Leica Falcon has Slow Return to Track

The following story by Rob Burnet.

Forgotten galloper Leica Falcon is on a long slow build-up back from injury.

Like the Mike Moroney trained Xcellent (NZ), Leica Falcon has not raced since finishing in the money in the last of Makybe Diva’s Melbourne Cup victories at Flemington in 2005.
Both Xcellent and Leica Falcon suffered tendon injuries in finishing third and fourth respectively behind the great mare.

While Xcellent is about ready to make his return, in the Group I AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9, Leica Falcon’s trainer Richard Freyer is taking a little longer.
Freyer said Leica Falcon had an operation to repair the tendon in August last year and the trainer likes to give the injury at least 12 months to recover.

While Leica Falcon is still to have a strong gallop, the gelding has been in the stable for a month doing light work trotting and walking in preparation for the spring.

“He's doing really well,” Freyer said. “I've been deliberately conservative with him because my experience with tendons tells me you have to give them 12 months before you gallop them.”
Leica Falcon progressed through his classes in good fashion when last in work. He won the Group II Winning Edge Stakes at Caulfield over 2400 metres a week before running fifth in the 2005 Group I Caulfield Cup over 2400m, coming from well back, and then his fourth in the Melbourne Cup over 3200m, again after being well back on the turn.

Both young stayers were halled as the future, but both then went to the spelling paddock to overcome their respective tendon injuries.

Fryer said that he was not sure exectly what caused the then four-year-old Nothin Leica Dane gelding's tendon to flare, but after the Melbourne Cup there was a little lump in the tendon, but then it went away within 24 hours at the time.

VRC Announces Changes to the Melbourne Cup

The Victoria Racing Club has announced changes to the conditions for the Emirates Melbourne Cup:

Minimum Weights Formerly 48.0kg for a 4YO and 49.5kg for an older horse, these have been fixed at 50.0kg across the board, to comply with a change to the Australian Rules of Racing, relating to minimum handicap weights, which took effect on 1 January 2007. Accordingly, the minimum weight for a 3YO has increased from 46kg to 49kg.

AAMI Victoria Derby WinnerThe late entry clause for the AAMI Victoria Derby winner into the Emirates Melbourne Cup, in force since 1989, has been removed.

This decision has been taken in the interests of fairness - the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup, as a major international race, will now only be available to horses nominated by 1 August 2007, (with such nomination) followed by a first, second, third and final acceptance fee payment by connections.

Three-years-old horses can be still be nominated for the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup by 1 August 2007, and the winner of the 2007 AAMI Victoria Derby, if a 3rd acceptor for the Cup, will remain exempt from any ballot on the race.

However, such horse will now be liable to a re-handicap, if any, at the Handicapper's discretion.
Ballot Free RacesThe 2007 Caulfield Cup (along with the 2007 San Juan Capistrano (USA)) has, for the first time, been added to the list of ballot free races (winner only) into the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Saab Quality Winner The winner of the 2007 Saab Quality will remain exempt from any ballot on the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

However, such horse will now be liable to a re-handicap, if any, at the Handicapper's discretion.
This decision means that every quality race of 2300 metres or further, regardless of where it is run or its weight conditions, will attract a potential Emirates Melbourne Cup weight penalty to the winner, at the discretion of the Handicapper.

VRC chief executive Mr. Monteith said: "The changes to the conditions for the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup are part of the evolution of this great race as the staying championship of the world, and they reflect the determination of the VRC Board to ensure that the race conditions continue to be both fair and relevant, year by year.

Overall, the Emirates Melbourne Cup conditions are designed to attract the best possible field from Australia and overseas, and to provide fair opportunity for each horse to secure a start, according to its race performance history, and, under handicap conditions, to win or obtain the best possible placing in the Race That Stops a Nation".

