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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.'

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.

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.”

Saturday’s G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster was billed beforehand as Europe’s best two-year-old race of the season but there was only ever going to be one winner, Montjeu’s brilliant son St Nicholas Abbey (2c Montjeu-Leaping Water, by Sure Blade).

Such was the manner of his incredible victory that St Nicholas Abbey - who is as short as 2/1 favourite for next year’s Epsom Derby and 5/1 market leader for the 2000 Guineas - looks certain to be crowned champion juvenile of 2009.

Jockey Johnny Murtagh settled his mount at the rear of the field but as the pace quickened he slipped past his rivals to storm clear of the field in the final furlong.

Interestingly, Montjeu has had two past winners of the Racing Post Trophy in Motivator (2004) and Authorized (2006) and both horses went on to win the following year’s Epsom Derby.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “He’s an unbelievably special horse and to come off that slow pace to win like that is very exciting. He’s one of those unique horses with loads of speed and class that can run over any trip.

“Sam Curling, who rides him at home, said to Johnny that you just move once on him and he takes off. He was right.”

Murtagh was equally impressed and added: “When we got out at the furlong pole and I asked him to quicken it was all over.

“He’s exciting, there’s no doubt about that, and like all the good ones he has that turn of foot. He’s got a great cruising speed and everything would be open to him next year.”

So You Think ridden by Hugh Bowman. - Pic. Krystle Wright Source: The Sunday Telegraph

LEGENDARY trainer Bart Cummings obviously loves a challenge.

After So You Think's dominant win in the Group III $250,000 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill yesterday, Cummings dropped a bombshell when he declared his colt a non-runner in the Spring Champion Stakes in two weeks.

So You Think would appear to have the Group I race at his mercy, but Cummings has bigger things in mind for the three-year-old.

'I'll freshen him up now and get him ready for the Caulfield Guineas,'' he said.

'You've got to remember, too, the Caulfield Guineas is worth one million and the Spring Champion Stakes is worth $350,000.'

'If you were me you'd probably go to the Guineas, wouldn't you?''

Cummings' decision to target the Caulfield Guineas sets up arguably the best three-year-old race ofthe season.

The Caulfield Guineas is already the main target for such outstanding three-year-olds as Denman, Trusting, Manhattan Rain, Onemorenomore, Tickets and yesterday's impressive Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Demerit.

Cummings, who has won the Caulfield Guineas five times, with Wonderful World (2007), God's Own (2006), Alfa (1996), Kenmark (1974) and Storm Queen (1966), conceded next month's classic is shaping as one of the great editions of the race.

'They seem a super bunch of three-year-olds this season,'' he said.

'We know Denman is pretty good, so is Trusting, there are a few who are right up there. I don't believe So You Think is out of his depth amongst them.''

So You Think ($1.55 favourite) showed impressive acceleration to sprint past another promising colt, Gathering ($6), to win by three-quarters of a length with Heraklion ($13) a length away third.

Jockey Hugh Bowman said So You Think did show signs of being green in the straight when inclined to hang in under pressure.

'I wouldn't worry about that, it's inexperience more than anything,'' Bowman said.

'He's only had three starts and is picking it up pretty quickly.''

So You Think is part-owned by Cummings' long-time stable client Dato Tan Chin Nam.

The owner and trainer have combined with a string of champions over the past three decades, including Melbourne Cup winners Think Big (1974-75), Saintly (1996) and Viewed (2008).

Cummings bought the colt, by former English champion High Chaparral, for $110,000 at the New Zealand yearling sales from the Windsor Park draft last year and left it to his owner to come up with a name.

'Because he had a bit of luck with Think Big all those years ago, he reckoned it was time to start using 'Think' in his horses' names again,'' Cummings said.

'I think he's got about eight horses at the moment with 'Think' in their names. I told him he had better stop using that as a name because he probably won't get one much better than this colt.''

A day after Joshua Tree (2c Montjeu-Madeira Mist, by Grand Lodge) gave Montjeu a second successive G2 Royal Lodge Stakes win at Ascot, the brilliant Coolmore stallion had a red-letter day on Sunday.

There was a G1 success at Cologne in Germany for last year’s G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Jukebox Jury (3c Montjeu-Mares Aux Fees, by Kenmare) while the juvenile St Nicholas Abbey (2c Montjeu-Leaping Water, by Sure Blade) is now favourite for the 2010 Epsom Derby after a superb win in the G2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.

Jockey Royston Ffrench came with a well-timed run in the G1 Preis von Europa to score aboard Alan Spence’s Jukebox Jury, who was bred by Paul Nataf and bought by trainer Mark Johnston for 270,000 euros as a yearling at Deauville.

“He's a very tough horse. He never wins by a long margin but when he gets in a fight he is very tough and very hard to beat,” Jock Bennett, Johnston's travelling head lad, told At The Races.

Meanwhile, the Aidan O’Brien-trained St Nicholas Abbey is as short as 8/1 favourite for next year’s Epsom Derby after taking the Beresford Stakes by three-quarters of a length under Johnny Murtagh.

“He’s a lovely horse and he’s come forward well from his first run,” said O’Brien. “He could possibly run in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster next month. He looks to be a Classic type horse for next year and Johnny was really impressed with him.”

St Nicholas Abbey is a half-brother to the US G2 winner and G1 Hollywood Turf Cup runner-up Grammarian and was bought for 200,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls by Demi O’Byrne.

Coolmore’s Montjeu enjoyed an excellent weekend, with a new Group 1 winner and two juvenile group winners to his name. Jukebox Jury (Ire) (3 c Mare Aux Fees (GB), by Kenmare (Fr)) won the Preis von Europa (Gr.1) at Cologne, Germany, to become the 15th individual Group 1 winner for his sire.

Meanwhile, with Joshua Tree’s (Ire) (2 c Madeira Mist (Ire), by Grand Lodge (USA)) win in the Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr.2) on Saturday and St Nicholas Abbey’s (Ire) (2 c Leaping Waters (GB), by Sure Blade (USA)) success in the Beresford Stakes (Gr.2) on Sunday, Montjeu now has two leading hopes for next year’s Epsom Derby.

Montjeu is now the sire of 69 individual black type winners in his short career at stud.

It is well documented that Windsor Park Stud’s stallion Volksraad (GB) is one of New Zealand’s sire greats.

As the victor of 7 NZ General Sire Premierships’ and of the 1996/97 Champion NZ Sire of NZ Two-Year-Olds Award, it is a mantle that he has richly deserved.

Yet remarkably, to pigeonhole Volksraad as a prolific NZ award winner, fails to do him justice.

Lost in the wash of this, for example, is his astounding record to give young mares the best of starts to their breeding careers.

Evidenced last Saturday by Velocitea (NZ) in the Gr.3 How Now Stakes (1200m) in Melbourne, Volksraad (GB) has a record with young mares that needs to be seen to be believed.

The ‘Go To’ Sire for Young Mares

Of Volksraad’s 52 stakes winners achieved to date, 44% (23) have been derived from the first or second foals of their dam, while 82% (43) were produced in the first four foals of their dams.

Delve further still and of his 10 Gr.1 winners produced, seven (Vinaka, Clifton King, Sir Slick, Star Satire, Dezigna, Zola and Dantelah) have been derived from the first or second breeding attempt of their dams.

“He really gives young mares a great start,” said Windsor Park Stud’s Steve Till.

“He’s one of the few stallions who can add to a mare’s pedigree with early performance and who can continue to add value as the horse matures.

“Velocitea is a classic example of this. Bred by Christchurch-based breeders Shelley Frost and Raewyn Ramage, she is the first foal of her dam Cat Shmea, a smart stakes placed racemare who is closely related to Orange County, a Gr.1 winner in Australia last season for Volksraad.

