Swick left it late in life to claim his first Group 1 win. The enigmatic straight track specialist continued the magical run of trainer Bart Cummings when coming from last to capture Saturday’s $500,000 Group I Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

The 7yo gelding, whose earnings soar over the million dollar mark, seems to come to life in November. It was just over a year ago he earned his last win in the Salinger Stakes (G2). That came a year after his previous win in the Sandown Stakes (G3) in November 2006.

Ridden back in the field by the in form Michael Rodd, Swick (O'Reilly (NZ) x Creme Anglaise (NZ) (Crested Wave (USA)) unleashed his trademark acceleration to overpower Turffontein (Johannesburg (USA) x Spirit of Grace (Dr. Grace (NZ)) by a half-length with the ever-consistent Sunburnt Land (Scenic (IRE) x Razor Blade (Blazing Sword)another length back in third. Local hero Apache Cat was easy in betting and was the first horse beaten, finishing in eighth, nearly six lengths behind the winner.

Standing in the Group 1 winners circle for the 251st time, Cummings said Swick deserved a change of luck.

It was the third Group 1 success of the carnival for Michael Rodd after wins on the Mark Kavanagh trained pair, Whobegotyou in the Caulfield Guineas and Maldivian in the Cox Plate.

Swick takes his overall record to 6 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 31 starts for earnings of $1,047,700.

Troubled throughout his career by knee problems, which may be one reason he loves the Flemington straight, Swick did his early racing in Sydney where he was runner-up in the South Pacific Classic (G3) and third in the Stan Fox Stakes (G2) and Darby Munro Stakes (LR).

But he hasn’t races in Sydney since finishing down the track in the 2007 Doncaster Handicap. In 13 subsequent runs he has started 11 times in Melbourne and two in Brisbane. Besides his Salinger Stakes success in 2007, his best recent performances came when second to Apache Cat in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes in February and second to El Cambio in the Group 2 Baguette Stakes on October 4.

Swick becomes the sixth Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud’s wonderfully versatile stallion O’Reilly (pictured). The son of former champion Australian sire Last Tycoon and Golden Slipper winner Courtza is having another excellent season. His son Alamosa captured the Group 1 Toorak Handicap while Master O’Reilly was a luckless fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

John Moore and Darren Beadman show off their trophies. Photos: Kenneth Chan 

Viva Pataca, starting at 22-1, was simply awesome in coming from last to win the Group Three Mission Hills Sha Tin Trophy, despite shouldering topweight of 133 pounds.

It was a performance that confirms Viva Pataca's claims as one of the best horses in Hong Kong as the history books are littered with topweighted horses who have come to grief in this race.

In six of the last seven years, for example, the winners of this race have carried 118 pounds or less, but Viva Pataca cared little for history or statistics as he charged home in astonishing time in a race where on-pace runners should have been best suited.

"I've been saying for weeks that we have never had Viva Pataca in such great physical condition and today he underlined exactly what I mean," Moore said.

"Resuming from a spell and carrying the big weight today, we knew he would run well but I can't honestly say I thought he would win with so much against him - he's not fully tuned yet.

"But despite that, he's given them all a start, given them all weight and beaten them very easily at the finish - he must have run some amazing time for his last 400 metres."

Amazing indeed, as the Jockey Club's official sectional times confirm.

The tempo was only moderate, set by outsider Gold Striker who ambled through his first 800m in 48.6 seconds, and his first 1,200m in 1:12.5.

Viva Pataca came from the tail of the field to stop the clock at 1:34.71 for the 1,600m, with a personal last 800m in 44.91 seconds and a blistering final 400m in 21.42.

This is world-class finishing speed that would match or exceed the greatest Hong Kong milers of years gone by, such as Fairy King Prawn or Electronic Unicorn.

Viva Pataca will now step straight into the Group Two Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial over 2,000m at Sha Tin on November 16, then into the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup on December 14.

In last year's dramatic Hong Kong Cup, Viva Pataca (Michael Kinane) was nosed out of the rich prize by Frankie Dettori on Ramonti after Dettori pocketed Kinane at a crucial stage of the race.

Egyptian Ra (Eric Saint-Martin) fought on gamely to finish second after racing too fiercely in the early and middle stages, with Derek Cruz's Joy And Fun (Eddie Lai Wai-ming) running the race of his life for third. Joy and Fun was purchased through MWB after a trial win in New Zealand.

