Prompt Return Tests Diamond Credentials

Jockey James Winks is hopeful Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Prompt Return (Beneteau) can confirm himself a leading Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) contender with victory in the Chairman’s Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.

Winks has partnered the Danny O’Brien-trained colt on all three of his starts to date, the Group Three victory sandwiched between a winning debut at Bendigo in October and a second placed finish behind Carriages (Hinchinbrook) in the Magic Millions Clockwise 2YO Classic (1000m) at Ballarat in November.

To read the complete article that appear in ANZ Bloodstock News, February 5, click the below image.

Woodbine A Different Horse

The pedigree has always been there to suggest Woodbine could be a top-line galloper and now leading jockey Tommy Berry believes the valuable Entire can live up to his potential.

Berry rode Woodbine, by Hussonet out of Miss Finland, to an eye-catching win in a 1200m trial at Randwick on Thursday morning, storming from the back of the field to defeat stablemate Queenstown.

The four-year-old finished eighth in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap behind He's Your Man before travelling to Melbourne and finishing a close sixth to Hucklebuck in the Group 3 Yellowglen Stakes last campaign.

While there hasn't been much rest for Woodbine, Berry believes the trip south of the border has really helped his maturity process.

"He is so much more switched on now, I think the trip to Melbourne could be the making of this horse," Berry said.

"On the track at home he has always worked very strongly but he probably hasn't lived up to the expectation on race day.

"I was very impressed with the way he trilled today and I'd say he could go to the next level."

Racing Manager Adrian Bott also had plenty of positives about the trial performance.

"Gai was absolutely delighted with the trial performance of Woodbine this morning and it confirmed her opinion that he had returned a much stronger and more mature colt this preparation."

"He will resume in benchmark 90 over 1200m on the 7th February at Rosehill which should have him right on target for an exciting Autumn campaign."

Triple Treat For Blue Sky Bloodstock

With Blue Sky Bloodstock playing a strong part in the action of the recent Magic Millions Yearling Sale securing ten yearlings in total, three outstanding colts still have shares available in them.

Mid-way through the second day of selling, Blue Sky went to $310,000 with trainer Danny O’Brien to purchase Lot 471, a colt from the Kelly’s Newhaven Park, the vendor of not only last year’s top lot, but they also sold Unencumbered, the winner of the 2014 Magic Millions 2YO Classic the year prior.

Newhaven Park Lot 471: Snitzel x Movie, by Red Ransom colt - $310,000 Blue Sky Bloodstock/Danny O'Brien Racing

By Arrowfield Stud’s Group One-winning and producing son of Redoute’s Choice in Snitzel, the bay colt is the first live foal from the stakes-placed Red Ransom mare Movie, herself a daughter of the Listed winner Strawberry Storm.

With mares by Red Ransom producing over 90 stakes winners highlighted by seven Group One winners including Devil May Care, Mahbooba and War Command, the Danehill-line stallion x Red Ransom Cross has produced Group One winners Rollout The Carpet, Temida and Red Ruler as well as the speedy juvenile Group Two winner Chance Bye.

Keen on another lot from the draft of Newhaven Park, Blue Sky Bloodstock teamed up with leading Gold Coast-based trainer Toby Edmonds to purchase Lot 502 for $140,000.

Newhaven Park Lot 502: I Am Invincible x Pacific Dreams, by Desert Prince - $140,000 Blue Sky Bloodstock/Toby Edmonds

By the Champion first season sire I Am Invincible; a colt Edmonds trained early in his career, the racy looking yearling is out of the Desert Prince mare Pacific Dreams, interestingly a half-sister to the dam of I Am Invincible.

From the family of Group One winner Diamond Drille, Group Two winners Mamzelle Pedrille and O’Lonhro as well as the Listed pair of Madame Pedrille and M’Lady Pedrille, we are really excited to have our first horse in the stable of Edmonds.

The final colt we currently have shares available in was purchased from the draft of Queensland-based Rosari Farm.

Knocked down to Blue Sky Bloodstock and Gai Waterhouse Racing for $380,000, Lot 536 is by Exceed And Excel, the sire of this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Le Chef, is out of the well-related Ustinov mare Quack It.

Rosari Farm Lot 536: Exceed And Excel x Quack It, by Ustinov - $380,000 Blue Sky Bloodstock/Gai Waterhouse Racing

The first foal of Quack It, who is herself a half-sister to Anatina (Fastnet Rock), a Listed-winning, Group One placegetter as well as the Listed winner Pricked – Albatross (HK), there are no fewer than four stakes performers in the first three generations by Danehill-line stallions, just like our colt, showing that that cross works.

With each of our colts more than capable of being part of the 2016 Magic Millions Race Day, with prizemoney of $10 million on offer, we look forward to welcoming new owners to the Blue Sky Bloodstock team and if you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to call Julian Blaxland on 0431 746 803.

Blaxland Secures More Beneteau’s for Blue Sky Bloodstock

With the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate winner PROMPT RETURN secured from the sale 12 months prior, it was always the intention of Blue Sky Bloodstock to make sure that the seven yearlings catalogued by Beneteau were inspected.

