Eight new buys and a positive belief in the seasons ahead 1st February The benefits of a positive approach to Day 1 of trading at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale were reinforced with the sale's primary indicators all jumping on the back of some highly commercial lots and a more invigorated buying bench. The average lifted to $NZ154,677, shy of the 2011 mark of $NZ174,864 but a noticeable rise on Day 1 action which closed at a touch under $NZ146,000. The median was unwavering at $NZ120,000, which was well down on 12 months ago and the sales conversation rate was a more positive 74 percent having languished at 70 percent 24 hours earlier. DGR Thoroughbred Services added two addition selections to its tally of six with a beautifully credentialed High Chaparral x Love Diamonds filly (Lot 298) and a magnificent Zabeel x Sarajay colt (Lot 420) secured. The pair was among those on the DGR ‘wish list’ from our first day of inspecting and purchasing both lots for some long standing clients was most rewarding. Lot 298: http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/pedigree.cfm?sale_id=159&lot=298&show=video Lot 420: http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/pedigree.cfm?sale_id=159&lot=420&show=video The High Chaparral x Love Diamond filly is a half-sister to a Zabeel colt we selected in 2009 that has hinted at potential without being heavily tested at this formative stage of his career. Love Diamond heralds from the peerless Eight Carat family, the most significant family in the stud book over the last two decades, and her acquisition for $NZ220,000 was most opportune. Lot 420 ($NZ 320,000) met the approval of several leading judges and, being the product of a champion sire and a young G2 winning mare there is certainly a great deal of upside with him if he can meet our collective expectations in time. One can never be absolute, but it would take a confident individual to declare that two equally credentialed yearlings could be purchased for similar sums ($A170,000 and $A264,000 respectively) in Australia in the coming months. In all, DGR leaves New Zealand with eight yearling purchases and a positive feeling for the seasons ahead. The support of both our long standing clients and our new friends is one we are immensely thankful for and do not take for granted. With your support DGR has been able to confidently prepare for this sale and, as a result, purchase some exquisite bloodstock at real value prices.   Six Sons Secured on Day 1 at Karaka 30th January DGR Thoroughbred Services continued to capitalize on the ‘buying market’ at yearling sales throughout Australasia in 2012 securing six quality colts across the Tasman on the opening day of training at the 2012 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka. The six additions (two High Chaparrals, a Savabeel, a Thorn Park, a Starcraft and a Duke of Marmalade) were purchased from a sale that has proven to be a highly productive hunting ground for DGR in recent seasons with current graduates including global champion So You Think and fellow group winners Precedence (G2) and Do You Think (G3). The six colts purchased include: Lot 21: High Chaparral x Wildcat Woman colt ($NZ140,000) http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/pedigree.cfm?sale_id=159&lot=21&show=video A son of the outstanding High Chaparral from an unraced daughter of G1 VRC Oaks winner Arborea and a half-sister to the G2 winner Delta Form.) Lot 143: Savabeel x Dancing Brunette colt ($NZ270,000) A quality son of Savabeel who filled the eye. In 2011 Savabeel had a breakout year being represented by G1 Victoria Derby winner Sangster, G1 Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady, G2 Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore, G2 Kewney Stakes winner Do Ra Mi, G2 Lady Norrie Stakes winner Lady Kipling, G3 Gloaming Stakes winner Strike The Stars, G1 VRC Oaks runner-up Dowager Queen and our very own stakes winner Kudakulari. Lot 158: Thorn Park x Diamantaire colt ($NZ80,000) [seen below] A late November foal that heralds directly from the peerless Eight Carat family and is a product of New Zealand’s current ‘it’ stallion Thorn Park. A lovely mover who we believe can develop into a lovely prospect. Lot 175: Duke of Marmalade x Dressed To Impress colt ($NZ87,500) http://www.nzb.co.nz/sales/pedigree.cfm?sale_id=159&lot=175&show=video A well made colt from the maiden crop of Duke of Marmalade out of a half-sister to G1 winning half-brothers Titanic Jack (Emirates Stakes etc) and Sober Suit (Toorak Hcp etc). Lot 199: Starcraft x Fire Song colt ($NZ150,000) [seen below] A lovely moving son of Starcraft from the G2 winning mare Fire Song. In 2009 we secured a quality Starcraft colt from this same sales ring that developed into the very promising Do You Think, a G3 winner at only his second career start. Lot 259: High Chaparral x Jumble colt ($NZ125,000) [seen below] A strapping son of High Chaparral from a daughter by classic influence Kaapstad. The mare Jumble has already left the G2 placegetter Veldt.   DGR snaps five from a progressive MM sale 16th January And so the first yearling sale for 2012 has come to a close and DGR Thoroughbreds has returned with five purchases of real merit (see below). As a litmus test for the proceeding sales season this year’s Magic Millions proved to be an intriguing animal. The first day’s trading was well down on 2011 ($124,403) with the day’s average settling at just over $118,000. However, as buyers began to see the whites of vendors’ eyes a distinct shift in the sale took place in the early afternoon of the second day. Intense bidding for a Fastnet Rock colt that eventually changed hands for $960,000 certainly played a lead role in instilling market confidence and trade was noticeably more brisk from this moment on. The average for the second day leapt to over $140,000 and the average for the combined first two days was dragged to over $127,000. History will show that the final sales average for the four days of trading held at this mark,  settling at $127,175 a figure that was up on trading 12 months ago ($123,629) but still well off the pace of the 2007 high mark of $182,191. Importantly, this year’s trading seems to have stemmed the slide of the Magic Millions Yearling Sales average in recent seasons which has continued to slip since 2007 _ 2008 ($157,321), 2009 ($131,632), 2010 ($129,399), 2011 ($124,403). The sale’s median rose from $90,000 to $100,000, a nod to a more settled marketplace but perhaps the most enlightening statistics was that the clearance rate was a very encouraging 84.4 percent. Such a mark is indicative of a strong buying pool and a good spread of horses for different segments of the market. Credit to the Magic Millions for achieving such a figure. It is an encouraging start to 2011 for the industry at large. From the ground the Magic Millions very much felt as though it was a buyers’ market despite rises to the average and median. For its part DGR targeted trading on Day 1 when the marketplace was most tentative and snapped up Lot 13 an Encosta de Lago x Gu Li (NZ) filly that is a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Rocket for only $110,000. Later in the day Lot 144 was added to this haul for the sale price, a well made Northern Meteor colt from the G3 winner Miss Vandal who has already produced the G2 winner Miss Marielle, a three-quarter sister to the above mentioned colt. Additional purchases include: Lot 191: an athletic Fastnet Rock colt by the multiple G1 winner Perfect Promise. This colt was secured for $150,000. Lot 596: a Fastnet Rock x Ekleel colt which caught our attention the moment it walked out of its stall. This quality individual was secured for $210,000. Lot 624: a Starcraft x First Date colt was picked up late in the evening of the Saturday night session for only $60,000. Starcraft has already provided our clients great joy with the G3 winner Do You Think and this fellow’s dam is a half-sister to the promising stallion Not A Single Doubt. Lot 13: Encosta de Lago x Gu Li filly (half-sister to G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Rocket) Lot 144: Northern Meteor x Miss Vandal colt (a three-quarter brother to G2 winner Miss Marielle) Lot 191: Fastnet Rock x Perfect Promise colt Lot 596: Fastnet Rock x Ekleel colt Lot 624: Starcraft x First Date colt   A cracking Fastnet Rock colt secured on Day 2 13th January A stronger days trading yesterday on Day 2 at the Magic Millions didn’t limit the opportunity to buy quality yearlings at very competitive prices. DGR was again active securing a well made Fastnet Rock colt out of the multiple G1 winning mare Perfect Promise. The bay or brown colt (pictured right) slipped through the cracks at $150,000, a price we were delighted to take considering Fastnet Rock’s sales average at the time of writing stands at $255,357. Perfect Promise was a champion filly in her native South Africa annexing the G1 Kenilworth Cape Fillies Guineas before being shipped to Australia and winning the G1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and G2 Emancipation Stakes (1600m) as well as being runner-up in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap. Perfect Promise’s full-sister, Irridescence, a multiple G1 winner in two hemispheres has a young colt that has already won under race conditions. The rise in activity yesterday warmed vendors with the average for Day 2 topping $140,000 a distinct rise on the opening day’s trade which averaged just over $118,000. After two days trading the sales average stands at $127,977 and is on par with the 2011 sales average of $127,202.   Magic Millions - DGR active 12th January The first day of the first yearling sale of 2012 and DGR Thoroughbreds elected to be proactive in what is proving to be a tentative market. Two quality lots were secured on the opening day of trading at very competitive prices. Lot 13, an Encosta de Lago x Gu Li filly was snapped up for $110,000. The half-sister to G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Rocket was good buying, changing hands for less than service fee. Importantly, Gu Li is a proven producer of quality stock. Four of her five foals to race have won and Jungle Rocket will be given every opportunity to enhance the family further. Lot 144 (Northern Meteor x Miss Vandal colt ), a three-quarter brother to high quality group winning mare Miss Marielle from the group winning mare Miss Vandal was good buying at $110,000. The athletic chestnut caught the eye as a good mover with a touch of quality. The average for the first day of the sale slipped 6.5 percent on last year's mark to just under $119,000 with buyers holding sway over vendors.   Course record required to better So You Think 16th October It is easy to assume disappointment must follow defeat. But in the ever courageous So You Think it was impossible not to applaud his performance overnight in the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot. On a stage that has long been the backdrop of racing’s true glitterati, at a venue that has witnessed the kind of turf warfare that elevates champions to greats it is appropriate to put So You Think’s performance into some context. Brigadier Gerard, Dubai Millennium and Fantastic Light, among the benchmarks of racehorse excellence anywhere in the world in recent decades, have all imposed themselves at Ascot. None have run over its testing 10 furlongs faster than So You Think forced Cirrus Des Aignes to run last night. Indeed, none have runner faster than So You Think ran for that matter. And while a stopwatch isn’t the sole arbiter of the greatness of a performance it can provide some enlightenment. So You Think’s effort to race on the heels of pacemakers off such a gruelling pace, to slide passed the capable Nathaniel and to only be snared in the closing strides is indicative of his place among the world’s current elite. It is appropriate too that such a performance reaffirms his place as the standard bearer for older horses across Europe. For the first time in his career So You Think was bettered in successive starts. However, on each occasion a course record was rewritten _ firstly in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and secondly in the Champion Stakes _ in two of Europe’s most esteemed events and on each occasion the son of High Chaparral was unflinching to the end. His northern hemisphere record stands at seven starts for four wins, two seconds and his unlucky Arc fourth. In all, he has accumulated eight group one triumphs in three countries from only 19 career appearances. At times honour is won not just by the victor but by those who push rivals to greater heights.   A Great Ambassador in victory and defeat Since leaving our shores late last year So You Think has shown a wider audience many things we already knew here. That he acts on fast to heavy ground. That he can quicken off a slow or fast tempo. That he is adaptable and versatile and ever so game. Longchamp and its flagship race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, was always going to test all of these attributes. This is the race that tops the ‘wanted list’ of most of the thoroughbred worlds’ purists. This is the race that the world’s best middle distance performers are funnelled into. To start is to be a star. This time So You Think was unable to etch his name on an honour roll as deep as any race from any jurisdiction but in defeat he was certainly not a failure. Concerns about him being caught wide or back going into the first sweeping corner of Longchamp proved justified from a horror barrier draw but when the mettle of the world’s best was being tested he was not found wanting. Aside from the heroic Germany filly and eventual winner, Danedream, none finished better. In defeat So You Think confirmed his post as the best older male in world racing; as arguably the best older performer in Europe and reaffirmed the belief that this Antipodean deserved his tilt at racing in a bigger, more challenging pond. So You Think’s presence in this great race and in turn the spotlight of the world media that he directed onto our region and the industries within it has been immense and hard to fathom. Hopefully he also inspired many owners and budding owners to dream about such challenges in the future and realize such goals are not a leap too far. Finally, congratulations to Danedream and all associated with her. This is a filly of the highest order and one deserving of global acclaim. This gifted German, who rose from humble beginnings, is again a reminder that greatness can come from anywhere.   GREATNESS DOESN’T HAVE TO COST THE WORLD In snaring the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown over the weekend, So You Think did many things. He lifted his G1 tally to eight from only 17 career starts, he confirmed his place among the elite of world racing and he again became a prudent reminder that greatest doesn’t have to come at a cost. There was a time when many thought Octagonal’s earnings mark of $5.8m would stand for some time as our benchmark for earnings. So You Think is one of seven to have earned more than the Ingham family’s fantastically gifted performer and of these seven he is the only entire. What is particularly rewarding is that two of those seven to have won $6 million or more are DGR Thoroughbred purchases. I refer to So You Think and Viewed. In a world of high purchases and big money spending both stars could have been picked up for a total of about $150,000. Viewed, the 2008 Melbourne Cup and 2009 Caulfield Cup winner was a $50,000 buy. So You Think a $NZ110,000 purchase from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka sales ring. Together the have won more than $13 million. NAME PRIZE MONEY RACE RECORD 1 Makybe Diva $14,526,685 36: 15-4-3 2 Sunline $11,351,607 48: 32-9-3 3 Northerly $9,341,850 37: 19-7-2 4 So You Think $7,041,375 17: 12-3-1 5 Fields of Omagh $6,496,240 45: 13-8-7 6 Takeover Target $6,019,400 41: 21-6-4 7 Viewed $6,006,530 36: 9-4-3 8 Octagonal $5,862,231 28: 14-7-1 9 Lonhro $5,790,510  35: 26-3-2 10 Elvstroem $5,722,274 32: 10-4-3 That So You Think has against jumped another hurdle five months after his maiden run at the Curragh is testament to the team at Ballydoyle and the manner in which they have kept our charge ‘percolating’ along. It is no easy feat to have an elite performer peaking on multiple occasions over such an extended period of time and there are more occasions to come when peaking will be required. The interest in So You Think and his next possible assignment again highlights the importance of his mission as an Australian thoroughbred envoy to the world. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Championship Stakes, the Cox Plate, a win in any of the three will see history rewritten and will again illuminate racing for the right reasons. The anticipation will only continue to build from here.   Epic Eclipse To A Truly Special Racehorse The joy was in the watching. For all lovers of thoroughbreds and thoroughbred racing, So You Think’s overnight heroics were both exhilarating and intoxicating. Credit belongs to a horse that has defied immense obstacles to adapt to racing and training in different hemispheres and with different racing patterns to performance with a consistency equalled only by the truly elite. It is clichéd to say So You Think has left an indelible impression on all lucky enough to be associated with him but it is a statement hard not to reiterate. He won his first Cox Plate while actually a juvenile and at only his fifth career start. Had his second at his 10th career appearance and 16 race in has netted seven G1s in three different countries. Hopefully the ride is far from over.   Gold Cup down. Royal Ascot awaits. Two races in, two wins down and now Royal Ascot awaits. For all who have followed So You Think’s progress from his humble beginnings as Lot 424 at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale or who have joined his growing legion of admirers in the time since then, the dominance of his win in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup overnight was immensely satisfying. For the second successive time So You Think showed New Zealand bred runners are the equal of anywhere in the world. For the second successive time So You Think showed Australian trained performers are more than sprinters. And with glasses a distinct rose hue I can’t help but wish that So You Think can take a further step towards greatness at Britain’s premier race meeting – Royal Ascot. Thanks to the foresight and patience of Bart Cummings, Aidan O’Brien has inherited a racehorse that is only 14 races into his career. It is not inconceivable then that this gifted individual could rewrite history and become a Royal Ascot winner. That he will have to lift his level of performance again to achieve such a title is guaranteed. That he relishes a stoush is just as certain.   SO YOU THINK TAKES TO THE WORLD STAGE 2nd May It is doubtful more Australians and New Zealanders have ever risen at an awkward hour to pay so much attention to a minor stakes race at the Curragh. And it was with enormous pride that I was among the bleary eyed Sky Channel viewers cheering on So You Think as he ruthlessly put his rivals to the sword. The Gr.3 Mooresbridge Stakes is the beginning of what Dato Tan Chin Nam, Tunku Ahmad Yahaya, his new part-owners Coolmore and I hope will be something very special. No horse from this region has made a significant tilt at Europe’s premier races in more than 26 years. Strawberry Road’s heroics in 1984 in Germany’s Grosser Preis von Baden and when a gallant fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are greater than what many recall. That so many made the effort to see So You Think’s seasonal bow is testament to both his drawing power and an interest in seeing whether he can achieve all we hope he can. The weight of expectation is understandably great. But with it comes a peerless opportunity to showcase to the world the quality of our thoroughbreds and horsemanship. It is a challenge that Coolmore and Aiden O’Brien have invested in heavily. It could be argued that neither has ever inherited a horse with such a reputation or race record but both parties have embraced the prospect of helping a champion racehorse showcase his talents to the world and they should be applauded for the risk they have taken. So now expectation is replaced with an even greater expectation. We watch this space in earnest.   Easter Hot But Quality There At All Levels If the strength of an industry can be measured by the fortunes of its premier yearling sale then this year’s edition of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale was one that left those in attendance in little doubt that confidence is returning to Australia’s thoroughbred industry. It goes without saying that bidding was fierce when the median for the sale leapt 12.5 percent to $180,000, when two lots reached the million dollar mark and when a total of 34 yearlings changed hands for $500,000 or more. However DGR Thoroughbred Services secured six quality yearlings and Dato Tan Chin Nam was most astute in the selection of a son of Casino Prince in the second session of the sale. Those added to our future racing team are: Lot 62: Starcraft x Spirited Dancer (Ire). This is a strongly made colt that had real presence. We hope he can mirror the rise of last year’s Starcraft purchase, Do You Think, who has shown great potential in his maiden preparation to win a group race and perform admirably in group one company. Lot 188: Fastnet Rock x Cinque. A racy filly by a quality sire, she was snapped by quickly by a number of our good clients. Lot 267: Dylan Thomas x Golden Bridge (NZ). As a half-sister to Gr.1 winning filly Arlingtonboulevard this yearling carries considerable residual value. We hope to add to that value with her on the track. Lot 270: More Than Ready x Grand Prospect. A colt that caught our eye from the minute we saw him and we hope he will catch the attention of many in the coming seasons. He is blessed with real quality and athleticism and is a half-brother to Grand Journey, a filly who had enough ability to annex the Gr.1 WATC Derby against her male counterparts. Lot 407: Bernardini x Polar Success. At the start of the yearling sales season I wouldn’t have anticipated signing for three yearlings by the former champion US dirt performer Bernardini. However, this masculine, strongly made colt out of a Golden Slipper winner ensured this was the case. Lot 452: Holy Roman Emperor x Zaharah (NZ). This is a family we know well and this colt was a good example of what The Perfume Gardens family can deliver. He showed himself as a relaxed type with a good depth of girth and strong shoulder and quarters. With time he should grow into a lovely specimen. Lot 493: Casino Prince x Grandmartin. Dato Tan won out in a bidding duel to secure this colt that has similar traits to his close relation Wonderful World. Lot 62: Starcraft x Spirited Dancer (Ire) colt Lot 188: Fastnet Rock x Cinque filly Lot 267: Dylan Thomas x Golden Bridge (NZ) filly   Lot 270: More Than Ready x Grand Prospect colt Lot 407: Bernardini x Polar Success colt Lot 452: Holy Roman Emperor x Zaharah (NZ) Lot 493: Casino Prince x Grandmartin   Do You Think makes for an enjoyable day out Dato Tan Chin Nam’s famous black and white checkerboard and gold sleeved colours were carried to a second stakes win in three weeks when Do You Think posted a dominant win in the Gr.3 ATC The Schweppervescence (1400m) in race record time at Rosehill Gardens yesterday. The colt’s win followed the encouraging return to racing by Kudakulari who annexed the Listed Canberra Guineas. Both Do You Think and Kudakulari could be starters on ATC Australian Derby Day with the Gr.1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Listed Carbine Club Stakes possible respective targets for the duo. Yesterday’s triumph, and the fast finishing second of I Think I Do in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes, was made even more enjoyable with both Dato Tan Chin Nam and his wife the Datine on hand at Rosehill. Hopefully their success extends to next weekend, a day they have enjoyed previously thanks to stars such as Roman Emperor. The emergence of Do You Think is most encouraging and thanks must be passed on to Bart and James Cummings and their team at Leilani Lodge. Thanks must also be passed on to Selena Phillis for his formative education and to jockey Hugh Bowman who is not only saluting with this young colt but teaching Do You Think race craft in each of his runs. We look forward to his continued growth this preparation and beyond.   2011 Inglis Premier Sale With the anticipation of the Easter Yearling Sale continuing to build it would be remiss not to highlight our purchases from last month’s Inglis’ Premier Yearling Sale. The 2011 Premier Sale was a particularly strong affair aided by the decision of a selection of Victorian breeders to save their best yearlings for Melbourne and not Easter. Buyers certainly reacted favourable. DGR secured two yearlings, a Bernardini x Great Meadows colt and a Host x Brillanti filly. I came looking for athletes and I think I found two. In 2009 we secured a Shamardal x Secret Revenue filly from the Premier Yearling Sale for our good client Mr Chua of the Kim Gardens Syndicate. Now named Kim Heaven she is shaping up as a promising classic performer and will be given her chance to fulfil this promise over the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Hopefully our latest two acquisitions will make their mark when the time comes. Lot 12: Bernardini x Great Meadows colt Host x Brillanti (NZ) filly   A Birthday To Remember 18th May Bart Cummings delivered his good friend Dato Tan Chin Nam a birthday present to remember when Do You Think overcame greenness to post an imposing debut win at Canterbury Park tonight. No designated target has been set for the colt but Cummings will have a myriad of options available to him especially if the assessment of jockey Hugh Bowman is any indication. The high class hoop was to the point in his assessment, stamping Do You Think as a stakes class horse. “Midweek horses don’t show that turn of foot,” he said. “I got a lovely track into the race but he was green and didn’t know what to do, it was all a bit new to him. But I got him balanced up and the last 50 metres was very good. He’s a horse I’d like to stick with.” James Cummings, foreman for his grandfather, was also glowing in his praise for a horse who may develop into the next high class performer for owners Dato Tan and Tunku Ahmad Yahaya. The duo has owned in a number of thoroughbreds and continue to share in the ownership of their most significant horse to date, So You Think. “[Do You Think] is a lovely horse owned by Dato Tan and Tunku Ahmad, they make a very good team and they have another nice horse,” Cummings said. “Today is Dato Tan’s 85th birthday so happy birthday Dato Tan.” Do You Think was purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services for $NZ360,000 at the 2010 Karaka Yearling Sales, a sale that has also netted our company a number of quality stakes performers including So You Think, Catalan Opening, Pendragon, Precedence and Zazabelle.   Kudakulari collects Canberra Guineas Kudakulari returned to winning form when annexing the Listed $100,000 Canberra Guineas (1400m) at Thoroughbred Park on Sunday. The gelding, owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam and the Lucky Eight Syndicate, will now press on to the Sydney Autumn Carnival with the Gr.2 Frank Packer Plate a possible target. The Bart Cummings trained runner settled well back in the field at his first run back since the spring before jockey Corey Brown brought him into the race before the corner with a sustained sweeping run. Kudakulari was the widest runner in to the straight and comfortably wore down Sworn To Secrecy before Brown eased him down to score by a half length. Kudakulari has now won two stakes races in 11 career starts and looks set to replicate the form that suggested he was a most promising middle distance performer. The son of Savabeel has already won back more than his $140,000 purchase price and will hopefully continue to progress this preparation for his connections.   