While one hero returned on top, fans of Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba will have to wait for another day as last season's champion miler found the task of carrying the big weight (133 pounds) under handicap conditions beyond him.

However, trainer Andreas Schutz and jockey Olivier Doleuze were quick to assure the gelding's legion of supporters that the real Good Ba Ba would turn up next outing in the International Mile Trial on November 23.

"He travelled quite nicely for me but when I asked him to extend in the home straight, he just couldn't do it under the big weight," Doleuze said. "He wanted to, but he was just anchored."

Schutz's review mirrored his pre-race warnings, that a first-five finish would be a satisfactory result for the champion first-up under handicap conditions - the gelding finished sixth, beaten just 2-3/4 lengths.

"The winner had a barrier trial over a mile, while our horse trialled over 1,000 metres," the trainer added.

"I still believe he's come back as well as last season, and he's being trained to peak on international day. The main thing is that the horse has come through the race well."

Doleuze was at his brilliant best on Kildare, overcoming the "impossible" inside alley in the straight 1,000-metres race by slipstreaming behind Star Legend, the horse drawn immediately outside him, for the first half of the race.

"I thought he went well first time out this season [behind Island Super] and I was delighted when Derek asked me to ride him" Doleuze added.

"I trialled him at Happy Valley and after that, I suggested to Derek that perhaps a straight race here would suit him."

Everything was moving along happily until Thursday's barrier draw when Kildare came up with the number one alley - the favoured gates are the wider ones on the straight track, especially when the rail is in the "C" position as it was yesterday.

"That was a bit of a dampener, but I took some comfort from the win of Whisky Power, which I rode up the inside part of the track at the National Day meeting," Doleuze said.

"Last season, you could not win on that part of the [straight] track but this season, for some reason, it's racing much more evenly."

Cruz purchased Kildare through New Zealand agent Michael Wallace after the O'Reilly gelding won his race debut as a 3yo over 1,400m in November last year.

The gelding raced twice, late last season, but with the benefit of his summer break has returned a much stronger animal.

Doleuze now moves to 12 wins for the season and that's only two behind Howard Cheng Yue-tin and Darren Beadman, who are sharing second spot on the jockey standings behind tearaway leader Douglas Whyte.

Kildonan being led into the birdcage today by trainer Yves Seguin and his wife, Barbara, Photo: NZ Racing News.

Kildonan went into the Listed $60,000 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes with a juvenile win at Avondale and a victory in the Listed Geon Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie on September 2, but the big concern for trainer Yves Seguin going into today's race was the 1400 metres.

And that's exactly what Calder said counted against Kildonan in the Te Rapa feature.

Kildonan wound up third, two lengths behind the winner Fully Fledged, but Calder believes his charge can turn the tables of the Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained galloper at Riccarton.

"He wants to go 1600 now," said Calder.

"He's lovely and relaxed and he'll be a big chance at Riccarton.

"I think he can beat Fully Fledged next time."

Kildonan was snagged back to a clear last on settling today and was still a long way off the leaders coming to the home turn.

Fully Fledged also settled back and he sprinted a lot quicker than Kildonan when asked to go but the latter was doing his best work at the finish, running strongly into third.

"I always planned to pull him back at the start," said Calder.

"I didn't want to be trapped out wide all the way.

"When Fully Fledged sprinted he put two or three lengths on us and it took a while for my horse to wind up," said Calder.

"Today was the first time I've hit him and he responded well."

Seguin was happy with Kildonan's effort and he believes he was truly vulnerable at the 1400 metres.

"He's going to get beaten some day and it was better for it to happen today than at Christchurch," said Seguin.

Seguin (50) is establishing a fine strike rate with his team of horses, which currently numbers 12, and judging by the performance of Kildonan in his two public appearances the sky could be the limit.

To say Seguin is flying is something which takes of a new meaning for the 50-year-old, who arrived in New Zealand five years ago. 

Seguin was dubbed the Flying Frenchman in a tongue in cheek manner after a lucky escape from what could have been a fatal result for the talented horseman.

In June 2004 Seguin was riding back from the Cambridge track across to the stables of trainer Chris Wood when his mount was hit by a car and killed.

"I was at the back of the string and the driver obviously didn't see us," said Seguin, "The horse was killed and I was very lucky. I was thrown way up into the air and broke my collarbone and seven ribs. It could have been a lot worse."

