DGR Locked and Loaded With Fresh Ammunition
Sunday 14 June, 2020
DGR’s Duncan Ramage was highly active throughout the 2020 Yearling Sale Series, purchasing 14 yearlings across the Gold Coast Magic Millions, New Zealand Bloodstock, Inglis Classic and Inglis Easter Yearling Sales.
Duncan was thrilled to secure a variety of colts and fillies from some of Australasia’s leading thoroughbred nurseries, including Arrowfield Stud, Widden Stud, Curraghmore, Cambridge Stud, Windsor Park Stud, Westbury Stud, Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Valiant Stud and Kenmore Lodge.
A selection of yearlings were purchased in partnership with associate trainers across three States in Australia and horses have been placed in stables at Caulfield, Randwick and Eagle Farm.
Adhering to his strict selection criteria, Duncan identified and purchased each yearling with a specific target in mind and has placed each individual with a trainer who has a proven record of success in that arena.
Duncan has meticulously sourced yearlings by proven Group One producing sires, including Pierro, Medaglia d’Oro, Written Tycoon, Dundeel (2), Tavistock (3), Artie Schiller and Rubick.
Adding to the mix, Duncan also bought yearlings by Group One-winning First Season Sires Shalaa, Turn Me Loose and Tarzino, as well as a colt by exciting young Coolmore Stud stallion Vancouver.
Concluding the yearling sale series with a total spend of $3.26 million and an average purchase price of $232,857, Duncan was active across the board, paying between $150,000 and $550,000 to secure top-quality bloodstock for DGR’s clients.
“As always, I put a huge amount of effort into seeking out and buying yearlings that are athletic, have proven pedigrees and represent great value for DGR’s clients,” says DGR Thoroughbred Services’ principal Duncan Ramage.
With the DGR Honour Roll extending this season, Duncan looks forward to further success with his most recent purchases. “I couldn’t be happier with the bloodstock we have secured and I’m looking forward to watching their racetrack careers unfold in the years to come.”
Horses purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services’ have continued to show their dominance on the racetrack, with the most recent victory coming last weekend when Chris Anderson trained three-year-old Ballistic Boy took out the G3 Rough Habit Plate at Eagle Farm.
“Chris Anderson does an incredible job as a trainer, and we’re really excited about the rising two-year-old Shalaa colt we have in his stable at the moment. We encourage anyone looking to race a classy colt with an inform team to get in touch.”
Duncan Ramage
Rough Habit Goes Ballistic
Tuesday 9 June, 2020
Story courtesy of Aushorse
You learn something new every day. Take Ballistic Boy for instance.
Part-owned by Think Big Stud, Ballistic Boy races in the famous colours of the late Dato Tan Chin Nam, whose other star performers include dual Cox Plate winner and leading sire, So You Think, Melbourne Cup winner, Viewed, another Melbourne Cup winner in Saintly, and yet another Melbourne Cup winner in Think Big (’74 and ’75).
All bar the latter raced in Dato Tan Chin Nam’s distinctive black and white checks with yellow sleeves, with the checks being a nod to the owner’s life-long passion for chess … who at one stage sat on the board (no pun intended) of the International Chess Federation and sponsored many famous chess players and tournaments.
However, we digress. Racing in Saturday’s Group Three 7 Racing Rough Habit Plate over 2200m at Eagle Farm, the exciting 3YO, Ballistic Boy, would turn the tables on Supergiant and a classy field of rivals to notch up his first stakes victory, courtesy of a power packed performance.
It was the Smart Missile gelding’s fourth win from 15 starts – along with five placings – for $330,850 in stakes, but Ballistic Boy had been putting the writing on the wall with a third behind Vanna Girl in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Doomben in early May, before a lip second to Supergiant in the Group Three Gunsynd two weeks ago.
And, as leading bloodstock agent, Duncan Ramage, happily points out, it was the second Rough Habit in a row for Think Big and co. after Purple Sector checkmated the 2019 chapter.
Ramage – who operates under the DGR Thoroughbred Services banner – has been purchasing yearlings on behalf of Dato Tan Chin Nam and his family since the early 1990s, with the first buy being a nifty Tate Gallery 2YO – Capablanca – who won his first three starts in Sydney before shifting to Hong Kong (and yes, the horse was named after chess prodigy, Jose Raul Capablanca).
A major player in Australian racing and breeding for decades, Dato Tan Chin Nam passed away in October 2018 and Ramage – who manages Think Big Stud Pty Ltd on behalf of Dato Tan Chin Nam’s children – explains that the operation has scaled back over the last few years.
