“Welcome to our second issue of APOBFS newsletter. We are now only twenty days away from the commencement of the Irish flat season, which begins at the Curragh on the 20th March”

“Henry Sires His Tenth Stakes Winner”

Coolmore stallion Henrythenavigator sired his tenth stakes winner when Ten Gun Salute won the listed Michael Roberts Handicap in South Africa. Ten Gun Salute has won three of six starts and is a half-brother to group 3 winner Red Typhoon.

“Coolmore Swoop For Emirates Joy At Tattersalls February Sale”

Margaret O'Toole bought the following lot, Emirates Joy (Lot 138) on behalf of Coolmore Sold in-foal on a first pregnancy to Exceed And Excel, she made 92,000gns. She is full-sister to two other winners, including Zip Top, runner-up in the group 1  Racing Post Trophy.

“Thewayyouare To Stand In Germany This Season”

Thewayyouare, famed as the sire of UAE Derby hero and narrowly beaten Breeders' Cup Classic second Toast Of New York, will stand for one season at Gestut Romerhof in Germany this year. The 11-year-old son of Kingmambo has spent the past five seasons under the Coolmore banner in Ireland. His arrival in Germany comes weeks after the death of Campanologist, another son of Kingmambo who was standing at Gestut Fahrhof and had proved popular with the country's breeders. Toast Of New York is the highlight of Thewayyouare's three crops to have raced, but the stallion has also supplied Queen's Vase runner-up Tommy Docc and group 3-placed Hug And A Kiss. Thewayyouare has also enjoyed a degree of success in Australasia from shuttling to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand and his progeny there include New Zealand 2,000 Guineas third Prince Mambo. Thewayyouare, a half-brother to outstanding filly Peeping Fawn, won the group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon and group 1 Criterium International at two for trainer Andre Fabre and owner Sean Mulryan.

“Park Walk wins For Tabor Then Claimed For $7,500”

Park Walk (Canford Cliffs) wins a claiming race by 1 ½ lengths at Turfway Park for Michael Tabor, trained by Wesley Ward, and is then claimed for $7,500 (£5,200).

“Top Sire Bianconi Dies Aged 21”

Bianconi, a classy sprinter for Coolmore who developed into a useful sire in Australia, has died at Ridgeview Park in Victoria after suffering a back injury. The son of Danzig was 21. A partnership including Ashford Stud bred Bianconi out of blue hen Fall Aspen, also the dam of group/grade 1 winners and sires Hamas, Fort Wood and Timber Country, and granddam of Dubai Millenium, Charnwood Forest, Medaaly, Elnadim and Mehthaaf. Bianconi was trained by Aidan O'Brien for Susan Magnier to win a Navan maiden by 13 lengths on his three-year-old debut and went on to finish fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, second in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes and to score in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot. "Bianconi has done a tremendous job at stud, covering more than 1,460 mares. From 911 starters he has had 560 individual winners at a 62 per cent ratio and over $36 million (£24.8 million) in prize-money. He is the sire of 19 stakes-winners and 31 stakes place-getters.

“Mountain Gets Syndicate Off The Mark”

The silks of the Annus Mirabillis Syndicate were carried to their first success as Donnacha O'Brien rode his father Aidan's Stone Mountain landing the spoils in the Money Back 2nd At Titanbet.co.uk Handicap. Aidan O'Brien also supplied the third home, the Mick Hussey partnered Ineffable, who was beat two and a half lengths. Head of the successful syndicate, Donal O'Mahony said: "The syndicate is made up of some people from the financial services and some who aren't. What binds us all is that we are racing enthusiasts. We're delighted to be involved with Aidan. They have half a dozen horses, and this was there first winner.

“Winning Return For Fastnet Mare”

Class will carry you a long way and so it was for group 1, MRC Thousand Guineas winner Amicus sired by Coolmore stallion Fastnet Rock, who surged late to snatch a narrow win in the group 2 ATC Thoroughbred Breeders Classic at Randwick, Australia. Amicus has a full sister to be offered at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“Wilshire Boulevard To Stand At Stud In Denmark”

Group 3 winner Wilshire Boulevard has been retired and will take up stallion duties at York Stud in Denmark at a fee of Dkr20,000 (£2,062/€2,680). The five-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor was first trained by Aidan O'Brien to win two races as a juvenile, including a 6f maiden at Navan before going on to land the group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh. Out of the the winning Machiavellian mare Tyranny, Wilshire Boulevard is a three-parts brother to last season's champion first-season sire Zoffany.

“Choisir Sires His 71st Stakes Winner”

Coolmore’s Choisir (Danehill Dancer) sired his 71st stakes winner when Secret Weapon won the group 3, Centenary Vase, over nine furlongs at Hong Kong’s, Sha Tin.

“Late Scat Daddy Sires 71st Stakes Winner”

Kiss N Scat, by the late Coolmore stallion Scat Daddy, took the lead turning for home and kicked strongly under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez to win the $50,870 (£35,080) California Oaks (Listed) on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Seeking her first stakes win, and giving her sire his 71st stakes winner, Kiss N Scat settled nicely outside long shot pacesetter Brookys Star in second through fractions of 23.98, 48.03 and 1:12.65 in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Kiss N Scat put away Brookys Star inside the quarter pole and responded well to Gonzalez's left-handed urging to score by 1 ¾ lengths over My Dynamo.

“Modern Day Shuttle Pioneer Danehill”

Danehill (pictured below) won the first of his eight Australian General Sires' Premierships in 1994/95. That signified really quick-fire success, as in that season the members of his first Australian crop--which included the 1994 Golden Slipper winner Danzero (Aus)--were still aged only three. Success came slightly less quickly in Europe: he registered the first of his four GB/Ire general sires' championships in 2003, when his representatives were headed by the Derby winner North Light (Ire).

North Light's Derby victory, incidentally, proved to be the first leg of a remarkable Derby double for Danehill: five months later his son Elvstroem (Aus) took the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Bearing in mind that feature races in Melbourne generally carry more prestige than do their counterparts in Brisbane, this achievement eclipsed that of Grand Lodge (Chief's Crown) in 2000 when he sired the winners of the Derby (Sinndar {Ire}) and the Queensland Derby (Freemason {Aus}) not merely in the same year, but on the same day. It was almost inevitable that the elite band of stallions capable to some degree of taking up the mantle of Danehill would include some of his sons. Of Danehill's European sons, the one who came closest to matching his father's international achievements was Danehill Dancer (Ire). Of Danehill's Australian Group 1 winners, Exceed And Excel (Aus) and Fastnet Rock (Aus), have been notable dual-hemisphere successes. Each of these three has been champion sire at home and has sired Group 1 winners in the other hemisphere. With three individual Irish-bred Group 1 winners in 2015, Fastnet Rock (pictured below) is doing particularly well at present.

“Kiwi Group Three Winner For Tale Of The Cat”

The Diamond One, sired by Coolmore stallion, Tale Of The Cat, posted her first win of 2016 when she took out the group 3, White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui in New Zealand for the third year in a row. She fought on well to win the one mile contest by half a head.

“26th Stakes Winner For Mastercraftsman”

Talented mare Flavigny scored a satisfying first Black Type victory at Tauherenikau in New Zealand, to give her sire Mastercraftsman his 26th stakes winner. The Mike Moroney and Chad Ormsby-trained mare boosted her future value with victory in the Listed WRC/Pope & Gray Contractors Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, over one mile.

“Coolmore’s Pride Of Dubai Retired”

Dual group 1 winner Pride Of Dubai has been retired after a veterinary examination on Monday revealed he sustained a similar injury in his Eskimo Prince Stakes flop to the one that kept him off the track for almost 10 months. Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden made the decision after it was revealed Pride Of Dubai had suffered deep bone bruising after beating just one one runner home in the group 3 race at Randwick on Saturday. He will be shipped off to stud to prepare for the next breeding season where he will stand for a partnership including Coolmore, China Horse Club, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Emmaroo Bloodstock. Pride Of Dubai won the Blue Diamond-Sires Produce Stakes double during his two-year-old season - his only two wins on the track - but his three-year-old campaign began in earnest on a wet surface at Randwick. Jockey Hugh Bowman could offer no excuses for his performance in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, won comprehensively by Gerald Ryan's Spill The Beans. Pride Of Dubai reaped more than $1.3 million in prize money from just five career starts. His retirement capped a bad morning for the Snowdens, who also announced they would retire beaten Breeders Classic favourite Dublin Lass after she struggled in the group 2 sprint at Randwick.