It wasn’t until the fifth day of selling that Blue Sky’s Julian Blaxland made his first purchase of a Beneteau yearling, in the shape of Lot 788 from the draft of Arrowfield Stud. A filly out of the imported Green Dancer mare Growing Market, herself a half-sister to the grand-dam of the recent Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup winner Designs On Rome, as well as a half-sister to the dam of the Group One Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow, it was a pedigree known all too well to Blaxland as it contained the highly talented, but ill-fated Rekindled Alliance (Redoute’s Choice), a colt that he had purchased a few years prior.

Tow view the pedigree of the filly (pictured below), click here, or to view the parade footage of the filly via Sirecam you can click here.

Arrowfield Stud Lot 788: Beneteau x Growing Market, by Green Dancer  filly - $70,000

Securing the filly for $70,000 on behalf of Mark Sowerby and Ron Hamer, the owners of Prompt Return, the very same connections would secure a further two yearlings by Beneteau before the day was out.

The next secured, also from the draft of Arrowfield Stud was Lot 860, a bay colt out of the winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare Sassy Peg.

Arrowfield Stud Lot 860: Beneteau x Sassy Peg, by Fusaichi Pegasus colt - $220,000

Knocked down for $220,000, an eventual session topper, the colt is out of a daughter of Saucy Nell, herself a half-sister to the Champion Two-year-old and Three-year-old Encounter, from the family of Group One winner Atomic Force.

To view the pedigree of this colt, click here, while you can view his Sirecam footage here.

“I thought the Sassy Peg was an outstanding individual and he happened to be by Beneteau so we had to have him,” stated Blaxland post sale.

A handful of lots later, Blue Sky purchased their third and final Beneteau yearling of the sale, this time from the draft of Newhaven Park.

Catalogued as Lot 867, the bay filly is out of the Siphon mare Shadow Memory, a Japanese winning half-sister to the triple Group One winner and Champion Sprinter Artax - pedigree.

“We’re obviously very interested in his progeny after buying Beneteau as a yearling and the early success with Prompt Return,” Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Julian Blaxland reported.

“We purchased three of his stock today and they will be raced by Mark and Ron.”

With Prompt Return being set for the Group One Blue Diamond, all at Blue Sky Bloodstock wish his connections the best of luck with not only him, but the yearlings purchased from the sale.

Boundary has a bright future

Trainer Heath Conners predicts Black Type for filly Boundary following her win in the Nouvelle Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The three-year-old ($8.50) by Manhattan Rain put in a brave run to stave off the fast-finishing Wedding ($6.50) and Mossbeat ($8), who were split in a photo-finish.

Conners said the filly was well overdue for another win and was pleased with Boundary’s run.

“I’ve got to put it all down to (jockey) Brad (Rawiller), he rode the filly tremendous today,” Conners said.

Brad Rawiller urges Boundary to victory (photo courtesy of Slickpix)

“She tends to comes out a little ‘dawdley’ and she was still a bit ‘dawdley’ out of the gates today but Brad just give her a little bit of a squeeze and she was able to get into a nice position.

“Those last couple of runs in town have been really good and she’s a good mare; she hit the front at the top of the straight and she’s had to hold them all off, so it was a really good effort.”

Conners said the filly would get over further and felt she was capable of running out a strong 2000-metres.

“We’re going to sit back and wait [now], we’ll give her a little bit of a freshen-up and look for a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger next time,” Conners said.

“We will look and try and get a nice stakes race with her but it is a big jump from today… we’ll look for something in the autumn for her that will be ideal.”

Purchased from the 2013 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Blue Sky Bloodstock for $38,000 from the draft of Millbrook, Boundary has now recorded two wins and two placed efforts from five starts to date; earning connections more than double her purchase price.

News from Racing.com

Blue Sky Produce Another Smart Two-year-old

Lightning Rock (Fastent Rock) pictured at trackwork recently.

With Tuesday’s Rosehill barrier trials transferred to Warwick Farm, the Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased LIGHTNING ROCK recorded a strong win in his heat, defeating the Godolphin runner Unbreakable by nose over the 740m.

Having his first public trial, the two-year-old had impressed all at the stable to date and although jumping away slightly slowly from his inside barrier, followed the rail to gather in the leaders and rounding the home turn it was evident he would be in the finish.

Under hands and heels ridding for jockey Brenton Avdulla, the Blue Sky Bloodstock, B2B Bloodstock, Celest Holdings, Mr P Webster, Mr S Wilson, Mr B D Anderson, J W Kelly Suffolk Vale & Co, Mr M A Mcpherson, Mr B Guth, Mr R S Inglis, Mr B Entwistle and Mr G A Ryan-owned colt was too strong, producing a quality effort.

Lightning Rock was purchased from the draft of Coolmore at the 2014 Magic Millions Yearling Sale

Secured from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Blue Sky Bloodstock, just like Spring Carnival Group Three Maribyrnong Plate winner PROMPT RETURN (Beneteau), Lightning Rock is by Champion sire Fastnet Rock, out of the American mare Livealifeoflove, herself a half-sister to the triple stakes winner Srumdiddlyumptious and comes from the family of Group One winners Vicar, Astronomer Royal and Itsmyluckday.

With trainer Gerald Ryan considering numerous options that could see the colt head towards the 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January, Lightning Rock could head to the Magic Millions Slipper at Wyong, Rosehill or even head a trip to Brisbane on Saturday December 20.

Beneteau Blow

The Sportsman's Shayne O'Cass looks at Leading First-Season Sire Beneteau.

"I'll-fated former Arrowfield Stud resident Beneteau has added his name to a list no one would have ever wished he would; great sires gone too soon.

