Caulfield double for Curraghmore
Curraghmore Stud graduates were in winning form at Caulfield on Saturday with both Paris Rock (Rock 'n' Pop) and Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux) celebrating victories. Trainer Henry Dwyer is eyeing stakes company after Paris Rock maintained her unbeaten record with a strong win over 1400m. Graduating from victories at Geelong and Ballarat at her first two starts, Paris Rock took out the Ian Miller Handicap under a patient ride from Damien Thornton. Paris Rock scored a three-quarter-length win from ...
February 3, 2018Charm Spirit filly heading to Perth
Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers hopes a filly from the first crop of Windsor Park Stud shuttler Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) with a double cross of Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) can develop into an Oaks filly. Chalmers went to $100,000 for Lot 807, a Curraghmore consigned daughter of European Group One winner Charm Spirit out of the placed mare Egeria (Daylami) who has had four foals to race for three winners including Melbourne metropolitan winner Freshwater Storm (One Cool Cat). ...
February 2, 2018Bold showing to confirm Derby plans
A Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) start is on the line for Flying Feet at Matamata on Friday. The son of Ocean Park is currently a $41 chance for the Vodafone-sponsored classic and excitement is mounting in the three-year-old’s camp. “To have a horse of his quality so early in my career is fantastic,” trainer Joe Waldron said. “As long as he runs up to expectations, he’ll be heading to the Derby and he’ll go to the Avondale Guineas first to have a look around Ellerslie.” Raised at C...
February 1, 2018Book 1 sale a success
The new look format of New Zealand Bloodstock's yearling sales series is being hailed a success after total takings from Book 1 exceeded the entire sales week at Karaka 2017 with three days of selling to go. Curraghmore once again were rewarded for presenting a quality draft. The farm consigned the second top lot over all, the Fasnet Rock x Diademe colt that was sold to Mark Pilkington and Lindsay Park Racing for $1,000,000. Selling 20 of the 21 yearlings offered at auction Curraghmore finished ...
January 31, 2018Aquis claim Zoustar colt
The appetite for the Widden Stud/Woodside Park-based sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor) continued on Monday at Karaka when Aquis Farm’s chief executive Shane McGrath teamed up with Lindsay Park Racing and went to $460,000 to secure a colt by the stallion from the Curraghmore draft. The purchase follows Zoustar’s strong sale at book one of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier in the month, where 22 lots by the sire sold for an aggregate of $6,095,000 at an average of $277,045...
January 30, 2018Cunningham not surprised by seven figure colt
Gordon Cunningham was expecting something special when Lot 156 entered the Karaka sale ring and the Curraghmore principal wasn’t disappointed. The son of Fastnet Rock was the subject of spirited bidding on Monday from all directions before he was knocked down to Mark Pilkington for $1 million. “He’s a colt with a great pedigree and the looks to match,” Cunningham said. “He’s got a great mind and attitude as well, he was always going to attract a lot of attention from the bigger playe...
January 29, 2018Long Leaf stamps Diamond claims in Preview
Exciting colt Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) is expected to go straight into the A$1.5 million Blue Diamond after maintaining an unbeaten start to his career in the colts and geldings Preview at Caulfield. Long Leaf won his two spring starts, including the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) in November, and returned from a let-up with a stylish victory in Saturday's Listed 1000m race. After settling behind a line of three up front in the field of six, Long Leaf got the run through turning for home wh...
January 28, 2018Waldron dares to dream with impressive Te Rapa winner
Fresh from saddling up his first Group race starter at Trentham yesterday, trainer Joe Waldron now has thoughts of the New Zealand Derby. Just months after taking out his permit to train licence, Waldron lined up his two-race winner Princess Dillon in the Gr. 3 Wellington Cup and took a lot of satisfaction out of the Dylan Thomas mare’s effort for sixth, less than five lengths from the winner Magic Chai. While Princess Dillon is enjoying a break, Waldron’s attention will centre over the next...
