Latest articles
- Thorn Park Tops Auckland Cup Week
16 March 2011 - Thorn Park on Fire
14 March 2011 - The Conatus ‘Superclass’ babies begin to emerge
2 March 2011 - More Joyous Earns Fourth Group 1 in Futurity
2 March 2011 - The “Joy Boys” raise the flag of a new sire dynasty
11 February 2011
16 March 2011
Thorn Park Tops Auckland Cup Week
NZ Throughbred marketing - 16 March 2011
With the conclusion of the Auckland Cup Carnival last Saturday, Windsor Park Stud-based sire Thorn Park emerged as the top sire.
Over the three premier days at Ellerslie the sire’s progeny picked up five of the 30 races, earning a combined stakes figure of NZ$1,483,000.
The son of Spinning World is therefore the top sire of the 2011 Auckland Cup Carnival on the basis of wins and earnings.
Of the five wins, two were at Group One level; three-year-old colt Jimmy Choux (NZ) was the impressive winner of the Gr.1 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) and four-year-old mare The Party Stand (NZ) won the Gr.1 Nicolas Feuillatte New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
Magic Briar (NZ) (Thorn Park) picked up the Listed Starcraft at Arrowfield Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) and the other two wins came from five-year-old gelding Veyron (NZ), who won a rating 90 over 1200m on Wednesday and backed up to win another rating 90 over 1400m on Saturday.
One the basis of wins, The Oaks Stud-based Keeninsky and the Waikato Stud-based Savabeel were second with two wins each.
The second best New Zealand-based sire on earnings was the former Ardsley Stud sire Lord Ballina who was represented by Gr.1 Stella Artois Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Titch (NZ). Paxton Park-based Shinko King and Waikato Stud-based Savabeel and O’Reilly were third.
14 March 2011
Thorn Park on Fire
Breednet - 14 March 2011
A last minute change of plans by trainer Roger James has proven a smart move as The Party Stand raced away to her first Group 1 victory in the $200,000 Nicolas Feuillatte New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Roger James decided late on Tuesday afternoon that the Australian bound flight would leave without The Party Stand (Thorn Park x Cremisi) as Roger decided that a tilt at the Group 1 weight-for-age New Zealand Stakes was the right option for the mare.
“She worked very well on the Tuesday morning and I was very happy with the way she had been going.
“The truck arrived later in the afternoon to pick her up, and after a big discussion and looking at the nominations for the race, we decided that she would stay in New Zealand and head for the New Zealand Stakes.
“We were very pleased with her run. We were confident coming into the race that she would put in a good performance and we got the result which is great.
“She has come through the race in good order so now we need to sit down and discuss future plans. There are a lot of options on the table and we want to have a good look at them all, but Brisbane could be on the cards a bit later in the season. For now we will just see how see goes.”
The mare came into the race in good form after winning the Listed Trac Stakes at Matamata over 2000 metres late last month. On Saturday she proved again to be too strong in the concluding stages, beating the Stephen McKee trained mare Adaline (Court Of Jewels) by a long neck.
The NZB graduate and 2009/2010 NZ Horse of the Year Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone), the winner of the race last year, ran an improved third after finally drawing a good alley for trainer Jeff Lynds.
The Party Stand continues a sensational run of success by her sire Thorn Park (pictured) who had two stakes winners in the weekend with Magic Briar also winning at Listed level on Saturday. The son of Spinning World is now the sire of two Group 1 winners, the other being his outstanding NZ Derby winning son Jimmy Choux.
It was also a great weekend for Windsor Park Stud who not only stands Thorn Park, but also sold The Party Stand and Magic Briar.
The Party Stand is the tenth individual Group 1 winner for New Zealand Bloodstock this season, and the sixth from the Karaka Select Sale. The four-year-old was bred by Mrs M P Trotter and was purchased by her trainer Roger James from Windsor Park Stud at the 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $27,500.
A large and talented field for the $45,000 Listed Starcraft at Arrowfield Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) was not enough to stop the brilliant filly Magic Briar from notching up her first black-type win at Ellierslie on Saturday.
With a big rap on the filly coming into the Listed event, the Ken & Bev Kelso trained Magic Briar (Thorn Park x Alberton Magic) was sent out a short priced favourite and justified her support on the tote with a strong win in one of the features on the card.
Being dealt a bitter hand last campaign in her NZB 1000 Guineas tilt, the daughter of Thorn Park looks to be well on her way to making amends, kicking away from the field in the concluding stages of the race to win by a length in the hands of Opie Bosson.
New Zealand Bloodstock graduates provided the race trifecta with Sweet Suitor (Bachelor Duke) and Hammer Down (O’Reilly) running into the minors.
Already boasting an impressive track record, the win has taken the three-year-old’s winning tally to five from just nine race day appearances, and taken her stakes earnings to over $68,000.
An astute purchase by Donna Logan, Magic Briar was bought from Windsor Park Stud at the 2009 Select Sale for only $9,000.
NZB Release
2 March 2011
The Conatus ‘Superclass’ babies begin to emerge
2 March 2011
Over the last few months the much-talked about ‘new generation’ of Conatus progeny – the 2YO’s that Gerry Harvey has produced from some of his finest black type families have started to emerge from the stables of some of Australia’s leading trainers.