Curtain Called on Faint Perfume Connections of Faint Perfume are eagerly anticipating the next journey with their multiple group one winner after her racing career was curtailed today. The dominant filly of her generation, Faint Perfume won the Gr.1 VRC Oaks, Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes, Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes and was placed in both the Gr.1 AJC Australian Oaks and Gr.1 Thousand Guineas on her way to being crowned Champion Filly of 2009. It was a heady rise for a performer who was overlooked at the yearling sales, being bought back by breeder Dato Tan Chin Nam and good friends Alan and Coleen Jackson for $40,000 before going on to win almost $1.5 million in earnings. Faint Perfume will always hold a special affection for Dato Tan as she was the first Group One winner bred at his boutique Think Big Stud. The daughter of Shamardal is currently enjoying the spacious paddocks of the Burradoo operation. No breeding decisions have been made as yet.   Heaven Sent For the second time in a fortnight the red and white silks of our good client Mr Chua have been carried to success in Sydney by a promising performer. Kim Heaven’s debut success in last night’s Chris Scott 25 Years 3YO Maiden (1250m) at Canterbury Park followed the slick display by Kim Divine at the same track 14 days earlier. Hopefully Mr Chua’s good fortune can continue next week when Kim Divine, who he races with Dato Tan Chin Nam, takes his place in the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield. Both performers have been progressing well under the care of Bart Cummings. Kim Heaven, a $70,000 purchase from the 2009 Melbourne Premier Sale, was particularly professional last night when coming from a midfield position to surge passed her rivals and score by a half length.   THAT OAKS FEELING Hall of Fame trainer Bart Cummings suggested Royal Feeling may develop into an AJC Australian Oaks contender after her narrow success in the Free Entry Today Maiden Plate (1800m) at Randwick. The master horseman was impressed by the fortitude of his charge when under pressure and feels that similar displays, when tested over more ground, will hold her in good stead this autumn.   Part-owner Dato Tan Chin Nam has certainly celebrated Oaks success previously with Cummings with the duo having collected the Randwick feature with Danendri in 1997. Faint Perfume, last season’s dominant classic filly, was bidding to become a rare dual Oaks winner in 2010 for Dato Tan and Cummings having snared the VRC equivalent the previous spring but could do no better than a game second to the free-rolling Once Were Wild. “[Royal Feeling] may be an Oaks filly especially if she can stay a bit further,” Cumming said post race. “She’s a nice filly and did well today. Hopefully she can keep improving from that.” Royal Feeling, pictured, was purchased for $62,500 by Duncan Ramage at the 2009 Australian Easter Yearling Sales and has a pedigree that lends itself to staying influences. Her dam Diamond Hill was runner-up in the New Zealand St. Leger and her second dam, Royal Tiara, won the Gr.1 Auckland Cup and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks. Today’s success was the first for Royal Feeling in nine attempts however it is worth noting that the three-year-old has campaigned strongly against some promising gallopers including a runner-up performance behind Palomares who saluted in listed company two starts later during last year’s Melbourne spring carnival.   Favourable Yearling Updates Whether by luck or good fortune a selection of our early season yearling purchases have been blessed with some significant updates in recent days. The merits of securing the Thorn Park x Visique filly from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Sale were immediately reinforced with Thorn Park posting a trans-Tasman group winning double. The talented Centennial Park hinted that he could be in for a fantastic autumn campaign after recording his most important result to date in the $200,000 Gr.2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens. The five-year-old gelding accounted for some of Sydney’s most gifted sprinters including Love Conquers All and dual Gr.1 winner Hot Danish.   Earlier in the day Thorn Park’s New Zealand based flagbearer, Jimmy Choux, strolled to an effortless win in the Gr.3 Waikato Guineas (2000m), in the process showing that he is poised to add to a curriculum vitae that already includes success in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas and Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.   Magic Millions purchases Excites x Stylish Channel and One Cool Cat x Silken Whisper were also aided by favourite results with the former seeing his first season sire, Excites post his third winner from as many runners when Stirring Emotions saluted at Bathurst.   While on Friday night at Moonee Valley the young stallion Churchill Downs, a half-brother to our One Cool Cat x Silken Whisper filly, recorded his first winner when Emerald Downs comfortably accounted for her rivals at only her second career start.   So He Is The Worlds Best  The heroics of So You Think were acknowledge on the world stage earlier this month when the International Federation of Horse Authorities anointed him the world’s equal Champion Intermediate Turf Performer and the Champion Stayer for 2010. In ranking the Bart Cummings trained four-year-old on 126 the World Thoroughbred Rankings Committee confirmed So You Think as the highest ranked Australian racehorse since the international rankings system began in 2002. Previously the highest mark had been 124, jointly achieved by Northerly (2002) and Makybe Diva (2005). So You Think’s devastating spring haul of four successive group one wins _ Gr.1 Underwood Stakes, Gr.1 Yalumba Stakes, Gr.1 W.S. Cox Plate and Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes _ proved just as irresistible to the international panel of handicappers as it did to his throng of Australian fans. Interestingly his title of Champion Intermediate Turf Performer was shared with his new Ballydoyle stablemates, Cape Blanco (Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes) and Rip Van Winkle (Gr.1 Juddmonte International). In a further boost to Australia’s thoroughbred industry Black Caviar was crowned Champion Sprinter of the World with her ranking of 123. “The rankings achieved are a wonder advertisement for the quality of the Australian racing and breeding industries,” Greg Carpenter, Australia’s WTR committee representative, told The Age. “To have Champion Sprinter, Intermediate and [Champion] Stayer is an outstanding result and what is most pleasing is that their record performances came here in Australia during the spring carnival, not while competing overseas.”   Seasonal Work Since the closure of the Spring Carnival it has been a relatively quiet time by comparison on the racing front with most of the group horses spelling and then returning to preliminary stages of training for the Autumn Group races. This presents a time for the lesser experienced horses to get some grounding and over the pre Christmas period Think Ahead won his maiden at his fifth start after previous placings and has long term promise while early in the New Year, Gengiz Khan, a $42,500 Inglis Easter Yearling purchase for the Singapore based Ezaro Stable made his debut in Singapore, leading all the way for a tough win. A special thanks to the Emma Mayfield-Smith stable at Hawkesbury who handled and educated Gengiz Khan as a two year old prior to his export to Singapore. Our time has also been recently spent at the Magic Millions sales where we purchased colts by More Than Ready (lot 120), Shamardal (lot 203), Street Sense (lot 108), Excites (lot 851) and a lone filly by One Cool Cat (lot 522).     Gengiz Khan salutes on debut at Kranji       A Measure Of Sadness  It is with mixed feelings that I have been involved in the transaction to sell a percentage of the champion So You Think who will now continue his racing career overseas.  Everyone who has come to be involved with this horse, whether myself, the team at Think Big Stud, the master trainer Bart Cummings, his stable staff such as Reg Fleming, Joe Agresta, Richard Hickey and James Cummings are all saddened that we may perhaps not see him race in the flesh again here in Australia. In a romantic world it would be great to see So You Think finish off his racing in Australia.  I believe Australian racing is as strong as racing in the rest of the world and as good a proving ground as anywhere for the superior racehorse. However, the partial sale of So You Think to Coolmore Stud will ensure that he will get every chance to win the most prestigious Group 1 races in England and France to the lasting benefit of Australasian breeding and racing. At the same time the partial sale will guarantee So You Think’s availability to Australasian breeders when he commences his stud career.  So You Think’s Mackinnon stakes’ win was one of the best wins of any horse I have had the pleasure to be associated with.  In driving rain, he again beat the nation’s best weight for age performers, and any doubters as to his championship status, despite two Cox Plate wins before his fourth birthday this Wednesday, 10 November, were swiftly put back in their box after his devastating performance. The Melbourne Cup, given his Cox Plate preparation, his relative inexperience, and the tough conditions of the two mile test, proved beyond him at this stage, but despite my own personal sadness at his departure from Australia, many, many Australians will relish watching what we hope will be his ascendancy towards becoming one of the world’s greatest racehorses in the next twelve months.  We were all extremely proud of his gallant third placing to two very good stayers. There has been a lot of conjecture in the media about the partial sale of So You Think but I believe that in selling a share in So You Think to Coolmore the owners have given the horse himself a position on the roster of one of the worlds great stud farms.  Let’s hope we get the opportunity to watch So You Think’s career reach a new high in the future, perhaps in a race like the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. So You Think Returns To Scale After the MacKinnon Some of So You Think's Fans   Pictures Say A Thousand Words Need we say more after Cox Plate 2010 day with both So You Think defending his Cox Plate Gr1 title from last year and Precedence winning the Moonee Valley Cup Gr2 and in doing so getting his second penalty this spring for the Melbourne Cup (and yet still unsure of a place in the Melbourne Cup Field). We must remind that So You Think's second Cox Plate win was only his tenth race start and he is not yet four year old, not that he looks like anybody's baby. In a very busy time pictures tell the best story.   So You Think' 2nd Cox Plate                   Precedence' Moonee Valley Cup           A Bit Of Indulgence  After the Yalumba Stakes Gr1 on Saturday, So You Think attained a revised “Timeform” rating of 131, making him the seventh highest Australian rated horse since the ratings introduction. We also had minor success during the week with I Think I Do winning his maiden at Warwick Farm at his second racecourse appearance. I Think I Do has a long way to go to be compared with So You Think but he is a nice colt by Redoute’s Choice out of a Wakeful Stakes Gr2 winner and not that expensive either at $220,000 by comparison with other yearlings from the same Easter Sale. This weekend includes the Gr1 winners Faint Perfume and Dariana contest the Caulfield Cup Gr1 which we were able to win last year with Viewed. Dato’ Tan Chin Nam is an owner in all the aforementioned horses in this story with many of his friends. For now we will be a bit indulgent and post up a few pictures of the very handsome So You Think. So You Think puts them away in the Yalumba Stakes Gr1 Jockey Stephen Arnold looks for dangers and eases down The Yalumba Stakes winners rug Head study after the Yalumba Stakes   We agree with Tara We Think He’s More Than Special Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 9 October 2010 In a spring carnival packed with stars there is one name that stands above them all. A four year-old stallion by High Chaparral (IRE), So You Think is a horse that comes along rarely - a supremely beautiful individual that takes your breath away at first sight and makes your heart beat faster when you see him run. So You Think (pictured www.stevehart.com.au the day as a $2.50 favourite ahead of Whobegotyou to win the Cox Plate on Betchoice’s market, but could firm into an odds-on quote a fortnight out from Australasia’s weight-for-age championship after another scintillating performance to win the Group One MRC Yalumba Stakes over 2000 metres at Caulfield on Saturday. Jockey Steven Arnold had So You Think travelling comfortably throughout and there was never a second where the result was in doubt. Last year’s Cox Plate winner strode to the lead at the top of the straight and bid the field good day with Alcopop turning in his best performance this campaign to run second beaten three and a quarter lengths, while Whobegotyou battled into third place. Cummings’s Melbourne stable foreman Reg Fleming described win as “pretty painless” and an ideal Cox Plate trial. “It’s pretty good when they win like that,” Fleming said. “Any win is good before the Cox Plate but that win was extra special today. “I think the run the other day took a bit of sting out of him and he is half-slipping into his stride now.” A $110,000 purchase for DGR Thoroughbreds from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the 2008 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, So You Think (pictured as a yearling) is raced by long time Cummings client and friend Dato Tan Chin Nam in partnership with Tunku Ahmad Yahaya. The star four year-old has won six of nine starts earning $2.8 million in prizemoney during his brief career to date. Bred by NZ based hobby breeder Cecile Smith in partnership with Windsor Park Stud's Mike Moran, So You Think is the seventh living foal of Group Two winner Triassic. Triassic has a two year-old colt by Elusive City (USA) that fetched $260,000 at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale this year High Chaparral (IRE) is currentl covering a star studded book of mares at a fee of $88,000 at Coolmore in Australa. Caulfield - Saturday, 9 October 2010 Track:Good Race 5 Yalumba Stakes Group 1 2000m Time: 2:02.45.(0:33.50 (600m) Open Prizemoney: $400,000 - 1st: $240,000 2nd: $72,000 3rd: $36,000. 1   So You Think (NZ) J B Cummings S W Arnold $1.40 58.0   4h High Chaparral (IRE) x Triassic (NZ) (Tights (USA))   Lot 424 2008 NZB NZ Premier Yearling Sale $110,000 Vendor: Windsor Park Stud Ltd. Buyer: DGR THOROUGHBRED SERVICES 2 3.3 Alcopop Jake Stephens M Zahra $41 59.0   6g Jeune (GB) x Iota Of Luck   Not Offered   3 1.5 Whobegotyou M A Kavanagh M Rodd $4 59.0   5g Street Cry (IRE) x Temple Of Peace (JPN) (Carnegie (IRE))   Lot 172 2007 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $19,500 4 Red Ruler (NZ) J G Sargent M R Du Plessis $61 59.0 5 Master O'Reilly (NZ) D T O'Brien D Dunn $81 59.0 6 Empires Choice (NZ) J B Cummings D Oliver $26 59.0 Sale Results for Triassic. Click here for full results YEAR SALE (click for sale stats) COL/SEX NAME SIRE BUYER PRICE 2010 Australian Easter Broodmare Sale B./F Universal Prince Patinack Farm Pty Ltd $215,000 2010 NZ Premier Yearling Sale Ba/C Elusive City O'BRIEN THOROUGHBREDS $260,000 2009 National Broodmare Sale Ba/M Circus Dance Carnegie Withdrawn 2009 National Broodmare Select Session Ba/M Pride'n'prejudice Universal Prince Withdrawn 2008 NZ Premier Yearling Sale Ba/C So You Think High Chaparral DGR THOROUGHBRED SERVICES $110,000 2006 Conrad Jupiters Yearling Sale Ses 5 Ba/F PRIDE'N'PREJUDICE Universal Prince Psd $28,000 Res $30,000 2006 National Yearling Sale Ba/F PRIDE'N'PREJUDICE Universal Prince Psd $6,000 Res $10,000 2005 National Yearling Sale Ba/C TRIGONOMETRY Galileo MAGIC MILLIONS AS AGENT $110,000 2003 NZ Premier Yearling Sale Ba/C Carnegie Mr Bruce Elkington $95,000 2002 NZ Premier Yearling Sale Ba/C Tale of the Cat New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd $140,000   Going With The Flow  With a little bit more of the spring water flowing under the bridge, the flow for our clients thus far has been quite satisfactory. So You Think and Faint Perfume were named 3yo male and 3yo female at the National Horse of The Year Awards in Melbourne. So You Think has run again and “trounced” his opposition in the Gr1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. He is now posted short priced favourite to win the Cox Plate and thus post back to back Cox Plate wins. If he were to achieve these heights, his Cox Plate defence will be only his tenth career start. Not to be outdone, finishing second to So You Think in the Gr1 Underwood was stablemate Dariana, already a Gr1 winner against the males via the QTC Derby Gr1. Her second run back from a spell has seen her posted as current favourite for the Gr1 Caulfield Cup to be run a week before the Cox Plate. A further stablemate in Precedence will also continue to stake his claim towards the Caulfield & Melbourne Cups with a run in the JRA Cup on Friday night after he ran an excellent fourth in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Gr2 behind the proven weight age horses of Whobegotyou, Typhoon Tracy & Shoot Out. Whobegotyous’ owner Lawrence Eales collected the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam trophy with Whobegotyou, Lawrence also collected a smaller prize during the week with the Dato Tan Chin Nam bred and sold Liveandletdie at Geelong Thursday. Another stablemate and stakeswinner, Kudakulari also made his Melbourne debut with a satisfactory run in the Guineas Prelude Gr3 on the Underwood day card. He will step out again in the Gr1 Guineas itself but a Gr1 VRC Derby tilt might also be suitable. We note Kudakulari may meet the aforementioned Liveandletdie in the Guineas who has moved up the prepost betting for that race since his last win. Honoured to do the honours for our clients at National The Horse of The Year Awards Easy does it for So You Think with an ear cocked So You Think resplendant again in another winners rug So You Think after the Underwood Reg Fleming, Joe Agresta, Stephen Arnold & self with reason to smile after the Underwood.   Season 2010/11 Openers  Our clients’ horses closed the 09/10 season with a great deal of success and some of that success was acknowledged in the ARB Rankings, with a synopsis in our most recent news stories. The 2010/11 season and in particular the Spring Carnival effectively opened for our clients and a number of the same horses this weekend in Melbourne & Sydney. So You Think, the star, the freak (not our words but those of others) returned in superstar fashion in the Memsie Stakes Gr2 to beat some of the very best weight for age horses going around. Not much more we need to say as so much has been reported other than to hope he can continue to beat these horses and all comers for the rest of the spring with defending his Cox Plate crown the main mission. Also at Caulfield Faint Perfume, Brightnight and Precedence all resumed. We prefer to let the tipsters work it all out but we were happy across the board. In Sydney, 3yo Kudakulari, already a stakes winning 2yo erased the poor showing in the Gr3 Run to the Rose with and eye catching performance in the $1m Gr1 Golden Rose. Kudakulari will join his stablemates in Melbourne to be set for some of the feature 3yo races. Dariana, another Group 1 winner from the team is set to resume her spring this coming Saturday in the Let’s Elope Stakes, a race named after one of Bart’s great mares. So You Think in his latest winners rug Holding acknowledged performer Whobegotyou at bay Relaxed after his effort   Several in the ARB Rankings for 2009/10 Cummings Horses Top Ratings Breednet - Media Release - Friday, 6 August 2010 On the eve of the first Black Type races of the new season 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. 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 (pictured) (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 (pictured) 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) (pictured) , 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 (pictured) 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..   Season closing on Group 1 winners  Dariana’s dominating win in last Saturday’s QTC Derby Gr1 presented the last opportunity for our clients to win a Group 1 this racing season.  Just under twelve months ago Russeting won the QTC Winter Stakes Gr1 for Bell View Park Stud, part owner of Dariana, who posted Bell View Park's second Gr1 inside of the twelve months. The Group I winners in that twelve month period included Viewed – Caulfield Cup Gr1 (2008 Melbourne Cup) So You Think – Cox Plate Gr1 (and Gloaming Stakes Gr3,                                                      2nd Emirates Stakes Gr1) Faint Perfume – VRC Oaks Gr1, Storm Queen S Gr1          (and Wakeful S Gr2, Kewney S Gr2, 2nd AJC Oaks Gr1) Dariana – QTC Derby Gr1 (and AJC Frank Packer Plate                                              Gr3, 3rd Doomben Roses Gr3) Allez Wonder – MRC Toorak Hcp Gr1 Russeting – QTC Winter Stakes Gr1 Other stakes and Group winners in the same twelve month period included Precedence (Listed), Kudakulari (Listed), Kroner (Gr2).  These horse were acquired from various origins, So You Think, Dariana and Allez Wonder were purchased at yearling auctions in Australia & New Zealand, Viewed was purchased the from paddock as a yearling, Russeting from a tried horse sale while Faint Perfume was a homebred, a product of her grandmother and fellow dual Gr1 winner Danendri, who was purchased at auction as a yearling. Mares under management provided the aforementioned Faint Perfume and the likes of the unbeaten Group winner Sidera and the Group3 and Group 1 placed 3yo filly Marheta. Juveniles from other mares to step out and win include  Big Storm & Liveandletdie. Dariana coast home in the QTC Derby Gr1 Dariana returns to scale after the Derby   Same Again and the New  Since the final day of the Golden Slipper Festival and the conclusion of the Sydney Autumn carnival at Royal Randwick, quite a bit has occurred for ourselves and connections. Faint Perfume did win the Gr1 Storm Queen Stakes in exceptional circumstances and then but an equally commendable performance when failing to peg back the leader when runner up in the Gr1 AJC Oaks. A super filly who’s performances could well see her crowned 3yo Filly of the Year. Precedence won the Gr3 Manion Cup at Rosehill before unsatisfactory results in the Chairmans Hcp and Sydney Cup. 2yo Kudakulari burst onto the scene as a horse of note with placings in the Ballieu Hcp Lst and a strong win in the Fernhill Hcp Listed. Green and learning, he did get the run we had hoped when beaten only 2 lens in the Champagne Stakes Gr1. Rounding out our Group winners was Dariana, who at only her only her sixth career start beat the males in winning the Gr3 Frank Packer Plate. Dariana may well head to Brisbane having only been lightly raced so far this preparation. The others will get a well earned break. Midweek, Yaqubi got back into the winners list and now posts 3 wins from 11 starts. Over in Malaysia, Rook, a half brother to Think Money won his fifth career start. Also concerning our racing team was Bart Cummings’ prolonged flu and his first absence from the major days in 30 years. We have been in regular contact with Bart and we look forward to seeing him back on deck very soon. The Jackson's Alan, Colleen & Christopher with there Vinery Stud Storm Queen Trophy Dato' Tan Chin Nam at the trophy presentation with his co-owners Faint Perfume herself, a Queen. Newboy, Kudakulari wins the Fernhill Stakes Kudakulari brought back to scale Dariana also joins the list of new Group Winners   In the Lead Up to Slipper Day Precedence did indeed win on Super Saturday at Flemington posting an impressive winning margin and time in the process. He furthered his career again with a solid win in last Saturdays Manion Cup Listed at Rosehill in a stop start affair but has enough in hand to deal with the potentially spoiling tactics. Another of our team Think Up opened his winning account at his third career start in a maiden at Kembla’s big Sunday meeting. Slipper Day at Rosehill sees a number of our clients horses aiming contest Group 1’s, Faint Perfume in the Storm Queen Stakes Gr1, Roman Emperor in the BMW Gr1, Allez Wonder in the Queen of the Turf Gr1. They will be joined at the track we hope with Kroner in the Star Kingdom Stakes Gr3, Suyama in the Tulloch Stakes Gr2 and maybe Kudakulari in the Baillieu Stakes Listed. Dariana is also programmed to run at Caulfield and maybe some provincial runners. Aside from our racing interests, the main focus for the week will be assessing the yearlings on offer at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales. But in this this update it would be remiss of us not to congratulate of friends who had the joy of Rock Classic winning the Australian Guineas Gr1, Messrs Whelan, Whelan, Whelan & Mula and so nearly repeat joy in the Rosehill Guineas Gr1. Nice horse. Precedence gets the job done in the Manion Cup Listed Evergreen Bart Cummings sizes up the horses at Rosehill Jockey Luke Nolan gives his appraisal of Precedence at Flemington Messrs Whelan, Whelan, Whelan & Mula (which one is Mula?) at Flemington     Our Super Saturday  Since our last update just a few weeks we have had the highs and lows of racing. Winners include Precedence, a former St Leger placegetter returning to the winners enclosure over an unsuitable 1600m at Moonee Valley, Dariana, a Redoutes’ Choice filly winning her maiden in good style at Canterbury, Redoutebelle also at Canturbury and Faint Perfume returning from winning the Wakeful S Gr2 & VRC Oaks Gr1 in the spring with a slashing first up win in the $400,000 Kewney Stakes Gr2 at Flemington. We were perhaps fortunate to see Faint Perfume win by about 45 minutes with the freak storm to hit Flemington at 2pm which cancelled the remainder of the programme. Faint Pefume joins our millioinaires club with her Kewney win. Less fortunate was the news that we have had to spell two of our stars, both multi-millionaires in So You Think and Viewed for the autumn. Big 2009 spring campaigns perhaps took more out of them to peak again so soon than the calendar allowed for the Autumn targets but both horses will return to training in time for Spring 2010 campaigns. If it is possible, maybe bigger and better. That would be a sight to behold! For now enjoy some images of our super Saturday. Faint Perfume charges to the lead in the $400,000 Kewney Stakes Gr2 A trophy presentation never goes unwanted A very talented filly - Faint Perfume Another winners rug to add to her collection The mounting yard and winners stalls just 45 minutes later!   