Australian-breds dominate black type racing

Aushorse webnews reports that between the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Rosehill, Sydney, on August 5, 2017 (won by Invincible Gem) and Nature Strip’s Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville, Adelaide, on Saturday, July 28, 2018, the stocks of Australian-breds both home and abroad continued to rise: and not just through its sprinters.

Merchant Navy proved he was one of the world’s best sprinters by winning the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, while Winx went from strength to strength, rightfully taking her place as the World’s Best Racehorse (a position she still holds).

Especially encouraging was Australian-breds dominance of the Classics during that 12 months. Often maligned for the dearth of locally sourced stayers, each of the eight Group 1 Derby and Oaks winners was ‘made in Australia’.

Ultimately, there were 608 black type races staged in 2017/18, of which Australian-breds won a remarkable 499 of them – a tick over 82 percent – with the vast majority originally offered at Australian sales. This is despite the presence of many overseas ‘raiders’, eagerly seeking out a vast prizemoney pool that only continues to grow deeper each year.

Next came New Zealand with 59 wins (9.7pc) followed by Ireland 20 (3.29pc), Great Britain 11 (1.81pc), France 10 (1.64pc), Japan and Germany 4 each (0.66pc) and USA 1 (0.16pc).

There is no question that Winx was the star of the show, taking her tally to 25 straight wins – equalling that of another racing immortal in Black Caviar – but also becoming the most successful horse ever at Group 1 level (18 wins) and lifting her prizemoney to nearly $19 million. With a subsequent win in the first Group 1 race for the new racing season at Randwick on August 18 – the 1400m Winx Stakes (formerly the Group 2 Warwick Stakes) – her tally has now risen to 26 straight wins (19 Group 1 wins) and $19.255 million.

Overall, the 608 stakes races consisted of 73 Group 1s, 94 Group 2s, 165 Group 3s, 265 Listed events and 11 races at Restricted Listed level, all competing for a massive $176 million plus in prizemoney. That figure does not include the inaugural $10 million The Everest, which has increased to $13 million in 2018.

By the time Winx bid season 17/18 farewell with her victory in the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 14, she had dominated with eight black type wins (six at Group 1). Other horses to win multiples at Group 1 level include Ace High, Alizee, Happy Clapper (3), Santa Ana Lane (3), Shoals (3) and Trapeze Artist (3).

There were 74 stallions who produced multiple stakes winners over the past 12 months, headed by Snitzel (26 stakes winners of 43 stakes races), I Am Invincible (19 of 26), Fastnet Rock (18 of 31), Not A Single Doubt (16 of 19) and Sebring (13 of 14), while emerging first season sires such as Spirit of Boom (5 stakes winners), Zoustar (3) and Epaulette (2 plus a Group 1 winner in South Africa), all chimed in considerably too.

For a comprehensive rundown of the 2017/18 black type races visit the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia website: http://www.tbaus.com/black-type-racing/results/ 

WHEN Tamworth trainer Lesley Jeffries attended the Patinack Farm dispersal in September 2014 she paid $7500 for an un-named 3YO colt whose parents were both international Group 1 winners.

That horse, an 8YO gelding named Husonique, is now a Cup winner – specifically the 1600m Betoota Cup run last Saturday, August 25 – and is the top qualifier among the 33 nominations for the iconic 1600m Birdsville Cup to be run this Saturday, September 1.

Husonique’s sire is the Hussonet stallion Husson – winner of three Group 1 races in Argentina and now sire of dual Group 1 winner Lucky Hussler – while his now deceased Australian-bred dam Sun Classique had even more impressive racing credentials as her four Group 1 wins included the prestigious Dubai Sheema Classic (2400m).

This subsequently resulted in a $2 million price-tag paid by Patinack Farm when she was offered at the 2010 Inglis Broodmare sale with an overseas covering to three times Group 1 winning sprinter Oasis Dream. That colt foal Duelonthedowns then sold for $850,000 to George Moore Bloodstock at the 2012 Inglis Easter yearling sale. His racing career only lasted eight starts and included two placings for Team Hawkes at Kyneton and Werribee in Victoria.

Her first Australian covering to Patinack-based sire Husson produced Husonique who was then sold for $260,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions national yearling sale with Magic Millions (as agent) listed as the buyer. Unraced and un-named as a 2YO, the colt then re-appeared at the Patinack Farm dispersal where Lesley Jeffries secured him for just $7500. That initial faith has been amply repaid as Husonique has now won more than $125,000 with seven wins and five placings from 35 starts in northern NSW and western Queensland.

Also on offer at the Patinack dispersal was  Husonique’s yearling brother which sold for $165,000 to Magic Millions as agent. The colt was then resold for $325,000 at the 2015 Inglis Easter yearling sale. Named Octavian Augustus,  the now 5YO gelding has had 11 starts for premier trainer Chris Waller for two wins and four placings.

WITH seven wins to his credit including a last start nine lengths win in the 1400m Camooweal Cup last Saturday, August 25, Mt Isa-based 8YO gelding Good Job Bro now has one more win than his number of trainers.

That currently stands at six beginning with his initial trainer John Sargent who prepared him for two wins including a metropolitan 2YO win at Warwick Farm ridden by Hugh Bowman who then stuck with him with two unplaced runs in the Group 3 Skyline Stakes at Warwick Farm and Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill.

His next trainer was Toowoomba-based Tony Sears who had a further three wins with him at Toowoomba followed by an Eagle Farm win in Brisbane for Murwillumbah-based Matthew Dunn. Subsequent stints with trainers Matt Kropp (Dalby) and John Barr (Townsville) were fruitless before he ended up with Mt Isa-based Robert Burow.

Having run seventh of nine over 1000m at Mt Isa, Good Job Bro then demolished his rivals by nine lengths in the 1400m Camooweal Cup which has now prompted Burow to start him in next Saturday’s Birdsville Cup.

All-up, the 8YO gelding has had seven wins and 20 placings to earn more than $271,000. His racing profile also shows 40 jockeys have ridden him in his 71 starts at 18 different racetracks from Sydney to Mt Isa.

A $26,000 purchase at the 2012 Magic Millions National Yearling sale, Good Job Bro is by international Group 1 winning sprinter Choisir from the unraced Nashwan mare Umoya (GB) – a half-sister to nine winners including Canadian Group 1 winner Miss Keller while their grand-dam Inchmurrin was also a Group 1 winner in England.

Foaled in England in 2003, Umoya is from the last crop by outstanding racehorse Nashwan whose four Group 1 wins included the English Derby/2000 Guineas double. Imported in 2007 and one of just three Nashwan mares remaining in Australia, Umoya has had six foals to race for three winners and two placegetters which includes Tony McEvoy’s promising galloper Coppergate.