Mill Park’s Magic Week

The first yearling sale for 2019 saw leading South Australian farm Mill Park Stud offer seven yearlings at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, with all offerings finding homes.

With a pair of fillies selling on the opening day of the sale, Angus Gold on behalf of Shadwell purchased Lot 112, the I Am Invincible x Sensualism filly for $300,000 while Queensland-based trainer Tony Gollan joined forces with John Foote Bloodstock to part ways with $180,000 for Lot 235, the So You Think x Tirarri filly.

While day two of the sale was a ‘rest’ day for the team with none of the draft heading through the ring, it was still all hands on deck parading the draft for potential buyers.

Lot 112: I Am Invincible x Sensualism filly sold for $300,000

With an outstanding representation of international buyers at the sales complex, it was great to see Lot 547, our stunning Snitzel x Elusive Wonder filly get knocked down to international agent Kerri Radcliffe for $425,000 on behalf of American owner George Bolton, with the full-sister to stakes winner Modern Wonder set to head to the Caulfield stable of Ciaron Maher Racing.

Mid-way through the Friday session of the sale, Peachester Lodge went to $725,000 for our flashy Lot 667, the Not A Single Doubt filly out of the stakes-winning Hussonet mare Hussy By Choice.

Knocked down to Peachester Lodge for $725,000, we’re over the moon with the result that Lot 667, the Not A Single Doubt x Hussy By Choice filly achieved @mmsnippets 🍾🥂🏇🏻 #MillParkRaised @ArrowfieldStud @SAbreeders @racing_qld @TDNAusNZ @AusBreeders @Aushorse_TBA @Sunline129 pic.twitter.com/KcFd31bz4q

— Mill Park Stud (@millparkstud) January 11, 2019

The second highest priced yearling by her sire sold at the sale, the filly exceeded all expectations and we can’t wait to track her progress in the future.

Lot 819, the first colt from our draft to go through the ring, was knocked down to Gerald Ryan and David Raphael for $200,000. By Coolmore Stud’s ten-time Group 1 winner and now Group 1-producing sire So You Think, the colt was the first of our three yearlings to sell during the Saturday night session.

Next up was Lot 833, the Hinchinbrook x Moreau colt that was purchased by Hong Kong’s Bridle Bloodstock. With the progeny of the now deceased Hinchinbrook performing so well in Hong Kong through the likes of Group 1 campaigner Beat The Clock, it was no surprise to see where the colt will head.

Out final yearling to grace the Magic Millions sale ring was Lot 870, the filly by Written Tycoon out of the stakes placed Obsidian Dragon. Sold to Grahame Begg Racing and Rohan J Hughes Thoroughbred Services for $300,000, we are extremely confident about the prospects of this filly.

Lot 870: Written Tycoon x Obsidian Dragon filly sold for $300,000

With her purchaser having trained Written Tycoon himself as well as his Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes-winning son Written By, we can’t wait to see how this filly performs for Begg in the future.

All in all, our draft of seven yearlings grossed over $2.3 million and averaged a very respectable $333,571, almost $100,000 above the overall sale average, placing the Mill Park draft in fourth position on average (3 or more sold).

The next opportunity to purchase a yearling from Mill Park will be at the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale commencing on March 3, where we have a draft of 11 catalogued to sell, before we back it up at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale on March 12 and 13 where we have a draft of 18 catalogued.

It’s worth noting that two of our recent multiple Group 1-winning graduates Fawkner and Happy Trails, were secured at the Inglis Premier and Magic Millions Adelaide respectively for a combined total of $81,000 and between them they won 21 races, six at Group 1 level and over $7.1 million in prizemoney for their connections

Happy Trails edges out Fawkner in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington

Mill Park's Foxwedge Filly Wins On Debut In South Africa

Newgate Farm’s proven G1 sire Foxwedge had an eye catching debut winner at Kenilworth on Saturday when his 3yo daughter Run Fox Run won over 1000m.

