Matings are easy with a Windsor Park stallion brochure
Arnold thinks he's the best
By Adrian Dunn Herald Sun |
01 Sep 2010 |
SO YOU Think's spectacular victory in yesterday's Memsie Stakes moved bookmakers to elevate him to Cox Plate favouritism.
Betstar reversed the betting order for the Cox Plate with So You Think taking Shoot Out's spot as favourite for the $3 million weight-for-age championship of Australia.
Bart Cummings' superstar is now a $4 favourite to make it back-to-back wins in the Cox Plate, a feat last achieved in 2001-02 by Northerly.
So You Think, $6.50, held off a determined challenge from Whobegotyou, $11, to win by a half length with one length to Shoot Out, the $3 favourite.
Arnold, who partnered reigning Australian Horse Of The Year Scenic Blast, rode Efficient and won on Magical Miss and Spinning Hill and once rode Makybe Diva, declared So You Think trumped all the others.
He said So You Think possessed stunning attributes for a weight-for-age horse. "He lobbed in a spot, relaxed good, he's got acceleration and he's in for the fight.
"Half way down the straight, I thought 'Whobe' would really test us, but my horse was in for the fight. He was really strong on the line.
"I thought he might have been a little soft first up, but I can't praise him enough. He was just unbelievable.
"When he was flushed out around the corner, he gave me a tremendous feel and he wasn't 100 per cent in the ground.
"I think he's a freak, he's the best horse I've won on."
Arnold said he couldn't believe the ease at which So You Think went past a great horse like Typhoon Tracy.
Michael Rodd said the race panned out well as Whobegotyou was able to stalk So You Think throughout.
The concern for Rodd was that as he peeled out to make his run on Whobegotyou, Arnold had not moved on So You Think.
"I came around the turn and had already showed my hand and 'Chicken' (Arnold) was still leaning against his. I was happy enough with my bloke, he went great," Rodd said.
So You Think (NZ) back with brilliant Memsie win
By Glenn Moore, ThoroughbredNews |
28 Aug 2010 |
The prospect of a great spring just improved with the brilliant win of So You Think (NZ) in the $200,000 Group Two N Z Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
So You Think returns in style, picture Quentin Lang quentinjlang.com
Last season’s Cox Plate winner has been off the scene since last spring and there was some doubt about how well he would come back. In that time Shoot Out has taken over the mantle of Australia’s best galloper after dominating the autumn’s three-year-old events and continuing that form since resuming.
However, Saturday’s result raised morequestions than answers. Sure So You Think is back, back in a big way, but last week Shoot Out was winning the Cox Plate and anything else it was entered for, now, who knows, but it is hard to go past So You Think after his first run in almost a year.
Trained by the legend Bart Cummings and ridden by Steven Arnold, So You Think sat outside the leader, who happened to be Australia’s best mare Typhoon Tracy (Nolen), kicked for home in the straight and held off a challenge from Whobegotyou (Rodd) to score a brilliant return win. What a return.
Shoot Out was stuck wide without cover, however he still charged home late, probably finishing better than anything, but he just couldn’t match So You Think and Whobegotyou at the top of the straight. It is going to be a good spring.
The official margin was a half length to Whobegotyou with a length to Shoot Out. The overall time was 1.26.68 with the last 600m run in 34.68.
Looking good on the line, picture Quentin Lang quentinjlang.com
“I have had a few good ones but he is up there with the best of them I think,” said Cummings at Rosehill of his outstanding galloper.
“He is pretty good to do what he did today, first up and with the track pretty heavy, and he was a bit more forward (in the running) than what we anticipated but it is the only way you can go to win there. And it worked out all right,” he said
Cummings described So You Think as ‘cantering’ before the turn.
“He is a pretty good horse and he is only going to get better and better,” he said.
Cummings said that the second Group One WFA Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October is the main target of the entire with no international campaign’s under consideration.
“It is the best race down there at weight-for-age and there is not much now before the Cox Plate (at WFA),” he said.
“He really impressed me today,” Arnold said. “He travelled unbelievably in the run and coming to the corner something came off his back and he just gave me a great feel.”
“I don’t think he is 100% comfortable in the ground either. His other attribute is he is a fighter as well. He was in for the fight and held them on the line.
“I think the sky is the limit for him.”
