Homecoming for Woodbine in Inglis 3YO Guineas

Nic Ashman - 6/05/2014 - Racenet

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Woodbine will head back to his birthplace on Saturday week when the son of former champion galloper Miss Finland tackles the Inglis 3YO Guineas (1400m) at Scone.

Woodbine was purchased for $750,000 by Blue Sky Bloodstock and Gai Waterhouse from the Arrowfield draft at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Sale.

He's the second foal of Miss Finland, who carried the Arrowfield colours to victory in 11 races including the Golden Slipper and VRC Crown Oaks while accumulating earnings in excess of $4.6 million.

Woodbine was seventh, beaten six lengths by Hanna's Goal in the Group I All Aged Stakes last start and has been in work since November last year.

Woodbine worked over 1200 metres at Randwick on Tuesday with champion jockey Nash Rawiller barely moving a muscle on the son of Hussonet.

They recorded 1.23.2 for the trip with the last 600 metres in an easy 39 seconds and last 200 metres in 13.3 seconds.

The time was nothing flash but the manner in which he produced the gallop suggests he's got another run in him and his coat is in perfect condition.

He's got a habit of sweating up pre-race but it doesn't seem to affect his performance. It's worth noting all three of his victories have been on good tracks. The colt has been forced to race on rain affected going at three of his past four starts.

Blue Sky Colt Pressing For Group One Favouritism

Unbeaten after two career starts to date, two-year-old Sebring colt PRESSING will be aimed towards the final Group One of the season for juveniles, the J.J. Atkins over 1600m on June 7, a race he is currently well in the market for.

Secured from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Blue Sky Bloodstock and Mick Price Breeding and Racing Pty Ltd, Pressing made his debut on April 12 at Caulfield and after settling at the tail of the field, came with a well-timed run through the pack to record an impressive victory, which you can view here.

Heading back to the same track on May 3 to contest the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes over 1200m, the colt once again went to the tail of the field, and although at some stages of the race was near four lengths off the last horse, jockey Brad Rawiller urged the colt along the inside, and he responded in emphatic fashion to take the race by a widening three-and-a-half lengths to Petrology, a three-quarter brother to Group One winner Aqua d’Amore, the same colt he defeated on debut.

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Exciting 2yo Sebring colt Pressing, a graduate of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Picture by Turfpress

Trainer Mick Price was extremely pleased with the effort of his colt, but always knew he had the capability to win the race.

"Today wasn't so much of a surprise to see him win, but when he was off the bridle behind the second last horse that was a bit of a surprise," stated the Caulfield conditioner.

"He's a really gusty colt who saves his best for race day and he's doing the job.”

With the option now of heading to Queensland, Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Managing Director Julian Blaxland was hopeful of such success from the time he secured the Easter colt.

“He was a lovely yearling at the sales and Mick and I both had him on our lists. He was passed in during Session II at Easter last year and we bolted down to the Widden barn and thankfully secured him as other buyers arrived to negotiate. I’m certainly glad we did.

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Pressing will head to Brisbane and be aimed at the Group One J. J. Atkins (1600m) on June 7. Picture by Turfpress

“He looks a nice colt with plenty of upside. This is only his first prep so he’s done a great job and if Mick’s happy with him this week, he’ll likely head to Brisbane for the Sires and the J.J. Atkins.”

With all four of the Group One races run so far this year for the two-year-old's going the way of fillies, success in the final Group One of the season would see Pressing highlight himself as a potential stallion prospect and add to the remarkable success that Blue Sky Bloodstock has achieved.

“Our first yearling colt with Mick was INSTINCTION, who won three stakes races in Melbourne and now stands at Eliza Park International in his second year at stud. Pressing certainly looks like a colt with sire potential so we are hoping he goes on with the job either in Brisbane or in Melbourne next spring.”

"I’m thrilled for the connections as it’s a small group made up of long time clients of Blue Sky Bloodstock plus a couple of first time owners.”

Having secured a few yearlings at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling sale, including a colt by Northern Meteor in partnership with Gai Waterhouse Racing, Blue Sky Bloodstock have a first class rate at securing stakes performers as yearlings, with Pressing becoming number 22 for the team since 2006.

If you would like any further information on Blue Sky Bloodstock, or how you can be involved with the Northern Meteor x Tara’s Spur colt, please contact Julian on +61 431 746 803.

