Magic Millions 3YO Guineas In The 'Pipeline' For Talented Colt

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A Breednet 'One to Watch' when scoring on debut at Wyong in July, talented colt Pipeline booked his ticket to Magic Millions Day on the Gold Coast in January with a stylish return at Rosehill on Saturday.

Resuming from a spell in the Benchmark 69 event over 1200 metres, the Gerald Ryan trained son of Redoute's Choice scored by three-quarters of a length.

A $575,000 purchase from the Mill Park draft at the 2015 Magic Millions yearling sale for Stallion Racing / Jadeskye Racing, Pipeline will now target the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.

"We've always had a really good opinion of him," stable foreman Blake Ryan said. "We thought he was genuine stakes grade from day one.

"We were fairly confident coming here today he'd run well. Second-up and maybe a touch further he'd beat them but he's come back really well and Timmy rode him a treat.

"He's on his way to the Magic Millions. Big cherries up there on offer so on the way he goes."

Winning rider Tim Clark was also impressed with Pipeline .

"He's a nice colt," Clark said. "He's come back a better horse. Got a great attitude.

"We think he might be a better horse once he gets over 1400m or a mile so it's a good way to start his prep off.

"The Gold Coast is on his radar and on the back of that performance you'd think he'd be somewhere around the mark."

Bred by Mill Park and Mills Thoroughbred Breeding, Pipeline is the second foal and second winner for Group II AJC Villiers Stakes winner Dances on Waves, who was also trained by Ryan.

Mill Park sold the current two year-old from Dances on Waves, a colt by Street Cry (IRE) for $725,000 at Magic Millions this year to China Horse Club / Winstar Farm.

He has been named Superbank and been given to Chris Waller to train.

A royally bred half-sister by Anabaa (USA) to the dam of four-time Group I winner Preferment, Dances on Waves has a yearling colt by Snitzel to be offered at Inglis Easter 2017 and produced another colt by the same sire this spring.

Mill Park graduates enjoyed an early treble with two year-old All American colt Phelps Glory (pictured below) winning on debut at Morphettville followed in the next race by three year-old Al Maher gelding Gun Guru.


Trained by Phillip Stokes, Phelps Glory was a $62,500 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from the Mill Park draft for Dalziel Racing.

The colt was a successful pinhook having been bought by Hancock Quality Bloodstock from the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $15,000.

He is the first winner for Redoute's Choice mare Rekindled Glory, a full sister to Group II winner Rekindled Interest.

An easy winner over 1950 metres, Gun Guru is a homebred for Harry Perk trained by Leon Macdonald and Andre Gluyas.

A half-brother to Group III winner Gamblin' Guru and Group III placed Gossip Guru, he has now won three of eight starts.

Battle Brewing Salutes at Morphettville

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Stakes-placed four year-old Battle Brewing is enjoying being kept to the sprint distances this preparation and posted his second win from his past three starts at Morphettville on Saturday.

Prepared by Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) gelding was favourite for the Benchmark 75 event over 1200 metres and scored a tenacious head win.



It was his third win from 20 starts and takes his prizemoney in excess of $170,000.

A homebred for Harry Perks that was retained to race in partnership, Battle Brewing was raised at Mill Park and is a half-brother to Group I winner Go Indy Go and Group III winner Essay Raider being from terrific producer Elegant Eagle, a sister to the dam of Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed.

Elegant Eagle has a yearling filly by Go Indy Go’s sire Bernardini (USA), but no foal this spring having missed last year.

 

Girl Sunday Wins Again

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The OnTrack Thoroughbreds colours shot to fame aboard dual Group I winner Brazen Beau and featured at Rosehill on Saturday aboard progressive Encosta de Lago mare Girl Sunday, a $100,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Mill Park draft.

A lightly raced four year-old prepared by Gerald Ryan, Girl Sunday won at her first run back from a spell and repeated the effort to lead throughout and win again.

She fought on doggedly to win the 1400 metre contest by a short half head with some four lengths back to the third horse.

A big filly that has been given time to mature, she has now had nine starts for four wins and a second with prizemoney just shy of $120,000.

Girl Sunday is the first winner for stakes-winning Cape Cross (IRE) mare Pleasantsundaygirl, a grand-daughter of Group III winner Furama Nights.

Déjà vu Morphettville Double for Mill Park Graduates

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Two weeks ago, progressive four year-olds Beluga Blue and Mail It In made it a winning double at Morphettville for yearlings sold by Mill Park and they repeated the performance on Saturday.

Prepared by Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, stakes-winning Lookin at Lucky (USA) mare Beluga Blue was having her second run back from a spell after finishing fourth in the Group III SAJC Ubet Fillies Classic over 2500 metres back in May.

