Efficient makes bold return
Efficient's quest for a second Melbourne Cup title opened in fine style at Caulfield on Saturday when he turned in an outstanding first-up run.
The lightly-raced stayer resumed in the Gr 2 Memsie Stakes and showed a good turn of foot to race in behind the leading pack.
Efficient revelled in his work to round off his effort in the straight and finish a close fifth under Steven Arnold.
The bold showing of the 2007 cup winner and last year's victor Viewed, who ran fourth in the Memsie, were key indicators to the upcoming spring cups.
Also in action at Caulfield was the smart mare Velocitea who finished a brave second in her first appearance for four months.
The Volksraad four-year-old was tardy from the gate before mustering speed near the fence and challenged into the straight.
Despite being caught in the worst of the ground, Velocitea maintained a strong gallop to finish runner-up.
Black-type placed at two in New Zealand, she looks more than capable of adding Australian stakes performance to her record in the near future.
Smart stayer completes hat-trick
The Embassy's impressive run of form since arriving in Australia has come as no surprise to Rosehill trainer Chris Waller.
"He came here in great order looking for the better tracks and once the weather turned in Sydney he was right," he said.
The Embassy won one of his five New Zealand starts before he was transferred to Waller's operation in the autumn.
A four-year-old by Danasinga, the gelding is raced by a syndicate that includes Cambridge trainer Tony Pike and race caller Bruce Sherwin.
The Embassy completed a hat-trick of Australian wins on his new home track on Saturday when he was a decisive winner over 2000 metres.
"He's a pretty promising stayer in the making and he'll continue to progress through the spring," Waller said.
Star colt may spell
The connections of Trusting may opt to play the waiting game after the top colt's sterling run for second in Saturday's Gr 1 Golden Rose.
Australian Racing Retro's Andrew Bensley reported owners Patinack Farm were now considering a spell for the three-year-old.
The Gr 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington next autumn would then become the primary target for the son of Tale Of The Cat.
Trusting has come a long way in a short time for Warwick Farm trainer Jason Coyle with two wins and a placing from his four career starts.
He made a successful debut in late July and appeared for the third consecutive week when runner-up in the Golden Rose.
Trusting charged home from the tail of the field to beat all but Denman, considered by trainer Peter Snowden to be the best horse he has had through his hands.
Guillotine an exciting stallion prospect
The career of high-class galloper Guillotine has come full circle with the well-performed son of Montjeu to return to New Zealand later this month to take up stallion duty.
The Group winner of four races from 1200-1900 metres has been purchased by Nelson Schick's Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge.
Bred by Cambridge Hunt Ltd, Guillotine was a $300,000 yearling purchase by renowned judge Les Samba from Curraghmore's Premier draft to Karaka in 2006.
"I'm delighted to see him coming back to New Zealand to stud at Windsor Park," Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham said.
"He's an extremely good-looking, athletic type who had an enormous amount of ability and he's an exciting horse for the New Zealand breeding industry."
Guillotine is out of the Defensive Play mare Refused The Dance and is a half-brother to dual Gr 1 winner Efficient (Melbourne Cup, VRC Derby).
"The mare has since been difficult to get in foal, but she is due to foal soon to Encosta De Lago," Cunningham said.
The highlight of Guillotine's career was his dashing victory in the Gr 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (formerly known as the Feehan) at Moonee Valley last spring.
Among the beaten brigade that day were top-flight performers Maldivian (later to win the Cox Plate), Sirmione, Pompeii Ruler, Zipping, Casual Pass and Alamosa.
Guillotine was rated at 116 in the mile division of the 2008-09 ANZ Classifications - the same as multiple Gr 1 winners Theseo, Mentality, Vision And Power and Niconero and ahead of Racing To Win, Casual Pass and Mufhasa.
He was prepared in Sydney by David Payne for a debut juvenile victory at Canterbury and also finished a luckless fourth in the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick behind champion two-year-old Meurice.