Despite that shock start to his time in New Zealand, Seguin is loving his role as a trainer at Cambridge and working with horses of the calibre of Kildonan makes it even better.

"He's a very special horse," said Seguin, "He's got six gears."

Seguin trains Kildonan for Bruce and Maureen Harvey, after Cambridge bloodstock agent Michael Wallace purchased him for $56,000 at the 2007 NZB Ready to Run sale, when offered by Anzac Lodge.

Seguin has formed a good association with the Harveys and is held in high regard by the couple, who own Ascot Farm in Cambridge.

"He's a very good horseman and I've never heard him so bullish about a horse as he was today," said Bruce Harvey, who celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday. He said the horse would get back and watch him explode at the 200."

That's exactly what Kildonan did after being settled back by rider Andrew Calder.

Al Qurhah made the pace and was fighting well while The Diamond Knight was challenging hard.

But neither could withstand the powerful inside burst from Kildonan, who charged through to grab victory by a head.

"It was very tight trying to get through," said Calder, "But never once did I think he was in danger of not getting up. He's a very good horse."

The Diamond Knight held second by a head from Al Qurhah while the Wanganui Guineas winner Takeanotherchance stormed home wide out for a close fourth.

Making Kildonan's effort even more notable was the fact he went into the Listed 1400-metre event without a leadup race or trial.

Seguin had originally planned to start Kildonan at the Te Teko trials on August 2, but decided against it when the track was "off."

He then looked to the Ellerslie trials but they were called off, then he considered it too far to take the horse to the Ruakaka trials.

"But I wasn't worried," said Seguin, "I knew I could get him ready without a trial."

Kildonan had won his sole juvenile start by eight and a half lengths at Avondale on June 11 and had shown promise beforehand when winning at the Avondale trials.

Seguin may be relatively unknown to New Zealand racing enthusiasts, but he does not lack in experience.

Seguin now has some programming to finalise with Kildonan, whose main mission is the Gr I $1 million First Sovereign Trust NZ 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 15.

"He'll either run next at Te Rapa (in the James and Annie Sarten Memorial) or the Wellington Guineas," said Seguin, "I'll probably take him to Te Rapa  because it's closer to home." 

Watch the Race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY6VBOjIzHU

Photo: Kenton Wright Race Images www.nzracingnews.co.nz

Rod Douglas sent more than a third of the 35 runners to Cranbourne for Monday’s trials and he came away a happy man after taking three of the five heats with three New Zealand Premier Sale purchases secured by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock, two of which had conections to MWB.

Encosta de Lago colts took out the first two heats for Douglas firstly with Intrigued, a $400,000 purchase by Dean Hawthorne, out of the Danehill mare That Kind of Girl, a full sister to Spying, the winner of the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap. 

Intrigued was a $165,000 weanling purchase by MWB for Ascot Farm, who then pinhooked the colt into the NZB Karaka Sales for a nice result.



The Hawthorne/Douglas/Munz combination was also successful with their $870,000 Karaka purchase Utmost Faith, the most expensive yearling by Encosta de Lago sold at Karaka this year, who took out the second heat of the morning. 

MWB purchased a 20% interest, for two seperate clients, in the quality colt who we considered to be one of the top three of the sale, and they can now look forward to an exciting future with their stunning colt.

Utmost Faith (pictured above as a yearling) is by Encosta de Lago out of another Danehill mare Sea of Faith, a half sister to Tully Dane (MRC McNeil Stakes GIII) out of the NZ Group one-winning mare Good Faith (ARC Sires’ Produce). The colt was bred by Mark Treloar and offered through the draft of Curraghmore Stud.

Story from www.breednet.com.au Brad Waters

Satinka (NZ) and Mark Du Plessis crossing for the win in the Gr.2 Robin, Duke Of Bedford Stakes. Photo Trish Dunell

Des Gleeson described his last day officiating as chief steward at a race meeting as busy and surprisingly emotional.

Gleeson, 61, who will step down from his job as Racing Victoria's Director of Integrity Services at the end of the month, had the final event of the eight-race programme at Caulfield yesterday, won by the Colin Little-trained Pinsemtoit, named after him.

"I didn't think it would be [emotional] but it was. I had plenty of wellwishers including some who I didn't think would have the time to. [Being a steward] is something I'll miss. It's something I've enjoyed for 35 years, but more particularly the last 12 years [as chief steward].

