It was announced last week that reigning Horse of the Year and ‘triple crown’ winner Jolie’s Shinju would be joining the stables of Tony Noonan in Melbourne after one more run in Singapore.

The Laurie Laxon-trained Mexican Rose will head to Melbourne for the spring carnival before the rising four-year-old is retired to stud.

Whereas Jolie’s Shinju will have a change of trainer for the final stages of her career, Mexican Rose will continue to be trained by Laxon.

The filly will be under the watchful eye of John Alfrey, a longtime Laxon employee, through her Melbourne campaign.

Alfrey has worked with Laxon for more than 25 years and has travelled horses to various parts in Australia for the master trainer and looked after Laxon’s 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose for his boss in Melbourne.

“I know the set-up down in Melbourne and I’ve been travelling Laurie’s horses for 25 years,” said Alfrey who has been with Laxon’s Singapore stable for the last two months. “I know his routine.”

Laxon said he would look at the programme schedule and try and pick out a suitable race for Mexican Rose before she heads to Melbourne.

He said the filly, with her rating of 102, would find it difficult racing on in Singapore giving weight away to the seasoned handicappers – hence the decision to send her to Melbourne.

“I spoke with (owner Tang) Weng Fei and we were thinking of retiring her and sending her to stud in New Zealand,” said Laxon.

“But then we thought seriously about it and there are some nice fillies and mares races at set-weights that will suit her and some weight-for-age races that may also be appropriate.

“The option to take her down to Melbourne is a good one and if she is able to pick up some Australian ‘black type’ then it only adds to her value as a broodmare.

“She is a sensible filly and the travel down to Australia won’t be a worry to her in any way.”

Mexican Rose has ‘black type’ to her name through her wins in the Group 3 Juvenile Championship last July and victories in the first two legs of the Singapore Sprint Series – namely the Group 3 Merlion Trophy and Kranji Sprint.

However the filly found the rise to Group 1 grade beyond her. She tried taking on Rocket Man when a fading fourth in the Lion City Cup on April 24 before finishing eighth to Green Birdie in the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint on May 16.

Mexican Rose was a two time winner in New Zealand from three starts before venturing to Singapore where she won her first five starts, including beating the older horses, which in turn had the filly rated as one of the best of her sex to have raced in Singapore.

In total, Mexican Rose has raced on 10 occasions in Singapore – all over 1200m - registering seven victories and a third placing for prizemoney in excess of $550,000.

Mexican Rose is by Volksraad from the Gone West mare Down View and is raced by Tang’s Jupiter Stable.

The upcoming arrival at Windsor Park Stud of TheWayYouAre, a champion son of outstanding sire Kingmambo, is now even more exciting after this weekend’s global racing action. The 2010 Epsom Derby, one of the world’s truly great races, was won by Workforce, who is by another son of Kingmambo in King's Best.

Workforce winning performance produced the fastest English Derby time in history when he swept to a seven length win, breaking the track record set by Lamtarra fifteen years earlier by almost a second

It was King's Best second Derby winner in a week, following on from the success in Japan last Sunday of Eishin Flash.

Like TheWayYouAre, Workforce is also bred on the very successful Kingmambo-Sadler's Wells cross.

Workforce is from the unraced Sadler's Wells mare Soviet Moon, who is a full-sister to St Leger winner Brian Boru, and out of the Park Hill Stakes winner Eva Luna.

TheWayYouAre will stand at a service fee of $10,000+gst including a live foal guarantee.

Breedingandracing.com.au reports New Zealand's 7-time champion sire, Volksraad leads Pins and  Zabeel, on General Sires Table.

At season's end (31st July), Volksraad will have won the champion title for an impressive 8th time.

Volksraad has sired a total of 55 stakes winners and 13 individual Gr.1 winners, including 3 new Gr.1 winners this seaason - Military Move, NZ Derby (2400m), Velocitea, Goodwood H (1200m), Veloce Bella, Waikato International S. (2000m). 

Montjeu’s son Fame And Glory (4c Montjeu-Gryada, by Shirley Heights) confirmed himself with of the outstanding performers of recent years when winning the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge came to Epsom on the back of a win in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and he put in an imperious performance under Johnny Murtagh to beat last year’s G1 Oaks heroine Sariska by a length and a half.

Having now won his last three races, Fame And Glory could now head to Royal Ascot and return to 10 furlongs for the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

“He’s tactically very quick now,” said O’Brien. “We’ll maybe have a look at the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for him next as he’s very pacey but we’ll see how he is.

“Sariska’s a great filly but we were very happy as he was going very well - he travelled very well through the race. He’s a great horse.”

Murtagh added: “He’s a real champion and I liked the way he knuckled down in the last furlong. When Sariska came to us, there was only going to be one winner.

“He likes his races to be a good test but he’s a lot sharper and more mature this year. Apart from Sea The Stars he was the best horse around last season and coming here last year Seamus (Heffernan), who rides him in his work at home, said he thought he would win the G1 Derby.

“He’s very solid, there are no chinks in his armour. He’s much more on the ball this year and is showing a bit more dash. He’s really in the zone now. When Sariska came, she put up a good battle but it wasn’t good enough. He won comfortably in the end.”

Fame And Glory, who was bred by Ptarmigan Bloodstock and Kirsten Rausing, was taking his earning to over £1.8 million after this latest success.

There was only one stallion on everybody’s lips at the Curragh on Sunday as the brilliant Montjeu took the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup with Fame And Glory (4c Montjeu-Gryada, by Shirley Heights) and G3 Gallinule Stakes with Jan Vermeer (3c Montjeu-Shadow Song, by Pennekamp).

Both horses oozed class as they effortlessly saw off high-class rivals and Fame And Glory, who scored by an amazing seven lengths, was winning a 10-furlong race that Montjeu had captured a decade earlier.

“I am delighted with him and he has come forward with every run this year,” said Fame And Glory’s trainer Aidan O’Brien to PA Sport. “We have always felt he could do that. An uncomplicated mile and a quarter suited him well. He is really there now. He has class and handles fast ground.

“Hopefully he will go to the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, it's a quick bounce-back but we might just do it. He could then have a mid-summer break as he has had a good few runs now.”

Fame And Glory, who was bred by Ptarmigan Bloodstock and Kirsten Rausing, has now won in G1 company in each of his three seasons racing.

Jan Vermeer, a stablemate of Fame And Glory, could now head to either the G1 Epsom Derby or the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club after his cosy length and three-quarters success over the 10 furlongs of the Gallinule Stakes.

“He came here a couple of weeks ago for a canter and Johnny (Murtagh) felt he'd be ready for a race in a couple of weeks and that is the way it was,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “He was very impressive and he has always had loads of class. There will be a good bit to come and the race will bring him on a lot.

“Johnny was very impressed and we'll now have to decide whether he goes to Epsom or to the French Derby. He's not short of speed and won his Group One last year with a lot of ease.”

Smart filly - The Party Stands beats Tivoli and Mr Scud. Kenton Wright www.raceimages.co.nz

Group One winning Champion 2YO colt TheWayYouAre is the latest addition to the Windsor Park Stud stallion roster for 2010.

Trained in France by Andre Fabre, TheWayYouAre was the 2007 Champion French 2YO colt, the same vintage crop that produced the outstanding gallopers Goldikova, Natagora and subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine, Zarkava.

At season's end, both TheWayYouAre and the unbeaten champion Zarkava received a Timeform rating of 117p establishing them at the head of their generation.

21-times champion trainer Andre Fabre described TheWayYouAre as 'a really masculine colt with a beautiful action. He had great speed for a horse with such a fine, classic pedigree'.

TheWayYouAre's juvenile season comprised an unbeaten sequence of four successive victories, culminating in a dominant win in the Gr.1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud over 1600m. Winners of this race since it’s inception in 2001 include Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe  victors Dalakhani and Bago and subsequent Group One winners Mount Nelson and Arc runner-up Act One.

After winning a 2YO race at Deauville, TheWayYouAre improved throughout his season, recording wins in the Listed Criterium de Lyon and the Gr.3 Prix Thomas Bryon prior to his Group One success at Saint-Cloud.

Timeform noted that “Given his race performance and pedigree, TheWayYouAre could not have been much hotter as a stallion prospect”.

This was confirmed with his purchase by Coolmore Stud before his Group One triumph and the son of Kingmambo was installed at the head of betting for the following season's French classics.

After sustaining a back injury, which was to affect the rest of his racing career, TheWayYouAre was limited to just two runs at three, in the Gr.1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) and Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby).

Transferred to the stables of Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien for his 4YO season, TheWayYouAre raced twice more, including a close-up fourth to four-times Gr.1 winner Vision d'Etat in the Gr.1 Prix Ganay.

Coolmore manager Christy Grassick commented 'Following a brilliant two-year-old season and considering his outstanding pedigree, TheWayYouAre looked a real classic contender so it was bitterly disappointing that his back issue prevented him from realising his full potential'.

Windsor Park studmaster Nelson Schick explained stud policy with stallions is always about securing undeniable talent that breeders can access at good value.

'TheWayYouAre is a seriously gifted racehorse with exceptional conformation, complemented by a world-class pedigree', said Schick.

'As a son of Mr Prospector's great champion Kingmambo, out of a Group One performed Sadler's Wells mare whose first two foals are champions, I think TheWayYouAre is ideally suited to the gene pool and racing conditions in Australasia'.

'And being topclass on the racetrack and from the family of Redoute's Choice demonstrates he has inherited the best genes from his wonderful genetic background', concluded Schick.

One of the few Group One winning 2YOs by Kingmambo, TheWayYouAre's rating of 117p at two was higher than that achieved by his legendary sire who attained a rating of 110 at the same age.

Multiple Group One winner Kingmambo has become a champion sire of 75 stakes winners including 23 at Group One level. A notable influence for both speed and stamina, aside from TheWayYouAre, Kingmambo's progeny include classic winners Henrythenavigator, Divine Proportions, Russian Rhythm, Virginia Waters, Light Shift, Bluemamba as well as leading sire Lemon Drop Kid.

TheWayYouAre is a member of an exceptional branch of the aristocratic equine family established by his 'blue hen' third dam Best In Show.

'TheWayYouAre's family handles all conditions, in all environments, being hugely successful in both hemispheres and this is an attribute I look for in a stallion', said Schick.

TheWayYouAre’s dam Maryinsky, a daughter of breed-shaping stallion Sadler’s Wells and Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride, was a leading Irish 2YO filly and is an outstanding matron at stud having produced two Group One winners from her first two foals to race. Maryinsky’s first foal is co-Champion European 3YO filly Peeping Fawn, successful in four Group One races including the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.