The Equine Influenza outbreak disrupted his three-year-old campaign, which culminated with a fifth on unsuitably heavy ground in the Gr 1 AJC Derby.
Guillotine was then transferred to David Hayes' stable and following his Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes victory he ran third in the Gr 1 Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield.
He was subsequently found to be suffering from a joint problem that eventually forced his retirement.
"Having followed his career from the time he was a two-year-old, with his natural speed, his suitability to good to fast ground combined with a great temperament, we identified Guillotine as Montjeu's most talented and best-credentialled stallion prospect in Australasia," Schick said.
Winning role continues
High-profile Australian breeder and owner Nathan Tinkler continued his winning strike rate with Curraghmore horses at Ballarat yesterday.
His Patinack Farm colours were carried to a clear-cut victory by debut runner Safety In Numbers, a first-crop son of Fastnet Rock.
Fellow Curraghmore purchase Trusting had on Saturday produced a memorable performance to win the Gr 2 Warwick Stakes.
Safety In Numbers is trained by Mick Price and winning rider Nicholas Hall described the gelding as "a big, raw horse with a lot of ability."
He was pinhooked for $A100,000 at Inglis Select Weanling Sale and then made $350,00 at Karaka last year.
Safety In Numbers is out of the Canny Lad mare Custodial, a half-sister to Gr 1 winners Curata Storm (Mercedes Classic) and Voile D'Or (WATC Derby, SA Oaks).
Colt in elite company
Lightly-raced colt Trusting, at only his third lifetime start, emulated the mighty Lonhro when he upstaged his older rivals with a commanding performance to win the Gr 2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick.
Superlatives flowed in the wake of the Nathan Tinkler-owned three-year-old's defeat of a quality field on Saturday, that included three individual Gr 1 winners of eight top-flight events.
"He is a superstar in the making and I can't wait until the autumn," Warwick Farm trainer Jason Coyle said.
"He is one of the best horses I've ever dealt with at any stable.
"I've always said the Doncaster in the autumn was his race - I can't wait for it."
Trusting was ridden by Chris Munce, who further praised the son of Tale Of The Cat and said he had the world at his feet.
"He is the real deal and is good-natured, a real professional who just wants to win."
History adds weight to their regard for Trusting, who became the first three-year-old since Lonhro in 2001 to win the Warwick Stakes.
Lonhro went on to win his next six starts in a row and remained unbeaten in his classic season.
Ironically, it was Lonhro's son O'lonhro that Trusting swept past on Saturday for the weight-for-age title with Stradbroke Handicap winner Mr Baritone third.
Out of Zabeel's Gr 2 Sandown Classic winning mare Legible, Trusting was purchased by Patinack Farm for $300,000 from Curraghmore's 2008 premier draft at Karaka.
He was sold by the stud on behalf of John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds.
"It was a great thrill for all of us at Curraghmore to see another of our horses perform at the highest level in Australia," Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham said.
"He was a colt with plenty of size and scope as a yearling and one would only assume he will continue to furnish and develop."
Trusting will now bid for a Gr 1 title at just his fourth raceday start when he backs up in this Saturday's $A1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.
The Embassy on a winning roll
Improving four-year-old The Embassy progressed to another level in Australia yesterday when he continued his winning ways at Canterbury over 1900 metres.
The son of Danasinga has now made five appearances from the leading Sydney stable of Chris Waller and after a first-up second at Randwick has won his last two on end.
A $100,000 purchase out of Curraghmore Stud's 2007 Ready to Run Sale draft in 2007, The Embassy began his career from the Cambridge stable of Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue.
A winner on debut at Te Aroha last December for a syndicate that included Pike and racecaller Bruce Sherwin, he is from an outstanding Gr 1 family.
The Embassy is out of a half-sister to champion mare and Japan Cup heroine Horlicks, the dam of Melbourne Cup winner Brew.
AJC Derby and BMW Stakes winner Fiumicino is another top-level performer in the pedigree while Bubble, Solo Flyer and Tusker have been Gr 2 winners.