Queensland 2007 Freshman Stallions

All Bar One (Aus) Oaklands, Toowoomba $6600

Bullmore (Aus) Noralla, Gladfield $4400

Chateau Istana (GB) Oaklands, Toowoomba $6600

Dark Lord (NZ) Rivers Hills, Cooroy $5500

Dr Green (NZ) Palmaday, Beaudesert $6600

Frightening (Aus) Malabar, Keresdale $4400

Fusaichi Ole (Jap) Willowbend, Beaudesert $4400

Get Square (Aus) Wattle Brae, Nobby $6600

Helter Skelter (Aus) River Hills, Cooroy $4400

Hotel Grand (Aus) Racetree, Innisplains $16500

Jezadane (Aus) Rivers Hills, Cooroy $5500

Longhorn (Aus) Craiglea, Kenilworth $3300

Mustaneer (US) Wattle Brae, Nobby $2750

Nothing To Lose (US) Willowbend, Beaudesert $7700

Outback Prince (Aus) Clear Mountain, Greenmount $13750

Red Dazzler (Aus) Eureka, Cambooya $16500

Set Alight (US) Willowbend, Beaudesert $5500

Australian Melbourne Cup Winner Euthanased

Cup hero Arwon, winner of the 1978 Melbourne Cup, has died at the grand-old age of 33.

Prior to being euthanased at home last week, Arwon had been the oldest-living Melbourne Cup winner.

Sydney Trainer Charged with Food Theft

Racing NSW Stewards yesterday disqualified Randwick trainer Geoff Borger for a period of six months for stealing food from another Randwick trainer David Payne.

Payne reported to stewards, that his staff had observed Borger’s presence in his horse stalls between May 11 and May 17, 2007.

Evidence at the inquiry was taken today from Borger and Payne along with Payne’s foreman Christopher O'Carrigan and stablehand Katherine Hart.

Stewards found Borger guilty of dishonest practice in connection with racing in he stole horse feed from bins of the stables of racehorses being trained by Payne situated in stable block A in the complex known as Porter Stables at Randwick.

After taking into account all the circumstances of the case and giving due weight to a prior like conviction in 1992, Borger was disqualified from racing for a period of six months.
Borger subsequently lodged an appeal and been granted a stay of proceedings.

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

One wonders what happened to the Sky camera man at Bathurst (Race 6) who got left at the starting barriers after the horses had jumped?

Lucky it was a 1200m race as it gave him/her time to catch up!

Horses Do Need Physical Contact

Horses need physical contact just like we do. New research in Denmark looks at which form of physical contact horses prefer.

Looking at each other is not enough. Sniffing, nuzzling and rubbing are also needed - not least if you are a horse. Research at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) at the University of Aarhus has revealed that horses have a clear need of physical contact. Now researchers have started studying which form of physical contact horses favour.

In the preliminary stages of the study the horses were given the chance to greet another horse on the other side of some bars or a dividing wall, or by entering a room with another horse in it. The alternative was to go back to their box where they could see but not touch the neighbouring horse.

The horses' need for contact with another horse - irrespective of how it was done - was so pronounced that it was impossible for researchers to distinguish which form of contact the horses preferred, says scientist Eva Søndergaard, who is in charge of the project.
The second stage of the experiment was therefore to investigate which form of contact horses prefer using a press-button method.

The method, which is used on other livestock such as cattle and pigs, involves giving the animals a task to find out how hard they are prepared to work to achieve a certain result. With this method it is also possible to distinguish between an actual need and something that would just be nice to have, but is not absolutely essential.

The work for the horses involves pressing a button with the nose. The reward is contact with another horse in a certain way. By counting how many times the horses press the buttons, it is possible to measure the form of contact they are prepared to work the hardest for.
Denmark has the highest number of horses per capita in Europe. It is therefore natural that it carries out research into horse behaviour. DJF has a very important role to play in providing policy advice, for example in relation to the preparation of new regulations and notifications for horse owners. This means that the research results can be directly applied.

A draft bill by the Ministry of Justice, which will be presented by the government at some point in the future, specifies that keepers of horses should have at least two horses. This means that they will recommend that horses have social contact. But so far it has not been defined what this social contact should be and there is no minimum requirement set out. "This is where our results can come in useful," says Eva Søndergaard.

Barbaro Still Lives On

The makers of Breyer model horses has donated $US126,500 to the Laminitis fund set after in honour of the late Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro.
Reeves International company president Tony Fleischmann presented the cheque to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, a beneficiary of the fund set up by Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson.

The donation was from profits from Breyer's special Barbaro model, and increased the company's total contribution from sales of the model to $US241,000.

Barbaro shattered a hing leg near the start of the 2006 Preakness Stakes. While the fractures were successfully treated, he succumbed to laminitic complications more than eight months later.

"For over 50 years now, Breyer's has been celebrating the horse by making the finest models of the most famous and beloved horses," Fleischmann said. "But seldom have we experienced the level of excitement and interest that we, and indeed the entire nation did, with the courageous and wonderful Barbaro.