“Roderic O’Connor To Stand At National Stud”

THE owner of the National Stud's newest recruit former Coolmore owned  Roderic O'Connor has allayed any fears about the possibility of a delayed start to the covering season next week, following closure of the Newmarket site to the public after a case of equine herpes virus was reported last week. Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, who took sole ownership of the Irish 2000 Guineas winner at the end of his racing career with Aidan O'Brien, said on Friday: "The National Stud has assured me that this outbreak will not affect the start of Roderic O'Connor's season. The eight-year-old, by Galileo out of the Danehill mare Secret Garden, from the immediate family of Zabeel, stood for four years in Ireland and has moved to the National Stud "to upgrade his status", according to Poonawalla. His stud fee has been raised slightly, to £9,000. Roderic O'Connor's first crop of two-year-olds in 2015 produced 17 winners from 46 runners, including Biz Heart, winner of the group 2 Premio Gran Criterium in Italy, and the Richard Hannon-trained Great Page, winner of the group 3 Prix du Calvados and runner-up in the Princess Margaret Stakes.

“Tapit’s Cupid On Target At Santa Anita For Coolmore”

Cupid was backed down to even-money in this first route attempt, and ran to the public’s opinion to reveal yet another promising sophomore in trainer Bob Baffert’s arsenal. Fourth going six furlongs at Los Alamitos Racecourse Dec. 20, the $900,000 KEESEP yearling was second over just 5 1/2 panels here Jan. 9. He had recorded three sharp works since that effort, and was content to stalk the pace out wide here through opening splits of :23.98 and :48.62. Spinning wide as he asserted into the lane, the grey got his feet under him and leveled off very nicely to stretch his margin of victory to a facile six lengths

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“Mare In Foal to Scat Daddy Tops Session”

Unraced mare Maggie d'Oro being in foal to deceased stallion Scat Daddy was enough for Green Lantern Stables to purchase her for $210,000 (£145,000) the top price Feb, 8th on the first day of the two-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale. Bred in Kentucky by Map Mare Partnership and consigned by Select Sales as agent, Maggie d'Oro, is a 6-year-old by Medaglia d'Oro and a half sister to two-time grade 3 stakes-winning sprinter Gaff. Scat Daddy, who formerly stood at Ashford Stud, died Dec 14th at the Kentucky farm. He was 2011 leading freshman sire with more than $1.5 million (£1 million) in progeny earnings and ranked third behind Kitten's Joy and Smart Strike on the general 2-year-old sire list.

“Uncle Mo Yearlings In Demand At Inglis”  

North America's top freshman sire of 2015 Uncle Mo, was among the leading sires at the Inglis classic yearling sale in Australia. All seven yearlings through the ring by Uncle Mo were sold, bringing an aggregate Aus$756,000 (£367,000) and an average price of Aus $108,000 (£52,500). China Horse Club secured the highest-price offering among them, a colt out of Secret Savings mare Victory Tycoon for $280,000 (£136,000), The mare, who has produced a winner from two to start, is a half sister to HK group 1 winner Joyful Winner.Victory Tycoon has a weanling colt by Epsom Derby winner Camelot and was covered last spring by another Coolmore sire in Holy Roman Emperor.

“Leigh Court by Grand Slam Wins Mardi Gras Stakes”

Leigh Court won her first race since October 2014 when she outclassed nine rivals in the $60,000 Mardi Gras Stakes, (Listed) at Fair Grounds. By deceased Coolmore stallion Grand Slam, Leigh Court is a daughter of the French Deputy mare Padmore. She has been lightly raced and very effective, running her record to 16-8-4-0 with earnings of $708,331 (£491,000) following her Mardi Gras victory.

“Coolmore's Kinglike Books Black Caviar Lightning 2016 Run”

Peter Moody’s group 2 winning colt Kinglike put in a sizzling trial win at Cranbourne on Monday morning booking his first-up Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival run in Saturday week’s 2016 Black Caviar Lightning. The Exceed And Excel three-year-old has won two from four to date including the group 2 Danehill Stakes, 6 furlongs last September down the Flemington straight. He was last seen crossing three and a half lengths away sixth to Lumosty in the Group 2 Caulfield Spring, 5 furlongs when stepped back down in distance on Caulfield Cup Day. In his first official hit-out since in lined up over 4 furlongs at Cranbourne on Monday in the morning’s 15th heat with Glen Boss guiding him to an easy two and a half-length success in 45.28 seconds, the second quickest time of the day, over Del Piero. “He had a jump-out at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago but he was a bit fresh and a bit above himself,” Moody told Racing Victoria on Monday. “So a nice course proper gallop last week was complimented by a good, strong gallop this morning. I wanted him to take benefit from it and I asked Glen to let him do a bit in the trial and he did it nicely. It was the ideal trial according to Moody ahead of the colt’s first-up run, which is now looking to be a highly anticipated clash with John O’Shea’s Golden Rose Stakes winner Exosphere in the $750,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, 5 furlongs on February 20.

“Deal lures breeders to American Pharoah”

Some breeders interested in sending mares to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky are being offered special ‘two for the price of one' deals, allowing them to breed a pair of mares to the first-year stallion at the cost of the $200,000 advertised stud fee. The incentive has stirred lots of talk as the breeding season is about to begin in Kentucky, both among those who are excited about the opportunity and among competing farms that have stallions standing in the $100,000 stud fee range who could be impacted by the marketing move. "It's a pretty nice deal," said Nobu Araki of Polo Green Stable, who arranged for two mares owned by Toshiyuki Shimokobe's Japan-based Shimokobe Farm to be bred to American Pharoah. "Ashford has been really good to its clients - they take care of us. Economics is a factor in the deal, since American Pharoah's fee is the highest for a first-year stallion in North America since 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper stood his initial season in 2006 at the same price. Among the mares being sent to American Pharoah by Taylor Made clients are Grade 1 winner Joyful Victory, a daughter of Tapit who was purchased for $2 million (£1.4 million) by Marie Jones and her late husband, Aaron, at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in 2013. Joyful Victory produced her first foal, a filly by Distorted Humor, in 2015.

“Camelot Filly Leads The Way At Goffs Sale”

A daughter of Camelot (Lot 160) has emerged as the new pace setter on day one of the Goffs February Sale after selling to Hamish Alexander for €80,000 (. The filly, who hails from the first crop of her 2,000 Guineas and dual Derby-winning sire, was consigned by Eimear Mulhern's Abbeville & Meadow Court Studs and she is a half-sister to five winners including the German Stakes winner Skagen and Scoville. She will be reoffered at the Orby Sale.

“Bodemeister Dam Set To Be Pharoah’s First Date”

Untouched Talent, the dam of grade 1 winner and dual Classic runner-up Bodemeister, is set to be the first mare to visit Triple Crown hero American Pharoah according to Ahmed Zayat. Untouched Talent, a 12-year-old daughter of Storm Cat, was knocked down to Coolmore's MV Magnier for $5 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale in 2012, following the exploits of her first foal Bodemeister. A son of Empire Maker, Bodemeister was trained by Bob Baffert to win the top-level Arkansas Derby after which he finished second to I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Untouched Talent is responsible for three other winners, headed by the Smart Strike filly Fascinating, who was also second in the grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes.

“Guessing Has A Filly Foal By Australia”

The filly, bred by Barronstown Stud, was born on February 7th. Sired by Australia she is out of Guessing, a daughter of Kingmambo and Oaks heroine Imagine. Guessing is a half-sister to Group 1 performers Horatio Nelson, Red Rock Canyon and Viscount Nelson.This is a Classic family through and through, as Imagine is a half-sister to Derby hero Generous.

“Group 3 Success For Holy Roman Emperor”

Rich Tapestry, whose sire is Coolmore stallion, Holy Roman Emperor virtually made all to win the group 3 Al Shindagha, over 6 furlongs, when the well-supported favourite Marking stumbled leaving the stalls and unseated his rider James Doyle.