Both Sides of the Tasman  Since our last update things have been busy in particular with our attendance at the 20X Karaka Yearling Sales in New Zealand. This sale was particularly successful for New Zealand Bloodstock with rises across all indicators and a general vote of confidence in Southern Hemisphere racing. Let’s hope the northern hemisphere trading nations do not bring it all crashing down once again. DGR purchased six yearlings by Zabeel, Redoutes Choice, Starcraft, Elusive City & first season sire Darci Brahma. We were also fortunate to be able to have a few days to council our clients prior to the sale. Back in Australia on the racing front Griffon continued on his winning way, Viewed resumed with the likes of fellow Group 1 winners Allez Wonder, Roman Emperor, Faint Perfume all to do likewise in the next few weeks. We did have to face the fact the next time we will see So You Think at the races will not be until the spring where he will attempt back to back Cox Plates Gr1, but a sight worth waiting for. Lot 334 bay colt Starcraft - Chickens from Karaka Lot 40 bay colt Zabeel - Markisa from Karaka Presale research Karaka 2010 Bay colt circa 1927 Still researching     Story Curtesy of Breednet Our Best Horses - $264,500 Tara Madgwick - Thursday, 21 January 2010 The release last week of the 2009 World Rankings for Thoroughbreds has generated much discussion as regards the increased number of Australian trained horses that have made the list and from a yearling buyer’s perspective it is interesting to note that it would seem our best racehorses are NOT our expensive yearlings. Leading the Australian trained contingent were three horses tied on a 122 rating followed by another on 120. SCENIC BLAST (122) - Trained by Dan Morton in Western Australia, Scenic Blast (Scenic (IRE) x Daughter’s Charm) achieved a rating of 122 in winning both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March where he carried top weight of 57kg and again when he scorched down the Royal Ascot straight to win the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) in June. SO YOU THINK (122) - So You Think (pictured)(High Chaparral (IRE) x Triassic) achieved a rating of 122 in his all-the-way win in the Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October and again when second in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November where he carried 1.5kg over Weight-For-Age. VIEWED (122) - Viewed (Scenic (IRE) x Lover’s Knot) achieved his rating when winning the BMW Caulfield Cup over 2400m in October. He carried the top weight of 57kg and conceded weight to all his rivals in a two length win over Roman Emperor and Vigor. Whobegotyou came next in the Australian listings on 120 for his wins in the Dato Tan Chin Nam (Feehan) Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley in September and the Yalumba (Caulfield) Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield in October. WHOBEGOTYOU (120) (Street Cry (IRE) x Temple of Peace (Jpn) came next in the Australian listings on 120 for his wins in the Dato Tan Chin Nam (Feehan) Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley in September and the Yalumba (Caulfield) Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield in October. Two of the top four horses were purchased by Duncan Ramage of DGR Thoroughbreds, the New Zealand bred So You Think snapped up for $110,000 at the 2008 NZB Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Windsor Park Stud, while Viewed was purchased privately from the paddock as a yearling from his breeder Ian Johnson for $50,000. Scenic Blast (pictured) was secured by his trainer Dan Morton for $85,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Perth from the Durham Lodge draft, while Whobegotyou was a real saleyard gift, snaffled by owner Laurence Eales for $19,500 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2007 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. For a grand total of $264,500 you could have secured the four best horses in the country last year, whose combined earnings tally $12,351,924. While Scenic Blast and Whobegotyou are geldings, the other two horses Viewed and So You Think are entires and as such have considerable stud potential for owner Dato Tan Chin Nam of Think Big Stud. Two Australian bred horses trained internationally that also featured high on the rankings were HK based Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago x Courtroom Sweetie) on 122 and the Singapore based Rocket Man (Viscount x Macrosa) on 121. Neither were hugely expensive, Sacred Kingdom a $200,000 purchase from the Kornong Stud draft at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and Rocket Man, a $60,000 acquisition for Worldwide Bloodstock from the Tyreel draft at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. With sale action starting again in Sydney on Sunday with the 2010 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Duncan Ramage will be diving back into the fray on a mission to seek out that next good horse. “We’ll be out looking at horses tomorrow at Newmarket, you never know when you might see something that you can’t resist,” said Ramage. “It happened for us at the Classic a few years back with God’s Own, you go to a sale fully expecting not to be buying a horse… then you see something like him!” Purchased for $220,000, God’s Own (pictured at stud) won the Group One MRC Caulfield Guineas at three and retired to a lucrative stud career in Victoria with racetrack earnings just shy of $1million.   Magic Start The 2010 sales season kicked off at the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast. We purchased just one horse, but a colt we took a particular shine to. Competition was strong but we secured Lot 400 and very well built son of Secret Savings. Four of our owners who each won Group 1’s in 2009 with various horses have joined forces to share this colt. An interesting alignment of strength as they have not shared the same horse altogether before. Let’s hope their joint good luck rubs off on this fellow. Recent winners from our team include the last start winners Breccia & Suyama, 3yo’s whose careers are just beginning to evolve. We look forward to their careers developing and the return to the racetrack in February of the likes of So You Think, Viewed, Kroner, Allez Wonder, Roman Emperor, Faint Perfume & Co. Lot 400 bay brown colt Secret Savings - Minus Zero purchased for $315,000   2010 The 2010 Australiasian Sales Season begins at the Magic Millions on 6th January 2010 then on to The New Zealand Sales series beginning 1st February 2010. We will be attending those sales and the other majors including Inglis Melbourne & Easter Sales. We will make some purchases at all or some of these veunes. Keep posted for any updates about our purchases. We welcome genuine enquiries pre or post sale.   Melbourne Cup Week  We went into the Flemington Cup week with favourites for three of the nation’s greatest races. Viewed has his final warm up for the Melbourne Cup in the Gr1 McKinnon Stakes; a race in which he got galloped on but still ran third, a solid Cup trail. The $5.5m Gr1 Melbourne Cup itself was a rough race for Viewed, he nearly fell on the first circuit and got behind slowly improving horses at a vital stage but he still managed to run on for seventh from a long way back. On Derby Day Faint Perfume was a dominant winner of the Gr2 Wakeful Stakes which propelled her into the $1m Gr1 VRC Oaks on Thursday as odds on favourite. She showed plenty of grit and staying prowess to justify that quote when beating the beautifully bred Valdemoro is a close finish with the rest of the field strung out behind that pair. Our Cox Plate hero So You Think also showed plenty of grit on the last day of the carnival when allowed to run amazing sectionals only to be caught inside the final 50m by All American in the $1m Gr1 Emirates Stakes. Our clients have had a fantastic spring in Melbourne with wins in the Toorak Hcp Gr1, Caulfield Cup Gr1, Cox Plate Gr1, VRC Oaks Gr1, Wakeful S Gr2 and second placings in Emirates S Gr1, Caulfield Cup Gr1, Moonee Valley Cup Gr2 and third in the McKinnon S Gr1, with a range of horses, 3yo colts and fillies, mares, six year old entire’s and 4yo colts. All those fantastic horses will get a well deserved spell at Think Big Stud & Princes Farm before autumn campaigns in Melbourne & Sydney. So can their owners, some seen in these pictures. The Faint Perfume Team, all smiles Faint Perfume Faint Perfume in action Dato Tan Chin Nam & Bart Cummings who combined with all these horses   So Much Delight  We have been most fortunate and our delight from the previous weekend’s $2.5m Caulfield Cup victory with Viewed extended to the next weekend with So You Think’s  most impressive near record time victory in the $3m Cox Plate Gr1. Again so much has been written and analysed by others it does not need our comment other than to say it was an outstanding performance by a horse not yet three years old in the weight for age championship of Australasia. The 10th of November will be a well celebrated birthday. We are delighted to have a horse of this stature in our team and racing for great owners and a great trainer. On the same day our other runner, a homebred from Dato Tan Chin Nam’s breeding operation ran a solid third in the Gr2 Cathy Airways Pacific Cup with Think Money. Whether Think Money actually makes the Melbourne Cup field on 3rd November, our clients already have three horses in the $5.5m Melbourne Cup field including current favourite Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder. Other runners they have to look forward to are Faint Perfume in the Wakeful Gr2 and Oaks Gr1 and So You Think a probable runner in the $1m Emirates Stakes Gr1. Faint Perfume is another product of Dato Tan Chin Nam’s breeding operation at Think Big Stud as is 7 ½ len South African debutant winner Sidera by Galileo from Freja. Looking For Challengers Bossy riding high Head Study Cox Plate winners rug A deserved post race post     On A Roll  We are delighted to add the Caulfield Cup Gr1 to our honour roll, a race we have not previously won for our clients via Viewed’s win in the iconic race on Saturday. Much media has been proliferated about the victory so we have to say little more here other than we are looking forward to The Melbourne Cup Gr1 itself on the first Tuesday in November which Viewed won last year. Here’s hoping. Stablemate Roman Emperor ran a great race to finish second in the Caulfield Cup Gr1 behind Viewed. It should be noted that it was that horses only other career run at 2400m since winning the AJC Derby Gr1 in April. Both horses will head to the Melbourne Cup as will last start Gr1 winner Allez Wonder who finished eigth in the Caulfield Cup. We are also hoping our 3yo So You Think can gain a start in the Cox Plate Gr1 on Saturday coming, whilst we are also looking forward to 1000 Guineas Gr1 placegetter Faint Perfume taking her place in both the Wakeful Stakes Gr2 and VRC Oaks Gr1. Another anticipated runners is AJC Oaks Gr1 placegetter Think Money in either the Geelong Cup Gr3 or Moonee Valley Cup Gr2. Viewed at the finish, looking good. Reg Fleming, Joe Agresa and yours truly have the honour to lead Viewed back to scale. Trainer, Legend Bart Cummings and jockey Bart Cummings The 2009 Caulfield Cup goes into the trophy cabinet.     Girl Power There is about 60 years age gap but Allez Wonder’s fantastic victory in the Toorak Handicap provided female jockey Michelle Payne with her first Group 1 Win, trainer Bart Cummings with his 254th Gr1 win (and counting) and of course the mares own first Gr1 win. Bart has been there before but mare and jockey are now catapulted into the Gr1 Caulfield Cup this coming Saturday. Again credit must fall to the wisdom of Bart Cummings in persisting with a Toorak start in lieu of alternative engagements. Allez Wonders' win bettered another top flight racefilly from the stable and part owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam in Danarani when she ran second in the Toorak. Danarani was already a Group 1 winner of the Flight Stakes before going into the Toorak however. Allez Wonder will join our clients’ stablemates Viewed and Roman Emperor in the Caulfield Cup, all three runners previous Gr1 winners. Faring less well this pat Saturday but still running very well was 3yo So You Think in the Guineas Gr1. Despite reeling off the fastest sections he finished only 5th. Maybe only 5th is a bit harsh in a race of this nature for a colt having his fourth career start on a track that seemed to display a fair bit of bias. We still hold So You Think in high regard and will press on towards a Cox Plate Gr1 start should he gain a berth in the field. Mid week action is normally more modest fare, but a homebred also be seeing Group 1 action with Faint Perfume taking her place in the 1000 Guineas Gr1 on Wednesday at Caulfield. Michelle Payne & Bart Cummings acknowledge their Group 1 win. Allez Wonder resplendant in her winners rug.   Thinking Big  Last weekend's Rosehill race meeting was quite productive for our clients. So You Think justified his odds on quote when winning the Gloaming Stakes Gr3. Opinions public and in the stable are quite high with this lightly raced colt. The stable and connections have decided to bypass favouritism for the Spring Champion Stakes Gr1 to tackle loftier assignments with So You Think. He has transferred to Bart Cummings permanent Melbourne stable to condition to be readied for the $1m Group1 Caulfield Guineas on October 10th and will take on the best 3yo milers in the country in that race. So You Think mirrored the victory of Pendragon in the Gloaming Stakes a few years earlier, with Pendragon now standing at stud at Think Big Stud. Joining So You Think on the trip to Melbourne was Roman Emperor, the AJC Derby Gr1 winner. Roman Emperor also competed on Saturday running a very creditable third in the Gr2 Gloaming Stakes. Warming up, Roman Emperor is likely to contest the Turnbull Stakes Gr2 along with stablemate Viewed who was running on in the Gr1 Underwood Stakes in Melbourne also on Saturday. Friday night's Moonee Valley card sees our last start Gr1 winner Russeting resuming in the Manikato Gr1 and more stablemates Faint Perfume (Gr3), Precedence (Listed) and Allez Wonder all engaged. Time to Think Big. So You Think dominant in the Gloaming Stakes Gr2 So You Think has his eye on the prize   So Close  It was So close for So You Think when he resumed in the Ming Dynasty Listed at Randwick on Saturday. But it did take a track record, a white snip under a magnified image and a smart colt in More Than Great to stop him remaining unbeaten. That said we were very happy with his performance and the anticipation of better things to come. From our team Allez Wonder and Roman Emperor also made satisfactory progressions towards the spring features while Kroner was far too close to the pace in the Gr3 HKJC Plate. We have seen him fall victim to this type of positioning before. He has won 7 of seventeen starts including a Gr2 wfa when allowed to settle. A week earlier our Melbourne Cup Gr1 hero Viewed resumed for the spring with an eye catching fourth in the Gr2 Memsie Stakes over 1400m. He was also crowned Australian “Stayer of the Year” at an awards night in Melbourne on Monday. Another team member made a satisfactory return at the Memsie meeting at Caulfield was Precedence. For now things are looking good. So close for So You Think So You Think returns to scale believing himself a winner at least So You Think post race Viewed not so far away in the Memsie   A Strong Premiere Performance  Whilst racing in general might need to see some backbone from politicians and premiers at present at state and federal level, Kroner showed the type of effort required to dead heat in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at weight for age at Rosehill on Saturday. Considered a wet tracker because of consistent stakes performances over the winter months, Kroner produced a career best to match and beat some of the country’s best Gr1 performers when presented a dry track for the first time in months. Racing off the pace he produced the fastest sectional amoungst outstanding peers to dead heat with multiple Gr1 winner Mentality. The win marked the maiden victory for a new stable member, James A Cummings, Grandson of trainer James Bart Cummings, who replaces long time foreman John Thompson who is moving on to be a trainer for the huge Patinack Farm. Bart has done it before at Group level, but even for a Cummings, maiden victories at Gr2 wfa are rare. Our only other runner for the week was Ginger Tom who ran second at the provincials. While still a maiden, that horse might do a James and lift his maiden tag soon. Over coming weeks we can look forward to clients horses like Viewed, Roman Emperor, Allez Wonder, Precedence, So You Think, Think Money all resume for the spring. Kroner & Mentality Dead Heat James A & James B Cummings   STC and AJC Merger The following was the full content of a letter we wrote to and was published by The Sydney Morning Herald 6/07/2009. The proposal of an STC/AJC merger is I see of considerable importance for the long term with the long term being the emphasis. The basic principle of a merger has appeal with the obvious cost savings provided that cost does not include natural competition. In the short term jobs will be lost, and we have seen in very recent times in particular with the AJC, some those jobs were arguably not substantiated in the first place. If racing as a form of spectator participation does grow as a result of a merger, ultimately a greater number of jobs will be created. The basis of the report concerns me that the conclusion was a fit for the answers, paraphrasing calls it a foregone conclusion. Basic principals that concern ongoing revenue streams, product and licensing fees and field sizes have no dependency on a merger. What further concerns me is that the sale of Canterbury Racecourse is part of that fit. I have had the privilege to be associated with some very wealthy developers who have survived wave after wave of economic turnarounds to know one principal that “god made land only once” and to “sell a core asset in the short term leaves little asset backing”. It was an unguarded label by the report that Canterbury was an “overcapacity of one metropolitan track”. We are dependant on racing and Canterbury is an excellent racing surface. Even recent examples make it self evident that Warwick Farm, Rosehill and Randwick cannot provide the “racing” venues alone. I met two of the analysts at early morning trackwork at Randwick a few months back. While both would have to be eminently qualified to be employed by Ernst & Young, it stuck that one was newly arrived from Germany and both a bit surprised that an activity such as trackwork took place. There knowledge of our industry appeared very basic. I may be incorrect in saying that the industry super fund financed the purchase of the RacingNSW office block at Rosebery. I am not sure what happened after the sale of that office block before the move to the city by RacingNSW, but if development of Canterbury is such a fix for the industry, why can’t the industry be its own developer. After all the proposed sale of Canterbury would return the industry a ONE OFF cash input of $200 – $500m according to the report. To put that in perspective, the annual revenue from the sale of yearlings is about the same. Surely funding can be found by the industry to make and retain the profits from development, commissions and other windfalls, rather than pass on to a probable overseas developers and agents. The long term revenue stream would far outstrip the short term cash flows.  Major governments like Singapore inject their super funds into principally land and property assets, even other race clubs around the world including Auckland and Flemington have invested in their own development of land. The Canterbury site could develop large tracks of its outer perimeters for long term sustained income and asset backing while retaining the vital racing surface. Racing administration is littered with apparent administrative mistakes, none more so short sighted and crippling than the sale of the Tote. Even those responsible at the time for its sale into the hands of a shareholder price driven entity, have I believe by and large admitted a gross error. Imagine now how financially stable racing would be if it controlled its own income stream. We should not let short term gain by the industry as a whole or individuals as an adjunct, being as part of a merger or not, cost Sydney racing another vital asset. As they say, they God Only Made Land Once.   No Winter Blues  We have been most fortunate this year and certainly our runners and clients can’t claim winter blues. In recent weeks new team members have emerged successful with Yaqubi, a 3yo by Galileo posting back to back wins at Randwick and Rosehill before being spelled for the spring. 2yo Faint Perfume, a homebred by Shamardal was a most impressive winner at only her second racecourse appearance beating the males at Warwick Farm. But the highlight has to be the recent purchase of prior Listed Race winner Russeting on the 4th June for new clients Bell View Park Stud, with that 4yo by Commands posting a memorable win in the $500,000 Winter Stakes Gr1 just 16 days later under the new care of mercurial trainer Bart Cummings and his team. We cannot better our tally of Group One winners for the season with the Winter Stakes the last Group 1 race on the Australian calendar, but we can record Russeting as our third for the year for our clients after earlier wins in the Melbourne Cup Gr1 and AJC Derby Gr1. Plenty to keep the home the home fires burning for the connections. Faint Perfume wins comfortably Yaqubi posts back to back wins   Progressing  Since we last updated following the conclusion of the autumn carnival some our runners have continued to progress. Kroner won again in convincing style at Randwick last Saturday making it three wins from his last four starts for him. His only recent failure was when extended to 1400m. Equally convincing and in some commentators eyes more so, was the debut win by 2yo So You Think at Rosehill just a few days before Kroner. By Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral, and in the mould of a stayer himself, So You Think has gone straight out to his part owners property Think Big Stud to rest before what is hopefully a good spring campaign for him as a 3yo. Prince Arthur gets ever closer to another stakes win with a close third in the Lord Mayors Cup Listed, following a close up fourth in the Wagga Cup Listed. Prince Arthur will run in this weekends’ McKell Cup Listed before a taking up stud duties at Think Big Stud in the Spring. Think Money also ticked over nicely with a fifth in the Doomben Roses Gr3 for this weekends Gr1 Queensland Oaks where she has a decent barrier for once in gate 3. On the breeding front clients were pleased to see Sacred Kingdom post a sensational time of 1:07.8 when winning the Kris Flyer Gr1. Bell View Park Stud purchased a close relative last year who has since had a foal. Their value will be further enhanced if Sacred Kingdom performs well at Royal Ascot which was indicated as his next assignment. 2yo So You Think makes a succesful debut at Rosehill Kroner wins easily at Randwick.     Sydney Easter Sales 2009 Whilst are horses and clients were very involved in the 2009 Sydney Autumn carnival, DGR also retained our usual presence at the sales despite the obvious ecomomic enviroment in which we all find ourselves. In fact, while th every top end of th emarket was just as competative as ever, nice horses were able to be secured a levels going back a few years. Our yearling purchases were Lot 172 bay colt Redoute's Choice - Quays for $220,000 Lot 218 bay colt Zabeel - Sequi for $220,000 Lot 316 bay colt Flying Spur - Wetsuit for $130,000 Lot 417 bay colt No Excuse Needed - Clermont Lass for $110,000 Lot 562 brown filly Viscount - Diamond Hill for $62,500 Lot 569 bay colt Flying Spur - Fizzi Lizzi for $42,500 Our purchased were by four current leading champion sires, one by a sire in No Excuse Needed produced his first Australian Group 1 winner a few days after the sale and one by a sire in Viscount who is perhaps "out of fashion" but has produced the Singapore Champion Rocket Man who will severly test Australian Champion Takeover Target in the Gr1 Kris Flyer this month. All these yearlings have been placed with our clients and we thank them for their support and commissions at the sales. DGR also purchased five fillies and mares at the broodmare sales ranging from $8,000 to $62,500. No huge outlays there but every reason to be optomistic about those young mares futures.   In The Spotlight  Mercurial trainer Bart Cummings kept our clients well in the spotlight over the final few weeks of the 2009 Sydney Autumn Carnival. Viewed was considered by some as disappointing when running third in his last and most recent start for the carnival. But it was in the $2.25m BMW Gr1 for which he added another $200,000 taking his career earnings to well over $4m so far. Roman Emperor added a further Group 1 victory for Dato Tan Chin Nam and a first for Wilf & Rosemary Mula when he won the $1.6m Australian Derby Gr1. Precedence broke through for his maiden win in a $100,000 event a Caulfield on the same day staking his legitimate claim for the VRC St Ledger Gr2 next week and Kroner put himself back into the limelight also with back to back wins and his first stakes win in the Hall Mark Stakes Listed on Easter Monday. Think Money also further enhanced her credentials with a second placing in the AJC Oaks Gr1 this past weekend and the tag of “one of Australia's best maidens” having run fourth in the VRC Oaks Gr1 in the Spring. She will head to Brisbane to see if she can lose the maiden tag. If she does it will be in a Group 1 or 2. We try not to think of the money but the returns have been good. The Pumper The Finish to The Derby Happy Owners of Roman Emperor Dato Tan Chin Nam after The Derby A big Derby Trophy Roman Emperor and "Ginger" after The Derby     A Good Sight  This past weekend we had 6 runners. Viewed continued to progress and impress in giving a good sight when second in the Ranvet Stakes Gr1. He had to do a lot of chasing in the run making a sustained charge from over 900m out and was probably beaten by the condition of the race hard fit winner Theseo. For those who missed it Allez Wonder was a sight to behold on Sunday when winning the Keith Nolan Classic Listed in a new track record. Previously third in the VRC Oaks Gr1 in the spring, this was actually this filly’s maiden win. At a more modest level Polar Circle posted his second career second placing at Newcastle at his only his third start. A staying future for this horse beckons. The other runners were Prince Arthur, Sagwala & Think Money. They did not collect this weekend but should become more prominent once again in the coming weeks. And for something different. Our major client Dato' Tan Chin Nam celebrated another "Over Bloody Eighty" this past week turning 83. The cake, a racetrack with I understand Viewed on it! Happy returns.   A Good Looking Cake    Busy Times  Since our last update we have attended and purchased at the Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney and the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne and our team of racehorses have been gearing up and increasing the tempo working towards the main Sydney Autumn Carnival. At the Sydney Classic Sale we mad one modest purchase Lot 144 Antonius Pius – Deft Touch for $26,000. However the modest price has a “touch” of dejavu. Back in the 1991 we another modest purchase at $7,000. That horse named Shoeshine Henry won the then attached Inglis Classic, over $330,000 and ran multiple placing at Group 1 & 2 level. Deft Touch is a sister to Shoeshine Henry. In Melbourne we purchased Lot 49 a Shamardal filly for $70,000 and Lot 178, a cracking God’s Own colt with a big pedigree for $105,000. On the racing front Tolaga Bay confirmed stable belief that he is a very promising colt with a definitive win at Randwick last Saturday, while stable star Viewed continued on with his progression to the Ranvet & BMW Group 1’s in fine style. Roman Emperor has done enough last start for him to contest the Group 1 Randwick Guineas this weekend and old favourites Prince Arthur & Accumulate returned on Saturday after long injury enforced layoffs with good efforts as too did the lighter raced Kroner the previous weekend. Newcomers to racing Polar Circle, Briolette & co have all been placed in recent days. We are looking forward to the highlight Easter Yearling Sale (5th-7th April) & the Autumn Racing Carnival about to unfold and keeping fingers crossed. Tolaga Bay finds the gap to claim victory Bart Cummings on the ball post race Post race Tolaga Bay winds down   New Zealand Purchases 2009 We attended the New Zealand Sales again in 2009 as we have done for many years now and came home with what we believe to be some nice horses including two by first crop sire Starcraft, a filly by leading sire O’Reilly and another filly by Champion sire Flying Spur and one by Cox Plate winner Savabeel. Lot 3 gr colt Starcraft – Gazebo for NZ$140,000 Lot 76 b filly O’Reilly – Lady Chantelle for NZ$140,000 Lot 83 b filly Savabeel – Lap Dancer for NZ$42,500 Lot 137 b filly Flying Spur – Mistrale for NZ$230,000 Lot 282  b filly Starcraft – Sursum Corda for NZ$90,000 Adding the favourable exchange rate with the New Zealand dollar, the prices appear realistic to the current market for yearlings which is well documented to be down on 2008 highs. The dearest was the Flying Spur filly from the Group 2 winner Mistrale pictured below. These will all enter training with Bart Cummings who picked up five very nice yearlings himself at Karaka, see www.bartcumings.com.au for details. Lot 137 bay filly by Flying Spur from Mistrale   New Zealand Foray We attended the New Zealand Sales again in 2009 as we have done for many years now and came home with what we believe to be some nice horses including two by first crop sire Starcraft, a filly by leading sire O’Reilly and another filly by Champion sire Flying Spur and one by Cox Plate winner Savabeel. Lot 3 gr colt Starcraft – Gazebo for NZ$140,000 Lot 76 b filly O’Reilly – Lady Chantelle for NZ$140,000 Lot 83 b filly Savabeel – Lap Dancer for NZ$42,500 Lot 137 b filly Flying Spur – Mistrale for NZ$230,000 Lot 282  b filly Starcraft – Sursum Corda for NZ$90,000 Adding the favourable exchange rate with the New Zealand dollar, the prices appear realistic to the current market for yearlings which is well documented to be down on 2008 highs. The dearest was the Flying Spur filly from the Group 2 winner Mistrale pictured below. These will all enter training with Bart Cummings who picked up five very nice yearlings himself at Karaka, see www.bartcumings.com.au for details. Lot 137 bay filly by Flying Spur from Mistrale   Discerning Choice In the never ending search for the next “good horse” but mindful of the world economies, DGR purchased just one horse at the recent Gold Coast Magic Millions. We waited well into the sale until the opportunity arose to acquire the pedigree and the individual sought at the right price. Lot 620 a bay colt by last season Champion sire Encosta De Lago from Danehill’s Group 2 winning & Group 1 placed daughter NEVIS was purchased for $350,000 a figure not much more than Encosta’s 2008 service fee. Danehill, a multiple champion sire himself and breed shaper, was also champion broodmare sire in 2008. Nevis Group 2 win came at weight for age and she was Group 1 placed against colts in the Rosehill Guineas. Her immediate family is not shy on Gr1 winners either. Her dam TARTEN HEIGHTS was a dual Group 1 winner at 1600m & 2400m and an all important Oaks winner. Her dam ULTRA SOUND was Wrightson Filly of The Year and a half sister to Oaks Group 1 winner LEE ’S BID , herself dam of Derby & Guineas Group 1 winner ARENA . Aside form the pedigree this colt has the scope and physic to give our clients every chance to be that next “good horse”. Click the links for Sirecam on line video and pdf pedigree.     