So You Think is by High Chaparral out of Triassic (NZ) and is owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam & Tunku Ahmad Yahaya. He has a record of four wins from seven starts and has $2,376,850.
The next race for So You Think is the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on 11 September.
Shoot Out's price shortens after Liston
By Racingandsports.com.au |
16 Aug 2010 |
Exciting spring prospect Shoot Out (4g High Chaparral x Pentamerous, by Pentire) made it two wins from two starts this preparation when taking out the Group Two MRC JJ Liston Stakes over 1400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.
Despite covering extra ground throughout, Shoot Out was able to storm home on the outside of runners and win impressively for regular rider Stathi Katsidis.
Moments after the race his trainer John Wallace sent a message to his likely Cox Plate rivals suggesting his star would still make great improvement this preparation.
Bookmakers reacted to the outstanding win with Betstar cutting his Cox Plate quote from $9 to $6, so he is now a clear favourite for the Group One 2040 metre Moonee Valley feature.
"He's a good horse mate and he really knows how to win," John Wallace beamed.
"I was thinking, how wide can this bloke get, but he knew what he was doing. He's a real racehorse."
"He loves to win and I'm just so proud of him."
"This horse will get better," Wallace said without hesitation. "I'm telling you, lookout!"
"He's nowhere near ready. I've just been playing about with him."
"He'll win the Cox Plate," Wallace stated.
Shoot Out is raced by Graham and Linda Huddy and it was Linda who selected and purchased him from the draft of Oaklands Stud at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for just $15,000.
The bargain buy has put together an impressive record winning seven of 13 starts and $1.5 million in prizemoney.
Bred by the Stewart family's Oaklands Stud near Toowoomba, Shoot Out is one of two stakes-winners for his dam Pentamerous joining the Group Three WATC West Australian Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow.
His dam Pentamerous is due to foal to champion sire Encosta de Lago this spring.
Volksraad's Big 8 assures him a lofty place in history
By John Costello, The Informant |
16 Aug 2010 |
When Waikato Stud's O'Reilly ended Volksraad's unbeaten run (then six in a row) in the New Zealand General Sires' Premiership back in 2007-08, local breeding students could have been excused for assuming that we had seen the last of Volksraad at the head of the premiership.
Windsor Park's wonderful patriarch was now 20, after all, and there were plenty of other younger stallions pushing in O'Reilly's wake.
Volksraad (GB) (1988 bay by Green Desert-Celtic Assembly, by Secretariat) had other ideas. He regained his New Zealand title in 2008-09, with a tad over half a million in progeny earnings to spare over his nearest rival. And in 2009-10, the season just concluded, the grand old gentleman was on top again, aged 22, taking his eighth Grosvenor Award by a similarly comfortable margin though with a significantly higher overall tally.
It was Pins (Aust) (1996 bay, by Snippets-No Finer), O'Reilly's three-years-younger barnmate at Waikato Stud, who was runner-up to Volksraad in 2008-09 and again in the season just gone. Indeed, if you'd opened a book on the 2009-10 premiership at the halfway point, you'd have had Pins at short odds to take the title.
His NZ progeny earnings at the end of January tallied $1,545,616, with splendid filly Katie Lee his main contributor. Electronic Zone (Vosne Romanee) was second at that point in time, his total just under the million. Volksraad, while making his now familiar midway surge, was nearly $600,000 below Pins in third place.
Interesting that, even at that point, Volksraad's main contributor (with $197,150) was a three-year-old named Military Move. Because six weeks later, of course, Military Move won the New Zealand Derby and, with his share of the $2 million purse, carried Volksraad into a clear lead he never looked like surrendering.
If Military Move's ultimate haul of $1,502,775 made a massive contribution to Volksraad's final total, the $1,383,119 earned by the rest of his progeny would still have edged out Pins if you'd deducted in his case the earnings of Katie Lee. And again, it is a tribute to Volksraad's versatility as well as his longevity that this prolific producer of sprinters and two-year-old winners should, from his 14th crop if my calculations are correct, now come up with the winner of the our classic crown for young stayers, the Derby.
Military Move was in fact the third fresh Group One winner of the season for the seemingly ageless progenitor, the others being Veloce Bella (the Darci Brahma International Stakes at Te Rapa) and Velocitea (the Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide). Again that versatility; the Goodwood is a sprint, the Waikato International a 2000m middle distance and the Derby, of course, is run at the classic staying distance of 2400m.
