot trail, with the Group 2 Coventry Stakes firmly on the radar. Belinda Bateman is also a shareholder in star colt Vancouver who is targeting the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, so fingers are crossed for hopefully a special week at the Royal racecourse.

Congratulations to Belinda Bateman for such an impressive win, and big thanks for an amazing job to the whole team.

Vadamos Brilliant in Group 2 Prix du Muguet

Vadamos, in whom a half-share was purchased by JHB on behalf of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, has always been a racehorse in which legendary French trainer Andre Fabre has spoken of in the highest terms. A runaway winner of the Group 2 Oettingen Rennen last year, Vadamos went another level this past weekend, handing multiple Gr.1 winner Ervedya a three-and-a-half length beating in the Group 2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud.

Vadamos is the third tried horse by great German stallion Monsun purchased in Europe on behalf of Australian interests by James Harron Bloodstock in conjunction with de Burgh Equine, and each of the three has gone on to Group race success. The first of them was subsequent Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, while the second is multiple Australian Group winner Excess Knowledge. Vadamos is now a dual Group 2 winner since his purchase, and looks well up to making his mark at the very highest level this Summer in Europe.

Attention takes the Group 3 T L Baillieu Handicap

The saying goes that barriers win races. Attention is a colt who has had little luck in the barrier draw for each of his three starts, drawing 5 of 6, 9 of 10 and 12 of 14, but under a great ride from Blake Shinn he was able to overcome the last-noted position to take out the Group 3 T L Baillieu Handicap at Rosehill this past Saturday. Blake allowed this free-striding colt to use his great action at Rosehill where he was soon up with the pace and too strong for his field in the straight. Attention is a colt with a touch of the x-factor – horses who pin their ears and fight so hard to win often keep stepping up to another level as they work through their grades. He now heads to the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce at Royal Randwick on day 1 of The Championships, where the draw has been kinder – this time he will jump from barrier 1!

Attention was a $620,000 James Harron Bloodstock yearling purchase from the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale – the 2016 edition of this sale kicks off next week in Sydney. He is a son of Golden Slipper winner Stratum and was reared in Ron and Debbie Gilbert’s exceptionally successful nursery of Highgrove Stud. He is a full brother to the Gr.2 placed Flamboyant Lass, and from the family of Australiasian Oaks winner Tempest Morn. Interestingly another of the 2016 Sydney 2YO Group winners – Group 2 Skyline Stakes winner Good Standing – also hails from this family.

A big congratulations to the owners of Attention – Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Donna & Rob Love and Gary Diamond

Defcon Brilliant in the Black Opal

Defcon has marked himself as an exciting colt ever since his impressive win at Randwick’s first official 2YO barrier trials, taking his heat out in the fastest time of the entire morning. His first two starts, both in Group races, were full of credit. He was second in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes after making up a huge amount of ground on a heavy 10 track, and put up a similarly creditable effort when second in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes after being forced to sit three wide for the majority of the race.

It was, therefore, very pleasing to see him take out the $275,000 Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra in tremendously exciting fashion after missing the break, coming from last to first in the manner of a horse who is rapidly improving with every run. His closing sectionals were amongst the fastest of the day, confirming the visual impression.

Naturally he is now assured of a start in the Golden Slipper should he head in that direction and we will see how he comes through the race over the next few days and discuss with Peter and the owners before making a final decision. Wherever he goes, Defcon looks a most exciting prospect.

Defcon was a $340,000 James Harron Bloodstock yearling purchase at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale from Eliza Park International on behalf of owners Newgate Farm, Matthew Sandblom, Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, John & Fran Ingham, Donna & Rob Love, and Kevan Wacey. Defcon is by the evergreen stallion Choisir, who has demonstrated with the likes of Starspangledbanner in Australia and Olympic Glory in Europe that he is very capable of getting colts with top-class ability.

Magic day for Capitalist

When buying a group of quality colts at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2015, the dream was that one might be brilliant and precocious enough to come back in 2016 and win the 2016 Magic Millions 2YO Classic. On Saturday this dream came true as Capitalist, a $165,000 purchase from Daandine Stud powered away from his rivals to win in devastating fashion.

This special colt has now won each of his three starts by daylight and is as professional as he is brilliant. It was a real highlight of my career to see him win so emphatically and the huge amount of excitement this generated for his outstanding group of owners. Huge mention also goes to Peter and Paul Snowden who have prepared him beautifully, and Blake Shinn who once again gave him a textbook ride.

He will now head out to the paddock for a week of down time before returning to work to aim squarely at the world’s richest 2YO race, the $3.5 million Golden Slipper. The biggest of congratulations to his owners who showed great faith in getting behind this project – I am ever grateful for their support and delighted for their success.