Top award for Tracey
Tracey Simmons has been an integral part in the success story of Curraghmore Stud and her dedication and expertise has been acknowledged by her peers.
The 30-year-old farm manager has been named the Young Achiever of the Year by the Waikato branch of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Association at their annual Gr 1 awards dinner.
"I certainly wasn't expecting anything at all and it was a complete surprise... but a huge thrill," Tracey said.
By her own admission, she has come a long way since she first arrived at Curraghmore fresh out of university in 1999.
"I studied for an agricultural degree at Massey and then really stumbled in to the job," Tracey said.
"I've loved the challenge and always enjoyed the horses and the Waikato is a great area to be in."
Stud principal Gordon Cunningham said Tracey had become a vital player in the Curraghmore operation.
"She's had a direct input in our success in the sale ring and on the racetrack and her award is great recognition and a huge credit to her.
"She is an example and should be seen as an inspiration to all young people entering the industry."
Tracey was originally from Taranaki and gained her early horse experience with standardbreds.
"I started out with the trotters and working with them in my primary and secondary school holidays with Lawrence Fleming," she said.
Since joining the Curraghmore staff, Tracey has learned the thoroughbred ropes and risen to the position of farm manager.
"I started out with the yearling preparations and Gordon gave me the opprtunity to really grow and learn," she said.
"I appreciate all his help, support and encouragement and get a huge amount of satisfaction from the work."
Tracey has also enjoyed overseas working stints in England, Ireland and the United States to further her experience.
She said she gained particular satisfaction from working with Curraghmore's yearlings and then seeing them develop into top racehorses.
"It's a great challenge and horses like Efficient and Fully Fledged are a huge thrill and great excitement for us all."
Tracey said one of her many highlights was leading the Danehill-Push A Venture colt through the ring when he made $1 million at Karaka.
"And from a more personal point of view a horse I bred with Gordon made $65,000 and topped the Festival sale."
The son of Daggers Drawn was purchased by Lance O'Sullivan and as Scimitar Lad is now in the Andrew Scott stable at Matamata.
Tracey is responsible for the day-to-day activities at Curraghmore with the support of Cunningham
Premier target for Knife Edge
Knife Edge will head south for premier racing in the Central Districts later this month in his bid to complete a hat-trick of wins.
Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett has circled the opening day of the Hawke's Bay carnival for his next port of call.
"He's a lovely type and he'll go to Hastings for a 1200 metre race on the 29th," Collett said.
"He's a pretty smart horse and developing into a nice sprinter and I want to keep him to the better ground."
Knife Edge has fashioned an excellent winning strike rate with four wins from his 11 starts.
The Daggers Drawn four-year-old was impressive last time out at Ruakaka where he accounted for the highly-rated Morelle.
He had also been successful at his previous start on the track, where he is now unbeaten in three appearances.
Knife Edge has proved a sound piece of business for Collett, who paid $15,000 for him from Curraghmore's 2007 Festival Sale draft at Karaka.
"He was a nice type and I bought him for a couple of Tauranga owners - Leigh Crockford and Talbot Munro," he said.
"He can run time on the training track and he's always looked smart."
Efficient steps out at Bendigo
Dual Gr 1 winner Efficient made a public appearance at Bendigo today when he gave an exhibition gallop between races.
The Curraghmore Stud-born, reared and sold son of Zabeel was paired up with C'Est La Guerre in a workout.
Steven Arnold rode the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, who finished a head behind his stablemate.
Since being ruled out of last year's Melbourne Cup with a fetlock injury, Efficient has had just one start when unplaced in a sprint at Flemington in May.
Owner Lloyd Williams has stated his intention to set Efficient for the 2010 Ascot Gold Cup in England after this year's Australian spring.
Spring in Trusting's step
Good-looking colt Trusting put himself in line for higher honours when he turned in a powerful performance to win on debut at Canterbury yesterday.
Both trainer Jason Coyle and rider Peter Robl agreed the Curraghmore Stud-graduate had promising spring carnival prospects.
