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Te Akau strike early at Karaka

Te Akau struck early in the opening session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s two-day May Sale when they went to $110,000 to secure Savabeel yearling filly Tam O’Shanter from the draft of Curraghmore. “She’s a beautiful filly, very typical of Savabeel,” said Jamie Richards, who trains in partnership with Stephen Autridge for the New Zealand operation. “We know a little bit about the family, we trained Piper and she was a very good filly. She had a little issue and we never really saw the b...

Top lot Sydney bound

Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds went to $120,000 to secure the top lot in the yearling session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s May Sale. The daughter of Snitzel and the stakes-winning Stravinsky mare Tip The Wink was sold out of Curraghmore’s draft as lot 64 and will now head to John O’Shea’s Randwick stable. “She is quite an athletic filly, not overly big, but Snitzel himself is not overly big,” Abrahams said. “There is plenty of attitude to her, she’s out of a Stravinsky ...

Monday Wrap Up 07.05.18

Unfortunately there was no obvious joy on the weekend with race results, and so Curraghmore's focus turns to the Karaka auction ring with the first day on selling at New Zealand Bloodstock's May Sale getting underway today.Good luck to all the client's Curraghmore are selling on behalf of, there are some genuine prospects ready to go under the hammer.The farm has nine yearlings, 12 weanlings, two racehorses, and five broodmares on offer.  The draft is located in barn G and available for ins...

Roses test for Global Thinking

A question of class will be put to stakes winner Global Thinking at Doomben on Saturday week. “She’s going to run in the Roses to see if she can get 2000m and to find out if she’s competitive against the Australian fillies,” trainer Shaune Ritchie said. “There’s only one way to find out and she’s travelled over here beautifully. She’s a very kind filly. “She’s owned in Australia and the other option is to sell her here as a racehorse or broodmare. She’s by So You Think out...

Tulip to bloom with blinkers

Tulip will sport blinkers for the first time when she lines up in the Gr.1 UBET Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes expects the Curraghmore graduate to be the big improver in the race and is optimistic of her chances despite the three-year-old Pierro filly failing in Sydney last start and drawing barrier 18 in Adelaide. Hayes says the Group Three winning filly returned with ulcers from a Sydney campaign where she finished fifth in the Gr.1 Canterbury...

Weekend runners 05.05.18

RACING THIS WEEKEND: Good luck to the connections of the following Cm Graduates, running in feature races this weekend. ️Australia Saturday ️ - Morphettville Race 7 Sangster S. Gr.1, A$1002120 1200m Tulip (AUS) 2014 (F. by Pierro-Musidora) (trainer: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig) - Gold Coast Turf Club Race 4 Gold Coast Cup L, A$100000 1400m Ruettiger (NZ) 2011 (G. by Duporth-Be Inspired) (trainer: Ben Currie)...

Monday Wrap Up 30.04.18

It was another weekend of great results from Curraghmore graduates, showing consistency is an integral part of the farm’s success. The headline act was Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma) who on Friday night charged home late to take out the Gr.2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) in a thrilling finish at the Kranji track in Singapore. Trainer Mark Walker’s decision to add blinker-pacifiers to the four-year-old gelding is reaping benefits with the Curraghmore graduate sporting a three from three record fol...

Distinctive Darci scores thriller in Merlion Trophy

Billed as an exciting sprint race worthy of a Group One label, the S$500,000 Gr.2 Merlion Trophy certainly lived up to that tag with Polytrack specialist Distinctive Darci charging late for a most thrilling win on Friday night. Former Singapore champion three-year-old Countofmontecristo was being hailed the winner when he hit the front halfway up the straight, but Distinctive Darci, who just grows another leg on Polytrack, unwound with a sustained finish for Vlad Duric on his inside to deny him ...

