Emotions run high as Coolmore land Palace Pier’s dam at 2,200,000gns
The close of one chapter invariably begets the start of another further up the racing and breeding chain, and that was certainly the case at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale on Tuesday as Highclere Stud bid farewell to Beach Frolic (Nayef), dam of champion miler Palace Pier (Kingman), as the hammer fell in favour of... Read More
Elite Street
Sometimes in breeding and racing you’re rewarded for your own judgement. Sometimes other people’s decisions work for you. The latter is the case concerning former WA Supreme Court judge Robert Anderson and Elite Street, who completed an undulating journey in rising from fourth in a Pinjarra maiden six months ago to becoming a Group 1... Read More
Griffiths taking a world view with stable after positive start to partnership
Mat de Kock’s international experience key to trainers’ intention to ramp up quality at the sales Revitalised Victorian trainer Robbie Griffiths believes no race or jurisdiction is off limits if his stable can unearth horses good enough to travel the world after recently linking with Mathew de Kock, the son of champion globetrotting horseman Mike... Read More
Sam Haggas secures 410,000gns top lot at December Mare Sale opener
Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) hero Rekindling (High Chaparral) was led out of the Tattersalls ring unsold for 95,000gns (approx. AUD$181,500) as the December Mare Sale got underway on Monday. Trained by Joseph O’Brien to win the 2017 renewal of the Flemington showpiece, the Lloyd Williams-owned Rekindling has run just twice since, finishing last in... Read More
Denis Pagan – racing’s left-field story of the year
Imagine if Troy Corstens were to coach an AFL team to a premiership win in two years’ time. That would, perhaps, provide the best perspective to rookie trainer, Corstens’ protege and dual AFL premiership coach Denis Pagan’s remarkable achievement in winning this year’s Gr 1 Victoria Derby with maiden Johnny Get Angry (Tavistock). This story... Read More
Air Horse Transport ready to emerge after months of being grounded
Calthorpe hoping Magic Millions carnival will lead to horses getting back in the air The proprietor of the Victoria-based Air Horse Transport is banking on the upcoming Magic Millions carnival kick-starting his business’s recovery after months of border closures and minimal equine movement had it on the brink of collapse. Chris Calthorpe revealed that the... Read More