“Now a Gr.3 winner at four, Velocitea won her first two starts at two and before that season was out had added a Listed runner up performance in the Listed Champagne Stakes.”

Beyond exceptional record as the ‘go to’ sire for young mares, Volksraad need also appeal to breeders for his Consistency, Versatility and Relevance.

Since his inception at stud in 1993, when he stood for NZ$2500, he has consistently been able to produce winners from mares of a modest background

Consistency

“Since his inception at stud in 1993, when he stood for NZ$2500, he has consistently been able to produce winners from mares of a modest background,” said Till.

“He is a dominant sire and as such he has been consistently good at tidying up mares with bigger, rangier, looser frames. He’s very good with the symmetrical aspects and whilst it’s not something you can see, he seems to also pass on a real ‘will to win’ to his stock.”

All told, Volksraad boasts a 66.35 per cent winners-to-runners ratio and of his 52 stakeswinners produced has been best represented by the 10 Gr.1 winners Vinaka, Sir Slick, Zola, One Under, Star Satire, Clifton King, Dezigna, Willy Smith, Orange County and Dantelah.

 “Amazingly though, right since his first crop he has consistently churned out the good racehorses. Often stallions might have a quiet season or alternatively might have a golden patch, but he has been all go right since the start,” said Till.

Versatility

“He’s been a remarkably versatile sire who has produced stakes winners from 1000m through to 3200m,” explained Till.

Whilst perhaps best known for his sprinter/miler types such as the six time Gr.1 winner Sir Slick (NZ), Volksraad (GB) has also produced the Gr.1 WRC Wellington Cup (3200m) winner in Willy Smith (NZ), and the tough stayer Torlesse (NZ) in the 2003 New Zealand Cup (3200m).

Ongoing Relevance

Now in his 17^th season at stud and the Green Desert sire is as relevant as ever.

“In the past nine seasons, he has won seven of NZ’s General Sire’s Awards and on the two occasions he missed, he was second,” said Till.

Described in The Australian as the ‘complete stallion package’, Volksraad held sway in 2008/09 as the leading sire by domestic earnings last season, but by way of winners and wins also.

That season Volksraad also achieved Gr.1 glory with the deeds of the Orange County (NZ) in Australia’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and with Sir Slick (NZ) in New Zealand’s Thorndon Mile.

Interestingly, it is the dam sire of Orange County that has served Volksraad best at stakes level to date.

Bred by South Island’s Onawe Miller, Orange County is out of a daughter of Volksraad’s former barnmate Kaapstad, who with five stakewinners holds out Grosvenor on 4 and Star Way and Sir Tristram on 3.

In more contemporary times, the Green Desert sire has been headlined by his Laurie Laxon-trained daughter Mexican Rose (NZ), whose five wins from six starts have included the SG-3 Singapore TC Magic Millions Juvenile Championship (1200m).

Closer to home and his leading lights have comprised of Velocitea (NZ) in Australia and of Richard Beymer (NZ) in New Zealand.

Ensuring his alignment with market conditions, Volksraad’s (GB) service fee has dropped from NZ$27,500 to NZ$20,000 (plus GST) in 2009.

 NZTM BROODMARE OF THE WEEK - TRIASSIC

Cambridge-based hobby breeder Cecile Smith looks adoringly over her broodmare paddock at Piper Farm. Looking back at Smith are the two doting broodmares Triassic and Tokyo Belle. 

The dominant win of Velocitea in the Gr.3 MRC How Now Stakes in Melbourne on Saturday demonstrated once again the difference 7-times champion sire Volksraad can make to a family.

Whilst it further advanced Volksraad’s tally of stakes winners to 52, it also revealed the uncanny knack Volksraad has of getting young mares away to a successful start in their breeding careers.

Velocitea was bred by Christchurch-based breeders Shelley Frost and Raewyn Ramage and is the first foal of her dam Cat Shmea, a smart stakes placed race mare who is closely related to Orange County, a Gr.1 winner in Australia last season for Volksraad.

This family has been developed by fellow South Island breeders Onawe and Petrena Miller, breeders of Orange County as well as Velocitea’s grandam Ingresea.

Volksraad has enjoyed a cracking start to the new season as Velocitea’s Group race success closely follows that of his 3YO daughter Mexican Rose, winner of 5 of her first 6 starts including the Listed Singapore TC Juvenile Championship.

SO You Think arrives at Flemington from Randwick on Tuesday as a forerunner to a far more important arrival: his trainer.

Bart Cummings is back, in person and numbers.

The Aussie icon expects to slip into Melbourne probably this week, certainly at Flemington on Saturday week for the important Turnbull Stakes meeting.

"I'm thinking it's about time I showed my face back in Melbourne, have a bit of a look around," Cummings said.

So You Think is the first big-race cab off the rank for his legendary trainer and the first opportunity this spring for Cummings to wield some magic.

He has just one request - water.

"They've got to water the tracks a bit more down there. That's what all the trainers want," he said. "All someone's got to do is press the button, turn on a tap."

Cummings, a 12-time Melbourne Cup winner, has a short-term plan to freshen So You Think and beat one of the strongest Caulfield Guineas line-ups in a decade.

Cummings is eyeing his 13th Melbourne Cup with a squad he described as at least equal to last year.

"I've got four or five, I think," Cummings said.

"Viewed is going terrific. He just needs to get over a bit of ground. And his jockey needs to get used to him."

In a major surprise, Brad Rawiller will replace Blake Shinn aboard Viewed for the entire spring, including the Melbourne Cup.

Shinn urged Viewed to a nose win over Bauer in the Cup last year.

Rawiller rode Viewed into 10th in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday, an effort that pleased Cummings.

"We've got some stable lightweights that we might need the young fella (Shinn) for," Cummings said.

Cummings nominated Roman Emperor, the AJC Derby winner who ran third in the Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday, Dandaad, Precedence, Allez Wonder and Joe Blow as his Caulfield and Melbourne Cup back-up squad to Viewed.

Cummings said yesterday that freshening up So You Think for the Guineas was "no worries at all. We've got three weeks".

So You Think, regarded in many circles as the next great Cummings horse, scored a strong but dour win in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

He had risen from 1200m to 1800m to win the Spring Champion and drops to 1600m in the Guineas.

Cummings said it was unlikely he had won any of his five Caulfield Guineas with the same yo-yo-like preparation.

"Not that I can recall, no," he said. "He's right up there with my Guineas winners. The only difference is he hasn't won it yet.

"He's only had three starts and he's getting better and better every time."

Cummings described this year's probable Guineas line-up as the "best of the best".

"But that's the case every year," he said.

Sheik Mohammad's Darley stable will have possibly two runners, Demerit and Denman.

"He (the Sheik) is still learning, but he's getting better at it," Cummings said.

ALL the pretty horses were overshadowed by So You Think at Rosehill Gardens yesterday, but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Perhaps So You Think captured the Gloaming Stakes ever, but few, if any, have looked better in the classic thoroughbred mould.

''The first time I saw him as a yearling in New Zealand I said to Duncan [Ramage] 'there's a top sort','' the master Bart Cummings said after the win, regarded by some as lacking in substance.

Ramage is Dato Tan Chin Nam's racing manager and, prompted by Cummings, went to $NZ110,000 for the High Chaparral colt.

Ramage reckons So You Think figures with the best lookers the most astute owner has raced. ''Catalan Opening was a tremendous type but Saintly was more rustic than attractive,'' he said.

Considering the quality of the opposition, So You Think's three-quarters-of-a length decision over Nathan Tinkler's Gathering was good but it was only his third start and previously he had raced over 1400 metres. The colt will get fitter and more seasoned.