“Think Big Stud at Burradoo (in NSW’s southern tablelands) was leased to Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds in early 2017 and Think Big’s breeding operation has been reduced considerably,” Ramage reveals. “There was a lot of history among those mares including Norzita (a dual Group One winner) who was sold for $1.7 million at last year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
“Think Big had originally purchased the old ‘Inverness’ property and then, after Viewed won his Melbourne Cup (2008), we bought the place next door … and then the property next door to that when So You Think won his first Cox Plate (2009).
“However, while the breeding numbers have dropped, the Dato Tan Chin Nam family is eager to see the colours continue to fly and we currently have around 40 on the books – yearlings and racehorses – and purchase around 10 yearlings annually.
“Whereas Dato Tan Chin Nam raced mostly under his own banner with old friends, the last few years has seen quite a few new friends and clients join in the ownership, as is the case with Ballistic Boy.”
Ramage purchased Ballistic Boy – in conjunction with Eagle Farm trainer, Chris Anderson – for $100,000 at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale after the then colt had been pinhooked for $14,000 by Dengari Lodge at the 2017 Inglis Scone Weanling Sale.
“Congratulations to Chris as Ballistic Boy is his first stakes winner, but not through wont of trying,” Ramage adds. “We purchased four yearlings together in 2018 and they include the multiple city winner, Profit, who was second to Alligator Blood in the Group Three Vo Rogue, along with the winner Empire Games.
“Ballistic Boy will get a nice spell now. He’s had eight runs this time in and will be brought back for either the spring or the Magic Millions carnival in January.”
The Group success also continues the great run for Middlebrook Valley Lodge whose sale graduates include All Too Hard, Fundamentalist, Military Rose, Fasika, Mildred and last month’s stakes winner, Oasis Girl.
“We’ve been operating for 12 years and only offer around 25 to 30 annually,” Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Verna Metcalfe explained from the 400 acre property at Scone. “They’re not expensive yearlings either and I’m pretty proud of our strike rate.
“Ballistic Boy wasn’t overly big, but a very nice foal and, as a matter of fact, I suggested to Garry Isaac he should buy him.”
Isaac, and his wife Denise, operate Dengari Lodge – which specialises in pinhooking – with Garry having worked in management roles at Marquee Stud, Aquis Farm and Woodside Park before joining, somewhat ironically, Middlebrook Valley Lodge last month.
“Denise and I would buy around half a dozen weanlings each year to turn them around as yearlings,” Isaac points out. “I was working at Aquis at the time of the Gold Coast yearling sale and put Ballistic Boy through their draft.
“We have a set process – working in closely with our good mate and vet, Dr Greg Nash – and we’d look at around 600 to 800 weanlings every year, trying to picture what they’ll be like in six to nine months time. Ballistic Boy had plenty of scope about him and absolutely thrived during the yearling prep.
“We got an offer beforehand, but decided to put him through the sale and I’m glad we did as he made quite a bit more money.”
While the Isaacs have the runs on the board with Ballistic Boy and bred a Nicconi filly off a bargain fee, before selling her as a yearling for $200,000 (to DGR and Chris Anderson!), it’s dual Everest winner, Redzel, who takes pride of place at the top of the honour roll.
Snapped up by Isaac for $45,000 (2013 Inglis Weanling Sale), Redzel was purchased by Triple Crown Syndications for $120,000 (2014 Gold Cosat Magic Millions Yearling Sale) prior to the star sprinter going on to win 15 races and $16,444,000 in stakes – the second highest prizemoney winner in Australia.
“It just goes to show that x-rays aren’t the be-all and end-all,” Isaac muses. “Redzel was really a $400,000 yearling, but had a compressed hock which put off some potential buyers from Hong Kong and another leading trainer in Sydney. And they’re just the ones I know of.
“Redzel never had a lame day in his life and what a great racehorse he was.”
HOOFNOTE: Bred by Sydney based bloodstock agent, Andy Williams, Ballistic Boy becomes the 17th stakes winner for Fastnet Rock stallion and Champion Australian First Season Sire (2015/16), Smart Missile, who is gearing up for his third spring at Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud.
Ballistic Boy, meanwhile, is the second foal of 4-time winning High Chaparral mare, Magical Mist, in turn a half sister to Group One winner, Distill and multiple stakes winner, Mr Tipsy.