Sadler’s Wells is damsire of no less than 210 stakeswinners and has already notched up eight Champion Broodmare sire titles to go with his sixteen premiership wins as a sire.

Maryinsky is a half sister to 2007 USA Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, purchased for a world record $US14 million at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton November Selected mixed sale. Better Than Honour is renowned for producing Champion 3YO filly Rags To Riches as well as Jazil, both consecutive winners of the Group One classic Belmont Stakes.

TheWayYouAre will join multiple Group One winner Mastercraftsman shuttling to Windsor Park Stud from Coolmore Stud and follows the successful sires High Chaparral, Montjeu and Tale of the Cat in further consolidating the very successful association between the two stud farms.

TheWayYouAre will stand the 2010 season for a fee of $10,000 + GST.

No British trainer has made a brighter start with their juveniles this season than Richard Hannon and there is one freshman sire in particular that has caught the Wiltshire-based handler’s eye, Hurricane Run.

Interviewed about his juvenile team in Friday’s European Bloodstock News, Hannon admits that he is particular looking forward to unleashing four Hurricane Run juveniles as the season progresses.

“I like the Hurricane Runs a lot,” revealed Hannon. “They are a bit backward, as you would expect, but they are moving well and we’ll be waiting for six and seven furlongs for them.”

The Hurricane Run quartet picked out by Hannon were Attracted To You (b f ex Haute Volta by Grape Tree Road), bred by Lynn Lodge Stud, Chain Lightning (ch c ex Sachet by Royal Academy), bred by I M Fares, Roi Du Boeuf (b c ex Princess Killeen by Sinndar), bred by Churchtown House Stud and Reflect (b c ex Raphimix by Linamix), bred by D Harron and J G Davis.

Hurricane Run is one of the many young sons at stud around the world by sire sensation Montjeu.

Lightly raced filly Fairy Oak (3f High Chaparral x Queen Caelia, by Sir Tristram) could not have been more impressive in strolling home to win the 1607 metre maiden at Kilmore on Monday by five lengths at her third start.

Prepared by Peter Moody, the filly was beaten a head when resuming from a spell of 41 weeks following a debut third at Kyneton last June and looks a filly with real scope to be a force in far better races as her career unfolds.

Fairy Oak was purchased for $140,000 from her breeder's draft Windsor Park Stud at the 2008 NZB Premier Yearling Sale by Brian Mayfield –Smith, who prepared the filly for her first start before handing her over to Peter Moody on his retirement.

Bought for the same owners who enjoyed much success with Group One winner Orange County, Fairy Oak is from unraced Sir Tristram mare Queen Caelia, a sibling to Group One winners Field Dancer and Just a Dancer a well as Group Three winner Blanchard.

Her sire High Chaparral has been a revelation at stud in the Southern Hemisphere with a host of high class winners and a rare Group One trifecta in the recent AJC Australian Derby, his success prompting Coolmore to transfer him to headquarters in Australia this spring were he stands for a service fee of A$88,000.

Many good judges have Fairy Oak capable of adding the next chapter to his burgeoning success.

Fairy Oak now heads to the Gr.3 Auraria Stakes at Morphettville on Super Sunday.

In an outstanding display of one sire’s ability to produce top quality classic 3yos, High Chaparral (IRE)  is the name beside not just of the winner of the $1.3m, Gr.1, David Jones AJC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, Shoot Out, but also the two placegetters Descarado (NZ) and Monaco Consul (NZ).

High Chaparral, a high class, 6 time Gr.1 winner  himself, stood in New Zealand at Windsor Park during the last five years and his first crop have won the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes, Victoria Derby (Monaco Consul), WS Cox Plate (So You Think), Randwick Guineas (Shoot Out) and now the AJC Derby. It was recently announced that High Chaparral will stand this season at Coolmore Australia in the Hunter Valley.

The race was run at a muddling pace for most of the trip which was delayed in starting after Count Encosta became caught in the barriers and was a late scratching.

Cedarberg and Glyn Schofield lead out taking the field into the back straight, closely followed by Rock Classic, Descarado and Zabrasive (NZ).

They hacked down the back and over the top straight with Shoot Out and Stathi Katsidis at the back of the field. Passing the 800m they only had six horses behind them, but Katsidis stayed where he was.

The field turned for home and Shoot Out and Katsidis were equal last as they started the run up the hill. The leaders started to sort themselves out with $3.70 favourite Zabrasive and Hugh Bowman taking the rails run.

Descarado and Nash Rawiller were further out on the track and clear, with Monaco Consul and Damien Oliver wider still. Cederberg and Rock Classic felt the distance and did not stay.

Katsidis commenced his run in the middle of the track. With 200m to run he was clear and Shoot Out really lengthened under him.

Zabrasive could not sprint with the High Chaparral trio but grimly stuck the task, while Monaco Consul was making his best run since winning the Victoria Derby in the spring. Descarado was leading until Shoot Out arrived, but he had no answer to the flying Queenslander.

Shoot Out won with 1 1/2L to spare, over Descarado and Monaco Consul, with Zabrasive fourth. Extra Zero was fifth, Home On A Wing sixth, Cederberg seventh, Saint Encosta eighth, Sherpa Tenzing (NZ) ninth and Handsome Zulu (NZ) tenth.

The time was 2.32.68 on the Dead (5) track, with the final 600m in 35.19. Shoot Out paid $5.10 as equal second favourite with Rock Classic.

Gold Coast trainer John Wallace was understandably overcome with the win, which he had planned right from the start of Shoot Out’s autumn campaign and the win in the Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick on February 13^th.

“He might be any sort of horse later on, but I think he is a dumb bugger as yet, you know,” Wallace said.

“He relaxed, he settled good, and the jockey was very positive before he went out on him today. (Stathi) is a good jockey, it was a great ride and he is a great horse I think.

“(Going for the Derby) took a bit of working out, but I just kept looking at the replay from the other day and I thought he kept making ground and he never got beat far.

“He was always a nice horse, but the owner picked him, I had nothing to do with it. She obviously is a good judge.

“It is a big thrill, some great champions have won this race and some good trainers, so I feel pretty humbled,” he said.

Shoot Out came into the race off a fourth in the Group One Rosehill Guineas over 2000m at Rosehill on March 27^th, and on the recommendation of Katsidis the blinkers on Shoot Out for this campaign were taken off.

“Sometimes I am a little bit over confident and I hope the horses feel that but I knew I had the horse today I just had to get him to relax,” Katsidis said.

“I sort of was able to do that, but I walked like to get him to relax more and you will see in the run he still pulled quite hard. He still had that finish in him and he is that good that even under hands and heels he was too good for them.

“He could be a champion, it is a word that is thrown around a lot but he has the breeding and he has won over 2400m now and there is every reason he will be able to run two miles.

“Look out in all the other classic races, I’ve always wanted to win a classic and this is my first.

“You have to faith in your ability and you have to have good people around you and I am lucky I have a lot of good people around me at the moment. Wahoo! We won the Derby,” he celebrated.

 “I could not be happier and onwards to the Melbourne Cup,” said Gai Waterhouse about Descarado’s second.

“We always thought he would be our Melbourne Cup horse and that is exactly what we have,” she added.

Mike Moroney, trainer of Monaco Consul was rueing the difficulty in getting his colt to bring his A game to the races.

“He had a great run, but he just had to swap his stick over late as he looked like he wanted to run off again,” said Moroney.

“If he just does things right he would be very good,” he said.

'You have to give credit where credit is due. The winner was exceptional but we will live to fight another day and there is a race on the first Tuesday in November where we think we can get a start and to have a horse in a $5,000,000 race would be wonderful in itself,' O'Shea said of Zabrasive’s fourth.

“I think we ran into a very good horse and while I was confident from the 1200m when outside the leader the other horse is just too good,” he said.

The win maintains Shoot Out’s unbeaten Randwick record, while also making him the first horse to claim the Randwick Guineas-AJC Australian Derby double since Universal Prince in 2001.

Shoot Out was purchased by Linda Huddy at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast for a modest $15,000 out of the draft of Oaklands Stud, and she races the horse with her husband Graham.

The Mt Isa based couple wanted a stayer, ‘something with either Zabeel or Pentire blood’ and she was attracted to the Sadler’s Wells bloodline of Shoot Out’s sire High Chaparral. The Pentire blood comes from is dam Pentamerous.

A half sister to Shoot Out by Adelaide Magic Millions Classic winner Ferocity made $160,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.

She was the latest yearling produced by the Pentire mare Pentamerous - a mare whose two runners are both group winners. Apart from Shoot Out, Pentamerous is the dam of the WA Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow.

The Huddy’s thought that the High Chaparral yearling was in the wrong sale with the emphasis on the Gold Coast on speed and early runners, and that the yearling might be cheap.

“But not that cheap, “ commented Linda after the Royal Randwick Guineas win.

After winning the Derby on Saturday Shoot Out has won five of his 11 starts, and with two second places he has earned stakes of $1,349,700.

AUSTRALIA
AJC AUSTRALIAN DERBY (Gr 1)	Randwick	2400 metres	3yo

10-Apr-2010

Turf,Slow

$1314500 (AU)

1.	SHOOT OUT by High Chaparral--Pentamerous, by Pentire [sales history] bred by Mr N.C. Stewart (AUSTRALIA) trained by J. Wallace ridden by S. Katsidis

2.	DESCARADO by High Chaparral--Karamea Lady, by Lord Ballina bred by W. S. McQuoid (NEW ZEALAND) trained by G. Waterhouse ridden by N. Rawiller

3.	MONACO CONSUL by High Chaparral--Argante, by Star Way [sales history] bred by Windsor Park Stud Ltd (NEW ZEALAND) trained by M. Moroney ridden by D. Oliver

Margins- 1 1/4 length, neck

Windsor Park Stud announced today that champion European 2YO and classic winning miler Mastercraftsman will join their stallion roster for the 2010 breeding season.

The highest rated and very best son of his champion sire Danehill Dancer, Mastercraftsman offers impeccable credentials both in terms of his race performance and pedigree.

Crowned 2008 European Champion 2YO following victories in his first four races, which included the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes 1200m and Gr.1 National Stakes 1400m at the Curragh in Ireland.

Mastercraftsman trained on to become a leader of his generation as a 3YO. In his classic year, he was successful in the Gr.1 Irish 2000 Guineas and Gr.1 Royal Ascot St James’ Palace Stakes, both over 1600m.