Volksraad had 112 runners during the season (118 for Pins), 44 individual winners of 67 races (61 and 84 for Pins) and total progeny earnings of $2,885,894 (against $2,342,665 for Pins).
On both wins and individual winners, Pins had the highest number ahead of Keeper, Volksraad and Zabeel. Pins has now finished in the top four in the Grosvenor Award for four successive seasons and his turn at No 1 must surely come.
In this year's Grosvenor Award, Volksraad and Pins were followed by Zabeel ($1,583,988, Auckland Cup winner Zavite his main New Zealand contributor), Pentire ($1,329,070, Corporal Jones) and Montjeu ($1,305,953, Wall Street).
Keeper was a sharp mover, from 10th in 2008-09 to sixth this year on progeny earnings of $1,201,736. Then again, his senior barnmate at Cambridge Stud, Zabeel, was a sharper mover still: up from 20th on the 2008-09 New Zealand ladder to third this year on the back of his Auckland Cup winner Zavite.
Of course, for Zabeel, since notching his four successive New Zealand premierships back in the 1990s, the focus has been more international than local. He collects his umpteenth Dewar Award this year (well, his 14th to be more precise) and, after a battle which went down to the wire, wrested the Centaine Award (international earnings for progeny conceived in New Zealand) from inaugural Centaine winner O'Reilly.
Volksraad's 2009-10 title capped a great season for Windsor Park. High Chaparral, who stood there for four seasons and will have around 25 yearlings in the WP draft at this summer's sales, had a phenomenal outcome with his first crop of three-year-olds, ending the season with two Derby winners in Australia (Monaco Consul, VRC Derby; Shoot Out, AJC Derby); the top-rated 3YO on the Australia/New Zealand Thoroughbred Classifications (Cox Plate winner So You Think) and New Zealand Free Handicap (Monaco Consul); and second placing in the Dewar Award, a remarkable result for a horse with effectively one crop racing.
Furthermore, a past Windsor Park alumni, deceased Just A Dancer (son of Star Dancer) topped the New Zealand Broodmare Sires' Premiership thanks to his Derby-winning grandson Military Move.
Meanwhile Volksraad is “in great nick,” according to Windsor Park's Mike Moran, and looking forward to his 17th stud season. He can be a tough old bloke and likes things done his way - “you don't take him for granted, or treat him lightly,” is how Mike puts it – but if he does have any prickly bits in his own nature, he doesn't pass them on to his progeny.
Mike: “He puts a lovely temperament into all his stock.”
Volksraad's Premiership No 8 puts him on a lofty plane in New Zealand breeding history. It's rather facile to say he's the most successful stallion of modern times in terms of home championships; or even to say he's the most successful since mighty Foxbridge. His initial six successive premierships achieved those milestones.
But Foxbridge's unequalled 11 straight premierships starting in 1940-41 were a peak in achievement, not a starting point.
Looking at the broader tapestry of New Zealand breeding, Volksraad has now achieved the equal second-highest haul of championships in our thoroughbred history; behind only Foxbridge and level with the late 19th Century marvel St Leger.
Imported as a foal at foot, St Leger had such a hard voyage out from England that he developed neither an imposing physique nor galloping ability. But against all the odds, with his progeny doing the job on the racetrack, where it counted, he proved a marvellous sire and won eight premierships between 1892-93 and 1901-02.
In the ensuing three decades, Soult (six in a row from 1907-08), Martian (seven from 1913-14, not in succession), Absurd (five in the 1920s) and Hunting Song (six in a row in the 1930s) came close to St Leger's eight-titles haul but it remained the standard until Foxbridge came along.
In the second half of the 20th Century, only Le Filou, Copenhagen II and Noble Bijou won as many as four titles; then Zabeel came along with his four straight to lead us into the new century – and the beginning of Volksraad's reign.
In modern times the focus has been very much on international sire success; in Australia and, in more recent times, Hong Kong and Singapore. Local championship winners like Famous Star and Kingdom Bay, or Copenhagen II in earlier years, didn't really receive the honours they deserved. Prophets in their own country, and all that.