While Conatus covered some very ordinary mares in his first few crops at stud, the Harvey bred 2YO’s – many from the greatest female families in Australasia – represent both a quantum leap in class for the sire and a massive vote of confidence by Harvey.
The lovely bay filly Mrs Wallace (Torlundy (Zabeel – Tarten Tights) is in the formidable new David Hayes training centre at Euroa and the filly certainly has the kind of pedigree most owners can only dream about. Her dam Torlundy, is by the great Zabeel out of the multiple G1 winner Tartan Tights (NZ Oaks, AMI 1000 Guineas etc). Mrs Wallace had her first start at Bendigo in February and was then sent out for a short spell.
Hayes also has the filly Novarupta (from Katmai (Strategic – St Kate) who has just commenced training. Her dam St Kate (Danehill), is a half sister to the noted stakes performers: Bonanova (G1), Fraternity (G1) and Telesto (G1). St Kate is from St Klaire, a daughter of Great Klaire, and a half sister to the fabulous ‘blue hen’ broodmare Eight Carat and herself is a member of the one of the great female families in Australasia.
The cleverly named Banana Bender (Chiquita Banana (King Cugat – Northern Song) is in the stable of Gerald Ryan and the handsome bay colt is attracting good reports. Banana Bender is from one of the most formidable families in recent times. His dam, Chiquita Banana, is a daughter of the VRC Chairman’s Club Stakes (G2) winner Northern Song, who is half sister to the champion racehorse Northerly, winner of no less than nine G1’s and 6 G2’s. She is also a half sister to the G2 North Boy (winner of the VRC Ascot Vale Stakes etc)
It’s not hard to figure out where Gerry Harvey came up with the name: along with the fact that both Conatus and his Gold Coast sales company Magic Millions are Queensland based, both Gerry’s mother and his wife, Katie are born and bred Queenslanders as well.
The 2YO filly Balladonia (Western Invasion) has entered the stable of Marc Connors at Warwick Farm. Balladonia comes from one of Gerry Harvey’s original families: her dam Western Invasion (Best Western) is a granddaughter of Procilla, a full sister to Show Ego, formidable winner of the VRC Oaks G1, the WATC Derby G1 and the QTC Queensland Oaks G1. Balladonia has won 2 barrier trials in very impressive style before having her first start in the Widden Stakes. The filly has now been sent out for a short spell.
Santai (Casuarina Beach (Lyphard) is another 2YO from one of Harvey’s good imported families. Her dam Casuarina Beach – a daughter of the champion sire Lyphard – is now in the stable of well known Newcastle trainer, Paul Perry. Santai has been out spelling but is due back in work soon.
Another 2YO that has caught the eye is Contessina Debardi, (Our Contessina (Vetori) who hails from another of Harvey’s blue-blooded families. Our Contessina is a half sister to the dual G1 winner Sound Action (STC Ranvet Stakes, SAJC Australasian Oaks) and the filly hails from the family of the great NZ mare Winnepeg,
The toast of Harvey’s 3YOcrop is undoubtedly the exciting filly I Walk The Line (ex Country Step (Best Western) trained by Patrick & Wayne Webster at Randwick. I Walk The Line is currently shaping up as one of Conatus’ most exciting fillies, with 2 wins and 2 places. Her last start prior to a spell was an impressive five length win over 2020m at Doomben that came right on the heels of an equally impressive near four length win in Sydney. The filly is now back in work after a decent spell and being prepared with the Queensland Oaks in mind.
The speedy 3YO gelding Codigo (Decipher (Timber Country) is another Harvey runner who is trained out of Warwick Farm by trainer, Greg Hickman. After a slashing trial win, Codigo – whose grand dam was the dual G1 winner Electrique (AJC Flight Stakes, STC Ansett Australia Stakes- had 2 starts for a very good win at Canterbury recently.
The seasoned race mare Lotus Flower (Cornish Moss (Barathea) is trained by Steve Englebrecht at Warwick Farm and has now chalked up 9 starts for 3 wins and 2 places. The filly – from the family of Caledonia Belle, dam of the G1 winner Caledonian Boy – is currently in the paddock spelling.
Master trainer Clarry Connors trains the very capable filly Hot Rocks (Jewel Theft (Jade Robbery) for Harvey and the filly has broken through for a win and five placings for him to date. She has returned from a well earned spell last week with a 3rd placing first up over 1100m at Gosford.
The good mare Verballed (Accused (Jade Robbery) – trained by Neville & Chris Voigt at Randwick – is now back in work after being sent out for a good spell. Verballed – who is already the winner of four starts with two placings and earnings of $168,250 – is now set to launch her next campaign.
More Joyous Earns Fourth Group 1 in Futurity
Mark Smith - 2 March 2011
John Singleton’s star mare More Joyous made it four wins at the elite level when she repelled the challenge of Whobegotyou in Saturday’s Group I Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Nash Rawiller balanced up the daughter of More Than Ready around the home turn after enjoying a cosy run. When it looked as if the fast finishing Whobegotyou would make a race of it, More Joyous found under pressure to win by three-quarters of a length.
