The much hyped Vitellius (3 g Holy Roman Emperor - Miss Radiant, by Geiger Counter) made an impressive winning debut at the ATC meeting at Wyong on Wednesday.

Coming from midfield, Vitellius charged home late to get up and defeat Project Compassion (Dubai Destination) by half a length in the $27,000 Senior Newspaper Maiden (1100m)

A $160,000 yearling at the 2010 Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast from the draft of Southern Cross Breeders, Vitellius races in the now familiar purple and white colours of Star Thoroughbreds. “He’s a really nice horse and has shown us plenty of talent from day one,” said Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds.

“He’s a half-brother to another of our horses in Kinnersley, who ran second in the Tasmanian Derby and is now back in work. Nash says he always feels as though he has a length up his sleeve in trackwork and he found that today.”

Group 1 winner Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) did not shuttle to Coolmore Australia in 2011. His stock enjoyed a good year in Europe with seven Stakes winners, headed by  five-time Group winner Banimpire and the Italian Group winner Sandslash.

Homecoming Queen (2 f Holy Roman Emperor - Lagrion, by Diesis) ran out the easy four and a quarter length winner of the Listed, Lanwades & Staffordstown Stud Stakes for two-year-old fillies over a mile at the Curragh on Sunday.

Like her sire, Homecoming Queen is trained by Aidan O’Brien and she came home alone to defeat Absolute Crackers (Giant’s Causeway) with Ronan’s Bay (Johannesburg) another two and a half lengths away in third.

Homecoming Queen is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Dylan Thomas (Danehill) who has done well with his first-crop two-year-olds in Europe this season and whose first-crop are about to hit the track in Australia.

Coolmore stallions were on the mark in Italy on Sunday where Temida (Oratorio) won the 2000m Group 3  Premio Verziere Memorial Aldo Cirla defeating Toi et Moi (Galileo) by half a length and Choisir Shadow (Choisir) running out the three-length winner of the Listed, Criterium Nazionale over 1200m, both races in Milan.

Coolmore stallions were on fire in Europe over the weekend with major successes in all countries. Dancing Rain (3 f Danehill Dancer - Rain Flower) powered to classic success in Germany when she defeated Djumama (3 f Aussie Rules)  by three lengths in the Henkel-Preis der Diana-Deutsches Stuten-Derby (G1) over 2200m at Dusseldorf.

Dancing Rain won the German Oaks equivalent by making most of the running under Kieren Fallon who said, ”It was easy in the end. Once I was in the lead and going easily, I knew nobody could catch me. She must be one of the top three-year-old fillies over this trip in Europe.”

Closer to home and at the Curragh and La Collina (2 f Strategic Prince - Starfish, by Galileo) proved too good in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) over six furlongs. La Collina came from well back to mow down Power (Oasis Dream) in the final strides with Tough As Nail (Dark Angel) a length and three-quarters away in third. ”She’s a very good two-year-old and that was a true test against the colts.” said winning jockey Colm McDonogh,

Maybe (2 f Galileo - Sumora) was the impressive winner of the Debutante Stakes (G2), defeating Yellow Rosebud (Jeremy) by two and a half lengths in this seven-furlong event for juvenile fillies. Unbeaten in four starts Maybe tracked her packemaking stablemate Chieftess in the early part of the race, before quickening impressively when clear in front.

“We’re delighted with that,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said. “We’ll probably come back here for the Moyglare next. We’ve gone gently since her last race at Leoparsdtown and did it very well. She’s a nice, smart filly.”

Banimpire (3 f Holy Roman Empire - My Renee) added another Group success to her growing CV when she defeated Dunboyne Express (Shamardal) by three-quarters of a length with Mutahadee (Encosta de Lago) in third in the Royal Whip Stakes (G2) over a mile and a quarter.

Holy Roman Emperor’s daughter Banimpire registered her third Group 3 win last weekend when winning the Noblesse Stakes (Gr 3) over a mile and a half at Cork. Banimpire defeated Sense Of Purpose (Galileo) with Amazing Beauty (Galileo) in third in what is her fourth stakes victory of 2011.

Trainer Jim Bolger indicated that Banimpire (3 f My Renee, by Kris S) could take her place in the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr 2) at Royal Ascot later this week.

The first day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s three-day select session of yearlings revealed another day of  solid trade at Karaka, with figures holding up strongly against last year’s results. (more…)

Well-bred filly Queen Of Spain has added another win to the tally of champion two-year-old Holy Roman Emperor when cruising to victory in a 1200m maiden at Naas in Ireland overnight. (more…)

High Award became the first stakes winner for his young sire Holy Roman Emperor when he claimed the Listed Woodcote Stakes (1200m) overnight on the Epsom Derby card in England.  (more…)

Laguna, NSW (March 22nd, 2010)- High profile Coolmore shuttler Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) (Danehill-l’On Vite by Secretariat) opened his account (more…)

It was appropriate that in the week following the momentous victory of Sea the Stars (more…)