Stakes Success for Sebring Colt

Tara Madgwick - Breednet - 4th May, 2014

Exciting Sebring colt Pressing made it two wins in as many starts when he captured his first Black Type event at Caulfield on Saturday when bolting away with the Listed MRC Sky High Mt Dandenong Stakes.

Prepared by Mick Price, Pressing created a big impression when winning on debut last month over the same course and distance and was able to repeat the performance against tougher opposition.
As he did in his previous run, Pressing was allowed to find his feet early, settling at the rear before motoring home to win by three and a half lengths.

Photo - Darryl Sherer

"Today wasn't so much of a surprise to see him win, but when he was off the bridle behind the second last horse that was a bit of a surprise," Mick Price said.

"He's a really gusty colt who saves his best for race day and he's doing the job."
A $100,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Widden Stud draft in Session II for Blue Sky Bloodstock/Mick Price Racing and Breeding, Pressing runs in the colours of Rosemont Stud and has now won $120,500. Bred and offered for sale by Widden, Pressing is the second winner for Lamiraqui, a half-sister by Choisir to stakes-winner Immortality and close relation of Group I winner Choice Bro.

Lamiraqui has a yearling filly to follow by Stratum and a colt foal by Star Witness. Pressing is the tenth stakes-winner for leading second season sire Sebring and is his ninth this season. The Widden Stud based Golden Slipper winner has had a deserved fee increase this season and will stand at $60,500.

Price Thinks Of Pressing Onto Brisbane

The Age - Andrew Garvey

Mick Price was thinking of bigger prizes after his promising colt Pressing gave his rivals a start and a beating in the listed $120,000 Sky High Mt Dandenong Stakes (1200 metres) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Pressing winning the Listed 2yo Redoute's Choice Stakes at Caulfield for Mick Price and Brad Rawillar today

That was after the race but halfway through, Price and the punters who had backed Pressing from $3.70 to $2.70 favouritism had some serious concerns.

''I hoped having had a run he would have got on the bridle a bit better,'' said Price in reference to Pressing’s debut win where he also settled last. ''You wouldn’t want to be betting in the run in the first half would you?''

While Pressing had been four lengths behind the second last horse before the turn, Brad Rawiller cut the corner as most of the field headed wide and, as they straightened, Pressing was up with the leaders.

Pressing quickly put the race away and drew clear to record a very impressive win, 3½ lengths clear of Petrology ($4), with Easy Drama ($10) a head away  third.

''I had keep on top of him and gave him a couple [with the whip] before we straightened, which is pretty rare for my riding, but he needed it,'' Rawiller said. ''Once we straightened he was always going to win.''

Price is now considering a trip to Brisbane for the group 1 J J Atkins Stakes and group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes for Pressing, although he is wary of how the colt will progress in what is his first campaign.

''I don’t know if there's enough in the tank to do that, but we’ll have a look at him and make a decision.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/price-thinks-of-pressing-on-to-brisbane-20140503-zr3zc.html#ixzz30dp3KssR

Blue Sky Pair Chase Stakes Double

After recording an impressive debut victory over 1200m at Caulfield in mid-April, two-year-old Sebring colt PRESSING will head to the Listed Sky High Mt Dandenong Stakes over the same course and distance on Saturday.

Secured by BLUE SKY BLOODSTOCK and Mick Price at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud for $100,000, the highly promising colt has already re-paid half of his purchase price from his lone start to date.

Pressing 2yo c. (Sebring x Lamiraqui)

Raced by Rosemont Stud (Mgr: A P Mithen), Rashini (Mgr: M J Crutcher), D Santilli, R P Santilli, P A Donato, Mrs S Donato, D S Q Racing (Mgr: A Quinn), S Tsalikidis, S B Fisher, A J Greenstein, B M Holbrook, Celest Holdings (Mgr: B A Adcock), Just Fun Racing Synd (Mgr: D C Halpin), B J Baker & A D Walters, the colt races in the colours of Rosemont Stud, the Red with the White Gatecrasher – they can’t be missed.

From the second crop of Widden Stud’s Group One Golden Slipper winner Sebring, who is currently the leading second-crop sire in Australia, the pedigree of Pressing is an impressive one, and with his dam being a three-quarter-sister to a Group One winning two-year-old, we are confident that our colt can perform extremely well and stamp himself as a future stallion prospect.

The other of the Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased yearlings aiming for stakes success on Saturday is our classy three-year-old HAVANA.

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Havana 3yo g. (Starcraft x Top Cuban)

Third as a two-year-old behind eventual dual Group One winner Criterion (NZ) in the Group Two Todman Stakes at only his second career start, the Paul Messara-trained Havana has always indicated his fair share of ability.

