Flying filly Duchess strikes for the fifth time!

Duchess has proven to be such a tough and reliable sprinter for our Filly Partnership, and it was a typical display of sheer speed and tenacity that saw her rack up her fifth win yesterday at Canberra in the $80,000 Quality Sprint.

Under a great front-running Tim Clark ride, she blasted out of the barriers and showed blistering speed through the middle stages, before holding off the strong challenge of Delacour in the final stages to just prevail.

Congratulations to all of our Filly Partnership owners, who celebrated two winners this weekend with Duchess and Glistening, and both were also trained beautifully by Michael Freedman.

Glistening shines again at Flemington

After a luckless Spring campaign, Group 2 winning 2YO Glistening looked to have come back in great order in her recent trial, and proved just as much when proving too speedy for her rivals in the Listed Moomba Plate this Saturday at Flemington under a great Hugh Bowman steer.

Showing her customary early speed, Glistening got all of her rivals off the bridle early and, with Hugh Bowman waiting as long as he dared in front, she found plenty to fight off the strong challenge from smart sprinter General Beau.

Glistening was a $260,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for our Filly Partnership along with Michael Freedman, and as a stakes winner at both two and three years old, she is a very valuable broodmare prospect for the team.

A big congratulations to all of our Filly Partnership owners, and thanks to all of the team at Michael Freedman’s stable for getting her to Flemington in such great order.

Crosswinds too good on debut at Ballarat

Written Tycoon colt Crosswinds had to deal with his own namesake when making his debut today at Ballarat in very blustery conditions, but proved more than up to the task, always travelling beautifully under Mark Zahra and bounding clear to win impressively over 1100m, despite having a good look at the winning post in the final stages.

He looks a colt of some considerable promise for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, who have been patient with him as he filled into his impressive frame. He is out of dual stakes winner Gybe (by Fastnet Rock), who won of the time-honoured Gimcrack Stakes during her racing career, and he was secured for the JHB Colt Partnership for $1,100,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from the Blue Gum Farm draft, who sold him on behalf of his breeders Rob and Sylvie Crabtree of Dorrington Farm.

Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Rob Love, Fergus Doyle, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Danny & Pauline Saab, John and Frances Ingham, Gary Diamond, Steve & Louise Gillard and Rob & Sylvie Crabtree.

Pariah colt Latvian breaks through at Moonee Valley

After showing plenty of ability in a pair of jump outs, Pariah colt Latvian broke through this Friday night at Moonee Valley to win in tremendous style under Mark Zahra, eased right down after leading throughout with his head on his chest for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Latvian was purchased for the JHB Colt Partnership at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $375,000 from Newgate Farm, and is the third winner from Group 3 winning 2YO Real Stolle. He is importantly the first city winner for his sire, fellow JHB Colt Partnership purchase, Pariah, who is standing at Arrowfield Stud.

This win bodes very well for the future of Latvian, who will also be suited to more distance in time and also from the added confidence this victory will give him going forward.

Congratulations to owners Rob Love (also his breeder), Belinda Bateman, Fergus Doyle, Steve & Louise Gillard, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab and Jonathan Munz.

Argentia awesome in Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes

Argentia winning the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield

After an injury-enforced layoff, Argentia returned this past weekend at Caulfield in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes over an unsuitable 1200m as a good stepping stone to targets later this Autumn, hoping for a good, forward showing. Come the race we got that and so much more, as Argentia stormed home from last to put her head down for the win right on the line under a great ride from Mark Zahra.

Argentia was a JHB yearling selection and purchase at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $670,000 from the Evergreen Stud draft on behalf of owners John and Deb Camilleri. She is by the sensational Frankel, who is not only Timeform’s highest-rated horse in history, but also now making his mark as an incredible stallion, particularly with his runners in Australia/NZ where he is running at 15.2% stakes winners to runners and 30.2% stakes horses to runners, which is truely phenomenal. Argentia is also out of an incredible race mare, four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (by Encosta de Lago), who was sold as a broodmare prospect for $3,000,000.

A big thanks to trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, who have done an exceptional job getting Argentia back in such outstanding order, and we look forward to seeing her through the Autumn as she aims to improve further on what is already a hugely impressive record.