Over the last 30 years, the industry has endured some major losses in respect to young sires that died well before their time...."

To read the complete article, click the below image.

Blue Sky Dreaming

Racing a horse called Bless Me Pat with the local priest in central New South Wales and planning Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper campaigns might seem worlds apart, but actually, they're the same story, linked by Mark Sowerby.

In partnership with Ron Hamer, Mark races last Saturday's debut Randwick winner Aegean Sea and Maribyrnong Plate G3 winner Prompt Return. Both 2YOs are by Australia's leading first season sire Beneteau and both wear the same Blue Sky logo silks that Beneteau carried in his brilliant Sydney debut victory almost five years ago. 

Prompt Return, trained by Danny O'Brien, won his first start at Bendigo in October, and stepped up to a fine Group 3 victory at Flemington on 8 November. The colt ended his first campaign with a good second to Carriages in Saturday's Magic Millions Clockwise Classic at Ballarat where he was unsuited by the tight track.

Mark says of Prompt Return, "He's done very well, he's been in work since the end of July and is now having a nice break at Barwon Heads. All going well, he'll head to the Blue Diamond and possibly the Golden Slipper, with the Coolmore Stud Stakes a likely target next season, given how well he handled the Flemington straight."

The Clarry Conners-trained Aegean Sea will probably be seen out again before Christmas. "We'd like her to have another run, it will season her for her second prep and take the pressure off having to qualify for the Slipper in the New Year. "

Mark also explains the subtle thinking behind the filly's name. Her dam Tyche (by Woodman's son Saltgrass) is named for the Greek goddess of good luck and fortune, and Beneteau is the famous French firm of luxury yacht designers and builders. The Aegean Sea, between Greece and Turkey, is where the two might naturally meet.

Mark's interest in horse-racing began 33 years ago with his family's first racehorse Bless Me Pat in Warren, Australia's "Cotton & Wool Capital", on the banks of the Macquarie River, more than 500 km north-west of Sydney.

These days he's based in Brisbane as the Managing Director of the Blue Sky Group, a private equity house Mark founded in 2006 to invest expansion capital into Australian small and medium-sized businesses.

It was Julian Blaxland's independent company Blue Sky Bloodstock which purchased the Arrowfield-bred colt Beneteau and gave its Stallion Fund concept a notable early success when the charismatic Redoute's Choice colt became one of the country's best juveniles in 2009/10.

Trained by Paul Messara, Beneteau brilliantly won his first start at Randwick in January 2010, and progressed immediately to victory in the MRC Blue Diamond Prelude G3. He started favourite in the Blue Diamond S. G1 and finished a close-up third to Star Witness and Shaaheq after a rough passage during the race.

Bad luck dogged Beneteau's final three starts at two and a spelling paddock injury prevented his return at three, so he joined the Arrowfield  roster in 2011 at a fee of $11,000 inc. GST. Beneteau died in January 2013 after serving two books of mares that have produced a total of 135 live foals, five of which are owned by Ron and Mark.

Mark bred Aegean Sea while Ron bred Prompt Return (ex Prompt by Exceed and Excel), with each taking an ownership share of the other's foal at yearling stage.

Mark has a yearling full brother to Aegean Sea; Ron, also a part-owner of recently retired colt Dissident and promising Manhattan Rain filly Boundary, owns a yearling sister to Prompt Return; and together they own the 2YO Beneteau-Rocketing colt, who returned to work this week with trainer Mick Price.

Mark explains, "Ron was one of the first guys to back our Blue Sky investment business, he was a shareholder in Beneteau, and now he's either my good luck charm or I'm his!

"We never had any doubts about Beneteau as a sire, especially when we saw that his progeny look so much like him. They're very sound, with brilliant temperaments and scope for development at three."

Beneteau's too-early death inevitably shadows the performances of his sons and daughters. However, with first-crop contenders for two races that eluded him, the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper, Mark Sowerby and Ron Hamer have their sights fixed on a fairytale finish to the story of a very special colt.

News from Arrowfield

Diamond now the focus for Prompt Return

January’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic is off the agenda for Maribyrnong Plate winner PROMPT RETURN.

Danny O’Brien this morning revealed that plans had been scrapped to take the classy colt to the Gold Coast, instead setting their sights on the Blue Diamond series in Melbourne.

The Flemington trainer was satisfied with his second placing to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Carriages in Saturday’s Clockwise Classic at Ballarat, but thinks he is better suited staying in Victoria.

“We didn’t think he was as well suited there at Ballarat on that turning track,” O’Brien said.

“Gai’s horse was obviously just too sharp for him around the corners there and with that in mind, with the Gold Coast also being a tight-turning track we’ve made the decision to bypass the Magic Millions and give him a couple of weeks in the paddock and run him in the Diamond.

“He’s had a busy enough spring already and by not pushing on to early January we can now give him a little bit of a break and have him spot on too run in the Blue Diamond.”

Prompt Return has been one of the early stars of the juvenile season, winning on debut at Bendigo before his dominant two-length Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) success.

Although beaten on Saturday, O’Brien was satisfied with the son of Beneteau’s effort and said he had come through the race well.

“He had a tough enough run, obviously he was chasing Gai’s horse for the whole race, and James (Winks, jockey) did comment coming back that he felt like he’d had a tough run,” O’Brien said on Monday morning.