Having defeated stakes winners such as Thump, Villa Verde, Charlie Boy, Va Pensiero, Never Can Tell, Champollion, Scandiva, Dothraki, I’m All The Talk and Paximadia during his short career to date, Havana resumed from a spell two starts back and dominated his rivals, eased down to win by 4 lengths.

Finishing behind the Group One Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep second up at his next start, Havana heads to the Gold Coast on Saturday to contest the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas over 1200m.

Set to be ridden be ridden by the in-form Blake Shinn, fresh from a treble at Wagga on Thursday including victory in the Listed Wagga Town Plate, Havana has drawn barrier four, but will come into three if the emergencies don’t get a run.

From the good gate, the Starcraft gelding may be able to be ridden a little more forward, and like two starts back, explode away from his opposition when the whips are cracking.

If you are interested in finding out some more information on how you can be involved in racing with Blue Sky Bloodstock, contact Julian Blaxland on +61 431 746 803 or click here to head over and view the horses purchased so far in 2014.

Blue Sky 3yo's Chase Glory at The Championships

Blue Sky Bloodstock yearling purchases' Woodbine and Havana chase stakes race success tomorrow for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Paul Messara on Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick. Feature race success for owners on big carnival days is what Julian Blaxland and his team strive for when selecting yearlings from the thousands offered at Magic Millions, Inglis and New Zealand Bloodstock sales every year. "I'm delighted for our owners that they're represented by these two nice horses on Sydney's biggest day of racing" said Blaxland. "It's why we do what we do and it's why people race horses, to feel the obvious thrill of owning a competitive horse in a nice race during the carnival". 

3yo colt WOODBINE aims to become the 8th stakes performer for the Blue Sky Stallion Fund tomorrow at Randwick 

Woodbine has opened $3.80 favourite (into $3.50) in Race 2, the Listed South Pacific Stakes over 1400m after a freshen up and a trial win 2 weeks ago and according to trainer Gai Waterhouse is a red hot chance to notch his fourth win from seven starts with Tommy Berry aboad. A winner at his first two starts this prep at Randwick and Rosehill over 1200m, the son of Miss Finland then placed 4th in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes, before being a late scratching prior to the Group 1 Randwick Guineas with a foot abscess. A troubled run for 6th in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) prompted Waterhouse to decide against a crack at the ATC Derby and instead to freshen the colt with a trial and return to the shorter trip of 1400m for tomorrow's meeting. "Gai felt he wasn't ready to stay the trip in the Derby after his Phar Lap run and gave him a couple of easy weeks and a trial ahead of Saturday" said Blaxland. "To my eye he's strengthened up considerably over the prep and from a future stallion prospect perspective, a stakes win at three would be a great result." Still a prep away from his best according to his trainer, Woodbine is certainly a colt worth following in the spring. 

HAVANA chasing Group 2 Success in the Royal Sovereign Stakes 

Two races later on Randwick card, 3yo Starcraft gelding Havana takes his place in the $500,000 Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes over 1200m. An impressive winner first up in March at Canterbury by 4L, Havana is starting to realise the enormous potential he showed as a 2yo since being gelded over the Christmas period. "He's always shown plenty of ability and was in fact first emergency for the Golden Slipper last year after running 3rd in the Group 2 Todman Stakes" said Blaxland. "But the longer he remained a colt, the worse his attitude became and he developed a habit of staying in the barriers and giving the field four and five lengths start. The ultimate gear change has certainly focused him on the job and if the track improves to a Slow 6 or a Dead 5, he'll be flying home over the last two furlongs". Craig Williams takes the ride on Havana tomorrow and it's expected after Saturday, trainer Paul Messara will travel the 3yo to Brisbane, targeting major features during the Winter Carnival for the Magic Millions graduate.

Blue Sky Delighted with Easter Sale Purchases

The 2014 Australian Easter Yearling Sale continued the trend in Australasian and overseas bloodstock sales in recent months with strong competition for quality individuals. A truly international buying bench meant once again it proved difficult for Australian buyers to "get in" and compete with buyers from Europe, Dubai, Qatar, Japan and Hong Kong. While there weren't $5m and $4m dollar yearlings as in 2013, the top end of the market was again very strong as various Sheiks and Hong Kong's racing elite battled it out around the Newmarket sales ring for premium lots.