“Son For Coolmore Resident No Nay Never”

He is out of the group 3-winning Peintre Celebre mare Chaibia, who is owned by Brittas House Stud and is out of a half-sister to Epsom Derby winner Erhaab, and is set to return to No Nay Never this season. No Nay Never, a son of the late Scat Daddy, was trained by Wesley Ward for Coolmore to win the group 2 Norfolk Stakes and group 1 Prix Morny by clear water at two. At three he won the grade 3 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland and found only Bobby's Kitten too good in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. No Nay Never is standing his second season at Coolmore this year at a fee of €17,500 (£13,500).

“So You Think Inducted Into NZ Racing Hall Of Fame”

Coolmore’s ten-time Group One winner So You Think (High Chaparral). Has been inducted into New Zealand racing hall of fame. He won ten Group One races in both hemispheres, racing from the age of two until five. Trained originally by Bart Cummings, So You Think’s Group One victories included the Cox Plate, group 1, over ten furlongs. Later transferred to Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, he had five group 1 victories in Europe including back-to-back wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, over 10 ½ furlongs. He is currently standing at Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary for a fee of €49,500 (£38,400)

“Kiwi Group Double For Mastercraftsman”

Mastercraftsman, a dashing grey son of the mighty Danehill Dancer, posted a Group race double at Te Rapa in New Zealand with Valley Girl (pictured below) winning the Group 1 Herby Dyke Stakes and Mime capturing the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic.  Valley Girl and Mime are the 27th and 28th stakes-winner for Mastercraftsman and Valley Girl is his fourth group 1 winner.

“Choisir Sprinter Hits Top Form”

Talented sprinter Big Money who is sired by Coolmore stallion Choisir, was rock hard fit at this third run back from a spell and did best in a thrilling finish to win the group 3 ATC Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick. Big Money (pictured below) was bred by Phil Gunter, who shares in his ownership, and is the third and final foal of Lyn’s Money, who died in 2009. Choisir covered 134 mares in Australia last year at a fee of $29,700 (£14,500).

“Group 3 Australian Success For Dancer”

Tuscan Sling, sired by retired Coolmore stallion Danehill Dancer held-off a fast-finishing Azkadellia to win the group 3  Bellmaine Stakes, at Caulfield, Australia. Jockey Brad Rawiller picked up the ride on Tuscan Sling because he could not make the weight to ride Felicienne and she delivered him the victory, but he was quick to pay credit to the training performance of Weir and Tuscan Sling’s regular rider Harry Coffey.  Weir has had plenty of problems with Tuscan Sling since she made her racing debut in November of 2014 and he admits that the Danehill Dancer mare can still be a tricky customer to deal with, but has been happy with her form this preparation. Tuscan Sling is yet to be tested over 7 furlongs, but Weir confirmed that she will be given an opportunity over the extra distance in the group 3 Mannerism Stakes, over 7 furlongs at Caulfield on February 27.

“Group 3 Success For Retired Encosta De Lago”

Sultry Feeling whose sire is by the retired Coolmore stallion Encosta De Lago, scored a tough win in the group 3 $150,000 (£73,000) Triscay Stakes over 6 furlongs at Randwick, Australia.  The James Cummings trained Sultry Feeling (pictured below) was having her first run back since finishing fourth to Scarlet Billows in the group 3  Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes over 7 furlongs at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year. In winning the Triscay Stakes, Sultry Feeling not only made it three first up wins from five attempts, but also broke her Randwick duck at her seventh outing there. Cummings will now head to the group 3 Birthday Card Stakes over 6 furlongs at Rosehill on March 19 and then he will pick out a race for over ‘The Championships’ at Randwick.

“Giant’s Son Destin Posts Grade 3 Win In US”

Giant’s Causeway son Destin (pictured below) surged to the lead off the far turn and then turned back a stretch challenge from Rafting to win the $250,000 (£172,000) Sam F. Davis Stakes, grade 3 at Tampa Bay Downs. In registering a 2 ¼ length victory over stakes winner Rafting in the 1 mile ½ furlong test for 3-year-olds, the Twin Creeks Racing Stables runner secured the first stakes win of his young career and his sire’s 160th stakes winner.

“Filly By Declaration Of War”

Here is a filly by Declaration Of War out of the unraced Shamardal mare Queen Sarra who is herself out of the group 3-winning mare Grace O'Malley.

“Filly By Four Time Group One Winner Henrythenavigator”

Below is Bouyrin, a winning Invincible Spirit half-sister to group 3 winner Alsindi, with her second foal stretching their legs.The new arrival is by four-time group 1 winner and Coolmore resident Henrythenavigator.

“American Pharoah Sibling Born”

History maker American Pharoah gained a new younger sibling on 13th February when his dam Littleprincessemma produced a filly foal by Tapit (pictured below) at Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm in Kentucky. Summer Wind Farm bought Littleprincessemma, a ten-year-old daughter of Yankee Gentleman, for $2.1 million (£1.5 million) at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, in the wake of her second foal American Pharoah winning two grade 1s, the Del Mar Futurity and Frontrunner Stakes, at two. American Pharoah went on to become the first winner of the US Triple Crown in 37 years and streaked to victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic last October. The son of Pioneerof The Nile is now serving his first book of mares at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky. Littleprincessemma delivered a brother to American Pharoah last February - he has already been named Irish Pharaoh - before she was put in foal to reigning North American champion sire Tapit.

“Group 2 Macau Success For Henrythenavigator”

A strong win in the Spring Trophy, Macau, group 2, over 7 ½ furlongs has put the Sio Cheong trained Sandtop (pictured below) by Coolmore stallion Henrythenavigator right back on track in his quest for Macau Derby, Macau, group 1, over 9 furlongs glory. Sporting the blinkers for the second time, Sandtop under regular rider Peter Ho powered to the line too strongly to beat Best Of Luck by a length, with Bobo So Cute a distant third.

A son of Henrythenavigator, Sandtop had been dominant with four wins on end late last year before turning in three well beaten second placed efforts in his latest runs.With the better track conditions it was the old Sandtop in action as he produced his powerful finishing burst to win with authority. The Macau Guineas, Macau group 1, over 7 ½ furlongs the first leg of the Macau Triple Crown will be the next assignment for Sandtop where he gets his chance to even the score with Kelowna Star.

“Son Of Uncle Mo Returns In Style”

Nyquist (pictured below) son of Uncle Mo who stands at Coolmore America, and was named Eclipse champion juvenile after an unbeaten 2-year-old campaign last season, picked up just where he left off with a stylish 1 1/2-length victory in the grade 2 San Vicente stakes at Santa Anita. Off since capping his championship campaign with a win in the grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Nyquist was sent off the 2-5 favorite while facing just four rivals. The bay colt broke sharply from the rail and battled Sheikh of Sheikhs through fractions of :22.50 and :44.49. He took control nearing the stretch just as grade 3 winner Exaggerator was ranging up three wide, while stablemate Denman’s Call was sneaking through an opening along the rail. Denman’s Call was first to fold and Nyquist repulsed a game Exaggerator and was well in control while cruising under the wire in a sparkling 1:20.71-- third fastest in the seven-furlong race’s history.

“Coolmore Stallion Becoming Master Sire”

Mastercraftsman (pictured above) had his best Southern Hemisphere results with a pair of three-year-old fillies, Valley Girl (pictured below) defeating older horses in the Herbie Dyke Stakes, group 1, 10 furlongs and Mime capturing the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, group 2, 10 furlongs.

Mastercraftsman began his New Zealand stud career in 2010 at a service fee of NZ$25,000 (£11,500) and returned for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons at reduced fees before spending the 2014 and 2015 southern hemisphere seasons in Chile. The eye catching grey horse first stood at Coolmore in Ireland, in 2010 following his retirement from racing and the success of his first three crops in Europe has made him popular with breeders with last Saturday’s black type double in New Zealand taking his international tally of stakes winners to 28, four of them now group one winners.

Most significantly European stars The Grey Gatsby (pictured below) Kingston Hill, now standing in Ireland for Coolmore, and Amazing Maria. The Grey Gatsby’s wins were highlighted by successes in the Prix du Jockey Club, group 1, 10 1/2 furlongs, the Irish Champion Stakes, group 1, 10 furlongs and in the Dante Stakes, group 2, 10 furlongs.

