Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday September 28

With Group I racing at Moonee Valley on Friday, Randwick on Saturday and Caulfield on Sunday as well as the superb Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at Chantilly it will be a weekend of bliss for hardcore racing fans.

It’s always a nervous moment for connections when the babies have their first start and if history is anything to go by, the winner of Saturday’s Listed Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate at Randwick will most likely be a force in the Group I features later in the season.

Advertisement

It’s $4.50 the field which shows that nothing really stood out at the official trials so we will have a throw at the stumps with Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Spin  (pictured as a yearling).


Currently, a $10 chance, the son of I Am Invincible looked to have room for improvement on his narrow second at the Canterbury trials to the Chris Waller-trained Performer (Exceed And Excel) who opposes him again on Saturday.

A $200,000 purchase by James Harron Bloodstock out of the Attunga Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Spin is the second foal of the Flying Spur mare Roulettes.

In her 15-start career, Roulettes won twice and they came at her first two starts as a two-year-old.

Following a first-up win at Cranbourne in November 2009, she added the Listed St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley three weeks later.

Roulettes is a sister to the stakes-placed Tactfully, who is the dam of the Listed winner and Group II Kewney Stakes runner-up Vezalay (Shamardal), and a half-sister to the speedy Royal Discretion (Royal Academy) who won four stakes races including a pair of Group III’s while placing in the Group I All-Aged Stakes.

The Snowden have won the last two Breeders Plates with Khan and Capitalist. They have four of the 13 starters on Saturday. Joining Spin are the $400,000 Snitzel colt Bondi, the $80,000 I Am Invincible colt Invincible Lad, who is the equal least expensive colt in the field, and the Not A Single Doubt colt Sokudo, who at $500,000 is the most expensive yearling purchase in the race.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch - Canterbury
Four heats at Canterbury on Friday were won by juveniles and three were unraced youngsters including a $1million Snitzel colt, while G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki was also sent around following her midfield finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.
Breeding to Win - 2026 Inglis Millennium
The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick this Saturday is for 2YO's that have come via the Inglis Sales and naturally the big stables have deployed some of their best juvenile firepower in pursuit of this big pot of cash.
People at Classic - Feeling The Vibe
Given the numbers of people and the numbers of inspections it’s fair to say there’s a very good vibe about the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Maree McEwan was out and about talking to more of the players on Friday.
Inglis Millennium - Bubbles Go Up and Bubbles Come Down
Following two year old racing is a bit like watching little kids blowing bubbles at a birthday party!  A perfectly formed sphere appears, and oooh look! it's going higher than the others (squeals of excitement) and then oh -  it hit the clothesline.
Almanzor Sprinter on Track for More Riches
Local trainer David Greene can’t wait to head to Te Rapa on Saturday where he will be chasing $1.125 million in prizemoney with a trio of runners.
Tarzino Mare Chasing G1
Tomodachi’s connections are banking on a target closer to home to bring out the best in the gifted mare on Saturday.
St Mark’s Basilica Colt Wins MM Tasmania 2YO Classic by Eight!
Tasmanian 2YO sensation Aristopolos ran as a short priced favourite in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in Hobart on Friday and the son of 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) kept his unbeaten record intact with scintillating victory.
Sires With Winners - Friday February 6
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Big Sky Three-Quarter Sister Highlights MM Online Sale
A three-quarter sister to the unbeaten juvenile Big Sky, one of the serious players for this month's $2 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes, headlines the Magic Millions Digital Sale (6-11 February), which is now open for bidding.
Nigella Lane Wins Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders
Cambridge mare Nigella Lane was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.