A clearance rate of 83% (the best since 2008) and an average price for Session I of $252,873 and Session II of $94,922 (a new record) meant one certainly needed to have done their homework on the entire catalogue as it was easy to be blown out of the water on certain lots, as valuations went out the window and many horses fetched double the price of vendor and buyer pre sales estimations. 

Lot 241 - By Northern Meteor ex Tara's Spur colt, purchased for $450,000 by Blue Sky Bloodstock/Gai Waterhouse Racing

Thankfully Julian Blaxland his team had done the hard work pre sale and managed to secure 3 yearlings from their shortlist for on or below pre sale budget. "It's a miracle really, this sale is so strong for the right horse and we simply had to wait patiently and bid to our limit on the horses we really wanted" said Bloodstock Director Julian Blaxland. "We were smashed on Day 1 on a couple of nice colts but fell in love with a Northern Meteor/Tara's Spur colt prepared by Newhaven Park Stud on Day 2 and teamed with his sire's trainer Gai Waterhouse in order to buy him for our Stallion Fund for $450,000. He is from a Flying Spur mare and is from the family of Tuesday Joy, Sunday Joy and Arlington Road and physically looks a cracking juvenile in the making. Gai has trained most of the family and he looks like he'll fly like a bullet once she gets him up and going towards the end of the year". 

Lot 330 - By Duporth ex Baby Corn filly purchased for $260,000 by Blue Sky Bloodstock/Gai Waterhouse Racing

Blaxland and Gai Waterhouse struck again on Day 2, securing a full sister to dual Group 1 placed 2yo Cornrow, purchasing lot 330 - the Duporth/Baby Corn filly from the draft of Kitchwin Hills Stud for $260,000. "I came to Easter to buy colts for our Stallion Fund, but I loved this filly so much we just had to have her as part of our team" said Blaxland. I haven't seen a filly with this much quality since I purchased juvenile stakes winner She's Meaner in 2007 at the Magic Millions Premier Sale. Just the second foal of Stakes winner Baby Corn, the filly is a full sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond and Group 1 Sire's Produce place-getter Cornrow. "Her brother is a Group 1 performer, her dam is a stakes winner, her grand-dam is a stakes winner and her great-grand-dam is stakes winner so if she runs to her looks and pedigree, I have no doubt she'll also add black type to the family once she hits the track". 

Lot 555 - By Snitzel ex Venus colt, purchased for $180,000 by Blue Sky Bloodstock/Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock

Keen to secure another colt for the 2014 Stallion Fund, the Blue Sky team had to wait until the last lot of the sale on Day 3 (Lot 555) to secure it's final purchase, a magnificent colt by leading sire Snitzel from American mare Venus, a half sister to Group 1 winner Storm Trooper. Listed in the supplementary catalogue on behalf of Victorian Stud Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm, the handsome son of Snitzel will be trained by leading Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan, the trainer of his sire Snitzel himself and the breed's most successful progeny including Snitzerland, Flying Snitzel, Bachman etc. "I went back and inspected this colt probably 10 times over the course of the week" said Blaxland. "He has a presence about him only good horses have. A great frame, with a beautiful action and a stallion's head on him, he's a worthy addition to our Stallion Fund this year." Purchased in conjunction with Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $180,000, he was certainly great value on the sale and was rated as one of the two best Snitzel colts at Easter by trainer Gerald Ryan, the other, a colt from Layette selling for $725,000.  

Price Colt's Im-Pressing Debut

Mick Price unearths another exciting juvenile at Caulfield - Racing Victoria 12/04/2014

Pressing (Sebring/Lamiraqui) pictured at Caulfield. A $100,000 yearling purchase for Blue Sky Bloodstock/Mick Price at Inglis Easter 2013 from the draft of Widden Stud. 

Pressing appears destined for a bright future after the Mick Price-trained two-year-old recorded an impressive debut victory in today’s $80,000 Mindy Green Plate (1200m) at Caulfield.The success was the first leg of a Caulfield double for Price, who later claimed the $80,000 Cath White Memorial Handicap (1100m) with five-year-old mare Halle Rocks. 

Under pressure from the start of the race after beginning slowly, jockey Daniel Moor said the son of Sebring would only get better as he matures and gets over further ground.

“He wasn’t your typical Mick Price precocious type of two-year-old,” Moor said.

“He came out half-a-length slow, was always off the bridle and I was hard at him all the way to get him to travel but gee he picked up and sprinted well.

“He handled the wet ground exceptionally well, he’ll get over further and if he can produce that turn of foot over further then he’s going to be in for a good future.”