"I've made a lot of friends in racing. Good people becoming involved and remaining involved and I hope to continue my association with them."

Pinsemtoit, by Pins, was recording her eighth city victory with a charging late run. She will step out agin at Caulfield on August 16th in Group 3 company.

The dam of Pinsemtoit, Libre, was a $14,000 purchase by MWB when carrying a full relation to Pinsemtoit.
                                                      (Libre with a full sister to Pinsemtoit)

- AAP

Propelled by some outstanding weanlings, the William Inglis Australian Select Weanling Sale concluded today with the top priced offering of the day, an Encosta de Lago colt from Charmview for $500,000. MWB was able to secure three top quality lots.

Overall, the Select Weanling Sale generated turnover of almost $7.7million, the average rising to $33,732 by the conclusion of the Select sale, representing a 31% climb on the Select Weanling Sale from 2007.

Another pleasing aspect of the sale was the overall clearance of 80%. 

Encosta De Lago (pictured below) was responsible for three of the top four lots sold today – each offered by Coolmore – while his barnmate Fastnet Rock(pictured above) was also amongst the action, with a colt from the Bluebird mare Blue Music (from the family of Golden Slipper runner-up Von Costa De Hero) the second highest priced lot of the day, going for $285,000 to Michael Wallace Bloodstock (NZ). 

“This was one of the best drafts we have ever taken to a weanling sale and we got the desired result,” Coolmore Australia General Manager Michael Kirwan said.

“We bought some really nice horses to the sale and it was very pleasing to see the strong competition for them.”

“There has been good competition across the two days and overall we are very happy with the results from the Weanling sessions in this new time slot,” Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.

“Vendors who brought nice horses to the sale were rewarded, which was also pleasing to see.

MWB was also able to secure lot 320 a bay Colt by Rock of Gibraltar from the Sadler's Wells mare Endearment for $47,500. This colt, a first foal, with a strong European pedigree will be reoffered at  Karaka 2009.

Lot 66, a striking colt by Golden Slipper winning sire Stratum from a half sister to the top NZ sprinter Imananabaa, was a standout. This strongly built colt was secured by MWB for a NZ owner for $80,000, he will be reoffered for sale next year.

The impact of one of Europe's hottest stallions is begining to be felt in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Invincible Spirit, who stands at the Irish National Stud, and shuttled to Chatswood Stud in Victoria provided MWB with its latest winner, when Kildonan (pictured), a 2yo gelding from Game Lady was successful at the Avondale trials yesterday.

Kildonan, a $56,000 purchase by MWB, from Dean Hawthorne's Anzac Lodge, at the 2007 NZB Ready to Run sale has shown huge potential on the track, which was evident in an effortless victory. He now heads to the races, under the training eye of Cambridge based Frenchman Yves Seiguin, with Guineas Races in the spring firmly in mind.

Joy And Fun comeback offers Cruz some cheer

Glen Boss and Derek Cruz savour their ATV Cup triumph. Photos: Kenneth Chan Popular trainer Derek Cruz will smile at the courage and honesty of Joy And Fun to fightback to winning yesterday's ATV Cup (1,600m) after a nasty pre-season injury. "I'm thrilled we've been able to get him back again after what was a very serious injury," said Cruz, who has not enjoyed a vintage year, after Australian big-race specialist Glen Boss gave a copybook display to arrive on Joy And Fun as part of his Sha Tin double.  Joy and Fun was a weanling purchase for Ascot Farm, before being on sold to HK through MWB after a trial win for trainer Don Sellwood. "It has taken a long time for the horse to recover his form - all season - but he's won a nice race today and hopefully a stepping stone to something even bigger." Joy And Fun was the champion griffin of last season and looked to have the world at his feet until he suffered a fracture of his wither in August last year. Cruz finally had him back winning in Class Two, also for Boss, in March before tackling the Group horses and taking on the likes of Good Ba Ba. "He didn't win and got penalised both times for running fifth - five points each time," laughed Cruz yesterday. "Some trainers might be upset at that but I have to thank the handicapper. If Joy And Fun had not got those points to take his rating higher, he wouldn't have been eligible to run in this race today." The season still holds one more potential goal for Joy And Fun, with the Premier Cup (1,400m) on June 15 a realistic aim and Cruz has it in his sights. "I'll discuss it with the owner. If he doesn't go there then he'll have a break until next season," Cruz said. Boss said he went to the race full of confidence after the fifth behind Good Ba Ba in the Champions Mile last start. "We got held up there and I think he'd have run fourth for sure - and if you took away Good Ba Ba, he wasn't far behind the others so coming back into a handicap he was going to be hard to beat," he said. "He might not be quite up to the Good Ba Ba's but he's very honest and he really has a crack in his races."