The colt’s remaining four starts at three resulted in a further Gr.3 win and close placings behind the extraordinary Sea The Stars in the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes before closing out his stellar race career with an unlucky fourth in the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Stakes over 1600m.

Owned by Coolmore Stud, Mastercraftsman will follow in the footsteps of other Champion racehorses to shuttle to Windsor Park Stud.

“Coolmore has developed a strong relationship with Windsor Park Stud over the years, with the likes of Tale Of The Cat, Montjeu and High Chaparral all having established highly successful Southern Hemisphere careers during their time at Windsor.” said Coolmore Australia’s Michael Kirwan.

“Bearing this success in mind, I am delighted that through Mastercraftsman, we are in a position to continue this association. Mastercraftsman is obviously a highly desirable young stallion, a four time Gr.1 winner and a champion. He is a horse that I believe will be greeted with tremendous enthusiasm by breeders in New Zealand and by Australasian breeders in general”.

Understandably, Windsor Park principal Nelson Schick is excited by the prospect of standing Mastercraftsman.

“Whichever way you dissect him, Mastercraftsman ticks all the boxes we look for in a stallion prospect and we are proud to have a horse of his quality performance and pedigree to offer New Zealand breeders”, said Schick.

Apart from his maiden win, Mastercraftsman raced only in the best company as a 2 & 3 year old, contesting 9 Gr.1 events from a total of 12 starts, winning 4 Gr.1 races from 1200m to 2100m. While Mastercraftsman proved successful on all types of going, his best performances came on good to firm ground and he finished his career with prizemoney earnings in excess of $2.76 million.

He is by the champion sire Danehill Dancer who, like Mastercraftsman, won both the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes and Gr.1 National Stakes and was also a Champion 2YO.

A son of the great Danehill, Danehill Dancer has enjoyed another excellent year with global success of his progeny, highlighted recently in Hong Kong where his sons’ quinella’d one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious events, the HK-1 Hong Kong Derby over 2000m.

Champion Sire in GB/Ire in 2009 and twice Champion Sire of 2YOs in GB/Ire, Danehill Dancer has sired 106 stakes winners to date.

Besides siring Gr.1 winners in Europe, USA and Hong Kong, his Australasian progeny include the top class international sprinter Choisir (who is already a leading young sire of 25 stakes winners), Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap winner Private Steer, Gr.1 Australian Guineas winner Light Fantastic and VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss.

“Both Danehill and Danehill Dancer are from the most versatile and desired sire line of the modern era, with the rare ability to sire top class 2YOs and classic winning 3YOs just like Mastercraftsman.” Schick continued.

Mastercraftsman is out of the exceptional producer Starlight Dreams, a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Classic Stakes winner and successful sire Black Tie Affair.

Starlight Dreams has also produced the Group winning filly Genuine Devotion, while Mastercraftsman’s sister Famous was 2^nd in the Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in 2009 after making one million Euros at the 2008 Goffs Million Yearling Sale.

Starlight Dreams is a close relative of Gr.1 winners Pressing, Sakhee and River Memories while her family also includes champion sires Capote and Broad Brush.

Mastercraftsman will join 7-times champion sire Volksraad along with Thorn Park, Guillotine and Falkirk on the Windsor Park roster for the 2010 season.

Mastercraftsman will commence stud duties at a service fee of $25,000 +gst. 

New Zealand's seven time champion sire Volksraad added to his wonderful season when Mexican Rose and Sir Slick landed an international Group double over the Easter weekend.

The first success came when his classy daughter Mexican Rose produced a record breaking performance to capture the second leg of the Singapore Sprint Series when successful in the Group 3 $200,000 Kranji Sprint.

The win drew comparisons with Rocket Man's win in the corresponding race last year, when as a three-year-old and carrying 50kg, he recorded a 1200m record on the short course.

Carrying 1kg more, Mexican Rose, a three-year-old filly, lowered the 1200m long-course record by 0.24 seconds when she stopped the clock at 1 min 09.00 seconds, bettering the long standing mark set by Yorick in 2001.

Ridden by Saimee Jumaat, Mexican Rose burned the candle at both ends before scoring by a length-and-a-quarter over Dr Lemon (Vorster) with Ntini (Duric) ¾ length away third.

Mexican Rose and Rocket Man are now destined to meet in the Group 1 $500,000 Lion City Cup over 1200m on April 24 with that race determining whether Mexican Rose then goes on to contest the Group 1 $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m on May 16.

On Easter Saturday, Volksraad's war horse Sir Slick, was given a heroes reception when he bounced back to his best to win his third Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup.

Trainer and co-owner Graeme Nicholson mentioned in his victory speech it was the people's champion 22nd win when he contested the Awapuni Gold Cup for the fourth year in succession, following wins in 2007 and 2008 and a second behind MacO'Reilly last year.

“Slick and I love this place,” Nicholson said.

Sir Slick had 1and ¾ lengths on his rivals at the finish, with Manonamission running on well to fill second ahead of Red Ruler and Vosne Romanee.

Volksraad has sired 55 individual stakes winners of 130 stakes races, including 12 individual G1 winners.

Casabella Lane's group win at Tauranga last weekend took his season tally to eight stakes winners, highlighted by Military Move's Derby success and Veloce Bella's Gr.1 win in the International Stakes at Te Rapa.

Volksraad earning's to date this season are $2,725,784, this is a new NZ record for prizemoney won by a sire's progeny in a single season.

Volksraad is currently more than $600,000 ahead on the New Zealand general sires' list as he seeks his 8th Grosvenor Award to draw level with St Leger (1893-1902).

Foxbridge is the benchmark, having won 11 titles from 1941.

NZTM story

click here http://www.nztm.co.nz/Media-Centre/Latest-Updates/Windsor-Park-Stud.aspx

New Zealand’s war horse Sir Slick (Volksraad), who almost died on Christmas day of rat poison, was given a heroes reception when he bounced back to his best to win his third Awapuni Gold Cup yesterday.

Trainer and co-owner Graeme Nicholson recalled in his victory speech how he found Sir Slick struck down by a mystery illness and how it was later revealed that someone had mixed rat poison in his feed.

Nicholson said if it wasn’t for Te Aroha vet, Graeme Waugh, who spent four hours working tirelessly on Sir Slick, the horse probably would have died.

“He got the horse right again and then unfortunately died himself of a heart attack last week,” Nicholson said.

“He was only 52 and his funeral is in Te Aroha next Tuesday and I’ll be parading Sir Slick there,” he added.

Sir Slick was having his 117th start yesterday and chalked up his 22nd win.

He was contesting the Awapuni Gold Cup for the fourth year in succession, following wins in 2007 and 2008 and a second behind MacO’Reilly last year.

“Slick and I love this place,” an emotional Nicholson said.

Matamata apprentice Samantha Collett renewed her association with Sir Slick yesterday and the win was her biggest to date.

“I’ve won the Group 3 Tauranga Stakes on him and been placed in a lot of other group races but this is my best win,” a happy Collett said.

She had Sir Slick in the lead in the early stages of the 2000-metre race but was content to let him settle in the trail when Robert Hannam was keen to lead on Borrack.

“As soon as I got to the 600 I just clicked him up and he took the lead again and kicked away,” Collett said.

Sir Slick had 1-3/4 lengths on his rivals at the finish, with Manonamission running on well to fill second ahead of Red Ruler and Vosne Romanee.

Red Ruler’s rider Mark Du Plessis said the horse would probably improve from the run, just his second one back after a break, while Vosne Romanee's rider Opie Bosson said the horse felt okay but couldn’t produce the necessary sprint in the straight.

“He took a while to wind up and was just grinding to the line,” Bosson said.

Vosne Romanee is booked on a flight to Sydney later this month where he will contest the Group 1 $A350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 24.

Big things are expected of High Chaparral’s three-year-olds this season and he made an early impact at Leopardstown on Sunday when Noll Wallop (3c High Chaparral-Annie Girl, by Danehill) won the G3 2,000 Guineas Trial.

Tommy Stack’s charge stormed clear of the field to land the G3 contest by three and a half lengths from Viscount Nelson (3c Giant’s Causeway-Imagine, by Sadler’s Wells).

A maiden winner at the Curragh in October, he looks set to return to the County Kildare track in May for the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas.

“The Irish Guineas and the G1 Irish Derby could be the route we take and the G2 Dante Stakes at York would also be a consideration,” said Fozzy Stack, assistant to his father.

Jockey Wayne Lordan added: “He's always worked well since he was a two-year-old but this was a step up from his maiden win. We were just hoping for a big run and he delivered well today.

“He deserves a crack at the Guineas after that. He's an improving horse, so if he improves a bit more that will do.”

Noll Wallop was bred by Eugenia Farms and races in the colours of Roger O’Byrne.

A leading Kiwi stable who has pulled off many long-priced raids on Australian racing has engaged champion jockey Darren Beadman for what could be its next feature win in Saturday’s Group I The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill.

The father and son team of Murray and Bjorn Baker has its stayer Harris Tweed set for an attack on Sydney’s major staying events, The BMW and Sydney Cup, and are quietly confident of taking home the spoils.

“He has a champion jockey on board, is a class horse and will run the distance,” Bjorn Baker said.

“We’re very happy with him and he has come back bigger, stronger and better.”

The son of Montjeu has had two runs back this preparation since finishing  fifth in the Melbourne Cup when he was beaten just over four lengths by Shocking after racing wide for the entire trip.

His most recent run was in the Group I New Zealand Stakes (2000m) where he finished second, beaten a length, to Vosne Romanee.

“His last run was excellent, he had to work at both ends of the race and was not beaten far by the best weight-for-age horse in New Zealand,” Baker said.

“Last preparation he only started to strive at the very end of his campaign and was only really right for the Cup.

“He was always going to be a horse that was going to appreciate time and get better with age and he has.”

With a bit of age on his side is 86-year-old owner Phil Bayly.

Bayly has tasted victory in this race previously with Harris Tweed’s grand-dam (My) Blue Denim, who won the race in 1981, trained by Dave O’Sullivan.

“He’s been a great supporter of the stable and just loves his racing,” Baker said.

“He’s going for Group I glory both sides of the Tasman this week as he also owns Lion Tamer who is in the Manawatu Sires and is a very good horse that will be seen in Australia at some point.”

“He’s one from one on the track and we have a history of winning big races in Australia at big prices and I definitely won’t be surprised if we do it again.”

Continuing what has been an exceptional season, graduates carrying the Windsor Park Stud brand have enjoyed yet another successful weekend of racing.