It's Our Job  Bart Cummings was right in one of the many post race interviews following the win of Viewed in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Gr1. But what a job the Offical “Living Legend”, “Legend in the Racing Hall Of Fame” & “Legend in the Australian Sport Hall of Fame” did. Much has been written and recorded in the media following the win with easy public access but true history was written on Tuesday 4th November 2008 with Bart winning his 250th Group 1 race, Bart winning his twelfth Melbourne Cup Gr1 as trainer, making him the winningest trainer (again) by a long margin and Dato’ Tan Chin Nam, our principal client his fourth Melbourne Cup Gr1 as owner, making him in turn the winningness owner. All this in the race that stops the nation. Viewed for his part has now won 8 of his 24 starts for $3,938,530. For our part we are delighted and proud to have done our job as purchasing agent for a modest $50,000 of this colt from the breeders paddocks as unbroken yearling. We enclose a series of picture for your “Viewing” curtesy of Martin King Sportpix. The Melbourne Cup was not our sole achievement during Cup week, maiden fillies Allez Wonder & Think Money ran a creditable 3rd & 4th placing in the VRC Oaks Gr1 for clients while Zazabeau, coming off the back of a listed 4th, and metro placing won in good style on Derby day at Rosehill and to round off the winners our clients had an interest in Blessus, winner of the $100,000 Yalumba Cup in course record time at Hawkesbury on Oaks Day. Three cheers to Bart and thanks to the support of our owners. Hero's All   Bigger Things  While we wait for our bigger guns to attack on Derby Day at Flemington and beyond, the lesser experienced & credentialed horses ticked over during the week past. At Canterbury on Wednesday 22 our connections were represented with three runners, Fivewest & O’Danny Boy  ran commendable second places and Griffon only needs match practice to improve on his debut third placing. On Saturday 25 at Rosehill, the two runners saw Fianchetto return to the winners circle for his third career win and Blessus, a last start winner, got no favours from his barrier 16 draw to finish unplaced but not disgraced. We look forward to these horses and our more prominent team members running again in the newt few weeks. Fianchetto notches his thrid career win at Rosehill   Thinking Positive The Caulfield Cup weekend of racing did not produce any wins for our clients’ five runners on the day but reason to think positive. In the Caulfield Cup itself Viewed ran nicely, particularly given he was going into the “Cup” without a run for a month. A factor perhaps not unusual for the imports but for horses trained on flat oval racecourses a significant matter. Viewed will now line up in the McKinnon Gr1 as his final lead up to the Melbourne Cup Gr1. Earlier on the card at Caulfield lightly raced homebred Think Money and yearling sale purchase Allez Wonder did enough to press on towards the VRC Oaks Gr1 where their distaff pedigrees should come to the for. Our other client representatives, also over a staying distance in the The Tattersalls Cup Listed at Randwick in Zazabeau & Book Of Kells did well to finish were they did on a hugely and disappointing leaders biased track. Randwick is clearly yet to shake off the effects of the Papal Visit in July. Zazabeau, still a maiden but a promising stayer will stay in NSW but Book Of Kells, a proven Group 2 winner will head to Melbourne, most likely for the 2500m Melbourne Cup exempt quality handicap. Viewed when winning the Brisbane Cup   Old & New  It was the middle of July since we last posted an update. Most of the horses were under light work while they marked time at Warwick Farm whilst deposed from Randwick for the Papal visit to Sydney. With the bulk of our team now training full time at Randwick or interstate for the Melbourne spring carnival they have started to tick over. “Old” stager Roadhog marked his tenth career win with a victory at Sandown in the first week of September, a feat we are proud of given his humble beginnings. From the newcomers Roman Emperor won his second career start in encouraging style at Randwick on Tuesday and debutants Precedence & Rajasi pleased with close up fifth placings in their respective races at Canterbury on Wednesday. In this period we were also pleased to see clients win with Very Grande at Rosehill and the breeding season opening with dreams evolving from some cracking first crop Pendragon’s. Team members Viewed, Book Of Kells & company continue to make progress into their respective spring campaigns. Romon Emperor reigns Enter the "Pen" dragons Pendragon - Danlora 2008 colt     A Spring In Their Step  Rotorua’s strong win on Saturday clearly put a spring into the step of his trainer and part owner Bart Cummings, as too it did to another part owner and our client Dato’ Tan Chin Nam. Link to Report courtesy of Racenet. Rotorua was winning his third only career start but in a fashion suggesting more. Rock & Reel also broke her maiden during the week after a limited number of runs giving Dato’ Tan a second of three winners he had this week. The third, a former QTC Derby placegetter named Kamsky won with reported authority in Singapore on Saturday night. So while winter is traditionally a quieter time, Rotorua and friends managed to keep things quite hot this week. Rotorua storms through on the inside   From Little Acorns Grow It has been reported that Viewed was purchased privately out of a paddock for a comparatively modest price. That is quite so with DGR making a trip to the breeders stud in 2005 to make the acquisition. Not to be outdone another modest purchase, Mulaman, a $28,000 yearling buy by DGR, also won on the Queens Birthday, this time at Randwick meeting lifting his record to 19 starts, 3 wins, 1 second and 4 thirds for $123,123. Cleary not as good a horse as Viewed with $479,030 in prize money, but a handy effort from Mulaman none the less.   Mulaman winning at Warwick Farm before his lastest victory at Randwick.   As Reported by Racenet Bart's glorious view of Brisbane Cup Racenet Monday, 9 June 2008 Bart Cummings won his 700th stakes race as Viewed romped away with the Group II $300,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Monday. In one of the most dominant feature race staying wins of the Australian season, Viewed revelled in the Eagle farm mud to win by seven lengths. And he did on his own with jockey Damien Oliver making a mid-race move when the speed slackened and Viewed was caught three-wide in a shuffle-up. The four-year-old never got any closer to the rail but Cummings said he wasn’t perturbed by the seemingly tough contract. “I told the jockey to get out there [wide] because it was the best place to be,” he said. Oliver believes Viewed could be a spring contender – with one proviso. “If he got into one of the big races on a soft track you never know,” he said. Chasing home Viewed into the placings were Fulmonti and Sky Biscuit. An 11-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, Cummings has now won three Brisbane Cups. Viewed ended a 33-year drought for Cummings in the Brisbane feature     Viewed steams home alone at the end of the 2008 Brisbane Cup     Damien Oliver looks well pleased with his cushy victory.   Worth The Wait The connections of Kroner had to wait over 300 days to see him run again following an authorative win on that occasion. They were not disappointed and despite being “big” in condition after the time away from racing, Kroner repeated with another commanding win by over 2 lengths on Wednesday at the Sydney Turf Club track of Canterbury. While only in mid week grade, the odds on favourite did what was required and he looks like a horse of promise for the future. We hope so and wish the connections well. So far the strapping colt has won 2 of his 4 career starts to date.      Kroner powers away from the field       Kroner looks happy with his effort       So too does his jockey Hugh Bowman.     Thinking Big Formed in 2007, Suez Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd has quietly gone about adding quality breeding stock to their portfolio. Adding to existing stallion shareholding in God’s Own and interests in the likes of Success Tale, the dam of Caulfield Guineas GR1 winner Wonderful World, and another young half sister to this season stakesplaced 2yo Arms Wide Open, Suez Thoroughbreds recently purchase at the Sydney Easter Broodmare Sales adding Shantreusse, a Danehill mare in foal to Starcraft from the Paulyn Investments offerings and Pleasant Change, a Zabeel half sister to Gr1 winner Piachay. Suez also has some well bred fillies in training by such sires as Redoute’s Choice & General Nediym so hopefully the new company can make an impact in the sales and breeding arena. These new additions have taken up residence at Think Big Stud in the southern highlands and while matings for 2008 are yet to be finalised, God’s Own looks ideal for Pleasant Change. Pleasant Change (Zabeel 1/2 sister to Gr1 winner Piachay) arrives at her new home Think Big Stud.   Another Level  Kosi Bay added a Group 2 win to her already lofty credentials with a win in the Emancipation Stakes Gr2 on the last day of the 2008 Sydney Autumn Carnival over the famous Randwick metric mile. Kosi Bay ran second in the same race last year to another quality mare in Hot Danish adding to her previous record of wins in the Epona Stakes Listed and placing in the Myer Classic Gr1. Kosi Bay is also a half sister to New Zealand Champion Miler Calveen and is out of a half sister to SA Derby Gr1 winning filly English Wonder, herself dam of AJC Derby and four time Gr1 winner Dr Grace. And all this for a $130,000 yearling purchase so well done to her connections and our clients. Kosi Bay strikes for victory in the Emancipation Stakes Gr2   2008 Yearling Sale Purchases   2008 William Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Index of Buyers DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd NSW 52   B. c. 2006   Elusive Quality (USA) - Cousins (AUS) V- Princes Farm, Castlereagh. (As Agent) 400000                 5   B. f. 2006   Redoute's Choice (AUS) - Beldarian (IRE) V- Coolmore Stud, Jerry's Plains. (As Agent) 300000                 397   Br. c. 2006   Savabeel (AUS) - Steluta (NZ) V- Little Avondale Stud, Masterton, NZ. 300000     2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Index of Buyers DGR Thoroughbred Services NSW 538   B. f. 2006   Al Maher (AUS) - Biscay Bird (AUS) V- Eureka Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Darling Down 270000                 833   B. f. 2006   Flying Spur (AUS) - Jactris (NZ) V- Attunga Stud, Scone, NSW. (As Agent) 130000                 831   B. f. 2006   Elusive Quality (USA) - Ivy League (IRE) V- Darley, Aberdeen, NSW. 100000                 729   Bl. f. 2006   Commands (AUS) - Fair Vanity (AUS) V- Rosari Farm, Warwick, Qld. 90000                 204   B. c. 2006   Al Maher (AUS) - Regal Heights (NZ) V- Stratheden Stud Pty Ltd, Tamworth, NSW. 30000     2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale Index of Buyers DGR Thoroughbred Services NSW 145   B. c. 2006   Zabeel (NZ) - Golden Winds (NZ) V- Cambridge Stud, Cambridge. 410000                 236   B. f. 2006   Fastnet Rock (AUS) - Luna Tudor (AUS) V- Trelawney Stud Ltd, Cambridge. 140000                 424   B. c. 2006   High Chaparral (IRE) - Triassic (NZ) V- Windsor Park Stud Ltd, Cambridge. 110000                 441   B. c. 2006   Al Maher (AUS) - Tycoon Tess (AUS) V- Wellfield Lodge, Palmerston North. 90000     Viewed Gives A Good Sight Viewed Wins JRA Plate: Ill-fated former Durham Lodge stallion Scenic (Sadler's Wells-Idyllic, by Foolish Pleasure) added a black-type success (& 62nd individual stakes-winner) when 4YO entire Viewed (Scenic-Lovers Knot, by Khozaam) raced away for a 3.75-lengths victory in yesterday's $100,000 Listed Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick. Viewed (ridden by Craig Williams for trainer Bart Cummings) defeated favoured fellow 4YO entire Musket (Redoute's Choice-Tugela, by Riverman) & 5YO gelding Nuclear Sky (Nuclear Freeze-Sky Queen, by Hey Baba Riba). Viewed now has 6 wins & 4 placings (including 2006's Listed Dulcify Quality over 1800m at Randwick) from 17 starts for $282,030 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.) Story curtesy Racing And Breeding.   Viewed steaks away winning the Japan Trophy Plate Listed   Derby Day 2008  Website updates have been spaced due to the spate of sale & race day commitments, but we have not been totally absent in the field. We have two runners in the $1.8m Australian Derby Gr1 at Randwick on Saturday. Book Of Kells, last start winner of a traditional Derby leaup up race the Tulloch Stakes Group 2 and the as yet maiden galloper Zazabeau. Book Of Kells will appreciate the assured wet track on Saturday and out of a two time Oaks winner will not have any problems staying the 2400m. Neither will his stable mate Zazabeau, while a  still a maiden, he is a brother to Oaks & Melbourne Cup placegetter Zazabelle, he too will appreciate the staying test. At the booming Inglis Austrailain Easter yearling sales we have been able to secure three yearlings in a very competitive market. Those three are Lot 52, an Elusive Quality full brother to Todman Gr2 placegetter Related for $400,000. A prised daughter of Redoute’s Choice, Lot 5 for $300,000 and a son of first season sire Savabeel and a half brother to VRD Derby placegetter Gorky Park for $300,000 in Lot 397. More details after the culmination of the sales. Minimal shares remain in these horses. Book Of Kells winning the Tulloch Stakes Gr2       Magic Millions Time  Since our last update we have been involved in the Magic Millions Yearling Sales where we were able to secure five yearlings despite the presence of mega buyer Patinack Farm. That is the same Patinack Farm that recently purchased Wonderful World. Patinack principal Nathan Tinkler and his team are certainly accumulating some prized bloodstock around them and good luck to them and already have shown rewards with important wins by recent purchases Casino Prince and Laura’s Charm. We added to our purchases this year with fillies in Lot 538 Al Maher – Biscay Bird for $270,000 (our highest price purchase), Lot 729 Commands – Fair Vanity $90,000, Lot 831 Elusive Quality – Ivy League $100,000 and Lot 833 Flying Spur – Jactris $130,000. Our lone colt at this sale we added Lot 204 Al Maher – Regal Heights. On the racing front Fianchetto won when stepped up to 1800m and followed that up with a close second over 1900m. He will appreciate more yet more distance and a bigger track if we can find a suitable engagement for him. Book Of  Kells & Validated have backed up their recent runs with further solid placings. 2yo’s Allez Wonder and Think Money have made pleasing starts to their respective careers. Both will appreciate further as older horses but are not far off the mark now; Allez Wonder, a daughter of a Perth Cup winner while Think Money is a daughter of a Nassipour half sister to a Sydney Cup horse.   Around The Money  This past week of racing in Sydney have seen our clients in and around the money all week. Lasker, a son of Epsom Derby winner Galileo posted at win at Randwick on Tuesday when sent out over the longest journey he has contested this preparation. Clearly the 1800m suited him as he went on to score by 2 ¼ lens in solid fashion. Fianchetto also up in distance for the first time this preparation all be it only 1550m, he posted a solid second place in torrential conditions at Canterbury on Thursday night. On Saturday back at Randwick we did not post a winner, but close 2nd placings with both Mi Casa and with our interest in Blessus and a third with Viewed, the latter who was forced to race wide and into the gale all the way and the job proved too tough for him. Still that was his first defeat this preparation. Lasker makes a clean break over 1800m at Randwick Tuesday While stable favourite Mi Casa (Grey) nearly steals it over the Randwick "mile" on Saturday   Wonderful World off to Patinack Farm By Rob Burnet Story Courtesy www.thoroughbrednews.com.au  The five-year-old entire Wonderful World will join the rapidly growing empire of former Queensland coal miner Nathan Tinkler in a multi-million dollar deal due to be completed after final veterinary checks on Thursday. (Update: After the completion of veterinary checks Wonderful World will arrive at Patinack Farm on Friday). Tinkler, and his advisers, made a serious foray into Australasian yearling bloodstock at New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd’s Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka on January 28th and 29th, when he outlaid $NZ7.9 million for 24 lots. The most expensive was a One Cool Cat-Diamond Cashel filly out of the draft of Cambridge Stud for $NZ925,000. This was after buying broodmares in France late last year. Among the French purchases was a broodmare called Jambo who cost 1 million euros. She is a close relative to successful sires Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago. Then shortly before Karaka, Tinkler bought the Antony Cummings trained Casino Prince (Flying Spur) as a foundation sire for his Patinack Farm, set up on the former Alanbridge Stud at Aberdeen in the NSW Hunter Valley. If the inspections of Wonderful World are completed, as expected, by either Thursday or Friday, then he will be transferred to Patinack Farm where he will take up residence before Casino Prince who continues racing into the autumn. Cummings acted for Tinkler in the purchase of Wonderful World, and he was in attendance at Karaka for the yearling purchases. Wonderful World, by Agnes World out of the Success Express mare Success Tale, was the classic sire prospect having won at two, including a third in the Group I Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), who then won the Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at three, before training on to group level at four. Last spring Wonderful World, trained by Bart Cummings throughout his career, had a stellar period of three Group I placings of two third places in the Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m), and a second place in the WS Cox Plate (2040m). Wonderful World completes a very successful near two-year period for one of Australia’s most successful buying, training and owning partnerships. God’s Own (Redoute’s Choice), the 2005 Caulfield Guineas winner, and Wonderful World were purchased by bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage for the master Bart Cummings to train for strong stable supporter Dato Tan Chin Nam. In Wonderful World Dato Tan Chin Nam was joined in the ownership by SC Khaw and Perth surgeon Michael Alexeeff. The two colts cost $390,000 between them, earned $999,500 and $1,373.950 respectively on the race track, and were placed in multi-million dollar deals at stud. God’s Own had his first crop of foals in 2007 and reports from breeders are of typically strong, good types and as a son of Redoute’s Choice they will be eagerly awaited at sales this time next year. The partnership of Cummings and Dato Tan Chin Nam has a long and distinguished racing history with crowd pleasing gallopers such as Catalan Opening, and the public champion Saintly who still cuts a fine figure on his public appearances out from Princes Farm. Both those were geldings, but the policy of racing colts has paid off handsomely for the partnership. Still sporting the distinctive black and white check, yellow sleeves and black and white cap racing silks of Dato Tan Chin Nam this autumn is Viewed, a good looking entire by Scenic, whose target is the Group I Doncaster Handicap (1600m). Currently spelling is the dual stakes winner, Danehill entire Prince Arthur. Wonderful World is an astute purchase by Tinkler, as there was serious competition for the services for Wonderful World from both Victoria and the Hunter Valley. There are few colts and entire’s available for purchase off the race track at present. Shinzig, the winner of last Saturday’s CF Orr Stakes, had already been purchased for stud duties at Eliza Park, Victoria, before his Group I win. Anthony Cummings described the purchase price of Casino Prince, a Group II winner, as being a good deal for both parties, and with his wife sharing in the ownership he would know, and the Wonderful World purchase, at a price no doubt reflecting his class race track career could well be described in the same manner.   Wonderful World winning the 2006 Caulfiled Guineas comfortably     God's Own winning the 2005 Gaulfield Guineas in that unforgettable fashion.   Five for two and two This weekends racing continued the strong vein our Australian horses have been racing in since their return after EI. Viewed posted a back to back wins at Rosehill on Saturday and maintanined his unbeaten record since resuming. Resuming also in good fashion for our clients interests were placed Blessus & not far behind him Cresta Run in the same race for fifth. It must also be recorded how well Bart Cummings has got his team going with Swissac resuming after over a year to post an emphatic win on the Rosehill card while in Melbourne Swick was a closing second in the 1000m Group 1 Lightning Stakes. So for Bart this Saturday were five runners, two winners, two placegetters including a Group 1 second and a fifth placing. Period. The results showcased the benefits of the studs supporting the stable with Swissac a “homebred” by Bart Cummings’ Princes Farm near Penrith and Viewed who rested out and avoided EI during the scare at his owners Think Big Stud at Bowral. Veiwed pounces once again to keep him unbeaten so far this preparation and give Trainer Bart Cummings & Jockey Dan Nikolic combo a double.   Latest Purchases Pictures, on-line videos and pedigrees of our four purchases from the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale Session. Click the link to view Lot 145 bay Colt Zabeel – Golden Winds (Star Way) purchased nz$410,000 His dam a ½ sister to four stakeswinners inc to multiple Gr1 winner GOLDEN SWORD Pedigree & Results Link   Lot 236 bay filly Fastnet Rock – Luna Tudor (Military Plume) purchased nz$140,000 Her dam a Group 2 winner herself Pedigree & Results Link   Lot 424 bay colt High Chaperral – Triassic (Tights) purchased nz$110,000 His dam a Group 2 winner herself Pedigree & Results Link   Lot 441 bay colt Al Maher – Tycoon Tess (Last Tycoon) purchased nz$90,000 His dam a ½ sister to multiple Group 1 winner ARBOREA Pedigree & Results Link   New Team Members Pictures, on-line videos and pedigrees of our four purchases from the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale Session. Click the link to view ALL SOLD (5/02/08) THANKS FOR THE INTEREST Lot 145 bay Colt Zabeel – Golden Winds (Star Way) purchased nz$410,000 His dam a ½ sister to four stakeswinners inc to multiple Gr1 winner GOLDEN SWORD Pedigree & Results Link Lot 236 bay filly Fastnet Rock – Luna Tudor (Military Plume) purchased nz$140,000 Her dam a Group 2 winner herself Pedigree & Results Link Lot 424 bay colt High Chaperral – Triassic (Tights) purchased nz$110,000 His dam a Group 2 winner herself Pedigree & Results Link Lot 441 bay colt Al Maher – Tycoon Tess (Last Tycoon) purchased nz$90,000 His dam a ½ sister to multiple Group 1 winner ARBOREA Pedigree & Results Link   Up And Running  We had our first post EI and first runner of 2008 on Saturday last with Viewed. In a race short of his expected best Viewed put up a sterling performance to storm home and win over the top. Coming from the tail of the field he had to negotiate some traffic problems inside the final 400m but his finishing acceleration was enough to complete the job. Resuming and reportedly subject of some huge winning bets, but not those of the connections, Viewed also provided a first winner back to Sydney for leading jockey Dan Nikolic. Hopefully Dan will be in a position to steer home many more for the connections for the rest of the year and we will be able to do our part and provide the rides with the ability for him to do so. Open link for more pictures. Viewed storms home first up. Viewed has a look around after the win. Dan Nikolic dismounts in the famous Dato Tan Chin Nam colours   A Road To Money  While we wait a few more weeks before our team gets back to the races after the prolonged absence due to the effects of EI, we have had just a few performers. Roadhog, now a winner of 9 races, bounced back into winning form at Sandown just prior to Christmas Day, while overseas on Boxing Day, game mare It’s All Money franked her placing in the Coronation Cup with another third placing in the Perak Gold Cup, a weight for age event over 2200m worth RM$1.35million run at the Perak Turf Club in Malaysia. We have made use of this unseasonably quiet time to study the catalogues for the forthcoming late January Sales in New Zealand. We expect a number of our team to be at the barrier trials and then progressing to the races over the latter stages of January and into February. Wishing for all our owners a successful 2008. Roadhog seen winning at Randwick in 2005, still winning on 22nd Dec 2007   Flying The Flag  While we have very little to report on with few (read one) of our horses actually racing in Australia. Many of our team are now back or returning to training but they will not see competitive racing until the New Year. Overseas though the flag is still flying with It’s All Money by Magic of Money from Ponziani by Nassipour running a game third in the RM700,000 weight for age Coronation Cup at Perak on Sunday 25/11. We understand this game mare will head to the Gold Cup for her next start. At owner Dato Tan Chin Nam’s Think Big Stud reside two younger half sisters by Danehill Dancer & Choisir, both of whom will head into master trainer Bart Cummings stable in time.     We Cannot Say It Any Better We cannot say it any better than an extract kindly reproduced from Breednet.com.au about Bart's 80th Birthday. Age shall not weary him and is no obstacle to our Champion trainer, in fact his depth of knowledge is the culmination of two great trainers, Bart and his father Jim. Happy birthday Bart (follow the link below for full story) Racenet Wednesday, 14 November 2007 The Cups king James Bartholomew “Bart” Cummings has turned 80 today. During his illustrious 53 year training career, the inaugural Hall of Fame trainer has put the polish on 248 Group One winners. Among the 248 Group One winners, Cummings has trained 11 Melbourne Cup winners, 30 Derby winners, 23 Oaks winners, six Caulfield Cup winners, Four Golden Slipper winners and three Cox Plate winners. Since his team was ravaged by the EI virus at the start of September, the master trainer has had 10 horses go to the races, five of them only had one start with four of those runners being on provincial and country tracks. Of the other five he won the G1 Mackinnon Stakes and G2 Salinger Stakes and placed in the Cox Plate, VRC Oaks, Toorak Hcp, Sir Rupert Clark Stakes and the Bobbie Lewis Quality. From everyone at racenet, Happy Birthday Bart.     