Kingston Hill (pictured below) looked a star in the making as a two-year-old in Britain in 2013 by easily taking the Racing Post Trophy, group 1, 8 furlongs. That performance made Kingston Hill early favourite for the 2014 Derby but he was beaten into second place by Australia though was to capture a classic, the St Leger, group 1, 14 furlongs, later in the season.

The filly Amazing Maria (pictured below) has also done much to boost Mastercraftsman’s profile as a sire in Europe by winning a number of major races, among them the Falmouth Stakes, group 1, 8 furlongs and the Prix Rothschild, group 1, 8 furlongs.

In Australasia Mastercraftsman’s females have generally outperformed his males, first to come to prominence here being Thunder Lady (pictured below) winner of the 2014 VRC Wakeful Stakes, group 2, 10 furlongs before finishing second to Set Square VRC Oaks, group 1, 12 ½ fulongs. Other stakes winning fillies for Mastercraftsman in New Zealand are Choice, Thee Auld Floozie and Flavigny while New Zealand-bred filly The Centenary is a stakes winner in South Africa. Like last Saturday’s stakes winner Mime, The Centenary is out of a daughter of Montjeu. That Mastercraftsman’s progeny would be suited to racing in Australia and New Zealand comes as no surprise in view of his pedigree and more particularly his high class racing performances at both two and three years.

As a two-year-old in 2008 Mastercraftsman was ranked as the champion colt in Europe and Ireland, earning a peak Timeform rating of 120 after winning the Phoenix Stakes, group 1, 6 furlongs, National Stakes, group 1, 7 furlongs and the Railway Stakes, group 2, 6 furlongs. He trained on splendidly at the age of three to win two more group Ones, skating home by four and a half lengths in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas, group 1, 8 furlongs and he also won the St James’s Palace Stakes, group 1, 8 furlongs at Royal Ascot. Another success that season came in the Diamond Stakes, group 3, 11 furlongs at Dundalk, while Mastercraftsman was twice placed behind champion Sea The Stars in other group one races, performances which lifted his annual Timeform rating to 129.

Valley Girl, last Saturday’s group one winner for Mastercraftsman, is now likely to take on males in next month’s New Zealand Derby, group 1, 12 furlongs at Ellerslie, and is the fifth foal and second winner for her dam Leigh Valley.

“Second Win For Uncle Mo Colt”

The first winner for Champion First Crop Sire and two-year-old Sire Uncle Mo when scoring on debut at Keeneland last year. Talented colt Outwork by Coolmore stallion Uncle Mo reappeared from a long break to keep his unbeaten record intact with a resounding win at Tampa. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Outwork (pictured below) made it look all too easy when striding clear to win the six furlong allowance by more than four lengths.

“How Is High Chaparral Doing As A Damsire”

The New Zealand born Suavito, (pictured below) whose damsire is the late Coolmore stallion High Chaparral (pictured above) who won last year’s group 1, Futurity Stakes, and won her second group 1 race at Caufield, Australia, this month, having beaten the two-time group 1, winner Lucky Hussler by 3/4 length. Her achievement is already the third group 1 by a horse whose dam was sired by the late Coolmore stallion High Chaparral. Sadler’s Wells's son High Chaparral was no doubt a quality sire but he met with poor luck, as far as his European career is concerned.

After years when breeders in Europe, especially his home stud of Coolmore, searched long for a worthy successor to its icon, the fourteen time GB & Ireland champion sire Sadler’s Wells, (pictured below) there appeared two at the same moment. In 2005, when the first foals by High Chaparral were born, the first crop of Montjeu launched its spectacular campaign on European racecourses and when first yearlings by High Chaparral went to the sales ring, Galileo had his first three-year-olds on the racecourse, including two classic winners.

We can only guess today how High Chaparral would have fared had he not been in the shadow of these two giants. As a clue we can compare his first crops in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. While in Ireland he had five black-type winners, including three group 3 winners, while his first crop at Windsor Park Stud, where he arrived as a replacement for Montjeu (pictured below) had four group 1, winners including the excellent So You Think. It was thanks to these achievements that he was more popular in the Southern Hemisphere, in the 2010 season he was moved to Coolmore’s Australian breeding arm, while in Ireland his fee was EUR15,000 (£11,000) in Australia it amounted to AUS$88,000 (£44,000) in 2010.

But in Europe, too, High Chaparral produced a number of truly exceptional horses. Unfortunately this came at the time when his progeny could not help him to boost the demand of European breeders. The excellent miler Toronado, who as a three-year-old beat Dawn Approach in the group 1, Sussex Stakes, won the group 1, Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot only six months before High Chaparral died prematurely at the end of 2014, Free Eagle, the winner of the group 1, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, achieved his best success only after his sire’s death.

How does High Chaparral fare as damsire though? First it needs to be said that not only every successful sire is a successful damsire. Number of facts, however, suggest that he could indeed be successful as damsire. He was the son of Sadler’s Wells, not only an exceptionally successful sire but also a brilliant damsire; his dam Kasora is the founder of a successful family and the damsire Darshaan belongs among the best dam-sires in history. On the other hand, there is a negative fact, among High Chaparral’s progeny there are very few mares. Of the seventy-five black-type winners, thirty-one were mares, over 40%, but his fifteen group 1 winners include just two mares. High Chaparral has produced so far a total of eight black-type winners and six more progeny who have been placed in black-type races. The oldest progeny of his daughters are six now. Besides the above mentioned Suavito, the Prix Morny a group 1 race was won by The Wow Signal, and today a sire at Haras de Bouquet. Both Suavito and The Wow Signal were sired by sprinters, Thorn Park and Starspangledbanner (pictured below).

Danehill’s grandson Starspangledbanner belongs to the Danzig line, to which paternity lines to half of the eight black-type winners out of dams by High Chaparral. Nearly half of High Chaparral’s daughters belong to this line. High Chaparral’s daughter Sand River has managed to produce a black-type winner with the stayer Monsun, who also sired a listed winner with Sarrasin, but even in his pedigree you will find the Danzig influence, his grand-dam Special Delivery is a daughter of Danehill (pictured below). The experience of New Zealand breeders with High Chaparral show that selecting a partner for High Chaparral, it was not necessary to focus solely on those with enough of speed in the pedigree and this may hold true for his daughters too.

It can be expected that it is with Danehill’s blood that High Chaparral’s daughters will encounter mostly, this is given by the fact that most of his daughters are active in Australia (72 by the Australian Stud Book), where this line strongly dominates. Most of the progeny out of High Chaparral’s daughters have been sired by Fastnet Rock, Danehill and Lawman, who belongs to Green Desert’s branch of Danzig’s line. They may be joined by Oasis Dream, who has sired just two foals of racing age with High Chaparral’s daughters, but both are black-type winners. As damsire, High Chaparral is at the very outset of his journey. The first steps were good and last year the progeny of his daughters earned £326,000 in GB and Ireland which put High Chaparral in 80th position in the damsire championship. This year he should be even higher.

“Risen Star Uncle Has Mo-Mentum”

Racegoers may be used to seeing sons of Galileo routinely flood the starting stalls in Irish stakes races, but there's a rarity at Fair Grounds Race Course, America, when four 3-year-old sons of Uncle Mo (pictured below) were entered in the grade 2 Risen Star stakes. In addition, Shaken, an Uncle Mo filly, is set to break from the rail in the female counterpart, the grade 2 Rachel Alexandra. Uncle Mo, Ashford Stud's runaway leading first crop and juvenile sire of 2015, has seven stakes winners in his first crop, including male champion Nyquist and Mo Tom. Free of Mr. Prospector, Uncle Mo has Northern Dancer 5x5x4 through five generations, so it is no surprise to see Mr. Prospector in four of the five pedigrees of his Fair Grounds stakes starters. Both Mo Tom and Uncle Walter have Caro in their female families, mirroring Uncle Mo's great-great-grandsire. Shaken and stakes-winning Risen Star runner Forevamo have Seattle Slew close up in their female families.

“Son For Coolmore Stallion Pour Moi”

He is by Derby hero and Coolmore stallion Pour Moi (pictured below) and is the first produce of the Danehill Dancer mare Alps whose grand-dam Chain Fern produced Green Room, who produced group 1 winners, Together Forever and Lord Shanakill.

“Daughter For Coolmore Stallion Galileo”

Pictured below, is the first foal, a filly for group 2 winner over nine furlongs, L’Amour De Ma Vie (Dansili). By super sire Galileo, who has sired 206 stake winners, fifty-four of them group 1.