However, Gathering had won a Kensington midweek previously but was placed in Melbourne in VRC Sires' at Flemington.

Yesterday, Trusting, also raced by Tinkler, was desperately unlucky when second in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude down south.

Tinkler's think tank at Rosehill, general manager Rick Connolly and former handicapper Mark Webbey, said Trusting was many lengths superior to Gathering, so the Cummings colt would be fighting in another division against him.

Usually the Gloaming goes to outstanding three-year-olds which have gone on to be a force in group 1s, but even placegetters have been outstanding. For instance, Tuesday Joy was runner-up in the 1800-metre race two years ago.

The highly rated, Group winning miler Guillotine has been purchased by Windsor Park Stud, New Zealand to stand the 2009 season.

A Group winner of four races from 1200m to 1900m, including the Group 2 John F. Feehan (Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes) over 1600m in Melbourne last spring, Guillotine has Windsor Park principal Nelson Schick excited at his stud prospects.

“I consider Guillotine to be the sharpest and most naturally gifted son of his Champion Sire Montjeu to have raced in Australasia,” said Schick.

“I have always said that in our racing environment the most talented sons of the ‘shuttle’ stallions are those most likely to succeed at stud. Current leading sires Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), Encosta de Lago (Fairy King), Flying Spur (Danehill), O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) and our own Thorn Park (Spinning World) are examples of this.

“A $300,000 yearling, Guillotine was an outstanding type from the outset and is from an exceptional broodmare whose only two foals to race are Group winners.

“Having followed his career from the time he was a two-year-old, with his natural speed, his suitability to good to fast ground combined with a great temperament, we identified Guillotine as Montjeu’s most talented and best credentialed stallion prospect in Australasia,” commented Schick.

Trained for his two and three-year-old seasons in Sydney by David Payne, Guillotine was aimed at prestige two-year-old races over Sydney’s Autumn Racing Carnival following a smart first-up win at Canterbury over 1200m.

A fast finishing fifth in the Group 2 STC Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), Guillotine closed out his juvenile season with a luckless fourth to Champion Australian 2YO Meurice in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

In the Champagne Stakes Guillotine suffered significant interference and his performance captured the attention and admiration of many astute observers who touted Guillotine as a leading prospect for his classic season.

The outbreak of Equine Influenza and forced closure of racing and movement of horses in Sydney meant Guillotine’s three-year-old spring racing targets had to be abandoned.

He subsequently followed a late December win by 6 lengths at Rosehill with an abbreviated autumn campaign where he finished 2 lengths from the seasoned Weekend Hustler in the Group 1 AJC Royal Randwick Guineas over 1600m prior to running fifth, on an unsuitable heavy track, in the Group 1 Australian AJC Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Transferred to the stables of David Hayes for his four-year-old season, Guillotine won brilliantly first up over 1300m before beating some of Australasia’s best gallopers in the Group 2 John F. Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley over 1600m. The group of star performers Guillotine left in his wake that day included subsequent Group 1 WFA Tatts Cox Plate winner, and Australian Horse of the Year, Maldivian, as well as Sirmione, Pompeii Ruler, Zipping, Casual Pass and Alamosa.

“It was at this point Guillotine confirmed he had the right credentials to warrant a stallion paddock at Windsor Park.” said Schick.

“For a long striding horse to be able to handle tighter tracks and carry his form at the top level over three seasons of racing says a lot for his mental soundness and constitution,” concluded Schick.

After his Feehan Stakes win, Guillotine’s racing program was revised and following a close finishing third in the Group 1 MRC Yalumba Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield, Guillotine was diagnosed with a joint injury. This setback not only put paid to an autumn campaign aimed at the Group 1 AJC Doncaster Stakes over 1600m, but the injury ultimately proved to be career-ending.

Guillotine’s high ranking on the 2008/09 ANZ Classifications is an indication of the regard in which he is held. His rating of 116 in the mile category was the same given to multiple Group 1 winners Theseo, Mentality, Vision And Power and Niconero, and ahead of other Group 1 winners Racing To Win (115), Casual Pass (115) and New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa (114).

Purchased by renowned yearling judge Les Samba from the Curraghmore Stud draft at the 2006 NZB Karaka Premier Sale, Guillotine is a son of the smart racemare and outstanding producer Refused the Dance.

In addition to Guillotine, Refused the Dance is also the dam of the brilliant VRC Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, crowned Champion Australian Stayer of 2008.

Guillotine is by the champion international stallion Montjeu, sire of 64 stakes winners (12 at Group 1 level) who last season finished second to champion sire Zabeel in the prestigious Dewar Award (combined Australasian earnings for NZ-based stallions).

Bred on the hugely successful Sadler’s Wells/Mr Prospector cross, Guillotine is scheduled to arrive at Windsor Park Stud, Cambridge, New Zealand in late August. He will commence stud duties at a service fee of $8,000 + GST with a Live Foal Guarantee.  

Imposing youngster Thorn Dancer (NZ) made it two wins in as many starts at Belmont Park on Wednesday, after Paul Harvey guided him to narrow victory in the Westspeed 3YO RTG Handicap (1200m).

It was the first run back for Thorn Dancer since returning from a spell, with only a 400m trial outing under his belt this time in.

Harvey was quick to settle the Thorn Park three-year-old outside of race leader Impatient Times, before urging him along at the 300m, putting pay to Impatient Times, who then kicked back strongly in the last 50m to get within a nose in the finish.

Zentrate, from the Fred Kersley yard is going to win a race very shortly, following her handy effort, running into third place for Daniel Staeck, after settling just off the speed throughout.

What they said – 'He is a nice big relaxed type that will benefit greatly from today's outing. He is going to be much better over 1400 – 1600m and today he wasn't at his top. If I had him raring to go today there wouldn't be much improvement there.' Winning trainer Frank Maynard said following the win.

Winners Breeding: Thorn Park – Katie O'Neill (Zabeel))

Results: Numbers: 2-4-9-3-6 Time: 1.11.31 (33.83) Margins: Nose x Neck x 2 ¼

Dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner High Chaparral, who arrived safely in quarantine in New Zealand on Saturday, was welcomed with the news that he has sired another new stakes winner.

His very talented 3YO daughter High Heeled ran out a convincing winner of the Listed Lyric Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m at York’s ‘King George’ meeting on Friday.

 A 110,000 euros purchase at the 2007 Goffs Million Sale in Ireland, High Heeled had previously signalled class when finishing third in the Gr.1 English Oaks at Epsom in June. A return visit to York for the Gr.1 Yorkshire Oaks next month now looks on the agenda for High Heeled after this confidence booster.

High Heeled continued the wonderful run of recent success for High Chaparral and became the young sire’s 11th individual stakes winner in the last twelve months and his 12th overall.

High Chaparral who stands at $17,500 + gst, is headed for a busy season at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge where the book full sign has been posted since early June.

Brilliant Volksraad 2YO filly Mexican Rose remained unbeaten in Singapore and improved her CV to four wins from only five career starts in the $S200,000 Gr.3 Singapore Juvenile Championship over 1200m at Kranji on Friday night.

Prepared by champion trainer Laurie Laxon and ridden by Singapore’s leading jockey Saimee Jumaat, Mexican Rose scored impressively by half a length over Always Certain, with Fuku Kitaru two and a quarter lengths away third.

After beginning just fairly, Mexican Rose raced in fourth position, three wide outside the pace. By the time the home turn was reached Mexican Rose was sitting outside the leader and once jockey Saimee Jumaat ‘pressed the button’ with 200m to run, the filly quickly put a gap on her rivals.

“She’s got a terrific turn of foot and I had to ride her like a good thing ... wait, wait, wait. She is all class”, said Saimee.