Settling with only two runners behind him in the early stages, Moor elected to stick to fence on the home turn and continued to take inside runs in the straight. Switching across the heels of the leader Petrology ($3.70F) at the 100m mark, Pressing ($12) surged over the concluding stages to score by a long neck from Petrology, with Armada ($4.40) a further 2.3 lengths away in third.

Mick Price Racing foreman Mick Nolan said Pressing surprised the stable by the way he was able to finish off over 1200m.

“I thought that if he ran a nice third or fourth finishing the race off well, which he looked like he was going to do at about the 250m, it would be a good run,” Nolan said.

“The further he went the better he went and he’s found the line really well at the finish.

“Rosemount Stud owns him. I think they bought him as a potential stallion prospect so I would think they’d be trying to get as much Black-type as they can with him.”

Pressing's win started a day to remember for Price who went on to record four winners around the country after Australian Racehorse of the Year contender Lankan Rupee remained unbeaten this campaign in the $2.5M T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) in Sydney and three-year-old filly Tango's Daughter secured a valuable Black-type win in the Listed H.C. Nitschke Stakes (1400m) in Adelaide.

Pressing was selected and purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock & Mick Price at the 2013 Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $100,000 from the draft of Widden Stud. 

Selection Is Everything – Easter 2014

With racing being very much a multi-dimension industry, where buying a yearling at a sale to perform on the race track is only one, of many facets. On the other hand, going to a yearling sale to secure a potential "sire prospect" that can go on to compete at black-type level before a successful stud career is what buyers dream about.

Blue Sky Bloodstock can help you secure those dreams – and their record highlights that! With numerous successful colts purchased from the Inglis Sale ring in the past few years, many of these colts have gone on to earn black-type on the track before retiring to the breeding sheds of some of Australasia’s most respected thoroughbred studs.

Putting in the hours of ground work is where the search begins and Julian and his team have been hard at work for many months, inspecting the yearlings on the farms, before analysing their pedigrees not only to see what is on trend at present, but looking for families that produce stallions.

Having spent the past few days at the sales complex inspecting a majority of their “short list”, Blue Sky are confident that there are some high quality stakes-winning sire prospects amongst them.

 “We are delighted with the quality of the catalogue and have a good list of future sire prospects selected and vetted ahead of Day 1 of the Easter Yearling Sale at Newmarket, stated Blaxland.

“Blue Sky will look to build on our past buying record at Inglis yearling sales (BENETEAU, SHRAPNEL, INSTINCTION, WOODBINE, REKINDLED ALLIANCE etc) with colts purchased in 2014 heading to leading trainers Gai Waterhouse, Danny O’Brien and Gerald Ryan.”

With the likes of Exceed And Excel, Fastnet Rock, Flying Spur, Choisir, Encosta de Lago, Al Maher and Reset all having been sold under the famed ‘fig tree’ at the Inglis’ Newmarket Complex at Randwick, it is the must attend sale if your ultimate aim is to secure a potential stallion prospect.

When discussing some of his short list, Julian highlighted that “there are some lovely running types in this year’s catalogue by sires such as Northern Meteor, Snitzel, Stratum, High Chaparral as well as Exceed And Excel to name but a few.

“Hopefully we can secure two or three quality colts within our criteria with future sire potential at the right money.”

Below is small clip that highlights the success of Blue Sky Bloodstock in recent years and if you would like to read any further on the Blue Sky Bloodstock Stallion Funds, please click here.

Once the Easter Yearling Sale has been completed, the yearlings we have been fortunate enough to secure will be placed on our website as well as on all our social media platforms, so please keep your eyes open, or alternatively, you can contact Julian on 0431746803 or via email on julian@blueskybloodstock.com.au to express your interest.

Havana To Target $250,000 Gosford Guineas

Impressive last start Canterbury winner Havana will miss this weekend's Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill and instead target the Listed $250,000 Gosford Guineas on Sunday April 6th. Heavy rain has fallen in Sydney all week ahead of the Rosehill meeting with the track currently a Heavy 8 and set to deteriorate further with more rain falling. 

Keen not to flatten the horse on an unsuitable surface, trainer Paul Messara won't risk the 3yo Stakes performer on a Heavy track with bigger targets such as Group 2 Royal Sovereign on the horizon for the now gelded son of Starcraft. 