Magical Mist was purchased by Aquis Farm and Julian Blaxland’s Blue Sky Bloodstock for $120,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, where she has subsequently produced a Pride of Dubai filly – Splendiferous – who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott; a Divine Prophet yearling filly to be retained by Aquis; and a colt by The Mission which is a likely starter at a 2021 yearling sale; while the mare is in foal to The Performer.
According to Aquis Farm’s CEO, Tony ‘Tubba’ Williams, Magical Mist is likely to visit newcomer, Pierata, this spring.
Ballistic Boy wins the Group Three 7 Racing Rough Habit Plate at Eagle Farm (Trackside Photography)
Anderson on target in 3YO feature
Saturday 6 June, 2020
Written by Paul Vettise / TDN AUS/NZ
Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) signed off with a career-best effort following a dominant display to claim the G3 Rough Habit Plate and deliver a memorable result for Chris Anderson.
The 3-year-old has been a model performer and will go for a well-earned break at the top of his game with his Eagle Farm trainer keeping his fingers crossed he will have the gelding back in the future.
“He’ll go to the paddock if he doesn’t go to Hong Kong. There have been a few offers in the past, but hopefully he stays in Australia,” Anderson said.
Ballistic Boy is one of several horses purchased by Anderson in partnership with Think Big Stud General Manager Duncan Ramage with Profit (Dundeel {NZ}) also a multiple winner and Empire Games (Adelaide {Ire}) another success story.
“It’s a great result and big thanks to Think Big, who have given the stable amazing support. To get my first Group 3 in those colours is a dream,” Anderson said.
Ballistic Boy was settled by rider Brad Stewart back in the body of the field and they edged closer from the 600 metre mark.
Commanding performance
When Stewart pressed the button, the favourite cut loose to hit the front 200 metres from home and then powered clear to win with authority from Supergiant (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) and Navy Cross (I Am Invincible).
“It really was a peach of a ride. We’ve experimented with him a bit this time in and when he’s a bit too close he just can’t find like he can when he’s midfield and can really come home hard late,” Anderson said.
“He’s a horse that’s just getting better and better and he’ll be even better again when he’s a 4-year-old.”
“He’s a horse that’s just getting better and better and he’ll be even better again when he’s a 4-year-old.” – Chris Anderson
Ballistic Boy was offered by Aquis Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was purchased for $100,000.
He is a son of Magical Mist (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won four races, and boasts a pedigree blessed with both staying and sprinting influences.
She is a half-sister to the G1 Levin Classic winner Distil (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and the stakes-winning stayer Mr Tipsy (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}), who placed twice at Group 1 level over 3200 metres in the Sydney and Auckland Cups.
Magical Mist is a direct female descendant of the G1 Goodwood H. winner Boardwalk Angel (Bletchingly), who produced the G1 Railway H. winner Coogee Walk (NZ) (Success Express {USA}).
“He’s a cracking-looking specimen and with more racing under his belt he’s improved and time will continue to be an asset,” Anderson said.
Ballistic Boy
Modern day results from enduring selection criteria
Friday 3 April 2020
Over many years, DGR Thoroughbred Services’ Duncan Ramage has forged a distinguished career as a Bloodstock Agent. The extensive list of successful racehorses and breeding stock Duncan has purchased is testament to this fact.
The impressive line-up of horses that Duncan has been involved with include racetrack greats like So You Think, First Seal, Saintly, Viewed, Dariana, Faint Perfume and Norzita (to name a few).
What is more impressive is the longevity and success that these families go on to achieve—many of the prominent racehorses under Duncan’s current management hail from families he has acquired for clients.
Saturday’s esteemed ‘Derby Day’ at Royal Randwick hosts a brilliant card of top-class racing. Duncan will no doubt be watching eagerly as five prominent runners in which he has been instrumental with will get their chance to etch their name in the history books.
The first of those runners is Donnachiara, a three-year-old filly by Eurozone who will line up in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes for trainer Anthony Cummings. She recently claimed back-to-back wins and blitz her rivals by six lengths during her most recent success at Gosford in late February.
Bred and owned by Think Big Stud, Duncan purchased both her sire Eurozone (G2 winner & multiple G1 placed) and dam Reglisse. The former was a $180,000 purchase from the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, and Duncan purchased her dam Reglisse for $87,500 at the 2011 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.
Taking on Donnachiara in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes is John Sargent trained three-year-old filly Stick ‘Em Up. A daughter of leading young sire Dundeel, Duncan purchased her for $110,000 at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Lime Country Thoroughbreds on behalf of Tunku Ahmad’s Westcode Syndicate.