Mexican Rose is a daughter of Champion Sire Volksraad, who is enjoying a stellar season with a seventh New Zealand premiership title in the bag, two further Gr.1 Australian performers in Orange County and Sir Slick and a season-ending Group race finale in Singapore courtesy of Mexican Rose. Responsible for ten Gr.1 winners and a winners-to-runners tally of 66.5 %, Volksraad was also New Zealand’s Champion Sire of 2YO’s in 1996/97.

A daughter of the unraced Gone West mare Down View, Mexican Rose was bred by Olympic equestrian Gold medallist Mark Todd and his wife Carolyn in partnership with Lord Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber's, Watership Down Stud. 

Closely related to Gr.1 Arlington Million Stakes winner Mill Native, Mexican Rose was an $85,000 purchase by Laurie Laxon at the 2008 New Zealand Bloodstock Select yearling sale.

Breeders are bombarded with statistical information every day of the week; but some trends do not need analysing - they are plain to see.  This is certainly the case for Windsor Park Stud's cracking young sire, Thorn Park.  He's performing right up to his outstanding looks in the early part of his stud career and breeders haven't missed it. 
 
The 'book full' sign has been out before the end of July, not surprising when you take a look at the many highlights of his second season of results.

Thorn Park has had five individual black type winners this season - Te Akau Rose (Matamata Breeders' Stakes-Gr.2), Glamorous Girl (WRC Desert Gold Stakes-Gr.3), Hollows (WRC Wellesley Stakes-LR), Centennial Park (STC Darby Munro Handicap-LR) and Pricked (SAJC H C Nitschke Stakes-LR).
 
His tally from two crops of racing age (oldest 3YOs) is now six, with Te Akau Coup winning the Matamata Breeders' Stakes-Gr.2 from his initial crop.  Thorn Park also has five other stakes-placed performers - Walk in the Park, La Etoile, Reuben Thorn, Flying In and Mr Thorpedo.
 
Walk in the Park looked a little unlucky not to claim a black type win this season.  She was fourth in the ARC Eight Carat Classic-Gr.2, 2nd in the ARC Royal Stakes-Gr.2, 3rd in the Queensland Oaks-Gr.1 (becoming Thorn Park's first Group One performer) and 2nd in the Sunshine Coast Guineas-LR.
 
La Etoile was another 3YO filly looking every bit a stakes winner this term, but didn't quite manage it.  She was fourth in Daffodil's NZ 1000 Guineas-Gr.1, fourth in the BATC Doomben Roses-Gr.3 and third in the Queensland Guineas-Gr.2.
 
Thorn Park is currently in second position on the New Zealand Second Season Sires Premiership behind Lucky Owners, the sire of the Karaka Million winner, The Heckler.  In New Zealand alone, Thorn Park has had 51 runners this season for 24 winners.  Collectively they've won 35 races for earnings of NZ$634,605.

Thorn Park fact sheet...
5 individual SW this season
First Group One performer with Walk in the Park (3rd Queensland Oaks)
41 winners from 82 runners worldwide
Winners in NZ, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong & Korea
Provided winner of Matamata Breeders' Stakes-Gr.2 in consecutive years
Oldest progeny 3YOs
2nd on the NZ Second Season Sires Premiership

The drums are beating for Windsor Park Stud’s young shuttler, High Chaparral, and with very good reason.
 
A world-class racehorse himself winning the English and Irish Derbies and two Breeders’ Cup Turfs in America, High Chaparral has been in stunning form with his progeny in both hemispheres during 2009.
 
Right now, despite having only oldest progeny four-year-olds in the Northern Hemisphere, High Chaparral is currently the fifth-equal leading sire in Europe by stakes winners in 2009.  He has sired eight individual black-type winners in 2009 so far and collectively the group of horses have won eight stakes races. 

That places him behind only Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Danehill Dancer and Oasis Dream, and equal with Cape Cross who is currently Britain’s leading sire by prizemoney won.
 
For the record, the individual black type winners this year for High Chaparral in the Northern Hemisphere are Magadan (Gr.3 & LR), Above Average (Gr.3), Golden Sword (Gr.3), Serienhoehe (LR), Joanna (LR), Redwood (LR) while his daughter, High Heeled, was 3^rd in the Gr.1 English Oaks at Epsom and won at listed level at York.
 
In the Southern Hemisphere, where High Chaparral’s oldest progeny are two-year-olds, his year has been highlighted by Shoot Out’s Group Two victory in the QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.
 
Shoot Out is one of just 7 runners seen out in the Southern Hemisphere by High Chaparral.  The sire has also been represented by the Bart Cummings-trained So You Think, who has been a winner in Sydney.
 
The results High Chaparral has been posting in both hemispheres has seen his book close before the end of June.
 
“After Shoot Out’s win we were inundated with enquiry for High Chaparral,” Steve Till of Windsor Park Stud told NZTM this morning.
 
“The exciting thing about this horse is that he’s leaving Group-winning two-year-olds; it’s not what he’s designed to do as a Derby-winning horse himself,” added Till.
 
High Chaparral will be represented in this Sunday’s Irish Derby at The Curragh by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Golden Sword.  The colt won the Chester Vase-Gr.3 last month before running fifth behind Sea the Stars in the Epsom Derby.

High Chaparral fact sheet…

·         8 individual SW in Northern Hemisphere so far this season

·         Sire of Gr.2 2YO winner, Shoot Out, in Southern Hemisphere

·         12 black type winners in all + 5 stakes-placed horses

·         Sire of 78 individual winners of 131 races

·         Oldest progeny 2YOs (Australasia) & 4YOs (Northern Hemisphere)

·         Sire of winners in 12 countries

·        Equal-fifth leading sire in Europe by stakes winners in 2009

Golan (Ire) four-year-old proves too strong

New Zealand-breds have enjoyed a fine run of success in Winter Cups this season. Reggie (NZ), Hume (NZ) and Our Lukas (NZ) have taken trophies since June and yesterday promising young stayer Castle Heights added the Grafton Cup to the list.

Making just his third start in Australia, Castle Heights enjoyed a nice run in transit under Stathi Katsidis, who elected to stay near the inside. The four-year-old son of Golan (Ire) rallied strongly to strike the front 200m out and then hold the late charge from Hume to score narrowly in a driving finish. The Guy Walter-trained Twin Wing had made much of the running and stayed on one-pace in the straight for third.
The Grafton Cup is the first stakes success for Castle Heights, who won five of his six starts last time in before running fourth and fifth in the Auckland and Wellington Cups. Trained at Ruakaka by Donna Logan in partnership with her husband, Castle Heights is likely to return to Australia in the spring for a tilt at The Metropolitan (Gr 1) over 2400m at Randwick.
The precedents are good, as Logan won the Caloundra Cup in 2002 with Victory Smile, who went on to win The Metropolitan the same year.
Castle Heights becomes the eighth stakes winner worldwide for Golan (Ire), who shuttles to Windsor Park Stud. Interestingly he is bred on the same cross as the Great Northern Guineas winner Le Baron, both out of mares by Windsor Park’s multiple champion sire Volksraad (GB).
A son of Spectrum (Ire), who is now at stud in South Africa, Golan has close to 50 per cent winners to runners worldwide. His best runner to date is the Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz, and three of his stakes winners are from his European crops, headed by the Sandown Classic Trial (Gr 3) winner Regime.
Castle Heights is out of a Volksraad (GB) half-sister to Wellington Guineas winner Batavian and his third-dam Caergwrle (GB) won the 1968 1000 Guineas for Sir Noel Murless.

A good weekend in Europe might easily have been a great one for young sire High Chaparral. His classy 4YO daughter Beach Bunny finished an unlucky second in the 2000m Gr.1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh to Breeders’ Cup prospect Dar Re Mi, who kept the race after a lengthy steward’s enquiry.