Whobegotyou (Street Cry) showed another Group 1 success is not far off by holding second from Dao Dao (Shinko Forest).
More Joyous takes her overall record to an impressive 12 wins and a third from 16 starts while accumulating $1,875,200 in earning.
“The pressure is on you when have got a big-time horse,” winning trainer Gai Waterhouse said. “Firstly, the public expect it and most importantly the owners expect it and then all the connections expect it.
“You are very relieved when she does what you know she can do.”
The exuberant trainer was unconcerned that her star pupil seemed to be uncomfortable the reverse way of going.
“If you played tennis with your right arm all your life and then played with your left for two games, you would feel the same thing,” Waterhouse said.
“She doesn’t train on this leg, but I tell you something, when she gets to Caulfield, she certainly knows how to use the other one.”
Waterhouse said she would be taking More Joyous back to Sydney where the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap is high on the agenda.
More Joyous is the second foal of Singleton’s AJC Oaks (G1) heroine Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence) herself a half-sister to the Dubai bound, 4-time Group 1 winner, Tuesday Joy (Carnegie).
A half-sister to the $2 million Sadler’s Wells colt Seventh Reason, More Joyous is the second foal of Sunday Joy whose dam, QTC Oaks (G1) heroine Joie Denise (Danehill), is a daughter of champion mare Denise’s Joy (Seventh Hussar) who was trained by Gai Waterhouse’s father Tommy Smith rated the champion filly in Australia in 1975-76, Denise Joy won 13 races including the VRC and QTC Oaks as well as the Underwood Stakes and WATC Australian Derby. She was also second in the Golden Slipper Stakes.
Sunday Joy has a yearling colt by Redoute’s Choice that made $1,150,000 at Magic Millions in January and a filly foal by More Than Ready (USA). She was covered by the Vinery stallion again last season but failed to conceive.
Rated the champion filly in Australia in 1975-76, Denise Joy won 13 races including the VRC and QTC Oaks as well as the Underwood Stakes and WATC Australian Derby. She was also second in the Golden Slipper Stakes.
Sunday Joy has a yearling colt by Redoute’s Choice that made $1,150,000 at Magic Millions in January and a filly foal by More Than Ready (USA). She was covered by the Vinery stallion again last season but failed to conceive.
11 February 2011
The “Joy Boys” raise the flag of a new sire dynasty
11 February 2011
With the progeny of Conatus now knocking on the door for their first black-type wins, Conatus’ ‘first cousin” Thorn Park has rocketed to the top of the charts as the Leading Sire in New Zealand. He is also chalking up stakes winners in Australia as well.
Along with Conatus, Thorn Park is the only living sire from the extraordinary Denise’s Joy family – the biggest Group One producing family in Australia.
A striking chestnut horse, Thorn Park was an unbeaten Australian 2YO with explosive acceleration who trained on to be one of Australia’s leading sprinters highlighted by his Group 1 Stradbroke victory in 2004.
Retired to stud with 9 wins up to 1400m – including 6 stakes wins and just over $1.5M in earnings, Thorn Park stands at Nelson Schick’s Windsor Park Stud at Cambridge.
The two young sires, Conatus and Thorn Park, both share the same grand dam – the illustrious black –type producer Christmas Spirit (Bletchingly).
While Thorn Park is a son of Christmas Spirits’ daughter, Joy – who is an unraced daughter of Bluebird – Conatus is a son of her half sister, Light Up The World (Rorys Jester) who was a winner of two G2 races, one G3 race and a Listed race.
The good filly Presenting (Redoute’s Choice) – winner of the Listed Morphettville Guineas in 2005 – is another daughter of Christmas Spirit as well.
Christmas Spirit is from Joy and Fun (Showdown) – who also produced the stakes winners Christmas Tree, Euphoria and Jewel in the Crown. Joy and Fun is a daughter of the great matriarch, Denise’s Joy herself.
Thorn Park’s son, the David Payne trained Centennial Park, delivered an exciting win over much favoured rivals by winning the G2 Expressway Stakes over 1200m – the first of a Group double for Thorn Park last weekend.
This is the seventh win for Centennial Park who has amassed over $600K worth of earnings to date.
Across the Tasman, 3YO colt – Jimmy Choux (out of the Centaine mare, Cierzo), trained by John Bary at Hastings, delivered the second half of the Thorn Park Group double last weekend by winning the G3 Waikato Guineas over 2000m at Te Rapa – making this his fourth consecutive win this preparation.
Jimmy Choux has won the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas, G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas and G2 Great Northern Guineas and handled his first go at 2000m easily, going clear to score by two and a quarter lengths over Fastnet Rock youngster – Yin Yang Master.
“I was always confident he would win. He relaxes so beautifully and was travelling sweet all the way.” Trainer John Bary said. Jimmy Choux is now being set for the NZ Derby over 2400m.
The future is certainly looking good for the two ‘Joy Boys’ – Conatus and Thorn Park – and it looks like they will create their own new sire dynasties and do their family proud.