Specifically, the Cambridge-based stud was seen to the fore with

1.     Growl winning the A$173,000 Albury Cup

2.     Casabella Lane winning the Gr.2 at Tauranga

3.     Gold Onyx Gr.3 win in South Africa on debut

4.     Centennial Park’s narrow miss in the Gr.2 Ajax at Rosehill.

Gold Onyx, a son of Black Minnaloushe, showed that he is one for the future with a debut win in the Grade 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m under Felix Coetzee.

Trainer Sean Tarry's charge showed no inexperience on debut and finished powerfully to reel in the free-striding front-runner Legislature a few strides short of the post.

Tarry thanked his owner, Chris van Niekerk, and brother Mark, the pedigree expert who has always been excited about Black Minnaloushe as a stallion.

Gold Onyx, bred in New Zealand by Windsor Park Stud and Phil Newman, was sold at the 2009 Karaka yearling sales to Mark Tarry for NZ$80,000.

The Tarry brothers were very keen to secure the well bred colt as Sean had previously trained Gold Onyx’s half brother Keith's Choice (Montjeu).

Keith’s Choice was a brilliant debut winner over 1200m at Clairwood, but later died of travel sickness without having another run.

Their dam Egoli Lass, a stakes winning daughter of Kaapstad, is a half sister to Wise Lass the dam of the Greyville Gold Vase Gr.2 winner Wise Son (Montjeu).

LEE Freedman's decision two years ago to get some stable clients to buy tried horses in England and aim them at Australia's staying events had some promising results in its first year, but yesterday's results in two states showed there may be even better days to come.

A believer in the superior staying ability of European-trained horses having witnessed first hand their ability as the trainer of Makybe Diva, Freedman set about recruiting lightly raced stayers from England. He brought together a group of existing clients, called the Ball and Chain Syndicate, to race them.

In its first foray, the syndicate picked up five horses, four of whom have won races, including Sound Of Nature, who won the listed C. S. Hayes Cup at Morphettville yesterday. But, it was at Caulfield yesterday that the syndicate made it two wins in eight days after Above Average, a member of the syndicate's second group of horses, scored a last-stride win, to follow on from Fanjura, who scored a first-up win at the same track last Saturday.

''We concentrated on getting some higher-rated horses the second time around because it's too hard to get them up to the better races otherwise,'' Freedman said.

''It's been a very good concept and if we continue to have success, we will have to open it up to a few more people.''

Above Average is a son of the exciting young sire High Chaparral who this season has already sired Cox Plate winner So You Think, Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes victor Monaco Consul and Gr.1 Randwick Guineas winner Shoot Out.

Dwayne Dunn settled the Above Average just behind the leaders, but the speed was only moderate and coming around the turn Above Average was under pressure as the field sprinted.

''I was going nowhere coming to the turn, just marking time, and when I gave him a few cuts of the whip, he didn't respond,'' Dunn said. ''He got a bit wayward at the furlong [200 metres], but I drove him hard the last bit and he found the line nice and strong.''

In a tight finish, Above Average ($4.40 into $3.90 equal favourite) had a short-head margin on Georgia's Boy, the other equal favourite, with the pacemaker Bird Of Fire ($4.40) a nose away third.

''They won't believe it in Europe when they hear he has won over a mile [1600 metres] on a firm track,'' a satisfied Freedman said after the race.

''He was off the bit when they sprinted, but he's got the pedigree to run 2400 to 3200 metres and those genes really kicked in over the last 100.''

Depending on how he pulls up, Above Average may head to Sydney for a run before a spell and then on to the spring carnival.

In human years, champion sire Volksraad is rising 76.

He's had a few recent health scares and has had to battle arthritis in a foreleg since he was prematurely retired from the racetrack in England as a three-year-old.

But don't make the mistake of assuming he is fragile.

Visitors are advised to stand well clear and staff at his Cambridge home of Windsor Park Stud go to lengths to ensure his routines are strictly adhered to in order to keep the 22-year-old stallion happy.

Stories of him carrying a handler across the paddock with his teeth and his animosity toward former stallion Black Minnaloushe are legendary at Windsor Park but stud manager Steve Till doesn't want people to get the wrong idea.

''He is a grumpy fella but he's no man-eater,'' Till says.

''He a tough, no-nonsense sort of character and we've keep the same stallion man handling him all the time because if we change the routine with him, he can become intimidatory. He's a horse you can't take your eyes off.

''If the same routine is followed, he is generally pretty happy and under control but every now and then he does have a bad hair day. He's just a masculine horse and like some herd animals, he lives under the law of the jungle that the strongest survives.

''He gets on very well with King's Chapel but when we had Black Minnaloushe he just rubbed him up the wrong way and they didn't get along.

''He's more of that ilk than a good-natured, tractable stallion to work with. We just take a bit more care with him.

''The one thing about him though is that you wouldn't get a stallion who leaves more tractable racehorses and for that reason, we don't think he's being temperamental, it's more of a masculine trait.''

While age hasn't mellowed Volksraad, neither has age stymied his influence as a sire.

Cambridge three-year-old Military Move credited Volksraad with his first New Zealand Derby winner earlier this month, sparking jubilant celebrations with the Windsor Park Stud team, who were also his breeders.

Trainer Shaune Ritchie and his family this week joined the Windsor Park crew to share a few drinks and toast the Derby triumph, which was yet another memorable achievement for Volksraad.
The Green Desert stallion's list of milestones is formidable.

He has sired 12 individual Gr I winners and sired 54 individual stakes winners of 130 races.

Mexican Rose's stakes win in Singapore last weekend took his season tally to seven stakes winners, highlighted by Military Move's Derby success and Veloce Bella's breakthrough Gr I win in the Darci Brahma International Stakes.

Volksraad is currently more than $600,000 ahead on the New Zealand general sires' list as he seeks his eighth Grosvenor Award to draw level with St Leger (1893-1902).  Foxbridge is the benchmark, having won 11 titles from 1941.

With the autumn racing carnival in full swing, five Group One races were conducted in Australasia last weekend, producing great results for some young stallions.

The Gr.1 sires table for the current season is now starting to take shape, with a total of 54 Gr.1 races having been run in Australasia this season.

The winners of these major events are divided between 36 stallions from both sides of the Tasman.

However, only three stallions - High Chaparral, Montjeu and Fastnet Rock - have sired 3 individual Gr.1 winners, while a further five - Scenic, Street Cry, Red Ransom, Volksraad and Zabeel - have sired more than one.

The weekend of quality racing saw High Chaparral, already the sire of Australian Gr.1 stars So You Think (WS Cox Plate) and Monaco Consul (Victoria Derby and AJC Spring Champion Stakes), in the spotlight again with his son Shoot Out's extraordinary effort to claim the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas.

Shoot Out became High Chaparral's second stakes winner for the day, with his daughter Chaparella claiming the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes for three year-old fillies in New Zealand.

Like High Chaparral, Fastnet Rock's excellent season continued to gain momentum on Saturday when his son Rock Classic took the Gr.1 Crown Australian Guineas, producing his third Gr.1 winner, having already sired this season's Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights and VRC Newmarket winner Wanted.

Montjeu completes the successful trio with three Gr.1 winners in Australasia this season.

Speed Gifted was victorious in the AJC Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick and boom NZ galloper Wall Street took the Thorndon Mile at Trentham.

His son Lord Tavistock, a dual Gr.1 winner in New Zealand this season, claimed his first win at group level in Australia with a comprehensive win in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday.

Interestingly, half of the eight stallions who have sired two or more Gr.1 winners this season were from NZ.

Along with High Chaparral and Montjeu, other NZ based sires include Volksraad and Zabeel, both with two G1 winners for the season to date.

Windsor Park Stud’s principal Nelson Schick announced today that the Coolmore owned stallion High Chaparral will now not be shuttling to the Cambridge farm for the 2010 breeding season and will stand at Coolmore Australia.

'We have had great success standing stallions in conjunction with Coolmore such as Tale Of The Cat, Montjeu and High Chaparral. I am a strong believer in enhancing New Zealand’s gene pool with the world’s best international racehorses and genetics.

'Although we are disappointed that High Chaparral is not returning this spring, we are grateful to have been able to offer New Zealand breeders the opportunity to access a World Champion racehorse over a five year period at a very reasonable fee”.

The results from High Chaparral’s first crop are nothing short of outstanding. They include the highest rated three year old in Australasia, Cox Plate winner So You Think; Monaco Consul, winner of both the Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes and Randwick Guineas victor Shoot Out.

These exceptional results mean that High Chaparral is the sire of three of the top eight 3YOs in Australia this season.

Says Schick, 'In the words of Lord Tennyson, 'It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all’.'

Sydney’s 1.5million Doncaster Hcp could beckon for Saturday’s runaway Gr.3 Rich Hill Thompson Hcp winner, Wall Street (NZ) (Montjeu).

Already distinguished this season with his 1.33.86 win in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m), the Jeff Lynds-trained galloper bounced back from a last start miss in the best possible fashion, scooting away from rivals in the hands of Opie Bosson to score by 1 ¼ lengths from Cassini in second.

Held on a Trentham Good 3 track, Wall Street’s time for the outing would be 1.35.03.

Now five, Wall Street (NZ) has put together a record of 13 starts for 8 wins and a second and in doing so has rewarded his owners the GG Syndicate Ltd, GKV Holdings Ltd & Michael Head with NZ$376,025 in earnings.

Secured initially by Paul Moroney at the Premier Yearling Sale for $100,000, the Te Mania Thoroughbred graduate rose to prominence in 2009, winning all but one of his 7 outings.

Bred by CW Wong, Wall Street (NZ) embodies the bloodline of Montjeu and the Grand Lodge mare Villa Wanda.

Villa Wanda has had the five foals for the three winners Usage (Octagonal), Wall Street and Wahaha (Stravinsky).

Saturday’s emphatic 6.25 lengths St Leger stakes winner Mr Charlie provided his breeder’s Windsor Park Stud with a notable ‘classic’ double of sorts following on from Military Move’s victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby two weeks ago.

In days gone by the triumvirate of classic races, the Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger, provided the supreme test at Group One level for 3YO’s over a range of distances throughout the racing season.

Nowadays, the New Zealand St Leger is run over 2500m and is open to 4YO’s as well as 3YO aspirants, providing a quality staying opportunity for future Cups race contenders.

Mr Charlie, a $70,000 graduate of Windsor Park’s 2007 Karaka yearling sales draft, is a son of classic winner Golan, whose success at the elite level included victory in the English 2000 Guineas.