Quality stayer Carif (pictured on the front cover) will take his place in the G2 Chairman’s Quality over 2600m. Last seen running fifth in the G1 Tancred Stakes, the four-year-old entire is by 10-time Group One winner So You Think, out of Champion Filly Norzita.
Bred and raced by Think Big Stud and Tunku Ahmad’s Westcode Syndicate, Duncan purchased both Carif’s sire and dam from Windsor Park Stud’s NZB Karaka Yearling draft.
Duncan has also had a hand to play in two runners that will contest the $1 million G1 Australian Derby; Chains Of Honour and Get The Idea.
Regally bred Chains Of Honour is by Redoute’s Choice out of G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume. Owned and raced by Sun Stud, he is trained by Gerald Ryan and has won three from six-race starts and more than $200,000 in prizemoney.
Duncan purchased his multiple Group One winning grand dam Danendri as a yearling and devised the mating which resulted in Chains Of Honour (Faint Perfume was sold for $700,000 to Sun Stud while in foal).
John Sargent trained So You Think gelding Get The Idea will also get his chance to claim Group One glory in the G1 Australian Derby for breeder/owner Think Big Stud. A winner of two of four race starts, his dam Cavita was purchased by Duncan for $45,000 at the 2007 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.
Purchased to enrich Think Big Stud’s broodmare band, Cavita has been a valuable broodmare acquisition. She has produced Stakes placed/seven-time winner The Peak and now promising staying prospect Get The Idea.
Venturing out of NSW, Phillip Stokes trained So You Think gelding Good Idea will race in the Geoff Murphy Handicap at Caulfield.
Bred and owned by Think Big Stud and Alan Jackson, Good Idea is a half-brother to G1 Australian Derby hopeful Chains Of Honour (Redoute’s Choice – Faint Perfume).
He is a progressive staying type that has won five starts and was most recently seen placing second in the G2 Adelaide Cup.
At Morphettville under the guidance of Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr, DGR purchased three-year-old Savabeel gelding Craftmanship will take his place in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas.
Purchased for $360,000 from Little Avondale Stud’s 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling draft, Craftmanship was successful in winning the Listed Hill Smith Stakes and ran in the G1 VRC Derby. He was purchased for Think Big Stud and a syndicate of owners.
The day of racing presents an exciting opportunity for a talented group of runners across three states in Australia.
“It’s certainly very exciting to see such a large number of horses I have been involved with contesting such prestigious races on what is going to be a massive day of racing nation-wide,” said Duncan Ramage.
“I look forward to watching each of them run and wish their connections the very best of luck.”
Astute yearling purchases reap rewards
Friday 10 April 2020
The unique 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale format was deemed a success by many considering the testing circumstances.
Day two of selling was a momentous day for DGR Thoroughbred Services’ Duncan Ramage who was delighted with the sale prices fetched by yearlings out of two very special mares he purchased for clients as yearlings; First Seal and Yattarna.
To this day, Group One-winner First Seal is Duncan’s most expensive yearling purchase, costing NZ$700,000 at the 2013 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
Purchased for the China Horse Club and the late Dato’ Tan Chin Nam (Think Big Stud) from Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud, First Seal has excelled in everything she has been asked to do. She won over A$1.25 million in prizemoney and can now add producing the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale topper to her impressive list of accomplishments.
Knocked down to Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier for A$1.8 million, First Seal’s sale-topping colt (Lot 447) is by Champion Sire Snitzel and was offered by Sledmere Stud on behalf of the colt’s breeder China Horse Club.
“It was a fantastic result for the China Horse Club. They had an enormous amount of fun racing First Seal, and it would have been a huge thrill to sell her first foal for $1.8 million,” Duncan said.
In what can only be described as a stellar racing career, First Seal was crowned Champion Female Sprinter in Australia for the 2015-16 season. Five of her six career wins were at Group level, and she recorded major victories in the G1 Coolmore Flight Stakes, G2 Surround Stakes, G2 Tea Rose Stakes, G2 Millie Fox Stakes and G2 MRC Tristarc Stakes.
She was also runner-up in four top-tier Group One races including the G1 Spring Champion, G1 Coolmore Classic, G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 Canterbury Stakes.
Group winning Exceed and Excel mare Yattarna achieved another memorable milestone in her career when her first foal, a filly by I Am Invincible (Lot 292) fetched A$400,000 to the bid of Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock.
Duncan purchased Yattarna for A$90,000 from Kambula Stud’s 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft on behalf of Think Big Stud and a syndicate of owners.
Yattarna won two of her nine starts and finished her racing career on a high when winning the G3 ATC James HB Carr Stakes at Royal Randwick at her very last appearance. She was subsequently sold for A$600,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in 2017 to the China Horse Club.