"In fact it was due to the overwhelming number of passionate requests for a Barbaro model, which continued long after our initial programme had ended, that moved us to go back into production."

NZ Farm Worker Charged over Horse Deaths

A farm manager in Gisborne has been sentenced and ordered to pay reparations after he pleaded guilty of the neglect of horses in his care.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) Animal Welfare Investigation Team welcomed the sentence handed down in the Gisborne District Court yesterday.

Matthew Brown pleaded guilty to nine charges of ill-treatment, failure to attend to the physical welfare needs and health of the horses and failure to comply with an animal welfare inspector's requirements. He was sentenced to 150 hours community service, ordered to pay $3016.41 in reparations and disqualified from owning or exercising authority over horses for two years.
A MAF animal welfare investigator first visited a Te Karaka property in early June 2005, with an SPCA Inspector, to follow-up on a complaint concerning the condition of the horses on the property. Some 35 horses were found to be in poor condition. There were no yards for the horses, the majority had not been broken in or handled, and most were riddled with worms. No one was present at the property.

The defendant was contacted by phone and advised that MAF would return to the property the following day with a vet to assess the horses. Following the assessment, the defendant was issued with a notice to prevent or mitigate the suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
On 20 June an SPCA Inspector and vet returned to recheck the horses and found that they had not been drenched. The vet discussed with the defendant a plan for drenching, culling and dividing, and feeding particular horses. A subsequent visit on 8 of July found that the horses had still not been drenched, several were in very poor condition and one was dead in a gully.
Inspectors visited the property again in July 2005. Three horses had to be put down because of their poor condition, a result of under feeding and worms. The horses had not been drenched. MAF obtained a temporary enforcement order in the Gisborne District Court on the 18 July that directed the defendant to attend immediately to the needs of the remaining horses. This was eventually complied with.

MAF's Animal Welfare Investigations Manager, Charles Cadwallader, said that this was a distressing case of animal neglect that could have easily been prevented.

"The defendant was given ample opportunity to rectify the situation and choose not to. I am pleased that a guilty plea was entered, as there is no defence or justification for this neglect."
"The Animal Welfare Act 1999 places a duty of care on everyone who owns or is in charge of an animal to prevent pain, suffering and distress. In this case the defendant has sadly chosen to disregard this obligation."

CEM Found in Stallion Bound for Oz

A stallion in Newmarket awaiting export to Australia has tested positive for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM).

Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a transmissible, exotic, venereal disease of horses caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis. Thoroughbred horses appear to be more severely affected by the disease than other breeds. Because animals may be asymptomatic, the disease is difficult to detect and control. There is no evidence that CEM affects people.

CEM is a serious disease because it is highly contagious. When coupled with the fact that mares can be bred only during certain seasons, CEM can have a devastating effect on equine reproductive efficiency. Should CEM become established in the United States, the horse industry would suffer great economic losses.

A routine swab revealed the disease last week. CEM is a venereally transmitted bacterial disease, which was first reported in the UK in 1977. It is notifiable in Britain. The case has been reported to a Divisional Veterinary Manager at DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

CEM can be spread through contaminated water, utensils and instruments; on the hands of staff and veterinary surgeons who handle the tail and genital area of the mare, or the penis of the stallion or teaser; and through genital to genital or nose to genital contact between stallions/teasers and mares.

The species of bacteria likely to cause CEM are Taylorella equigenitalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

CEM can lead to infertility and cause a mare to abort her foal. It can be treated with anitbiotics.

Footstepsinthesand To Argentinia

Former 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand, whose first crop are foals this year, has been slated to shuttle to Argentina this Southern Hemisphere season.

Currently on covering duty at Coolmore in Ireland, Footstepsinthesand will stand at La Mission. No fee has been announced.

An Article Not to Be Missed.

For those of us who are interested in commercial breeding, whether it be for yearlings or weanlings or for those who are interested in just breeding to race, the following article appeared in The American Thoroughbred Review:-

Today's Commercial Environment: A Troubling Influence

The health of today’s thoroughbred industry is often times overly equated with the health of the commercial market. When sales numbers are climbing, it’s assumed that the entire industry is doing well. Media outlets praise the efforts of sales companies, consignors and breeders. But does the health of the commercial market exist in a vacuum, or does it send a rippling effect to other areas of the industry? And if so, what are the consequences, both positive and negative?