The following day High Chaparral’s Chester Vase winning son Golden Sword finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Irish Derby with champion trainer Aidan O’Brien commenting “Golden Sword is typical of the High Chaparral’s we’ve seen, he’s getting better and better and is a very classy horse”.

On the same afternoon at Windsor in England Lady Darshaan, a 2YO daughter of High Chaparral scored over 1000m. Her juvenile success followed the stakes wins earlier in the month of leading Italian 2YO filly Joanna and German Derby trial winner Serienhoehe, for the promising stallion.

In the southern hemisphere, High Chaparral’s first crop includes last month’s Australian Gr.2 winner Shoot Out as well as the Bart Cummings trained Sydney winner So You Think.

High Chaparral currently holds a top ten position on the GB/Ire sires list for prize money won, lies equal fifth for individual stakes winners in Europe and leads the GB/Ire winners to runners ratio with 44%, a remarkable achievement with just three crops to race.

High Chaparral is also Ireland’s leading 3^rd crop sire this season with his total tally of stakes winners now numbering eleven, including five Group One performers.

Fame And Glory (3c Montjeu-Gryada, by Shirley Heights) ran out a brilliant winner of the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday when giving his trainer Aidan O’Brien a record seventh success in the Classic.

It was also a third G1 Irish Derby victory from only five crops for Montjeu following Frozen Fire (Montjeu-Flamingo Sea, by Woodman) last year and world champion Hurricane Run (Montjeu-Hold On, by Surumu) win in 2005.

There was a strong pace in this year’s race with Johnny Murtagh biding his time aboard Fame And Glory before powering clear of the field in the final furlong to score by five lengths High Chapparal’s high-class son Golden Sword (3c High Chaparral-Sitara, by Salse) in second.

Fame And Glory had finished a close runner-up to Galileo’s half-brother Sea The Stars in the G1 Epsom Derby having won the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on his previous start. He is also a G1-winning juvenile, having landed the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last year.

'He's got a lot of tactical speed and was very quick to get into his stride,' said O’Brien. 'He's a great traveller and a classy horse. 'He was special last year, and came through his trials well this spring. Johnny was over the moon and he has won very snugly, he has improved with every run. 'It's unbelievable to win this race again and when there is expectation, like there was today, it's always tense - but this is marvellous.'

Johnny Murtagh added: 'This is like our Royal Ascot and a great champion always wins it. It was a good, solid gallop all the way - he relaxed very well. It was hands and heels, a very easy win. Just going down the hill I squeezed him but there was plenty left. 'I thought when I worked him earlier in the week he was going to do something like this. I rode Sinndar and Alamshar and they went on to better things, and this horse has a similar profile.

'He could be the horse for the G1 Irish Champion Stakes (at Leopardstown) later in the year. He’s was a Group 1 winner at two as well and is a very good horse.

'He improved quite a bit from Epsom, and I don't care what turned up today - he would have been hard to beat. He has improved mentally, is much sharper and on the ball. I think he will be consistent from now until the end of the year.'

Fame And Glory was bred by Ptarmigan Bloodstock and Kirsten Rausing and bought for 190,000gns by Timmy Hyde as a foal. His dam Gryada, who was G3-placed as a juvenile, is out of the German 1,000 Guineas Grimpola.

As well as seven European stakes winner this season, High Chaparral has enjoyed some top–class recent placed efforts. High Heeled (3f High Chaparral-Uncharted Haven, by Turtle Island) finished third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom, Beach Bunny (4f High Chaparral-Miss Hawai, by Peintre Celebre) was beaten a short-head in Saturday’s G1 Pretty Polly Stakes and Golden Sword looks set to take top honours after his G1 Irish Derby second.

Murtagh added: 'Golden Sword is a very solid horse who keeps improving from one run to the next and I think there is a Group 1 in him before the end of the year.'

Fame And Glory justified odds-on favouritism to give Aidan O'Brien his fourth consecutive Irish Derby, and a record-breaking seventh success, as a very strong early pace set up a straightforward victory for the Investec Derby runner-up.

Ladbrokes reacted to the performance by halving the son of Montjeu to 6-1 from 12 for the L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, while Victor Chandler also 6-1 from 8.

Talk before the race had been how Fame And Glory could expect a strong pace, something that didn't happen at Epsom, and pacemaker Rockhampton certainly ensured that this was the case, setting a brutal gallop from the off.

Golden Sword, who won the Chester Vase under a front-running ride from Colm O'Donoghue, employed the same tactic, and the pair sat a few lengths behind Rockhampton, with Mourayan third.

Johnny Murtagh, aboard the favourite was happy to wait in mid-division, with Seamie Heffernan on Masterofthehorse, who was bidding to become the first jockey to win the race three years in a row, just behind.

Inevitably the ferocious pace set by Rockhampton took it's toll, and turning for home he quickly emptied, leaving Golden Sword in front.

Few had got competitive to this point, but the one that did pick up was the one that mattered, as Murtagh and Fame And Glory started to reel in both Mourayan and Golden Sword.

It briefly looked as if O'Donoghue was going to be able to hold the challenge of the Ballydoyle first choice, but with a furlong left Murtagh swept to the front and pulled clear to win by five lengths.

Golden Sword did finish second, giving O'Brien a one-two in the race, while Mourayan also stayed on to take third.

O'Brien said: 'He's got a lot oftactical speed and was very quick to get into his stride.

'He's a great traveller and he's a classy horse.

'It was a great performance from Golden Sword. He improved from his run at Chester and has improved again from the Derby at Epsom.

'It's unbelievable to win this race again.

'When there is expectation, like there was today, it's always tense - but this is marvellous.'

He added: 'He was special last year, and came through his trials well this spring.

'Johnny was over the moon and he has won very snugly.

'Everyone knows the Curragh is straightforward track and there is nowhere to hide.

'He has improved with every run and came back very well.'

Winning jockey Murtagh said:' This is like our Royal Ascot and a great champion always wins it.

'It was agood, solid gallop all the way - he relaxed very well.

'It was hands and heels, a very easy win.

'I thought when I worked him earlier in the week he was going to do something like this.

'I rode Sinndar and Alamshar and they went on to better things, and this horse has a similar profile.

'He could be the horse for the Irish Champion Stakes (at Leopardstown) later in the year.'

Of a possible rematch with Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars, Murtagh added: 'He is 1-0 up, but hopefully we'll lock horns later in the year - it will be great for racing.

'I knew coming here that this horse was going to be a different proposition altogether.

'He improved quite a bit from Epsom, and I don't care what turned up today - he would have been hard to beat.

'He has improved mentally, is much sharper and on the ball.

'I think he will be consistent from now until the end of the year.'

New Zealand’s proven sire ranks received a blow this week with news from Windsor Park Stud that their Group One producing sire Golan will be resting from shuttle duties in 2009.

Red tape surrounding the importation of the horse in addition to increased costs with the shuttling process and insufficient early bookings have meant the Coolmore owned horse will be staying put at his Irish base for the coming southern hemisphere breeding season.

Windsor Park Stud proprietor Nelson Schick was philosophical about the announcement, clearly frustrated the stallion will not be returning south for his seventh consecutive New Zealand season.

“It is disappointing but shuttling stallions requires a level of support to make the process viable. We felt that with the success of Golan’s progeny both here and in Australia we would get enough early support to be able to bring him back. However in the current economic conditions this has not materialized, so after shuttling for six straight seasons it has been decided to rest the horse this year,” Schick said.

The red tape surrounding the importation of the horse stems from a change in quarantine protocols with Irish-based stallions now having to travel to England to complete the quarantine process. In previous years, Coolmore has operated its own quarantine facility in Ireland.