Golan is enjoying another successful season as apart from Mr Charlie he has also sired Gr.1 Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Beauty Flash as well as Gr.3 New Zealand Cup winner My Scotsgrey.

Bred by Windsor Park’s Mapperley Partnership, Mr Charlie looks destined to add further laurels to Windsor Park’s burgeoning list of stakes winners this season which, besides New Zealand Derby winner Military Move, include Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul, Hong Kong Gr.1 winner Beauty Flash, Australian group winners Centennial Park, Growl and Swiss Rose as well as New Zealand stakes winners King’s Ransom and Richard Beymer.

Brilliant Volksraad filly, Mexican Rose, became her sire’s seventh individual stakes winner for the season in the S$200,000 Gr.3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) in Singapore on Friday night.

Her champion sire Volksraad is currently enjoying one of his most successful seasons in an illustrious career and is poised to secure a remarkable 8th title as New Zealand’s Champion Sire this season.

The Windsor Park stallion is now the sire of twelve individual Gr.1 winners with his latest coming via Military Move in last weekend's $2.2 million NZ Derby (2400m), who made up from his close second to Katie Lee in the $1 million 2000 Guineas run at Riccarton in November.

This weekend, NZ’s racing spotlight moves to Trentham for the running of the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) where Volksraad's daughter, A Chance To Dream, will have plenty of admirers after her resounding win in last week's Listed Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie.

In recent years, the Sunline Vase has proven to be the most significant lead up race with the last two winners of the NZ Oaks, Jungle Pocket and Boundless, both running in the Ellerslie feature prior to winning the fillies classic at Trentham.

Iin Adelaide, Volksraad’s multiple stakes winning daughter Velocitea is also aiming for Gr.1 glory in the Robert Sangster Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville this Saturday. The Mick Price trained four-year-old is coming into the race with excellent form including wins in both the MRC Gr.3 Hyderabad Racing Club Stakes and the MRC Listed JRA Stakes both over 1200m at Caulfield.

Top Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver takes the mount again, having been aboard the mare at her last two wins

Otago horseman Jay Misbah marked his first day as a fully-fledged jockey on Saturday by winning his first listed race after piloting Chaparella in the $45,000 New Bloodstock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Wingatui.

The occasion was slightly dampened by a $200 fine for a celebratory gesture short of the line.

Chaparella stormed home from back in the field to win by 1 lengths from Pukekohe filly The Beekeeper, who led.

Chaparella is now sharing the lead with Brown Eyed Grace in the southern Filly of the Year series. Both have seven points, four clear of Te Akau Rose.

The daughter of High Chaparral has been confirmed a starter by trainer Steven Prince for the next race in the series over 1600m at Riccarton on April 10. The Wingatui trainer will then consider the final race, the Warstep Stakes (2000m) on April 24.

MELBOURNE - Central Districts entire Lord Tavistock further enhanced his stud value when he defeated a good field in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, and connections will now discuss a Sydney autumn campaign for the entire.

Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell, a part-owner of the Montjeu 4-year-old, said the horse was brought to Melbourne to try to win a group one or two race.

He is already a dual group one winner in New Zealand.

Campbell said he was probably ridden a little too handy when fifth of six to outstanding mare Typhoon Tracy in the Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield last month.

Ridden by his regular jockey Jason Waddell in the 1600m feature, Lord Tavistock ($17) came from last of the nine runners for a three-quarter-length victory over Vigor ($5), who had kicked clear in the straight, with Dao Dao ($2.10 fav) a half-length away third.

Lord Tavistock is out of the Quest For Fame mare Upstage who was unraced while his third dam Mrs Moss is the mother of Japan Cup winner Jupiter Island.

As a 3-year-old, Lord Tavistock had a campaign with Melbourne trainer Mick Price, winning a 1400m event at Flemington.

'That was probably the making of the horse,' Campbell said.

'He came back a different horse mentally and his eating improved out of sight.'

Lord Tavistock has now raced 17 times for six wins, four placings and $538,431 in prizemoney.

Campbell said he would talk with managing owner Tommy Heptinstall, who was not at Flemington on Saturday, before making any immediate plans.

Lord Tavistock has been staying at trainer Peter Morgan's Whittlesea property and Campbell said it had really helped the horse.

'It's been a change of scenery and we've been putting him in the pool and using the water treadmill. It's great,' he said.

Class filly Mexican Rose bounced back to top form with a courageous victory in the $200,000 Group 3 Merlion Trophy over 1200m on Friday night.
 
The three-year-old daughter of Volksraad has now won six of her seven starts in Singapore after winning her first five, including the Group 3 Juvenile Championship.
 
With Saimee Jumaat regaining the ride, Mexican Rose scored a determined half-length victory over Tumbulgum (Danny Beasley) with Tuxedo Moon (John Powell) three-quarters-of-a-length away third. Mexican Rose suffered her one and only defeat in Singapore when resuming from a spell back on February 19 when third behind Tuxedo Moon in a Class 1 Stakes over 1200m.
 
The filly went into that contest slightly underdone but had shown trainer Laurie Laxon considerable improvement with gallops on the track following that defeat.
 
Laxon even resisted the temptation of giving the filly a trial on Tuesday morning, after entering her, believing she was just about spot on for Friday night’s contest.
 
The one worry for Laxon was Mexican Rose having her first start on the Polytrack, but he countered that by saying the filly had won all her barrier trials on the surface.
 
Laxon described Mexican Rose as “all class” following her victory.
 
“She’s got something about her,” said Laxon. “She’s all class.
 
“She had to do it the tough way tonight. She was forced to cover ground all the way after getting back slightly.
 
“And then tonight it was her first race on the Polytrack. That is always a concern, but I knew she had won all her trials on the surface previously.”
 
Laxon said as Mexican Rose was about to hit the front he felt the filly was just starting lose concentration.
 
“Saimee put one around her bum with the stick and it certainly did the job,” said Laxon, who was just as pleased with the fact Saimee had broken through for his first win since resuming from a three month suspension.
 
Saimee was lining-up for his 20th ride since resuming last Friday week and while frustrated at not being able to break through, he knew his time was close.

“It’s great to get the monkey off my back,” said Saimee. “And to do it in a feature race is that much sweeter.
 
“It had been frustrating, but I knew I was fit enough and it was only a matter of time before the win would come up.”
 
Saimee praised the courage of Mexican Rose after things didn’t pan out the way he expected during the race.
 
“She was one of the first to jump and I expected Ntini to go forward and take me over, but Vlad (Duric) dragged back so I didn’t push forward,” said Saimee.
 
“My plan was to follow Tumbulgum in the run and I eventually was able to race outside at his girth.
 
“She showed a lot of fight in the straight and was strong on the line.”
 
The Merlion Trophy was the first leg of the Singapore Sprint Series and Laxon said the filly would progress to the final two legs – the $200,000 Group 3 Kranji Sprint over 1200m on April 2 before the Group 1 $500,000 Lion City Cup over 1200m on April 24.
 
“She’ll progress through the Singapore Sprint Series and then her Grand Final will be the International Sprint, if she gets selected,” said Laxon.
 
The International Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m will be run on Sunday May 16.
 
In winning on Friday night, Mexican Rose, by Volksraad from the Gone West mare Down View, took her prizemoney past the $430,000 mark for the Jupiter Stable.

Windsor Park Stud’s champion stallion Volksraad (GB) returned to his accustomed position at the very top of the Grosvenor Award on Saturday, after his handsome son Military Move (NZ) out gunned rivals in the NZ$2.2 million Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m).

Leap-frogging Pins on the table for the highest stakes earnings accrued in New Zealand, Volksraad looks well poised for a remarkable 8th Champion Sire title, with his current NZ$578,976 advantage suggesting he should level up to St Leger’s record of eight New Zealand’s Sire Premierships at season close.

Ridden handy to the pace by Michael Walker, Military Move (NZ) ranged up to the pacemaking Time Keeper (NZ) (Stravinsky) with 300m to run, and with victory in sight, surged clear to claim New Zealand’s richest classic by a length.

Flying home late, Corporal Jones (NZ) (Pentire) made up plenty of ground in the straight for second, narrowly denying Handsome Zulu (NZ) (Handsome Ransom) the second place honours by a nose.

Now owned by Hong Kong man Steven Kit Sing Lo, Military Move (NZ) was originally purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock at the 2008 Select Yearling Sale for $75,000.

He returned to the Karaka arena later that year as a member of Doug Cave's Amity Lodge draft, this time being successful secured by agent Phil Cataldo for Almond Lee at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale of 2YO’s for $110,000.

Bound for Hong Kong, where the obvious target will be the Hong Derby at four, Military Move (NZ) will take with him a smart NZ race record.

Prior to his Gr.1 Derby triumph, Military Move (NZ)  debuted  for success at Taupo last August, was 2nd at his second start in the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), was third at his third start in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) and was strongly distinguished when finishing second in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas to Katie Lee.

Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Military Move (NZ) represented the 12th individual Gr.1 winner for resident sire Volksraad – a sire who beyond counting 53 stakes winners, boasts a winners-to-runners ratio of 67%.

Military Move further enhances the outstanding crop of 3YOs Windsor Park Stud sold at the 2008 Karaka sales series,  these include 2009 Cox Plate winner So You Think,  2009 Victoria Derby and AJC Spring Champion Stakes winner Monaco Consul.

Military Move’s dam, All Night Party (NZ) (Just A Dancer), is a three time winning half-sister to the dual Gr.1 galloper Catalan Opening and has to date produced two winners from three two race.

All Night Party has a Kings Chapel colt at foot and a filly by the same sire was astutely purchased by David Ellis at the 2009 Select Yearling Sale for $20,000.

Katsidis believes only a hard track or bad luck in running can deny Shoot Out his first Group 1 success in Saturday's Randwick Guineas (1600m).

The talented three-year-old, prepared by John Wallace on the Gold Coast, has been in superb form recently winning the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at his first run from a let-up before finishing runner-up in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) last time.

Katsidis said Shoot Out was left flat footed when the sprint went on last start before knuckling down strongly late to finish second behind Monton.

But this Saturday Katsidis is predicting an even better horse as he steps up to a mile and beyond towards the Derby in the coming weeks.

Katsidis said Shoot Out only needs some luck in running to be in the finish of this weekend's three-year-old feature.

“His runs this time in have been fantastic and the mile looks like it will suit him even better.

“Barring bad luck I really think he should win the race.

“I think once we get to the longer distance you'll see the real Shoot Out. What we've seen of him so far is a taste of what he is.”