Capitalist Dominates at Wyong

Australia’s love affair with two-year-old racing shows no sign of abating, with the leading stallion lists dominated by horses who showed the attitude and natural ability necessary to make an impact in the top races as juveniles. Capitalist is a horse who has shown this natural brilliance from the outset, alongside an outstanding temperament and yesterday in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions he deployed this devastatingly effective combination of weapons to sublime effect, galloping to an effortless victory in race-record time.

A look at the aforementioned stallion tables reveals that the Wyong Magic Millions is a race which has a good record of producing future stallions, as does the race which Capitalist won in similarly dominant style on his debut, the Breeders’ Plate. One of the leading stallions in Australia, Snitzel, who stood for a fee of $88,000 at Arrowfield this year, is the only other horse to have previously won both races. Capitalist will now be set up for a tilt at the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 9th, where he will bid to become the first horse to win the Breeders’ Plate, the Wyong Magic Millions and the Gold Coast Magic Millions, with Snitzel having finished third to Bradbury’s Luck in the 2005 edition of the latter.

Capitalist, at $165,000 from the Daandine Stud draft at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, is one of 24 colts purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for existing owners at the yearling sales in 2015, with the intention of developing future stallion prospects. Intention is one thing, but deliverance is the key, and it is thrilling to see that this selection process, in conjunction with a hand-crafted management program, is already getting results with the 2YO racing season less than three months old. The management system is spearheaded by the father and son training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden, who have prepared Capitalist beautifully, leaving enough to work on for him to be at his peak in three weeks time. Rider Blake Shinn also deserves special mention, keeping a cool head on a strong favourite and handling him beautifully to both impressive victories – he and Capitalist look a formidable pairing.

Final and biggest mention has to go to the owners, who have shown tremendous faith in investing in this group of colts, and I am delighted that their faith has been rewarded with a colt who looks out of the very top drawer.

Capitalist back with a bang

Yesterday saw the return to the barrier trials of hugely exciting Breeders’ Plate winner Capitalist, taking his first steps towards the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 9th, and he could not have been more impressive, treating his rivals with contempt in a 4-length romp.

Capitalist is one of twenty-four colts purchased by James Harron Bloodstock on behalf of existing owners at the yearling sales in 2015, and is a colt who has handled every stage of his career with utmost professionalism to go with his considerable ability. On his first trip away from Randwick, this was another polished display which had co-trainer Peter Snowden and rider Blake Shinn singing his praises. He has pulled up well and this will set him up beautifully for a start in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions over 1100m on Thursday 17th December en route to the Gold Coast.

Can lightning strike twice in the race that stops a nation?

Two years ago, after following the horse for many months, a beautiful black Monsun colt was secured by JHB on behalf of Gai Waterhouse and Round Table Racing. That colt was Excess Knowledge. He is a horse who bears a striking similarity to another JHB purchase with Gai Waterhouse, Fiorente. Both are by the same exceptional stallion, both were bred by outstanding breeders, both were highly-progressive staying three-year-olds who very much passed Rob Waterhouse’s stringent form analysis and both are truely exceptional physical types.

Second in a Melbourne Cup straight off the plane, Fiorente went on to win Australia’s most famous race a year later as a six-year-old. Excess Knowledge has been bought along beautifully by Gai on a similar schedule and will line up in this year’s Melbourne Cup also as a six-year-old. He gains a start in the race with a featherweight of 51.5kgs by virtue of a pulsating triumph in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes over the weekend, a hugely admirable effort considering he was sitting three wide throughout and he was also one of very few horses to win away from the rail on the day.

A big congratulations to Bruce & Natasha Slade of Round Table Racing and the big and fantastic group of owners in Excess Knowledge, who are all now in for the chance of a lifetime in the Melbourne Cup, and to Gai Waterhouse who has nurtured Excess Knowledge beautifully, and now has two live chances to win the Melbourne Cup twice in three years.

My Poppette dominates in the Gr.2 Fillies’ Classic

As a two-year-old My Poppette impressed greatly with her victory in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington, sitting wide without cover throughout and running on too strongly to beat a strong field of colts and geldings. Prior to her three-year-old season, she was purchased privately by JHB on behalf of Donna and Rob Love, whose easily recognisable heart silks are becoming increasingly well represented on Australian racecourses. With a juvenile stakes win already on the board, and being a top-class physical type, My Poppette will be an excellent prospect to join their impressive broodmare band when the time comes, but judging by her victory in the Group 2 Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley on Saturday, that time is a while away yet.

She was purchased from Colin and Cindy Alderson, who did a fantastic job to win the Anzac Day Stakes with her, giving a great training base to build upon. Purchased at the point of being ready to race, the training performance from Robert Smerdon, in conjunction with some great advice from Cindy, to handle the transition perfectly and prepare My Poppette to peak on the big day is one for which he and his team deserve a huge amount of credit. Also exemplary was the front-running ride executed by Mark Zahra, taking advantage of the best barrier on the best horse and using it to gallop his rivals into submission – to run the second-fastest final 600m on a top-class day of racing is testament to both his judgement and the ability of this progressive filly.