“But he was good as gold here Sunday morning, he’s very bright this morning and he’ll go down to our Barwon Heads property now for the next six to eight weeks and come back to get ready to run in the Prelude and the Diamond.”

The $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) will be run at Caulfield on Saturday 28 February.

News from Racing.com

Another Slick Winner for Beneteau

Ill-fated Beneteau added as second winner to his tally on Saturday when the Clarry Conners trained filly AEGEAN SEA kicked off her career with a debut win at Randwick on the Kensington track.

In a race marred by several late scratchings following some fractious behaviour at the barriers, Aegean Sea kept her cool to lead throughout and win the 1000 metre scamper by half a length.

 "We’ll set for the Golden Slipper now,” Conners said.

"She’s a natural runner, she’s done everything right since day one.

 "I think she’s top grade and I thought she would win today, I was pretty keen on her

"If she wins another race this time that would be nice.”

The speedy filly runs in the colours of BLUE SKY BLOODSTOCK and is raced by Mark Sowerby and Ron Hamer, who also race brilliant Beneteau colt PROMPT RETURN, winner of the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate.

The filly was not offered at auction and is the third winner for stakes-placed Tyche, who has a Beneteau yearling colt to follow.

A Group III winning son of Redoute’s Choice, Beneteau has made an encouraging start to his stud career which was tragically cut short after just two seasons at Arrowfield Stud.

News from Breednet

Blue Sky Bloodstock Runners Are Ballarat Bound

With racing this Saturday in Victoria headed to Ballarat for their meeting Cup meeting, Blue Sky Bloodstock will be represented by two runners on the ten race card highlighted by the unbeaten, Group Three winner PROMPT RETURN.

Set to start a short-priced favourite in the juvenile feature race of the day, the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m), two-year-old Beneteau colt Prompt Return has been to the races on two occasions, winning impressively both times for trainer Danny O’Brien and jockey James Winks.

Recording a length victory on debut at Bendigo, the Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate from the draft of Newgate Farm, headed to the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) next time out and produced an outstanding effort to defeat Old Trieste by two lengths with a further half-length back to Sailing By, pictured above.

Secured for $60,000, the colt is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Prompt, the dam of not only Prompt Return, but the stakes placed filly Diamond Glow.

Raced by long term Blue Sky Bloodstock clients Mark Sowerby and Ron Hamer, a decision on a start in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January for Prompt Return will be based on Saturday’s performance, with the colt having also been a late entry for the Group One Blue Diamond during the week.

The other runner for the Blue Sky Bloodstock team on at Ballarat is three-year-old filly BOUNDARY (pictured below), who will contest the Magic Millions 3YO Classic (1100m).

By Manhattan Rain, the well-bred filly produced a very good effort on debut a few weeks back, winning by over a length at Geelong with Linda Meech in the saddle, who will stick with the filly on Saturday.

Although dropping back in trip from the 1318m of her debut win to the 1100m of Saturday’s contest, the filly has is in great order and her connections; Newhaven Park Syndicate (Mgr: R J Kelly, Mrs S Kelly, J W Kelly, R C Kelly, Mrs N Agostini, Mrs G Walker), V O C Racing Syndicate (Mgr: G Pignatelli), R K Hamer, N A Mukhi, M Rava, J A Lee and S C Waugh, should look forward to an encouraging effort.

Out of the Danehill mare One Dream from a pedigree which includes Group One winners Sydney’s Dream and Charge Forward as well as fellow stakes winners Diamond Cove, Donna Natalia, Georgette Silk, Kidman’s Cove and Settlers Cove, Boundary was secured from the draft of Millbrook from the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

While the main focus will be at Ballarat on Saturday, the Blue Sky Bloodstock silks will also be seen in action on Randwick’s Kensington track in the shape of two-year-old filly AEGEAN SEA.

Trained by Clarry Conners, Aegean Sea like Prompt Return is raced by Mark Sowerby and Ron Hamer and is by Blue Sky Bloodstock yearling sale purchase BENETEAU, the Group Three-winning, Group One placed son of Redoute’s Choice.

Currently well in the market for her debut performance on Saturday, the filly heads to the races off the back off two barrier trials, most recently winning by a length and a quarter.

Currently the Leading First Season Sire in Australia, Beneteau highlights the ethos behind the Blue Sky Bloodstock Stallion Funds; where the aim is to purchase well-bred yearling colts, earn black type with them on the track before embarking on successful stallion careers.

For more information on how you can be involved in any of the yearling purchases that Blue Sky Bloodstock will make at January’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale, please click here to email Julian Blaxland.

Triple Treat For Blue Sky Bloodstock

From Saturday until Monday, BLUE SKY BLOODSTOCK were represented by three exciting winners on the track; Prompt Return, Boundary and General James.

Having his second career start after a debut win at Bendigo over the 900m three weeks prior, the Danny O’Brien-trained PROMPT RETURN headed to Flemington to contest the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate over the 1000m straight course.

Ridden by James Wink, the colt bounded out of the gates and headed towards the inside rail, travelling in to the lead with the inside division, the colt skipped clear with 400m to go, recording an extremely impressive two length victory over the debutant Old Trieste in a time of 57.5, equal to that of previous winners Nadeem and Exceedingly Good.

Interestingly, during the week leading into the race, Prompt Return and Old Trieste had finished one-two in a barrier trial at Ballarat, qualifying themselves for the $200,000 Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m) on November 22.