Weekend Runners 27.04.18

Good luck to the connections of the following Curragmore graduates running in feature races this weekend:SINGAPORE FRIDAY: Singapore TC Race 6 Merlion Trophy, Gr.2, S$500000 1200m Distinctive Darci (NZ) (2013) (G. by Darci Brahma-Distinctive Lass) (Trainer: M WALKER) AUSTRALIA SATURDAY: Hawkesbury RC Race 5 Gold Rush H. L, A$126400 1100m Kuro (NZ) (2011) (G. by Denman-Distinctive Lass) (Trainer: J A O'Shea)Hawkesbury RC Race 8 Hawkesbury Guineas Gr.3, A$201750 1400m Lisdoonvarna (NZ) (2014) (F. ...

Big smokie El Chapo gives Shafrizal perfect wedding present

Jackpot bells rang wild for the rare brave who had a flutter on big outsider El Chapo on Tuesday night, but for his rider Shafrizal Saleh, all he could hear at the end of the S$85,000 Restricted Maiden race (1200m) were wedding bells! The former Malaysian-based apprentice jockey ties the knot with his sweetheart Zairina on Friday. El Chapo was his sixth winner for the year – and no doubt the one he will remember a little better, having come in just a few days before his big day. “It’s a ni...

Monday Wrap Up- 23.04.18

The result of the weekend came from Tribal Wisdom (Makfi) who scored on the final day of The Championships when successful in the last at Randwick over 1400m on Saturday. The Mike Moroney-trained Tribal Wisdom was given the perfect run by jockey Kerrin McEvoy sitting third on the fence before getting through to hit the lead at the right time and go on for a brave win. Tribal Wisdom, a descendant of 1989 Japan Cup winner Horlicks, was bred by Consolidated Bloodstock and selected by bloodstock age...

Step towards Group One for Belle

A Cambridge galloper preparing for a Group One goal will step out in Australia on Saturday. In Adelaide Belle du Nord will tackle the Gr.3 Schweppervesence (Auraria) Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville. Belle du Nord left New Zealand after running seventh to Savvy Coup in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and made her Australian debut in the Listed Lealia Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville a fortnight ago when running on for fifth behind Blue Morpho. �I was expectin...

This weekend's runners 19/04/18

Good luck to the connections of the following Cm Graduates, running this weekend. AUSTRALIA FRIDAY Hamilton RC Race 1 Eulong S/chase, A$29400 3200m #SURGINGWAVE (AUS) 2010 (G. by Encosta de Lago-Lucida) (trainer: Steven Pateman)Lockyer RC Race 7 Book Marquee Packages Now H., A$16000 1100m #GRANOLASTATE (NZ) 2013 (G. by Cape Blanco-Tip the Wink) (trainer: Chris Anderson) NEW ZEALAND FRIDAY Te Aroha JC Race 5 Lee Somervell Racing H., NZ$10000 1200m #LADYHASS (NZ)...

Unforgotten the fastest ever Australian Oaks winner

Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), victorious in last Saturday’s Gr.1 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m), will be remembered as the fastest ever winner of this Classic for three-year-old fillies. Her time of 2:27.21 easily broke the previous record of 2:28.80 set by Serenade Rose (Stravinsky) in 2006 but since then the Australian Oaks has mostly been run on rain affected tracks. Coming from well back in the field, Unforgotten finished powerfully in the home straight to catch the front-running Hiyaam (High C...

Theanswermyfriend back again at Caulfield

Trainer Henry Dwyer has gathered some new intelligence about Theanswermyfriend (High Chaparral) from the last time he ran at Caulfield. The gelding was having his second start for Dwyer after being transferred from Robert Smerdon when a fading 14th in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on March 31. Theanswermyfriend returns to Caulfield on Saturday to run in the Listed Anniversary Vase over the same distance as the Victoria Handicap. Dwyer says Theanswermyfriend will not be ridden a...

Turner and Poletti doing rain dance for Lisdoonvarna

Warwick Farm training partnership Amanda Turner and Mauro Poletti are praying for rain at Randwick on Saturday after nominating progressive filly Lisdoonvarna (Super Easy) to test the waters for the Brisbane winter carnival in the Gr.3 J H B Carr Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Super Easy earned her shot at Stakes grade after winning four of her five starts in Australia, including her last two at Warwick Farm in mid-week grade when defeating some quality opposition. Bought from New Zealand ...