Little doubt exists that a healthy commercial market benefits stallion owners, boarding farms, and auxiliary industries such as veterinarians and feed suppliers. However, a broader examination of the industry reveals that a rising commercial market can present significant problems for other industry members.

First and perhaps most importantly, a lucrative commercial market inverts the standard relationship between wholesale and retail value. In traditional economics, the retail market environment sets prices for wholesalers. Wholesalers are rewarded only when the retail market is healthy enough to absorb higher costs of acquisition.

But in the thoroughbred industry, wholesalers (commercial breeders) are selling yearlings with an average rate of return of 26% after all expenses are accounted for. The retailers (owners) are collectively racing for less than half of the money they originally invest each year. Not that a stagnant commercial market would bridge that gap completely, but it would certainly allow owners greater opportunities to realize occasional profits at the racetrack.

Wholesale and retail prices aren’t the only components being inverted under a lucrative commercial market. Stud fees for proven vs. unproven commodities also seem to conflict with more conventional economic models. Older, more established sires get squeezed at the marketplace in favor of unproven sires who have no sire credentials, but effectively stir the emotions of buyers and advisors who adhere to the ‘what may be’ psychology, as opposed to ‘what is’. Back in the 1990’s, breeders lined up in droves to breed to European Horse of the Year and impeccably-bred sprinter Dayjur. Not only did they pay a stud fee well in excess of what others were paying for older, proven sires like Silver Ghost, but yearling buyers and their advisors were paying in the low to mid six figures for his yearlings. Dayjur’s failure best illustrates the potential pitfall of the ‘what may be’ psychology.

(For the full article please click here).

Who Owns Passenger?

Paul Crawley of The Daily Telegraph reports today:-

The horse is one of the most promising young gallopers in Australian racing. Purchased for $900,000 as a yearling, his value today is estimated at between $2 million and $3 million.
But who actually owns Passenger, the exciting John Hawkes-trained three-year-old colt who lit up the track at his only race start?

Is it the mysterious Mrs Amy Hyder, said to be a 30-something wife of a Texas oil baron, or is it Sydney's most controversial racing identity, Eddie Hayson?

This is the question Racing NSW stewards are demanding an answer to at an inquiry tomorrow.
Amid continuing racetrack speculation, chief steward Ray Murrihy yesterday decided it was high time the mystery surrounding Passenger's ownership was resolved. Murrihy confirmed Hayson and his racing manager, renowned Randwick trackman Mick Fagan, have been summoned to appear before stewards at 2pm tomorrow in relation to the Passenger matter.

"The stewards want to look at the bona fides of the ownership of the racehorse Passenger," Murrihy told The Daily Telegraph last night.

"I have contacted Eddie Hayson and Mick Fagan and asked them to appear at the inquiry."
Murrihy declined to make any further comment on the matter pending the stewards' investigation.

Hayson, well known for his great greyhound sting in 2005 and his clashes with thoroughbred stewards at previous inquiries, has previously requested his appearances before stewards be held in-camera, although those requests haven't always been granted. Murrihy said stewards would consider any such application from Hayson for tomorrow's inquiry to be held behind closed doors.

It is an unfortunate by-product of brothel owner Hayson's high profile and notoriety that the case lends itself to headlines and controversy. And in this instance, while stewards may well find nothing untoward, it has been the "cloak-and-dagger" innuendo that has fuelled stewards' interest.

The Passenger affair began at Canterbury last Monday when the superbly-bred Redoute's Choice colt scored a stunning debut win. Hayson originally purchased Passenger as a yearling and sent the horse to trainer Paul Perry at Newcastle.

Ownership of the horse was then changed about 12 months ago from Hayson to Mrs Hyder.
Racing NSW was apparently notified and the relevant ownership transfer papers were lodged with the sport's controlling authority.Media reports quoted Hayson confirming he had sold Passenger for "a lot of money" to the American.

However, when Passenger stepped out for his race debut, some media guides still had Hayson as Passenger's owner, but the racebook listed Mrs A Hyder.Good-natured Darren Beadman added to the mystery after Passenger's Canterbury debut when he jumped off his mount and joked: "Robbo (controversial hoop Allan Robinson) isn't the only one who can ride winners for Eddie."
Now trained by master trainer Hawkes, Passenger had drifted in betting from even money to $3.20 prior to the race on May 7.

But when Beadman booted home another winner, guess who was up in the stands cheering Passenger home?