Shoot Out has been posted the clear $4.00 favourite for the Randwick Guineas with Hanks, Viking Legend and Sir Hallowell on the second line of betting at $9.00.

While Wallace is keen to stick to a Derby path with Shoot Out via the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas he has also paid up for the Doncaster Handicap as back-up plan.

With the critical autumn racing carnivals under way Windsor Park Stud stallions are enjoying an excellent run of success. They currently figure prominently on the Dewar Stallion Award as at February 28^th 2010 with High Chaparral, whose oldest crop are 3YO’s, leading the way ahead of champion sire Zabeel. While his Gr.1 Cox Plate winning son So You Think has had his autumn campaign set aside, High Chaparral still has plenty of depth and class to represent him. His Gr. 2 winning son Shoot Out looks on track for his Gr.1 autumn assignments in the Randwick Guineas and AJC Doncaster Handicap following his cracking run for second in Saturday’s Gr. 2 Hobartville Stakes in Sydney while next Saturday his VRC Derby winning son Monaco Consul will bid to complete a trans-Tasman Derby double in the $2.2 million Telecom New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.

In fourth position is former Windsor Park sire Montjeu who was represented by his 76^th stakes winner at the weekend when progressive 4YO Old Jock was successful in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup over 2000m in Melbourne. Old Jock’s success added to an amazing record for Montjeu, who can be regarded as possibly the world's most dominant source of Group One stayers among current sires. Montjeu has left 18 individual Group I winners worldwide and will look to increase that tally next week when his daughter Passchendaele contests the 3200m Gr.1 Stella Artois Auckland Cup for which she is favourite.

Also winning in Melbourne last Saturday was Velocitea, a daughter of Windsor Park’s 7-times Champion Sire Volksraad, who features in 8^th position on the Dewar Award sire’s table. Velocitea charged home for a 2 ¼ length win in the Listed JRA Plate over 1100m at Caulfield and is unbeaten in two stakes winning starts for Caulfield trainer Mick Price. She will now contest the Gr.1 Sportingbet Classic, formerly the Robert Sangster Stakes, in Adelaide next month.

In 10^th position is exciting young stallion Thorn Park. Last Saturday his Windsor Park-bred daughter Miss Thorn almost completed an unprecedented third successive win for her sire in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders Stakes when she figured in a close photo finish for the prestigious 2YO fillies feature. Miss Thorn became Thorn Park’s 16^th individual stakes performer, continuing an excellent season for her sire that also includes siring Gr.2 winners La Etoile and Jimmy Choux as well as Australian stakes winners Centennial Park and Swiss Rose.

THE DEWAR AWARD As provided by Arion Pedigrees, 28 February 2010
STALLION	NZ$ EARNINGS
High Chaparral	$3,656,438
Zabeel	$3,434,309
Pins	$3,261,800
Montjeu	$3,038,721
Pentire	$2,604,891
O'Reilly	$2,221,096
Stravinsky	$1,717,910
Volksraad	$1,640,341
Keeper	$1,060,027
Thorn Park	$1,048,007
Criteria: The sire whose progeny has accumulated the highest combined stakes earnings in Australia and New Zealand for the season under review.

Smart mare Velocitea has earned herself a shot at next month’s Group I Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide after cruising to victory in the Listed J R A Plate (1200m) at Caulfield.

Velocitea was having her second start for Mick Price in the $100,000 event and had little trouble maintaining her unbeaten record for her new trainer with a convincing win.

Star jockey Damien Oliver always had the daughter of Volksraad travelling strongly on the back of the early leader Solchow before taking an inside run on the point of the home turn.

After not going around a horse, Velocitea had plenty left in the tank for a charge to the line with the four-year-old opening up a 2-1/4 length margin on the post.

“She’s such a pleasure to train,” Price said. “She’s the most beautiful mare to have in the stable and she just trains herself.

“I reckon she might only get three or four runs in a campaign so I’ll keep her a little bit fresh for the Sangster Stakes in three weeks.”

Price has won the Sangster Stakes on two previous occasions with French Bid in 2004 when the race was run at Group II before Bel Mer recorded her maiden Group I success last year.

Time Matters ran home strongly from off the pace but found Velocitea’s 5.5kg weight pull too much to overcome before finishing second ahead of Solchow who boxed on fairly after leading.

Young stayer Old Jock (4g Montjeu x Ma Danseuse, by Dance Floor) became the latest stakes-winner (number 76) for super sire Montjeu when he scored a determined win in the Listed MRC Victoria Gold Cup over 2000 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.

Trainer Mick Price declared a change in routine was the catalyst for Old Jock’s first win in more than a year, the four year-old finding the line with real enthusiasm to win his first Black Type event by half a length.

Price said he introduced jumping into Old Jock’s training regime after the four-year-old finished midfield in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on February 17.

“There’s three sets of three hurdles in the middle of Caulfield,” Price said. “I just wasn’t happy with his run in the Mornington Cup.

“He’s by Montjeu but he didn’t give me the feel he got the 2400 metres last start. I’ve basically done no work with him since Monday.

“He’s not a very good jumper but he had plenty of practice during the week.”

A $100,000 purchase from the Wellfield draft at the 2007 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Old Jock is the first stakes-winner for his dam Ma Danseuse, a stakes-winner of 10 races up to 1400 metres by Dance Floor.

Old Jock has the overall record of three wins and six placings from 17 starts with prizemoney of $140,678.

His sire Montjeu no longer shuttles to Windsor Park in New Zealand and is permanently based at Coolmore in Ireland.

After knocking on the door of a top-level victory several times in the past, Veloce Bella finally landed her first Group 1 victory on Saturday when she outfooted highly regarded Tell A Tell for a narrow win in the Darci Brahma/Whakanui Stud International Stakes (NZ-G1) at Te Rapa.

A consistent middle-distance performer for trainer Mark Brosnan, the six-year-old Volksraad mare had four Group 2 wins on her record and placings in six other group stakes, including three at the Group 1 level. She finished third behind winner MacO’Reilly and Tell A Tale in last year’s edition of the race, but entered this year’s edition sharp off two consecutive wins in handicaps in January and February.

Multiple Group 1 winner MacO’Reilly appeared poised for a repeat win in the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) International as he sprinted clear about 1,000 meters out. Jockey Michael Coleman told New Zealand’s Press Association that Veloce Bella was not traveling well at that point and he thought his mount was in trouble at the 600-meter mark.

“But she found a way back into it and at the 200 meters she started to feel like she had a very good chance,” Coleman said.

Veloce Bella had plenty of energy in reserve and raced clear before holding off 2008 First Sovereign Trust New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1) winner Tell A Tale while covering the distance in 2:01.93 on a turf course rated as good. Group 2 winner Passchendaele finished another 1¼ lengths back in third in the nine-horse field and a half-length in front of MacO’Reilly.

Owned by Case Lot Syndicate, Veloce Bella improved to ten wins in 39 career starts and provided Brosnan with the first Group 1 victory of his 18-year career.

New Zealand-bred Veloce Bella is out of the Crested Wave mare Wave To Lottie.

Also on Saturday’s card, Tavistock earned his second Group 1 win this season after unfurling an intense rally in the final 200 meters and wearing down Wealth Princess to win the Waikato Draught Sprint (NZ-G1) by a neck.

Trained by Andrew Campbell, Tavistock relaxed at the back of the field early and came with a determined outside rally under jockey Jason Waddell to collar stakes winner Wealth Princess in the closing strides. Mufhasa, New Zealand’s Horse of the Year of 2008-'09, finished 1¼ lengths back in third in the 13-horse field.

Tavistock, a four-year-old by Montjeu (Ire) out of the Quest for Fame (GB) mare Upstage, defeated Mufhasa last August in the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (NZ-G1) and entered off a close runner-up finish to Wall Street (Montjeu) in the Harcourts Thorndon Mile Stakes (NZ-G1) on January 30 at Trentham.

He covered 1,400 meters (6.96 furlongs) on turf rated as good in 1:21.03 to improve to five wins in 15 career starts.

Not only do Windsor Park stand the 7 times champion sire Volksraad but also stood Montjeu during his four southern hemisphere seasons when shuttling from Coolmore Ireland - capping of a great day for the Cambridge nursery.

Bargain buy Shoot Out added to the great season being enjoyed in Australia by three-year-olds by High Chaparral when he won the G2 Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

With Cox Plate winner So You Think and also Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul among his 3YO crop, High Chaparral has firmly established his presence as a dominant source of Group winners over the full range of distances.

Shoot Out is proving to be an incredible money spinner for his owners, the Huddy family of Queensland.

Linda Huddy parted with just $15,000 for him at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he has now won just shy of $300,000 prizemoney.

It was the second Group 2 success for the John Wallace trained Shoot Out as he won the QTC Sires' Produce Stakes last season at his second race start.

High Chaparral stands at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge New Zealand.

While the majority of horses by Montjeu find their forte over longer journeys, it would seem 1400 metres is ideal for Kiwi bred entire Tavistock (4h Montjeu x Upstage, by Quest for Fame) who posted his second Group One win at the trip in the Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa in New Zealand on Saturday.

Second in the Group One Thorndon Mile at his previous run, the Andrew Campbell trained Tavistock unwound a big finish from back in the field to down Wealth Princess by a neck with top class sprinter miler Mufhasa in third place.

Tavistock is likely to head to Melbourne for the Group One MRC Futurity Stakes over 1600 metres at Caulfield in two weeks time.

'We had thought about running in the other Group One here today (the International over 2000m),' Campbell said.

'But as we've decided to go for the Futurity Stakes we thought 1400 metres would be a better lead-in.'

A winner at Trentham as a two year-old from just three starts, Tavistock was thought good enough to mix it with the big guns in Melbourne as a spring three year-old so was sent across to the stables of Mick Price.

Racing as Lord Tavistock, he won brilliantly at Flemington beating top class filly Romneya and finished fourth to Fernandina in the Group Three MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude before coming unstuck in the Caulfield Guineas when over-racing at his first start in blinkers.

Returned to New Zealand to the care of Andrew Campbell, Tavistock has recaptured his best form and will be a force to be reckoned with when he returns to Australia.

An $85,000 purchase from the Bloomsbury Stud draft at the 2007 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Lord Tavistock has the overall race record of five wins and four placings from 15 starts earning in excess of $432,992 in prizemoney for his lucky group of seven owners.

He is the third foal and first stakes-winner for Quest for Fame mare Upstage (GB), whose dam is a half-sister to Group One winner Jupiter Island.