MWB enjoyed great success at Sha Tin on Hong Kong Derby night, with two winners.
The first came from the Danny Shum trained Spring Sun, who was formally known in NZ as The Hunted. Trained in NZ by Tony Pike, The Hunted was purchased after a first up win in good style.
Spring Sun provided an impressive sprint to gather in the leaders and score a dominant victory over 1200m, a distance short of his best. We look forward to much greater levels of success with this horse in the coming season.

Later in the night came the much deserved win for Joy and Fun, trained by Mr Derek Cruz. After missing a start in the Hong Kong Derby it was fitting to see last seasons Champion Griffin, score a strong victory.

The Karaka 2008 sales finished with records being broken accross the board. The domestic buying strength was again continued showing the continued growth of our racing and breeding industry.
MWB was able to secure a number of yearlings, highlighted by the Elvstroem colt out of the ZAbeel mare My Capri. Purchased from Trelawney Stud for $210,000 this colt has been syndicated privately, and has entered the stable of Australia's leading trainer Lee Freedman.

From the premier sale, we were able to purchase a Scardee Cat colt out of Cream Anglaise, making the colt a half brother to G1 performer Swick.
An O'Reilly colt from Reputedly was also secured. His half brother Stickpin has just hit form with Stakes race victories which we hope he can continue.

The Select sale brought about the purchase of a One Cool Cat filly, from Our Charmer. MWB had purchased her half sister last year and she has shown plenty of promise.
Also purchased was a nice staying colt from Cambridge Stud. By Viking Ruler this colt is a half brother to Sunray.

In assosiation with Badgers Bloodstock, we were also able to secure a Hussonet filly, from the Zabeel mare Fibber Magee for $140,000. 
Three colts were also purchased fro a group of South Island clients, including a Keeper colt from Dormello Stud for $72,500, a Danzero colt from Trelawney for $150,000 and a One Cool Cat colt for $110,000.

We look forward to the coming seasons when these yearlings reach the race track.

It seems as if there is nothing Flying Spur can’t achieve this season. The former Golden Slipper winner has chalked up the titles of Leading Australian Sire, Leading 2YO Australian Sire, Sire of the Greatest Number of Individual Stakes Winners (16), Sire of the Greatest Number of Graded Stakes Winners (10), and Sire of the Greatest Number of Group 1 winners (4 – equal to Redoute’s Choice).

On Saturday, Flying Spur also passed the agical “$10m in seasonal earnings” target – an earnings record achieved only five times previously: by fellow Arrowfield stallion Redoute’s Choice ($11.09 million), and Danehill ($11.43 million) and Zabeel ($10.79 million).

It was fitting that Flying Spur topped the $10 million mark with yet another stakes winner (his 57th overall) - Maslin’s Beach (Flying Spur – New Acquaintance (NZ) by King’s Island (IRE)) - who secured victory in the $100,000 Listed STC Guineas (1600m) at Caloundra on Saturday.

An ever consistent sire, last season Flying Spur hinted at what was to come when he secured the title of the nation’s leading sire of individual winners (131). This season Flying Spur has sired 16 stakes winners for 23 stakes wins, as well as 12 individual winners in Hong Kong. Sire of 10 Group 1 winners to date, his 4 Group 1 winners this season are Forensics (Golden Slipper), Sleek Chassis (Blue Diamond), Mentality (Randwick Guineas) and Magnus (The Galaxy). 

MWB was able to purchase a Flying Spur yearling at the Melbourne Premier yearling sale, which will be reoffered by his new owners MDJ Bloodstock at the National Ready to Run Sale in November.

Flying Spur will stand the 2007 season at Arrowfield for a fee of $99,000.

Waikato's Brighthill Farm will be welcoming a selection of high-profile mares from Australia to support its latest stallion acquisition, Perfectly Ready (AUS) (More Than Ready x Elle Duccio by Danehill).

