Tag: Shared News Europe

Coolmore Australia Acquires Justify’s Storm Boy

by Trent Masenhelder/TTR AusNZ

Confirmed after speculation last month, outstanding 2-year-old Storm Boy (Aus) (Justify–Pelican {NZ}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has been purchased by Coolmore for an undisclosed sum and will remain in training with Tulloch Lodge trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Storm Boy has developed a huge reputation during his fledgling career, posting three wins from as many starts, and he is all the rage for the world's richest race for juveniles, the Mar. 23 G1 Golden Slipper S., which Coolmore won last year with Shinzo (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}).

Following two impressive trial victories, Storm Boy saluted by 2.28l on debut at Rosehill in early December, before scoring a 2.4l triumph in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Eagle Farm three weeks later. The colt was sent out a warm favourite for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on Jan. 13, and, after a sluggish getaway and doing some work early, he dashed away from his rivals to notch a stunning 2.5l victory (video).

Storm Boy clocked 1:08.00 for the 1200-metre Millions journey, which was quicker than the time the 5-year-old, Group 3-winning sprinter King Of Sparta (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) ran in winning the Magic Millions Snippets on the same program.

Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier said the acquisition of the exceptional colt is a huge coup.

“We are extremely excited to secure Storm Boy with a great group of clients and friends from all over the world. His performance in the Magic Millions had to be seen to be believed. He had to do the work at both ends and broke his opponents' hearts in a similar way to what Justify himself did in his own racing career,” Magnier said.

“We have had a close eye on this colt since his first trial and he has raised the bar each time he has been seen in public.”

Not only is Storm Boy a top-quality racehorse, he boasts a stallion's pedigree.

The colt is by Coolmore's shuttle star Justify, whose progeny have won 39 stakes, and he has six Group 1 winners to his credit. Storm Boy is out of Pelican, a two-time winner at two. She is a daughter of Fastnet Rock. He is one of Coolmore's all-time great stallions with 43 elite-company victories on his CV.

Pelican is a half-sister to the three-time scorer and Group 3 placegetter Divan (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). The colt's granddam, Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), was a superstar, chalking up 14 wins, half of them at the top level. She earned the titles of New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2006/07 and 2007/08 and Champion Sprinter in New Zealand in 2007/08.

Storm Boy was bred by Rob and Barbara McClure's Morning Rise Stud, along with Coolmore partners. He was foaled and raised at Coolmore, before it offered the colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt was knocked down to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds for A$460,000.

“We want to be involved in Justify's best sons globally but given that Storm Boy was raised and grazed at Coolmore makes him even more special for us to be part of,” Magnier commented.

 

The post Coolmore Australia Acquires Justify’s Storm Boy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Juddmonte Stallions Take Top Honours at TBA Flat Stallion Awards

   Juddmonte stallions Frankel (GB) and Kingman (GB) have been announced as the big winners in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA)'s annual Flat statistical-based awards. The awards take into account British and Irish statistics for British-based stallions for 2023.

Frankel took the BBA Silver Cigar Box for the second time in three years as Britain's leading sire by total earnings in 2023 with £7,143,651. Frankel, who was crowned champion sire in Britain and Ireland, sired 11 individual Group 1 winners in 2023, with his notable runners on home soil including the Classic winners Chaldean (GB) and Soul Sister (Ire), plus G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) and the G1 Prince of Wales's S. and G1 Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf (Ire).

Kingman led all British-based sires by number of winners in 2023 and earned the Barleythorpe Stud Silver Cup for the first time. Kingman's representatives in Britain and Ireland last year included the dual Group 2 winner Kinross (GB), G3 Jersey S. winner Age Of Kings (Ire) and G3 Thoroughbred S. winner Epictetus (Ire), while Feed The Flame (GB) (Grand Prix de Paris) and Sauterne (Fr) (Prix du Moulin de Longchamp) both won Group 1 races in France.

Too Darn Hot (GB) earned the Tattersalls Silver Salver as leading British-based first-season sire by Flat earnings with £865,571, boosted by the victory of Fallen Angel (GB) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., while Havana Grey (GB) won the British European Breeders' Fund's Stallion Special Merit Award in a year when his G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Vandeek (GB) also featured among the leading juveniles.

Voted for by an industry panel, the Stallion Merit Award recognises British-based stallions who reward breeders through value for money, accessibility and performance, without, necessarily, the advantages of large books of mares or the high fees such popularity commands.

The Queen's Silver Cup for leading British-based Flat breeder was awarded to Shadwell, who enjoyed notable success in 2023 with the homebred Mostahdaf, plus Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G1 Nassau S. and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., respectively.