In a highly successful career that has spanned over several decades, Duncan acknowledges the magnitude of due diligence that goes into selecting a great racehorse, “When I purchase yearlings for clients, there is a massive amount of work that goes into identifying individuals with the potential to develop into exceptional racehorses.”
“As a Bloodstock Agent it is very rewarding when horses go on to do just that, then take it a step further by achieving excellence in the sale ring, then hopefully going on to play a part in producing a new generation of champions,” Duncan said.
Duncan looks forward to following the career of his most recent purchase, “I was thrilled to secure a lovely Dundeel filly at this weeks Inglis Easter Sale. She has a beautiful physique and a pedigree that suggests she will develop into a nice staying type of filly,” he said.
“She’s not dissimilar to our John Sargent trained Dundeel filly Stick ‘Em Up who will run in the Australian Oaks at Randwick tomorrow”.
Group One winner First Seal
G1 Australian Derby contender Get The Idea
DGR 2020 yearling purchases enter training stables
Wednesday April 1, 2020
This time of year represents an exciting chapter as DGR purchased yearlings get closer to unveiling their athletic ability on the racetrack.
We couldn’t be happier with the progress that the Shalaa ex Methyar colt has made since being purchased at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
By all accounts, he has pleased his breakers and trainer Chris Anderson.
Watch the video to hear trainer Chris Anderson’s thoughts.
A Sebring Quinella in the $1 Million Ferrari Magic Millions Trophy
Mark Smith – Breednet – Saturday January 11
Widden Stud’s late, great Sebring went 1-2 in Saturday’s $1 Million Ferrari Magic Millions Trophy but there was a dominant winner in the John Thompson-trained Primitivo.
With Glenn Boss having his first ride on the honest 5yo gelding, Primitivo came clear in the closing stages to defeat the Chris Waller-trained Black On Gold by one and three-quarter lengths with the Tony Gollan-trained A Man To Match a short-neck back in third.
“He had a lovely run it chopped and changed a little in the middle but we were always in a strong position he was in a great rhythm breathing beautifully very relaxed,” Boss said.
“At the half mile once I got out off the fence I knew the race was his.
“The Candy Man is a hell of a horse but I knew he had 61 where we had 54 so we got going early and he was way too good.”
Winning trainer John Thompson said Boss had made the difference.
“All credit to the horse he’s incredibly clean winded and tends to go well on the fresh side, so the step up in distance wasn’t a real worry.”
“Eleven out of ten ride from Bossy. If you watch the replay you can just see him thinking the whole way it made a big difference.”
“It’s been a good week, I bought a couple including another Sebring like this guy.”
– Primitivo as a yearling
A $105,000 purchase by DGR Thoroughbred Services out of the Turangga Farm draft at the 2016 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Primitivo advances his record to 4 wins, 6 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $830,810.
A half-brother to four winners including the stakes-placed Quest For Peace (Hard Spun), Primitivo is out of the imported Coronado’s Quest mare Classic Quest (USA) a half-sister to the dam of the Group III winner and Group 1-placed Lemon Pretty (Scat Daddy).
Classic Quest (USA) has a yearling colt by Your Song in the Turangga Farm draft headed to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Absolute peach ride from @boss_glen on Primitivo to win $1M Trophy Quality Hcp.@mmsnippets
Sebring’s Primitivo an easy winner of the $1 million MM Trophy – image Grant Courtney.
Careful Pre-Race preparations by trainer & jockey.
Moving With The Times
17th December 2019
Careful Pre-Race preparations by trainer & jockey[/caption]DGR Thoroughbred Services first purchase at public auction resulted in that $7,000 acquisition winning the 1992 Inglis Classic for two-year-olds, a race even then worth $350,000. Shoeshine Henry made his debut for short neck second in the Breeders Plate Gr3 in September of 1991. Shoeshine also ran second in the Silver Slipper Gr2, then run prior to Christmas at two. At three he ran third in the Caulfield Guineas Gr1 and MVRC Vase Gr3 and Spring Stakes (behind star of the year Coronation Day).
Moving forward to the current era in the 2019 Inglis Nursery on December 14th, Encountabull, a $80,000 purchase in conjunction with his trainer John Sargent, ran a great second sandwiched between $525,000 & $600,000 purchases Wild Ruler & Canadian Spice. Encountabull will chase the big the big $2m prize of the Inglis Millennium on February 8th in the New Year. Like Shoeshine Henry, Encountabull should have a decent career beyond his two-year-old years.