“Acapulco Gets The Job Done”

Queen Mary group 2 winner Acapulco (pictured below) used the ninth race at Turfway Park as a soft comeback spot against overmatched rivals. Sent off as the 1-5 favorite for what amounted to a paid workout under the lights, the Wesley Ward trainee had to work a bit harder to subdue front-running Sweet Ruth E. But Acapulco imposed her will late to win going away, and it’s all onwards and upwards from here. Running in this race was worth a handful of works fitness-wise, and more important from the mental standpoint. In addition to getting her back into the competitive frame of mind off a six-month vacation, Acapulco also undertook a couple of experiments: she took the blinkers off for the first time in her brief career, and she was held up a little off the pace. This was definitely the place to try to teach her something. By the much-missed Coolmore sire Scat Daddy, Acapulco is out of the multiple stakes-winning End Sweep mare Global Finance. Her fifth dam is English champion filly Night Off, victorious in the Cheveley Park (1964) and 1000 Guineas (1965).

“Fastnet Mare Returns In Style”

A former sparring partner of Winx, who she beat to win the Group 1 ATC Flight Stakes in 2014, quality mare First Seal (pictured below) was back to her very best when scoring a barnstorming win in the group 2, Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill. More than ten months since her last official race start, First Seal swept down the outside under top weight to claim a 3/4 length victory in the 6 ½ furlong sprint. First Seal has the overall record of five wins and five seconds from 12 starts with prizemoney topping £465,000. She is the ninth Australian stakes-winner this season for champion sire Fastnet Rock.

“Group One Winner For Encosta De Lago”

The judgment of trainer John Hawkes could not have been more precise as star sprinter Chautauqua (pictured below) sired by Coolmore stallion Encosta De Lago returned to racing on a winning note in the group 1 Lightning stakes over 5 furlongs. Hawkes told jockey Dwayne Dunn it would not be until the group 1 sprint was almost over that Chautauqua would look like the winner. John said, if you are going to win, you are only going to get them in last 50 metres, Dunn said. Chautauqua settled last of the six runners as the field split in two divisions. The rank outsider Va Pensiero led Exposhere closest to the inside rail, while Chautauqua had to come from the tail of the four runners who elected to navigate a course towards the outside fence. Dunn did not expect the small field to split and said it was the decision of Hawkes to settle at the tail of the field and keep the opposition guessing. I was back last and I was guessing when I would get back at them, he said. I was in trouble until the last 50 metres and then it was only in the last three strides that he savaged the line.

“High Chaparral Son Wins Group Three In Stewards Room”  

The fortunes of two sought-after stallion prospects have swung on the result of a protest hearing at Flemington. The Darren Weir-trained Palentino was first past the post in the group 3 CS Hayes Stakes ahead of the Mike Moroney-trained Tivaci, (pictured below) by the deceased High Chaparral. Craig Williams lodged a protest after being pushed wide at the 2 furlong marker on Tivaci  when Mark Zahra came out abruptly on Palentino. Williams claimed the interference cost his mount up to two lengths, much more than the shorthead that separated the pair at the finish.  chief steward Terry Bailey said Tivaci went from racing three wide to being out six wide. We believe the interference exceeds the winning margin and without the interference Tivaci would have won the race.

“Another Group Winner For Mastercraftsman”

Mastercraftsman, a former regular visitor to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand, has been on a winning roll in New Zealand in recent weeks adding another new stakes-winner to his tally with Sacred Master (pictured below) in the group 2 Avondale Cup. Sacred Master won the 12 furlong race by just under a length and has now won six of his 12 starts. The 29th stakes-winner for Mastercraftsman, Sacred Master was a £30,000 NZB Ready to Run purchase from the Diamond Lodge draft and is from minor winner Trickle, a full sister to group 1 winner Eileen Dubh.

“Uncle Mo Gets Eighth Stakes Winner”

Clipthecouponannie (pictured below) provided her successful young Coolmore sire Uncle Mo with an eighth stakes winner with a never-say-die victory at Aqueduct. Drawn on the rail in a scratched-down field of four, the bay looked to bobble slightly at the off, but was quickly battling on a good pace just to the inside of fellow undefeated Wonderment as Frosty Margarita was only too happy to allow things to proceed ahead of her. Clipthecouponannie won the pace battle as Wonderment dropped away, but Frosty Margarita loomed up three deep with every chance at the head of the lane. The duo matched strides deep into the final furlong, but Clipthecouponannie determinedly clawed her way past Frosty Margarita in the dying strides to score.

“Lucky Has Weekend Stakes Double”

Chabaud (pictured below) proved too good in the Tasmanian Oaks at Launceston, and gave his sire Lookin At Lucky, who stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, his second stakes winner of the weekend, after Protective Shield won the Arizona Oaks at Turf Paradise, and his ninth stakes winner in total. The Robert Smerdon trained filly was allowed to settle in last place after starting from the outside barrier before Mark Zahra made a sharp move passing halfway to be challenging at the home turn. Chabaud maintained her momentum and went on to defeat the Gai Waterhouse trained Sweet Redemption by three-quarters of a length. Chabaud is the first winner for stakes-placed Rockadubai, a three-quarter sister-in-blood by Fastnet Rock to triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren.

“Good Luck Gus Gives Lucky A Stakes Hat-Trick”

Good Luck Gus (pictured below) a four-year-old son of Coolmore stallion Lookin at Lucky, gave his sire a stakes hat-trick in the last twenty-four hours. He has not raced in more than seven weeks, since finishing third. Rodriguez felt Good Luck Gus may have been compromised by a slow pace that afternoon as the first half-mile went in 49.06 seconds.Sunday, the early fractions were quicker as Fox Rules, under Jaime Rodriguez, ran an opening quarter-mile in 23.64 seconds and a half-mile in 47.88 while being chased by Eye Luv Lulu. Royal Posse, the 3-5 favorite under Junior Alvarado, joined the fray three wide and around the turn crept up alongside Fox Rules. Royal Posse was able to put away Fox Rules by mid stretch but Good Luck Gus, who followed Royal Posse until the stretch, was tipped four to five wide, and was able to run down Royal Posse in the final strides.

“A Better Start Than You Think”

While So You Think (pictured below) did not make his racecourse debut until late May of his two year-old season, the promise being shown by his first progeny at this early stage is enough to suggest that he has a very bright future as a sire. Amongst those showing the most promise is the filly Conscious, who made an eye-catching debut when second in the Listed Talindert Stakes over 1100m at Flemington on Saturday behind group 1 Golden Slipper candidate Weatherly. Despite racing greenly, the Bob Hannon bred filly showed plenty of speed and a most willing attitude to get within a length and a half of the more experienced winner, the pair pulling over three lengths clear of their 13 rivals. I think she’s pretty good and she’ll go back to Flemington for the group 3, Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes over 6 furlongs down the straight’ said trainer Troy Corstens. She’ll be hard to beat there. The trainer added; ‘She surprised us a bit as we weren’t expecting her to be early, even though there are some nice two year-olds in her pedigree, but she’s got one of the greatest attitudes you’ve ever seen. She does very well in the stable and is just very tough. She’s the only So You Think I have, but I’ll be looking for more of them thanks to her. The other two progeny of So You Think to have appeared at the races are the Bjorn Baker trained filly Too Fast For Love, an encouraging fourth in the Listed Inglis Nursery over 5 furlongs in December behind group 1 Blue Diamond favourite Extreme Choice and Gold Rush, who finished runner-up over 6 furlongs at Matamata in late January behind group 1 prospect Mongolian Falcon. With over 120 unraced two year-olds, including promising sorts in the hands of the likes of Snowden, Hawkes, Waller, Moody, Cummings, Moroney and Waterhouse, momentum is building behind So You Think in advance of the Autumn.

“Full Brother To Secret Gesture And Sir Isaac Born”

Pictured below a colt by Galileo out of Shastye, and is a full brother to Secret Gesture, who is a winner between 8 to-11 ½ furlongs, including a group 2 win and runner-up in the Epsom Oaks, and Sir Isaac Newton, a 7 furlong winner. Dam is a winner between 12 to 13 furlongs, and a half-sister to Arc winner Sagamix and 10 furlong group 1 two-year-old winner, and Arc third Sagacity.