Four quality yearlings for JHB at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale

Against a backdrop of an ever more vibrant racing and breeding industry, the bidding for the choice lots at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale was again very competitive, and we were delighted to come away with three colts for the JHB Colt Partnership alongside a filly for our Filly Partnership with Michael and Richard Freedman.

Lot 100 - Extreme Choice x Murtle Turtle - $775,000

Our first purchase was lot 100 from Bell River Thoroughbreds, a son of Extreme Choice, who is off to an extraordinary start as a stallion, with 18% stakes winners to runners from his first crop, including Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside. He is also out of the precocious and speedy Murtle Turle, who was out very early as a 2yo, and has produced Sydney metropolitan winning 2yo California Deeply. He of course also comes from the same farm which bred and sold Extreme Choice at this sale six years ago.

Lot 122 - Capitalist x One More Tequila - $375,000

Our second colt purchase was Lot 122, the Capitalist colt our of One More Tequila secured from Newgate Farm. He is a very strong and forward colt by Capitalist, who is off to a great start at stud, siring his 16th and 17th stakes performers on the weekend at Caulfield. His dam is by Onemorenomore, who has 3 stakes performers from just 32 starters as a broodmare sire, and she is in turn out of the stakes winning 2YO Tequila Knowledge, so this is a precocious pedigree to match a precocious physical.

Lot 211 - Pariah x Rose of Falvelon - $210,000

Our final colt purchase for the JHB Colt Partnership was lot 211, a son of Pariah, and he is very much in the image of his sire. He’s got great action and seems also blessed with a lovely temperament. His dam was a very fast metropolitan sprinter, and comes from a good solid family of black type performers, including the very smart colt and young stallion North Pacific.

Lot 384 - I Am Invincible x Another Sunday filly - $360,000

We were delighted to secure Lot 384, the I Am Invincible x Another Sunday filly from Yarraman Park Stud for $360,000 to race for our Filly Partnership with Michael and Richard Freedman. She is a quality filly, with great girth and strength and a sharp demeanour. She comes from one of Australia’s very best families, that of King’s Legacy, Oohood, Not a Single Doubt and Snippets.

Her dam, Another Sunday is a three-quarter sister to King’s Legacy and Not a Single Doubt, while being by I Am Invincible makes this filly also a three-quarter sister to Oohood, who was a top-class 2YO and 3YO, placed in the Golden Slipper and winner of the Group 1 Flight Stakes.

Stronger takes out Group 1 Hong Kong Centenary Sprint at Sha Tin

While the core focus of the JHB Colt Partnership is to unearth and nurture future stallions, another major area is our trading of colts and geldings, particularly to the Hong Kong market. We have cheered on great success of our past Colt Partnership horses, including Group 2 Todman Stakes winner Gunnison, who has earned over HK$10 million, Leviathan, who has won a pair of stakes races in Hong Kong under his new name Healthy Happy, and Stronger, who this weekend tasted success at the highest level when taking out the Group 1 Hong Kong Centenary Sprint.

Stronger was traded out of the JHB Colt Partnership, sold to clients of George Moore, after winning the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast, and has proven to be a high-class sprinter in Hong Kong for trainer Douglas Whyte. Early in his Hong Kong career he broke the 1000m track record at Happy Valley, and it was incredibly rewarding to see him gain this top-level victory for his new connections, coming from the rear and holding off a world-class field.

Stronger was initially purchased as a yearling from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. A big congratulations to Stronger’s Hong Kong owners, to jockey Vincent Ho, to George Moore for an astute purchase and to trainer Douglas Whyte for his first Hong Kong Group 1 victory.

A magic week at the Gold Coast for JHB and our clients

The vibrancy and strength of the Australian racing and breeding industry was very much to the forefront this week as the yearling sales season kicked off in tremendous fashion for the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and we were delighted to come away with some outstanding prospects for our owners, with details on our purchases below.