January 22, 2018Long Leaf to begin Diamond path in Preview
Lindsay Park's assault on this year's Blue Diamond series will begin in the Previews at Caulfield. The stable had six runners in last year's Gr.1 Blue Diamond for juveniles, with five finishing in the first seven headlined by brilliant winner Catchy. Lindsay Park trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig also have a number of youngsters in Blue Diamond contention this year including stakes-winning colt Long Leaf who resumes in Saturday's colts and geldings Preview (1000m). Long Leaf, a $750,...
January 21, 2018Nicks That Click – Two Champions Combine
A proven mix is represented in Curraghmore's Book 1 draft in Lot 25, the filly by Fastnet Rock out of the Group Two placed Amory Lane (Galileo).A new Group One winner last weekend has added further fuel to the fire that has ignited from this nick which might seem obvious, but has still surprised with its formidable potency. A mix of Sadler's Wells and Danehill in a pedigree has always been a recipe for success and delivered some of the world's best racehorses including Frankel and Minding so it ...
January 17, 2018Guineas-bound Boss set WFA challenge
Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt) will get the chance to test himself in the New Year's opening Group One weight-for-age events, before looking to do the major Guineas double. He caused an almighty boilover to win the Guineas in the spring as a 100-1 shot, but trainer Mick Price won't be stopping now with his blonde-maned colt - setting him a task against the best horses going around this autumn before a third-up tilt at the A$1million Australian Guineas at Flemington. "H...
January 17, 2018Paris Rock impresses again
Curraghmore graduate Paris Rock followed up her winning debut on Boxing Day with another impressive win at Ballarat on Sunday. The Henry Dwyer-trained three-year-old was ridden by Damien Thornton to an easy 3.75-length victory, indicating she has a bright future. “That was a very good win,” said Thornton. “I committed murder in front, they left me alone and we had an easy time. I just let her go a little bit quicker from the 500 so they didn’t get to me and she was always going t...
January 14, 2018Fighting Sun Off The Mark
Fighting Sun (Northern Meteor) was credited with his first winner on Saturday when the Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Mam'selle opened her winning account in Saturday's Kilbirnie Sports Premier (1200m) at Trentham.Curraghmore Stud will offer a son of Fighting Sun as lot 534 at the upcoming Karaka Book 1 Sale, out of Australian winner Ruby Ninetails (Red Ransom). This is the family of dual Group One winner Zipping.A son of Northern Meteor, Fighting Sun was unbeaten in two starts, includin...
January 14, 2018Long Leaf out of Karaka Million
Pre-post Karaka Million (1200m) favourite Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) is out of the Ellerslie feature. The Victorian youngster earned a $4.50 quote for the January 27 feature following his debut win at Morphettville and further success in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Sandown. However, co-trainer David Hayes has decided against a trip to New Zealand, instead setting Long Leaf for next month’s Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. “He’s going really well and as tempting a...
January 12, 2018NZB Pedigree Updates
Curraghmore's Book 1 draft for the 2018 NZB Sale is comprised of 23 yearlings. Since the pedigree has gone to print there have been several pedigree updates as noted below: Lot 3- Charm Spirit (IRE) x Zakelina fillyFrom the same family as ON THE ROCKS (2014.c. by Alamosa-Cold Shoulder, by Volksraad-Refused the Dance).1st ARC Trevor Eagle Memorial S. L 1st BOP RC O'Connor Warren Insurance Maiden S.3rd ARC Great Northern Guineas Gr.2Lot 25- Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Amory Lane (AUS...
January 3, 2018Telegraph build-up undecided
A decision has yet to be made whether Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) runs again before the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham later this month. The Group One winner missed the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day due to the slow track conditions. “He was spot on and it was disappointing when the rain came,” co-trainer Stephen Autridge said. “There’s a race for him in a fortnight’s time, but we’ll have to wait and see whether we run him.”Bred by the par...
January 3, 2018Kuro comes full circle with John O'Shea
John O'Shea's return to training in his own right has enabled him to reconnect with a yearling he bought in New Zealand. Kuro (Denman) was snapped up by O'Shea and Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds at the 2013 Karaka sale for $180,000 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud and the now six-year-old gelding has proved a wise investment. Although he raced in elite company as a three-year-old, Kuro's assignments are not as rich these days and he runs in Saturday's Listed Christmas Classic (1200m)...
