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Day of firsts for Waikato Stud sire

Waikato Stud sire Fast ‘n’ Famous (Redoute’s Choice - Zalinda, by Zabeel) broke through for his first stakes winner when Quintessential (Fast ‘n’ Famous - Florette, by Sword Dance) finished strongly to claim the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Fast ‘n’ Famous never won over a distance further than 1200 metres in his 13-start career but could have an Oaks contender after Quintessential came from back in the field to beat Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn - Diamond Smile, by Zabeel) and Artistic (Darci Brahma - Artless, by Dahar).

Keep The Peace (Keeper - Peace Of Mind, by Wild Rampage) and Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago - Stoneyfell Road, by Soveriegn Red) have both completed the Desert Gold Stakes and New Zealand Oaks double in recent years.

Quintessential’s trainer John Sargent said he would either aim the filly at the New Zealand Oaks or the Brisbane winter carnival.

Fast ‘n’ Famous also earned his first Australian city winner when Bombalatomba (Fast ‘n’ Famous - Carnegie Gold, by Carnegie) claimed the Hilton Manufacturing Handicap (1400m) at Sandown.

Bombalatomba’s trainer Chris Hyland said he could give the gelding a chance in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) if he measures up in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m).

Upsets in Patinack Blue Diamond Previews

The wo legs of the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Previews resulted in upset wins at Caulfield but there can be no doubting the ability of both winners. The Travelling Man (Mossman) led all the way to win the colts division with the favourite Cambiaso in fourth place and Malasun (Red Ransom) dashed clear in the straight to win the fillies division with the $1.70 favourite Sweet Little Lies weakening into fourth after leading to the turn.

The Travelling Man (2 c Mossman - Gypsy Jewels, by Jade Robbery) gave jockey Ben Melham an armchair ride. “He was a little bit lost out there in front today. I didn’t really want to lead but he began pretty brilliantly and got there under his own steam. He had it steady enough for the first 600 but he let rip with a good sectional.”

Mossman

Mossman

Trainer Matt Laurie purchased the winner at last year’s New Zealand Select Sale at Karaka for $NZ80,000. “Some people have said to me, ‘why did you go to New Zealand and buy a Mossman?’ but at the end of the day, he was a cracking type,” Laurie said. ”He was $80,000 and it looks like money well spent.”

Malasun (2 f Red Ransom - Malapert, by Encosta de Lago) also sold for $80,000 as a yearling, the BC3-owned filly selling at the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne and she recouped $60,000 of that when proving too good for Members Joy (Hussonet) and Sabie (Exceed And Excel), sprinting clear in the straight.

“She’s very quick but there was good speed there today and a couple of quality fillies she was chasing,” jockey Damien Oliver said. “She did a good job to run them down. We didn’t know how she would go in behind them but today, it wasn’t a problem and she chased them well.”

Trainer Mick Price took a fancy to Malasun at the sale, as did BC3, but when advised by BC3’s Bill Vlahos they they strongly fancied the filly also, Price stepped back and allowed BC3 to purchase.

Price is in New Zealand for the Karaka Yearling Sale and stable representative Luke Wilkinson said Malasun was “90 percent” certain to progress to the Group I $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) without another run.

Trifecta for Darley sires in Zeditave Stakes

Darley stallions dominated Thursday’s Listed Zeditave Stakes (1200m) after sires from the worldwide breeding giant produced the trifecta in the Caulfield feature.

Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) three-year-old Instinction (Exceed And Excel - De Lago Mist, by Encosta De Lago) earned his second successive Stakes win after the Mick Price-trained colt made the most of a perfect run to beat Specter (Nadeem - Woman In White, by Daylami).

Adelaide-trained three-year-old Petman (Lonhro - Gift Bouquet, by King’s High) completed the Darley trifecta by holding on for third after leading for most of the $100,000 race.

Price’s stable representative Mick Nolan said the stable has decided to aim Instinction at the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March.

“He has had a few little issues in his life,” Nolan said. “The horse will improve, this time last year we had him in a Blue Diamond Prelude and we had a fair opinion of the horse.

“This time in he has been 100 percent so I can’t see why he won’t go from here. That’s (Australian Guineas) where we’re heading. I can’t see why he wouldn’t.”

Classic Sale starts well

The 2012 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale  got off to a solid start at Newmarket on Sunday, with two lots sharing top price of $100,000. 110 lots sold during the session, grossing $3.49 million with 79% of the yearlings offered sold at an average of $31,770 and median of $27,500.