“He's a really nice colt who has trialled well and performed well on race day,” Coyle said.
“Obviously there is a carnival coming up and he's up at the right time to be in some of the nicer races so we'll go home and have a look at it.”
Trusting showed an exciting turn of foot yesterday to post a two-length victory over 1200 metres.
"He was very impressive to come from so far back and go around them for a very soft win," Robl said. "He's definately a horse of potential."
Trusting was bought for $300,000 by Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm from Curraghmore's 2008 premier draft at Karaka
By Tale Of The Cat, he is out of the Gr 2 Sandown Classic winning Zabeel mare Legible, a daughter of the well-performed Waihora's Lass (Gr 2 Auckland Breeders' Stakes).
Calder following his dreams
Scott Calder is about to embark on an international opportunity of a lifetime to turn his thoroughbred dream into a reality.
The 22-year-old has won a place among the Darley Flying Start programme's 12-strong class of 2009.
"It's awesome and I couldn't believe it when I got the phone call," Calder, of Cambridge, said.
"It's a dream come true to get access to all the best people and places and I'm determined to make a career out of the industry."
Since its inception in 2003, the Darley Flying Start has established a reputation as a leading thoroughbred management training programme.
Funded by Sheikh Mohammed, it offers a unique opportunity to learn from top professionals in Ireland, England, the United States, Dubai and Australia.
Calder is a graduate of the Unversity of Waikato with a Bachelor of Management Studies degree majoring in economics and strategic management.
A Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship winner for his academic and sporting achievements, he has also been employed under the Waikato Implementation Team for the New Zealand Racing Board.
"That involved assisting the racing clubs with the Christmas at the Races and Summer Festival promotions," Calder said.
His practical experience was furthered broadened by a working association with Curraghmore Stud.
"It's a terrific opportunity for Scott and one that I'm absolutely certain he will make the most of," Gordon Cunningham said.
"The Darley scholarship will be a major stepping stone for Scott to go on and realise his ambition within the industry in the years to come."
Calder said he was grateful for the opportunity to work at Curraghmore for the last three summers.
"I always had a passionate interest in breeding and racing, but no hands-on experience.
"I learned a lot there and owe a massive thanks to Gordon and his yearling manager Tracy Simmons."
As part of his practical apprenticeship he has also enjoyed an insight into the routines of a racing stable with Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning.
Calder and his fellow Darley trainees will commence their training at Kildangan Stud in Ireland next month.
"We'll be there until October and then go to Newmarket in England," he said.
"After that we go to America for the breeding season and then to the Hunter Valley for the Australian breeding season.
"At the start of 2011 we will be in Dubai and then back to Ireland and finish up in England to graduate."
Dreamy win in Waimate Cup
Stakes-placed mare Dream By Day further added to her future broodmare value with a brave win in the Waimate Cup on Sunday.
It was her fourth career success and she also has a black-type placing in the Listed NZ Bloodstock Air Freight Stakes at Riccarton.
Bred by Curraghmore Stud, Dream By Day is trained by Kevin Hughes and is owned by NZ Thoroughbred Marketing chief executive Adrian Clark.
"I purchased her as a yearling out of the paddock from Curraghmore Stud. She is a lovely correct mare with a kind temperament," he said.
Dream By Day has been raced on lease, which will expire on July 31, and she is entered in the NZ Bloodstock South Island Sale on August 7.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed Fellini, the City On A Hill mare is out of a sister to the dam of dual Gr 1 winner Moonshine (Ellerslie, Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes).
The top-class Chipping Norton Stakes winner and Cox Plate runner-up Waverley Star also feature in her immedaite pedigree.
Knife Edge cut above rivals
Versatile three-year-old Knife Edge successfully bridged the gap to Rating 90 company when he trounced his rivals at Ruakaka.
The son of Daggers Drawn was racing out of his class but brushed his better-performed opposition aside for a decisive victory.
Knife Edge has proved a sound investment for Richard Collett, who selected him from Curraghmore's 2007 Festival Sale draft at Karaka.
