Hijack Hussy to run at Sandown on Saturday

Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club should be very pleased with the first day of ‘The Championships’.  We witnessed some amazing performances with Winx’s win in the Doncaster being unbelievable.  I gave her no hope turning for home but her class got her there aided by a superb Hugh Bowman ride.  Chautauqua’s win in the TJ Smith was also an exceptional performance.

One of the highlights of the day was that the meeting was not dominated by one or two stables with the spoils nicely spread.  The 30 placings on the day were spread amongst 23 stables with twenty three Australian bred, five NZ bred and two European bred horses filling the placings.

The Provincial and Country Championship Series are a highlight for many of the followers from outside of Sydney with the qualifying races conducted around the state creating unprecedented interest in their regions as horses attempt to qualify for the $400,000 finals.

The weather in Sydney has been a major influence on this Carnival more often than we would like to remember in recent years and unfortunately we have a rain affected track once again for this Saturday’s meeting.

Good luck to our trainers with runners particularly John Thompson with Auvray, Zanbah and Honesta and Kris Lees with Lucia Valentina in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.  Zanbah and Lucia Valentina are very good wet track runners.

Kris Lees is also a chance of having as many as nine of the fifteen runners in the $400,000 Provincial Championship Final.  We have By Golly Molly in this race and won’t want it too wet.  Other runners of interest to us are Powerline and Electric Power which are out of the Prime Thoroughbreds syndicated mares Graphite Lass and Miss Polanas and Danish Twist a ½ sister to our handy galloper Unique.  Supara a starter in the Coolmore Legacy Stakes is out of Unabated.

Preferment and Hauraki are out of Better Alternative and Youthful Presence which were mares that were purchased as yearlings by Bill Mitchell when I was his racing manager.

ON THE TRACK

This Saturday we will have metropolitan runners in three states with Hijack Hussy at Sandown, Husson Boots at Doomben and By Golly Molly qualifying for the rich Provincial Final at Royal Randwick.  Heavy rain is falling in Melbourne as I write this dispatch which should help Hijack Hussy.

This is a great effort and we have a couple of nice chances.  I know the excitement generated by By Golly Molly’s getting into the Provincial Final has really given her owners a thrill.  She is only a three year old taking on the older horses but she has earned a crack at the big money on offer. She will be ridden by Chad Schofield.

We had a bit of a frustrating day on Saturday with Flying Jess running a terrific 3rd at Werribee.  She was distracted by the horse beside her going off and was slowly away.  She was well ridden by Nathan Rose who didn’t panic and allowed to balance up before producing a terrific run in the straight for third.

Up at the Gold Coast More Than A Rose was always going to need a nice tempo which we didn’t get and her effort to finish 4th was very good.  She is ready to step up to 2200m with her most likely to run at the Gold Coast on 16 April.

PATRICK PAYNE A BIG SUCCESS STORY FOR PRIME THOROUGHBREDS

It is always a tough job when I pick a new trainer for our horses and I had been keen to bring Patrick Payne on board for some time after he did a good job rejuvenating a couple of our older horses. 

Look at these results for the five yearlings I have syndicated with him. On Monday at Tatura the 5th Honolulu Lass ran a nice 2nd in a barrier trial and is set to head to the races.  Patrick's other four yearling syndications for Prime Thoroughbreds Husson Eagle, Atalanta Miss, Invincible Al and Hussy's Glow cost $164,500 and have won $1,008,007 in stakes earnings!!!It certainly was a good decision to give him some yearlings to train and I have enjoyed watching him mature as a trainer. 

INGLIS EASTER YEARLING SALES

The results from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale have been amazing and certainly vindicated my decision to jump in early and purchase our yearlings.

The yearlings we have on offer are great value when you consider these results.

Hinchinbrook had just the one yearling sell yesterday which was a full brother to our filly Brooklyn Lass which I purchased for $70,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.  He full brother sold for $1,000,000.  That’s right $1,000,000!!!

Three I Am Invincible’s sold for $790,000 for an average of $263,000.  Nine Sebring’s fetched $1,870,000 for an average of $207,000.  A ½ brother to Awasita and Maldicion by Delago Deluxe sold for $240,000 and a Reset colt out of Unabated sold for $200,000.  A ½ brother to Naranja by Commands sold for $200,000.