There was drama aplenty in the $150,000, Group Two, Schweppes Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday with the favourite rearing as the barriers opened denting his chances, and then a photo finish that went the other way to those observers with the eye.

Shoot Out and Kerrin McEvoy won the race over More Than Great and Glyn Schofield in their part of the drama, and $1.60 favourite Manhattan Rain and Blake Shinn did their part at the other end of the race. The Waterhouse colt reared just as the barriers opened and Shinn was forced to settle at the rear of the field, effectively ending their chances in the race.

Waterhouse stablemate Viking Legend and Nash Rawiller took up the running taking the field to the main straight without being placed under pressure and they were still leading with 300m to run. More Than Great and Schofield made a challenge, but Viking Legend was nor fading and More Than Great was struggling to pass.

Manhattan Rain was making a run down the outside but it was too late and the colt, making his first start since his second in the Group One WS Cox Plate over 2040m in October, would have to be content with a late fifth.

Up front More Than Great finally managed to head Viking Legend, and the More Than Ready colt looked the winner, but then the High Chaparral gelding Shoot Out started to really lengthen under Kerrin McEvoy. Shoot Out, on the outside, arrived alongside More Than Great right on the finish line, but it looked as if the inside horse had the decision.

Then the broadcast replay came onto the inside screen and a rethink was required. The photo finish shot then confirmed a nose victory to Shoot Out.

Viking Ruler (Elvstroem) was third, the margin a short neck, and Delago Bolt fourth. The time on the Slow (7) track was 1.10.74 and the final 600m in 34.84. Shoot Out paid $9.40 on NSW TAB.

Gold Coast trainer John Wallace was delighted with the win, even thought feeling for Queensland jockey Stathi Katsidis who was unable to take the ride due to a barrier injury earlier in the week.

Wallace was pleased with the win as the gelding head towards the Group One David Jones Australian AJC Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 10^th.

Just a week out from the commencement of the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sales series there was no better advertisement for the great value on offer there than that demonstrated by last nights $HK8 million Gr.1 Mercedes-Benz  Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Beauty Flash.

Beauty Flash, a son of Golan and the Volksraad mare Wychwood Rose, was bred by Windsor Park Stud and sold by them in conjunction with Marc and Sarah Devcich to Hong Kong-based Dan O’Donnell for $65,000 at the 2007 Karaka Select Sale.

The winner of six of his seven starts in Hong Kong for prize money in excess of $HK8.5 million, Beauty Flash beat a high quality field which included French 2000 Guineas and French Derby placegetter Super Pistachio (formerly Westphalia), South African Gr.1 performer Cerise Cherry as well as Straightforward (formerly Freemantle), runner up in the Gr.2 Dante Stakes at York last year.

Trainer Tony Cruz is now heading Beauty Flash towards the Gr.1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby on March 14th.

Golan, sire of Gr.1 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz, is enjoying another excellent season with New Zealand Cup winner My Scotsgrey and last Saturday’s impressive Trentham winner Mr Charlie among his growing list of winners.

Beauty Flash joins this season’s WS Cox Plate winner So You Think and Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul among other stellar racehorses to have been sold from recent Windsor Park yearling drafts. 

Chaparella (NZ) claims first leg of Gallop South Triple Crown.

Promising High Chaparral filly Chaparella (NZ) claimed the first leg of the Gallop South Triple Crown series for three-year-olds, when she sailed home an easy winner of the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1355m) at Gore on Saturday.

Trained by Steven Prince, Chaparella (NZ) recorded her third win from seven starts, beating Issues (NZ) (Ishiguru) by 1-1/2 lengths with Te Akau Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park) two-lengths away in third.

Giving an early indication of her galloping ability, Chaparella (NZ) won a maiden race by 10 3/4 lengths at Gore in October and franked this form by winning the Dunedin Casino Guineas Prelude at Omakau on January 3.

Bred by B J & Mrs J C O'Donnell, she is raced by the Bonnie & Clyde Syndicate.

Chaparella (NZ) became the 17th individual stakes winner for her Windsor Park shuttle sire High Chaparral, who is distinguished in the Southern Hemisphere by the Gr.1 winners So You Think and Monaco Consul.

If Chaparella (NZ) is also successful in the Dunedin and Southland Guineas on February 6 and 20, her connections will receive the series bonus of $100,000. (A condition of the bonus is that there must be 10 starters in each guineas race).

A clash of two of the two-year-old titans in the $85,000, Group II, Westbury Stud Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) provided a rousing spectacle at Trentham on Saturday, but in the finish it was the John Bary-trained Jimmy Choux (2 B. C. Thorn Park – Cierzo, by Centaine) that garnered the chocolates.

When they last met, at Te Rapa on December 12, it was Cellarmaster that held a half length at the line over Jimmy Choux, and while Cellarmaster had since won at Ellerslie on January 1, Jimmy Choux had been freshened for the assignment.

On paper it seemed that the favourite Cellarmaster (Dubawi) and Jimmy Choux appeared the hardest to beat, and so it proved as the pair controlled the race in front from the outset before drawing clear in the straight.

For much of the final 400 metres, Jimmy Choux was locked in battle with Cellarmaster, who refused to flinch on his inside, but to cries of ‘go Jimmy’ Jimmy Choux gained a long neck advantage in the final couple of bounds.

Finding the line solidly from back in field for third, the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained Saint Agata (Bahhare) finished three lengths away, to give Hawkes Bay a first and third result in the race, and a trifecta for the Central Districts, with Cellarmaster being trained by Kevin Gray at Palmerston North.

Bary praised the ride by Johnathan Riddell on Jimmy Choux.

“It was great ride. He knows this horse so well. He travelled to Te Rapa to ride and really believes in him”, said Bary.

“I’ve cranked the work into him and it’s great to win a group race at my third attempt. All wins are good, even a Maiden, but to win a stakes race is special for me and the staff.”

Bary, only in his second season of training, yet with forty horses in his care, had saddled The Hombre (Lucky Owners) to compete in a couple of black type races earlier in the season.

Bary said of Jimmy Choux, “He was still at a growing stage when he went to Te Rapa, he’s still a colt and I believe he’s also better on good ground.”

Owned by Chouxmaani Investments Ltd for Richard Wood, Jimmy Choux has won three of his five starts, including two seconds, and Bary believes as he matures he will be able to produce some withering bursts on top of the ground.

His next assignment will be the $200,000, Group I, Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie on March 13.

Wood owned and bred the wonderful galloper Count Chivas (Lord Ballina), who won seven races and over two million dollars in stakes.

Wood said, “I got into racing when I realised I wasn’t going to be a solicitor.”

Windsor Park Stud will hold their annual Yearling Parade on Tuesday 19th January 2010

10:30am   Parade of yearlings at Windsor Park

1:00pm     Lunch at Mapperley Stud

2:00pm     Parade of yearlings at Mapperley Stud

Please feel free to bring friends, clients and associates.

If you wish to attend, please RSVP by 12th January 2010 .

Miss Marauder was the Windsor Park Stud freshman sire Falkirk's first race winner.

The filly, trained on the course by Matthew Eales, scored a strong onpace win to beat another highly rated filly Kallisan. Miss Marauder had produced a bold run for fifth, from a wide barrier, when tackling the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham on debut. The margin on Saturday was a long neck, with a further 1 3/4L back to third placed Juzchillin. The time was a smart 1.05.11.

Miss Marauder is now likely to tackle the $70,000, Group Three, Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 1, to give her experience at Ellerslie before the $1 million Karaka Million (1200m) on January 31.

A $30,000 yearling buy Miss Marauder, out of Kate Lorimer, showed pace reminiscent of her sire Falkirk who was a brilliant international Group-winning sprinter in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand.

From just a handful of starters Falkirk looks to have a great future with the promising placegetters San Leonardo and Triple Treats, along with a number of trials winners, to represent him.

Beauty Flash wins the 2009 Chevalier Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday PICTURE: Hong Kong Jockey Club

BEAUTY FLASH (Tony Cruz/Matt Chadwick) underlined his Classic potential with an authoritative victory in the featured Chevalier Cup (Class 1, 7f) at Sha Tin.

Imported from New Zealand last season, the four-year-old son of Golan will be aimed at the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby early next year - and on Sunday's evidence he will have a major say in how these prizes are decided.

Tony Cruz: saddled adouble PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com 

Backed into 4-7 favourite, Beauty Flash settled in third position on the rail and kicked clear at the top of the home straight and quickly settled matters.

Despite appearing to idle in front, he still scored by a length and a quarter from the John Moore-trained pair of Kings Falcon and Irish Jig.

'He has never been over further than 1,400m but he'll get a mile no problem and I don't think he'll have any trouble with 2,000m in the Derby in March either, with the way he is bred,' Cruz said.  

'That's his fourth win from five starts for me. He has that nice blend of speed of stamina. He is one for the future, no doubt.'

Leading young sire Thorn Park took his tally of stakes winners to seven at the weekend when his daughter Swiss Rose became his second Australian stakes winner this season.

Producing whirlwind acceleration reminiscent of her sire, Swiss Rose’s momentum carried her to a narrow victory in the Brisbane Racing Club’s Mode Stakes, a $100,000 Listed event over 1200m.

Swiss Rose underlined the good season being enjoyed by the progeny of Thorn Park, whose son Centennial Park won the Gr.3 VRC Chatham Stakes at the recent Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Thorn Park, who is also represented by this season’s dual-winning 2YO Jimmy Choux, has 36 yearlings catalogued to go under the hammer at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sales series in February 2010.

Beauty Flash makes no mistakes as he downs some former top-tier horses in style. Photo: Kenneth Chan

The day wasn't always pretty for some of the most promising young horses, but at least two of the major Hong Kong Derby aspirants managed to live up to their billing in the final two events.

The Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Flash made it five wins from six starts with another deceptive victory in the Class One London Handicap (1,400m) when he again appeared to wait for his rivals once he hit the front.

'Actually it wasn't ideal for him because the horses right on the pace haven't been winning,' said Cruz.

'He's a lovely horse to train, Beauty Flash, and I think he gave us the sign today that he really is a potential Group One horse by beating Armada, who is a Group One winner.'

Matthew Chadwick had won on Gem Of Chiu Ton for Cruz in race six and completed a double on Beauty Flash as he remained unbeaten on the gelding in five outings now, but he may not be aboard when the chestnut next appears.

Owner Simon Kwok Siu-ming is reportedly leaning towards Christophe Soumillon to replace the top apprentice as the major four-year-old events begin.