Trained by Brett Crawford, Run Fox Run impressed when showing her rivals a clean pair of heels in the afternoon’s first race, the Itsarush.co.za Welcomes You Maiden Plate for fillies and mares, under jockey Anton Marcus.

Run Fox Run (Foxwedge x Victory Cy), Image: Crawford Racing Twitter

The three-year-old drew clear as a 4-1 shot to score a comfortable two length win first time out for owners the Kieswetters of Ridgemont Highlands –despite proving somewhat of a handful going down to post.

Crawford admitted in a post-race interview Run Fox Run had her issues, “She had her share of niggling issues beforehand and I must think the Kieswetters for their patience in letting us take our time with her.”

Bred by Mill Park, Run Fox Run was a $420 000 purchase from the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

A daughter of G1 William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge (also sire of the Kieswetter owned G1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes winner Urban Fox), Run Fox Run was produced by the General Nediym mare Victory Cry.

The latter, a placed sister to Listed Redelva Stakes winner Victory Chant, is also dam of the ATC Heritage Stakes winner Guard Of Honour and this is the family of G1 MRC Thousand Guineas winner Serious Speed and multiple G1 winning champion Dissident.

Mill Park Stud will consign a Written Tycoon half-brother to Run Fox Run at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Mickey Blue Eyes Opens Stakes Account

After looking to be in a zip fastener pocket with 300 metres left to run, Regan Bayliss found a narrow season on Mickey Blue Eyes to edge out the favourite Gem Song in Saturday's Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) at Randwick.

The pair were well back on the turn with Gem Song on the outside of Mickey Blue Eyes. With a six kilogram pull in the weights, Mickey Blue Eyes edged out Gem Song (Your Song) by a short-half-head with Purple Sector (Pins) two and a half lengths back in third.

A good-looking son of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) Mickey Blue Eyes advanced his record to 2 wins and a second from 5 starts with earnings of $132,780.

Trained by David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig, Mickey Blue Eyes was coming off a win over Black Caviar's son Prince Of Caviar in a 1300 metre maiden at Bendigo.

He has form around Tarka and Graf in his first preparation. He had a spell and furnished into a lovely horse," Bayliss said.

"I like the way he pinned his ears back and really knuckled down that last furlong.

"He's pulled up like he hasn't had a race he is that happy. If he comes out of the race well he has plenty of improvement in him and he is an exciting horse.

Co-trainer David Hayes said the Champion Stakes was likely to be his next start.

"I think he would have been unlucky to lose. He just got held up at a vital stage.

"I would say we will run him in the Champion Stakes, a Group 1 over 2000 metres.

Bred by Harry Perks, Mickey Blue Eyes (pictured as a yearling) was purchased by Peter Devitt for $350,000 out of the Mill Park draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is the second foal and second winner out of the winning Zabeel mare Carolina Bella who is a daughter of the stakes-winner and multiple Group placed Centaine mare Wyndam Special.

A $330,000 yearling, Carolina Bella was purchased for $60,000 by Hancock Quality Bloodstock at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

She has a 2yo filly by Hallowed Crown and a yearling colt by Shooting To Win. She was covered by Pierro last spring but missed.

Mickey Blue Eyes becomes the 116th stakes-winner for the former Darley shuttler Medaglia d'Oro (USA).

News: Breednet

Q and A with Chris Watson of Mill Park Stud

Mill Park Stud is a 10,000 acre property on the limestone-based country of South Australia with 2000 acres dedicated to their successful thoroughbred operation. TDN AusNZ’s Paul Vettise chatted with Chris Watson about their thriving business.

Paul Vettise: How many broodmares do you currently have on the farm, and what is the farm's approach to selecting stallions?

Chris Watson: We run about 80 mares for clients and ourselves. We look at all aspects involved when selecting stallions for mare bookings. Type, pedigree and commercial appeal are all important criteria when choosing a stallion for a mare.

