Invincible Al (I Am Invincible – Miss Alberta) $55,000 purchase from Yarraman Park- Impressive winner at Warrnambool yesterday (31/03/2016) for Patrick Payne.

I often think we don’t fully understand or appreciate just how lucky we are to be able to race horses in Australia.  The eight racing jurisdictions in Australia held 25 meetings on Easter Saturday with only Tasmania and the ACT not conducting a meeting.  This is quite an enormous number of meetings with millions of dollars wagered on these events and a huge amount of stake money distributed back to the participants.  This stakes money has to come from somewhere and doesn’t grow on trees.

It is important that the integrity of our industry is protected and we closely guard the income streams that fund these all important meetings.  We are starting to see the finalizing of the cobalt saga which is a good thing.  The sooner it is put to bed the better for the industry.

A lot has been written about the ‘corporate bookmakers’ and their impact on our industry.  It is human nature to try and get the best result you can for dollar and the ‘Corporates’ have spent a lot of money advertising and offering incentives to gain market share.

I suppose as owners we should ask ourselves the question ‘just how much do the Corporates put back into the industry compared with TAB Corp?’  I’m not sure of the answer but I do know that TAB Corp is a major funder of the Industry in NSW and Victoria which are our richest states with fantastic stakes money on offer to the participants.

I have been approached by representatives of ‘Corporate bookmaking companies’ from time to time, offering me ‘attractive incentives’ for me to recommend their product to my clients.  I have always rejected their approaches as I don’t see it as appropriate that I should benefit by recommending a client to a bookmaking firm and receiving back a percentage of their losses.  It doesn’t sit well with me.

I suppose those of you that do have a bet and most owners like to have an interest on their horses when they run are probably doing more to support the industry by using the traditional avenues such as TAB Corp or Unibet.  TAB Corp has a premium product called LUXBET which offers owners an additional 12% return on top of their winnings for the horses they have an interest in. As with everything in life conditions apply but it seems a good deal for owners.

The ball is in your court!!!   

ON THE TRACK

We have some nice chances over the next few days with Invincible Al kicking things off nicely yesterday at Warrnambool.  He ran home nicely on debut and was well suited to the 1200m trip. Well done to Patrick Payne on another job well done.

This afternoon we have decided to have a throw at the stumps and run By Golly Molly and Hazy Blur in a heat of the Provincial Championships.  The three place getters from this race earn a spot in the $400,000 final to be run at Randwick on 9 April.  Good luck to the owners.  This series is only open to horses trained at provincial tracks.   

On Saturday Flying Jess heads to Werribee for an 1100m 2 year old fillies maiden.  Nothing went right for her at Moonee Valley with her being the major recipient of a lot of interference in the straight which saw a senior rider receive a hefty suspension.

Also on Saturday we have More Than A Rose stepping out at the Gold Coast.  The last start winner relished the step up in trip and we would expect another forward showing although she appears to be harshly treated by the handicapper.

BUFFERING

The win by Buffering in Dubai on Saturday night was timely reminder not only to the international market but also to our domestic buyers just how good our sprinter/milers are.  Buffering is an outstanding sprinter by Mossman, a sire we have had a lot to do with.  

From a Prime Thoroughbreds perspective it was a very important win with his ¾ brother Reneged, also by Mossman having a barrier trial at Warwick Farm tomorrow before heading back to the races.  He is a very progressive young horse.

I couldn’t recommend a colt more highly than our Mossman colt out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Nephtys I purchased at the Inglis Classic Sale.  Kris Lees who does a remarkable job for us will train

the colt who is at the breakers.

Mossman Colt out of Nephtys 2014

10 shares @ $12,000 each (5% shares available)

Kris Lees to train

The colt

Mossman needs little introduction to our owners.  He is a superb sire and once again sits in the top 15 of the Australian Sires Premiership.  This colt oozes quality which is a good sign with the progeny of Mossman.

I was really taken by him when he was paraded at the Inglis Classic Sale and he comes from a very good farm in Torryburn Stud.  The colt is very athletic and I expect he will get up and run as a two year old.

Mossman

Mossman has been a big success since he started his stud career and to date has sired 380 winners with 55 stakes horses to his credit.

His best progeny have been Buffering, Mossfun, Ofcourseican, Neeson, Love Conquers All and the list goes on.  He is particularly potent when crossed with Danehill and his sons and grandsons mares with 16 of his stakes horses being bred on these lines.

I have always been a big fan of Mossman and will continue to support him when the right yearling comes along.

Buffering’s win in the  Group I Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) on the turf at Meydan in Dubai on 26 March was another great advertisement for Mossman and also a terrific boost for the Australian breeding industry.

It isn’t well known that Mossman has far less horses representing him on the track than most of the other sires the top 15 on the Australian General Sires List.  This is due to him serving limited books of mares in recent years.  He has been well managed by Vinery Stud.

Mossman’s son Love Conquers All is currently the leading First Season Sire in Australia which further highlights the achievements of this ‘unsung hero’ of the Australian breeding industry. 

Nephtys

Nephtys is by the great broodmare sire Redoute’s Choice.  Redoute’s Choice is the youngest sire of the top 10 on the Broodmare sire’s list in Australia and currently sits in 5th position.

The best progeny out of his daughters include Sacred Falls, Pasadena Girl, Zoustar and Stay With Me.  In all he has 81 stakes performers in his 393 winners which is a great conversion rate.

Redoute’s Choice as a Sire has statistics that are almost without peer in Australia.  He has sired 129 stakes winners, a further 101 stakes placed horses and has proven to be an amazing sire of sires with Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel heading the way for him.

Nephtys comes from a very good female line that includes the Group 1 winner Star Shiraz.  There are a number of good two year old winners in the family which is a good pointer that this colt born on 19 August could well get up and get running early.  He ticks all the boxes and I’m looking forward to his racing career.  He is a terrific athlete.

I have decided to pay him up for the rich Inglis Series of races.