Prompt Return (Beneteau) on the inside rail shows his rivals a clean pair of heels as he skips clear.

A look through the previous winners of the race reveals some exciting stallions highlighted by Bel Esprit, Testa Rossa and Canny Lad and going further back to the likes of Baguette, Vain and Biscay.

By Redoute’s Choice’s ill-fatted BENETEAU, himself a yearling purchase by Blue Sky Bloodstock, it was exciting to not only supply the stallion with his first winner, but also his first stakes winner!

James Winks returns to scale aboard Prompt Return

Blue Sky Bloodstock’s association with the pedigree of the colt doesn’t stop there with Julian Blaxland securing PROMPT, the dam of Prompt Return at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale before Diamond Glow, the first foal of the mare came out and won on debut before then finishing second to Miracles Of Life in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview at her second start.

Blue Sky Bloodstock would like to congratulate Prompt Return’s owners and long-time Blue Sky Bloodstock clients Mark Sowerby and Ron Hamer on the win, and all being well, the colt will head to the Clockwise Magic Millions race before being aimed at the $2 million Magic Million Classic on the Gold Coast in January.

Described by trainer Danny O’Brien as “bombproof”, the trainer was very taken by the colt when he first laid eyes on him, “When he walked off the float I thought, if this colt was by Redoute’s Choice he would be a $1 million colt.”

Less than two hours after Prompt Return had crossed the line in front, another Blue Sky Bloodstock yearling purchase in the shape of Manhattan Rain filly BOUNDARY was also impressive having her first start, strolling away with a length and a quarter victory at Geelong over 1318m.

Trained by Heath Conners, the Magic Millions purchase initially started her career with Heath’s father Clarry in Sydney before being transferred to the Melbourne stable of Heath as it was felt she handled the Melbourne way of going better.

Boundary and Linda Meech return to scale

Raced in partnership with Newhaven Park Syndicate (Mgr: R J Kelly, Mrs S Kelly, J W Kelly, R C Kelly, Mrs N Agostini, Mrs G Walker), V O C Racing Syndicate (Mgr: G Pignatelli), R K Hamer, N A Mukhi, M Rava, J A Lee and S C Waugh, the three-year-old filly is out of the Danehill mare One Dream, an impressive black type pedigree that includes Group One winners Sydney’s Dream and Charge Forward as well as fellow stakes winners Diamond Cove, Donna Natalia, Georgette Silk, Kidman’s Cove and Settlers Cove.

While Blue Sky Bloodstock didn’t have a runner on the Sunday, it was back into the winner’s stall on Monday when the New Zealand Bloodstock purchase GENERAL JAMES saluted the judge at his second start.

A short head second on his debut three weeks earlier, the Savabeel gelding stepped up in trip to the 1612m and after jumping away awkwardly, jockey James Winks took him forward to sit in second position.

With the race leader Anonymiss racing ungenerously in the lead, General James was able to real her in as they went for home, winning the race by a short neck, holding off the late charge of the second placed Brown Bombshell.

General James (Savabeel) simply too strong

Bred to appreciate a trip, General James is out of the O’Reilly mare Splendid, a sister to the HK-Group Two Hong Kong Derby Trial winner Unique Jewellery, as well as to the dam of the Listed-winning, Group One placed Kingdoms, and also is a half-sister to the Group One Australasian Oaks winner Marju Snip.

It would be no surprise to see this gelding headed to the Classic races during his Autumn season and all at Blue Sky Bloodstock wish his large group of owners; Lucky Stew Racing (Mgr: M Harrington), Mrs L F Ashton, M L Duncan, C D Mathieson, P J Prendergast, S Wilson, B K Cameron, Cazjohn Racing (Mgr: J M Edwards), A W Bruhn, S D J Daniels, S J Giles, W Wilson, W Wessels, C J Meadmore, W K Thomas, J Steenhuisen, H W O'Meara and Ms V J Thomas the best of luck.

With all three winners purchased as yearlings and having either their first or second starts, it further highlights the success that Blue Sky Bloodstock have with their yearling purchases and with the Magic Millions Yearling Sale only a few months away, if you are interested in being kept up to date with our purchases, please contact Julian Blaxland via email by clicking here.

Blue Sky Bloodstock Runners Set To Bloom For Spring

With many of Blue Sky Bloodstock’s runners having had a few runs this time in, we are excited about the prospects of the team as we move forward to their Spring goals over the coming weeks. 

Pressing (Sebring) resumes in Saturday's Group Three Telstra Phoneword Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley

Three-year-old Sebring colt PRESSING (pictured left), a winner of his first two starts including a dominant three-and-a-half length Listed victory, headed to the Queensland Winter carnival where he acquitted himself extremely well. 

At his last run of his juvenile season, the colt finished a length-and-a-quarter in fourth at Group One level, with three in front of him; Almalad, Brazen Beau and Looks Like The Cat, all performing extremely well at stakes level this time in.

A $100,000 graduate of the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud when purchased by Mick Price Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock, we wish his large group of owners the best of luck for his return to the track this coming Saturday in the Group Three Telstra Phoneword Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

With all being well, the colt will then head to the Hilton Hotel Stakes on Emirates Stakes Day, a race we won a few years back with Blue Sky Bloodstock purchase INSTINCTION. 