PV: Any notable new mare additions to the 2018 line-up?

CW: G2 Doomben Roses winner Arabian Gold produced a lovely first foal, a colt (pictured below) by Snitzel and she is being covered again by Snitzel.

Arabian Gold will be covered by Snitzel and has a colt foal by the same sire

"Type, pedigree and commercial appeal are all important criteria when choosing a stallion for a mare. " - Chris Watson, Mill Park Stud

Beluga Blue, winner of the Listed Hill Smith S., and second in the G2 Wakeful Stakes has produced a really nice colt foal by Snitzel and is to be covered by I Am Invincible.

G2 Wakeful S., runner-up Glam Guru, who is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Gamblin’ Guru and out of a half-sister to Gold Guru, was retired this season and is going to be covered by American Pharaoh.

Gold Coast Magic Millions Mares winner I Am Zelady is a full-sister to Comprendre and she’s produced a lovely first foal filly by Snitzel and is being covered this season by Zoustar.

Mella Maria, winner of the G2 Turffontien Spring Fillies’ Challenge, produced a first foal by Golden Horn and is being covered by Not A Single Doubt.

PV: Who is involved in the mating decisions?

CW: This is usually a long, drawn-out process taking weeks and involves the whole family. A good few arguments and bottles of red are involved before a decision can be made!

PV: How much do sales trends inform your decision making?

CW: We try not to be influenced by sale trends as we feel this is being reactive to historical market occurrences. We try to be proactive and focus on racetrack results and what we believe will be the next success stories in the stallion ranks.

We feel it’s important to go out onto the farms and look at the first couple of crops of foals on the ground of new stallions to get a guide on what types the stallion is throwing and what style of mare will mostly likely suit the stallion.

"We try to be proactive and focus on racetrack results and what we believe will be the next success stories in the stallion ranks." - Chris Watson, Mill Park Stud

PV: What about first-season stallions, how do you assess them and which stallions do you look to target?

CW: We don’t tend to trade too much so we aren’t heavily influenced by first season sires. As our clients and ourselves tend to try and buy quality blue chip mares, we therefore generally target proven stallions.

Of the first season stallions we do use, we are suckers for a deep pedigree, a quality type and proven ability on the track showing a bit of brilliance.

"We are suckers for a deep pedigree, a quality type and proven ability on the track showing a bit of brilliance." Chris Watson

PV: Where are some of your higher profile mares going this year?

CW: Dane Belltar, the dam of Fawkner is going to Sebring;

Go Indy Go’s dam Elegant Eagle is going to American Pharaoh;

Noondie, the dam of Booker, will be covered by Written Tycoon

and Divine Maddona's three-quarter sister The Good Wife will be covered by Zoustar.

Written Tycoon will cover Noondie, to produce a full sibling to Booker

PV: Do you race many horses?

CW: Generally, each year around a dozen yearlings are kept to race between us and clients. A few clients race all their stock and some, like us, retain fillies to race to possibly add to the broodmare band if successful on the track.

PV: Can you give us a couple of youngsters to keep an eye on?

CW: Lonhro’s daughter Secretly Discreet, the first foal out of the G1 Oaks winner Maybe Discreet. A filly trained by Phillip Stokes which will be one to keep an eye on in the autumn. Has needed some time but showing raw talent at this stage.

Galahad Guru, a Camelot colt, who is a half-brother to Glam Guru and a colt that Leon Macdonald has a bit of an opinion.

Raised and sold by Mill Park horses to watch this season include Booker and Crown Towers, a Camelot colt in South Africa that the Snaith Team think is of Group 1 ability.

Group 2 winner Booker

PV: Mill Park enjoyed another successful season in 2017-18, what were your highlights?