Havana returns to scale after dominant 4 length win at Canterbury on February 12 for Paul Messara & Nash Rawillar

How to Invest in a Racehorse

GQ Australia, March/April 2014, Page 134

Group One claims for Woodbine

With the Randwick Guineas the first of a host of Group One races run during the Sydney Autumn carnival for three-year-old’s, it is rewarding for Blue Sky Bloodstock to have Hussonet colt WOODBINE set to take his place in the field.

Secured from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Woodbine is the second foal from the Champion Redoute’s Choice mare Miss Finland, a winner of ten stakes races; five at Group One Level including the Golden Slipper, Australian Guineas and the VRC Oaks.

Having only had five starts to date, Woodbine has recorded three victories and off the back of a 28 day freshen-up, finished fourth, beaten fewer than two lengths last start in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes.

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                   Woodbine, 3yo c (Hussonet x Miss Finland, by Redoute's Choice) - secured by Blue Sky Bloodstock

Set to appreciate the step up to the 1600m in the Randwick Guineas, the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt will be ridden by Nash Rawiller, who was also successful on the Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased HAVANA on Wednesday at Randwick.

Both Woodbine and Havana join other yearling colts that were secured by Blue Sky Bloodstock as part of the successful Stallion Partnerships.

Since 2008 Blue Sky Bloodstock has targeted a number of colts every year that fit out criteria to purchase and race with partners. Our objective is to produce stakes winning colts worthy of commercial stud duties.

In 2014 Blue Sky and its team of trainers will again offer owners the opportunity to partner with us in a number of high quality yearling colts with stallion potential. We've enjoyed considerable success to date in our quest for the next commercial stallion, purchasing (as yearlings) stakes colts BENETEAU, BETTER BE THE ONE, DEMPSEY, INSTINCTION, MASTER ARCHIE, SHRAPNEL, SUPER EASY, REKINDLED ALLIANCE and RED HOT CHOICE to date, but we firmly believe our best stallion prospects are yet to be purchased.

So far this year we have secured three colts from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Fastnet Rock, Northern Meteor and Beneteau (click for details) and we will head to the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with the intention to secure another three to four colts that we can race with the ultimate aim being successful career as a stallion at stud.

If you are interested in finding out more about the 2014 Stallion Partnership please contact Julian Blaxland on 0431746803 or via email on julian@blueskybloodstock.com.au

Nothing bullish about Havana's victory

Mandy Cottell - Ninemsn 17:38 AEST Wed Mar 12 2014

Havana provided vindication for a difficult but necessary decision when he broke maiden ranks at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Trainer Paul Messara has long had a high opinion of the three-year-old and accordingly raced him in Group company last autumn and spring but he failed to live up to expectations.

The son of Starcraft was gelded and showed the benefit of the procedure at Canterbury.

"He's always been a classy horse. Gelding him has made all the difference and today it showed," Messara said.

Nash Rawiller took the $2.60 favourite to the front from an outside draw and he extended his lead in the straight to score by four lengths over Rock Temple.

The ease of Havana's win has given Messara the confidence to again look toward black-type races starting with the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 29.

Havana provided the first leg of a treble for Rawiller who also scored wins aboard Shahad for Gai Waterhouse and Murphy's Delight for Chris Waller.

Havana Sheds Maiden Tag In Fine Style

Having his first run this time in off the back of a gelding operation, Starcraft gelding HAVANA jumped from the outside barrier in the 10 horse field before coming across to sit in the lead.

With jockey Nash Rawiller controlling the tempo upfront, Havana kicked clear as they rounded the home turn, sprinting with all the class you’d expect, eased down on the line for a four length victory.

You knew once race caller Mark Shean stated “Havana’s kicked into another gear”, that the race was all over.

Havana and Nash Rawiller eased down at the post

A galloper that had always shown stakes ability, the Arrowfield Pastoral Synd (Mgr: J Messara), Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Synd, Favretto Bloodstock Synd, P J & Mrs D D Bone, B Kennedy, T C Lloyd-Jones, S J Pont & Just Fun Racing Synd (Mgr: D Halpin) owned three-year-old is now likely to head to the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) in two-and-a-half weeks and with some further improvement, is likely to step up again in class after that.

Holding nominations to the Group One Star Doncaster Handicap and the Group Two Arrowfield Royal Sovereign Stakes over the two days of “The Championship” race days, Havana is just one of a handful of Carnival Contenders for Blue Sky Bloodstock (click here to read more)

Having had two trials leading into the race, jockey Nash Rawiller stated post-race that after he trialled him the first time that he “simply fell in love with him.”

So taken with the victory, Rawiller also stated, “He's a Group One horse down the track we just need to take him steadily towards that.”