Purchased from the NZB Premier Yearling Sale for $135,000, our five-year-old Keep mare KEEP DE ROSE (NZ) has had three runs this time in and will have her next start in the Group Two Matriarch Stakes at Flemington over the 2000m.

Having finished third, beaten just over a half-length in last year’s running of the race, trainer Danny O’Brien is bound to have the mare ready to peak in the race.

Prompt Return (Beneteau x Prompt) will next start in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1200m) at Flemington

Having won on his race track debut last weekend, two-year-old Beneteau colt PROMPT RETURN (pictured right) will have his next start in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate on the final day of the Spring Carnival at Flemington. Purchased for only $60,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, the impressive looking colt became not only the first two-year-old winner for the team this season (from our first runner), but was also the first ever winner for his sire BENETEAU, a horse Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased as a yearling and raced as part of the Stallion Fund with Arrowfield.

Could this exciting 4yo be bound for Perth?

Winning impressively two starts back at Rosehill, before a very good effort at Group One level in the Epsom Handicap, our Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate WOODBINE  (pictured left) is likely to have his next start on Derby Day in the Group Three Yellowglen Stakes over 1400m. 

Nominated for the Group One Railway and Group One Fruit ‘N’ Veg Stakes over the Perth Summer Carnival, a forward showing in Melbourne by Woodbine is sure to see the Gai Waterhouse-trained runner book his plane ticket to the west.

Transferred over to the Hawkes Racing team, Magic Millions graduate HAVANA will step out for his second start for his new trainers this Saturday in the Men Of League Handicap over 1200m at Rosehill. 

A winner of the Group Three Fred Best Classic when racing fourth up last campaign, the Starcraft gelding could head to Melbourne after Saturday’s effort if a suitable race is selected for the improving galloper.

With plenty of action for the Blue Sky Bloodstock team over the next few weeks, we would like to wish all our owners the best of luck and also send a reminder that the 2015 Yearling Sales Series is not that far away, so feel free to get in touch with us if you would like any assistance in selecting your next star of the track.

Prompt Return To Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Beneteau

Making his debut on Saturday over 900m at Bendigo, two-year-old colt PROMPT RETURN produced the goods for trainer Danny O’Brien and jockey James Wink, winning by a length in the Elmore RC 2Yo Maiden Plate.

Secured from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale by BLUE SKY BLOODSTOCK after initially being passed in through the ring, Prompt Return is from the first-crop of BENETEAU, a stakes-winning son of Redoute’s Choice that Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased as a yearling and raced with Arrowfield Stud.

Beneteau (Redoute's Choice x Slice Of Paradise) after his debut win

Out of Slice Of Paradise, a full-sister to the multiple Group One-winning, Champion filly Alinghi, Beneteau’s only season on the track as a two-year-old highlighted his enormous ability.

A winner on debut, followed by a trip to Melbourne where he won his second start in the Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude, Beneteau finished third in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at his next start behind Star Witness.

The final two runs of his career were a fifth in the Group One Golden Slipper behind Crystal Lily (a filly he had defeated in the Blue Diamond) and a sixth in the Champagne Stakes.

Retiring to stud after injury, Beneteau stood for only two season before his untimely death, resulting in 135 foals, and with Prompt Return being only his second runner to hit the track, it is a very good advertisement for the Blue Sky Bloodstock Stallion Fund, as Beneteau was secured as part of the Fund.

Purchased from the draft of Henry Field’s Newgate Farm, Prompt Return is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Prompt, who was interestingly also secured by Blue Sky Bloodstock as a yearling.

Two-year-old colt Prompt Return (Beneteau x Promt) pictured at track work recently.

Already the dam of the Listed placed Diamond Glow, Prompt is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Montoux, both being daughters of the stakes performer Amnesia (NZ).

The current yearling by Prompt is also by Beneteau (pictured below), this time a filly.

We wish the connections of Prompt Return the best of luck for his future race career and we are excited about the progeny of the Beneteau’s as they now hit the track.

Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Woodbine Aims For Group One Epsom Glory

While considered by many as an outsider of the field, the Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased WOODBINE goes into Saturday’s $500,000 Group One The Star Epsom in winning form, and with trainer Gai Waterhouse having saddled up six of the last 11 winners, the four-year-old son of Hussonet should not be discounted.

One thing to take note of is that when you look back over the last ten years or so, many of the winners have carried 53kg of less and Woodbine gets into the race with 52kg and will have Group One-winning jockey Christian Reith in the saddle.

Hussonet colt WOODBINE heads to Saturday Group One The Star Epsom with only 52kg's for trainer Gai Waterhouse.

Purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Julian Blaxland and trainer Gai Waterhouse at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales as part of BSB’s Stallion Fund a few years back for $750,000, vendor Arrowfield Stud were so taken with the colt that the immediately purchased back into him.

Out of their classy Redoute’s Choice filly Miss Finland, a winner of multiple Group One races including the Golden Slipper and the VRC Oaks, Woodbine has stallion proposition written all over him and with a Group One victory next to his name, his future at stud will be assured.

When asked about the prospects of Woodbine, Blaxland commented, “Obviously it’s a massive step up in grade for Woodbine on Saturday but Gai thinks he deserves his chance at this level with 52kg.

“It’s a fairly open field with plenty of winning chances and although the wide alley doesn’t help, hopefully he can run a nice race here and we’ll then look to options down in Melbourne during the carnival.”