But if Volksraad's success has also been mostly in New Zealand and for New Zealanders, six, seven and now eight premierships are really forcing themselves on the attention of the most outward looking. Let's face it: the medium-sized bay who started his stud career with no favours and, like St Leger a hundred years earlier, had to do it all on the merit of his racetrack offspring is now, quite indisputably, one of the greats.
Windsor Park graduates top 3YO’s both sides of the Tasman
The influence of Windsor Park Stud stallions and sales graduates is clearly evident in the recently released 2009/2010 Australia & New Zealand Thoroughbred Classifications and New Zealand Free Handicaps which are compiled by the Senior Handicappers from Australia and New Zealand.
Brilliant W S Cox Plate winner So You Think heads all 3YO’s in the ANZ Classifications with a rating of 122 and is also equal highest rated for horses of all ages, along with stablemate and Caulfield Cup winner Viewed.
In New Zealand, Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes winner Monaco Consul sits atop of 3YO rankings in the Free Handicap having been allotted 60kg, followed by New Zealand Derby winner Military Move, who is placed equal second with Time Keeper on 58.5kg.
Both So You Think and Monaco Consul are sons of boom sire High Chaparral and both were yearling graduates of Windsor Park’s 2008 Karaka yearling sales draft as too was Volksraad’s son Military Move.
High Chaparral, whose first 3YO crop also includes Australian Derby winner Shoot Out and runner-up Descarado, stood at Windsor Park for his first four southern hemisphere seasons before transferring to Coolmore Australia this season.
Windsor Park’s resident champion sire Volksraad has enjoyed another outstanding season, recently winning the Grosvenor Award for the eighth time. Volksraad’s dominance of the stallion premiership over the past decade, where he has also finished second twice, constitutes a modern day record.
Australia & New Zealand Thoroughbred Classifications
Leading 3YO’s
Rating Name Category
122 So You Think Mile & Intermediate
121 Starspangledbanner Sprint
117 Shoot Out Long
117 Wanted Sprint
116 Manhattan Rain Intermediate
116 Monaco Consul Long
115 Denman Sprint & Mile
115 Descarado Long
115 Phelan Ready Sprint
115 Rock Classic Mile
115 Zabrasive Intermediate & Long
New Zealand 3YO Free Handicap 2009/2010
Kg Name Category
60 Monaco Consul 1601m+
58.5 Military Move 1601m+
58.5 Time Keeper 1200-1600m
58 Katie Lee 1200-1600m
57.5 My Keepsake 1601m+
57 Corporal Jones 1601m+
56.5 Keep The Peace 1601m+
56.5 The Hombre 1601m+
56.5 Zarzuela 1601m+
56 Joey Massino 1200-1600m
56 November Rain 1200-1600m
Cummings pair top 2009/10 ANZ Classification
By Australian Racing Board |
07 Aug 2010 |
The 2009/10 ANZ Classifications have been released reflecting the best individual performances by horses during the recently concluded racing year in Australia and New Zealand.
So You Think (NZ), picture Sportpix.com.au.
The highest rating for an individual performance during the season was 122 achieved by the Bart Cummings trained pair So You Think and Viewed.
So You Think (High Chaparral-Triassic) exploded onto the Australian racing season with a scintillating all the way win in the W.S. Cox Plate [G1], the WFA Championship of Australasia at just his 5th race start. He replicated his race performance rating of 122 again in the Cantala Stakes [G1] over 1600m carrying 53.5kg (1.5kg more than WFA) when 2nd to All American against older horses.
Viewed (Scenic-Lovers Knot) became the first horse since Rising Fast (1955) to come back and win a Caulfield Cup after winning the Melbourne Cup in the previous year. In carrying 57kg to victory in the World’s richest 2400m Handicap race, the ill-fated Viewed generated a rating of 122, topping the long and extended category. His death is a loss not only for his connections but also to the Australian Racing Industry.
Champion Sprinter Starspangledbanner was the next highest rated horse at 121 for both his wins over 6 furlongs (1200m) in the Golden Jubilee Stakes [G1] at Royal Ascot in June and the July Cup [G1] at Newmarket.
Starspangledbanner (Choisir-Gold Anthem) did the majority of his racing during the 2009.10 season in Australia and like Haradasun (2007.8) who transferred to Aidan O’Brien to win the Queen Anne Stakes in June 2008, all his racetrack performances during the season in review have been included.