Brighthill Farm will stand the Australian group one-winning sprinter on behalf of his owners, Dr Tom Simon, of Vinery Stud, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum.

Brighthill Farm have announced they will stand More Than Ready's (USA) Gr.1 winning son Perfectly Ready (AUS) in 2007.

"Vinery Stud and Sheikh Khalifa will retain a strong ownership in him, but there will be a small number of shares available," said Nick King, who along with his wife, Ann-Marie, own Tauwhare-based Brighthill Farm.

"They plan to support him with 10 mares the first year and the resultant progeny will be taken back to Australia.

"It will be great exposure for the stallion and exciting times for us."

Brighthill Farm secured Perfectly Ready (AUS) with the assistance of bloodstock agents Michael Wallace, Cambridge and Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock.

In a trail of negotiations which began six weeks ago, Nick King finalised the deal to introduce Perfectly Ready (AUS) to the New Zealand market when attending last week's Sydney Easter Yearling Sales.

"This is the perfect horse for New Zealand right now," King told NZ Racing News.

"With the Karaka Million two-year-old race now a focus for most breeders he slots in perfectly with what breeders will be looking for.

"They want an Aussie sprinter and to land a genuine group one sprinter is a great result for us.

"He was a very good racehorse and he looks exactly like what you'd expect a sprinting sire to look like.

"He's a very good looking horse and he's out of a Danehill mare which is important to breeders."

Perfectly Ready (AUS) will be the first son of Vinery Stud's shuttler More Than Ready (USA) to stand at stud in New Zealand and the second son in Australasia with Vinery Stud already being the home of his Gr I VRC Derby winner Benicio.

"We would dearly love to have Perfectly Ready at Vinery this year, but we have More Than Ready, Benicio and another Southern Halo in Dubleo so we felt he would not get the opportunities he so deserves," said Vinery studmaster Peter Orton.

"Furthermore I have always believed New Zealand is the ideal place to stand him as his racetrack performance, conformation and pedigree will suit perfectly."

Perfectly Ready (AUS) won his juvenile debut at Moonee Valley and followed with a win in the Gr III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) before finishing third in the Gr I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

He trained on as a three-year-old to run second in the Gr I MVRC Manikato Stakes and was taken to Dubai for the Gr I Golden Shaheen Stakes (1200m).

In his first start back from Dubai he was an impressive winner of the Gr I AJC Goodwood Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville.

Freshened after the Goodwood triumph he had five starts as a four-year-old in the early stages of this season with the highlight being his win in the Gr III MRC Harrolds 101 Stakes (1400m).

In total, Perfectly Ready (AUS) recorded four wins and four placings in 15 stakes races, and stakes earnings of $A685,650.

Perfectly Ready's (AUS) sire, More Than Ready (USA), has been represented by more than 220 winners and 32 stakeswinners.

Perfectly Ready (AUS)  is from Elle Duccio (AUS) (by Danehill), a winner over 1000 metres in Australia and the dam of three winners.

More importantly El Duccio (AUS) is a half-sister to the Gr I Golden Slipper winner Belle Du Jour (AUS), who was the top filly on the 1999-2000 Australasian 2YO Classification .

When looking further back in Perfectly Ready's (AUS) maternal side it could be said he is returning home to his roots as he is from James and Annie Sarten's famous Belle family.

Elle Duccio (AUS) is from the Gr II VATC Memsie Stakes winner Delightful Belle (NZ) (10 wins), who is by Balmerino (NZ) from the smart three-year-old filly Kashmir Belle (NZ) .

Delightful Belle (NZ) has been a most prolific broodmare, leaving 10 winners with Belle Du Jour (AUS) being the star as winner of not only the Gr I Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) but also the Gr I VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and four other group races.

Perfectly Ready (AUS) is due to arrive in New Zealand in a fortnight and will stand at Brighthill Farm alongside Ustinov (AUS)  and St Petersburg (AUS).

Brighthill Farm Sires	2007 Fees
Perfectly Ready (AUS) (More Than Ready)	$12,000 plus GST
Ustinov (AUS) (Seeking The Gold)	$8,000 plus GST
St Petersburg (AUS) (Nureyev)	$4,500 plus GST

The powerful Hong Kong Breeders' Club has bought a large share-holding in leading Central Districts thoroughbred sire Towkay (AUS) (Last Tycoon x Princess Tracy by Ahonoora).