Also it was an outstanding sale for our JHB managed breeding clients, with them achieving over $5.5 million in sales, headed by the $1,900,000 sale-topping price to Coolmore achieved for the I Am Invincible x Suspicieuse colt on behalf of our Breeding Partnership, you can read more about him HERE

Many thanks to all of our owners for their continued support, and also to Newgate Farm, Willow Park Stud for raising our clients’ yearlings so beautifully and to Barry Bowditch and his Magic Millions team for putting on such an incredible sale.

Lot 253 - I Am Invincible x Meliora Colt - $1,100,000 to the JHB Colt Partnership

This is a very strong and forward colt by the top-class stallion I Am Invincible, with great strength and he looks a very precocious sort. He is a full-brother to the very speedy I Am Immortal, who is standing at Swettenham Stud, and out of a very smart racemare in Group 2 winner Meliora. This mare has had three I Am Invincible colts at sales in recent years, and I feel that this colt is certainly the best physical type she has produced.

Lot 413 - Exceed and Excel x Radharcnafarraige - $410,000 to the JHB Colt Partnership

This is a very strong and forward-looking colt by Champion sire Exceed and Excel. He is a full-brother to very fast 2YO So Serene, who ran second to Extreme Choice in the Inglis Nursery on debut, and he is out of a very precocious and speedy mare in Group 3 winner Radharcnafarraige. Distorted Humor is the dam sire, who is one of the very best dam sires worldwide, with 5.7% stakes winners to runners, and this colt also comes from one of Australia’s best producing farms in Segenhoe, where we also found dual Group 1 winner King’s Legacy at this sale.

Lot 443 - Written Tycoon x Rose Ahead - $750,000 to the JHB Colt Partnership

This is a very strong and athletic colt by Written Tycoon, who is one of Australia’s best sire of sires, with Capitalist, Written By and Ole Kirk all at stud. He is the first foal of his dam, who was a 1100m winner and is by Dream Ahead, who is off to a good start as a broodmare sire with Group 2 winning 2YO Lightsaber amongst his best performers. 

Lot 669 - I Am Invincible x Villa Carlotta filly - $1,100,000

This is an outstanding filly by I Am Invincible, from the high-class 2YO Villa Carlotta, this being the further family of the immortal Redoute’s Choice. She again comes from one of Australia’s best producing farms in Segenhoe, and looks an outstanding racing and, ultimately, breeding prospect.

Lot 910 - Exceed and Excel x Devious Rumor - $1,200,00 to the JHB Colt Partnership

This colt was physically I believe one of the very best in the sale. He’s strong, with a great body and girth, a good action and an incredible temperament. He is the first foal of a very fast American sprinting mare, who is by Street Boss, so this is the reverse cross that has produced very fast and precocious sprinter Hanseatic, who is now standing at stud.

JHB Elite Broodmare Partnership yearling tops Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

The I Am Invincible x Suspicieuse colt, pictured as a foal with his dam.

The very first yearling to sell for our Broodmare Partnership set the Magic Millions sale ring alight this afternoon at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling for $1,900,000 to Tom Magnier of Coolmore Australia.

His dam, Suspicieuse, was secured privately by JHB carrying this colt, as a commercial breeding prospect for a group of our owners who have come together to purchase her. We identified her as a highly-desirable breeding prospect, given that her first foal is Group 3 Breeders’ Plate winner Dubious (by Not a Single Doubt), and eventually as a bullseye mare to visit King’s Legacy, as he is a three-quarter brother to Not a Single Doubt

This colt has been an absolute standout from day one through all of our regular inspections of our clients’ stock, and we are delighted for our owners that the market was in agreement, with incredibly strong competition to secure him. In addition to an incredible physique, he is blessed with the most unflappable temperament, and he is a tremendously exciting racing and, hopefully, stallion prospect.

Suspicieuse has a lovely Pariah filly on the ground, and is resident at Newgate Farm. Congratulations to our owners, Belinda Bateman, Rob Love, Phil & Glenda Mehrten and Fergus Doyle, and wishing Coolmore the very best of luck with this outstanding colt. Finally, many thanks to all of the team at Newgate Farm, who have done a tremendous job in raising him.

Dimension scores with ears pricked on debut

Patience paid off today with 3yo Dundeel gelding Dimension as he scored an impressive victory at Mornington. Settled beautifully just behind the speed under Zac Spain, Dimension unleashed in the straight and powered home to the line with his ears pricked to record a comfortable victory.