“169th Stake Winner For Danehill Dancer”

Former Coolmore Australia shuttler Danehill Dancer sired his 169th stake winner when the Listed Challenge Stakes, over 7 ½ furlongs at Ascot, Australia, was won by Dreamtime Dancer (pictured below) Danehill Dancer was pensioned from stallion duties at Coolmore Stud in Ireland due to declining fertility in 2014.

“Ashford Stud Buys Historic Waterford Farm”

Coolmore owned Ashford Stud has purchased the 725-acre Waterford Farm (pictured below) near Midway, Kentucky, for $10,135,072 (£7,281,047) from the West family. Kathryn Martin West, who died in 2015 aged 91, and her late husband, Robert Smiser West, a dentist who died in 2006, developed Waterford into a successful commercial breeding operation.They often partnered as breeders with Racing Hall of Fame trainer MacKenzie Miller and his wife, Martha. Some of the top horses bred by Waterford or the West’s, sometimes with the Millers, include 1999 champion 2-year-old filly Chilukki, champion grass mare De La Rose, multiple grade 1 winner Lite Light, grade 1 winner Tweedside, Japanese grade 1 winner Testa Matta, and Peru Horse of the Year Al Qasr. Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan said Waterford's history made it attractive, adding that Ashford would like to build on the breeding history of the West’s and Millers. "The quality of the land speaks for itself and we are looking forward to our association with it in the future," Ryan said.

“Ceiling Kitty Dies Giving Birth To Camelot Colt”

Ceiling Kitty (pictured below) who gave her owner-breeder and Betfair founder Andrew Black a day to remember when winning the Queen Mary Stakes in 2012, died on Wednesday night following complications foaling. The resulting foal - a colt by Camelot - is the third out of Ceiling Kitty, who also has a two-year-old filly by Pivotal and an Invincible Spirit yearling filly. We're very, very lucky that she's left us two lovely fillies and a cracking Camelot colt, who is pulling through and doing really well. She's left us with plenty to get on with and we've got to look forward.

“Son For Derby Winner Ruler Of The World”

Pictured Below, is a picture of the twenty day old colt, By Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World, out of a Danehill Dancer unraced mare Spate. He is related to Breeders Cup Mile runner-up, Sabona.  

“Son For Dual Derby Winner Camelot”

Pictured below, is a Colt foal by dual Derby winner Camelot, out of Ape Attack who is a half-sister to grade 1 placed Poteen, and dual group 3 winner Bog Trotter.

“High Chaparral’s Daughter Maiden Of The Week”

Winner of a barrier trial at Rosehill earlier this month, Omei Sword (pictured below) a daughter of dual-derby winner, the deceased High Chaparral made a winning debut. The filly settled in seventh place in the nine horse field early before tracking up wide with cover rounding the home turn. She moved up with one furlong left to run, got to fourth with half a furlong to go  and then responded well to win looking like she will appreciate further. Omei Sword is the first living foal out of her group One-winning dam Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock. Irish Lights is herself a daughter of the winning mare Aspen Falls who is herself a daughter of River Crossing, the dam of five winners and a half-sister to the grade one winner Fall Aspen, herself the dam of Timber Country. This is also the family of group/grade winning sires Bianconi, Dubai Millennium and Elnadim. Irish Lights was covered by Adelaide last October having slipped to Pierro the year prior. She has a yearling by Pierro, her second living foal.

“Sea Of Blue Comes Good”

With top-weight Rock On Rosie's defection from the titanbet.co.uk Handicap on account of an allergy, first-reserve Sea Of Blue (pictured below) got her chance. Aidan O'Brien's filly duly made the most of her opportunity in Dundalk's second under Seamie Heffernan. The Fastnet Rock filly was shedding her maiden tag here on attempt number sixteen, and she was one of a number with chances when they fanned out across the track two furlongs out. However not many could raise their game from the furlong pole and in the end Sea Of Blue saw off Zorba The Greek by two lengths. Joseph O'Brien, representing his father, said: "She ran well here a few times and has had a little break. She is what she is but it's nice to get a win as she has a good pedigree. She will probably be covered this year, and it would be great if she could win again.

“109/1 Dundalk Double For Aidan O’Brien”

After Sea Of Blue's win in race two Aidan O'Brien (pictured below) doubled his tally at Dundalk as Ineffable proved best of his trio of runners to win the Download The Titanbet Sports App Handicap. Mick Hussey put up a pound over at eight stone seven pounds, after flagging up the possibility of riding at two pounds up, and in the end he got Ineffable home by a short head from well-backed 9/2 chance Lex Talionis. A Ballydoyle stable companion to the winner, Stone Mountain, headed the betting and he ultimately ended up in a close up fourth position. Joseph O'Brien said, He ran a great race the last day. Stone Mountain went up 7lb, and this horse was getting a lot of weight today. Mick Hussey gave him a great ride. I think he'll handle grass, and he stays well.

“Former Aidan O’Brien trained Assign Wins Mornington Cup”

Former Aidan O’Brien trained Adjusted son of Montjeu, now named Assign (pictured below) won the listed Mornington Cup at Caulfield. The Macedon Lodge import booked a place in the Mornington Cup with his two-length win. The winner of the Mornington Cup on April 2 is guaranteed a start in the Caulfield Cup in October. Assign carried 9 stone 11 pounds to record a fighting win over 9 furlongs at Sandown when resuming on February 17 before finding the 10 furlongs more to his liking in his second-up assignment. Assign was able to establish control of the $120,000 (£61,600) race from the moment he sent the son of Montjeu to the lead.

“Son Of Fastnet Rock Wins Doomben Listed Race”

Everything fell into place for consistent son of Fastnet Rock (pictured below)  Bewhatyouwannabe but not for short-priced favourite Right Or Wrong at Doomben. Bewhatyouwannabe beat Snippets Land  by a half head with a half neck to Right Or Wrong the ⅘ favourite in the $100,000 (£51,000) Listed Tattersall's Members' Cup over 8 furlongs. Trainer Robert Heathcote said it had been five weeks between runs when Bewhatyouwannabe was a last-start third at Doomben two weeks ago. He was a lot fitter today and people forget that he was already a Listed winner in the BRC Members Cup last winter who was in this race with one kilo over the limit.

“Group Two Winner For So You Think”

Just a week after posting his first stakes performer, ten-time Group 1 winner So You Think has passed the career milestone of siring his first stakes-winner with New Zealand bred filly Gold Rush (pictured below, red cap) capturing the group 2 Matamata Breeders Stakes. Gold Rush broke quickly from the gates to sit on the pace and fought on with great determination to win the 6 furlong contest in a competitive finish. She jumped well but she was off the bit a fair way out and I was concerned, but to her credit she really fought hard, rider Craig Grylls said. Gold Rush will now target the coming New Zealand Group 1 juvenile events.

“Fastnet Rock Juvenile Stakes Quinella”

Champion sire Fastnet Rock posted a stakes quinella in the Listed Slipper at Matamata in New Zealand on Saturday with Heroic Valour (pictured below) scoring from Mongolian Falcon (Fastnet Rock). Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Heroic Valour stalked the leader Nova Swiss to the turn before he took control into the straight and despite racing greenly, he had enough in reserve to hold out the late challenge of Mongolian Falcon to win by a head. We think he’s a Group One horse and he’s going the right way, Autridge said.

“First Mare In Foal To American Pharoah”

Untouched Talent (pictured below) has become the first mare reported in foal to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Coolmore Stud posted the news on Twitter on 26th February, American Pharoah stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky. Untouched Talent is a valuable mare herself, Michael Magnier bought her for $5 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale. Untouched Talent was in-foal to Unbridled's Song. That pairing produced 2013 Irish-bred colt Finnegan, who scored a five-length maiden victory at Pimlico Race Course last year racing for the Coolmore operation. American Pharoah is standing for a $200,000 (£144,000) fee in his first season as a stallion.

“Mo D’Amour On Oaks Trail With Busher Stakes Win”

Hot first-crop sire Uncle Mo has another on the road to Churchill Downs by way of Mo d’Amour winner of Saturday's $125,000 (£90,000) listed, Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, Todd Pletcher trained Mo d'Amour (pictured below) became Coolmore stallion Uncle Mo’s ninth stakes winner, did her best running in the stretch of New York's latest Oaks prep, coming from off the pace to earn 50 qualifying points and likely a spot in the field on the first Friday in May. It's a little early, but she has the same style as Princess of Sylmar, said jockey Chris DeCarlo, who rode the 2013 Oaks winner.