CW: These are the stakes-horses produced off Mill Park pastures in the last year or so:

Waging War (Rebel Raider-Fartoo Flashy by Galileo}), won the G3 SAJC Chairman's S.;

Heart Of A Lion (Lion Heart-Madame Flurry by Perugino) won the Listed Oakbank S.; Booker (Written Tycoon-Noondie by Flying Spur) won the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G3 McNeil S.;

Gogo Grace (New Approach-Starmon by Monolith) won the G3 Bow Mistress S.;

Pretty Punk (Rebel Raider-Reliability by Kurofone) won the G3 Hobart Cup;

All Too Huiying (All Too Hard-Madame Flurry by Perugino) won the Listed Batman S.;

Glam Guru (Medaglia d'Oro-Glory Guru by Fusaichi Pegasus) finished runner-up in both the G2 Wakeful S., and the Listed Hill Smith S;

It’s A Myth (Sepoy-The Good Wife by Redoute's Choice) placed in the G3 National S., and the Listed Queen Adelaide S;

Naafer (Lonhro-Very Discreet by Exceed and Excel) was second in the G1 Turffontein South African Nursery;

Danish Twist (Dane Shadow-Madame Flurry by Perugino) ran third in the G1 Coolmore Classic

and Guard Of Honour (Northern Meteor-Victory Cry by General Nediym) was runner-up in the G3 Eskimo Prince S.

Best On Breeding - Approach Discreet

On a day that features nine stakes races across Australia, Saturday’s Super Vobis 3-Y-O Hcp (1500m) at Moonee Valley carries no black-type and may get lost in the scheme of things, but it will go a long way in determining the classic aspirations of several of the runners.

Not the least of those is the nominal favourite Approach Discreet.

The Darren Weir-trained son of Dawn Approach (IRE) is coming off an eight and a half-length romp over 1508 metres at Morphettville on August 25.

On that occasion, he looked to be struggling on the turn when his stablemate Reward For Silence set up a commanding lead. That quickly changed in the straight when Approach Discreet needed little more than a hand ride by Mitch Aiken to dominate his rivals.

With Aiken’s allowance, he carried just 54.5kgs that day but will be asked to carry 4.5kgs more on Saturday in a considerable stronger race.

But he does look a progressive type and the stable has stated the Victoria Derby is the goal this spring. He improved from a career debut third over 1200 metres at Cranbourne on July 26 to a comfortable win over 1300 metres at Sandown three weeks later.

Another from that amazing stakes producing factory at Mill Park, Approach Discreet (pictured as a yearling above) was purchased by D Weir / John Foote Bloodstock for $360,000 at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

A year later at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Godolphin outlaid $450,000 for his full brother.

That makes them the top two most expensive yearlings by the 4-time Group 1 winner Dawn Approach (IRE) to be sold in Australia.

But that is nothing new for Approach Discreet’s 4-time stakes-winning dam Very Discreet whose son Naafer was the most expensive yearling by champion sire Lonhro sold in 2016 when he was knocked down to Shadwell Stud for $560,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Trained in South Africa by Mike de Kock, Naafer (pictured below) was runner-up in the Group 1 South African Nursery but has not been seen out since finishing runner-up in the Group II Merchants Stakes at Turffontein back in November last year.

This is the famed ‘Discreet’ family of South Australian breeder David Peacock.

A daughter of Exceed And Excel, Very Discreet was not just a star on the track she is also very well-related.

She is a three-quarter sister to Group III Edward Manifold Stakes winner Serenely Discreet and Group III SAJC Spring Stakes winner Just Discreet and a half-sister to Listed winner Forever Discreet (Bernardini) and dual Listed winner and multiple Group placed I’m Discreet (Elusive Quality).

David Peacock obviously has an affinity with Darley stallions as he sent Very Discreet to visit Frosted (USA) last spring after she had foaled her first filly, a daughter of Street Boss (USA).

Exceed And Excel is starting to make his mark as a broodmare sire.

His daughters have produced the outstanding Medaglia d’Oro colt Astern and Sepoy’s top-class daughter Alizee as well as Lonhro’s star filly Bounding who was purchased by Stonestreet Thoroughbreds for $1.9 million at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale.