Bart Cummings in his 80th Year   A Succesful Tale  Wonderful World added to his impressive record and passed the $1m earning mark with his brave second placing in Australia’s weight for age championship the Cox Plate Gr1 on Saturday. This was Wonderful World’s first test past 1600m having as a three year old won the Caulfield Guineas Gr1 at 1600m and placed in the Toorak Hcp Gr1 at 1600m prior to his Cox Plate run. As two year old Wonderful World was twice a winner at 1100m & 1200m and Gr1 placed at 1200m in the Blue Diamond. He was also Gr1 placed at 1400m this season as a four year old. Wonderful World is one of only two team members we have running due to EI with the winner of eight races, Roadhog our sole other runner and he resumed form a long layoff last week for a fourth. Roadhog will likely run on cup day at Flemington while Wonderful world will head to the $1m Gr1 Emirates Stakes over 1600m on the final day of the Flemington Carnival. A Footnote: Success Tale, dam of Wonderful World has been tested in foal to Think Big Stud's resident first season sire Pendragon. Earlier this season Success Tale had a God's Own filly foal. God's Own, Wonderful World, Success Tale & Pendragon are all part owned by Think Big Stud proprietor Dato Tan Chin Nam. El Secundo & Wonderful World surge ahead on Haradasun, Miss Finland & co. Wonderful World seen here winning the Caulfiled Guineas Gr1 Success Tale with her 2007 bay filly by God's Own at Think Big Stud, Bowral NSW   A Few Good Men & Women  With Equine Influenza rabid throughout NSW, we only have a handful of horses racing in the World. From that handful Wonderful World made a brave effort to take the Gr1 Toorak Handicap on Saturday. Left in front from quite a long way out he only just succumbed to the challenges of Gr1 winners Divine Madonna & Niconero to run third. The master of getting distance from a horse, Bart Cummings will now attempt the Cox Plate with Wonderful World. Maybe a long bow to draw to run the distance, but with so many of the contenders missing the target, it is worth a shot. While our leading patron Dato’ Tan Chin Nam is used to far more runners to follow, apart form Wonderful World he has Singapore’s newest start Capablanca who posted another fine victory in sensational time. View the footage. Capablanca we understand will now aim for the Hong Kong sprint in December, a world famous race meeting that has already brought Dato’ Tan success with Catalan Opening. Yakim, a homebred also posted her fourth career win from ten lifetime starts in Malaysia the week before, so a few good men (& girls) are still producing the winners. Wonderful World in glory after the 2006 Caulfield Guineas   New Chances  Due to the advent of the EI outbreak, 1st season sire Pendragon, has been relocated from Victoria back to owner Dato' Tan Chin Nam's Think Big Stud in the Southern Highlands where he was in June. He will service the resident mares there that because of the outbreak of EI are unable to visit the horse in Victoria. Think Big Stud wish to thank both RacingNSW and the DPI whose assistance and approval was needed for the move. The book will include some well credentialed mares like Success Tale - Dam of Wonderful World Gr1 Authoress - French stakes placed Singspiel mare Cavita - Cadeaux Genereux from Aga family inc Derby winner Kahasi Gr1 Cleobelle - 1/2 sister to Super Impose Gr1 Freja - Danehill full sister to Diamond Hill out of Royal Tiara Gr1 Garryurra - Daylami 1/2 sister to Tropical Star out of Champion 3yo Tropical. Gr1 Geeta - Generous 1/2 sister to Making Waves Gr1 Golden Zen – out SW Embraceable You Janella - full sister to Champion 2yo Lend A Hand Gr1 Leash - Redoutes Choice 1/2 sister to SAF Horse of The Year 2007 Sun Classique Gr1 La Regale - Zabeel 3/4 sister in blood to Sky Heights Gr1 Laylia - multiple winning Redoutes Choice filly Mayberry - daughter of Inaflury Gr1 Mencik - Fu Peg 1/2 sister to Arkanarton Gr1 Resonance - daughter of Danarich Gr2p Roulette Wheel - by Spinning World 1/2 sister to Thunderosa, 2nd dam QTC Oaks Gr1 Selva - 2nd dam dam of Desert Prince Gr1 Stars Above - dam of Doncaster winner Patezza Gr1 Stormy Sac - Anabaa 1/2 sister to Danendri Gr1 (dam of Zingam & Banc de Fortune) Utah Red - by Red Ransom from the close family of Seattle Slew, US Horse of Year Zahani - by Zabeel from Danarani Gr1 Zazabelle - Melbourne Cup Gr1 & VRC Oaks Gr1 placed Zona - by Zabeel from Danendri Gr1     Pendragon, pictured at Think Big Stud in June prior to his return trip to Victoria.   Pendragons "Stallions" page   No Chance  With the advent & virulent outbreak of EI (Equine Influenza) currently in New South Wales & Queensland, most of our clients racehorses are locked down at Randwick Racecourse and they have NO CHANCE of competing in either the now abandoned Sydney Spring Carnival or the still functioning Melbourne Spring Carnival. Nearly all of those horses mentioned in the preceeding story never got the chance to race with the Randwick meeting called off on race morning. Only three of our team were domiciled in Melbourne at the time of the outbreak and thus currently eligible to race, the rest will have to get over their dose of the “flu” and resume their careers and carnival aspirations next year. Of our three remaining eligible horses, Wonderful World takes on some of the best sprinters in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday 15th. There has been little else to report other than all our clients breeding operations have come to a standstill, foals are being produced but no opportunity to join the mares again this season at this stage. For that we and the rest of the Breeding Industry wait on any changes to the jurisdictions placed on the movement of horses by the Department of Primary Industries and the spread and ramifications of the EI itself.   Chances  While we do not expect to win any or all of their respective races, our complete “stable” of runners this coming Saturday is interesting and some may prove to be competitive during the forthcoming Sydney & Melbourne Spring Carnivals; Prince Arthur – Warwick Stakes Gr2 wfa 1400m Randwick; Kroner – Up And Coming Stakes Gr2 3yo 1200m Randwick; Wonderful World – McEwen Stakes Gr3 wfa 1000m Moonee Valley; Kosi Bay – Toy Show Quality Listed f&m 1400m Randwick; Cresta Run – Samsung Hnadicap 3yo&up 1600m Randwick. Wonderful World takes on super sprinter & filly Gold Edition, while Kroner matches with the $12m dollar man Meurice and Prince Arthur should find Racing To Win a bit special. Kosi Bay meets some “glamour gals” in the Toy Show. Prince Arthur – Warwick Stakes Gr2 wfa 1400m Randwick Kroner – Up And Coming Stakes Gr2 3yo 1200m Randwick Wonderful World – McEwen Stakes Gr3 wfa 1000m Moonee Valley Kosi Bay – Toy Show Quality Listed f&m 1400m Randwick Cresta Run – Samsung Hnadicap 3yo&up 1600m Randwick   Cash Is King  Kroner, by young sire Viking Ruler, is named after one of part owner Dato Tan Chin Nam’s popular maxims…Cash is King, a Kroner being the national currency of Denmark, Sweden & Norway. Well Kroner got the cash in emphatic style at Randwick on Wednesday and his dominant performance caught the eye of many racing pundits judging by the media comments following the race. This 2yo has a way to go before he can be compared in the same vein as some of his predecessors for the connections or indeed some his present stable mates, but there is some scope for enthusiasm in his case. Kroner wins handsomely Kroner returns to scale   Quiet Acheivers Being in the midst of the Sydney winter, and a quite rabid one at present, it is generally a quiet time for racecourse appearances, however one recent achiever won with aplomb on Saturday at Rosehill. Blessus was our sole runner for the day. Bred like Saintly by his trainer Bart Cummings, and part owned by the same man along with a few stable regulars including Dato’ Tan Chin Nam of Saintly fame, Blessus has a way to go before he gets near the great Saintly in standing but he is amassing a very solid record. Seen below winning the Sydney Markets handicap, it is with Bart’s permission, the legendary trainer is also pictured here with the sponsors after the race. Blessus wins under hands & heels riding of Blake Shinn The Sponsors, Bart & STC Committeman Bill Picken.   Nominations to Pendragon Following the industry crisis of the Equine Influenza outbreak and the effect it had on the 2007 breeding season, a reshuffle of plans led to Dato Tan Chin Nam's quality racehorse Pendragon retired to stud to stand at Think Big Stud, Bowral, New South Wales for the 2007 breeding season. In his debut 2007 season Pendragon attacted the dams of three Group 1 winners and five half sisters to Group 1 winners and three daughters of Group 1 winners giving him a quality book to equal many of his much more costly rivals. The product of these matings will be born in the spring of 2008. Pendragon is the second well-bred race proven racehorse retired to Victoria’s breeding industry by Dato Tan Chin Nam, the owner of three Melbourne Cup winners amongst many top Victorian race winners, after having last year advocated God's Own location to Eliza Park Stud. Pendragon, a handsome bay/brown, is by a first crop son of Danzig, and the Group I winner of the Newmarket July Cup (1200m) in Elnadim. Elnadim, from a daughter of the legendary dam Fall Aspen, carries similar credentials to one of Danzig's other July Cup winning sons in Danehill. He was Champion 3YO and Older Sprinter in England franking his Group wins. In a nine start career cut short by injury, Pendragon shot to prominence on debut with a stakes placing at two over 1200m. At his next two starts he met future Group I winners Racing To Win and Paratroopers, running second to both horses by less than a length over 1200m and 1300m, before running third to Paratroopers and Racing To Win in the now STC Group II Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.  Pendragon went from the Golden Rose to post wins in the STC Group III Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and the MRC Group III Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) (beating Headturner), and he was placed second as favourite in the AJC Group I Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). Pendragon competed honourably for a fourth in the Group I VRC Derby (2500m), just failing to run out the distance. He only had one more racecourse appearance, when a resuming fifth in the Expressway Stakes, the only the second occasion he did not finish in the first three.  Pendragon’s dam-side breeding is unsurpassed being out of the NZ Oaks winner in Alacrity (by Grosvenor), and he comes from the direct family of the breed shaping stallion Marscay. Like Australasia's current leading sires Redoute's Choice, Encosta De Lago and Zabeel, Pendragon is by an imported sire, and in a similar fashion the established sires he has a proven himself on Australia's race tracks at Group level. Pendragon stands for $10,000 (+GST) with a reduction for the first fifty bookings to $8,000 (+GST), all Live Foal Guarantee. Travel rebates on application. Contact Duncan Ramage on 02 9663 3030 or e-mail dgr@dgrracing.com.au or at the stud Kerry Wisnewski on 0427 446 060 Informative links to pedigree and other information relating to Pendragon include For pedigree and records http://www.stallions.com.au/list/Pendragon.asp http://www.breedingracing.com/pdfs/sires/2007/pendragon.pdf For on-line video footage http://www.stallions.com.au/video/Pendragon.wmv       http://www.stallions.com.au/video/Pendragon_action.wmv          Pendragon, prior to going to stud, taken June 2007.     Action On Multiple Fronts We have been occupied attending the mammoth Magic Millions Broodmare Sales this past week and acquired 4 mares but at the same time were represented by winners at Rosehill on Saturday with Viewed putting up back to back wins and at Canterbury on Wednesday with Columate posting a further win to make his record 3 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third & $88,250 starts. Viewed is now 3 wins & 2 seconds & $122,950 from 11 starts with both horses coming from the budget end of the market at $26,000 & $50,000 respectively. As lightly raced horses, they appear they can add to their records.     Columate on Wednesday     Viewed on Saturday   Pendragon to Stand at Stud in Victoria  Dato Tan Chin Nam's quality racehorse Pendragon has been retired to stud to stand at Hollylodge Thoroughbreds, Avenel, Victoria. Pendragon is the second well-bred race proven racehorse retired to Victoria’s breeding industry by Dato Tan Chin Nam, the owner of three Melbourne Cup winners amongst many top Victorian race winners, after having last year advocated God's Own location to Eliza Park Stud. Pendragon, a handsome bay/brown, is by a first crop son of Danzig, and the Group I winner of the Newmarket July Cup (1200m) in Elnadim. Elnadim, from a daughter of the legendary dam Fall Aspen, carries similar credentials to one of Danzig's other July Cup winning sons in Danehill. He was Champion 3YO and Older Sprinter in England franking his Group wins. In a nine start career cut short by injury, Pendragon shot to prominence on debut with a stakes placing at two over 1200m. At his next two starts he met future Group I winners Racing To Win and Paratroopers, running second to both horses by less than a length over 1200m and 1300m, before running third to Paratroopers and Racing To Win in the now STC Group II Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill. Pendragon went from the Golden Rose to post wins in the STC Group III Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and the MRC Group III Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) (beating Headturner), and he was placed second as favourite in the AJC Group I Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). Pengragon competed honourably for a fourth in the Group I VRC Derby (2500m), just failing to run out the distance. He only had one more racecourse appearance, when a resuming fifth in the Expressway Stakes, the only the second occasion he did not finish in the first three. Pendragon’s dam-side breeding is unsurpassed being out of the NZ Oaks winner in Alacrity (by Grosvenor), and he comes from the direct family of the breed shaping stallion Marscay. Like Australasia's current leading sires Redoute's Choice, Encosta De Lago and Zabeel, Pendragon is by an imported sire, and in a similar fashion to the established sires he has proven himself on Australia's race tracks at Group level. Pendragon stands for $10,000 (+GST) with a reduction for the first fifty bookings to $8,000 (+GST), all Live Foal Guarantee. Travel rebates on application. Contact Christine or Terry Nevill at Hollylodge on (03) 5796 2495, Christine 0408 132 755, e-mail hollylodge@bigpond.com or www.durbridge.com Pendragon races clear in the Gloaming Stakes   On His Lonsome, But Out In Front  Accumulate was our sole runner this past weekend, but he posted back to back wins with another fine performance at Randwick. This performance indicates Accumulate is back to his best and sealed a trip north to the Queensland carnival to take on the weight for age O’Shea Stakes (2nd June) into the Brisbane Cup (11th June), both run at Eagle Farm. We have a few other representatives scheduled to run during the Queensland carnival and we hope they do well for their connections. Accumulate bursts clear for the second successive time.   A Week In Racing  On Saturday 28th at Rosehill, the former leading Melbourne Cup fancy and VRC St Leger winner Accumulate showed after extensive rehabilitation that he is back on song with an explosive finish to win setting himself up for a tilt at the Brisbane Cup. Accumulates win came at the expense of stablemate Kosi Bay, who started favourite, looked the winner inside the furlong only to be claimed by Accumulate & Newport. Kosi Bay is no slouch herself, a stakeswinner and Gr1 & Gr2 placed. She has a spring campaign mapped out for her again after a spell. Another to bounce back into best form was Mi Casa who ran a brave front running effort in the $110,000 Wagga Cup Listed on Friday 4th May, only to be collared in the final strides of the race but still earning 22k for second place. On Saturday 5th Sacred Moon also filled the runners up stall at Rosehill with a strong finishing effort to the now unbeaten Kyros who enjoyed a soft run in front. Scared Moon will probably start again in Sydney before trainer Bart Cummings considers a trip to Brisbane for the TJ Smith, which in normally a very competitive Group 1 but the distance of which, 1600m is clearly going to suit Sacred Moon. Viewed, who has not raced for five weeks ran fourth on the same Rosehill card, he too finishing off his race quite well. Sacred Moon closes in on the winner & more ground will suit.   Records Set  Records were set a the booming Sydney Easter Yearling Sales and while it felt like you needed an oil well to compete for the top priced horses, DGR was able to buy five yearlings by Encosta De Lago, Rock Of Gibraltar (2), Galileo and Redoute’s Choice for a total of $870,000, so we were far from the biggest buyer. Long time clients on the other hand sold two for $770,000 so trade was had all round. At the Broodmare sales we were also able to take part buying four mares for a modest $256,000 in total and figure there is some value amongst them. We are in a comfortable position having placed all our yearling purchases made in 2007, however we can assist and advise on some smashing yearlings that are still available. Action in the sale ring at Inglis   Randwick Carnival Over  The Randwick carnival is now over and we picked up some placings in a very competitive carnival. Kosi Bay ran a very game second in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes to the highly touted Hot Danish. Kosi Bay keeps surprising experts with continued placings at Gr1 & Gr2 level but modestly not so her connections. Prince Arthur showed he was back on track with a closing second in the Chairmans Hcp Gr2 but failed to stay the 2 miles (3200m) of the Sydney Cup a week later when basically set the challenge of leading al the way. Gr1 contenders Fianchetto & High Cee failed to handle the poor track conditions at a deluged Randwick while 2yo Sacred Moon was an ever consistent third at Randwick in arguably the slower inside section. Sacred Moon showed that was no surprise, finishing fast for second place in the 2yo race at the Hawkesbury feature meeting on Saturday. Mi Casa subsequent barrier trial showed his race on Cup day was a bit of an apparition and may go the Wagga Cup. Probably the most impressive winner was that of Imagining, purchased out of the Lloyd Williams stable and having her very first run for new racing clients KP Thoroughbreds, she was dominant winning at Sandown on Saturday and gave the impression of more to come. We hope so.     A, Make it Two Days at the Races We had plenty of action in the Sydney double header of Rosehill & Warwick Farm this past weekend. The obvious highlight was the fast finishing all be it a narrow win of High Cee in the Gr2 Ajax Stakes to put him up a serious Doncaster contender. In fact his quote with most bagmen and betting agencies has since been drastically shorted for the $2.25m metric mile on April 9th. With the right type of race pattern, we believe High Cee can give some of his more glamorous rivals a race. All credit must go to Bart Cummings and his team at Princes Farm & Leilani Lodge for reviving the career of this former Newcastle Cup (2300m) winner after serious injury and time off into a Gr2 winning sprinter miler. While High Cee won by the barest of margins on Saturday, on Sunday Mi Casa lost by the barest of margins. Still in his two runs back, 5yo Mi Casa appears an improved horse, which for a previous stakes winner makes him quite capable. Prince Arthur was beaten as short priced favourite on Saturday, but he still managed another stakes placing to his record and we have seen him perform better so we remain in hope for the Sydney Cup. Lasker ran a better race when settling while 2yo Kroner showed he is ready for the paddock and is there already. A nice colt with a longer term career in front of him while another 2yo, brother to Melbourne Cup placed Zazabelle (dam of last start winner Winning Big) made an inauspicious debut over 1200m, still his time will come, maybe in 2008 & 2009. While in all this action, the former champion Saintly was honoured with a "rugging" at Rosehill. Saintly looked like he figured he could still take on some of these current lot, even at the grand age of 14 years. High Cee gets home in the Ajax Stakes Gr2 The great Saintly honoured at Rosehill   Works in Progress Since our last update we have had some minor winners but some encouraging performances from some of our anticipated major race combatants as their carnival; programmes unfold. Winning Big was a minor winner at Kembla coming from the rear to beat a short priced favourite in the shadows of the post. High Cee ran a solid fast finishing third in the Newcastle Newmarket Gr3, Fianchetto worked home nicely in the Randwick Guineas and he should be suited by the increase in distances of the Rosehill Guineas and then hopefully to the AJC Derby. Likewise Viewed ran a solid 5th in the Phar Lap Stakes Gr2 and he will step out over more ground in his next two runs hopefully culminating the in AJC Derby. Old favourite Mi Casa resumed with a closing 3rd at the Randwick Guineas meeting while young debutant Kroner ran a very pleasing debut second place at Canterbury and great result was had from a breeding viewpoint with Kosi Bay adding a weight for age Group 2 third to her already imposing record when she was beaten only just over a length in the Canterbury Stakes on Saturday. We will be concentrating on the autumn carnival racing at Rosehill & Randwick and the all important Easter yearling sales over the coming weeks so updates might be a bit thin on the ground but watch this space. One low light was the retirement of Pendragon from racing with a reoccurring tendon injury. We are currently working with several parties for a continuation of his career at stud. He should get some good looking progeny with his glamorous looks. And last mention goes to current Sydney Cup Gr1 favourite Prince Arthur who did not see much daylight at Randwick but will get his opportunity to atone in the coming weeks. Pendragon seen here in full flight winning the Gloaming Stakes last Autumn.   From Little Seeds  From little seeds large oak trees grow goes the famous saying. While our latest global winners in the past 10 days may not grow into anything as grand as an Oak, modestly priced acquisitions they all were. Viewed who posted his maiden win at Warwick Farm at his sixth start gained some strong reviews. Admittedly he has been group placed prior so is perhaps not your run of the mill maiden, but he was purchased privately out of a paddock for $50,000 and looks to have justified his purchase. Another private purchase was Yakin, a Danasinga filly for $18,000, she has now won 3 of her six starts with two additional placing in Malaysia and some MR$53,730. Yakin is expected to go to Class 1 soon having carried 57kgs when winning her most recent start. The cheapest was Zhu Chen, a NZ$17,500 yearling filly by Kaapstad has just posted her fourth win adding to her other six placings to date & RM$94,431, also achieved on the Malaysian Racing Association circuit. Viewed gets up over 1400m on seasonal return and should appreciate longer.   Sales Season Begins  The 2007 yearling sales season began with the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast where we purchased Lot 75, ($320,00) an Encosta De Lago filly from a woodman daughter of the super fast former Champion European 2yo Lyric Fantasy. That family also produced European 4yo Sprint Champion Royal Applause and Dewhurst Gr1 winner In Command. Also purchased was Lot 99 ($180,000), a colt from the final crop of Scenic, who’s half brother Time Matters won his first stakes race the very next day, a colt who hails from the same family as Melbourne Cup hero Rogan Josh & rising star Marasco. We waited until Lot 352 ($100,000) to buy a Rock Of Gibraltar colt form the multiple stakeswinner Spice Doll. Our clients also purchased a half share in Lot 186, a bargain Redoute’s Choice filly from the famous Eight Carat family. In New Zealand two Viking Ruler colts, the first Lot 1 a modest NZ$24,000 half brother to a stakeswinner, family of Champion 3yo Naturalism and the other lot 50 (NZ$90,00), out of a stakes placed full sister to the Bart Cummings trained Swick. Also purchased was Lot 225, a magnificent Zabeel colt from a family with which we worked in the 1980's the famous Mrs Moss lineage, which featured amoung many top class horses the first UK trained Japan Cup winner in Jupiter Island. We picked up a Black Minnaloushe colt Lot 239 (NZ$52,500) out of a half sister to Gr1 winner Broad Reach & Gr2 winner Unsolved and most importantly our clients took half of the spectacular Redoute’s Choice filly from the Gr2 winner Luna Tudor (Lot 254 NZ$600,000) which Bart Cummings added to his stable. At the Inglis Classic sale we took a shine to Lot 380, a Keltrice colt out of a half sister to the useful Gr2 winner Muirfield Village for $25,000. In our opinion, the classically built Zabeel - Kowtpw colt, NZLot225   January Recap  Early 2007 has been extremely busy for many in our industry, not least DGR. January runners saw Prince Arthur post two stakes wins including a dominant win in the Australia Day Stakes at Randwick, a performance that impressed his jockey Darren Beadman. Prince Arthur is now on a Cups mission, Sydney & Melbourne and who better to handle it than the master Bart Cummings. Also in January saw Blessus rack up four wins from his five starts this preparation before being spelled a few weeks ago. Mencik was another to remove herself from the unplaced reps list, posting a 2 ½ length maiden win at Kembla when resuming followed by a Gosford placing at her subsequent start. She runs in the provincials this weekend (17th). Deefour also added a Randwick win to his record and has risen through the ranks quite quickly. He probably failed to stay 2000m when a beaten favourite last start, not surprising for a son of Grand lodge in hindsight, his racing distances will be brought back a touch. Proven quality stayer High Cee, in our opinion ran a great fifth behind The Free Stater in the 1200m Gr3 Clissold Hcp, which was run in very fast time when he resumed after a long lay off as too did Pendragon, another quality stayer when he resumed for fifth in the Expressway Stakes Gr2. Much of the New Year was spent at and in research for the yearling sales at the Gold Coast, New Zealand & Sydney. So far we have purchased nine yearlings details of which wil be posted in a separate news item. Prince Arthur coasts home alone at the end of the Australia day Cup Listed.   2006 Into 2007 Our 2006 ended with another hitherto lightly raced maiden breaking his maiden with Bishop (renamed Lasker) winning his third start in Singapore on Saturday 30th December at Kranji adjsuting our record to 48 individual runners for 30 individual winners, 40 individual placegetters and 8 unplaced runners. The latest winner was a cheap purchase as a breeze up 2yo for $25,000, we are informed Bishop should add to his tally. 2007 began in a good vein with Prince Arthur running a game third the Listed Tatts Cup at Randwick from a wide draw, and then this courageous Danehill colt defied beging widest throughout at Rosehill to post his first stakes win in the Listed Underwood Cup. Observers noted he was entitled to tire anfetr an exhausting run but he again showed his toughness to win going away just before the post. Particular mention must be made of Bart Cummings Magic Millions win by Mimi Lebrock on the same day as Prince Arthurs. Mimi Lebrock is not one of our stable but for owners (and sometimes racing partners) Les & Sue Smith is was a special win. Bart showed he rightly remains a Hall of Fame trainer training sprinters, stayers, milers, two year olds, three year olds, older horses, colts, fillies to win feature races. Just look at the 2006 results through the likes of Wonderful World, God's Own, Kosi Bay, Swick, Mimi Lebrock & Prince Arthur. Not just the Cups King but a Master Trainer.   