So You Think - New Winner

The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) is writing to address a matter that impacts the foundation of our industry’s credibility and success: the stagnation of the Australian Pattern system and the concerning attempts to assign unapproved Group race status.

Laundry Cottage Stud is the farm that produced our Cox Plate winner Via Sistina and also Wootton Bassett, one of the hottest sires this year, and they made an interesting purchase during Tattersalls December Mares Sale Day 2 with a great interview from Gina Bryce with her dad Colin Bryce, who co-owns this G1 producing nursery.

The extraordinary trade seen at Tattersalls during the October Yearling Sale and last week’s December Foal Sale suggested that something spectacular could be in the offing at the December Mares Sale and so it proved on a day where turnover of 55,168,500 guineas exceeded the previous record for the highest grossing day in European auction history, set at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mares Sa

Chiming in late with giant strides at the finish was I Am Invincible filly Arriving Home, who made a winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday in the same colours as her Group I winning stablemate Steffi Magnetica.

In Hong Kong, Christmas comes early for racing fans, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club hosting their International Races at Sha Tin each December.

Elegant Jazz made a strong opening to her three-year-old campaign at Arawa Park on Wednesday, breaking her maiden with a promising performance in the Novara Park 1230.

Well-performed speed merchant Babylon Berlin will strip a fitter mare for Saturday’s assignment at Ellerslie.

La Crique hasn’t returned to Trentham since she won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old, and three years down the track, the star mare will line up as a leading hope in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m).

Influential sire Acclamation has died at age 25, only a few weeks after being officially retired from stallion duties at Rathbarry Stud in Ireland.

The three Australian contenders for this Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races all look in great shape leading into the meeting with Grant Courtney getting some great images from the track.