With Waterhouse having many runners on Saturday at Randwick, she was upbeat about the chances of Woodbine, one of three runners for the stable in the Group One race.

“Last week’s winner and Epsom hopeful Woodbine (Hussonet x Miss Finland) has “a beautiful stride” according to Hugh who rode the entire this morning over 1400m in a perfect tune up gallop.

“This future stallion has comeback bigger and better and definitely stronger and he will be in the mix come Saturday.”

All at Blue Sky Bloodstock would like to wish the owners; Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: J M Messara), Planette Thoroughbred Trading Pty Ltd (Mgr: J S Leaver), Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Stallion Fund No 5 (Mgr: J C H Blaxland), J W L Tan, D A S Paradice and Belford Productions Pty Ltd (Mgr: A B Jones) the best of luck for Saturday’s Group One The Star Epsom (1600m).

To view the final field, click here.

Blue Sky Bloodstock Double

The Blue Sky Bloodstock team were really excited with the results of Saturday as two of our graduates; WOODBINE and RAHY STORM (USA) won their respective races.

The first to greet the judge was the recent purchase, the American bred mare Rahy Stormy (USA) for long-term clients Newhaven Park Stud.

Secured at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from the draft of Waratah Thoroughbreds for $14,000, the Joe Pride-trained Rahy Storm (USA) headed to Newcastle on Saturday and after settling not too far from the leaders, produced the goods to defeat Our Little Miracle by three parts of a length, earning connections just shy of their original purchase price back.

Rahy Storm (USA) (Rahy x Western Vision) at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The second of the winners for the day came in the final event at Rosehill when our Inglis Easter yearling sale purchase Woodbine (Hussonet) was racing second up in The Paslode Handicap over 1350m.

Settling in a handy position, the son of multiple Group One winner Miss Finland came with a well-timed run for jockey Tommy Berry to record his fourth win from 11 starts.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, the stakes-performed Woodbine could now head to the Group One Epsom Handicap next Saturday.

“This is a very exciting horse in the making, he had to win for us to consider the Epsom, he’s won and he’s won well,’’ Waterhouse said.

Woodbine (hussonet x Miss Finland) sprints clear to defeat Amovatio and Murder Of Crows

Jockey Tommy Berry said of Woodbine: “He sprinted well, but what I liked most about him was how tough he was.

“Last preparation when Nash (Rawiller) was riding him, he’d get to the front, but then wait for the other horses to get to him.

“The back-up won’t hurt him because he’s pretty tough, and he only does what he has to (at home). He wouldn’t have felt that run.’’

He’ll drop down to the 52 kilogram Epsom minimum, a six kilogram reduction on Saturday’s winning impost.

A massive congratulations to Newhaven Park for the win of Rahy Storm (USA) and to Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: J M Messara), Planette Thoroughbred Trading Pty Ltd (Mgr: J S Leaver), Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Stallion Fund No 5 (Mgr: J C H Blaxland), J W L Tan, D A S Paradice & Belford Productions Pty Ltd (Mgr: A B Jones) for the win of Woodbine.

With the Magic Millions sales currently on, if anyone is interested in any of the lots, please do not hesitate to contact Julian Blaxland on 0431 746 803.

All starting to fall into place..

With the Spring carnival getting underway, our three-year-old colt NORDIC EMPIRE headed to the Group Three H.D.F. McNeil on Saturday at Caulfield where he produced an outstanding effort to look the winner right until the shadows of the post when Chivalry appeared to come from nowhere and snatch victory.

Jumping away well from the barriers, the Mick Price-trained Nordic Empire settled in seventh on the outside of his stablemate Moonovermanhattan. As they rounded the home turn, jockey Nicholas Hall asked for an effort from the colt and he came with a great run to take the lead at the 100m, only to be denied victory, going down by a head.

Glen Boss, the jockey of the winner declared his mount as the best three-year-old in Victoria, so based on that assessment, and the run of our colt, we are extremely excited about the future prospects of our stakes performed son of Exceed And Excel stallion Wilander.

Stakes winner Nordic Empire went down by a narrow margin in the Group Three HDF MCNeil Stakes.  (photo by Race Horse Photos Australia)

Holding a nomination to the Group One Caulfield Guineas in just over a month’s time, we will be guided by Mick Price as to where the colt heads to next. He may be kept to they sprinting distances so it’s likely his next run will be in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes Saturday week.

It is interesting to take a look at the history of the race and see the future Group One winners who finished second; the likes of Whobegotyou, Haradasun and Yell in recent years.

Earlier in the day at the same meeting, our stakes-performed mare KEEP DE ROSE returned to the races, having not started since April. With not a lot going right in the run for the Danny O’Brien-trained mare, she was very brave to finish fifth, beaten less than two lengths. While her main aim will be the Group Two Matriarch Stakes towards the end of the carnival, a race she was a gallant third in last year, it was a great starting point for the mare and like Nordic Empire we will be guide by her trainer as to where she heads to next.

While this time not at the races, it was great to see two of our three-year-old fillies both win their trials on Tuesday at Rosehill Gardens for their new trainer Hawkes Racing, having previously been in the yard of Paul Messara, whom had made the decision to become the Stud Manager at Arrowfield Stud.