Mrs Hyder is said to live in America and be married to a wealthy Texas businessmanMeanwhile, back in Australia, Eddie and the clocker seem to have retained a very close association with the colt.

Racing NSW stewards just want to know how close.

Victorian Cash Won't Go Round

In the following article in today's Australian, Brendan Cormick writes candidly about the prizemoney crisis facing Victorian Racing:-

THE thoroughbred racing industry in Victoria is at risk of being unable to provide a sufficient return to owners, trainers, jockeys and other industry participants and maintain the state-wide infrastructure base.

Racing Victoria chief executive Stephen Allanson yesterday responded to claims by the Victoria Racing Club on Monday that the industry was in great shape, following the release of his body's review.

Allanson challenged the VRC assertion, notwithstanding Victoria's pre-eminent position in the Australian racing industry, saying the risk was highlighted by four key factors:

* A decline in nett returns to owners over the past decade;
* A significant increase in costs associated with the purchase, training and racing of horses;
* Shortfalls in the funding of the true capital needs of the industry;
* And reductions in club profitability, especially in the country where 25 clubs made combined losses in 2005-06 totalling $1.2million.

"The past five years has been highlighted by considerably slower returns to owners' growth than that experienced over the previous five years, whilst costs continue to rise at a a rate faster than inflation and revenue," Allanson said.

"This is a financially precarious position for the entire industry, particularly in the face of increasing competition."

Total revenue to the Victorian thoroughbred industry (clubs and Racing Victoria) is in the order of $300m per annum, of which only $144m (48 per cent) is paid in returns to owners/participants.

Over the past five years, gross returns to owners have grown at the rate of 3.4 per cent per annum while, over the same period, the cost to train and race horses has increased 3 per cent.
"The industry review does not propose revolutionary, but rather an evolutionary change to transform and grow the industry for the next phase. It is a natural progression of the evolution of racing in Victoria that we need a truly independent governance model," Allanson said.

The HK International Sale Challenge

The Hong Kong International Sale Challenge will be run at Sha Tin on Sunday 27 May 2007 over 1200m. This race is for Northern Hemisphere bred 3yos and Southern Hemisphere bred 2yos sold at the 2006 Hong Kong International Sale. Prizemoney $HK1,600,000.

The 2007 field consists of:-

AMAZING CHOISIR
BULLISH WIN
DANESIS
FAVOURITE SUPREME
HELLO GIBRALTAR
KEEP SMILING
LIFELINE PALS
MAGIC KING
RED RULER
SAMMY'S FORTUNE #
SUPER GENKI
TALE OF FRIENDSHIP

Another Son of Redoute's to Stud for 2007

Last season’s Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr1) winner, Nadeem has been retired and will stand at Darley’s New South Wales operation for the upcoming breeding season. His fee has been set at AUS$33,000 (inc. GST).

Raced by Sheikh Hamdan, the AUS$700,000 yearling purchase underwent surgery to a fractured cannon bone last March, and complications ensued when he then suffered a severe bout of colic.

Nadeem, sold by Edinglassie Stud at Inglis Easter, is from NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr 1) and NZ Oaks (Gr 1) winner Candide (Sound Reason), the dam of seven winners including HK Stewards’ Cup (Gr 1) victor Billion Win (Coronation Day), who won 11 races and placed in a further three Group 1 races.

Nadeem—the first third crop takes winnerfor his dominant sire -- was fourth on debut to boom filly I Got Chills (General Nediym) then won the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate by almost three lengths from Follow The Till (General Nediym). He scored the Blue Diamond Stakes by a similar margin from rivals Miss Finland, Wonderful World and Due Sasso at his next outing, on the same day that Snitzel won the Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1).

(www.thoroughbredinternetnews.com )

South Australian Racing Told To Clean Up It's Act

South Australian Racing Minister Michael Wright has called for racing to clean up its act, following an independent report by former Victorian racing administrator, Philip Bentley.
Bentley’s proposals, which include the setting up of a Super Club to run Thoroughbred racing in South Australia, were welcomed by Michael Wright who said: “Mr Bentley’s report followed concerns that the racing industry was continuing to ask the Government for help but at the same time it was not doing enough to help itself.

“The study found that Greyhound Racing SA has been very competent in managing its code but the gallops and trots both have plenty of work to do.

“I am giving Thoroughbred Racing SA and Harness Racing SA 30 days to respond to Mr Bentley’s recommendations and show cause why they should continue to operate as the controlling authorities for their particular code of racing.”