While the Cambridge nursery intends to recommence shuttle duties with Golan in the 2010 season, the omission of the sire from the 2009 New Zealand stallion ranks is a blow for the New Zealand breeding industry.

A classic influence of growing note, Golan has sired 10 stakes performers from his southern hemisphere crops, the clear highlight being the Gr.1 VRC Derby win of Kibbutz. The current season has been a sterling one for the son of Spectrum, holding down a top 10 spot on the New Zealand sires’ premiership courtesy of seven individual stakes performers, and 24 winners.

Leading the way has been the dual stakes winning three-year-old Le Baron, who won the Listed ARC Great Northern Guineas Prelude, before the taking the Group Two Great Northern Guineas two weeks later. Another contributor to the sire’s season’s takings has also been Sarge In Charge, the Liam Birchley trained galloper who crossed the Tasman to run second place in the 2009 Karaka Million.

High Chaparral had his seventh European stakes success of 2009 in Bremen on Sunday courtesy of the Peter Schiergen-trained Serienhoehe (3f High Chaparral-Saldenehre, by Highest Honor).

Gestut Wiitekindshof’s home-bred filly took the Listed SWB German Derby Trial, run over 2,100 metres, in excellent style to come home three-quarters of a length clear of Brusco (3c Rock Of Gibraltar Blaze Of Colour, by Rainbow Quest).

Serienhoehe, winner of three of her four starts, won the G3 Maurice Lacroix Trophy as a juvenile last season and she now heads to the Gr.1 Deutches (German) Derby at Hamburg next month. Serienhoehe is out of the G1 German Oaks fifh and Listed-placed Saldenehre, a half sister to three other stakeswinners.

Joanna 2f, (High Chaparral) confirmed the promise of her 6L debut win, when she broke the course record at San Siro, when winning the 2YO Listed Premio Vittorio Crespi over 1200m at the same course yesterday.

The Bruno Grizzetti-trained filly won the race in dashing style running away for an easy victory.

She finished second to Cool Contest (One Cool Cat) in the Premio Alessandro Perrone at Capannelle in between, but gained her revenge yesterday, when reversing the placings with that rival finishing 3 ¾ lengths back in 3rd. She is out of the Listed-placed Secrete Marina (Mujadil), from the family of Arcangues, Aquarelliste and Cape Verdi.

Joanna is the 11^th stakes winner from her exciting young sire High Chaparral who shuttles between Coolmore Stud in Ireland and Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge, New Zealand.

The Informant reports that Windsor Park Stud has set its fees for the 2009 season and following the worldwide trend, has significantly dropped prices across the board.

Six times Champion Sire Volksraad heads the roster at $20,000, a significant reduction from his 2008 fee of $27,500. After missing out on a seventh straight Sire title to O’Reilly last season, the Champion sire has hit back with a vengeance, leading the current premiership by more than $500,000 from his nearest rival Pentire.

Thorn Park, arguably New Zealand’s most exiting young stallion and already the sire of six stakes winners from just over 70 runners, has had his fee reduced from $15,000 last season, to $13,500 in 2009.

Shuttle sire High Chaparral will return to Windsor Park in 2009 with his northern hemisphere progeny in red hot form. Represented by four stakes winners in the last month, including possible Derby candidates Above Average, Redwood & Golden Sword, the stock of the Sadler’s Wells sire are certainly hitting their straps. High Chaparral 2009 fee is the same as in 2008 standing at $17,500.

At a $10,000 fee, Golan will continue to establish himself as one of New Zealand’s most promising up and coming classic sires; his 2008/09 stakes horses including Gr.2 Guineas winner Le Baron, Listed winner Gold Rum, 2009 Karaka Millions runner up Sarge In Charge and stakes placed 2-Y-O Gofonze.

A Champion on the racetrack, King’s Chapel has made a excellent start to his stud career, already the sire of Gr. 2 WRC Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner King’s Ransom. And with the sire’s own best performances coming at three, an exciting 2009/10 season awaits NZ Leading First Crop Sire. His fee for 2009 has been reduced to $7,500 from 8,500 in 2008.

Tale of the Cat sprinter Falkirk rounds off the Windsor Park Stud stallion roster for 2009. The speedster received a welcome response from buyers with his first crop at this year’s national yearling sales and will stand the 2009 season at $7,500 down from $8,500 in 2008.

The oldest Southern Hemisphere bred progeny of English Derby winner High Chaparral (IRE) are just two year-olds and include the rising star Shoot Out, a scintillating winner of the Group Two QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The John Wallace trained gelding was having just his second race start following a facile debut win at the Gold Coast on May 16 and confirmed the promise he showed on that occasion.

Ridden back near the tail of the field, Shoot Out produced a barnstorming finish to zoom home and win the 1400 metre event by more than a length from Impulsive Dream (Encosta de Lago) and Carrara (Elvstroem).

With two wins at his only starts and prizemoney of $175,500, Shoot Out will step up in grade to Group One company for his next run in the QTC T.J. Smith Stakes over 1600 metres next Saturday.

John Wallace suggested Shoot Out could develop into the best he's trained.

'He's a pretty good horse,' Wallace said. 'He'll back up in the TJ Smith next Saturday.

'He's very tough and he could be a VRC Derby horse for the spring.'

A regular shuttler to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand, High Chaparral (IRE) is the sire of nine stakes-winners in the Northern Hemisphere including this year’s exciting three year-olds Golden Sword, Above Average and Redwood.

His oldest Australasian bred progeny are two year-olds and Shoot Out becomes his first stakes-winner in this part of the world, the son of Sadler’s Wells due back in New Zealand this spring at a service fee of $17,500.

Underrated Gold Coast jockey Daniel Griffin put one hand on his first Group One trophy when boom galloper Shoot Out scored a phenomenal win in the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Riding for veteran Gold Coast trainer John Wallace, Griffin rode Shoot Out like a good thing in the 1400m feature and the huge gelding did the rest when he powered home to register a 1-1/4-length win.

Having just his second race start, the son of High Chaparral was giving his rivals at least six lengths start at the 600m and overcame a check rounding the bend to record a performance which prompted Wallace to declare the horse the best he has trained.

'He just might be the saviour of me,' Wallace said.

'I've had some good horses over the years but this bloke is the best of them. He's good and he'll get a lot better.

'He'll stay all day and he'll only get better when the races get longer.'

Griffin, 28, agreed with Wallace and said Shoot Out now had a mortgage on next week's Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1600m) at the same course.

'That's my biggest win by far and with natural improvement they won't beat him in the TJ Smith,' Griffin said.

'He has a huge turn of foot when he sprints and they won't get me off him now.

'I never panicked when he got back and was cluttered because I knew what I had underneath me - he's easily the best horse I've ridden.'

Race favourite Funtantes ($3) sprinted to the front when she straightened but was quickly collared by Melbourne colt Carrara ($5.50) before Shoot Out ($8) descended on them to claim victory.

Consistent filly Impulsive Dream ($21) finished powerfully to run second with Carrara a half-neck back third.

Trainer Kelly Schweida said Impulsive Dream would definitely line up for a rematch with Shoot Out next Saturday while Tony Vasil was reluctant to confirm a TJ Smith start for Carrara.

Master trainer Bart Cummings has unearthed another potential topliner in So You Think, a debut winner of the Freeway Hotel Artarmon Handicap at Rosehill on Wednesday.

The two-year-old son of six time Gr.1 winning stallion High Chaparral (IRE) turned in a performance rarely seen by a juvenile having his first start.

High Chaparral (IRE) has emerged in Europe this year with a very strong hand of Classic contenders and after siring his first Australian winner at the Gold Coast last Saturday in Shoot Out he has followed up immediately with his second Australian winner at Rosehill today.