Oaks Winner's Sister not Forgotten

Unforgotten's victory in the Group I Australian Oaks (2400m) provided a pair of New Zealand racing identities with a result to savour. Carol Marshall and Nessie Paykel raced her sister Special Memories and they are now breeding from the daughter of Fastnet Rock and the Galileo mare Memories Of You.Special Memories was purchased for them by Te Akau principal David Ellis from the draft of Curraghmore for $400,000 at Karaka in 2014. "Nessie and I were over the moon with the win by Unforgotten, yo...

Monday wrap up 16.04.18

Curraghmore graduates have been in top form over the last few days with Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma) following up Unforgotten's (Fastnet Rock) record breaking Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) win with a dominant victory at the Singapore Turf Club on Sunday night.Bred by Nearco Stud, Distinctive Darci was given a superb ride by Valid Duric and was far too strong for his rivals in the S$125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1000m.The Mark Walker-trained son of Darci Brahma, who was purchased by T...

Merlion Trophy next after Distinctive Darci's devastating win

A 10-out-of-10 ride from leading jockey Vlad Duric saw Distinctive Darci blow away his rivals in the S$125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1000m on Sunday. Dropped in a rearward spot by the Australian rider, Distinctive Darci smoked his pipe, away from the hustle and bustle upfront, only gearing up for his assault as the field neared the 500m mark. After setting a blistering pace from the get-go, Constant Justice (Craig Grylls) tried to stage another rally upon cornering but Al Green (Glen Boss) w...

Unforgotten wins the ATC Australian Oaks

Unforgotten's (Fastnet Rock) uneasy start to the autumn is now a distant memory. Diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia after running last in the Gr.1 Surround Stakes last month, Chris Waller never lost faith in the three-year-old filly. Sydney's premier trainer was also unfazed when Hiyaam beat her in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and a fortnight later Unforgotten turned the tables in style at Randwick to claim the A$1 million ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) in record time. The $4 favourite levell...

Unforgotten has history for Oaks success

Chris Waller is looking to Unforgotten's pedigree to reinforce his belief the talented filly can justify her favouritism for the Gr.1 Australian Oaks at Randwick. Waller pointed to the three-year-old's dam side as the key to Unforgotten over the 2400 metres of the A$1 million race. "The 2400 is always a test for any horse, let alone a three-year-old, but she's fit and her preparation's coming right at the right time of the year," Waller said on his stable update. "She's out of a Galileo mare (Me...

Distinctive Darci set on a Merlion Trophy path

Polytrack specialist Distinctive Darci’s (Darci Brahma) run on Sunday will give trainer Mark Walker a good guide about his prospects in the S$500,000 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on April 27. The Darci Brahma four-year-old will run in Sunday’s S$125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1000m on the all-weather. Walker would actually have preferred a 1100m trip as a lead-up, but said he could not be too choosy. “Sunday’s race will be a good trial for the Merlion Trophy, even if I wished it had been ov...

Monday wrap up 09.04.18

Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) confirmed his potential as a Group One prospect when running a very good fourth in the Gr.1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.In a race won by rank outsider El Dorado Dreaming, Long Leaf flew home the last 200m and finished only 1.4 lengths off the winner.Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was pleased with the run and indicated Curraghmore's $750,000 New Zealand Bloodstock graduate could appreciate a step up in distance.“It was a nice run, he presented t...

Monday wrap up April 2 2018

While there were no big wins on the weekend Curraghmore graduates again put in some great performances on the track. Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) put in a huge performance running second to the New Zealand bred Hiyaam in the Gr.1 Vinery Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.  This run, as well as her previous victory in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) have Unforgotten as the current favourite for the Gr.1 Australian Oaks on the April 14. Unforgotten was purchased by trainer Chris Waller from Curraghmo...

Unforgotten the one to beat in Vinery

Trainer Chris Waller will be hoping to add the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) to his impressive list of Group One wins when Curraghmore graduate Unforgotten lines up at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.  The daughter of Fastnet Rock is unbeaten in three starts at Rosehill including an impressive last start victory in the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) where she came from last on the turn and defeated Holy Snow.  Her best run last campaign was third-up where she scored by 2.5 lengths over 1500m, and j...