She was sent out favourite for the 1400 metre contest and scored by a length, her fourth win from 16 starts with prizemoney topping $224,000.

Consigned for sale by Mill Park at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Beluga Blue made $100,000 to the bid of Leon Macdonald and runs for a syndicate of owners that includes her breeder Harry Perks.

A half-sister to talented winner Burgundy Blast, she is the second foal of Choice of Colours, a metro winning Redoute’s Choice mare from the family of Group winners Excited Angel, Typhoon and more recently Text’n Hurley and Delago’s Secret.

Also saluting was Reset gelding Mail It In, a $50,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the draft of Mill Park.

Prepared by Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas, Mail It In made it back to back wins at 1550 metres, travelling handy to the lead and kicking away to win by a length as favourite.

Mail It In has won four of 21 starts earning over $210,000 in prizemoney and is a half-brother to Group III winner Daytona Grey being from terrific producer Southern Rose, who sadly died earlier this year.

New happy trails beckon for 'Roy'

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Paul Beshara didn’t even need to talk to jockey Dwayne Dunn after the Emirates Stakes to know that Happy Trails had run his last race.

As he had done at each of 64 previous starts, Beshara closely monitored the performance of the gelding he affectionately calls Roy and, for the first time, knew his days as a racehorse were done.

The nine-year-old beat home just two rivals in his 35th Group 1 appearance and while that was an improvement on the Cox Plate run, when he finished last, it was a more telling performance according to Beshara.

“His run was very creditable in the Turnbull, he ran a beautiful fifth and ran home nice and strong and looked like the old Roy, and in the Cox Plate I didn’t take much notice because he just won’t run on wet tracks,” Beshara said on Sunday morning.

“But yesterday, the Happy Trails of old would have stormed home down the outside and come a lot faster than he did. But he just couldn’t go.

“He’s nine years of age now, he doesn’t have to prove anything. He’s been a great champion.”

As evidenced by his record. Among his seven career wins, three were at Group 1 level, while he also finished second on 10 occasions – including the 2013 Cox Plate – and third seven times, which helped the son of Good Journey amass $3,292,650 in stakes.

Not bad for an $11,000 purchase at the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park Stud.

All of Happy Trails’ Group 1 wins were at Flemington, including the Cantala Stakes (1600m), when it was known as the Emirates Stakes and run on the final day of the Cup Carnival, and the race that was his final racetrack appearance, when it was known as the Mackinnon Stakes and run on opening day.

Beshara’s favourite, though, was his 2013 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) win over Puissance de Lune and subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner.

“His three Group 1 were all great, but I think when he won the Turnbull (was my favourite),” he said.

“Puissance de Lune was apparently the best horse in Australia, he was going to win the Melbourne Cup and was going to be the champion of the world and everything, and then Roy just went straight past him.

“That was great.”

Even though now lost to the racetrack, Happy Trails will get to exercise his competitive nature in retirement, with a career in the show ring beckoning.

He will spend his post-racing days in the care of his devoted strapper Chelsea Moss.

“Chelsea’s into show work, so he’ll do a bit of showjumping, dressage and eventing, whatever she want to do with him,” Beshara said.

“You wouldn’t get a better person to look after him than Chelsea. She’ll give him all the love he needs.

“That’s good because he’s been a mate, a really good mate of mine. It’s very hard (to say goodbye).”

News from Brad Bishop, Racing.com

Cup Day Winners for Mill Park

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The OnTrack Thoroughbreds colours shot to fame aboard dual Group I winner Brazen Beau and featured at Randwick on Cup Day aboard the aptly named Encosta de Lago filly Girl Sunday, a $100,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Mill Park draft.

A lightly raced four year-old prepared by Gerald Ryan, Girl Sunday was resuming from a spell and scored a tenacious half head win over 1300 metres.

A big filly that has been given time to mature, she has now had eight starts for three wins and a second with more wins in store.

Girl Sunday is the first winner for stakes-winning Cape Cross (IRE) mare Pleasantsundaygirl, a grand-daughter of Group III winner Furama Nights.

Also breaking his maiden at Morphettville on Cup Day was Rebel Raider three year-old Guns Loaded, who scored over 1600 metres for the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas stable.

A homebred for Harry Perks, Guns Loaded is the first winner for Commands mare Languid, a full sister to stakes-winner Moderate.

Languid has been a regular partner for Rebel Raider and also has a two year old colt and yearling filly by the dual Derby winner.

Morphettville Double for Mill Park Graduates

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Progressive four year-olds Beluga Blue and Mail It In were impressive winners at Morphettville on Saturday and both were sold as yearlings by Mill Park.

