No rush to decide Winx’s future

Winx (Street Cry {IRE}) has bounced through her memorable G1 Cox Plate victory in fine fettle and will enjoy a spell before any decision is made on her future.

Trainer Chris Waller said the seven-year-old had had a quiet week at his Flemington stable to chill out and relax and came through an extensive veterinarian check with flying colours.

“There's been no noticeable change and the vet is very happy with her condition. You're seeing that in her races and we're seeing that in her body language.

“So the plan is to let all the emotions go, get Christmas out of the way, the horse can kick her heels up in the paddock, which is so important and that's been a big part of her longevity.

“After Christmas we'll get together and have a chat and see where we're heading.

“I don't think there will be any huge surprises, but I think the owners deserve, my stable deserves, Hugh Bowman deserves, just a little bit of time for everything to get back to normal because it has been one heck of a ride.”

Waller has indicated that if Winx races on it will be in Sydney with the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., at Randwick a likely farewell target.

Record-breaking Sale

This year’s Tattersalls Horse In Training Sale reached a new level with a diverse buying bench making the auction an outstanding success.

“It is the huge number of overseas buyers we have welcomed this week that has been the stand-out feature of another successful sale at Tattersalls,” chairman Edmond Mahony said.

“The top of the market has been as strong, if not stronger, than ever and the one million guineas sale-topping filly Aljazzi is a tribute to the quality broodmare band assembled at Blue Diamond Stud by Tony Nerses on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, much of which will be offered for sale at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Sale.

“It is only the second time we have had three lots sell for 400,000 guineas or more at this sale and with the buyers of the top 20 lots coming from England, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA, it is clear that the demand for quality European bloodstock continues to thrive.

“The beauty of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale is that there are numerous buyers, both domestic and international, competing in all sectors of the market. British and Irish Flat and National Hunt trainers always make a massive contribution to this fixture and alongside the vast number of buyers from the Gulf region, we have also had notable participation from Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Spain.”

Australasian interest on the fourth day of the auction was quiet with only the Australian Bloodstock team active when they purchased Loveisili (GB) (Dansili {GB}) for 37,000 guineas.

The 3-year-old has won one of his seven starts over 1800 metres from the Newmarket yard of Roger Varian and is out of the Sadler’s Wells (USA) mare Loveisallyouneed (IRE). She is a sister to the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Yesterday and the G1 Moyglare Stud S., winner Quarter Moon.

Diplomatico expectations in check

The man behind Coolmore Stud S. dark horse Diplomatico (Snitzel), breeder Paul Favretto, admits the colt has a big step to make to measure up with the best sprinting 3-year-olds in Saturday's Group 1 race.

Diplomatico, a $1.7 million yearling, emerged as a contender only after his last start win in the Listed Brian Crowley. at Randwick two weeks' ago.

Favretto, who remains in the ownership of the colt, still believes the best of Diplomatico is six months' away and is keeping his expectations in check.

"We are the new kid on the block, I suppose the challenge for us is whether it is too early for him," he told TDN AusNZ.

"We are rated about 80 and Zousain, Written By and Sunlight are rated above 100, so it’s a challenge but I know (co-trainers) John Hawkes has a huge opinion of him."

Favretto admits that the Coolmore wasn't always on the radar, but Hawke's confidence in Diplomatico led to a change of heart.

"We didn’t set out with a plan to aim at this race, but John is a very conservative trainer, the way I see it, he wouldn't be entering the horse in the race if he didn’t have a chance and a some prospect of winning," he said.

"It’s great just to be there. This is what you aim for, because we expect he'll be at his best in the autumn. I’ll be happy if he runs well, over the moon if he runs a place and if he should win it, then we're beyond ecstatic."

Redkirk ready for Group 1

A jump-out win at Flemington on Friday has Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) on target for the G1 Sprint Classic.

Jockey Regan Bayliss was much happier with the 7-year-old’s latest performance effort when the chestnut had the addition of winkers.