Trainer Paul Messara was also suitably impressed with the victory.

"He's always been a class horse, gelding has made all the difference and he showed that," he said.

"He lengthened out very quickly and found the line.

"He's a relatively inexperienced horse and I think today he showed what he can do.

Secured by Blue Sky Bloodstock at the 2012 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Havana is one of a host of class three-year-old purchased that year, with another being the Hussonet colt WOODBINE that heads to the Group One Randwick Guineas this coming Saturday.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of the purchases made so far this year, head over to the 2014 Colts Purchased page on the website, or contact Julian Blaxland on 0431746803 or via email on julian@blueskybloodstock.com.au

Havana To Break Maiden at Canterbury

Promising three year old gelding HAVANA (Starcraft-Top Cuban) will resume today at Canterbury in the Get Racy Handicap Over 1100 metres. HAVANA will have to shoulder top weight of 59.5kg due to his superior form in his previous runs where he finished close to Group 1 winners Guelph and Zoustar.

This preparation he has had two very encouraging trials under champion hoop Nash Rawiller, which has seen a vast improvement in his racing manners since being gelded. We are expecting a upward spiral of improvement from HAVANA and a very fruitful Autumn campaign.

Instinction is everything…

As we head towards the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Julian Blaxland will once again be in attendance, looking at purchasing some outstanding colts.

In 2010, Blue Sky Bloodstock and Caulfield-based trainer Mick Price secured an Exceed And Excel colt out of the stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare De Lago Mist.

Racing as Instinction, the flashy grey broke his maiden impressively by a length at his second start of his three-year-old season before heading straight to town and although starting at the lucrative odds of 30/1, defeated Mahisara, Amah Rock and Mental in the Listed Hilton Hotels Stakes over 1400m during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

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Instinction - winner of the Listed Hilton Hotel Stakes (1400m)

Heading for a break, the colt resumed in the Listed Zeditave Stakes, and punters once again sent the son of Champion Sire Exceed And Excel out at big odds, but the Craig Newitt-ridden colt produced the goods, scoring by a length-and-three-quarters, defeating Specter, Petman and Adamantium.

Finishing in a dead-heat for third at his next start in the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes, the colt had one more run that campaign before a long spell.

Running third first-up after experiencing some trouble in the run, the colt recorded another stakes win that campaign, capturing the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield over 1400m.

Secured by Eliza Park International as a stallion, Instinction stood his first season at stud in the most recent breeding season, covering an impressive book from their Queensland property.

While not having purchased a lot of yearlings from the Premier sale, Blue Sky Bloodstock’s has secured some outstanding yearlings in the past from the Inglis including Beneteau, Shrapnel, Extreme Impact, Rekindled Alliance, and the exciting Woodbine, the winner of three of his four starts and being aimed at the Group One Randwick Guineas.

“We are really focussing on purchasing early running future sire prospects in 2014 and have purchased three such colts at the Gold Coast Magic Millions earlier this year.

“We will be attending Inglis Premier, Easter and the Magic Millions National Sale to select and purchase select colts to add to our Beneteau, Northern Meteor and Fastnet Rock colts which already at the breakers (click here for more detail).

“Obviously we are keen to build on our record of getting commercial sires to stud for our owners and are working with proven Group 1 winning trainers this year again to achieve this.” stated Blaxland.

If you are interesting in getting involved in racing with Blue Sky Bloodstock, or would like to know any information on upcoming Yearling Sales we plan on attending, please do not hesitate to call Julian Blaxland on 0431 746 803 or via email on julian@blueskybloodstock.com.au

You can click here to view the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale catalogue.

Super Easy secures second Horse Of The Year Title

Purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock at the 2010 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Esker Lodge for $140,000, Darci Brahma entire Super Easy was recently awarded the Singapore Horse Of The Year title for the second consecutive year.

"Michael Freedman and I selected the colt from Esker Lodge's Karaka draft and he showed his class as an early juvenile, breaking a long held track record at Trentham on debut as a 2yo. His Singapore record speaks for itself and I've no doubt he would have proved a Group One horse in Australia if he'd had the opportunity to race here in his career,” stated Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Managing Director Julian Blaxland.