“Faufiler Flies Home In Sand Springs Stakes”

The regally bred Faufiler (pictured below) showed an impressive turn of foot to win the inaugural running of the $100,000 (£71,000) listed, Sand Springs Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Bred in Ireland by the Niarchos Family’s Flaxman Holdings, Faufiler is a daughter of leading Coolmore stallion Galileo and she became his first stakes winner this year. Out of 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile grade-one heroine Six Perfections. She began her career in France for trainer Pascal Bary. She was a stakes winner there at three and four, but came up empty for new trainer Graham Motion in her U.S. debut, the Cardinal Handicap grade-three in November.

“$300,000 For So You Think Filly”

Basking in the afterglow of siring his first stakes-winner on Saturday in Gold Rush, exciting young sire So You Think (pictured below) was in demand at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on Sunday with a filly from Valour fetching $300,000 (£154,000) Also popular was a So You Think filly from Group 1 winner Small Minds that made $250,000 (£128,000) for Goldin Farms when bought by Boomer Bloodstock and a So You Think filly from Her Diamond Rock that made $200,000 (£103,000) for Supreme Thoroughbreds when bought by Slade Bloodstock.

“Fastnet Rock Fillies Fire Premier Success”

Setting a new record price for a filly (pictured below) sold at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Victoria was a stunning bay filly by champion sire Fastnet Rock from Hidden Energy that made $675,000 (£347,000) This is the family of course record breaking mare Solicit, who set a new mark for the 7 furlongs at Randwick when scoring a brilliant win in the Group 2 ATC Guy Walter Stakes. The second highest priced offering of the day was another Fastnet Rock filly from blue-blooded mare Port Augusta, an Encosta de Lago half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Holy Roman Emperor. She made $460,000 (£236,000).

“Ouija Board Set For Return To Galileo”

Ouija Board (pictured below) whose mating with Galileo produced 2014 Derby winner Australia, is set for a return date with Coolmore's seven-time champion sire. The 15-year-old daughter of Cape Cross, who carried the colours of her owner-breeder Lord Derby to win seven races at the highest level, is also responsible for Group 3 winner Our Voodoo Prince. Peter Stanley, brother of Lord Derby and owner of New England Stud, said: "She's going to Galileo for very obvious reasons as we'd like to get a brother or sister to Australia. Galileo is in a different league to any other stallion and his ability to upgrade mares is quite extraordinary, so when you're lucky enough to have a mare of that quality and the mating with Galileo has worked well before, you have to repeat it.

“Back To Back Gold Cups For Designs On Rome”

Designs On Rome (pictured below) made it back-to-back wins in the Hong Kong Gold Cup, group 1 over 10 furlongs at Sha Tin, handing trainer John Moore an incredible 11th victory in the race. Ridden by Tommy Berry, Designs On Rome settled three lengths last in the 11-horse field, with the pace being set by stablemate Dan Excel, before being unleashed at the four furlong mark and striking the lead with just under a furlong to go. The manner of Design On Rome’s stunning return to form, his first victory since winning this race last year, sent the six-year-old to the top of the pecking order of Moore’s eleven Hong Kong Gold Cup winners. He’s so talented, he’s got to be number one. Of my other Gold Cup winners. Bred by Moyglare Stud Farm in Ireland, Designs On Rome was purchased by original trainer Pat Flynn for €10,500 (£8,200) at the 2011 Goffs Orby Sale. Designs Of Rome’s sire, Coolmore shuttler Holy Roman Emperor is responsible for 53 stakes winners overall including six at Group One level.

“Aspen Earns An Entry For Champion”

Aspen Colorado (pictured below) remains 12/1 unchanged with Paddy Power for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after his workmanlike win in the concluding TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition (Pro/Am) Flat Race at Leopardstown. The Galileo gelding added to his course and distance gains from January, again with Sarah O'Brien in the plate in the J P McManus colours. He won nicely," said Joseph O'Brien of his father Aidan's winner. "He idled in front. It's nice to get that out of the way. J P and Frank (Berry) will decide next week. He'll get an entry for it tomorrow (the Champion Bumper). We'll see how he comes out of the race and we'll go from there.

JANUARY 2016

With the start of 2016 there is so much to look forward to this year on AIDANOBRIENFANSITE, and although the flat season is over two months away a lot has happened already in January.

To start with it was announced Galileo won two new sire titles in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Full story here {http://www.blacktypepedigree.com/articles/two-first-titles-for-champion-galileo}

Another title won by the great sire was he won top apex sire for the second year running. Full story here {http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/galileo-top-apex-sire-again/}

The World Thoroughbred Rankings were announced on Tuesday 19th, and Minding was announced Europe’s champion 2-year-old filly, Galileo also supplied the world champion in the extended distance category courtesy of G1 Irish St Leger hero Order Of St George, Aidan O’Brien, who was also responsible for the European champion two-year-old of 2015, three-time G1 winner Air Force Blue.

American Pharoah has been officially confirmed the world's best racehorse of 2015 after a panel of international handicappers agreed on his significant superiority over European champion Golden Horn.While Golden Horn matched the final 130 rating of 2014 table topper Just A Way and the joint-champions of 2013, Black Caviar and Treve, American Pharoah was judged to have been out on his own last year and was handed a rating of 134, American Pharoah, unanimously voted Stateside horse of the year at the prestigious Eclipse Awards on Saturday, is the first US-trained world champion since Curlin in 2008.The first US Triple Crown hero in 37 years had his global supremacy recognised at the Longines World's Best Racehorse ceremony in London.

It was also announced that Walk In The Park has joined the Coolmore National Division, and will stand at Grange Stud.

Soldier Of Fortune, a Classic-winning son of Galileo, has joined the Coolmore National Hunt roster after spending the first six years of his stallion career at Haras du Logis Saint-Germain in Normandy. The 12-year-old will stand at Grange Stud in County Cork at a fee of €5,000. Soldier Of Fortune's best progeny on the Flat is Fire Fighting, a nine-time winner for Mark Johnston including in two all-weather Listed contests last year.

Aspen Colorado, son of Galileo won his maiden bumper at Leopardstown by nearly 5 lengths, and could have another run before taking in the bumper at Cheltenham.

Edwulf gained compensation for an unlucky reverse at Navan last month when successfully switching to hurdles in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Naas. The lightly-raced seven-year-old was set to score over fences last time when falling at the last, and Aidan O’Brien’s charge made most of the running here under Barry Geraghty.

Joseph O’Brien is relishing a new career following in his father's footsteps as a trainer and hopes JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Ivanovich Gorbatov can give him a dream start to his new venture. The two-time Irish champion Flat jockey, who admitted on Thursday his appearances in the saddle would be very rare in 2016, will concentrate on training this year and is hoping to acquire his own licence in the coming months. Ivanovich Gorbatov could provide him with a fairytale first chapter if he were to win at the Cheltenham Festival in March, a prospect the 22-year-old is very excited about. Punters certainly think that fairytale could happen as Ivanovich Gorbatov was a big mover on Thursday, shortened into 5-1 favourite with most firms following his impressive jumping debut at Leopardstown over Christmas. "When you have a horse of his ability on the Flat who jumps so well it's hard not to get excited," said O'Brien. "He has a very strong constitution and takes absolutely everything in his stride. He doesn't bat an eyelid at anything."

It was also announced that Magician had his first foal,  Proximity (Nayef-Contiguous by Danzig) foaled a smashing bay colt at Curraghmore Farm in Canada. “He is a nice foal – good sized and correct,” said Vera Simpson, co-owner of Curraghmore Farm. “He has everything you look for in a young foal, I couldn’t fault him.”

It was revealed that Kingfisher, General Macarthur, Air Vice Marshal, Cougar Mountain and Highland Reel have entries for the World Cup in Dubai.

Air Force Blue, Hit It A Bomb, Air Vice Marshall and General MacArthur are all nominated for The Kentucky Derby. The first 2 are unlikely to go as they would have to Qualify through American Trials final 2 can qualify through UAE Derby.