Maidens No More With two of as then unplaced runners both broking their maiden tags in impressive style before in the last but one weekend of 2006, Sagwala by an astonishing 7 1/2 lenghts at Moonee Valley and Deefour a very solid 2 1/4 at Kembla in slick sectionals adding to Mulamans game short head defeat at Randwick and Prince Arthurs brave 1.4 length fifth in the Villiers, updating our calender years statisics is required, errors & omissions accepted, to 24th December 2006, we had 48 individual runners in 5 countries with seven trainers, 81% of those horses running a place and 64.4% individual winners with 18.75% yet to break their maiden including those that may have had only one race start to date. We had winners at Group 1, Group 2 & Listed levels with many of those performers set to train on in 2007, while God’s Own was sold in a multi million dollar deal to stand at stud for the second half of 2006 while in all likelihood Wonderful World will follow a similar path when he is retired from racing. Those two horses, the 2005 & 2006 Caulfiled Guineas Gr1 winners were our obvious highlights. (See the full list)   Winners Wonderful World (inc Group 1 Caulfield Guineas) Cresta Run (inc 3rd $1m MM Trophy) Kosi Bay (inc Listed Epona Stakes & Gr1 placed) Mi Casa (inc Listed) Columate Laylia Golden Zen Roadhog Fianchetto It’s All Money (Malaysia) Rata (Singapore) Zhu Chen (Malaysia) Never Stop (Singapore) Lasker Nordic Dancer (New Zealand) Choicely Kingside (Malaysia) Prince Arthur (& Group placed) O Danny Boy (Hong Kong & Australia) Blessus Ruy Lopez (Singapore) Mulaman Yakin (Malaysia) Empress Jade Fuji Riva Cavita Extract Sagwala Deefour Bishop (Singapore) Placed God’s Own (Gr1 2nd Newmarket Hcp) Sacred Moon (2yo 1 start) True Paradise Pisang Mas (Malaysia) Viewed Lyman Hall (Singapore) Winning Big Ballygoran El De Lago Woody (Malaysia) Validated  Unplaced Runners Accumulate Mencik La Reagle Kamsky Zingam Damaze Rook (Malaysia Benarrivo (Malaysia)   2006 Results  2006 was a productive year for us and our clients on the racetrack and unless we have missed somebody out, all our representative runners for the year are as follows (see compiled listing in News, follow the more information link) At the time of posting this update, Prince Arthur is still to contest the Villiers Stakes Gr2 on 23rd December following on from a solid third in the Hawkesbury Cup Gr3. Mencik, Sagwala & Deefour will all be trying to break their maidens before the New Year. So errors & omissions accepted, to 14th December 2006, we had 48 runners in 5 countries with seven trainers, 77% of those horses running a place and 56% individual winners with 23% yet to break their maiden including those that may have had only one race start to date. We had winners at Group 1, Group 2 & Listed levels with many of those performers set to train on in 2007, while God’s Own was sold in a multi million dollar deal to stand at stud for the second half of 2006 while in all likelihood Wonderful World will follow a similar path when he is retired from racing. Those two horses, the 2005 & 2006 Caulfield Guineas Gr1 winners were our obvious highlights. Winners Wonderful World (inc Group 1 Caulfield Guineas) Cresta Run (inc 3rd $1m MM Trophy) Kosi Bay (inc Listed Epona Stakes & Gr1 placed) Mi Casa (inc Listed) Columate Laylia Golden Zen Roadhog Fianchetto It’s All Money (Malaysia) Rata (Singapore) Zhu Chen (Malaysia) Never Stop (Singapore) Lasker Nordic Dancer (New Zealand) Choicely Kingside (Malaysia) Prince Arthur (& Group placed) O Danny Boy (Hong Kong & Australia) Blessus Ruy Lopez (Singapore) Mulaman Yakin (Malaysia) Empress Jade Fuji Riva Cavita Extract Sagwala Deefour Placed God’s Own (Gr1 2nd Newmarket Hcp) Sacred Moon (2yo 1 start) True Paradise Pisang Mas (Malaysia) Viewed Lyman Hall (Singapore) Winning Big Ballygoran El De Lago Woody (Malaysia)  Unplaced Runners Accumulate Mencik La Reagle Kamsky Zingam Damaze Rook (Malaysia) Bishop (Malaysia) Benarrivo (Malaysia) Recapping, errors & omissions accepted, to 14th December 2006, we had 48 runners in 5 countries with seven trainers, 77% of those horses running a place and 56% individual winners with 23% yet to break their maiden including those that may have had only one race start to date. We had winners at Group 1, Group 2 & Listed levels with many of those performers set to train on in 2007, while God’s Own was sold in a multi million dollar deal to stand at stud for the second half of 2006 while in all likelihood Wonderful World will follow a similar path when he is retired from racing. Those two horses, the 2005 & 2006 Caulfiled Guineas Gr1 winners were our obvious highlights. Wonderful World clear on the line in the 2006 Caulfield Guineas Gr1   A World Of Racing It has been a quite time with few runners over the last two since the end of the Flemington extravaganza on the domestic scene, but we have had two runners internationally and both were winners. O Danny Boy, formerly Byaraja in Australia, had his maiden win in Hong Kong for his owners Mr & Mrs Tan Boon Seng last night (22/11) at Happy Valley. O Danny Boy has only been in the special economic region since the start of the new current racing season having won previously in Australia as Byaraja. O Danny Boy is Tan Boon Seng’s very first racehorse and congratulations to him. Still near the equator but in the Malaysian Racing Association It’s All Money won again for her connections on Sunday (19/11). A product of a breeding programme in WA specifically for the job and a rare successful female in the region, It’s All Money (by Magic Of Money, now resident sire at the Malaysian National Stud) has won 5 of her 11 starts to date with 4 other minor placings, the latest success one of back to back wins at Class 2 she will tackle a Group race at her next start. Australian Group racing will see out team member Kosi Bay, a stakeswinner and Gr1 placed herself, tackle the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Sunday. O Danny Boy (nee Byaraja) seen winning in Sydney.   A Shinning Knight  Round Table he is not yet, but we are working on it. Prince Arthur looks to have come back in good form when resuming on Saturday. Suited by the strong pace he was able to reel in his rivals down the Randwick home straight to snatch a head victory on the post. This Danehill colt, a one time favourite for the Queensland Guineas is already stakes placed via a second place in the Carbine Club Stakes last preparation and he will be given the opportunity to add some more stakes performances to his record over the coming months. A half brother to Tulloch Stakes winner Prince Of War out of a daughter of Princess Tracey, dam of handy sires Danasinga, Towkay and new sire Cullen, noted race analyst Tony Brassel commented “A big race win isn’t beyond him and physically, no more imposing specimen attended Randwick”, we hope Tony’s judgment is a good as ever. Many of our carnival horses are spelling, those having a break include Wonderful World, Accumulate, Mi Casa, Lasker, Viewed, Fianchetto, Laylia. Group class horses already on the way back into work include Hi Cee, Pendragon & Cresta Run, and we are hopeful they will be racing in the early autumn. Recently Gr1 placed Kosi Bay will continue her carnival in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. She had no luck caught deep throughout at Flemington on Saturday. Prince Arthur seen winning at Randwick.   Group 1 Results  Derby Day at Flemington & its corresponding meeting at Rosehill in Sydney produced some encouraging results for us, and some disappointment. Disappointments included the scratching of our second favourite for the Group 1 Ascot Vale Stakes in Wonderful World. We will have to wait at least until the autumn to see the Caulfield Guineas winner back at the races but he has done a marvellous job this spring. Hat’s off to him and his trainer Bart Cummings. However at Flemington in the Group1 Myer Stakes, noted middle distance performer Kosi Bay made most of the inside bias and added a Group 1 third to her record over 1600m. Already a stakeswinner at 1900m and half sister to Kiwi Champion mare Calveen, Kosi Bay should appreciate the 2000m of the Matriarch Stakes on Stakes day next Saturday. Rosehill Sydney provided some good results, it took a developed print to separate the ever consistant Mi Casa and Zedaction. Mi Casa appreciated the drop back to 1900m and was held up briefly in the home straight while our latest syndication Sacred Moon (see right hand side and syndication pages) ran a most encouraging debut when beaten only ½ length & a ½ neck into third. Given that the winner had the benefit of a prior start and the second cost it’s connections $600,000, our owners of a modest $57,000 purchase have reason to look forward to the future. Kosi Bay seen winning the Listed Epona Stakes   Cox Plate to Cup Week  You don’t win group races every weekend, just ask some of the connections of the leading fancies at the Cox Plate meeting but from our two runners on the weekend the ever game and highly consistent mare Laylia won at Rosehill posting her third victory, her ninth placing form twelve career starts and $146,430 plus another $20,000 in BOBS. Given that she was an original $70,000 yearling purchase and a daughter of Redoute’s Choice (now standing at $275,000 in 2006) she is a great buy. At Moonee Valley our other runner Accumulate failed to emulate a former stablemate Frightening when he won the Moonee Valley Cup. Acccumulate did draw widest and went back and thus had little chance but he needs to lift to be a realistic chance in the Melbourne Cup even if he gets a start which is very much up in the air. Frightening will get his rewards for his past performances when he starts a stud career in Queesland in 2007. The Spring Carnival heads to Flemington and on the opening day, Derby Day we expect to be represented by Wonderful World in the Gr1 Ascot Vale which is shaping to be a very strong race, Kosi Bay steps up to 1600m in the Gr1 Myer Classic, last start winner Lasker is hoping to get into the Listed Carbine Club field while Accumulate may run in the Gr 2 SAAB. In Sydney at Rosehill our latest syndication Sacred Moon, a modest purchase, may make his debut after a pleasing 2nd at the Warwick Farm trials on Friday and good servant Mi Casa will drop back to the 1900m after showing he could not stay 2400m in the Tattersalls Cup. Laylia seen here winning at Randwick. She has now won at Sydney's other main track Rosehill. Then Laylia putting it all in to win at Rosehill.   Broodmares Wanted  We are busy with our racehorses throughout the remainder of the Melbourne Spring Carnival, but we are putting up the horses wanted shingle at the same time. We are seeking for a number of orders maiden or younger in foal broodmares for ongoing commercial breeding purposes from $50,000 and up. Our clients are picky but if you believe you have anything of interest please e-mail details to dgr@dgrracing.com.au. We will have ready access to e-mails on the road so to speak and can access our own on-line pedigrees with sufficient given information Name, Sire & Dam. We will not be offering valuation on mares however.   Keeping Up With The Boys  Silent Witness’ half sister Empress Jade will attempt to emulate her male stablemates by trying to win the “girls classic” of the 1000 Guineas Group 1 at Caulfield tomorrow. She will start at much longer odds than either Gods’ Own or Wonderful World did when they won their Caulfield Guineas however she has displayed sufficient talent to be given her opportunity. On Caulfield Cup weekend our runners that are scheduled to have their opportunity to display their talents are 3yo filly Golden Zen, stakeswinning mare Kosi Bay and staying older horses Accumulate & Mi Casa. In fact Golden Zen is the only one of that quartet yet to win a stakes race, but she ran a creditable race last start in the Group 1 Flight stakes so there is enough to suggest her time might come. Also attempting to get a stakes win on the weekend will be ultra consistent mare Laylia when she lines up in the Listed Belle Of The Turf at Gosford on Sunday. Being a daughter of Redoutes Choice, all be it modestly purchased for his stock at $70,000, stakes form will add to her to broodmare value but what value Encosta De Lago’s daughter Empress Jade if she were to win the 1000 Guineas! We live in hope once again. Empress Jade   A Wonderful Time  We had a wonderful time on Saturday with Wonderful World posting a dominant win in the Group1 $1m Caulfield Guineas. Two of his joint owners and two of our best customers shared in the win last year of God’s Own and this time shared the joy with succesful client but Group 1 rookie winning owner Michael Alexeef. Common link again was our Hall of Fame trainer Bart Cummings, who part owned and trained God’s Own last year and put up a masterful performance as trainer & aided by his very experienced teams in Sydney & Melbourne to coax such dominant wins from Wonderful World in both the Guineas Prelude and the Guineas itself. As many have stated it is no fluke to train the winners of 247 Group 1 races. Thought will go into what is next for the winner, perhaps a Cox Plate start might be justified if we can find a light enough jockey as the horse would carry only 48.5kgs at weight for age. We had one other runner on the day, a two start veteran by Galileo called Lasker, named in honour of a World Chess Grandmaster like so many of the owners (yes Dato Tan Chin Nam again) horses.  He also won convincingly, this time at Rosehill in Sydney but may justify a trip to Melbourne for a race like the Carbine Club Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington. Dato’ Tan has won that particular race twice before with Think Big & Saintly, both of whom went on the win Melbourne Cups. Big (huge) shoes for Lasker to follow but he will be given the opportunity to take steps along the path. Talking of opportunity, we had the foresight or call it the good fortune as it turns out to buy Wonderful World’s dam Success Tale before he, Wonderful World made a public name for himself. And sharing this good fortune with our friends and clients, Success Tale is now in-foal to last years Guineas winner God’s Own. Bart also chimed into the family buying Wonderful Worlds younger brother at last years Magic Millions, the remaining shares in him sure to be snatched up by some sound minded investor. Wonderful World surges clear in the 3yo Gr1 Classic Luke Nolan shows justifiabe joy for an excellent performance by man & beast So to does Gr1 winning part owner Michael Alexeef And that trophy looks familiar, so to do two of the faces, legend Bart Cummings and part owner Chye Khaw.     Beyond Super Saturday  Our day at Randwick’s “Super Saturday” eventuated with lightly raced 3yo’s Fianchetto & Viewed beaten 1 lengths & 1.5 lens respectively in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and Golden Zen running on somewhat to be beaten 3.8 lens in the Group 1 Flight Stakes. It appeared to us that on pace and leaders did well on the day, for example in the Champion Stakes the first three home where the first three to make the turn. Bias no, pattern of racing quite possibly. Still both Viewed & Fianchetto are now spelling while many of their peers are still at it and we figure they might repay the softer approach and develop into a force over the longer distances in the autumn. Golden Zen will be allowed to stretch out over ground in Melbourne and may justify an Oaks start as hinted at by her Flight Stakes performance. Every owner of a filly wants to win an Oaks and we will give it a try. This weekend our main hope is Wonderful World who is rated by many form and price assessors as second pick for the $1m Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. We live in hope. Last year's Caulfield Guineas saw God's Own snatch a remarkable victory.   Doing Something Right We made an observation when viewing a table shown in the very informative website of Australia's leading trainer of Group 1 winners www.bartcummings.com.au that we must be doing something right. Since we have been buying and sourcing some of the horses that go into that stable in the early 1990’s, no less than five of our purchases figure in Bart’s table for recent years in the Group 1 Spring Champion & Flight Stakes for the three year old colts and 3yo fillies respectively. DGR purchased colts Pendragon, Liberty Hall & Catalan Opening and fillies Dashing Eagle & Danarani. We are very proud to be associated with the Bart Cummings stable and involved with such success so many years. This year we have never have we had as many runners in any one year in these two particular races with colts Viewed & Fianchetto taking their place along with Golden Zen and an interest in Empress Jade of the fillies; see below and the above link to Bart's site AJC Spring Champion Stakes Gr1 2005 Pendragon 2nd 2003 November Dreaming 2nd 1999 Liberty Hall 3rd 1997 El Mirada 3rd 1995 Catalan Opening 3rd       AJC Flight Stakes Gr1 1996 Dashing Eagle 1st 1994 Danarani 1st 1989 Tristanagh 2nd     1994 Flight Stakes winner Danarani and her first foal, the stakeswinner Zingam     Still A Maiden...Just!!!  This time last year our quality colt 3yo Pendragon broke his maiden in the Gloaming Stakes Gr3 and it was this close (see below) to our promising 3yo colt Viewed breaking his maiden tag a stakes level when just missing in the Dulcify Quality Listed at Randwick on Saturday. Only a veteran of 4 starts and that was his first attempt at anything further than 1400m and he showed the staying potential we figured he might have despite starting at big odds in the Dulcify. He gets the opportunity to break his maiden this coming weekend, but at Group 1 level in the Champion Stakes that would be a rarely achieved feat. He takes his place in the field with our fellow runner Fianchetto. Fianchetto never saw cover in the Dulcify but boxed on. We hope both horses get a good run in transit and their opportunity to figure. Joining these two colts at Group 1 level will be the 3yo fillies Empress Jade & Golden Zen, both to take their spots in the Flight Stakes while in Melbourne Accumulate will take another step on his Melbourne Cup path in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. At a more modest level but still a Cup Mi Casa posted his 5th career win to take the Illawarra Cup at Kembla today for Dato’s Yap & Tan. Dato’ Tan took the same race last year with Zingam. Laylia was not disgraced either running third at Warwick Farm on Monday but had to be considered unlucky when she got too far back. Just a short head in it for the fast closing Viewed   Can History Repeat  History Repeating was an upbeat song sung by Shirley Bassey, Wonderful World a ballard made famous by Louis Armstrong; is there a theme? Last year this lucky owner hoisted the Caulfield Guineas trophy aloft as part owner of God’s Own along with our long term client Dato Tan Chin Nam & trainer Bart Cummings. With Wonderful World’s fantastic return to form with a 2 ¼ length win in the Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday the team are back with a realistic chance to repeat in the 2006 running of the $1m Caulfield Guineas. Malaysian businessman Chye Khaw and Dato Tan Chin Nam are joined by client and friend Michael Alexeef as joint owners of Wonderful World which is trained of course by none other than living legend Bart Cummings. It will be an honour to take on the superb Miss Finland in the Guineas if she runs and no shame if we are beaten by her, not that our colt has not proved very competitive against her at Gr1 level before with both horses filling 2nd & 3rd placing in the Blue Diamond last autumn at Caulfield. In fact Wonderful Worlds' Caulfield record is outstanding having three runs at the track for a Gr3 win and Gr3 & Gr1 placings. We hope he can maintain that record on 14th October. Less euphoric but still pleasing was the progress shown by our leading Cup hope Accumulate on Saturday. He transfers to Melbourne and we can expect Bart to build up his distances into his cup tilt. The next seven days should see scheduled runs from team members Golden Zen, Fianchetto, Viewed, Laylia and a couple of first starters. Mr Khaw (left) with the 2005 Caulfield Guineas Trophy. And Wonderful World resplendant in his Guineas Prelude Winners Rug.   The Week That Was  The week that was had many facets. Despite a small field the running of the weight for age Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Gr2 at Moonee Valley should prove a strong pointer to the $3m Cox Plate with last years Dato Tan Chin Nam winner Lad Of The Manner  repeating dose to nudge out the high class Apache Cat. Apache Cat featured in a number of duels last season with our own God’s Own. Apache Cat, a gelding along with an outstanding performance on Saturday from another gelding Racing To Win all adding to the depth of racing form to God’s Own. God’s Own being the lucky one, an entire and now gleefully fulfilling his duties in his new role at Eliza Park Stud. History has shown that lightly raced stallions, with big pedigrees and racing form around the every best tend to repeat history and make very successful sires. Go to www.elizapark.com.au for more on God’s Own. Our runners last week were generally good, Golden Zen running second at Canterbury to glamour bred stablemate Empress Jade, in whom we have an interest. Golden Zen was running on and gave the impression further will be no obstacle as too did 3yo Fianchetto (1/2 brother to our latest syndication and see previous stories) beaten only a half head on Thursday after being forced wide. Accumulate had a temporary hiccup that prevented him taking his place Saturday while Mi Casa got back and found the other too slick for him in the sprint home for the Gr3 Kingston Town at Rosehill.     Big Ears feature on many a classic filly. Empress Jade, an Encosta De Lago 1/2 sister to superstar Silent Witness has them pricked after winning.   Rain Rain Go Away, Come Back Rain rain go away, come back another day. Well that's been our motto for the last week or so. Record Sydney rains (why does it not get into the Sydney catchment and water storage facilities we keep asking ourselves) has meant very few runners recently. In fact only one this weekend Ballygoran who managed to run second on a heavy Newcastle track. if we get mproving conditions should a fair fair few of our team step out with the likes of Accumulate, Golden Zen, Viewed, Laylia, Mi Casa all scheduled to make appearance in the next 7 days while Saturday sees the second running of the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes Gr2 at Moonee Valley, named after our leading client. We understand El Secundo, vying for Cox Plate favouritism with Eremein will run in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, we look forward to seeing him in the special winner rug featuring Dato's famous colours.   Dato's colours on display at his 80th birtday bash in Kuala Lumpur.   Backing Our Judgement   We backed our judgement in January 2005 to by an athletic Montjeu half brother to our previously raced and quite talented Kingside (2nd Phar Lap Stakes Gr2 & 4th Epsom Hcp Gr1). Montjeu basically went on to clean up in Europe in his first two seasons at stud in the staying races producing multiple Derby winners, King George & ‘Arc De Triomphe successes, the highest possible achievements in the European arena. It is a quantum leap from Kembla to Longchamp, but the Montjeu’s have been an enigma down under and rather absent from the winners enclosures but a tiny step was taken with the above mentioned Montjeu colt now a 3yo named Fianchetto posting a 2.5lens win over 1400m on his seasonal return at Kembla on Saturday. Fianchetto had two educational runs as a 2yo and has been patiently treated by master trainer Bart Cummings. What might Bart do with this horse over 2400m, time will tell. We backed our judgement once again to buy the Black Minnaloushe half brother to both Kingside & Fianchetto from their dam Madame Faubourg in January 2006, bred to sharper by the very successful debutant sire this colt is in the final throws of syndication, see the link to syndications.     A Quick Turnaround  The previous weeks racing did not go quite as anticipated with Wonderful World hanging to the point of putting himself out of race in the San Dominico while Empress Jade was one of three runners in the same race at Warwick Farm to get scratched at the barriers leading to one conclude that their may have been insufficient numbers of barrier attendants. But a week in racing can soon turn things around with our three runners this weekend producing a promising win on seasonal return from the Montjeu 3yo Fianchetto (see separate story), a tradesman win from Roadhog at Caulfield, Roadhog who had been so unlucky at his previous two starts got the breaks this time and got the job done efficiently to produce his eight career win and adding a new dimension to his resume by stretching out to win at his first attempt at 1600m and the final runner, Ballygoran a lightly raced son of Zabeel ran home solidly for third place at Kembla over 1500m. Both Wonderful World & Empress Jade have been ordered to trial by the stewards before racing again but we beleive they will make amends in the hands of master trainer Bart Cummings. Wonderful World to get back winning ways.   The Racing Season Just Gone  Last racing season which began 1/08/05 and culminated at Randwick on 29/07/06 was quite productive for our clients who raced the following horses all of whom won in the metropolitan arenas of Sydney & Melbourne and interstate carnivals, those horses including in a vague chronological order Pendragon (2 wins) High Cee (3) God’s Own (2), Cresta Run (3), Byaraja, Mi Casa (3), Wonderful World (2), Kosi Bay (2), Prince Arthur (2), Columate (2), Strasbourg , Choicely , Mulaman , Roadhog (2), Laylia (2), Zingam; while provincial only winners included Damaze, Cavita, Golden Zen, Extract, Willing and Able (2), Nordic Dancer (in NZ). In Asia, mainly in Singapore & Kuala Lumpur we had wins from Never Stop, Lyman Hall, Rata, Zhu Chen, It’s all Money, Seirawan. There were also some place only getters like Viewed, True Paradise, Ballygoran, Winning Big with most of those look likely to join the winners list and only five non placegetters including Sagwala & Lasker. Feature race successes came from God’s Own sensational Group 1 win in the Caulfield Guineas and his equally creditable 2nd in the Gr1 Lightening Stakes 1000m to international sprinter Takeover Target. After racetrack earnings of just shy of $1m, God’s Own was subsequently sold for stallion duties in a $12m deal where he begins his new (fun) career at Eliza Park in Victoria. Pendragon won twice at Group level via his Gloaming Stakes & Norman Robinson Stakes wins, he also added a second placing in the Champion Stakes Gr1 and notable fourth in the VRC Derby Gr1 & third in the Golden Rose Listed behind Racing To win & Paratroopers and in front of our own God’s Own. High Cee dead heated in the Group 2 Newcastle Cup stringing together 3 wins in a row, Strasbourg was victorious with a dashing win the Gr2 SAAB Quality on Derby Day while Kosi Bay opened her stakes record with a win in the Epona Stakes Listed adding a further listed placing at the Randwick carnival. Mi Casa made one of his wins at Listed level in the staying catagory. 2yo Wonderful World ran third in a downpour in the Blue Diamond Stakes Gr1 while running second in the Blue Diamond Prelude Gr3 two weeks earlier. Danehill colt Prince Arthur made an early career mark when running second in the historical Carbine Club stakes Listed also at the Randwick carnival. Cresta Run also made a notable 3 win sequence finishing with a closing third in the $1 Magic Millions Trophy Listed. These horses and other younger animals yet to race should provide a solid platform for the new 2006-2007 season to keep us in the race for glory. God's Own Caulfield Guineas Trophy displayed by one of his jubilant owners & yours truely.   A New Season Warming Up  The new racing season began last Tuesday with the official horses’ birthday and we have had four runners for our connections since, no winners amongst them this time but they and their stablemates appear to be warming up nicely. On Wednesday 2nd at Canterbury 3yo Viewed debuted for a close second, we have a leg of fellow 3yo Empress Jade who resumed for an improved fourth while last Saturday was the turn of the older brigade with Roadhog running another fine race at Caulfield Melbourne for a fast finishing third and at Rosehill in Sydney Mi Casa finished fifth in the $100,000 winter final over a short 1500m. In between races on Wednesday young duo Wonderful World & Golden Zen galloped and they are both programmed to resume this coming Saturday 12th at Randwick, Wonderful World, already Gr1 placed as a 2yo in what looks a strong field for the San Dominico Stakes Gr2 with Darren Beadman set to have his first feel of the colt. Trialling Friday 11th on the come back from injury will be the VRC St Leger winner Accumulate while the interesting 3yo Deefour will attempt to handle an expected wet track on Wednesday at Canterbury. Others are due to com on line over the next month or so leading into the carnivals and we enjoy the anticipation. Viewed just fails to grab Cartoons on debut.  Legendary trainer Bart Cummings looks happy enough though.   