We cannot recall many other DGR Inglis Classic runners but past Inglis Classic Sales purchases does include outstanding Caulfield Guineas Gr1 winner Gods’ Own purchased in conjunction with his trainer the Late Bart Cummings.
Grown Up & Carif
11th November 2019
With the major spring carnival over our spring contenders have grown in stature as a result. Yearling purchases like Battenburg became a new name running third in the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes at only his fourth career start. Fellow 3yo Craftmanship won the Listed Hill Smith Stakes in Adelaide on the same day, that was his fourth career start also. Battenburg met at their next start on Cox Plate day in the Gr3 Vase running fifth and sixth. Also on Cox Plate day, Ballistic Boy ventured down from his Eagle Farm base to run a great Fourth in the new Million Dollar Bondi Stakes at Randwick. The previous day Stick ‘Em up was forced to venture to the nation’s Capital Canberra to race after several of her scheduled engagements where abandoned meetings. She handled her first attempt at 2000m with aplomb beating older horses well in the process. All of these were 3yo’s however earlier the same week 4yo Into The Abyss ventured back into Stakes company in Victoria after her demolition win in Sydney. She ran a creditable third at Listed level at Geelong.
Craftmanship & Stick ‘Em represented us in the feature spring classics for the boys & girls in the Gr1 VRC Derby & Oaks at Flemington. Both came up a bit short both running 8th with some handy prizemoney and both off limited prior racing. Autumn should be a good space for them. On Derby day at the provincials La Grisa took a big step to a promising career with a commanding win in her third career start and first attempt at in the middle distance range. Other to run places off limited career starts in this period included Instant Attraction & She’ So Savvy.
Homebreds ran well too. Brunetta providing an authoritative much deserved win in provincial Sydney after a string of placings on Melbourne Cup Day. Cup Day in metropolitan Sydney saw a solid second at Randwick by To Your Health. But of all “homebreds” very special mention must go to the lightly raced stayer Carif. Throughout this window he pressed and furthered his claim towards the 2020 Melbourne Cup with a provincial win, 5th at weight for age in the Gr2 Hill Stakes, 2nd in the $500,000 ATC St Leger then to Flemington for 2nd Gr3 Hotham Hcp and backing up and rounding out his spring campaign with a further 2nd in the Gr3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In all three of those staying handicaps it took three different Northern Hemisphere bred and raced rivals to beat him. To call Carif simply a Homebred is slightly belittling. He was indeed bred by his owners, the Late Dato’ Tan Chin Nam & spritely octogenarian Tunku Ahmad Yahaya, but he is the product two former yearling purchases who won 12 group 1 races between them and claimed divisional Horse Of The Year Titles themselves in the mighty So You Think and Champion 3yo filly Norzita. Watch this space as Carif will mount a defence of the Cups’ against the foreign horses in the same vein as 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.
Battenburg was spelled after his run at Moonee Valley as have now many of those mentioned above.
Carif opens up his Flemington Career in the Melbourne Cup qualifier & historic Hotham Handicap on Derby Day 2019.
Into The Aybss striding clear on Labour Day Holiday Racing
Sprouting
10 October 2019
Our spring growth (10 Sept) has sprouted some more recent winners with a pleasant last week. Joyous Times, a Think Big Stud/Foote Street homebred by our former champion racehorse and top 10 sire So You Think broke through for an all important maiden win at Gosford (3 Oct) under an excellent R King ride. Saturday 5 October saw Dundeel purchase Profit chalk up his four win from his three career starts for trainer Chris Anderson at Eagle Farm. He will likely reappear in the $2m Magic Million 3YO Guineas on 11th January. On the same day, this time at Randwick, homebred Carif, by former yearling purchases So You Think & Norzita (a combined 12 Group 1 wins between them) gets special mention with his first attempt at Weight For Age running 3 lens fifth in the $500,000 Group 2 Hill Stakes. He will revert to a more favourable weight scale at his next start in the St Ledger Gr3 at Randwick on 19 Oct. Rounding out the long weekend runner was Into The Abyss who chalked a further easy win under a large weight at Warwick Farm on 7 Oct. See Breednet story about her https://www.breednet.com.au/news/8283/soft-win-for-foxwedge-mare The weekend ahead see yearlings we have purchased compete nationwide at Randwick, Eagle Farm, Morphettville, Kembla Grange & Hawkesbury in Group 1 races, Stakes Races, Open Handicaps to Maidens. Hopefully we can report back with some good fortune.