The Pukekohe Park trainer purchased him for $15,000 and the gelding now has three wins and three seconds from 10 starts.
Stunning debut win in HK
The Hong Kong racing season ended at Sha Tin last night in spectacular fashion for Curraghmore Stud.
Their sale graduate Amigo lived up to his New Zealand reputation with a dashing debut victory over 1200 metres.
He came from last near the turn under top Australian rider Zac Purton to win with ease.
“He got here and acclimatised very quickly. It was a short preparation, but he is a just a natural - a good horse," trainer Michael Chang said.
"He is still a baby, but I'm expecting much more from him next season."
By Giant's Causeway, Amigo raced in New Zealand as Kabalevsky and was rated top-class by Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh.
"He's far superior to anything else I've had and was something very special," he said.
Unbeaten in both his trials, he won untouched by seven lengths at Waverley in his only New Zealand start.
Amigo was a $170,000 purchase by Chang from Curraghmore's 2007 premier draft at Karaka.
He is the first foal of the stakes-placed Zeditave mare Lucrative Dame, who is from the family of Gr 1 performer Sarah Vee.
Amigo posted Curraghmore's second Hong Kong success of the week after Victory Mascot's win on Sunday.
Victory for Mascot
Well-related three-year-old Victory Mascot opened his winning account in Hong Kong on Sunday when he was successful over 1600 metres at Sha Tin.
Ridden by Brett Prebble for leading trainer Caspar Fownes, the chestnut had finished runner-up at his previous two starts.
Victory Mascot was sold by Curraghmore Stud for $300,000 to Michael Stedman Bloodstock at Karaka in 2007.
He is by Encosta De Lago out of the Redding mare Flushed, winner of six races including the Gr 2 Sunline Stakes and the Gr 3 Matriarch Stakes.
Victory Mascot is a half-brother to two-time winner and stakes performer Bold Moment.
Curraghmore also sold a Zabeel colt out of Flushed for $300,000 to trans-Tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson at last year's Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Sousa on the move
Curraghmore's Gr 1 graduate Sousa is to join the Maktoum family's Dubai-based Godolphin stable to prepare for the 2010 Dubai World Cup.
He is one of eight horses transferred from the Australian yard of Darley's head trainer Peter Snowden.
Sousa was bred by Lars Pearson and was sold through Curraghmore's 2006 National Weanling Sale draft at Karaka.
The son of Galileo was bought by Mark and Shelly Treweek’s Lyndhurst Farm for $150,000 and subsequently sold on for $A420,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale.
Sousa won the Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes in October off the back of his Gr 3 Spring Stakes success.
He was narrowly denied another Gr 1 victory when a close second in the Rosehill Guineas and also placed in the Gr 1 Australian Derby.
The lightly-raced three-year-old has won nearly $750,000 from his 12 career appearances.
Que Sera strikes early
Daggers Drawn filly Que Sera wasted no time in opening her account with a second-up victory at the recent Rotorua meeting.
She took control on the turn and put the issue beyong doubt soon after to coast home by a length and a-half.
Que Sera was all the better at Arawa Park for her debut experience at Matamata where she finished middle of the pack in a big field last month.
The three-year-old, who is prepared at Matamata by Andrew Scott, is the last foal of the Gr 2 Bayer Classic runner-up French Polish.
She has been a fine producer with the brothers Dollars 'N Gold (Gr 3 Taylor Preston Handicap) and Madison Point Gr 3 Shorts Handicap) two of her best winners.
The sons of Palace Music won 22 races between them and Banshee, Madison Pete, French Dagger, Madison King and now Que Sera have further added to her stud success.
French Polish is also the grand-dam of Gr 1 Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes winner Iflooxcouldkill and this season's winner and Group performer Dutch Striker.
Knife Edge cut another notch on his belt at Ruakaka yesterday when he won for the second time in his short career.
Hanks impresses first time out ››
Well-related colt Hanks made a cracking start to his career with a debut win over 1400 metres at Sale on Monday.