Any performances by Starspangledbanner after 31 July 2010, outside of Australia will not be included in any future ANZ Listings
A third placing in the July Cup by the Paul Messara trained mare Alverta (Flying Spur-Grilse) gave her an international rating of 115 and put her at the head of the sprint category for mares.
Outstanding miler Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom-Tracy’s Element) was the highest rated mare in Australia with a rating of 118 achieved four times in her wins in the C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes against all comers and the Empire Rose Stakes and Queen of the Turf Stakes against her own sex, all at Group One level.
New Zealand
The best performance by a New Zealand-trained horse in New Zealand during the season was produced by Vosne Romanee. The 7yo was a revelation in 2009.10 winning three times at Group One level in the Kelt Capital (2040m) and the Zabeel Classic and New Zealand Stakes (both 2000m). Vosne Romanee achieved a peak rating of 115 in the NZ Stakes at Ellerslie where he beat a star-studded field including Harris Tweed, Tell A Tale and Red Ruler.
Outstanding 3yo Monaco Consul achieved a rating of 116 when winning the Victoria Derby [G1]. Trained in New Zealand by Michael and Paul Moroney, Monaco Consul (High Chaparral-Argante) appears only in the name of Michael Moroney when racing in Australia.
Three-year-old Ratings
The three-year-old listings were headed by So You Think and Starspangledbanner. Behind them were AJC Derby winner Shoot Out (High Chaparral-Pentamerous) and VRC Newmarket hero Wanted (Fastnet Rock-Fragmentation), both on 117.
The top three-year-old filly of the season was Melito (Redoute’s Choice-Cloister) on 115, a mark she achieved in winning the T.J. Smith Stakes [G1] over 1200m against older horses at WFA and the Winter Stakes [G1] over 1400m where she took on the older mares.
Top class filly Faint Perfume (Shamardal-Zona) was next at 113 for her win in the Storm Queen Stakes over 2000m. Next in the listings and joint leaders in the long and extended category were AJC Oaks heroine Once Were Wild (Johannesburg-Wildesong) and Dariana (Redoute’s Choice-Beldarian) who beat the colts to score a runaway win in the Queensland Derby, both on 112.
Two-year-old Ratings
In assessing the leading two-year-old’s the Committee concluded the 2010 Golden Slipper (1200m) produced the best performance of the season with the winner Crystal Lily rating 113 in her victory over Decision Time and More Strawberries.
Crystal Lily (Stratum-Crystal Snip) raced to the front at the 200m mark but ran out sharply in the concluding stages with her rider Brett Prebble unable to fully test her to the line.
The colts division was jointly headed by Decision Time (Foreplay-Daunting Thought) for his 2nd in the Golden Slipper to Crystal Lily and by Blue Diamond winner Star Witness (Starcraft-Leone Chiara) on 112.
The best performance by a New Zealand trained two-year-old during the season was produced by Nacho Man (Mr Nancho-El Coriero) , achieving a rating of 104 when winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes over 1400m in April..
General
The listings are compiled by the Senior Handicappers representing the Principal Racing Authorities of Australia as well as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. The performances of horses rated 115 and above are then confirmed by the World Thoroughbred Rankings Committee (WTR) representing Senior Handicappers from major racing nations across the world.
For inclusion in the Annual Classifications a horse must have finished in the first six placings in a Group or Listed race or had a significant performance in a feature non-black type race.
Horses three-years-old and over are included in the listings where they have achieved a rating of 100 or higher and for two-year-old’s an individual performance rating 95 or higher.
The distance categories are those determined by WTR as follows:
SPRINT : 1000m - 1300m
MILE : 1301m - 1899m
INTERMEDIATE : 1900m - 2100m
LONG : 2101m - 2700m
EXTENDED : 2701m+
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF ANZ CLASSIFICATIONS 2009/10
New boys at Windsor Park meet the media
By John Costello, The Informant |
06 Aug 2010 |
Two of the more exciting additions to this year's New Zealand stallion roster were introduced to a group of media folk at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
Only a couple of days after they'd come off the plane – actually two planes, a day apart – Mastercraftsman and TheWayYouAre were paraded in front of the stallion barn which will be their new home for the Southern Hemisphere spring and early summer.
Both made favourable impressions, physically matching their first-rate racetrack credentials. Considering their long trip from England and the US respectively, they were in grand order and both, on the strength of a morning's inspection, would seem to have bullet-proof temperaments.