Newgate Farm sold Fastnet Rock filly Santa Rocks, successful in her recent barrier trial at Rosehill

Heat 11 of the day saw our Fastnet Rock filly SANTA ROCKS take her trial by a long head margin from Countess Marinov.

Secured from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the filly is out of the American-bred Aussie Christmas, a half-sister to the three-time Group One winner Harlan’s Holiday.

With nominations to the Group One Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney and the Group One Thousand Guineas in Melbourne, we are really excited for her to kick off her campaign in the coming weeks.

The very next heat of the day saw another Blue Sky Bloodstock purchase win their heat – this time it was POUTING, another filly by Champion sire Fastnet Rock.

Pouting (Fastnet Rock) as a yearling before being purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock and Badger's Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale

Having her second trial, Pouting was secured in partnership with Badger’s Bloodstock at the 2013 Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the draft of Tyreel Stud.

Out of the winning Galileo mare Kissing The Camera, herself a half-sister to the dam of Champion Three-year-old Colt and dual Group One winner Wigmore Hall, our filly defeated Sugar Doll by a short neck.

Like Santa Rocks, the well-named Pouting holds and a nomination to the Group One Thousand Guineas in mid-October and we are keen to see her at the races in the coming weeks.

We wish all our owners the best of luck as their runners’ progress over the coming weeks to their next runs, or in the case of the two fillies, their first starts.

Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Racing Lunch Sets Spring Hunger In Play…

As we head into the Spring carnival, it was great to be able to hold a lunch for our some of our clients that was hosted at the home of owner and good friend Trevor Folsom.

It was an exciting opportunity for some of our clients to hear first hand from the various trainers present on exactly how our runners are progressing as they chase the lucrative Spring riches on offer.

With the prize money for many of Spring races continually rising, our trainers aim to target many of our runners at this carnival to give our owners not only the opportunity to try and earn good prize money but to also give them the thrill and enjoyment of racing on some of the biggest days of the year!

With a myriad of people at the lunch including BSB’s owners, Keith Lowry and Hamish McIntosh who part-own Fiorente as well as the multiple Group One winning trainers Gai Waterhouse & Gerald Ryan, alongside Newhaven Park Stud breeders John and Charles Kelly as well as Magic Millions Bloodstock Manager Barry Bowditch in attendance. To be able to have such a wealth of knowledge in the room, with so many people who are passionate about the racing and breeding industry, it was an honour for BSB to host such an event!

Blue Sky Bloodstock's Julian Blaxland addressing the guest at the recent Spring Lunch.

We were also grateful to have Mick Price’s Racing Manger Luke Wilkinson, as well as BSB’s good friend and racehorse owner Alan Jones all part of the highly successful day.

We’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who attended and a special thank you to Trevor for allowing us to use his home for the lunch and wish all our owners every success with their upcoming runners during the Spring. 

For more information on how you can become a Blue Sky Bloodstock owner and race with us, please contact Julian Blaxland on +61 (0) 431 746 803 or head over to the Contact page of the website by clicking here.

Please click through the below images for a gallery of the day.

Nordic Empire to tackle Vain Stakes

Nordic Empire will be aimed at the Vain Stakes at Caulfield on August 16 after an authoritative win in the Michelton Wines Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley today.

Trainer Mick Price highlighted the target immediately following his colt’s first-up win and the opportunity to tackle one of the great three-year-old events with the horse wasn’t the only reason the trainer was pleased with the win.

Nordic Empire resumed from a long spell of eight months after suffering a serious hamstring injury in Queensland last year.

3yo Wilander colt Nordic Empire wins first up after 8 months away from the track.

“I’m pretty relieved to get through today, the race worked out perfectly for him, tracking the leaders and then having the seas part on the turn,” Price said.

“He’s had eight months off so hopefully there’s improvement to come second up.

“He was quite light as a two-year-old and we kept him a colt and he’s furnished out okay now.

“He wears ear muffs everyday at the track, he’s quite a highly strung horse but his behaviour here today was beautiful.”

Nordic Empire ($5) gave jockey Craig Newitt a winning double and defeated Stingray ($21-$15) and Boomwaa ($6.50) with a margin to spare.

News from Racing Network

Doubtfilly to begin new chapter of her career at Flemington

Smart mare Doubtfilly begins a new phase of her career with Danny O'Brien this Saturday in the $100,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 4 (1100m) at Flemington.

The four-year-old daughter of Not A Single Doubt had been trained by Stuart Kendrick and done her racing in Queensland prior to being purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock for stable clients of O'Brien for $300,000 at the recent Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast.

At her last start Doubtfilly was only beaten three-lengths when unplaced behind Sacred Star and Masthead in the Group III QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.

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Stakes winner Doubtfilly heads to Melbourne for her first run for the Danny O'Brien stable.

"She's only been with us for 10 days and she arrived in good shape," O'Brien said. "I can't see why she wouldn't run well Saturday .

"We've kept things pretty simple with her, she seems to adjusted well to her new surroundings. She went nicely here on Tuesday so she's good to go."

If the forecast rain does arrive and Flemington becomes rain affected then her chances would be enhanced if past performances are an accurate guide.

Doubtfilly is unbeaten in three starts on dead ground and has won two of her three starts on heavy tracks, a statistic that has not gone unnoticed by her new trainer.

"If we got any sort of rain, certainly that will help and I'd expect her to improve the softer it gets," O'Brien said.

Story by Darryl Sherer, Racenet