The two $100,000 transactions took place within five lots, firstly by Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Fastnet Rock filly from Polite and then Bowness Stud’s Beautiful Crown (USA) colt from Pretty Special.

The Beautiful Crown-Pretty Special colt (Lot 47) received a timely update just a few weeks ago when his half-brother Kontiki Park scored in the Listed BRC Bernborough Handicap and then again just over a week ago when winning the Magic Millions Stayers Cup at the Gold Coast and this colt will be trained by Kontiki Park’s trainer  Gai Waterhouse after being sold to Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds.

Lot 47 Beautiful Crown - Pretty Special colt

Lot 47 Beautiful Crown - Pretty Special colt

The Fastnet Rock-Polite filly (Lot 43) will head into the stables of Secret Admirer’s trainer Grahame Begg after being knocked down to Topline Thoroughbreds.

The filly is the first foal of the imported mare Polite, a daughter of Elusive Quality with the third-dam of this filly the influential Fanfreluche, whose descendants include champion sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur.

“Today’s figures are slightly down on those recorded for this session twelve months ago, but I do congratulate our vendors for meeting the current market”, said Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster.

Day One Statistics

(2011 in brackets)

Lots Catalogued: 150 (150)

Gross: $3,494,727 ($3,608,000)

Average Price: $31,770 ($34,692)

Median Price: $27,500 ($30,000)

Top Price: $100,000 ($95,000)

Lots Sold: 110 (104)

Lots Withdrawn: 10 (17)

Lots Passed In: 30 (29)

Sold %: 79 (78)

Fourth stakes win for Commands gelding

Game Commands (Danehill - Cotehele House, by My Swanee) gelding First Command (Commands - River Serenade, by Hurricane Sky) recorded the fourth stakes success of his 24-start career in Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

First Command overcame a midrace change of tactics from his jockey Steven Arnold, who elected to take the six-year-old back to the inside bunch after runners on his inside carried him to the outer half of the track.

First Command lifted late under 58kg to beat the lighter weighted duo Decircles (Encosta De Lago - Lady Circles, by Ascot Knight) and Weekend Special (Snitzel - Frescante, by Peintre Celebre).

First Command’s trainer Anthony Freedman said he would keep the $170,000 Magic Millions purchase to races “just below the top” level of sprinters during the autumn.

“He had a wind op after last year’s Oakleigh Plate,” Freedman said. “He is a lovely horse and deserves everything he gets. He has had a lot of problems and he keeps coming up.

“We won’t go over the top with him. The 1200 metres might stop him now, so 1000 metres to 1100 metres, we’ll tick along around there and he’ll keep winning hopefully.”

“I’m keen on putting them where they can win - not getting ahead of myself.”

First Command is the second stakes winner out of River Serenade (Hurricane Sky - Ride The Rapids, by River Rough), who is a sister to the Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky - Ride The Rapids, by River Rough). River Serenade is also the dam of top Hong Kong sprinter One World (Danehill Dancer - River Serenade, by Hurricane Sky).

MM leaderboard, sessions 1 - 3

Leading Sires by Average (3 or more sold, Session 1 - 3)

Sire  Sold  $Aggregate  $Average

REDOUTE’S CHOICE  7  2,650,000  378,571

FASTNET ROCK  21  5,475,000  260,714

MORE THAN READY  17  3,980,000  234,118

NEW APPROACH  3  517,500  172,500

SNITZEL  10  1,610,000  161,000

SEBRING  22  3,515,000  159,773

EXCEED AND EXCEL  7  1,115,000  159,286

ENCOSTA DE LAGO  14  2,215,000  158,214

SHAMARDAL  5  730,000  146,000

BERNARDINI  12  1,722,500  143,542

FLYING SPUR  9  1,235,000  137,222

Leading Buyers by Aggregate (Sessions 1 - 3)

Buyer  Bought  $Aggregate  Average

GAI WATERHOUSE & JAMES HARRON BLOODSTOCK  18  4,352,500  241,806

HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB  9  2,335,000  259,444

SEGENHOE STUD  6  2,020,000  336,667

STAR THOROUGHBREDS  12  1,720,000  143,333

GERALD RYAN  4  1,330,000  332,500

MOODY RACING PTY LTD  9  1,240,000  137,778

CAMERON COOKE BLOODSTOCK  7  1,147,500  163,929

BAHEN BLOODSTOCK & MALUA RACING  4  975,000  243,750

DEMI O’BYRNE & JAMES BESTER BLOODSTOCK  1  960,000  960,000

ANTHONY CUMMINGS THOROUGHBREDS  9  930,000  103,333

Magic Millions leaderboard

Leading Sires by Average (3 or more sold)