December 29, 2017Lisdoonvarna ploughs through W Farm wet
Former New Zealand filly Lisdoonvarna (Super Easy) has continued a promising start to her Australian career with a Warwick Farm win. Sent out a $6 chance, Lisdoonvarna made the running on a rain-affected track in the TAB Handicap before clearing out to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Left in her wake to fight out the placings were the runner-up and favourite Savatiano ($3.80) and Star Galaxy ($5) which finished a short neck away third. After one run in New Zealand for a placing on a wet track in a two-yea...
December 6, 2017Price looks forward to the Autumn with Mighty Boss
Trainer Mick Price has said he expects Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt) to prove this autumn that his victory in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas was no fluke. Mighty Boss, who returns to Price’s stable in the coming days following a spell, has been earmarked for a tilt in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on 3 March. "He's a sound, tough colt with plenty of options for him," Price said. "I think he's still going to be a live chance (in the autumn). His Caulfield Guineas win - I know...
November 29, 2017NZB Ready To Run Sale a success
The 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs reached new heights this week with a record average price of just over $100,000 and a healthy clearance rate of 77%. All six of the horses Curraghmore presented sold, for an average of $182,000 and aggregate of $1,092,000 making us the second leading vendor on average at the sale. “We’re delighted with the prices we achieved for our clients," said Gordon Cunningham. "Going into the sale, we had confidence that we were offering a ...
November 24, 2017Fanatic gets Sandown Cup
Jockey Michael Walker has guided staying mare Fanatic to victory in the Listed Sandown Cup before being ruled out for the rest of the meeting due to illness. Walker was replaced on his final two rides at Saturday's Sandown meeting after struggling physically after the gruelling 3200m race. Walker said post-race he had been told the previous day by a doctor he's got pneumonia and that he "tried to ride through it". A winner of last year's New Zealand Oaks, Fanatic ($4) is in her first Australian ...
November 18, 2017Long Leaf pleases Hayes
Curraghmore graduate Long Leaf added a valuable black-type victory to his stallion credentials at just the second start of his career in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown on Saturday. Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy the two-year-old son of Fastnet Rock jumped well from the outside barrier, settling outside the leader Sanglier, before taking the lead at the 100m and staving off a determined effort by the favourite Ohood. “This colt looks a beauty,” said Australian Hall of Fame trainer ...
November 18, 2017Long Leaf to make stakes debut
A crack at New Zealand's richest race is among the options for well-bred two-year-old Long Leaf who will first chase a valuable stakes win at Sandown.Long Leaf made a winning start to his career at Morphettville on October 28 and lines up for his second start in Saturday's Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Sandown.The colt was a $750,000 yearling at the Karaka sales from the draft of Curraghmore Stud earlier this year and co-trainer Tom Dabernig said January's $1 million Karaka Million was ...
November 16, 2017Fanatic on target for Listed Sandown Cup
Fresh from her first Australian win during the Melbourne Cup carnival, New Zealand Group One winner Fanatic (Shocking) will be chasing more success in the Listed Sandown Cup. Fanatic sprinted well at the end of 2800m to win on the undercard to the Melbourne Cup at Flemington and steps up to 3200m on Saturday against seven rivals. The Flemington victory was the 2016 NZ Oaks winner's first in six starts since joining the Lindsay Park stable and co-trainer Tom Dabernig is hoping the mare can go on ...
November 16, 2017Autumn carnival beckons for Unforgotten
Well-bred filly Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) has underlined her promise with two wins in the space of seven days at Rosehill. Unforgotten ($1.50 fav) was dominant in victory over 1300m at Rosehill last Saturday and the Chris Waller-trained filly was just as impressive stepping up to 1500m in the Schweppes Handicap, eased down by rider Jay Ford to a 2-1/2 length win. By Fastnet Rock from a daughter of Galileo, Unforgotten is bred on a cross that has produced 54 winners worldwide since 2012, in...
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