E Consul to Stand a Woodside Park

Wadham Park released the following press release this month:-

Econsul (NZ) to stand at Woodside Park Stud for the 2007 Breeding SeasonIt was announced earlier this year that Woodside Park, the breeding division of Wadham Park Australia, had acquired Econsul (NZ), the Group One winning son of Pins, for stallion duties this year. Econsul (NZ) will be the foundation stallion for the multi million dollar Woodside Park which is currently being developed approximately one kilometre from Wadham Park’s Victorian training base at Tylden.

Bloodlines

Econsul (NZ) is from the multiple winning, Group One performed Centaine mare Gypsy Soul (NZ). Centaine is proving an increasingly influential broodmare sire with over fifty stakes winners to his credit, including 10 at Group One level. Some of these include Glamour Puss, Legs, Amalfi, Demerger, Tully Thunder, Sportsman and Cent Home.The second dam of Econsul (NZ) is Sky Runner, a metropolitan winning mare who is a half sister to the multiple Group One and Caulfield Guineas winner Beechcraft. Econsul (NZ) is one of an ever growing number of Group winners by the Snippets’ stallion and VRC Cadbury Guineas (G1) winner Pins. He is best known in Australasia as the sire of El Segundo (C.F. Orr Stakes G1, Yalumba Stakes G1, Underwood Stakes G1), Legs (Kelt Capital Stakes G1, NZ Oaks G1) and the promising Porotene Gem (Levin Classic G1).Pins’ service fee for the 2007 breeding season has been increased from NZ$25,000 to NZ$50,000. Econsul (NZ) will be the first son of Pins to stand at stud which provides an exciting opportunity for Australian breeders to access this bloodline.

The Racehorse

Econsul (NZ) was a winner of three races including the “Sire Making” Group One Caulfield Guineas. With recent winners of the calibre of Lonhro, God's Own, Show a Heart and Redoute's Choice it is easy to see why the Caulfield Guineas is quickly becoming the sire making race of Australasia. Along with his Group One Caulfield Guineas win, Econsul (NZ) was also a stakes winning two year old.
Woodside Park principal Dale Sutton stated, “Econsul (NZ) was selected to be the foundation sire of Woodside Park ahead of other potential candidates because of his impressive bloodlines, conformation and race track performances”.The striking Econsul (NZ) (16HH) is presently being syndicated and has already received support from some of Australia’s most influential breeders including Lindsay Park Stud.Sutton stated, “Econsul (NZ) had proven his mettle as a racehorse. He won the Group One Caulfield Guineas over 1600m, was a stakes winner at two, proven on Australian racetracks, showed amazing acceleration, was a sprinter/miler and possesses a terrific colonial pedigree which is completely free of Northern Dancer”.

The Stallion

Sutton believes Econsul (NZ) will provide the ideal cross for most broodmares, particularly daughters of Rory’s Jester and mares from the Northern Dancer line.“His genetic structure is close to perfect. He is sired by possibly the most promising sire standing at stud at the moment in Pins and is from a daughter of the champion broodmare sire Centaine”, Sutton said.”He was a good two-year-old and is an excellent type with great strength through his shoulder, a beautiful head and eye, and he has the ideal temperament for a stallion”.“Econsul has two things in abundance – quality as an individual and speed and that’s what attracts good returns in the sale ring”. “The fact that he was a stakes winning two-year-old who trained on to win a classic three year old Group One lays claims to his significant ability and potential as a sire”.


Econsul will stand for a service fee of $10,000 plus GST this breeding season.

Lester Piggott Hospitalised

Lester Piggott, the greatest jockey of his or, arguably, any other generation has been admitted to intensive care in Lausanne, Switzerland, following reports of a recurrence of a heart problem.

According to Piggott’s son-in-law, trainer William Haggas, who spoke to www.telegraph.co.uk, the ‘Maestro’ is ‘conscious and coherent’. His wife, Susan and daughter Maureen are thought to be in Switzerland at Piggott’s bedside.

Piggott, 71, was admitted to hospital in the UK in December after feeling unwell but was released after five days

(www.thoroughbredinternet.com.au)

Australian Breeders Spoiled for Choice

Many Australian breeders are currently finalizing mating plans for their mares and, this year, as arguably never before, the merits of the home-grown stallions have to be weighed against the plethora of classy imports, writes John Berry.