TheWayYouAre is a medium-sized bright bay, bred in the United States in 2005, by Kingmambo (Mr Prospector) from the Irish-bred Sadler's Wells mare Maryinsky. In colouring and conformation he tends to throw to his damsire.
Mastercraftsman, a tad bigger and a year younger, is a grey horse by Danehill's outstanding sire son Danehill Dancer from Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair, a grandson of Mr Prospector.
When one door closes, another opens, remarked Windsor Park's marketing manager Michael Moran, and it was a comment which might not have been original but was certainly appropriate. Early in the year the Windsor Park team were ruefully having to deal with the news that High Chaparral, whose first crop had such a sensational year as three-year-olds in Australia and New Zealand, would not be returning to Windsor Park, where he stood four of the last five southern springs (missing one because of the EI epidemic).
The classic and weight-for-age form of Monaco Consul, So You Think and Shoot Out, culminating in the AJC Derby trifecta in the autumn, effectively ensured that High Chaparral would be at Coolmore's New South Wales property when he returned south this year. Windsor Park studmaster Nelson Schick was pretty much resigned to that.
But Coolmore came up with a decidedly handsome consolation prize in allowing Mastercraftsman and TheWayYouAre to come down to Windsor Park Stud instead.
TheWayYouAre, who will stand at $10,000 plus GST, was the champion French Two-Year-Old colt of 2007. And that was a crop which included the wonderful mare Goldikova and the subsequent Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava. TheWayYouAre won four of his five two-year-old starts in succession, culminating with a decisive victory in the Group One Saint-Cloud Criterium International.
A back injury prevented him from regaining top form in a handful of later starts – two at three, two at four. But the talent he displayed as a two-year-old, his Timeform rating of 117 at that age putting him level with unbeaten Zarkava, was of a high order.
There is plenty of depth in his maternal family which is, in fact, the family of Danehill's best Southern Hemisphere sire son Redoute's Choice. Maryinsky is the result of a mating between Sadler's Wells and the Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride, she the dam also of USA Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour. Another outstanding matron, Best In Show, is TheWayYouAre's third dam.
Mastercraftsman ... well, he is arguably the best-performed European galloper to come down to New Zealand after a former Windsor Park alumni, Montjeu.
The champion European two-year-old of his year and a dual Group One winner at three, Mastercraftsman competed successfully among some high-class horses including the freakish Sea The Stars, to whom he was twice placed. When I looked at his Group One tally – the Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes at two, the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and the St James Palace Stakes at three – and the company he raced in, it made me reflect again on how horsemen of pre-shuttle days, 20 years ago and more, would have been totally disbelieving that such horses would ever stand in our part of the world.
In an industry which has no magic keys to success, the shuttle phenomenon carries with it no guarantees. It's worth remembering that the three best stallions in Australia at present, Redoute's Choice, Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur, are all homebreds; as are champion progenitors Zabeel and O'Reilly on this side of the Tasman.
But the quality of blood and racetrack performance which the dual-Hemisphere shuttle run has brought to our part of the world has undoubtedly enriched our bloodlines. One need only mention Danehill in Australia, his influence immense and ongoing; in New Zealand Windsor Park's previous shuttlers Montjeu and High Chaparral have been decidedly worthwhile contributors even if their southern stays have been of limited duration.
Now Windsor Park has brought down another two stallions of top-flight performance and impeccable pedigree, and there seems no doubt they will find favour with broodmare owners. In fact, Mastercraftsman was over-subscribed within two weeks of his southern sojourn being announced and, says Windsor Park's Steve Till, TheWayYouAre is 90 per cent full.
In racing pictures, Mastercraftsman was mainly brown or bay with some grey in his coat, especially over the rump. Now he is a dapple grey, with only traces still showing through of his former bay/brown colouring.
In nearly 40 years as a studmaster, says Nelson Schick, he had never previously stood a grey stallion until New Zealand-bred Guillotine came to Windsor Park last spring.
“Now I've got two!”
We (the media group) got to see Guillotine, too. Last year he arrived on August 30 and went straight into service, so he didn't get to be paraded publicly.