2008 Sales Season To Begin     Dirty Work Pays Double July has been a traditionally quite month for our runners with few runners and a fair few scratched on the predominantly wet winter tracks; 2 year old Mulaman added a 4th place finish to his previous win when getting a long way back and in the same race Sagwala, our half brother to Melbourne Cup winner Rogan Josh ran good sectionals for 6th, wait for him over some ground as an older horse and Roadhog ran a game 5th following on from his previous start win. The toughest performer so far this month was Laylia who was a decisive winner by the winning post on Saturday in the very heavy conditions at Randwick. It did not look like Laylia would win at any stage finding the going uncomfortable but her class prevailed inside the final 100m and this $70,000 daughter of Redoute’s Choice adds a second win to her brief career and a $20,000 BOBS bonus which the owners have elected to “double up” into $40,000 against yearling purchases.   Dato' Tan famous colours get plenty of mud on them but     it was worth it with Laylia's decisive win at headquaters.   On The Road Again  We had two runners representing our interests this weekend. Roadhog, an original $55,000 yearling has now won seven races and the best part of a ¼ million dollars when putting up an emphatic victory at Sandown on Saturday. Under a well judged ride from Luke Nolan from wide out Roadhog crossed the field to sit on the leaders rump until powering away in the straight. Since being sent to Melbourne Roadhog has found renewed vigour, he was unlucky third at Flemington two weeks ago before this latest win and he is back on the road again. Our other runner, a 2yo half brother to Melbourne Cup winner Rogan Josh ran an improved race for fifth over 1300m at Rosehill after previously racing greenly from wide barriers so there is a longer term future in him. That man again Wilf Mula, part owner this time of Roadhog.   Way To Go Man  No we have not moved to Nimben and adopted an alternative lifestyle as our title may lead one to think, but Mulaman, bravely named after his owner popular Sydney Turf Club Committeeman Wilf Mula, was nothing but impressive when resuming and making only his second racecourse appearance when streaking away with the 2yo event at Warwick Farm on the Queens Birthday weekend meeting. Like his name sake still an entire, we hope this young colt can on with the job as his career unfolds in the next few racing seasons. We purchased Mulaman for $32,500 at the Inglis Classic Sale and regular client Wilf Mula soon snapped him up. This current racing season’s associations with Wilf include stakes winners Kosi Bay and Strasbourg and the promising Columate. On the same day but in Brisbane, Prince Arthurs’ task was going to be a lot harder after he drew barrier 18 of 19 when starting favourite for the Group 2 Queensland Guineas and so it proved. Forced to cover ground to attack the lead, Prince Arthur briefly challenged at the top of the straight but there his run ended after a testing run and a strenuous two state campaign. A lightly raced 3yo entire by Danehill, we think has more in store but for now he gets a well earned spell. Way To Go Mula-Man After the race "Mula" the hu-man was looking rather pleased.   Outstanding Return  Dato Tan Chin Nam may have some disappointment that Prince Arthur will not take his place this Saturday in the Gr3 Rough Habit Plate as planned after disappointing trainer Bart Cummings with his final piece of fast work. Bart will work on getting this promising colt into top form again but he may bypass the Derby in favour of the Queensland Guineas, that decision to come in the fullness of time. What will comfort our client is the well broadcast announcement that God’s Own is to stand at Yallambie Stud for the 2006 breeding season in a eight figure deal. God’s Own will stand at a service fee of $30,000 plus GST with Dato and his partners retaining a few shares. So for an initial $220,000 purchase of the colt and $954,500 in prizemoney, some serious excitement and the proceeds from his sale to Yallambie and the bright outlook for future earnings from stallion income or foals bred, it is an outstanding return. God's Own remarkable victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas over subsequent multiple Gr1 winner Paratroupers. Behind him included Jet Spur and subsequent multiple Gr1 winner Apache Cat.   100% Record  We had one representative from our team this weekend and that was Prince Arthur. Making his debut in Brisbane after just being run down in the Listed Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick, Prince Arthur won commandingly by 3.75 lengths breaking the class record convincingly and nearing the track record in 1:34.89. His form was franked later in the day by another commanding win, this time by Belmonte in the Group 3 Doomben Classic over the same course and distance in 1:36.03. It was Belmonte who ran down Prince Arthur in the Carbine Club Stakes and the two look set to lock horns again in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate on 27 May. Both lightly raced horses are on a route to the Group 1 QTC Derby of June 10 with Belmonte sure to pose a severe test to our horse in both events. Prince Arthur seen winning.   The Back Page Speaking of the Sydney Morning Herald, on the back page is the long running Column 8, featuring often witty news snippets. Well our Columate won a strongly contested 3yo race at Rosehill on Saturday posting his second win and fourth “podium finish” from six career starts to date. We feel the depth of this race and the form that will come out of it to prove quite strong. We splashed out $26,000 to buy this son of Snippets, so he is making a good return for his owners already. His half brother made considerably more at the recent Easter Yearling sales fetching $350,000 to the bid of the huge Woodlands Stud outfit. Columate’s part owner Norm Gillespie shares the record of our cheapest buy with Shoehine Henry, named after the “shoeshine man” outside the old Hilton who was a $7,000 purchase. Shoeshine Henry won over $380,000 including the inaugural Inglis Classic, 2nd Silver Slipper Gr2, Breeders Plate Gr3, 3rd Caulfield Guineas Gr1, MVRC Vase Gr3. A good racehorse and a good return by any measure.   Columate creates an impression.    Sydney Morning Herald Article   We quote a relevant article from the Sydney Morning Herald 5/5/06 “BLACK FLASH – New Zealand based sire Black Minnaloushe is fast making a name for himself in the Shaky Isles and is already out in front as leading first season sire. Black Minnaloushe was an accomplished racetrack performer, winning two of Europe’s most prestigious group 1 races – the Irish Guineas and the St James Palace Stakes. He is producing precocious types in New Zealand, with his progeny winning six races. But this number seems likely to be bolstered after a set of barrier trials at Cambridge on Tuesday. The sire was represented by five two-year-old winners, two prepared by leading trainer Mark Walker and one each by Roger James, Chris Wood and Craig Thornton. Australian buyers, including Melbourne trainers Peter Moody and Danny O’Brian snared several of his yearling at the Karaka sales in February, while Sydney buyers included Duncan Ramage and Matthew Smith. The only yearling by Black Minnaloushe offered at the Magic Millions sales was purchased by Tim Martin for $150,000”. DGR offers some shares in our Black Minalouse purchase. Follow this LINK.     Easter Yearling Sales  The William Inglis Easter Yearling Sales were the strongest on record posting an incredible average of $288,497 up some 40% with record prices for both colts & fillies; while it felt like it would be handy to have a Oil Well or two, DGR managed to get a few selected Lots without having to pay millions of dollars; We purchased Lot 286 a colt by seven time Gr1 winner Rock Of Gibraltar from dual Oaks winner Episode for a modest $150,000, Lot 342 a colt by boom stallion Redoute’s Choice for what appears a bargain $175,000 (Sire of the sale Redoute’s average was $710,857 for the 35 sold including the $3m sale topper); Our highest price acquisition was Lot 350 a filly regarded as a standout example by the very promising young sire Viscount from Julies’ Paige; our clients already racing her older sister by Redoute’s Choice while our purchases were rounded out by Lot 79 a colt by former Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway from a half sister to Danendri who was very successful for us becoming champion 3yo Filly of 1996/97; Further details will be available in the for sale section but there are only limited shares available in just one colt.   Classic Type - Lot 350 Viscount - Julies' Paige    Sydney Racing Carnival In a very busy period for the whole racing community some of the results did not go quite as we had hoped; God’s Own pulled up from the George Ryder Gr1 with a high temperature which required treatment and ruled him out of the remainder of the carnival but explained his perfromance while Wonderful World had a hard run in the Golden Slipper Gr1 when trapped widest throughout the race which at the end of a long two state preparation also saw him head to the spelling paddock; Prince Arthur was a excellent result nearly pulling off an all the way win in the Carbine Club Stakes Listed on Derby day; Had this lightly raced son of Danehill drawn better he would have had to have worked less hard early and this might have been the difference to the long neck he was beaten, Prince Arthur will now head to Queensland for that Carnival; Kosi Bay added a further all important Stakes placing when third in the JRA Plate Listed to her previous Stakes win in the Epona Stakes Listed while debutant 2yo winner Golden Zen just missed a Stakes placing with a close fourth in the Keith MacKay Stakes Listed at her second career performance; She too will spell in preparation for the Spring carnivals; A highlight was to watch Headturner dominating win in the AJC Derby Gr1, we had the foresight to purchase his half brother earlier in the year at the Magic Millions (was listed in the For Sale section), had this colt sold at the subsequent William Inglis Easter Yearling sales he could quite easily made double what we paid. Prince Arthur attempts to fend off the challengers   Another Group 1 Win Black Minnaloushe did it again in siring his second Group 1 winner from his first crop with Jokers Wild winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce in New Zealand, this adds significantly to the credentials of our Black Minnaloushe colt currently under syndication; Those that have joined the partnership should be encouraged by these upgrades all since the colts purchase in New Zealand in February and the opportunity remains for others to join with no change to the price structure $9,440.47 plus GST per share including 12 months training, insurance and air-freight etc; Follow this link to our syndications page on the colt for details.     Black Minnaloushe has now captured two Group 1's from his first crop.   Valuable First Stakes Win Kosi Bay has shown promise and delivered for our owners in the best possible fashion winning the Listed Epona Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday; apart form the prizemoney and pleasure in winning experienced by the connections, a stakes (black type) win adds considerable value to the future broodmare value of the half sister to the Group 1 winner Calveen; Kosi Bay’s part owner Wilf Mula also shared in the ownership of Columate who won in near track record time on Thursday by 3 ½ lens in the manner a 5/2 on favourite should; some of his other owners have been regulars for years while for David White and his wife Kathy Columate is there very first horse with DGR; Both Kosi Bay & Columate will line up again very soon while our focus shifts to the elite Group 1 level with both Gods Own (George Ryder Stakes) and Wonderful World (Golden Slipper) stepping out at Rosehill this coming Saturday.     Kosi Bay Puts Pay To The Epona Stakes Listed Field   Purdon, A Good Man For The Job Jockey Zac Purton has landed the plum ride on the Group One winning three-year-old God’s Own for the G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday week and then the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) on April 17; Purton will get a feel of the Redoute’s Choice colt in a 1050m barrier trial at Randwick on Friday;”I’m thrilled to get the ride on God’s Own who has proven he’s the equal of any three-year-old in the country,” Purton said; ”His run in the Australian Guineas is best forgotten with the way the track played and Paratroopers showed on Saturday they can come back to Sydney and start where they left off in the spring;”This horse beat Paratroopers in the spring and Paratroopers has a couple of victories over the older horses at weight-for-age so I think my horse will be very competitive in the George Ryder" ; Purton will also get back aboard Wonderful World who he is unbeaten on in two starts this Friday in a 850m trial and has been booked to ride the colt in the Golden Slipper; ”Wonderful World is reported to be over his virus and I’m really looking forward to linking back up with him on Friday ; ”He’s a lovely horse and I think people have forgotten about how good he looked in Sydney prior to going to Melbourne for the Blue Diamond and he did finish third in that.”  By: Clinton Payne - Monday, March 27, 2006     Gods Own is back in Sydney for the George Ryder     Purdon, unbeaten on Wonderful World links up again with the colt for the Golden Slipper.   Successful Bloodstock Debut Our very first “public”and “publicly advertised” horse syndicate under our ASIC Licensed arm DGR Bloodstock Services has proven to keep up the winning record of our established agency arm DGR Thoroughbred Services. Our first "syndicated partnership" runner Golden Zen (refer syndications available Fusiachi Pegasus - Embraceable You in case you thought about it) was a winner on debut as a two year old over 1000m at Hawkesbury yesterday; Given that this filly has the pedigree of middle distance 3yo, Golden Zen who a fast finishing winner looks to have a bright future for her owners. We thank both the existing and the new customers who got involved; the partnership has definite “good karma”; It turned out to be a 100% record and a winning double for our owners yesterday with our largest group of owners, ten participants sharing in the win of Extract yesterday in Melbourne so DGR Bloodstock & Thoroughbred Services where head and head.     Golden Zen as a yearling when offered for partnership.   A Top Performance While we did not have a winner this weekend with Mi Casa feeling the effects of a very long campaign in which he has won three races including the Parramatta Cup Listed and three placings from 10 races over a total distance raced of 18,100 metres and has now won over $190,000; The biggest event for us this weekend was without doubt the 80th Birthday celebrations held in Kuala Lumpur for our leading client Dato’ Tan Chin Nam; We attended several days of extraordinary hosting and a huge gala event at the impressive Renaissance Hotel in central Kuala Lumpur where a clearly horse racing themed stage was set. Each dish on a long menu was named after some of his best racehorses including Saintly, Think Big, Catalan Opening, God’s Own, Pendragon etc with footage of those horses shown and videoed tributes by Australian racing identities. Dato’s own family took centre stage with an all singing all dancing performance from Aunts, Nieces, Nephews, Sons, Daughters, Sisters and Grandchildren; The Osmunds look out, it was a top class performance.     The Stage Was Set     Dato's Passion for Racing The Major Focus     Dato' Tan & Family Cut The Cake         Leading Juvenile Sire Black Minnaloushe continued his excellent start to his career at stud with Jokers Wild winning the Group 1 Ford Slipper in New Zealand on Saturday. This is in addition to Jokers Wild previous three stakes wins, Cadre Noirs stakes placed to Jokers Wild in the Ford Slipper Preview and Changing Eyes Group 3 second in the Breeders Stakes at Cheltenham last week. These results propels Black Minnaloushe to Leading First Season Sire in New Zealand and we imagine the head of the New Zealand 2yo Sires Table. All these performances have occurred since our purchase of the Black Minnaloushe – Madam Faubourg colt so we feel we have achieved good value. $9,440.47 plus GST gets a share in our Black Minnaloushe, check out the syndications link.     Leading 2yo Sire Black Minnaloushe.   Better Luck Next Time God’s Own did not win the Cadbury Guineas Gr1 on Saturday as expected by most experts. We believe circumstances were against the star colt with what was an apparent strong leaders biased track at Flemington. It has been well reported that God’s Own eventually settled some six lengths off the leader and eventual winner Apache Cat and made his challenge widest of all and well away from the faster section of the track. This all led to God’s Own only making up some of the leeway to be beaten 3 ¾ lengths. God’s Own will be out to restore his reputation at his next start due to be the Group 1 Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Better fortune but on a smaller scale was had on Saturday by the 3yo filly Cavita who was first up after a spell over 1200m at the provincials for a slashing win. At her last racecourse appearance she ran second over 1600m at Randwick to our own colt Prince Arthur, so it looks like she has come back improved this time.     Cavita had to chase home Prince Arthur (above) last preparation, but she won first up on her return.       SYNDICATION UPDATES NEWS UPDATE POSTED 1/5/06 - Black Minnaloushe struck success with his first runner in Hong Kong when Butterfield (NZ) made his debut-winning performance a couple of weeks ago. Black Minnaloushe has been the only first-season sire in Australasia this season to sire a Group 1 winner with New Zealand champion two-year-old elect Jokers Wild (NZ) (twice at Group 1 level). Black Minnaloushe in fact is the sire of 30 individual winners worldwide from his first crop and his southern hemisphere yearlings have sold for up to $A 300,000.   NEWS UPDATE POSTED 3/4/06 - Black Minnaloushe did it again in siring his second Group 1 winner from his first crop with Jokers Wild winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce in New Zealand, this adds significantly to the credentials of our Black Minnaloushe colt currently under syndication; Those that have joined the partnership should be encouraged by these upgrades all since the colts purchase in New Zealand in February and the opportunity remains for others to join with no change to the price structure $9,440.47 plus GST per share including 12 months training, insurance and air-freight etc ; Follow this link to our syndications page on the colt for details   NEWS UPDATE POSTED 25/3/06 - Our very first “public”and “publicly advertised” horse syndicate under our ASIC Licensed arm DGR Bloodstock Services has proven to keep up the winning record of our established agency arm DGR Thoroughbred Services; Our first "syndicated partnership" runner Golden Zen (refer syndications available Fusiachi Pegasus - Embraceable You in case you thought about it) was a winner on debut as a two year old over 1000m at Hawkesbury yesterday; Given that this filly has the pedigree of middle distance 3yo, Golden Zen who a fast finishing winner looks to have a bright future for her owners.   NEWS UPDATE POSTED 13/3/06 - Black Minnaloushe continued his excellent start to his career at stud with Jokers Wild winning the Group 1 Ford Slipper in New Zealand on Saturday. This is in addition to Jokers Wild previous stakes wins, Cadre Noirs stakes place to Jokers Wild in the Ford Slipper Preview and Changing Eyes Group 3 second in the Breeders Stakes at Cheltenham last week. These results propels Black Minnaloushe to Leading First Season Sire in New Zealand and we imagine the head of the New Zealand 2yo Sires Table. All these performances have occurred since our purchase of the Black Minnaloushe – Madam Faubourg colt so we feel we have achieved good value. $9,440.47 plus GST gets a share in our Black Minnaloushe, check out the syndications link.   NEWS UPDATE POSTED 27/2/06 - Black Minnaloushe' first season juveniles have become Group contenders; Over in New Zealand, where most of his first crop race, his son’s Jokers Wild & Cadre Noir ran 1st & 2nd in the Listed Fairview Ford Slipper at Matamata last Saturday 25 February; This race regarded as one of New Zealand’s main juvenile “lead ups” will see both colts go into the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes on March 11; Jokers Wild now has two stakes wins to his credit winning the earlier Listed Counties Stakes, he just has to content with the fast finishing Cadre Noir; Over in Australia in Adelaide on the same day Changing Eyes was an impressive 4 len winner of the 2yo race at Cheltenham; Changing Eyes had won his previous start and now goes into the Group 3 Breeders Stakes next weekend; Black Minnaloushe now leads the New Zealand First Season Sires table.   NEWS UPDATE POSTED 6/3/06 - Black Minnaloushe' son Changing Eyes continued with his good form into the Group 3 Breeders Stakes on Saturday. He ran 2nd and it took the progeny of proven champion stallions in Encosta De Lago (De Lago Mist) & Danehill (Danever) to fill the placings either side of him. This is the first time we have observed a "Black Minnaloushe" running in a Group race in Australia, and with his first crop just two years olds the early signs are good.   PAY DAY - NEWS UPDATE POSTED 6/3/06 - Over in Miami Florida USA, it was an unraced two year old by a Group 1 winning son of sire sensation and the Worlds highest priced stallion Storm Cat, the very same Storm Cat that is responsible for the Group 1 winning sire Black Minnaloushe, that produced the World record price of US$16 million ( about A$21 million) for a thoroughbred at auction last week. So very similar gene pool, both grandson's of Storm Cat, both unraced but a big difference, well over 20,000% . I think somebody's getting value and thats with a years training included!   Minnaloushe Juveniles Score Just weeks after our “bargain” range purchase of a son of Black Minnaloushe from the stakes producer Madam Faubourg, that stallions first season juveniles have become Group contenders; Over in New Zealand, where most of his first crop race, his son’s Jokers Wild & Cadre Noir ran 1st & 2nd in the Listed Fairview Ford Slipper at Matamata last Saturday 25 February; This race regarded as one of New Zealand’s main juvenile “lead ups” will see both colts go into the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes on March 11; Jokers Wild now has two stakes wins to his credit winning the earlier Listed Counties Stakes, he just has to content with the fast finishing Cadre Noir; Over in Australia in Adelaide on the same day Changing Eyes was an impressive 4 len winner of the 2yo race at Cheltenham; Changing Eyes had won his previous start and now goes into the Group 3 Breeders Stakes next weekend; Black Minnaloushe now leads the New Zealand First Season Sires table. Black Minnaloushe at stud.   Listed Win & Group Placings Our four runners this weekend produced a Listed win, Group 3 second, Group 1 third and an unplaced runner; Mi Casa again produced a game run to tough out a win in the Listed Parramatta Cup in Sydney, his career highlight so far; a deal of praise for his win must go to Darren Beadman for a “copy book” ride and Racenet for their continued praise of the horse in recent weeks after encountering a young Mi Casa fan called Lizzy; In Melbourne early perfect racing conditions for our star pair God’s Own & Wonderful World deteriorated before our eyes in a twinkling with a cataclysmic style storm lashing the track midway through the programme; God’s Own again showed great heart but an inability to gain traction in the Gr3 Schweppervescence Cup when running second to clear mud lark Apache Cat while Wonderful World also showed enormous ticker to run third in the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes when floundering in the going inside the final furlong; it took two progeny of God’s Own sire Redoute’s Choice to beat Wonderful World so we do not feel disappointed with Wonderful World who will get a rematch with those horses in the $3.5m Golden Slipper Gr1 in Sydney; hopefully on a drier track. Mi Casa drives to the front in the Parramatta Cup on Saturday   A Winner This Week, Next Week? From just a few runners we had a new winner this week with the until now unlucky Byaraja breaking his maiden status at Canterbury on Friday with a commanding win by the post, in his first racing preparation and veteran of only five starts hitherto Friday, Byaraja has been doing most of his racing in Saturday grade from wide barriers; barrier 3 this time gave Zac Purdon the opportunity to give the Danehill colt a “copybook ride” to win and justify favouritism; We had another favourite this week in Columate, but he was unable to show if he justified his odds with the meeting abandoned before he could race, we will have to wait with him for another day while down south developing and lightly raced Zabeel 3yo Ballygoran ran second on Saturday; Next weekend will be an important one for us with our candidates all running in Stake or Group races including God’s Own and Wonderful World in Melbourne and Mi Casa and possibly Empress Jade in Sydney. Byaraja eases down by the winning post.   Weekend Around The World The main focus of our weekend was Wonderful World Melbourne debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude Gr3 and I think we and most pundits were pleased and impressed by the colts strong finishing 2nd place and the experience at Caulfield and the extra distance of 1200m should give him a realistic chance in the $1m Blue Diamond Stakes Gr1 itself; Our two runners in Sydney were another game 2nd place from Mi Casa, while the 3yo filly Laylia racing against mares was forced wide throughout and found the run a bit tough in the end; She will now spell; However our interest had a further spread and we were delighted to see Absolutelyfabulous win the $500,000 Inglis Classic, the reason we purchased her half sister by Rock Of Gibraltar only a week earlier in New Zealand for what looks a bargain nz$115,000 while around the World in Dubai, My Royal Captain a veteran of only four starts including three wins made an auspicious debut in Dubai with a 13/4 len third in the UAE Dubai Guineas Gr3 over 1600m on dirt; his target the UAE Derby in March which should better suit this son of Zabeel; our interest My Royal Captain is a ½ brother to Blue Quail, dam of the Danehill Dancer filly we also purchased over in Zealand last week, Blue Quail is already a full sister to Champion mare Flitter. Refer for sale pages. Could it be a "Wonderful World' for this colt on 25th February?   The New Zealanders We have continued to be active at the yearlings sales sourcing what we hope will be quality at value in the market; At the New Zealand sales which concluded last week we purchased four lots; Lot 111, a Zabeel full brother to our previously Melbourne Cup Gr1 & VRC Oaks Gr1 placegetter Zazabelle and this horse has all the hallmarks of a top quality stayer, Lot 219, a very robust daughter of Danehill Dancer from a full sister to former multiple Gr1 winning Champion Mare Flitter; Lot 389, a filly by first season sire and acclaimed as Danehill’s best racing son Rock Of Gibraltar from a multiple stakeswinning daughter of the very fast Gr1 sprinter Scarlet Bisque with this filly having two important updates to her pedigree and our last purchase Lot 426, a more budget minded acquisition but still a half brother to a group performer in Kingside who ran 4th in an Epsom Gr1 & 2nd in Phar Lap Stakes Gr2 while trained by Bart Cummings; Kingside continues his winning ways as a 5yo with a win at his last start in Singapore. Pictures, updates and pedigrees for all the NZ’ers can be sourced through the link For Sale. Auction action, Lot 111 under the hammer. We had the successful bid at $280,000.     