Bounding’s dam Believe'n'Succeed is also the dam of the high-class Galileo colt Anthony Van Dyck who recently won the Group II Futurity Stakes at the Curragh and just last week, one of Europe’s highest rated 2yo’s Ten Sovereigns (No Nay Never) won the Group III Tower Stakes at the Curragh. He is out of Exceed And Excel’s daughter Seeking Solace.

Copy: Breednet

Group 1 Aim For Crown Towers

Making his debut on Saturday at Kenilworth for Snaith Racing, three-year-old colt Crown Towers impressed all, and further cemented the high regard held by his trainer, winning by three and a quarter lengths over 1200m.

A son of dual Group 1 Derby winner Camelot, Crown Towers is the second foal and second winner for the stakes performed Galileo mare Miss With Attitude, and many would suspect that a sprint trip would see the him running on at the finish, but not troubling the leader.

Starting the race favourite Crown Towers was jumped away well by jockey Richard Fourie to settle just off the leading division, which was headed by the Mike Stewart-trained Tintagel.

Working out of the pack with 400m to go, the classic-bred colt powered away from his opposition to take his maiden victory with ease, becoming one of four winners for the Snaith – Fourie combination on the nine-race card.

Crown Towers and Richard Fourie coasting to the line. Image: Bay Media

Bred by Mr Lelio Bibbo, the colt is raced by great Snaith Racing clients Mr Jonsson and Mr Mitchell.

Snaith Racing’s Jonathan Snaith gave the colt high praise after the impressive win.

“Crown Towers is an exciting individual who stamped himself as a serious Guineas and Derby contender,” stated Snaith.

“He’s the real deal and one to follow.”

Sold through the draft of Mill Park Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Heywood Bloodstock and Mayfair Speculators for $280,000, the colt headed to South Africa and the stable of Goodhope Racing’s Joey Ramsden.

Due to circumstance outside the control of the Ramsden yard, the colt then headed to a recent Central Route Trading Mixed Sale where Snaith Racing were fortunate enough to purchase the 80% of the colt on offer for R1,7m - the rest is history so they say.

The current Snitzel two-year-old from the mare was sold to Darren Weir and John Foote Bloodstock at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $450,000 and has been named Snittitude, while she has a Sebring yearling colt and is due to foal this season at American Pharoah.

Darrren Weir Excited By Mill Park Graduate Approach Discreet

While much of the hype in Darren Weir’s stable centres around his older horses leading into the spring, the master trainer is bullish about the prospects of one of emerging three-year-olds.

Dawn Approach colt Approach Discreet, underlined his talents with a dominant 8.5L win over 1500m at Morphettville on Saturday and will likely rise to Stakes grade in next month’s Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m).

While he also holds an entry for the $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Weir said his best may come over 10 furlongs and beyond, indicating the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) could be his ultimate goal this spring.

“The opposition wasn’t great (on Saturday) but he is definitely a nice colt going forward,” Weir said.

“He is owned by Peter Law who buys a lot of horses with us and a lot of them go to Hong Kong he might be one that heads there but hopefully he can at least hang around for the spring.

Purchased from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $360,000 by outstanding judge John Foote and trainer Darren Weir, Approach Discreet is out of the stakes-winning Exceed And Excel mare Very Discreet, from the prolific black-type producing family of Halo Again which also includes Gr3 SAJC Dermody Stakes winners She's Discreet & Be Discreet, Morphettville Guineas winner Forever Discreet, and Gr3 Bloodhorse Breeders' Stakes winner Gilded Angel.

TRSA introduces Spring Series

TRSA has announced another fantastic incentive for owners and trainers to further the excitement of Spring Racing in South Australia.

Six individual race Series have been created, each named after iconic South Australian horses such as the outstanding mare Viddora, who has accumulated more than $2 million in prizemoney to date, and warhorse Riziz, whose strike rate was to be envied, to be held in September, October and November 2018.