As a son of 2400m winner Dundeel, Dimension looks like he will be well suited to stepping up in distance as he gets deeper into his preparation, so to score impressively over 1200m marks him as a very promising horse going forward.

He was secured by JHB for our Colt Partnership at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $380,000 from the Three Bridges draft, and hails from the family of Group 1 winner Bawalaksana.

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

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.

Capitalist ends 2021 flying high in second season sire race

After a record-equalling first season, which saw him join More Than Ready in siring 11 individual stakes horses, more than any other sires in Australian history, Capitalist now heads the leading second-season sire race with a healthy $200,000 margin over Maurice and is more than $1,000,000 ahead of third-placed Star Turn.

From the first crop for the JHB Colt Partnership, Capitalist has proven to be the dream result for our owners, all of whom have retained an interest in him as a stallion, as his fee for 2021 gained a well-earned boost to $99,000 from $44,000 in 2020. With his incredible fertility, and now proven performance, he exemplifies what we set out to do with our Colt Partnership in building stallion equity for our partners that will provide a substantial income for many years.

We are greatly looking forward to getting back into the sales season early in 2022, beginning with the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and inspecting the next crop by this hugely exciting young stallion.

Molly Nails another victory at Moruya

Consistent in her last two starts at city level, Molly Nails returned to the winners’ circle today at Moruya’s Showcase meeting in the $50,000 Class 3, showing her trademark turn of foot to get home and break the 1200m track record in the process.

Settling in midfield under Nick Heywood, Molly Nails travelled up strongly at the top of the straight and powered home in great style to fend off recent Highway winner Underground Music.

This was Molly Nails’ third win from just seven starts to date, and she now will be targeted towards the Nowra edition of the Country Championships on February 13th. She was retained for racing by her breeder Fergus Doyle, and was secured in utero by JHB at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, being out of the high-class New Zealand 2YO Maritimo, who has a Fastnet Rock filly heading to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale this year. Maritimo also has a lovely Pariah filly foal and is in foal to King’s Legacy.

Satin Ribbons takes out city honours at Randwick

Speedy Capitalist filly Satin Ribbons has barely looked back since breaking her maiden, and today at Randwick she took the next step forward, again showing her rivals a clean pair of heels at metropolitan level at Randwick.

Leading all of the way under Tommy Berry, Satin Ribbons quickened up again in great style at the top of the straight and powered home to record another victory, taking her impressive record to three wins from four starts.

Congratulations again to owner/breeder Belinda Bateman, for whom Satin Ribbons is the third winner from as many to race out of JHB yearling purchase and Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Satin Shoes, also the dam of Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Satin Slipper. Satin Shoes has an I Am Invincible yearling filly called Satin and Silks, a Zoustar filly on the ground and is back in foal to I Am Invincible.

Satin Ribbons burns them off at Newcastle

Satin Ribbons powers home at Newcastle

A winner over the 900m distance at Newcastle on her second start last preparation, Satin Ribbons picked up where she left off this weekend back over the same course and distance. She again showed her customary brilliant speed to lead throughout and showed a great kick at the top of the straight to safely hold her rivals at bay.

She is the third winner from three to race for her dam, Satin Shoes, who was a JHB yearling purchase for her owners Edmund and Belinda Bateman and won the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes and was also third in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. She has already produced the Listed Gimcrack Stakes winner Satin Slipper (by Pierro) and the Sydney city winner Satin Socks (by Medaglia d’Oro) from her first two foals to race, both, like Satin Ribbons, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.

Satin Shoes has an outstanding I Am Invincible filly on the ground who will be retained to race has a Zoustar filly on the ground and returns to I Am Invincible in 2021.

Cerberus breaks through in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes

As a son of the very smart middle-distance horse Dundeel, we have been very patient with Cerberus, and he repaid the faith shown by his owners with a great victory in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes over 1800m at Morphettville this weekend.

He was rated perfectly by Todd Pannell, and came home in great style to overhaul his rivals and break not only his maiden, but also bring up his first stakes victory. He looks a lovely colt going forward for his owners, with races like the Group 1 VRC Derby at Flemington firmly on his agenda going forward. Cerberus was a yearling purchase for the JHB Colt Partnership at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the Mill Park Stud draft.

Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Rob Love, Fergus Doyle, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Steve & Louise Gillard, Danny & Pauline Saab, Gary Diamond and John & Fran Ingham and many thanks to trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Yumi breaks through at Goulburn

Yumi picture with her dam Belle Couture at Newgate Farm

It has not been an easy road for Yumi at the races, as she suffered an injury jumping from the barriers in her first start which required a lengthy spell on the sidelines, so it was fantastic to see her break her maiden in great style this weekend at Goulburn’s provincial meeting.

A homebred for Rob Love and partners including Fergus Doyle, Yumi is out of city-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Belle Couture, who is a half-sister to the immortal sprinter Black Caviar, this also being the family of the likes of Group 1 winner Magnus and recently dual Group 1 winner Ole Kirk. With this in mind Yumi will be a fabulous addition to the broodmare band when the time comes.

Congratulations to owners Rob Love, Fergus Doyle, Rodolfo Habla, Sally Wilson and Warren Wishart, and thanks to trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and rider Mitchell Bell.

The Inferno to light up The Everest in the JHB Slot

We are delighted to have secured star sprinter The Inferno, owned by Glenn Whittenbury, to race in the James Harron Bloodstock slot in the 2021 edition of the The Everest.

A superstar in Singapore, where he was a dual Group 1 winner, The Inferno has acclimatised quickly in Australia under the charge of Cliff Brown, running out a scintillating winner of the Group 2 McEwan Stakes, and an outstanding effort when second in this weekend’s Group 1 Moir Stakes over 1000m.

With this top-class sprinter looming large to peak when back over 1200m, we are very excited to see what he can do in this year’s Everest!

He races in the JHB Everest Slot, which is owned by Belinda Bateman, Fergus Doyle, Rob Love, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, John & Fran Ingham, Danny & Pauline Saab and Gary Diamond

Duchess too speedy at Randwick

Duchess (More Than Ready x Tenant’s Tiara), pictured as a yearling

More Than Ready filly Duchess has proved to be a revelation this preparation for the JHB Filly Partnership. She recorded consecutive dominant front-running wins on heavy ground at Gosford and showed that drier tracks also hold no terrors for her when a brilliant on-speed winner over 1100m at Kensington today.

Eager to do even more sitting just outside the leader at a fast pace, ride James McDonald allowed Duchess to stride forward and lead comfortably on the turn before keeping up the gallop in great style in the straight to hold her rivals at bay.

Duchess is now the winner of four of her 12 starts, and this was her first important metropolitan victory. She is out of the very fast stakes winner Tenant’s Tiara, making her a half-sister to 2YO stakes winner Zoutenant. Duchess was secured by James Harron Bloodstock for our Filly Partnership alongside the Freedman Brothers at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $210,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm.

Congratulations to owners Rob Love, Mark Wizel and his More Than A Sprint partnership, Wilf & Rosemary Mula, Mike Symons, Kevin & Lesley Maloney, Alan Harvey, Newgate Farm, SF Bloodstock and Matthew Sandblom.

Argentia electric at Flemington on debut

A queen of a yearling when she was secured by JHB at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $670,000 on behalf of John and Deb Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, Argentia lived up to both her looks and pedigree when producing an incredibly exciting performance on debut at Flemington to win going away with her ears pricked over 1100m for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Settled beautifully by Mark Zahra towards midfield, it took Argentia a couple of strides to balance up, but once she did the response was hugely impressive as she powered away from the field.

Argentia is by the world’s best racehorse Frankel, who has proved to be an incredibly successful stallion, and particularly so with his limited Australian stock, which have amassed an incredible statistic of 19% stakes winners to runners and 28% stakes horses to runners, headed by Group 1 winning filly Hungry Heart.

The dam side of Argentia’s pedigree is no less impressive, with her dam being the four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (by Encosta de Lago), who was sold for $3,000,000 as a broodmare prospect to her current owners Evergreen Stud Farm.

Argentia now heads out for a short freshen up before being targeted at the good fillies races in the Spring including the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.