Sold   $Aggregate   $Average

REDOUTE’S CHOICE   5   1,650,000   330,000

FASTNET ROCK   14   3,575,000   255,357

MORE THAN READY   11   2,210,000   200,909

EXCEED AND EXCEL   3   540,000   180,000

ENCOSTA DE LAGO   12   2,075,000   172,917

SHAMARDAL   4   665,000   166,250

SEBRING   10   1,570,000   157,000

SNITZEL    8   1,200,000   150,000

BERNARDINI  9   1,257,500   139,722

NORTHERN METEOR   14   1,845,000   131,786

Leading Buyers by Aggregate (Sessions One and Two)

Buyer  Bought  $Aggregate  $Average

GAI WATERHOUSE & JAMES HARRON BLOODSTOCK  13  3,222,500  247,885

HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB   7  1,925,000  275,000

SEGENHOE STUD  4  1,540,000  385,000

STAR THOROUGHBREDS  11  1,530,000  139,091

JAMES BESTER BLOODSTOCK 1  960,000  960,000

GEORGE MOORE BLOODSTOCK  4  880,000  220,000

HEINRICH BLOODSTOCK  8  835,000  104,375

BELMONT BLOODSTOCK AGENCY  4  830,000  207,500

MOODY RACING PTY LTD  6  805,000  134,167

BAHEN BLOODSTOCK & MALUA RACING  3  700,000  233,333

Darley still has plenty of Blue Diamond firepower

Super stable Darley has entered more than 10 percent of the 165 two-year-olds still in the running for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes after second acceptances were taken on Wednesday.

Sepoy carried Darley’s famous maroon and white colours to victory last year before the son of Elusive Quality stormed to victory in the Group 1 Golden Slipper a matter of week later.

Patinack Farm topped the nominations left in the race it sponsors after it left 19 of its 41 initial Blue Diamond declarations in contention for Victoria’s richest two-year-old race.

Darley sire Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) has 14 two-year-olds among the acceptors while Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way) has 11.

 

“We’re pleased with the level of interest in Victoria’s premier two year-old race, which as it stands is the best for three years in terms of number,” Melbourne Racing Club Racing Manager Wayne Sampson said.

“Notwithstanding that, a cursory look at the pedigree of many of the horses among second declarations suggests that 2012 is a two year-old vintage that should also be high on talent.

The Melbourne Racing Club will run the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 26.

MM Leaderboard - Day 1

Leading Season Sires by Average (3 or more sold, Day 1)

Sire   Sold   $Aggregate   $Average

REDOUTE’S CHOICE   4  1,500,000  375,000

ENCOSTA DE LAGO   7  1,310,000 187,143

MORE THAN READY   5  695,000  139,000

SNITZEL   5  695,000  139,000

BEL ESPRIT   3  415,000  138,333

FASTNET ROCK  8  1,075,000  134,375

STREET SENSE   4  512,500  128,125

SEBRING  6  750,000  125,000

COMMANDS  3  330,000  110,000

DUBAWI  3  330,000  110,000

Leading buyers by Aggregate (Day 1)

Buyer  Bought  $Aggregate  $Average

GAI WATERHOUSE & JAMES HARRON BLOODSTOCK   3  890,000 296,667

HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB  3  875,000  291,667

STAR THOROUGHBREDS   5  700,000  140,000

SEGENHOE STUD   2  650,000 325,000

HEINRICH BLOODSTOCK  5  540,000  108,000

BELMONT BLOODSTOCK AGENCY  3  480,000  160,000

CHRIS WALLER RACING  3  470,000  156,667

BRUCE HILL  3  465,000  155,000

MOODY RACING PTY LTD  3  435,000  145,000

JASON WARREN RACING  2  340,000  170,000

Coolmore men perform in Hong Kong

Coolmore sires continued their strong form in Hong Kong after the worldwide breeding operation’s past and present residents produced the winners of half of the 10-race card at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Tale Of The Cat (Storm Cat - Yarn, by Mr Prospector) sired the first winner of the meeting when Honour List (Tale Of The Cat - A Real Dool, Proper Reality) claimed Tak Ku Ling Handicap (1200m). Ultimate Winners made it two from two for Coolmore sires when the four-year-old claimed the Nam Kok Handicap (1000m).