Guillotine is a big upstanding horse with strong bone and a massive girth. The power in his frame and the stamina implicit in his pedigree (he is by the splendid Sadler's Wells stallion Montjeu and a full-brother to VRC Derby and Melbourne Cup winner Efficient) did not prevent his possessing athleticism and a real turn of foot. He won as a two-year-old and was unluckily fourth in the Group One AJC Champagne Stakes, virtually lost his three-year-old season because of EI and won the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, 1600m at Moonee Valley as a four-year-old.
Despite his late announcement, Guillotine served a good book of 104 mares last spring. Even with the competition from the two Northern Hemisphere glamour boys who arrived this week, he is going to be well patronised again.
Media Get Early Look at Impressive New Stallions
A select group of local media were afforded an early look at Windsor Park Stud’s exciting new stallions MastercraftsmanandTheWayYouAreyesterday.
Despite arriving just a day or two earlier, both stallions strongly impressed onlookers with their physical presence and with the way they have slotted straight into their new surrounds.
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MASTERCRAFTSMAN at Windsor Park Stud yesterday.
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Naturally, their arrival has caused quite a buzz for the team at Windsor.
“It's a very exciting time when stallions first arrive,” explained Windsor’s Steve Till.
“Nelson (Schick) had seen TheWayYouAre up at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, but for the rest of us, their arrival was the first time that we had laid eyes on them.
“It is a real highlight because you then know what you have to work with and it makes mating decisions all the more interesting.”
Described as the very best son of Danehill Dancer, Mastercraftsman arrived from Coolmore Ireland on Sunday.
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THEWAYYOUARE at Windsor Park Stud
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Mastercraftsman was named 2008’s European Champion 2YO after achieving two Gr.1 wins at two and continued this exceptional form at three with two additional Gr.1 races over 1600m.
“People have clearly appreciated his CV. The phone didn’t stop ringing when we announced him and his book was full within 2 weeks,” said Till.
“I would describe him to breeders as being a big, strong horse with a good constitution and temperament”
Windsor’s other new stallion TheWayYouAre, alternatively, arrived from his Coolmore America base on Monday.
TheWayYouAre is a Champion 2YO son of Kingmambo and is from the outstanding producer Maryinsky.
Hailing from the family of Redoute’s Choice, TheWayYouAre won the Gr.1 Saint-Cloud Criterium International (1600m) at two – a performance that effectively sealed his place as the 2007 Champion French Colt.
" TheWayYouAre is a good sized, sturdy individual who is very much in the mould of his damsire, Sadler’s Wells” Till offered.
“He will serve a full book of mares and he is about 90% full at the moment.”
Mastercraftsman and TheWayYouAre are parading at the stud on a daily basis. For those people interested in seeing the stallions, Till recommends you simply call the stud to arrange a suitable viewing time.
Alternatively, the Waikato Branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association hosts its annual Waikato Stallion Weekend later this month, with Windsor Park Stud’s stallion roster scheduled to parade at 1pm on August 29.
Monaco Consul heads New Zealand Free Handicap
By ANZ Bloodstock News |
04 Aug 2010 |
Monaco Consul (High Chaparral) has headed the weights on the New Zealand Free handicaps released yesterday for the 2009/10 season, writes Darryl Sherer.
Compiled by NZTR Chief Handicapper Dean Nowell for the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, the rankings cover horses that have raced in New Zealand with Australian performances taken into account for the purposes of assessment.
Monaco Consul was rated on 60kg, having won his maiden at Ellerslie but the Victoria Derby (Gr 1) and Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1) in Australia, ahead of the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1) winner Military Move (Volksraad) and Group 1 winner Time Keeper (Stravinsky) both rated on 58.5kg.
Military Move finished behind Katie Lee (Pins) in the NZ 2000 Guineas (Gr 1) and improved when stepped up in trip, defeating Corporal Jones (Pentire) and Handsome Zulu (Handsome Ransom) in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1) at his final start for the season. Time Keeper improved markedly in the autumn, taking the Manawatu Classic (Gr 3) and then the Easter Handicap (Gr 1) consecutively. Given a typically busy season by trainer Graeme Nicholson, Time Keeper failed to make an impression in Group company in Brisbane, his best effort a fourth place finish to The Hombre (Lucky Owners) in the Grand Prix Stakes (Gr 3).