'Next stop Classic Mile and you know when everybody comes to Group One races, they always want the top jockeys on their horses,' Cruz said. 'But I will have a ride for Matthew in the race, too.'

The Bart Cummings-trained pair So You Think (NZ) and Viewed have been included in the list of the World’s best 50 racehorses in the latest release of the World Thoroughbred Rankings.

The Spring Racing Carnival stars join international sprint sensation Scenic Blast as the highest rated Australian-trained horses on 122. They are ranked equal 17th on the listings.

So You Think was given his rating for his brilliant front-running win in the Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on 24 October.

The three-year-old colt was given the same rating of 122 carrying 1.5kg over weight-for-age when second to All American in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Viewed achieved his rating of 122 for his win in the BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 17 October when he carried the topweight of 57kg.

Reigning Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast continues his overseas campaign when he runs in the Hong Kong Sprint Trial (1200m) at Sha Tin this Sunday.

Amongst his rivals will be Australian-bred, Hong Kong-trained pin-up horse Sacred Kingdom who is also rated 122 in the world listings.

The other Australian to feature prominently is the Mark Kavanagh-trained four-year-old Whobegotyou. He improved his standing in the listings rating 120 for his win in the Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on 10 October.

The World listings are again headed by Irish champion Sea The Stars (135) who has been retired to stud following his victory in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

Click here for the World Thoroughbred Rankings 9th May to 8th November 2009.

Results from the spring features suggests that Australasia may well have an outstanding crop of Second Season Sires, with no less than four of them registering debut Group 1 winners over the carnival.

While sire lists can be distorted by a single runner, it's important to note that each of the top three on the second crop list have been anything but one trick ponies in 2009-10.

Fastnet Rock would have been rated the early favourite to win the Second Season title and his progeny have come into their own over the past couple of months, but he faces formidable opposition from two shuttlers.

New Zealand based shuttler High Chaparral is riding high on the General List and therefore leads the Second Crop division, despite having had just nine runners in Australia so far this term.

He joins established stars like Red Ransom, Scenic and Street Cry as the only stallions to have supplied dual Group 1 winners in Australia so far this season.

So You Think established himself as the budding superstar of Australian racing by dominating the Cox Plate and then turning in a similarly classy performance when second in Saturday's G1 Emirates Stakes.

High Chaparral also had the dual Group 1 winner Monaco Consul take out the Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby in convincing style.

To date, High Chaparral's progeny have won $3.35million this season.

Third placed is Darley's shuttler Shamardal , whose daughter Faint Perfume starred for the fairer sex in Cup week, completing the G2 Wakeful-G1 VRC Oaks double.

The son of Giant's Causeway also had Shamoline Warrior take out the G3 Norman Robinson Stakes, which earned him Victoria Derby favouritism before being a race morning scratching.

Highlighting Shamardal's versatility was the eye-catching Breeders' Plate winner Run For Wilson, who looks set to be a player in next year's juvenile features.

Shamardal's progeny have earned $1.36million.

Splitting that pair is Fastnet Rock , who landed his first Group 1 winner via Thousand Guineas heroine Irish Lights, who is among four individual stakes winners for the Coolmore based Danehill stallion so far this season.

The other second crop sire to enjoy a breakthrough Group 1 winner was Arrowfield's Charge Forward , whose daughter Headway won a thrilling Coolmore Stud Stakes. Headway is the lone stakes winner among five individual winners for Charge Forward this season.

Though yet to crack it for a Group 1 winner, Blue Gum Farm's Elvstroem continues to make positive inroads and he is a clear fourth among the Second Crop boys.

With the Group 1 placed pair of Carrara and Viking Legend already stakes winners this season, Elvstroem was robbed of a third black type winner when Viking Hero lost the Listed Myer Spring Fashion Stakes (1800m) on protest on Oaks Day.

The Mike Moroney trained colt, who is from the Zabeel mare Gypsy Dollar, was having just his fourth race start and he seemingly has the natural talent to soon atone for that 'defeat.'

Other Second Crop sires making their mark include fifth placed Al Maher (sire of G2 and Listed winner Majestic Music), Dane Shadow (sire of G1 placed Shellscrape) and Australian-bred Stravinsky stallion Oratorio, who is the sire of highly promising Perth galloper Waratah's Secret and the filly Clueless Angel, who completed a stakes double for the sire at Ascot on October 31.

Graeme Nicholson's ironhorse Sir Slick (NZ) (Volksraad) made a superb domestic return on Saturday, comprehensively landing win number 21 in the Gr.3 Stella Artois Tauranga Stakes (WFA, 1600m).

Ordinarily an on-pace galloper, Sir Slick was surprisingly positioned midfield by Samantha Collett (a).

Pulled wide, the evergreen galloper served up a mighty reminder of his 6 time Gr.1 success, eventually drubbing the best of the field, Casa de Campo (NZ) (Generous) by 2.8 lengths.

Part-owned by Frances Crimmins, Sir Slick (NZ) joined the esteemed 21 win company of Commisionaire (NZ) and Lord Zirito (NZ) with the outing.

All told the 8YO galloper has attained 21 wins, 18 seconds and 14 thirds from his 106 start career and in doing so has banked NZ$1,708,575, A$107,292, S$60,000.

Bred by Paul and Cushla Smithies of Monavale Farm, Sir Slick (NZ) is by the champion Gr.1 sire Volksraad and is from the Paris Opera mare Miss Opera.

Distinguished further with the stakes performers Shortblackmini (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) and Mr Jinky (NZ) (Volksraad), Miss Opera has marked her time well in the breeding paddock with five to race for five winners.

Monaco Consul made a big leap up the ratings on the strength
of a strong Victoria Derby win on Saturday. Winner of the Spring
Champion Stakes at Randwick in heavy conditions last time
out, Monaco Consul encountered different circumstances at
Flemington but he handled the firmer going comfortably and
showed that he is high-class colt still on the up.
Always travelling well, Monaco Consul came with a strong challenge
in the straight to defeat Extra Zero and Viking Legend clearly.
Like So You Think, Monaco Consul is lightly-raced, is by the Derby
winner High Chaparral and he possesses a telling turn of foot. A
grand looking sort, he can only improve further.

Three -Year-Olds
125P So You Think (NZ) 3 c High Chaparral (Ire) – Triassic (NZ), by Tights (USA)
113 Monaco Consul (NZ) 3 c High Chaparral (Ire) – Argante (NZ), by Star Way (GB)
121 Denman (Aus) 3 c Lonhro (Aus) - Peach (Aus), by Vain (Aus)
121 Manhattan Rain (Aus) 3 c Encosta de Lago (Aus) – Shantha’s Choice (Aus), by Canny Lad (Aus)
120p Trusting (NZ) 3 c Tale Of The Cat (USA) - Legible (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)
118 Extra Zero (Aus) 3 c Danzero (Aus) – Extra Bubbley (Aus), by Bellotto (USA)
118 Starspangledbanner (Aus) 3 c Choisir (Aus) – Gold Anthem (Aus), by Made Of Gold (USA)

117 Carrara (Aus) 3 c Elvstroem (Aus) – Crystal Sprite (Aus), by Hurricane Sky (Aus)
117 Viking Legend (Aus) 3 c Elvstroem (Aus) – Innocent Baby (Aus), by Jugah (USA)
116 Black Caviar (Aus) 3 f Bel Esprit (Aus) – Helsinge (Aus), by Desert Sun (GB)
116 More Joyous (Aus) 3 f More Than Ready (USA) - Sunday Joy (Aus), by Sunday Silence (USA)
116 Phelan Ready (Aus) 3 g More Than Ready (USA) - Nancy Eleanor (Aus), by Blevic (Aus)
115 Avenue (Aus) 3 f Anabaa (USA) – Virage (Aus), by Kenmare (Fr)
115 Demerit (Aus) 3 c Lonhro (Aus) – Shame (Aus), by Scenic (Ire)
115 Faint Perfume (Aus) 3 f Shamardal (USA) – Zona (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)
115 Hanks (Aus) 3 c Encosta de Lago (Aus) – Sisterfromseattle (USA), by Seattle Slew (USA)
115 Headway (Aus) 3 f Charge Forward (Aus) - Chatelaine (Aus), by Flying Spur (Aus)
115 Irish Lights (Aus) 3 f Fastnet Rock (Aus) – Aspen Falls (USA), by Henessy (USA)
115 Onemorenomore (Aus) 3c Red Ransom (USA) - Palia (Aus), by Last Tycoon (Ire)
115 Shamoline Warrior (Aus) 3 c Shamardal (USA) – Picholine (Aus), by Dehere (USA)
115 Wanted (Aus) 3 c Fastnet Rock (Aus) – Fragmentation (Aus), by Snippets (Aus)

Quite apart from it being the best day of racing on the Australian calendar,
Saturday’s competition at Flemington also had a major impact on the sires’ table,
writes Darryl Sherer. Having been some $600,000 behind the leader Encosta de
Lago at the start of the day, High Chaparral (Ire) now finds himself atop the Australian Sires’ list with just nine runners, headed by Saturday’s Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul.

Following So You Think’s W S Cox Plate win the previous Saturday, High Chaparral has two Group 1 winners from his first New Zealand conceived crop and progeny earnings of $3.1 million from just two crops of racing age puts him ahead of Scenic (Ire), whose admirable son Scenic Shot added the L K S Mackinnon Stakes.

Encosta de Lago, who started the day at the head of the financial list is now in third place with Redoute’s Choice and Lonhro still in fourth and fifth place.
Hussonet (USA) enjoyed a good winner with Eagle Falls taking the Seppelt
sponsored Linlithgow Stakes and that propelled the Arrowfield stallion from 16th to 12 with Red Ransom (USA) up from 23 to 13 courtesy of Typhoon Tracy’s win in the Empire Rose Stakes.

The biggest climber after Saturday’s racing was Shamardal (USA). Faint
Perfume’s win has pushed Shamardal from 53 to 35 and with the prospect of
a VRC Oaks win for Faint Perfume, then the Darley shuttle stallion could find
himself in the top 20 by next Friday.

High Chaparral has five winners from 13 runners in New Zealand for earnings
of $68,963 giving him combined figures of eight winners from 22 runners.
The Coolmore stallion shuttles to Windsor Park Stud where he stands alongside Thorn Park, whose son Centennial Park took the last race at Flemington on Saturday.

Worldwide, High Chaparral is running at better than 50 per cent winners to
runners. No wonder Monaco Consul’s trainer Mike Moroney was moved to say
on Saturday, “He’s the type of stallion we need down here, no doubt about it.”