“In his first trial he was up against race-fit horses who had already had three or four runs and he just blew out,” he said.

“He took massive improvement from that and he trialled like the Redkirk of old. He won his jump-out nicely.

“He is obviously really good fresh and down the straight. It's going to be a very competitive race, but if he brings his A-game he will be hard to beat."

Tasmanian Yearling Sale date confirmed

Magic Millions has confirmed that its Tasmanian Yearling Sale will be conducted on Monday February 25, the day after the Tasmanian Oaks program, which features two associated Magic Millions races, is run at Launceston.

The sales have traditionally been held in the middle of February but have been moved later in order to remain connected with the major race dates in Tasmania.

"The Tasmanian Yearling Sale has evolved in recent years and it now regularly attracts buyers from all over Australia," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

"The new sale date provides our vendors with the best chance to showcase their yearlings and the buyers every chance to make it to Launceston."

"On behalf of Magic Millions I pass on my gratitude to both Tasbreeders and Tasracing who joined us in negotiating with many stakeholders around Australia in confirming the new sale date and ensuring the race programming amendments complement the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival for all participants."

Magic Millions has locked in a long-term arrangement to continue to conduct the sale, while also confirming the Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic ($75,000) and the Tasbreeders Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic ($65,000) have had significant prizemoney jumps.

On target for Riccarton feature

Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is progressing well toward the defense of his G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile title at Riccarton later this month.

The Awapuni galloper will have a final hit-out in the Courtesy Ford Red Craze Bowl on his home track on Saturday.

“I think he’s pretty much on a par to last year, he’s pretty similar,” trainer Mark Oulaghan said.

“It’s more or less a conditioning race for Christchurch, but having said that we would like him to show something reasonably good. I want him to show he is up to going to Christchurch.

“He’s done pretty well since his last race, albeit was a while ago, but he’s fit and seems pretty well, so we’re happy enough with him.”

That last-start was in the G1 Windsor Park Plate on September 22 where he finished toward the tail of the field in the Hastings mile.

“It was a little bit disappointing, because I think if he had of had a decent run it would have been interesting to see where he ended up,” Oulaghan said.

“He got into a bit of trouble early in the run, he got on the heels of something, which put him off his rhythm a bit and when he was trying to make a bit of ground in the straight he got interfered with. He just had no real luck, it didn’t quite pan out for him.”

Bright future predicted

Allan Sharrock believes Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is a black type performer in waiting.

She is a daughter of Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), won four times at Group 1 level for the New Plymouth trainer.

“She’s not as big as her Mum, but she’s got a lot of ability,” Sharrock said.

Sinarahma was runner-up on debut and the 4-year-old wasn’t troubled to one better on her home track on Friday in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Maiden.

“We were trapped three wide but she was always travelling well and won as she liked,” rider Johnathan Parkes said.

“She’ll go on to bigger and better things.”

SA breeders unhappy with state government

The South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Association has called on the state government to return revenue raised from its point of consumption tax back to the industry.

President of the SATBA, Chris Watson, put out a statement outlining his concerns that South Australia risked falling behind other states who had negotiated compensation from the imposition of similar taxes.

"Our industry is at least $5m worse off every year as a result of a tax that is raising $37m and the current Liberal Government seem ambivalent," Watson said.

"As an industry we can be self-funded with proceeds from a tax that is only possible due to the product we provide. The resultant uncertainty has pushed pause on investment throughout our industry, it is costing jobs."

He feels that with South Australia imposing a 15 per cent tax, higher than any other jurisdiction, there is no guarantee from the state government that the industry won’t be worse off.

"Our governing body TRSA have had a proposal with the State Liberal Government for months but it does not appear to be a priority which is incredibly disappointing," Watson said.

A recent dispute in Queensland over the state government passing on the benefits of a point of consumption tax led to strike action by participants. The dispute was resolved in the past week with additional funding flowing to Queensland racing.