Prepared by Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, stakes-winning Lookin at Lucky (USA) mare Beluga Blue was resuming from a spell after finishing fourth in the Group III SAJC Ubet Fillies Classic over 2500 metres back in May.

Fresh and ready to fire, she was sent out favourite for the 1400 metre contest and scored by a length and a quarter, her third win from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $190,000.

Consigned for sale by Mill Park at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Beluga Blue made $100,000 to the bid of Leon Macdonald and runs for a syndicate of owners that includes her breeder Harry Perks.

A half-sister to talented winner Burgundy Blast, she is the second foal of Choice of Colours, a metro winning Redoute’s Choice mare from the family of Group winners Excited Angel, Typhoon and more recently Text’n Hurley and Delago’s Secret.

Also saluting was Reset gelding Mail It In, a $50,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the draft of Mill Park.

Prepared by Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas, Mail It In has been racing without luck of late, but had it all come together for him in this 1550 metre event, charging home from the back of the field to score by nearly two length as favourite.

Mail It In has won three of 20 starts earning over $185,000 in prizemoney and is a half-brother to Group III winner Daytona Grey being from terrific producer Southern Rose, who sadly died earlier this year.

A firm track swan song for Happy Trails

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Happy Trails has run in his last Cox Plate but his trainer is keen to give him the chance to bow out of racing on a better note.

The rain on Saturday at Moonee Valley derailed the nine-year-old's chances in his fifth Cox Plate and he finished last, more than 14 lengths from the winner, Winx.

Paul Beshara was deflated to see the veteran come in at the tail of the field with many expecting the trainer to announce Happy Trails' his retirement.

But Beshara would like to take him to Perth for one more race.

'Everything was looking good and then down came the heavens,' Beshara said.

'He can't handle that sort of ground . We'll give him one more try on some firm ground and see where we go from there.'

Just where that last start may be will be determined in the coming weeks.

Happy Trails won the 2014 Mackinnon Stakes with this year's race, now known as the Emirates Stakes, run a week later on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival and worth $2 million.

However Beshara is looking further afield.

'I'd love to take him to Perth for the 1800 metre race and see what happens from there,' Beshara said.

Beshara said the Kingston Town Stakes at Ascot on December 3 could be the gelding's swan song.

News from AAP

Mill Park Sold Hong Kong Winner

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Scoring a strong finishing win at just his second start at Sha Tin on Sunday over 1400 metres was four year-old Fastnet Rock gelding Smiling Charm, a $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase for the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the Mill Park draft.

Trained by CW Chang and ridden by Olivier Doleuze, Smiling Charm fought hard to the line to win well.

Smiling Charm is the third winner for Tale of the Cat mare Kaimana (USA), a half-sister to the dam of Group I winner Irish Lights, who is also by Fastnet Rock.

The family has had a kick along this year as Irish Lights is now the dam of Group II winner and Group I placed filly Omei Sword.

Mill Park sold a filly by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) from Kaimana at Inglis Premier this year for $160,000 to Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds/ CB Bloodstock and she has another colt by Medaglia D’Oro for the sales next year.
 

Joao Moreira booked for Myer Classic ride on Danish Twist

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Hong Kong star Joao Moreira will ride Newcastle mare Danish Twist in her bid for a Group 1 win at the Flemington carnival on Saturday week.

Trainer Kris Lees has booked the Brazilian ace for the Mill Park Stud-raised mare in the $500,000 Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), run under weight-for-age conditions for fillies and mares.

The mount became available because of Damien Oliver’s suspension and Lees wasted no time engaging Moreira when informed the “Magic Man” would be riding at the meeting.

Oliver won the $400,000 Provincial Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick in April on Danish Twist and also rode her when fifth to Myer rival First Seal in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

She drew the outside barrier and came from last to be beaten just under two lengths.

Moreira, after taking all before him in Singapore between 2009-2013, relocated to Hong Kong three years ago and has won the last two HK premierships.

He rode 145 winners in 2014-15 and bettered that with 168 last season.

Moreira, who rides at the Cox Plate meeting at Moonee Valley this weekend, is bringing current sensational form to Australia.

He has ridden nine winners at the last two Hong Kong meetings - five at Happy Valley last Wednesday night and four at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Lees was delighted with Danish Twist’s Tristarc performance and has planned the Myer as her third and final start this preparation.

“She ran super last Saturday considering the circumstances of the race,” he said.

“I always intended to give her only a light spring campaign and she will have a break after the Flemington race.”

Danish Twist had resumed with a close third to Takedown and Our Boy Malachi in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 1.

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