Historically, it has been no contest: the imports have swept the board. Imported stallions won the Australian general sires’ premiership throughout the ’50s and ’60s. In the ‘70s and early ’80s, the homebred stallions started to make their presence felt, with Bletchingly winning three premierships, and Matrice, Century and Vain, one each. But then there began the era of dominance of the US-bred (NZ-domiciled) Sir Tristram, which was followed by the era of Danehill.

For imported stallions, we should now read ‘dual-hemisphere’, but the point remains: the greatest stallions in Australasian history – Delville Wood, Star Kingdom, Wilkes, Better Boy, Sir Tristram and Danehill – were neither bred nor raced in the antipodes.

In years gone by, there was a good reason for this: the standard of racing in Australia was not as good as in Europe, so the imports often had better credentials, in either form or pedigree, than their colonial counterparts. Genuinely world-class antipodean horses, such as Phar Lap, Tulloch, Vain and Kingston Town, were the exception rather than the rule.

However, that is no longer the case, as English race-goers are nowadays reminded at most Royal Ascots. The colonial-bred and raced sons of the great imports became their fathers' successors: Todman and Bletchingly inherited the mantle of Star Kingdom, while Vain and Century took the places of their sires Wilkes and Better Boy. Nowadays, Zabeel has come close to filling Sir Tristram’s shoes, while sons of Danehill abound.

More than any other stallion, Danehill flew the flag for dual-hemisphere sires. American-bred and raced in the UK, he flew back and forth between Ireland and NSW annually to become known as the greatest stallion in Australian history since Star Kingdom – until eventually people began to omit the words ‘since Star Kingdom’ from that phrase. It wouldn’t require too much poetic license to say that he built Coolmore’s magnificent Hunter Valley property at Jerry’s Plain, so it is unsurprising that the stud will be making no fewer than seven of his sons available to antipodean breeders this coming season. Six of the seven – the exception being Fastnet Rock – were bred and raced in the northern hemisphere.

However, it would be foolish to maintain that the best Danehill-line options in Australia nowadays are the imports, with Flying Spur (pictured) and Redoute’s Choice likely to quinella the sires’ premiership. Next in the sires’ table we see Zabeel, Encosta De Lago and the deceased pair Lion Hunter and Danehill. Lion Hunter was an Australian-bred and –raced son of Danehill (from Pure Of Heart, the mare who provided the inspiration for the shuttle experiment: she was exported to Australia in utero, and her racecourse success prompted Coolmore to make her sire Godswalk the first regular shuttler); Zabeel and Encosta De Lago are also antipodean-bred and Australian-raced sons of imported stallions (Sir Tristram and Fairy King).

While there is no denying the quality of the imported sires available to Australian mare-owners, Australian racing and breeding is nowadays so good that it is unlikely that they will ever dominate again. The current season has suggested this, with Zabeel siring the winners of the VRC and AJC Derbys, Flying Spur the winners of the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper, (the late) Rubiton and Pins the quinella in the Cox Plate, and Encounter the winner of the BMW. Arguably the finest two-year-old has been Strategic’s son Meurice, while the ill-fated He’s No Pie Eater acted as a fine advertisement for his father Canny Lad.

Between them, the imports and the locally-bred sires give Australian mare-owners a superb choice – but it would not be surprising if many breeders decide that being proven under Australian racing conditions could be the deciding factor in selecting who, for their mares, will be first among equals.

(www.thoroughbredinternet.com.au)

On The Newly Retired Front..

Trainer john O’Shea’s team will be without two leading Stakes performers this spring following reports that both Fast 'n' Famous and Safwa have been retired.

The Gilgai Stakes (Gr3) winner Fast ‘N’ Famous is to join the stallion roster at Waikato Stud where he will stand at NZ$15,000 while Listed winner Safwa is also heading for the breeding paddocks.

Go Back, You're Going The Wrong Way!

In France overnight, the last race at Auteuil "ended in absolute farce as all 15 jockeys were fined €150 (A$240) for taking the wrong course," reported racingpost.co.uk. After clearing the water jump on the figure-of-eight track, the field "failed to turn right towards the bullfinch & instead carried on the reverse way up the straight; once the mistake was realised, the runners were turned round to rejoin the track they were meant to have taken in the first place & the race continued."