Former Coolmore Stud stallion Hawk Wing (Woodman - La Lorgnette, by Val de l’Orne) sired the winner of the South Wall Handicap (1600m) when Cai Bao In (Hawk Wing - Dazzling Park) posted a 1-3/4 length before Antonius Pius (Danzig - Catchascatchcan, by Pursuit Of Love) gelding All Victory (Antonius Pius - River Princess, by Victory Prince) easily won the Carpenter Handicap (1200m).

Way May Star (Fusaichi Pegasus - Skates) made it four winners for Coolmore-sired gallopers when the three-year-old won the Hau Wong Handicap (1400m).

Coolmore mainstays Danehill Dancer (Danehill - Mira Andonde, by Sharpen Up) and Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Fairy King) are prominent in the Hong Kong sires’ standings. Danehill Dancer is third on the General Sires’ list while Encosta De Lago sits a place lower.

First for Casino Prince

Patinack Farm stallion Casino Prince was represented by his first winner on Saturday when the debutante Casino Card powered home to win the Gary Newham 2yo Handicap (1100m) at the Gold Coast in impressive fashion, coming from near last into the short straight with a devastating turn of foot to score.

Trained by Matthew Dunn, Casino Card (2 f Casino Prince – Absolute Lure, by Lure) is inbred to Danzig and sold for just $1500 as a yearling but she is clearly a talented girl as she overwhelmed the odds-on favourite Shamrock Slipper (Jet Spur) to get up and score.

Group 1 winner Casino Prince (Flying Spur) came very close to getting his first stakes horse just over an hour later when Sookie finished a luckless fourth in the Gr 3 B J McLachlan Plate (1200m) at Doomben.

Making just her second start Sookie (2 f Purple Blood, by Encosta de Lago) was a long way back turning into the straight and then closed all the way to just miss third place behind Driesfontain, Sizzling and Snipzu in a performance that suggests this Patinack Farm-owned filly will not be far away from adding to her sires record.

Perth Cup to close out 2011 Group racing

Ascot racecourse in WA will host the final Australian Group race of 2011 when the 16-strong line-up heads to the starter for Saturday’s Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m).

Perth Racing decided to bring the Perth Cup forward from its usual New Year’s Day slot to keep the feature meeting on a Saturday.

Leading trainer Grant Williams will saddle four runners on behalf of leviathan owner and breeder Bob Peters in the $400,000 feature.

Former Victorian conditioner Simon Miller will have two chances to score his biggest win since crossing the Nullarbor Plain to oversee Aquanita Racing’s foray into WA. Miller will launch an audacious bid to win the Perth Cup with the former Danny O’Brien-trained stayer Lopov (Savabeel - Prickle, by Pins).

A syndicate purchased Lopov after the four-year-old had 22 starts for O’Brien before Miller decided to run the gelding in the Perth Cup fresh from a 60-day break.

Improving stayer Senhor De Gama (Commands - Lithgow, by Dieu D’Or) will also represent the Miller stable in the Perth Cup. The full field for the Perth Cup is below.

TAB NO. Runner Jockey Trainer Sire
1 God Has Spoken Steven Parnham Neville Parnham Blackfriars
2 Battle Emblem Paul Harvey Grant Williams Second Empire
3 Kincaple Dwayne Dunn Mark Reed Pentire
4 New Spice Ryan Hill Elva Van Merwyk Old Spice
5 Tranquility William Pike Grant Williams Redoute’s Choice
6 Veracious Shaun O’Donnell Trevor Andrews Systematic
7 Big Ted Danny Miller Ivan Haggerty Marooned
8 Adam Durrant Shaun McGruddy Adam Durrant Musketeer
9 Lopov Peter Knuckey Simon Miller Savabeel
10 Manila I Scream Daniel Staeck Adam Durrant Fighting Falcon
11 Miss Tipsy Topsy Jason Whiting Stan Bates Spinning World
12 Moonlight Bay K Chui Grant Williams Catbird
13 Ringmeister Troy Turner Lindsey Smith Arena
14 Saint Encosta Jason Brown John Thompson Encosta De Lago
15 Senhor Da Gama Patrick Carbery Simon Miller Commands
16 Western Jewel Kyra Yuill Grant Williams Jeune
17 (1e) Smart Twister Brad Parnham Neville Parnham Hurricane Sky
18 (2e) Amberlyn   Justine Erkelens Blackfriars
19 (3e) Malaika Jessica Valas Donna Baillie Fighting Falcon
20 (4e) Dancin On The Wind Craig Staples Shane A Edwards Al Maher