The deal, for a substantial undisclosed sum, was finalized on Friday when Hong Kong Breeders Club co-founder Peter Yip visited Little Avondale Stud at Masterton, where Towkay (AUS) is based.   

The deal was negotiated by Michael Wallace Bloodstock, Cambridge, along with Badgers Bloodstock in England.

Yip said Towkay (AUS) had become very well known as a sire in Hong Kong through the deeds of his son, Armada (NZ), who won the Group 1 HK$8 million Hong Kong Stewards Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin racecourse in January and was Hong Kong's most improved horse of 2006.

'Armada is a special horse in Hong Kong and has a big following. Towkay has done very well with his off-spring in Hong Kong and I'm sure that a number of Hong Kong owners will send their broodmares to him after they hear that our breeders'club is now among his share-holders,' Yip said.

The Hong Kong Breeders Club was launched two years ago with the goal of encouraging breeders in Hong Kong to enjoy breeding horses as a hobby as well as a profitable investment. The club's other co-founders include Richard Hui and Paul Kan and two other family groups.

The club now has interests in more than 10 stallions worldwide and owns more than 100 broodmares. Yip said the club will be supporting Towkay (AUS) with a number of mares at stud this year.

The Hong Kong Breeders Club also has interests in Highview Stud, Hamilton, sires Johar (USA) and Danroad (AUS) ,while its Australian stallion interests include Starcraft (NZ) , Lucky Owners (NZ), Danbird (AUS) and God's Own (AUS). The club also has partnerships with studs in England and Kentucky where its stallion interests include Rakti, Whipper, Grand Central and Motivator.

Towkay, who has sired more than 70 individual winners including seven stakes-winners, is the fourth leading sire in Hong Kong this year trailing no less than Danehill, Fusaichi Pegasus and Zabeel. Last year the son of Last Tycoon was the leading sire (by average earnings) in Hong Kong with five or more runners.

Towkay has also sired another Group 1 winner, Ambitious Owner, who performed well in Hong Kong as Happee Owner.

Other stakes winners sired by Towkay to date are Kay's Awake, Starkay, Rapid Kay, Lotzatow and Opiki.

Sam Williams of Little Avondale Stud said there had been a lot of interest from overseas parties in buying Towkay (AUS) over the past 12 months.

 'Earlier we had offers from two groups in South Africa and a stud in Australia but had he been purchased by them he would have been lost to the New Zealand industry which would have been a real pity,'he said.

'This way he will continue to be available to New Zealand breeders and that's very important to the partnership which owns him,' Williams said. His fee this year has been increased to $10,000 plus gst.

Carnegie 3yo gelding Andrew's Gold is been touted as a rising star of racing in Singapore. Despite only having raced four times, Andrew's Gold has shown considerable potential in recording two victories, and further impressive placings to date. 
By Carneige, Andrew's Gold is from an incredible international blacktype family. His dam Goldsumone is a half sister to the G1 Belmont Stakes winner in Summing. She is also a half sister to the Group winners Onesome, Twosome and Some for All, in total there are close to thirty individual black type performers in the second dam, recorded in America, Canada, England, Ireland and Dubai. Andrew's Gold was a AU$175,000 yearling purchase.
Goldsumone herself has left the Austalian Black type winner in Enthusiast, who has recorded 10 victories. 
Goldsumone was purchased by Jim and Mary Wallace, on the advise of MWB at the 2004 Easter Broodmare sale for $50,000, with Enthusiast having won his sole maiden race.
Prior to Andrew's Gold running, MWB was able to secure a half share in Goldsumone for Canadian clients David and Catherine Vickerman, with this their first broodmare.
Goldsumone has produced a yearling filly by Dubai Destination and has a Refuse to Bend filly at foot. She was mated with Stravinsky in 2006. 
The partnership, and MWB, will be paying close attention to the progress of Andrew's Gold, as he progresses to blacktype company.

Michael Wallace Bloodstock reports that the top class New Zealand two-year-old filly from last season, Italia, is destined to do her future racing in Australia after being purchased last week on behalf of Melbourne-based business Ultra Thoroughbred Racng.

But she will firstly remain in the Christchurch stable of trainer Shane Kennedy to follow the traditional fillies spring black-type path culminating in the Gr 1 NZ One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on November 11.  Italia steps out in her new colours for the first time this Saturday in the Listed Wanganui Fillies’ Stakes, $50,000, 1200m.<