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...
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 5
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.