Finally, a Spotlight on Sydney Field Numbers

Today's Sydney Morning Herald spelt out what we have all been wondering for a long time. What has happened to field numbers of a Saturday at Randwick? Looking at the fields in Brisbane at a normal meeting, its standing room only ... but in Sydney?

Max Presnell (Sydney Morning Herald) writes:

Winner and Losers.

WATCHING four races with fewer than eight starters at Royal Randwick on Saturday prompted the question of whether a stand-alone Saturday at Scone wouldn't be a better option? Sure, the country club would have to meet Saturday criteria, but the loss of betting revenue because races have so few runners should not be slotted into the "that time of the year" pigeon hole.

Obviously the Australian Jockey Club is disappointed, putting up $65,000 per race in prizemoney, $10,000 more than for most of Saturday's Caulfield races, which were better patronised.

Sydney metropolitan meetings last week on Monday and Wednesday were a drain on the major punting day, raising the bugbear of too much racing. Programming initiated by Racing NSW doesn't seem to be filling the Saturday void. "On normal, non-carnival race days Sydney's first two races rarely have more than seven acceptors. How about throwing these races open to non-metropolitan trainers?" writes Colin Bruce from Keiraville. "Alternatively if trainers are not prepared to 'fill the card' then rejig the prizemoney [so it goes to] the first four [in races with] with seven runners; six runners [only the] first three; five runners first two. The punter is penalised in these races so why not the trainers and owners?" Radical, perhaps. I prefer more stand-alone Saturdays such as at Hawkesbury or the Gold Coast where a sense of occasion prevails and it's not just another drab, dull Saturday.

Queensland Stallion Euthanised

The Kruger family reluctantly made the decision to put Celestial Dancer (IRE) to sleep on 4 May, due to his failing health. He was like one of the family to the Krugers, as brothers Jeff and Griff grew up with him.

Among his stakes winning progeny were Celestial Choir (NZ), Roulette (AUS) and Messiaen (AUS), from 14 stakeswinners.

(The Australian StudBook)

Van Nistelrooy Not to Shuttle

Trelawney Stud has announced that dual-stint sire Van Nistelrooy ill not cover in the Southern Hemisphere this season.

Van Nistelrooy, who stands at Coolmore in Ireland during Northern Hemisphere time, has covered four books of mares to Southern Hemisphere time after being brought to New Zealand by a partnership of farms including Chequers Stud, Curraghmore Stud, Fairdale Stud, Haunui Farm, Pencarrow Stud and, of course, Trelawney Stud.

Trelawney Stud’s Brent Taylor confirmed the parties concerned will take a watching brief before deciding if the sire returns to New Zealand in the future.

Taylor said: “We and our partners thought that for this season we will take the opportunity to sit back and see how his progeny perform over the next twelve months."

Mighty Bound for Melbourne Cup

From Racenews, UK

As bargains go, Mighty, bought for only 8,500gns in October, was an absolute steal, and this triple Polytrack winner maintained his climb up the ladder when finishing an excellent third in the Group II StanJamesUK.com Jockey Club Stakes (2400m) at Newmarket, England, on Sunday.

Jane Chapple-Hyam, delighted with Mighty, who had previously finished second to Maraahel in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury, said:”He will now have a break and then be prepared for the Melbourne Cup.

“You need a horse who has a turn of foot but is able to switch off to win at Flemington, and Mighty fits the bill perfectly. “He has come a long way in a short space of time since he started his winning spree on the all-weather at Lingfield, and he’ll be accompanied Down Under by my Ebor winner Mudawin, who can act as his bodyguard.”

Magic Millions Supplementary Catalogue

Gold Coast auction house, Magic Millions, has added an 89-strong supplementary catalogue to its National Sale breeding stock auction, scheduled for 30 May. Catalogues are out now for the record-sized auction (which already numbered more than 2800 lots before the supplementary catalogue was produced).

Sale of Lazer Sharp Falls Through

Victorian trainer Jamie Edwards confirmed negotiations to sell the three-year-old to a Victorian racing concern for AU$750,000 had broken down and that the horse would now be rested ahead of a major Cups campaign in the Spring.

Hong Kong Apprentices to Study in Australia and New Zealand

In an announcement from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, five Hong Kong Jockey Club Trainee Apprentice and six Racing Trainees have departed for either a one-year training or a 12-week course abroad to further their racing and riding experience.

Normally, courses last 12 months during which time they are hosted with a licensed trainer and work as an apprentice jockey for that trainer.