European bloodstock manager for Shadwell, Stephen Collins, said, “We are delighted to be the recipient of the Queen's Silver Cup for leading British-based breeder in 2023.

“It's a testament to Sheikh Hamdan's vision and legacy which is being carried on by Sheikha Hissa with great success and we are very much looking forward to this prestigious event [the TBA Flat Breeders' Awards Evening held at Chippenham Park on Wednesday, July 10] later in the year. Last year is going to be hard to follow but hopefully Shadwell will have a successful 2024 with some promising horses coming through.”

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Godolphin’s Classic Heroine Mawj Retired From Racing

Last year's brilliant G1 1,000 Guineas winner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has been retired, Godolphin announced on Wednesday. She will now join the operation's broodmare band having failed to sparkle on what proved to be her final racecourse appearance when finishing last of the nine runners in last month's G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Mawj was a high-class juvenile when her victories included the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. at Newmarket's July Festival. Last season, she won twice in Dubai before gaining the most prestigious success of her career when defeating the hitherto unbeaten Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the 1,000 Guineas, ultimately getting the verdict by half a length following a sustained duel between the pair.

That Classic victory on the Rowley Mile was followed by a five-month spell on the sidelines due to a setback, but Mawj proved all her ability remained intact when returning with two good efforts stateside in the autumn, first winning the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland before suffering a narrow defeat to Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

Mawj's Keeneland win was a 500th in Group company for Bin Suroor, who paid tribute to his stable star on Wednesday when saying, “Mawj is a very special filly, who showed her brilliance throughout her racing career. It was a fantastic day when she won the 1,000 Guineas and I was especially pleased that it was her who provided me with my 500th Group race victory out in Keeneland.

“She proved herself against the best horses across the world, winning in Dubai, the UK and the United States as well as finishing second in a Breeders' Cup Mile. Everyone at Al Quoz and Godolphin Stables is going to miss her but we look forward to the next stage of her life as a broodmare.”

Mawj joins her dam Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who is proving a notable broodmare for Godolphin having also produced the Listed winner/Group 3-placed Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) and the five-time Group 1 winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi). Modern Games, who notably won at the Breeders' Cup in successive years when landing the GI Juvenile Turf in 2021 and GI Mile in 2022, stands for £30,000 in his first year at Dalham Hall Stud in 2024.

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Broodmare Prospects Set To Take Centre Stage At Goffs February Sale

A half-sister to live Gold Cup contender Gerri Colombe (Fr) (Saddler Maker {Ire}) and a winning daughter of wondermare Quevega (Fr) (Robin Des Champs {Fr}) are some of the standouts on show at the two-day Goffs February Sale which kicks off on Wednesday at Kildare Paddocks. 

Princess Vega (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}), winner of a Tramore bumper for Willie Mullins, will be sold in foal to Walk In The Park (Ire). As well as being a daughter of the six-time Cheltenham festival heroine Quevega, she is also a half-sister to the four-time Grade 1 winner Facile Vega (Ire) and Listed bumper scorer Aurora Vega (Ire). She will be consigned by The Irish National Stud as a supplementary lot 431G.

Another supplementary lot, Hermione Colombe (Fr), is sure to grab plenty of attention, being a half-sister to Gerri Colombe, who is as short as 8-1 for the Gold Cup.

Trained by Gordon Elliott, Gerri Colombe has won four times at the highest level and was only narrowly pipped by The Real Whacker (Ire) in last year's Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. 

A daughter of Brave Mansonnien (Fr), the unraced Hermione Colombe [lot 431H] will be sold in foal to Waldgeist (GB) having already produced colt foals by Sea Moon (GB) and Night Wish (Ger). She will be consigned by Alpha Play Bloodstock. 

The Sale also features a five-strong draft from the Aga Khan Studs while Moyglare Stud will offer four weanlings, including a Make Believe (GB) colt out of dual Grade 1 hurdle winner Unaccompanied (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). The nine-time winner, who carried the Moyglare silks with great distinction over jumps and on the Flat for Dermot Weld, has already produced a classy performer on the level in the shape of Group 3-placed Keep In Touch (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}).

Other interesting prospects include In Wood (Ire) [lot 431J], an Authorized (Ire) half-sister to Grade 1 winner Very Wood (Fr). She will be sold in foal to Diamond Boy (Fr). Meanwhile, seven-time winner Pearl Of The West (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 431C) is just another classy broodmare prospect on offer. 

The sale, which has produced classy types like Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}), Bolthole (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and Yaxeni (Fr) (Maxios {GB}) in recent years, and offers a broad mixture of horses-in-training, weanlings and broodmares, gets underway at 10am.

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