Super Easy's quality can be summed up in a few noteworthy points:

• Singapore Horse of the Year - twice
• Champion 3YO 2013
• Multiple G1 winner of over $NZ2.1m
• Won 15 races - 12 in succession
• Broke Trentham, NZ 1000m track record (which still stands) in his first start in 56.20 beating Filly of the Year Planet Rock
• Super Easy was rated as the Third highest southern hemisphere bred 3yo sprinter behind Sepoy & Foxwedge

Having recently completed his first season at Hallmark Stud in New Zealand, Super Easy is another prime example of the quality colts secure by Julian Blaxland at yearling sales in Australasia. If you are keen to be involved in any future purchases, please click here to head over to the Contact page

Check out an article from Saturday’s ANZ Bloodstock News by clicking here.

Super Easy

Blue Sky’s Carnival Contenders

With an amazing number of nominations received recently for “The Championship” race days, it was exciting for Blue Sky Bloodstock to not only nominate some of the horses under our ownership banner, but also see a number of yearlings that we've purchased for various other clients also heading towards the Championship races.

The two-day event features ten Championship races across two first-class Saturdays in April with over $18 million in prizemoney on offer. It is a dazzling array of time honoured races across each age and distance category.

Below is a list of all 10 Championship races highlighting the significant prizemoney on offer and those Blue Sky Bloodstock graduates that have been nominated.

Saturday April 12

$3 million Group One Star Doncaster Handicap (1600m)

• Keep De Rose
• Havana
• Woodbine
• Express Power 

Woodine, 3yo c. (Hussonet x Miss Finland)

$2.5 million Group One Darley TJ Smith (1200m)

• Better Than Ready 

$2 million Group One BMW Australian Derby (2400m)

$1 million Group One Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m)

Saturday April 19

$4 million Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)

• Express Power 

$1 million Group One Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m)

$1 million Group One Australian Oaks (2400m)

$1 million Group One Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m)

• Keep De Rose
• Express Power 

Keep De Rose 4yo m. (Keeper x Grove Nymph)

$500,000 Group Two Arrowfield Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m)

• Havana
• Woodbine

$500,000 Group Three Royal Randwick Stakes (1200m)

• Choice Cat
• Boundary

"It's certainly exciting for owners to have a significant number of our purchases nominated for feature races over the ATC Autumn Carnival in the new format of The Championships. What a great boom for racing in NSW and certainly the shot in the arm needed for owners striving for Group race success.

Keep De Rose resumes this weekend in Melbourne and will be aimed at the Doncaster along with Woodbine and Havana. I'm eager for both Woodbine and Better Than Ready to have good campaigns this Autumn as they both undoubtedly have commercial stallion potential.

We buy colts like these for our owners with the objective being to race at carnival time in Sydney and Melbourne and hopefully these two can keep improving and get the job done for our owners in the Autumn. " stated Blue Sky Bloodstock's Julian Blaxland.

For any further information on how you can get involved in racing with Blue Sky Bloodstock, or would like to know any information on upcoming Yearling Sales we plan on attending, please do not hesitate to call Julian Blaxland on +61 431 746 803 or via email on julian@blueskybloodstock.com.au

Keep De Rose trials in fine style

Having an 800m jump out on the Flemington Course Proper this morning, the Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased KEEP DE ROSE pleased all concerned with her very good fourth placed finish.

Ridden by Craig Williams, the leading jockey was thrilled with how the mare had physically matured during her break and is excited about her prospects this campaign.

Set to trial again next week, Keep De Rose is likely to head to the Group Three Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield on February 22, the same day as the running of the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes.

A winner of four with a further five placed efforts from only 10 starts, including narrow a last start third in the Group Two Energy Australia Stakes (Matriarch), Keep De Rose has improved at each and every run, and all at Blue Sky Bloodstock are excited about her prospects this campaign.

You can view footage of the jump out below – Keep De Rose is in the Navy, White Checked Sleeves and Red Cap.

Keep De Rose On Track for Diamond Day Return

Group performed Kiwi mare KEEP DE ROSE galloped well at trainer Danny O’Brien’s Barwon Heads property this week ahead of her return to Flemington and a big Autumn. A last start 3rd in the Group 2 Energy Australia Stakes (Matriarch) at Flemington on Stakes day in November, O’Brien and her Blue Sky owners are bullish about the mare taking the next step this preparation. Lightly raced with 4 wins and 5 placings from just 10 starts, the Keeper mare was purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Julian Blaxland from the Cambridge Stud draft at Karaka Premier in 2011 for NZ$135,000. With earnings of A$224,000 and a valuable Group placing in the spring, the 4yo mare will be out to secure a group win in her first up run on February 22nd (Blue Diamond Stakes Day) at Caulfield in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m).