Spring Growth
10th September 2019
With Spring comes new growth and as we ease into Spring 2019 some new horses are emerging for DGR and associates. Three Year Old Profit by Dundeel from Opportunity is unbeaten in his two career starts thus far. While he is yet to become a “Profit” in prizemoney terms and it is far from a Done Deal that he will, but he certainly has the opportunity to do so.
Ref: Breednet https://www.breednet.com.au/news/8050/derby-dreamer-for-dundeel
Fellow Dundeel 3yo Mystery Trick also won on debut in August weeks and while he found the Group 3 Ming Dynasty a bridge to far at his subsequent start, he too will have an opportunity to so in the Autumn having been put away by his trainer Bjorn Baker for now.
Yet another Dundeel for our connections, the cutely named 3yo filly Stick ‘Em Up, out of Shoot Fer Love a half sister to Grupo 1 her Shoot Out, has started to show some staying potential with a nice third placing last start over 1500m. The further the better for this filly into spring.
Not every horse we race is by super stallion Dundeel. Another 3yo filly who will appreciate more distance is last start placed daughter of Nicconi called Wurnic, doing so this last Sunday hailing from the growing association with Anderson Heathcote stable.
Some interesting unraced or lightly raced three olds around our team by stallions such as Reliable Man, Redoutes Choice, Smart Missile & Iffraaj are warming up via barrier trials for various trainers while yet another fellow 3yo called Craftmanship, by Savabeel this time, in the care of the Price Kent Jnr stable won when resuming in Melbourne on the first day of Spring. He too will have his opportunity going forward from his two career starts to date.
Not restricted to just our three year olds, we are looking forward with some optimism with our group performing four years olds like Purple Sector and Carif this spring.
Profit returns to scale at Eagle Farm on Saturday 7th September thus far unbeaten
Indeed An Honour with Hall of Fame Induction
I was honoured to make the acceptance speech for So You Think’s induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in Brisbane on Friday 17th May. It is not the first time having had a similar honour when Saintly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Adelaide ceremony a few years prior. Both great horses and worthy inductees and similarly carrying the famous Black & White Checks, Yellow Sleeves of owner, the Late Dato’ Tan Chin Nam and trained for him by Hall of Fame Legend the Late Bart Cummings.
These colours continue to be represented at the top level with Purple Sector carrying them to victory in the Rough Habit Plate Group3 on 11th May. June 8th we have every expectation to see these colours adorn runners in the two year old and three year old Group 1 races of the day at Eagle Farm.
Picture : Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 17th May 2019 – Brisbane
A Champion Result
Friday 4th May’s Chairman’s Sale at Inglis Riverside saw the sale of “NORZITA” to John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud for $1.7m. A poignant moment for DGR she was offered as one of the last core breeding assets of the estate of the Late Dato’ Tan Chin Nam. Sold in foal to Snitzel, Norzita was purchased by DGR for her racing owners Dato’ Tan Chin Nam’s Think Big Stud and Tunku Ahmad’s Westcode Pty Ltd for NZ$200,000 at the 2010 New Zealand Karaka Premier Yearling Sales.
Norzita raced twelve times winning 4 of those occasions including the Group 1 ATC Flight Stakes in the spring of 2012 and the Group 1 ATC Storm Queen Stakes Gr1. She was never unplaced at stakes level, she was first past the post in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes only to lose it in the stewards room and she closed out her three year old career running third in the Group1 ATC Doncaster Stakes to males Sacred Falls & Pierro, who are both now at stud as stallions themselves. This consistent dominant performance saw her crowned 2012/13 Australasian Champion 3yo Filly.
By our records Norzita became at least the fourth Champion 3yo Filly procured by DGR after Danendri, Dashing Eagle & First Seal. Faint Perfume achieved the same accolade, but she was bred in partnership by Dato’ from daughter of the aforementioned Danendri, but will still feel we have our fingerprint on that filly also.
Norzita has started her own breeding career off soundly with her 3yo son Carif winning his maiden in track record time, posting a fourth at Group 2 level in April 2019 at his sixth start with aspirations of better things to come from him. Carif is by our ten time Group 1 winning Champion So You Think who also came from the same sale ring as Norzita, but for NZ$110,000 in 2008.
Norzita’s 2yo called Confidant is at the time of writing unbeaten in two Flemington Jump Out Trials so we at DGR have much to look forward to watching Norzita and be proud about.
Easter Optimism
The 2019 version on the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales set some records and some very high prices and indices with 75 lots selling for $500,000 or more and an overall average of $356,372.