The Cummings trained colt showed ability in a recent Randwick barrier trial and ran up to that when he travelled wide for most of 1400 metre journey. In the straight So You Think raced greenly, wanting to lay in as he challenged for the lead but Bowman straightened his course on a couple of occasions and his mount strode clear over the final 200 metres to win going away.

“He drew wide and the instructions were to ride him quiet but he jumped well and when I dropped my hands we had horses everywhere inside us,” Bowman said.

“There was no pace and I just had to be content to let him stride so under those circumstances it makes this such a good win.

“He was pretty green, pretty raw but he’s certainly a horse with a bright future.”

Bart Cummings wasn’t at Rosehill to watch the race but stable foreman John Thompson said that So You Think is nominated for the Gr.1 T.J Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 6 and he couldn’t rule out a trip north after Wednesday’s victory.

“He’s a quality colt and quality takes them a long way.”

The colt was purchase by Duncan Ramage of DGR Thoroughbreds for $110,000 from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the 2008 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

So You Think is from the Gr.2 winning mare Triassic (Tights), who is the dam of seven named foals, six to race, all winners.

His sire, English Derby hero High Chaparral (IRE)  is now the sire of nine stakes-winners in the Northern Hemisphere including this year’s exciting stakes winning three year-olds Golden Sword, Above Average and Redwood.

High Chaparral (IRE)  oldest Australasian bred progeny are two year-olds and the son of Sadler’s Wells is back at Windsor Park Stud this spring at a service fee of $17,500.

The Windsor Park winning juggernaut swathed its way through the Autumn Carnival in Sydney and is continuing its dominance at the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Hot on the heels of a trifecta of Windsor Park stallions in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on the opening weekend of the carnival, came a first and third in the Group Three Chairman’s Handicap when Ballack (Montjeu – Trephina), beat Rabbuka and Sir Slick (Volksraad-Miss Opera) at Eagle Farm last week.

This season alone their former shuttle stallion Montjeu has left six individual stakes winners in Australia; Roman Emperor (ex Gussy Godiva), Harris Tweed (ex Sally), Guillotine (ex Refused The Dance), Fulmonti (ex Grosvenor’s Pride), Majestical (ex Grosvenor’s Pride) and one here in New Zealand in The Meista (ex Zablinka).

And for good measure Windsor’s evergreen stallion Volksraad sits at the top of the stallion premiership here in New Zealand, having left seven individual stakes winners this season: Sir Slick, Dezigna (Label Basher), Izonit (Label Basher), Veloce Bella (Wave To Lottie), Gin Dartre (Rapida), Butch James (Gillygate), Richard Beymer (Westside Story), and Orange County (Saffie) in Australia.

However it’s not just group winners that get a horse to the top of the premiership, and he has had 54 winners of 80 races. Recently at Tauranga when Jim Pender trained four winners on the card, three were by Volksraad, and for good measure the fourth was by another Windsor Park stallion the promising Thorn Park.

And according to Steve Till of Windsor Park, there is plenty more to come.

“After Ballack’s win in the Chairman’s, the O’Brien stable is pretty confident that the horse can kick on for the rest of the Carnival - I guess they have the Brisbane Cup in their sights. It was after all one of his best efforts in the Chairman’s.  He showed a good turn of foot coming from the back of the field.”

Ballack has now won five races, including the Group Three Carlton Tattersalls Cup over 2200 metres at last years Queensland Carnival. He has also been Group One placed in the West Australian Derby, and ran third in the Group Two Perth Cup and in the VRC St Leger.

He is the first foal of Trephina, a winning Last Tycoon mare Nelson Schick purchased as a yearling from the Sydney Easter sales for A$160,000.

“Nelson had picked this filly out in the sale, as she was from a good performing, strong Australian family and Last Tycoon was all the rage. She was a neatly well made and balanced yearling, but she had a nasty gash on her hind leg but it was only superficial, so we felt she wasn’t bad buying at that price.

“Her dam Procastinate had won six races including the Group Three Tristarc Stakes, and she was a half sister to a Group Three winner in Galapagos Girl (Dehere) and another stakes winner Kampaign (Kampala) who won 11 races, and they were out of a sister to Centaine (Century-Rainbeam), so it was a pretty strong family.

“Trephina was the second foal. The first foal was by Danehill and turned out to be the Champion South African mare Laisserfaire, so that turned out to be a bonus,” he mused.

Since then Procrastinate has left three listed winners - Foreplay (Danehill), Personify (Galileo) and Time Thief (Redoute’s Choice) and he has been Group One placed twice this season. She also has a Danehill Dancer daughter Patasi who was stakes placed at two and three.

“Roger James trained Trephina for us and she showed a lot of promise, she won a race and then something went amiss and she retired to the broodmare paddock, “said Steve.

Ballack was the first foal.  Her next foal is a four-year-old named Novatech (Kaapstad) who has won two races out of Mark Walker’s stable, and the third foal is Centennial Park by Thorn Park. He has now won three races in Sydney including the listed Darby Munro Stakes. Her 2006 colt by King’s Chapel was the highest priced King’s Chapel yearling at Karaka and he was bought by Magus Equine of Hong Kong for $260,000.

“This year we sold a full brother to Centennial Park for $390,000 and that has also been purchased by Hong Kong interests. Trephina is now in foal to Falkirk and has a weanling filly by that sire as well.

“It’s a family that continues to improve and the Last Tycoon factor is a big help as well.  Already this season the Montjeu/Last Tycoon cross has produced the Group One AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor (Gussy Godiva).

“We have had some success with the Last Tycoon mares we own. Tycoon Babe (Last Tycoon – Splash of Beauty) has left Shuttleworth, and Grand Princess (Last Tycoon – Grande Jette) has left two stakes performers in Captain’s Command and Inshelucky, all by Volksraad.

“It’s very satisfying to see the stock of Montjeu doing so well - he was pretty heavily scrutinised as a stallion and now he is being appreciated. There was always the perception that maybe Sadler’s Wells horses would not go so well down here. It’s blood that takes time and when Montjeu didn’t get instant results like he did in the Northern hemisphere he copped a bit of criticism.

“However now it seems that trainers understand them better and appreciate what he offers as a stallion. From every crop he has produced in both hemispheres he has had runners in the Derby, and although his fillies didn’t set the world on fire on the track he will make a wonderful broodmare sire,’ Steve concluded.

High Chaparral’s three-year-olds have carried all before them this season but it was a member of his two-year-old crop who stole the show at San Siro in Milan on Monday.

Debutant Joanna (2f High Chaparral-Secrete Marina, by Mujadil) stormed six lengths clear of her rivals to win a 1,000 metre maiden with another four lengths back to the third.

The Bruno Grizzetti-trained filly won the race in 58.7 seconds, the fastest time for a juvenile at San Siro this season.

Her victory came 24 hours after the Dermot Weld-trained Enchanted Evening (3f High Chaparral-Glen Kate, by Glenstal) registered a seven-length maiden success at Navan.

Weld, whose mother Gita owns and bred Enchanted Evening, believes the filly will develop into a black-type performer.

'She was impressive and I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t turn out to be a stakes filly,' said the Curragh-based trainer. 'She will handle better ground and get further than a mile.'

The tip arrived a bit late but it is worth noting. A few minutes after trainer John Wallace watched his debutant Shoot Out bolt-in by 5 1/2 lengths in the opening 2YO race at the Gold Coast, he declared him the best prospect he'd handled for a long time and Wallace is too experienced to be far off the mark.

 “I thought he was really smart after his trial win, when he went the same time as the open class horses but you never know until they do it in a race.”

“I'd like to run him in the Sires' Produce next start if he gets a run and then the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes over the carnival”, concluded Wallace.