Q & A - David Chester

As tourist promotions declare the Gold Coast is “famous for fun” and there is no better time to have fun on Queensland’s holiday playground than during the Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the beginning of the year. (more…)

Yulalona takes Summer Cup

Darley enjoyed a winning day around Australia on Saturday, highlighted by Yulalona (4 g Dubai Destination - Klamath Falls, by Storm Cat) winning the $125,000 Group 3 Summer Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

Yulalona had no luck when sixth in the Christmas Cup at his last start but he was given the run of the race by Kerrin McEvoy yesterday. Yulalona held the challenge from Nextanix (Domesday) with Count Encosta (Encosta de Lago) in third.

“His last start was just terrible, he’s a free rolling horse and he never got the chance to do that at all.” trainer Peter Snowden said. ”He was buried away and then he got held up behind a couple stopping when you had to be going forward.

“He relaxed well and it was a nice tempo set by the leader, he did it well today.” McEvoy said. ”He just looked around in the straight, I think he was looking for a mate so I pulled the whip through into my left hand, I gave him a few taps on the left hand side, and it got him thinking again, it made him concentrate.

Snowden said Yulalona was now likely to head to Gosford for the $125,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on January 12.

More Vinery success for Price

Leading Caulfield trainer Mick Price continued his terrific record with progeny of Vinery Stud sires when Donovans (Testa Rossa - Malapert, by Encosta De Lago) posted a comfortable win in Friday’s Procon Developments Maiden (1200m) at Cranbourne.

Donovans made light of a wide barrier to become Price’s ninth success, and the second within six days, supplied by a Vinery Stud sire, including the stakes winners Testa My Patience (Testa Rossa - Entente Cordiale, by Jackson Square) and Proliferate (More Than Ready - Grand Prospect, by Flying Spur).

Donovans did not pass through a sales ring as a yearling. However, the four-year-old is a half-brother to the stakes winner Stokehouse (Anabaa - Malapert, by Encosta De Lago) and became the fourth winner from as many to race out of Malapert (Encosta De Lago - Brazenne, The Pug).

Vinery will offer a half-brother to Donovans by Excites (Danehill - Staging, by Success Express) at the upcoming 2012 Sydney Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

14 accept for Cox Stakes at Ascot

A field of 14 has accepted for the major lead-up to the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m), Saturday’s Group 2 C B Cox Stakes (Gr 2, 2200m) at Ascot.

The Patinack Farm-owned Saint Encosta (Encosta De Lago - St Katherine, by Barathea) is the sole eastern states representative in the Cox Stakes. The five-year-old earned the right to press on to the Perth Cup with his eye-catching second in the Listed J R A Trophy at Ascot on December 3.

The J R A Trophy winner Veracious (Systematic - Royal Lace, by Serheed) is not among the Cox Stakes acceptors but Saint Encosta will clash again with the fourth placegetter Double Barrel (Musketeer - Irwind, by Haulpak).

Below is the field for the Group 2 C B Cox Stakes at Ascot.

NO. RUNNER TRAINER JOCKEY SIRE
1 Lords Ransom Grant Williams   Jeune
2 God Has Spoken Neville Parnham Steven Parnham Blackfriars
3 Ranger Grant Williams William Pike Testa Rossa
4 Battle Emblem Grant Williams Kyra Yuill Second Empire
5 Mega Steel Bruce McClune Jarrad Noske Helenus
6 Kincaple Mark Reed Dwayne Dunn Pentire
7 Double Barrel Adam Durrant   Musketeer
8 Insurgency Garry Delane Daniel Staeck Street Cry
9 Saint Encosta John Thompson Jason Brown Encosta De Lago
10 Big Ted Ivan Haggerty   Marooned
11 Ringmeister Lindsey Smith Paul Harvey Arena
12 Whipsaw Dean White Shaun O’Donnell Hold That Tiger
13 Tranquility Grant Williams Jason Whiting Redoute’s Choice
14 Malaika Donna Baillie Troy Turner Fighting Falcon

Snitzel double at Canterbury

Arrowfield stallion Snitzel sired a double at Canterbury Park on Friday night when Flying Snitzel won the opening race and then St Beaune quickly followed winning the third.