The NZ 2000 and 1000 Guineas winner Katie Lee (Pins) is the highest-weighted filly on 58kg while Cellarmaster (Dubawi) headed the juvenile list on 58kg. Katie Lee won four times at Group level throughout the season. She possibly found the 2400m too far when unplaced in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1) on her final start but she had a busy season so it might have been one run too many. That should not detract from her fine season and she remains in training this season.
Cellarmaster is just in front of Nacho Man (Mr Nancho) and Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) on 57kg with the highest weighted filly Banchee (Oratorio) on 55.5 kg. Cellarmaster ran consistently all season. He finished second to Jimmy Choux on his second start before gaining revenge in the Wentwood Grange (Listed) where Lion Tamer (Storming Home) finished third. Cellarmaster then defeated Banchee in the Eclipse (Gr 3) and was runner-up in the Diamond Stakes (Gr 1) to Banchee with Jimmy Choux third and in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1) to Nacho Man with Jimmy Choux in third.
The rankings appear in full later in the issue in New Zealand news.
NEW ZEALAND FREE HANDICAPS
2009/2010 (RATINGS IN KG)
Two-year-olds
CELLARMASTER 58
NACHO MAN 57.5
JIMMY CHOUX 57
BANCHEE 55.5
LION TAMER 55
SISTER HAVANA 55
DATING 54.5
ICEPIN 54.5
SMOULDER 54.5
TWILIGHT SAVINGS 54
UPSALA 54
CHARMA 53.5
EXTRA EXPLOSIVE 53.5
BIG RIVER 53
ENCOSTA DIABLO 53
EVERLASTING 53
SIRRIO 53
WE CAN SAY IT NOW (AUS) 53
HOOFIT 53
ZENNISTA 53
ELLE TRESOR 52.5
LOL 52.5
MISS THORN 52.5
POOKA’S SISTER (AUS) 52.5
SAINT AGATA 52
SANS SOUCI 52
SHAMABELLE 52
COOL STORM 51.5
MYGOODGRACE (AUS) 51.5
BOTAFOGO 51
MISS CURIOSITY 51
MR SPOCK (AUS) 51
PREMIER LADY 51
RED GENERAL (AUS) 51
STARDOM 51
Three-year-olds
1200mm-1600m
TIME KEEPER 58.5
KATIE LEE (AUS) 58
JOEY MASSINO 56
NOVEMBER RAIN 56
KEEP THE PEACE 55.5
OBSESSION 55.5
EILEEN DUBH 55
MILITARY MOVE 55
RIOMORAL 54.5
VERONICA FRANCO 54
KEYORA 53.5
RIO FORTUNE (AUS) 53.5
CHAPARELLA 53
DESCARADO 53
FINDERSKEEPERS 53
ST GERMAINE 53
ASPINAL 52.5
BROWN EYED GRACE 52.5
CHAMPAGNE RANSOM (AUS) 52.5
MERCURY MISTRESS 52.5
ONE SWANSTONSTREET 52.5
THE BEEKEEPER 52.5
WARRENTHEROOSTER 52.5
BLONDE BLOMBSHELL 52
JUNGLE JUICE 52
MARSH HARBOUR 52
OUR ELLA BELLE 52
SHOW UP 52
ADALINE (AUS) 51.5
CELTIC FANTASY(AUS) 51.5
CLAPTON 51.5
COMME TU VEUX 51.5
HANDSOME ZULU 51.5
KING’S RANSOM 51.5
MASQUERADE 51.5
ADULTERER 51
GREEN SUPREME (AUS) 51
Three-year-olds
1601m plus
MONACO CONSUL 60
MILITARY MOVE 58.5
MY KEEPSAKE 57.5
CORPORAL JONES 57
KEEP THE PEACE 56.5
THE HOMBRE (AUS) 56.5
ZARZUELA 56.5
KATIE LEE (AUS) 55
NOVEMBER RAIN 55
TIME KEEPER 55
A CHANCE TO DREAM (AUS) 54.5
ADALINE (AUS) 54
HANDSOME ZULU 54
KING RAEDWALD (AUS) 53
PRINCE OF WALES 53
EILEEN DUBH 52
ISHIBEEL 52
POSAVINA 52
SOFIA BABE (AUS) 52
C’MON CUBA 51
JUNGLE JUICE 51
LA COLLINA 51
MISS SHARAPOVA 51
UTOPIA 51
Prepared by NZTR Chief Handicapper Dean Nowell for the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.