A beautiful daughter of Snippetson, with a huge amount of scope, My Poppette’s record now stands at 3 wins and 2 placings from only 7 starts and prizemoney of $281,350. She will round out her current preparation with a start in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on 31st October, with Dwayne Dunn taking over from the suspended Mark Zahra, before she has a well deserved break in preparation for the Autumn, when she looks set to come into her own.

JHB Colts Quinella the Breeders' Plate

Ten months ago, after many more months of research and preparation, a project began to purchase colts with the physical make up and pedigree to develop into stallion prospects down the track. In all, twenty four colts were secured on behalf of a group of existing clients and owners. This past Saturday saw the first two of them hit the track in the Listed Newgate Breeders’ Plate at Royal Randwick.

The Breeders’ Plate is a race with a rich history of producing future stallions, with the likes of Baguette, Luskin Star, Choisir, Charge Forward, Snitzel, Sebring, Smart Missile, Pierro and Vancouver all on the honour role. As such it was tremendous that two of the colts, after being put through a hand-crafted JHB management system, and expertly prepared by Peter and Paul Snowden, had demonstrated the speed and precocity to make their debuts in this historic race. On the day things could not have gone better, with Capitalist a devastating winner and Detective running a race full of future promise in second.

Capitalist was purchased for $165,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Daandine Stud, who also bred the colt’s sire, Todman Stakes winner Written Tycoon. Capitalist is out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Kitalpha, who sadly died a couple of weeks ago, and from a strong and very active two-year-old family. His second dam, Compulsion, was a Gr.3 Blue Diamond Preview winner, while this is the further family of Gr.1 Golden Slipper winner Merlene.

Capitalist has always impressed through his preparation with professionalism and brilliance in equal measure, and demonstrated this to tremendous effect in the Breeders’ Plate. Settled beautifully by Blake Shinn just of the pace, his response in the straight to minimal urging was electric, his winning time of 57.09 the second-fastest Breeders’ Plate ever, and the race posting the fastest final 600m of the day. This was the first time in the past five years that the Breeders’ Plate winner has run a faster final 600m than the Roman Consul winner on the same day, a race this year won by the formidable Exosphere. With that in mind, Capitalist looks a horse of great ability, and will now head for a short break before being prepared for his next target.

It was also particularly pleasing to see the performance of Detective in second under Hugh Bowman, taking a tight gap between rivals to finish a clear second. Detective, a son of Snitzel, was a $220,000 purchase at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, and is out of the Gr.1 winner Covertly. He too will head to the paddock for a short break before returning to prepare for his next target.

New JHB venture begins at first official 2YO barrier trials

Monday marks the exciting beginning of a new venture with six colts stepping out at the first official 2YO trials at Royal Randwick in the newly-registered dark green and gold silks of James Harron Bloodstock.

We inspected every colt offered for sale at the major public auctions in Australasia over the past year, and each of these colts, along with 18 others, was selected and secured on behalf of existing clients who are keen to invest in colts with the pedigree and physical make up to develop into stallion prospects.

They have each gone through a management and training program crafted by JHB in conjunction with the very best service providers and are under the expert guidance of trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.

Star Filly Makes It Three In Row

Promising three-year-old filly Kimberley Star celebrated her unofficial birthday in fine style at Rosehill on Saturday 1 August, taking out the Structaflor Yellowtongue Plate (1400m) for connections.

After settling in third position on the rails, Kimberley Star moved off the rails for clear galloping room just before the home turn, working beautifully to the line for a dominant three length victory.

Purchased for $40,000 from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2014, well under the average for this sale, which was over $250,000 that year, the daughter of Star Witness out of Kiss The Sun (Anabaa) made it three city wins in a row; taking her overall earnings to $225,735.

The lightly-raced filly has secured three wins and four minor placings from seven starts for champion trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Blake Shinn, prompting the warrant for a black type campaign in the coming months, looking towards gaining a stakes win to compliment her earlier stakes placing in the $250,000 Listed Inglis Nursery.

“She certainly did it on another level today as there were a couple of rather impressively bred colts in the race and she dismissed them that easily it was not funny,” explained Waterhouse.

“She was carrying top-weight and she is a serious filly about to take on the best of the best.”

Shinn, who’s struck up a most favourable relationship with Kimberley Star, advertising a 100 percent strike rate so far added, “she’s is a little ripper…I was very confident of her ability going into the race.

“She’s a very professional filly, travelled up lovely and showed a very good turn of foot to put them away”.

JHB and winning owners Scott & Lisa Murray, Brian & Pat Ireland, Stephen Gorry and Michael Gorry look forward to more success with this star pupil.