Heats will be run at Metropolitan, Provincial and Country race meetings throughout South Australia, with a Final for each Series to be held at Morphettville during the Spring Carnival.

These Series will be held over a range of distances to provide opportunities for as many horses as possible, with the following Series Finals:

• Saturday 20 October $100,000 Rebel Raider Series Final (3yo), 1200 metres

• Saturday 27 October $100,000 Viddora Series Final (Mares BM 80), 1300 metres

• Saturday 3 November $100,000 Riziz Sprint Series Final (BM 75), 1100 metres

• Tuesday 6 November $100,000 Skybeau Stayers Series Final (BM 75), 2000 metres

• Saturday 10 November $100,000 Happy Trails Series Final (BM 7), 1400 metres

Happy Trails, sold for $11,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale and returned $3.2m in prizemoney highlighted by three Group 1 wins.

A sixth Series, the $100,000 Alcopop Series, will be held throughout November and December with the Final (a BM 75) over 1600 metres to be run on Boxing Day at Morphettville.

With a variety of distances, these Series are seen as a great initiative by TRSA to showcase South Australian Racing while coinciding with the excitement of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Details of all the heats will be published in The Races Magazine and TRSA website www.theracessa.com.au.

For further information contact David Thomas, Racing Operation Manager on 8179 9804 or dthomas@theracessa.com.au

Sydney Blue Salutes At Second Start

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will no doubt being thinking 'classic season' for exciting Sebring colt Sydney Blue who made up for an unlucky debut fifth when blocked for a run at Newcastle two weeks ago to charge home and win the 1400 metre juvenile maiden at Kembla on Saturday.

A touch slow to begin, he quickly mustered speed to improve to midfield and when angled to the outside at the top of the straight unwound a long sustained finishing burst to win by a length.

It was a performance that had budding stayer written all over it, as it should given he is a half-brother to Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner, a winner of over $3.8 million in prizemoney.

A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase for his trainers from the Mill Park draft, Sydney Blue (pictured below as a yearling) runs for a big syndicate of stable clients and is the seventh winner from seven to race from stakes-winner Dane Belltar, whose other offspring also include $1.1 million earning Group 2 winner Tanby and Group 2 placed Viking Star.

Snogging here to stay

Snogging might provide her stallion I Am Invincible with a new accolade following a comfortable win against fellow three-year-old fillies at Caulfield on Saturday.

I Am Invincible is one of Australia's super stallions with 31 individual winners, but only two - I Am A Star (Myer Classic, Sunline Stakes, Stocks Stakes) and Look To The Stars (Princess Stakes in Queensland) - have won stakes races at 1600 metres.

Snogging might be the first to earn black type at 2000 metres after impressing both her trainer Trent Busuttin and rider Damien Oliver with her dominant performance.

Busuttin said the filly, who was coming off a disappointing run in Adelaide, had always shown stakes ability as well as showing she could cope with a middle distance trip also.

"She's bred to run 1200 metres but she was never going to be that sharp," Busuttin said. "She handled the mile here easily today and I think she could get 2000 metres as she settled pretty well there and finished it off well."

Oliver sat back near the tail of the field before getting off the fence before the corner and then unleashing the filly down the outside. On the line, the $4 chance had two lengths over I'm Buxom ($9) with three quarters of a length to Princess Mia ($8.50) in third place.

Oliver said he was taken with the filly's ability to quicken. "She's shown stakes class potential – but she's not quite there yet – but I am sure there's a little stakes race in her."

Busuttin said he would look at running Snogging in the 1600-metre Adelaide Guineas in two weeks before setting his sights on Brisbane where she could run in the 1600-metre Queensland Guineas or take the step to 2000 metres in the Group 3 Doomben Roses on May 12.

Snogging was a $260,000 yearling purchase from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.