Perhaps not the sale to claim to have bought cheaply but our two purchases bought in conjunction with Anthony Cummings do sit below the overall sale average and less than the half price of $500,000. We have purchased Group 1 winners from the Easter Yearling Sales as has Anthony Cummings and we are rightfully optimistic that this years combined purchases can add to the Group 1 haul.
Our purchases of Lot 147 by Teofilo & Lot 186 by So You Think can be viewed in the links.
Picture : Lot 186 in the auction ring at Inglis Riverside purchased for $220,000.
Legacy Updates Continue
The legacy of Dato’ Tans support updates yet again. We commented during 2018 and again in a post in January 2019 about winning combinations and successful progeny bred from racehorses initially purchased by DGR as yearlings such as Krone (Eurozone/Soft Landing), Tivaci (ex Breccia),Emperors Way (Roman Emperor/Laylia) but 2018 ended with our pinnacle success for breeding with SKY BOY winning five in a row and the Villiers Group 2 on 15th December putting him on top of the individual metropolitan wins table (source Racenet) for the season. The unbeaten MYSTERY LOVE adds the recent Bendigo Guineas Listed to the tally.
She is another stakes winner for her sire Eurozone purchased by DGR as a yearling to race for the late Dato’ Tan & Partners. Her dam Free Thinking was bred by Dato’ being by his beloved Pendragon, purchased as a yearling by DGR out of an off the track broodmare purchased for Dato’ as we set his then new Think Big Stud property in the southern highlands. That mare leash is now also the grandam of the $2m earner HOUTZEN.
The late Dato Tan
Classic Rewards Then & Now
We would not be described a “frequent flyer” in buying at the January Inglis Classic sales however in our past attempts rewards have flown.
DGR purchased one horse at the inaugural Inglis Classic in 1991 for $7,000. That horse became known as Shoeshine Henry and he won the inaugural classic race in 1992, then worth $353,000 under Mick Dittman when run at Canterbury. Shoeshine also ran second in both the Breeders Plate Gr3 & Silver Slipper Gr2 as a two year old and at three ran third in the Caulfield Guineas Gr1 & BMW Vase Gr3. In conjunction with the late Bart Cummings DGR purchased God’s Own at the same sale in 2004.
He cost a bit more than Shoeshine Henry and was the sale topper at $220,000, a price that would now barely raise an eyebrow. God’s Own did vindicate his price winning among other races a Caulfield Guineas Gr1 and second in a Lightning Stakes Gr1 by a head to Takeover Target. Those performances saw him subsequently syndicated as a stallion for millions of dollars. 2019 DGR purchased just one horse at the Classic. In partnership this time with John Sargent we acquired Lot 225 for $80,000.
By the interesting and very good looking first season sire Bull Point from a full sister to multiple Group 2 winning two year old Into The Mist. Into The Mist has gone on to produce her own Group 2 winning two year daughter and now it is sister Countess Delago’s turn with our equally good looking Bull Point colt.
January Yearling Sales Activity 2019
With over 1500 yearlings cataloged in the premium sessions of the Magic Millions & New Zealand Karaka Yearling Sales in January, DGR has kept up traction in the frantic competitive pace of the sales circuit purchasing 5 yearlings at both sales in total, some in combination with our new “stable” of trainers including Chris Anderson, Anthony Cummings, Mick Price & John Sargent so far.
These new additions we hope will be the topic of treasured memories in the years to come like many of our previous acquisitions. Positions in some of these yearlings currently remain available. Info via the individual links –
- Magic Millions Lot 303 bay filly Not A Single Doubt – Zarakiysha $210,000
- Magic Millions Lot 341 bay filly Smart Missile – Aloona $360,000
- Magic Millions Lot 793 bay colt Vancouver – Messenger $140,000
- NZ Karaka Lot 146 bay colt Tavistock – Lady Kipling NZ$230,000
- NZ Karaka Lot 560 bay colt Tavistock – Alluring Belle $150,000
Savabeel-Lady Kipling colt
Dato Tan leading back in his 1998 Doncaster winner Catalan Opening
Ongoing Legacy
We commented earlier in the year about winning combinations and successful progeny bred from racehorses initially purchased by DGR as yearlings such as Krone (Eurozone/Soft Landing), Tivaci (ex Breccia), Emperors Way (Roman Emperor/Laylia).
But 2018 ended with our pinnacle success for breeding with SKY BOY winning five in a row and the Villiers Group 2 on 15th December putting him on top of the individual metropolitan wins table (source Racenet) for the season even above the likes of the mighty Winx.