Bearing Fruit While we have been attending the yearling sales, our clients racing interests have continued to bear fruit; On the last weekend in January we had two runners at Rosehill with Mi Casa winning again for the second time this preparation, with both wins in the hands of champion Jockey Darren Beadman while the lightly raced 3yo filly Laylia, also in the hands of Darren ran a game second after coming from a long way off the pace; Laylia has been most unfortunate with the barrier draws to date, all she needs is a decent barrier to have an equal chance; The first racing weekend of February saw our acclaimed “Super Star” God’s Own resume in the Gr1 Lightening Stakes over 1000m and he did not disappoint running by far the fastest sectionals to come from off the pace to be beaten only a short neck by straight track specialist sprinter Takeover Target; God’s Own will be the testing material for his rivals in his upcoming races; This weekend we have some interesting 2yos' running, thus far unbeaten 2yo Wonderful World makes his Victorian debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude Gr3 as a "prelude" to the Blue Diamind Gr1 itself while Empress Jade, a half sister to Hong Kong superstar Silent Witness who was a strong trial winner at Randwick recently makes her debut at Canterbury on Tuesday; Another of our runners who will have to deal with a wide draw!   Not Just Yearling Purchases We offer a varied service to clients and not just yearling purchases as recent weeks events show. Congratulations to Anne & Peter Moxham who purchased La Vie En Rose from us as a tried racing & breeding prospect just a few short months ago. Despite the ever doubtful vets, at her first start for her new connections she won well at a recent MRC meeting posting another metropolitan win to her record. As a well performed, well related Encosta De Lago filly, she should also do well at stud. At the Magic Millions Yearling Sales, just two clients presented yearlings out mares purchased for the purpose of producing sale yearlings. With both mares purchased privately for around $80,000 they returned healthy profits with National Song producing a Danehill Dancer colt to fetch $190,000 while the very professional Kulani Park had a first foal make $170,000. National Song was herself was sold last year at the William Inglis Broodmare Sales for $145,000 for a quick turn around. Well done all the above.   Lot 339 Viking Ruler - Monroe Magic Click here for pedigree.   The 1/2 brother to subsequent 2006 AJC Derby Gr1 winner Headturner.   This colt is SOLD.   Our Magic Millions Purchases DGR purchased two lots at this years Magic Millions, one more than last year that resulted in the promising thus far unbeaten colt Wonderful World; This year we purchased Lot 339, a colt by Danehill’s Gr1 winning son Viking Ruler and a half brother to Headturner who was a bit of competition to our own 3yo Pendragon in the Spring carnival in Melbourne: Our other purchase was Lot 620, another by a first season sire, this time a son of World Champion sire Machiavellian in No Excuse Needed from a half sister to Glenview; Glenview some may remember as running close placings in multiple Gr1 races as well as winning some feature Group 2’s under the care of Bart Cummings; Both our purchases have the well regarded advantage of being reared in New Zealand and both come from studs who produce some of Australia’s top Gr1 winners, no accident in our thinking. Some good fun amoungst all the hard work at the sales.   Racing on Magic Millions Day Our representative in the Million Dollar races at the Gold Coast was Cresta Run in the 3yo division and what a good performance he put up to run a closing third place; Forced to go to the tail from his wide gate he made a storming run and he looks a great prospect to win a “good” race over 1600m or so next preparation; This preparation he has strung together three in a row in Sydney before his Magic Millions third; Back in Sydney town our two runners recorded placings, Mi Casa went down by the barest margin to finished second after giving up a soft lead early and finding himself spotting the field on the home turn while lightly raced Laylia had no luck when forced wide the whole way but finishing strongly for third place; a bigger track and an increase in distance should see her lose her maiden tag; overall despite not winning we have to be pleased with the Magic Millions day runners. Mi Casa gets just touched off in Sydney.   Magic Millions Yearling Sales 2006 While all this racing action takes place, we will be at the Gold Coast to attend the races and more importantly select and try to purchase some future starts from the 900 odds yearling to be offered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales; A big catalogue but our methods have shown to sort the wheat from the chaff over the years and we are confident of our approach; Details of our purchases will be available and obviously enquiries are most welcome pre and post sale, our contact details can be easily sourced from this website. Exacting consideration in the selection of yearlings   A Magical World? Perhaps, that is the sitauation regarding our unbeaten two year old Wonderful World taking his position in the $1m Magic Millions on Saturday 14th Jan; Air transport is being sought to the Gold Coast for Wonderful World with the rigors of a 12+ hour land trip too strenuous this close the race iteself; Wonderful World kept his unbeaten record at 2 for 2 with a comfortable win at Randwick over some rivals touted as more than handy on Saturday; Should logistics prevent the 6/1 fourth favourite from taking part, the $1m Blue Diamond Stakes a month later in Melbourne will become his target; Some of our other clients will be represented in the $1m Magic Millions Trophy for 3yo however with Cresta Run, Glen Boss to ride; Fashions Afield, a last start beaten favourite when short odds on still looks the one they all have to beat in the "Trophy" but Cresta Run is in there with a competative chance; Bossy will also ride Wonderful World if he takes part; In the Magic Millions 2yo Classic we wish the best of luck to stablemate Assertive, part owned by friend and client Wilf Mula; Assertive, second favourite in most markets looks a strong chance.     Assertive's part owner Wilf Mula.     Boxing On Christmas Eve saw Cresta Run post a hat trick of wins and justify short priced favoritism cementing his postion as a genuine challenger for the $1m 3yo Magic Millions Trophy on Jan 14th, his next start where big race ace Glenn Boss has taken the ride. Cresta Run's three race victories have all been at 1400m and while the five runner sit and sprint on Christmas Eve was unsuitable, the envisaged full field charge at the Gold Coast may inject the necessary pace to suit Cresta Run. On Boxing Day Mi Casa was downed as favorite but not disgraced with a 3rd placing at Randwick. He lost a few teeth in the event but a seasoning campaigner he will "Box On". With 2006 fast approaching and a New Year, we are in the process of updating our "The Future" page, check it out as it is finished.     Cresta Run's mid stage of his hat trick (Rosehill 10/12/2005)   Wonderful Indeed The prophetically named Wonderful World made wonderful debut at Canterbury last night with a strong win over the well regarded stablemate Antidotes. From barrier 8 Wonderful World showed good gate speed to put himself in a great spot on settling just behing the leaders. Well ridden by Zac Purdon he pulled out from behing those leaders on straightening and rounded them up with a strong finish to record winning margins of 1 x 4 lens. Wonderful World now puts himself on the map as a serious Magic Millions 2yo contender and to assure himself a start he may run again in the Widden Stakes at Randwick on 2nd Jan. Last start winners Cresta Run (also Magic Millions bound) and Mi Casa will run for our connections on Christmas Eve & Boxing Day respectively.   Wonderful World dominates at the post.   Good Results We had just two representatives contest races in the week just gone. Mi Casa justified short priced favouritism with an authorative win an Canterbury on Thursday evening. It was the first time at a trip this preparation for Mi Casa and he did the job well and this cements the opinion he likes a bit of distance in his races with his previous career win coming at 1800m at Rosehill when last in work. Our other runner for the week Roadhog also consolidated his fine win two weeks ago with a close up closing third at Randwick on Saturday signalling that he retains plenty of fight in his make up and it should not be long before he tops $200,000 in prizemoney. Honest work and good fun for a modest aquisition of $55,000.     Mi Casa strides away from the opposition.   The Winning Way The run of winners for our clients continues. Our sole representative this last weekend was Cresta Run. Through the rightful intervention of the Stewards, Cresta Run was elevated to first place after suffering repeated interferance by Ranger Smith from the 300m mark to the winning post, in doing so Cresta Run has posted back to back wins including two BOBS bonus' and what appears an assured berth in the $1m Magic Millions 3yo Classic on the Gold Coast on the 14th January. Mid week saw Byaraja make a very solid debut when a fast finishing second on Strawberry Slipper day at Wyong. He hopefully should join the winners list soon.   Not much in on the line and not a hard decision for the Stewards.   While The Mouse Is Away! While we enjoyed a break to far flung places, the horses kept up the work rate, in fact we were represented by five runners over the past 3 weeks with four winners, Choicely won at Canterbury at the first time at anywhere near his right distance, Laylia won on debut on Hawkesbury Cup Day while on the same card Cresta Run justified short priced favouritism while work horse Roadhog bounced back to record his sixth win at Rosehill last Saturday; In fact we had five winners winners with Willing And Able winning on debut at "Coff's", this fellow not trained by our usual trainer; In other news the lightly raced 3yo Prince Arthur a last start at Randwick is being transferred to Hong Kong to race for Tan Boon Sing, Dato' Tan's son who resides in Hong Kong and will be trained for him by expat John Size.   Our 2005 Spring Carnival During the recent Sydney & Melbourne Spring Carnivals, our cleints horses put up a most commendable record; If a few barrier draws and late rider replacements been more favourable would could have added some more Group 1 wins to the list rather than placings; For the record our feature race performances were 1st Caulfield Guinueas Gr1 - Gods' Own, 1st Gloaming Stakes Gr2 - Pendragon, 1st Newcastle Gold Cup Gr2 - High Cee, 1st Norman Robinson Stakes Gr3 - Pendragon, 1st SAAB Quality Gr3 - Strasbourg, 2nd Spring Champion Stakes Gr1 - Pendragon, 2nd Caulfield Guineas Prelude Gr3 - God's Own, 3rd Golden Rose LR - Pendragon, 4th VRC Derby Gr1 - Pendragon, 4th Golden Rose LR - God's Own. Additional Metropolitan winners during the same period came from the likes of Kosi Bay, Prince Arthur, High Cee and God's Own while newcomers to place in town include Cavita, Choicely, Cresta Run, & Columate.   The Caulfield Guineas Gr1 Trophy       Two in the cup for old friends Strasbourgs courages comeback win in the Gr3 SAAB Quality on Derby Day sees him propelled into his second succesive Melbourne Cup start along with stablemate and Cup lightweight Kamsky; Both "bargain" buys, Strasbourg cost his owners $30,000 while Kamsky, already a Derby placegtter at three, set back Dato Tan Chin nam a modest $36,000 when purchased as a yearling at the New Zealand in 2003; our Derby horse of this year Pendragon ran a brave race when forced to make a long sustained run out wide to finish fourth; this follows his Gloaming Stakes and Norman Robinson Stakes wins, a second in the Champion Stakes & third in the Golden Rose this preparation.   Strasbourgs very happy owners.     Strasbourg fends off the challengers.   Obstacles to overcome Barrier draws continue to go against us with our Derby favourite Pendragon drawing 15 in a field of 16; With the barriers so near the first turn it is probably the most crucial barrier placement at 1 1/2 miles in Australia; Group 1 ace G Boss will have to ride a good one once again; A repeat of the Caulfield Guineas or Cox Plate rides from him will do the trick; Our other runners are lesser fancies but with no less important missions; Both Strasbourg & Kamsky are attemping to gain a last minute berth via the SAAB Quality in the big one, The Melbourne Cup; Mi Casa, resuming will represent the team in Sydney.   Dato' Tan Chin Nam will present the Saintly Spring Star Award at Moonee Valley on Friday night to Tony Santic and connections of the great mare Makybe Diva as she has accumulated the most points in the series and a fitting inaugrial winner of the award; If she wins the Melbourne Cup, Makybe Diva will emulate Saintly as the only other horse to win the Australian Cup, Cox Plate & Melbourne Cup in the same year; She should surely become Horse of the Year like Saintly did.       $1.5 Million (Group 1) AAMI VICTORIA DERBY 2500M No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt 1 PENDRAGON (NZ) Bart Cummings G Boss 15 55.5 2 DANGER LOOMS John McArdle B Rawiller 4 55.5 3 DUELLED Graeme Rogerson K McEvoy 2 55.5 4 HEADTURNER John Hawkes 8 55.5 5 GALLANT GURU Leon Macdonald Ms C Lindop 5 55.5 6 REPLICATOR Anthony Cummings Steven King 3 55.5 7 POWER OF DESTINY Kevin Moses 16 55.5 8 MANTON John Hawkes 12 55.5 9 BENICIO Lee Freedman N Callow 11 55.5 10 POINT MADE Brian Mayfield-Smith S Seamer 7 55.5 11 MAJORCA Bart Cummings G Childs 6 55.5 12 SHOTGUN SAXON John McArdle C Williams 14 55.5 13 PORTLAND SPIRIT John Hawkes 10 55.5 14 ESCAPE ARTIST Peter White D Gauci 9 55.5 15 ON THE MAP (NZ) Bart Cummings S W Arnold 1 55.5 16 ON THE KNOCKER (NZ) Geni Gillis 13 55.5   Just acclaim for a great mare Credit where credit is due and all credit must go to the fabulous Makybe Diva for her stunning Gr1 Cox Plate; Our 3yo Gods’ Own failed to handle the rain effected track it the same way Glen Boss said he failed to accelerate on a wet track in the Guineas Prelude Gr3; Glen said then to watch for a different finish from God’s Own on a better surface and Glen was proven so right in the Caulfield Guineas Gr1 itself; God’s Own got caught up in the mad cap frenzy by jockeys to try out muscle Makybe Diva and now the horse gets a well served break to ready for the Australian Guineas Gr1 in the Spring; God’s Owns’ performance in this his first racing preparation has been outstanding; In just six career starts he has won over $3/4 million, 50% of those starts including a Spring Classic in the Caulfield Guineas Gr1; Next is Pendragon hoping to justify VRC Derby Gr1 favouritism while Melbourne Cup lightweight Kamsky attempts to gain a start in the great race. God's Own starts from his wide gate Makybe Diva gets here just acclaim   He works in mysterious ways It is said God works in mysterious ways; Certainly the outside barrier 12 of 12 for God’s Own appeared to be against us in the $1m Caulfield Guineas Gr1, but then the horse produced an incredulous run to win; For the $3m Cox Plate Gr1 fate has delivered God’s Own with the outside barrier once again with 14 of 14; perhaps it is meant to be, fate, karma call it what you will, could a repeat be ordained; One thing is certain that to beat Makybe Diva and the field assembled God’s Own will need some sort of special performance  to win.   We are on target For a successive weekend our connections were the happy recipients of a major trophy, this time with Pendragon who gamely won the Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield; He gave 2 1/2kg to the second horse, Pendragon was required to be ridden more forward and against his natural pattern to deal with the Caulfield circuit at his very first attempt the Melbourne way and toughed it out in a dual with the smart Headturner to the finish line; Markets now have Pendragon favourite for the VRC Derby Gr1 in a fortnight; Our immediate major focus is God’s Own, second favourite to the great mare Makybe Diva for next weekends Gr1 Cox Plate, hopefully we are the recipients of the trophy once again but whatever happens we will be proud of our horse. Dato' & Datin Tan Chin Nam & trainer Bart Cummings with the trophy. Pendragon made to work hard, but he responds.   Deliverance So much has been written and shown of God’s Own extraordinary and phenomenal win in the $1m Caulfield Guineas Gr1 it would be impossible to quote all, but the one I like by a leading racing analyst was “the win of the decade”; The strength of the win has propelled this now very valuable colt into second favourite behind Australia’s best performed racehorse Makybe Diva for a showdown with her in the weight for age championship, the Cox Plate Gr1 in two weeks time. In form Gr1 winning rider Craig Williams has been booked for the 48.5kg ride in the Cox Plate. Here a series of images of the Guineas. LinK: News Brief & Video Footage Courtesy of TVN 100m to go! Got him! "Bossy" celebrates   Chye Khaw & Duncan Ramage with the trophy   Devine Help God’s Own will need some divine luck to overcome barrier 12 of 12 in the Caulfield Guineas Gr1 on Saturday, but if any horse is likely to get help from above then with his name maybe he might get it; certainly big race jockey Glen Boss knows how to ride a Group 1 winner, lets hope Bossy puts in a good one on God’s Own because the horse is more than capable of wins at this top level of competition. Our other representatives on Saturday are all at Rosehill in the form of useful horses Kosi Bay, Roadhog & Cresta Run. Just One Place Better Required!   They ran well but no collects All Saturday's runners ran well in their respective races but the day was going to be a tough one from the moment Hugh Bowman was unable to take his rides after breaking his wrist in the first race; Pendragon started favourite, ran the fastest last 400m, finished second but got too far back to peg back strong winner Hotel Grande in the Gr1 Champion Stakes; Strasbourg ran the best race he has run for a while, finishing 4th in the Gr3 Craven Plate as too did Frightening with a solid 8th in the star studdied Turnbull Stakes Gr2 behind super mare Makybe Diva; Zingam managed 8th in the Gr1 Metropolitan after coming from a long way back in the race (granted the winner Railings came from the same position). In reveiw all ran well enough to be competative chances in some of the spring majors yet to be run.   Dual Group 1, Group 2 & Group 3 representation Our owners will be represented this weekend with some serious chances in many of this weekends feature races in Sydney an Melbourne; In Sydney Pendragon is forecast to start favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes Gr1; Zingam, a homebred from his owners former champion 3yo filly Danendri, will start as second favourite for the Metropolitan Gr1, while slightly longer priced runners but non the less proven group performers Frightening & Strasbourg will start in the Turnbull Stakes Gr2 & Craven Plate Gr3 respectively; That will be all runners representing DGR’s connections on Saturday 1st October 2005; God's Own (pictured) will lead the charge for us next weekend in the Caulfield Guineas Gr1.   Gloaming Stakes Gr3 Saturday 17th The week continued on Saturday with Pendragon putting up a dominating performance to win the $250,000 Gloaming Stakes Gr3 at Rosehill on Saturday; Wide throughout, he was just too good for his rivals and showed at this his first attempt at any sort of a distance the promise he indicated to be a top class stayer. Pendragon will join High Cee at Randwick on October 1st, when Pendragon contests the $350,000 Spring Champion Stakes Gr1, a race he may well start favourite for. Down in Melbourne, another of our team God's Own made his debut racing the reverse way. He showed his inexperience at the tricky Caulfield track but still mamaged to flash home to be beaten only a 1/2 head at the post in the Guineas Prelude Gr3. God's Own will run next in the $1m. Caulfield Guineas Gr1 on October 8th and the 1600m will suit him and the practice at the track should prove a very wise move by our trainer Bart Cummings.     Pendragon was most impressive in the Gloaming Stakes Gr3.     More will be heard of God's Own .     Newcastle Gold Cup Gr3 Thursday 15th The relativley unseasoned High Cee dead heated for a win in the $175,000 Newcastle Gold Cup Gr3 on Thursday; Well ridden by young Blake Shinn, he showed initiative to make use of the horse early in the race to gain a tactical position. From there High Cee showed good fight even if a bit wayward under the stick to make a great race it. High Cee will now run in the Gr1 Metropolitan on October 1st in which he has been alotted 51kg for the $600,000 event for which he is currently quoted a one of the favourites. Blake Shinn will take the ride once again. Currently High Cee has strung three wins in a row in his last three runs. We are hoping he can make if four in a row!   The Way Ahead Our runners on Saturday both ran well with Accumulate only 2 3/4 lens 7th behind the winner in the weight for age Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley and Frightening one place further back behind him; The placegetters are proven wfa performers including the great mare Makybe Diva; This week will see more of our team compete with High Cee (B Shinn) in the $175,00 Gr3 Newcastle Cup on Thursdsay, Pendragon (H Bowman) in the $200,000 Gr3 Gloaming at Rosehill on Saturday while on the same day in Melbourne God's Own (G Boss) contests the $200,000 Gr3 Guineas Prelude. We are hoping for some good results amoungst this lot.   "Effortless" Sydney Sun-Herald Glen Boss knew he has on a good thing before he mounted High Cee at Randwick on Saturday, his view of the horse further uplifted after the race with a 3 3/4 length win best described as by the Sun-Herald as "effortless". Unfortunately for Boss he has a prior committment in the Newcastle Cup where Hi Cee heads next. Blake Shinn takes over at Newcastle. Le Louvre also posted an impressive 3 plus length win on the weekend. While only at the provintials, he too looks like he is coming of age and should be up to races of a significantly higher standard.   G Boss has food for thought after winning on High Cee again.     The win was just as easy as two weeks prior.   Good Money Good money was earned in the feature Golden Rose with our representatives Pendragon & God's Own running third and fourth respectively but its was highly likely the big prize got away with God's Own settling uncharecturistically in the rear of the field giving the smart on pace runners Paratroopers & Racing To Win just to much start. Pendragon dwelt at the start but recovered quite well to settle mid-field and run on in the straight, clearly looking for further. Our other runs on the day were a progressive performance from Cup hopeful Frightening while another Cup hopeful Accumulate resumed for a smashing third at Caulfield over 1400m while improving galloper Damaze also resumed, this one over 1200m for a close up fourth at Kembla. Frightening & Accumulate look likely to make their next moves in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Gr2 at Moonee Valley on September 10th.   No Frustration This Time Any frustration felt when Kosi Bay was hampered in her last start was forgotten with an emphatic 4 length for the mare on Randwicks Kensington track yesterday. The dominating manner of the win gives the impression that Kosi Bay could go quite a way in emulating her older half sister Calveen, but Kosi Bay looks like being more of a stayer than the New Zealand Champion Sprinter Miler Calveen. Our last comment that clients the Jacksons & Mulas along with their fellow owners have much to look forward to are coming to fruition.   Kosi Bay streaks clear at Randwick.   No Contest for High Cee High Cee was the clean cut winner of the Spring Handicap at Randwick on Saturday. He was clearly going to be the winner a long way from home and second start back from a break, High Cee looks to be maturing to be able to deliver the promise he has always shown. With performances in the Rosehill Guineas Gr1 & AJC Derby Gr1 just behing the placegetters as a three year old, it is not a quantum leap to imagine this horse developing into a high class performer as a four year old.   High Cee eases down in the run to the finish to win by 2 1/2 lens.   Eyes On The Main Prize Our trainer Bart Cummings has his eyes firmly fixed on the main prize, the $1m Golden Rose to be run at Rosehill on August 27th with our charges making their last steps towards the race convincing ones with God's Own giving weight and defeating older horses at Rosehill on Saturday to remain unbeaten, while Pendragon made another late charge to nearly claim the smart Paratroopers in the 3yo feature. Pendragon has run three staight seconds in his career to date each time against good opposition, can he break his maiden status in the $1m event or will stablemate God's Own be able to hold him out?     Bart Cummings close eye on proceedings at Rosehill.     God's Own producing something worth watching.   Rave Reviews "Rave Reviews" was the word used in the press after Saturday's Rosehill meeting where Prendragon resumed his career for a very noticable 2nd to the unbeaten Racing To Win. A veteran of only one previous start when second at listed level, Pendrgon ran 22.25 seconds for his final 400m from the tail of the field for his owners Dato' Tan Chin Nam and his wife of 50 years Datin Tan Wor Lin. Pendragon is in fact the first horse Datin Tan has raced. Prendragon will aimed at the $1m Golden Rose at the end of August as his first spring target.   Pendragon on his way to post.   Strong Debut Win Debutant 2yo God's Own created a strong impression when winning by 2 1/2 lens at Warwick Farm. Open 2yo races are never easy to win, particularly on debut and the way he put a gap on the rest of the field indicates his owners and clients Dato Tan Chin Nam & Siok Chye Khaw along with fellow owner and trainer Bart Cummings have a lot to look forward to with this son of Redoute's Choice. God's Own is from a 3/4 sister to former Horse Of The Year "Saintly", a horse both Bart and Dato' Tan have very fond memories of so the bloodlines at least are there for another "Horse from Heaven'.   God's Own puts pay to the rest on debut in Sydney.   Saintly Moonee Valley Spring Star Award Through the generosity of our biggest owner Dato' Tan Chin Nam and the initiative of the Moonee Valley Race Club, a special trophy plus international travel to the Hong Kong International Races will be awarded to the owners of the horse which achieves the most points in a accumulative basis on "Black Type" races at Moonee Valley in the spring. The series will be over 18 races including races such as the Cleanevent Manikato Gr1, Calton Draught Cox Plate Gr1, Cathay Pacific Airways Cup Gr2, AAMI Vase Gr2, Schweppervesence Cup Gr2, Stocks S Gr2, Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Gr2, Inglis Mile Gr3 etc. Which horse will be the recipient, a sprinter, a stayer. Will the winner go on to Hong Kong for the international races in December? It should be interesting.     Australian Financial Services Licence Holder DGR Bloodstock Services Pty Ltd is the new business arm which has attained a principal Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) number 288153. We will now be able to source and advertise in the public domain syndications of young racehorses. This will give access to the benefits & skills of the DGR business to the wider community. DGR is principal licence holder and as such permitted to appoint authorised representatives but at this time intiatives to make appointees have not been considered. We will carefully evaluate our first syndication and when that has been put in place we look forward to promoting it on our website www.dgrracing.com.au   DGR Bloodstock Services is also on the approved register of promoters with RacingNSW, a member of the Financial Industry Complaints Service Limited while DGR Thoroughbred Services is a member of the Federation of Bloodstock Agents of Australia which operates under a strict Code of Ethics.   Two Group 1 Winners for Dewamar Remember the name Dewamar when next looking through the catologues. Purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services for long time client Michael Ryan, she has since that purchase become the dam of two Group 1 winners in June's Stradbroke Hcp Gr1 winner  St BASIL  & of Adelaide Cup Gr1 winner PANTANI . Dewamar will have progeny by Rock Of Gibraltar & Elusive Quality at the nations leading sales in 2006 & 2007.   Watch out for this girl, Dewamar's 2004 filly by Rock Of Gibraltar, pictured here at just seven months of age.   New Recruits The yearlings purchased for clients in 2005 were by sires, both proven and new, considered to be amounst the best and most likely to succeed. None appear more promising than Montjeu. In his first crop of three year olds in Europe, Montjeu has managed to quinella the English Derby, then Quinella the Irish Derby and run a close second in the French Derby, with four different horses and this all by June. The clients who followed our advice into Montjeu should be well pleased. Montjeu at stud.