Appropriately, Flying Snitzel (2 f Snitzel - Hula Flight, by Hula Town) is trained by Gerald Ryan, who trained Snitzel to win at Group 1 level. A $25,000 Inglis Premier Yearling to Triple Crown Syndications, Flying Snitzel made an impressive debut to score by three lengths over Gold Bender (Refuse To Bend) in the $27,000 2yo Handicap over 1200m with Queen’s Elect (Holy Roman Emperor) in third.

St Beaune (4 g Snitzel - Miss Candy, by Canny Lad) was equally impressive in defeating Republic Lad (Encosta de Lago) by three and a quarter lengths in the $27,000 Canterbury BMW Handicap over 1580. St Beaune is trained by Gai Waterhouse and he too was offered for sale at the Melbourne Premier Sale, being passed in for $35,000 in 2009.

Snitzel was also on the board at Moonee Valley on Friday night when Weekend Special (4 g Snitzel - Frescante, by Peintre Celebre) flew home to land the $55.000 Essendon Mazda Challenge over 955m.

2012 Inglis Australian Easter Preview

The lavishly produced Inglis Australian Easter Sale Preview was released on Monday at a function attended by the media, sponsors and some of Sydney’s leading trainers. The Preview is the culmination of long months of hard work and planning by the Inglis marketing team, spearheaded by Kate Anker and ably assisted by Adelaide Moses. As with all publishers the relief on their faces was evident, nothing feels better than to see ” your baby safely delivered”.
The front section contains official welcomes, useful information about the Sydney carnival generally and about the Inglis Easter sale in particular, some fine editorial contributions including articles on social media and an interview with significant new industry heavyweight Kevin Maloney as well as other useful information before leading into the sale preview itself.
And what a collection of riches it contains, like an Aladdin’s cave where every turning reveals a new glittering treasure. Starting with such gems as a full brother to So You Think, a Fastnet Rock half sister to King’s Rose and a Street Cry half brother to triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva it extends to significant numbers of yearlings by established champion sires Lonhro, Redoute’s Choice, Encosta De Lago, Flying Spur and Zabeel. Champion 2yo sire More Than Ready, new kid on the block Fastnet Rock and other old favourites are joined by a particularly well credentialled lot of first season sires.
The sale will be held at the company’s historic Newmarket complex at Randwick on the 10th, 11th and 12th of March. The magnificent “Big Stable” which features on the covers of the preview is sure to see plenty of action if thoroughbred sales around the world in 2011 are anything to go by.

Patinack head Diamond entries

Sponsors Patinack Farm has 41 nominations for next year’s $1 million Gr 1 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) following Tuesday’s closure of first declarations, the most by any owner or trainer.

Darley has 31 hopefuls in the running to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Sepoy. Champion Victorian trainer Peter Moody has 32 entries with David Hayes the best of the rest with 27.

More than 500 two-year-olds are still entered for the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes, down 47 on last year but up the same number on 2010.

Fastnet Rock is the most heavily represented sire with 38 youngsters among the nominations followed by 1999 Blue Diamond winner Redoute’s Choice (27) and Encosta de Lago and Exceed And Excel (both 26).

The Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, 25 February will be the culmination of a three-race series that commences with the 1000m Blue Diamond Previews on January 26 and the 1100m Blue Diamond Preludes on February 11.

Blue Diamond second declarations, which cost $440, close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 10 January.

Little Bridge wins HK Jockey Club Sprint

The Danny Shum-trained Little Bridge (5 g Faltaat - Golden Rose, by Gold Brose), expertly ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Gerald Mosse, proved just too strong for Entrapment (Halo Homewrecker) in Sunday’s Gr 2 Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin.

The son of Faltaat (USA) got first run on the favourite, and hard though Douglas Whyte tried to pull back the deficit he still had three quarters of a length to find at the line. Admiration (Encosta De Lago) finished a neck away in third place.

“I got the chance to ride him and we had the perfect race one back, one off,” said Mosse. “He was always travelling very easily. I didn’t have to make him work too hard, and I think we were able to leave something for the big race (The CXHK Sprint).”

“We trained him for the (Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong) Derby last year,” said a jubilant Shum, “but he wasn’t able to get the trip, and after that he was exhausted. So we gave him a good long break, and he’s come back so well. This year he looks fantastic, and he’s just been improving race by race. Now I hope we can win the big one in December.”

Entrapment also ran what may have been a decent trial for the G1 HK International Sprint on 11 December as he made up ground in the straight without being able to get in a blow at the winner.