Nine New National Hunt horses have just been named and added to National Hunt Team, and six Ballydoyle 3-year-olds have been gelded and could join the National Hunt Team. Details here  {http://www.aidanobrienfansite.com/joseph-obrien.php}

It was also announced Group 3 winner John F Kennedy has been purchased by an Argentinian group of breeders with the intention of racing this season in the US before retiring to take up stallion duties in Argentina. Details here {http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/news/bloodstock/john-f-kennedy-sold-to-stand-in-argentina/2024422/}

A stunning colt by unbeaten dual world champion Frankel was the star attraction in Tuesday's session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka and he did not disappoint, as some of the biggest names in global racing combined to snatch him from a host of rival buyers. Frankel retired to stud after a glittering career during which he was unbeaten in 14 starts, yielding ten Group 1 wins, including an unbelievable nine in a row. That level of achievement naturally excited the potential buying bench at Karaka, where the premier catalogue revealed a southern hemisphere-bred colt from the outstanding Zabeel mare Our Echezeaux on offer. Catalogued as lot 445, the third last of the day, the tension was palpable as a packed auditorium, ten deep encircling the auction ring, greeted the colt's entrance to the arena.nAn opening salvo of NZ$500,000 (£226,977/€297,622) was quickly brushed aside as the bidding raced to a cool NZ$1 million (£453,866/€595,398) before slowing as a pair of heavyweights settled to slug it out. At the conclusion of the battle it was a syndicate comprising Coolmore, the Niarchos family, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Apollo Ng from Hong Kong who snared the colt for $1.3m (£589,997/€774,011)

Galileo was inducted to the ITBA hall of fame, the achievements of Coolmore's exceptional sire Galileo were celebrated last night at the ITBA annual racing and breeding awards, held at the Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in Killenard, County Laois, as he was inducted into the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's hall of fame. After a ding-dong battle with Dubawi, Galileo was crowned champion sire for the seventh time last year. The 18-year-old son of Sadler's Wells supplied a stunning ten individual Group 1 winners, headed by dual Classic-winning miler Gleneagles, who joins his sire at stud for 2016. Other top-flight winners by Galileo included Found, Minding and Order Of St George, who all scooped awards last night. Order Of St George became a 50th winner at the highest level for his sire last year, when routing the opposition by 11 lengths in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh. Galileo's offspring continue to be in high demand at the sales on the back of his stock's racecourse exploits. He supplied four of the top six lots at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, all of whom breached the seven-figure mark. He had 17 lots sell at the auction for an average price of 545,882gns.

Coolmore stole the show once again during the second and final day of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale on Friday when going to R4.5 million (£191,480/€252,670) for a filly by Dynasty in partnership with Markus Jooste and Maine Chance Farms. Fresh from purchasing the top two record breaking lots during the first session in partnerships, this time Coolmore saw off Irish ex-pat Paschal Phelan to secure the Highlands Farm offering. Named Dynasty's Blossom, the August-born filly is out of Grade 3 winning Danehill Dancer mare Crimson Blossom from the top Aga Khan family of Darshaan and Darara. "She's a lovely Classic type filly that has a fantastic international pedigree and was one of the best in the sale," said Derek Brugman of Mayfair Speculators said. "The plan is for her to be trained by Joey Ramsden,"

Last year's breakout first-season sire Zoffany was represented by his first winner down under when Persistent Shadow produced an impressive display to win a two-year-old maiden at Mackay on Thursday. Trained by Peter Fleming, the filly had finished third on her debut at Rockhampton a week ago and raced away to win Thursday's contest by four lengths.

Smuggler’s Cove, a Listed-winning son of Fastnet Rock, has been retired and will take up stallion duties at Track Supreme Stud in India. Bred by the Chenchikova Syndicate, the four-year-old was trained by Aidan O'Brien to win two races including the Listed Appeal Stakes at Dundalk as a two-year-old. Smuggler's Cove also went on to finish third at the highest level behind Belardo in the Dewhurst Stakes in 2014.

Last year’s champion two-year-old colt Vancouver will miss the Sydney autumn carnival and head to Aidan O’Brien’s Ireland stable for a tilt at Royal Ascot. Managing owner Coolmore Stud’s Australian representative James Bester said Vancouver’s Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse believed it was the correct strategy. “Gai told us trying to get Vancouver ready for the Sydney carnival with it earlier this year was akin to pushing a pea up a hill,” he said. “She said she couldn’t possibly have got him cherry ripe for the feature races such as the Doncaster and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. “After talking to her we ­decided it would be better off to try and showcase the horse’s ability internationally at Royal Ascot and during the English summer racing so we can market him as a dual hemisphere stallion,” he said. Bester said Coolmore had previously had success with that strategy with So You Think, Starspangledbanner and Haradasun. Vancouver won his first four starts as a two-year-old, culminating with the Golden Slipper. He only had one start in the spring as a three-year-old, finishing fourth in the San Dom­enico Stakes at Randwick.

One of the first foals by dual Derby winner Australia was born at Coolmore on January 17, The filly, was bred by David and Diane Nagle of Barronstown Stud out of the Kingmambo mare Guessing. The eight-year-old mare, who ran once as a three-year-old, is out of the dual Classic winner Imagine, a half-sister to dual Derby winner Generous, and is a half-sister to several notable runners, including Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere scorer Horatio Nelson. The son of champion sire Galileo out of multiple Group 1-winner and Oaks heroine Ouija Board, Australia was bred to be a champion and from early in his career Aidan O'Brien hailed him as the best horse he had trained. He won three races at the highest level, his two Derby wins followed by an authoritative performance in the Juddmonte International at York. Australia covered 178 mares during his first season at Coolmore and will stand at an unchanged fee of €50,000 this year.

Gai Waterhouse has added another Group 1 contender to her autumn team with Coolmore owned River Wild lumping (9 stone 6 pounds) to win at Rosehill and being earmarked for a start in either the Randwick or Australian Guineas on 5th March. River Wild was sent off 6/5 favourite in the TAB More Than Just Winning 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (7 furlongs) but favourite punters were seeking relief turning for home with Brenton Avdulla hard at work on the Coolmore-owned Fastnet Rock colt. Tim Clark had skipped clear aboard the Tony McEvoy-trained Niccoco and appeared to have a winning break but felt the pinch ½ furlong from home. The David Pfieffer-trained Denmagic  then loomed as the likely winner with River Wild splitting the pair, but on the line it was River Wild sticking his head out to beat Niccoco by a short head with Denmagic a further long head away in third. "He was never going to win by far but I always thought I was going to get there,” Avdulla said. "I couldn’t really lead early. I didn’t have the speed to. Even though I was three deep I always had cover because they raced off the fence. "I had a good cart into the race. He dropped the bridle for me on the point of the corner but I knew once I got stuck into him and once Tommy (Berry) came around me he really got his mind on the job.” River Wild has now won three of his five career starts. "The further he goes the better he goes,” Waterhouse said. "He’ll head to the Guineas – the boys can decide if they want to go north or south. ”Waterhouse was referring to the Coolmore owners and whether they want to head to Flemington for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1 mile) or stay in Sydney for the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1 mile) as the two races are crazily scheduled for the same date – Saturday, March 5.

Coolmore owned Zulu–a $400,000 (£280,000) KEESEP yearling and a $900,000 (£630,000) FTFMAR juvenile–stayed perfect in impressive fashion en route to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in the Gulfstream slop Friday. He may be heading next to the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. Feb. 27. The bay, a professional front-running two-length debut winner as the 3-5 chalk going six furlongs in Hallandale Dec. 5, posted a trio of four-furlong breezes at Palm Beach Downs in the interim–capped by a bullet :48.95 (1/9) move Jan. 8. The 1-5 favorite chased on the outside in second through an opening quarter in :22.76 here. With John Velazquez in the saddle, Zulu made his move off the turn for home and responded nicely to a few cracks of the whip in the stretch to win going away by a dazzling 7 1/4 lengths. 

Coolmore owned Taris took command midway around the far turn and went on to win the $200,000 Grade 2 La Canada Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita. Ridden by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, Taris ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.38. Birdatthewire was runner-up, while Yahilwa was 1 1/4 lengths back in third. The victory, worth $120,000, (£84,246) increased Taris' career earnings to $807,700, (£567,046) with seven wins from 11 starts. Many

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