A first-crop son of 6-time Gr.1 winner High Chaparral, Shoot Out looks a fine prospect for the future following his debut win.

BLACK BEAR ISLAND, a brother to High Chaparral, returned the winner of the Gr.2 Dante Stakes with stablemate Freemantle in second, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien a one-two in the contest.

Coral reacted by cutting Black Bear Island into 6-1 for the Epsom Classic, while Boylesports also are offering 6-1. Colm O'Donoghue was again the man of the moment, this time swooping late to nail Johnny Murtagh and Freemantle, winning by a head, with Sans Frontieres a further three parts of a length back in third.

After the field had left the stalls, it was Murtagh and Freemantle, a 13-2 shot, who went to take up the running, and the pair quickly established an advantage, turning for home clear of Kite Wood and Nehaam. Murtagh increased the pace at the three-furlong pole, and despite the field fanning out across the track, no-one could get close enough to land a blow, including favourite Crowded House.

Jamie Spencer had been moving Crowded House, the Racing Post Trophy winner up the rail, but when push came to shove, he failed to deliver the turn of foot that had earmarked him as a leading Derby contender and eventually finished a disappointing eighth.

Winning jockey O'Donoghue said: 'There was plenty of pace on through the race and he travelled really well. 'He really started to get going when I asked him in the final two furlongs and he picked up really well to lead on the line.

Aidan O'Brien is now odds-on with William Hill and Ladbrokes to register a third success in the Investec Derby after the Dante Stakes yesterday. The firms quote the Irish maestro at 1-3 and 4-5 respectively to add to High Chaparral and Galileo's successes in The Derby, which has eluded Ballydoyle since Black Bear Island’s brother scored in 2002.

HIGH HEELED on Tuesday attracted plenty of attention in the Investec Oaks market and was cut by Coral to 7-1 third favourite.

The Barry Hills-trained filly is due to run in a trial for the Epsom Classic, the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, at York on Wednesday where she will face five rivals, including Sariska and the Queen's Enticement, provided the ground is not too firm.

Coral were not alone in seeing support for the daughter of Derby winner High Chaparral, as William Hill went 8-1 (from 10) putting her just behind favourite Rainbow View and Victor Chandler clipped her to 9-1 (from 10).

The first Group 1 of the season for older milers, the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes, takes place at Newbury this weekend and the Henry Cecil-trained Twice Over, who is owned by the sponsors, has been cut to 10-1 (from 12) by Stan James.

Stan James also cut Fleeting Spirit for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot to 9-1 (from 12-1) after support came for  the Jeremy Noseda-trained filly, who finished just three-quarters of a length behind Equiano in last year's renewal.

It was an all NZ bred finish in the $300,000, Group II, WFA AD Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday, with Fulmonti (Montjeu) (NZ) stunning punters with a strong win over Izonit (NZ) (Volksraad) and Sir Slick (NZ) (Volksraad). The margin of a head was not large, but Fulmonti had fought off the attentions of Izonit for 100m to claim the prize.

As expected Sir Slick under Glen Colless took up the lead and the stamped out the tempo down the back straight with Rags To Riches, Mission Critical and The Sportsman following. Stand Tall and Larry Cassidy joined Sir Slick passing the 900m, but Colless applied further pressure ensuring he still had the lead as the field headed into the straight. Sir Slick kept going, The Sportsman came and went, favourite Scenic Shot appeared out wide on the track, but it was Fulmonti and Glen Colless, racing outside Izonit and NZ apprentice James McDonald, who came for the lead. The two went stride for stride leaving Sir Slick (Volksraad) for third place spoils, but the six-year-old Montjeu gelding was too strong for Izonit (Volksraad) to make it an all Windsor Park Stud sired trifecta.

Prima Nova was fourth and $2.80 favourite Scenic Shot fifth. The margins were a half-neck and 3/4L. The time was 1.48.17 and the final 600m in 34.25. Fulmonti paid $41.60 on NSW TAB to leave punters gasping.

Fulmonti, trained by Chris Jordon at Doomben, last won when taking out the Group III Chairman’s Handicap over 2020m at Doomben in May last year, but in his next 14 races he has placed seven times.

He is out of the Grosvenor mare Grosvenor’s Pride this was his eighth win from 48 starts. He has placed second 13 times, and third six times. Owned by Barry Broomhead and Alan Jones, the Hollindale Stakes win added $192,000 to the former stakes total of $428,000.

The penny looks to have dropped for The Meista (NZ), who demonstrated a marked improvement in maturity in the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Settling well at the rear of the field after being slow away, the talented 3YO son of Montjeu burst to the lead at the 200m mark, and was able to accelerate all the way to the line, something his earlier tendency to over-race had hindered.

At the post the talented Dawn and Peter Williams-trained 3YO had ensured a 1 ¼ length buffer from the fast finishing Mirkola Lass (NZ) (Prized), with O'Reilly Rose (NZ) (O'Reilly) featuring a length back in third.

With previous placings in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), the Gr.3 Waikato Guineas and the Gr.2 ARC Championship Stakes (2100m), The Meista (NZ) was one of the hotpots for the NZ Derby, but after exerting too much energy early, wilted to 14th in the straight.

Subsequently sent to the spelling paddock, The Meista (NZ) has now made each of his two outings since successful ones.

Owned by Brent, Grant, Graeme, Lorraine, Priscilla & Philippa McKenzie, The Meista (NZ) has achieved 5 wins and 5 placings from 13 outings and has returned $150,650 in stakes.

Probable targets ahead for the horse include the Gr.2 Couplands Mile, the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile, whilst consideration is also being given to an Australian mission in the spring.

Bred by Brent & Grant McKenzie, The Meista (NZ) is out of Gr.3 Wakefield Challenge stakes winner, Zablinka (NZ) (Zabeel), a mare who has produced four winners from five to race.

An incredible year for High Chaparral continued at Longchamp on Sunday when Magadan (4c High Chaparral-Molasses, by Machiavellian) stormed away with the G3 Prix d’Hedouville.

The Wildenstein family’s colt, a 120,000 euros Goffs foal graduate bred by Kilcarn Stud, had won a Listed contest on his seasonal comeback and connections have big plans after this latest cosy two-length success.

There was a scorching pace in the group event and Magadan had to come from behind to make up around five lengths in the last 400 metres, something he was well able to do under jockey Anthony Crastus.

'Anthony Crastus knows him well and also elected to ride him that way last time,' winning trainer Elie Lellouche told www.frogsracing.com. 'Such fast 10 horse races are pretty unusual here. Anyway it worked again and the horse should now be aimed at the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (May 31). If everything goes well, his next race would then be the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 28.

It has been an amazing few weeks for High Chaparral and for good measure in third place in the Prix d’Hedouville was the Aga Khan’s home-bred Winkle (4f High Chaparral-Bernique, by Affirmed).

Brisbane could beckon for Saturday’s smart Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) winner Veloce Bella (NZ) (Volksraad).

Returning to the sort of form that had her billed as a star 3YO two seasons ago, Veloce Bella (NZ) blitzed rivals in a storming display from the rear.

Pulled wide by jockey Opie Bosson, Veloce Bella (NZ) reeled the leaders brigade in with 100m to run and at the Te Rapa post stopped the clock at 2.05.39 ¾’s of a length clear of the Gr.1 winner Culminate (NZ) (Elnadim), and with a further ½ length to spare from fellow Volksraad galloper, Gin Dartre (NZ) in third.

Depending on suitable flight arrangements, Veloce Bella (NZ) and trainer Mark Brosnan could now find themselves heading to Brisbane to target the $A500,000 Doomben Cup (2020m) on May 16 and the $A300,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 6.