Breeder

I can remember Jack Glengarry, in one his articles , writing about this --probably 25+ years ago. Jack was a keen runner in his day and said while athletes were improving their times, horses were not just as the above states. Jack's opinion was that training methods were not changing --he said he had watched track work at Wanganui , as part of his job as a racing journalist, for 30 + yrs and nothing had changed. Methods may have changed since but I do not think times have improved much.

CS has bought a share of Hello Youmzain ---UK sprinter by Kodiac. https://www.breednet.com.au/news/8328/cambridge-stud-purchase-into-helllo-youmzain

On the 2nd day of the Keenland Yearling Sales, Godolphin went to US$4.1 million for a Curlin colt out of the former NZ mare Bounding.

I'm hoping to see Kurt do the same in NZ in the 3yr old races.

Dopey, I think for young people (I'm well past it !) wanting have a go in the stud business there some possibilities to buy in Australia. With so many people now buying yearlings to try "to make a stallion" there are always going to be plenty that are good types and with a reasonable pedigree which will not make it for some reason or rather. They have to win at least one Group 1 and preferably 2+ to make it. Any that win a minor group race or just win several races are "discarded" and often sell quite cheaply (Dracarys above, was sold for A$45K to Brace Racing). The Aussies seem to be quite brutal in their decision making on when to "drop" a horse.

The latest Inglis Online Sale ( running each fortnight now) has an interesting lot. A stallion retired due to injury. I say interesting because you would have thought he would have been able to be sold privately and not going unreserved in this sale. Good pedigree, obviously a good type given his yearling sale price and did well in the races he ran in. https://inglisdigital.com/lot/30000050.118.htm

An interesting race to watch again, is R8 at Taranaki won by Hard to be Humble. The jockey was really pushing it along in the straight the first time around, at the back of the field. It looked like she might have pull it up at one stage, it was going so poorly but in the end it comes through on the inside in the home straight and wins quite well https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/47442/8/Race-Detail.aspx

I see there was a race at Flemington, today for 2yr olds over 1800 meters. I know 1600 meter races are not uncommon, especially in the UK/France but I have not seen a 1800 meter race before

I read an interesting story about Winx recently, in a promotion magazine for Wanganui. Grangewilliam Stud stood Batavian , formally trained by Graham Rogerson who sent a few mares to him. Batavian died very suddenly during his second season. John Corcoran rang Rogie with the bad news and also added his mare Vegas Magic was ready to be served. With a bit of fast talking by John, Rogie, apparently somewhat reluctantly, agreed to having her being served by Al Akbar. Result Vegas Showgirl and as we say, the rest is history.

Juddmonte Stud breeding from top to the bottom of the page. It does not surprise to see Kingman doing well. I had not really heard of him until Valachi Downs put a colt up for sale in the 2018 Karaka Sales. ( First in the SH for sale. There was a weanling filly sold at the MM sale last month) But when I did some research and looked at his races I was hooked. An amazing race horse. I just hope Kurt ( the Kingman colt that was passed and retained from the Valachi draft) fires as a 3 year old for Kevin Hickman and the team.

But Boss Hogg this is just incredibly bad "work" from the TAB. If they have to comply with new Government regs they should put out a note to all TAB account holders explaining what is about. Simple customer service 101 stuff.

Anyone who wants an OP weanling there are plenty on Gavel House in the current auction along with weanlings by Tivaci and Sacred Falls from Waikato Stud .

She was withdrawn weasel57. ( Lot 823 )

I stand corrected on the 5yr old racing. Finished in March 2013 and the 2040 is why I used the word "slightly" but again I take your point. But my initial comment was meant to say he did not really get into gear until the spring of his 4 year old year. I am not meaning to knock OP --I agree with you that really good ones will come in time. I was surprised to see how he had fallen out of favour at the sales this year. Some wise old guy ( cannot remember who it was) once said that patience is the best thing you can have as a horse owner / trainer.

It does not surprise some / many of OPs progeny take time. His damsire is Zabeel. The damsire is not taken into account anywhere near enough in a lot of people's thinking re a stallion, in my view. Also OP was best at 4 & 5 and better at 2000m or slightly over.