Almost $29m in additional money will be ploughed into Queensland racing prizemoney and infrastructure over the next two years with officials reaching a decision on how best to spend the recent windfall as a result of the Point of Consumption Tax.
A focus on everyday racing will see an additional $2000 added to every maiden race at TAB meetings at metropolitan, provincial and country level while all non-TAB races will have their prizemoney boosted from $7400 to $8500. All Listed races will see their prizemoney boosted from $125,000 to $130,000. An additional $1.2m has been added to the highly successful Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) which will see bonuses for all southeast Queensland provincial races lifted from $12,000 to $14,000. Greyhound racing will see boosts of $1.7m to prizemoney while harness receives $900,000 along with $800,000 per year injected into the QBRED breeding scheme. “It will be delivered through increased prizemoney from 1 September 2021, along with infrastructure grants and improved club funding and allow us to support more jobs as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery from COVID-19,” Racing Minister Grace Grace said. “The Investment Plan will benefit almost 40,000 Queensland participants.” After announcing increases to summer and winter carnivals, Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson said there was a focus on supporting the lower levels of racing in the Sunshine State. “It is important that we provide all participants with the confidence to continue to work and invest within the Queensland racing industry,” he said. “As a result, we are providing strategic funding for our three codes, with a strong emphasis on commercial competitiveness at the grassroots and making Queensland attractive for all participants.” The governing body will kick in an additional $3.5m for key infrastructure projects which includes on-course stabling at a number of race clubs. Words courtesy of Racing Queensland & Racenet by Grant Morgan It is with much regret we acknowledge the passing of John Gilbert. After losing his beloved Barbara, John sustained a serious stroke and very sadly passed in Melbourne on Monday. John and Barbara are survived by sons Simon, Craig, Mark and Adam and a wider family group which will carry on the Gilbert name for many generations to come. John was an amazing man who is simply irreplaceable. After coming to terms with losing Barbara, its absolutely heart breaking that John has now left us too. A very successful businessman in both Queensland and Victoria, John Gilbert’s business interests were vast an eclectic right until the end. They ranged from developing the Coomera Springs sub division on the Northern Gold Coast, international offshore Power Boat racing and successful stage musical productions like ‘Dusty’ and 'Dream Lover'. Life was never dull for John and anyone fortunate enough to have spent time with him. I was originally introduced to John Gilbert by my Gold Coast Racing partner John Wightman, another very successful business figure here in South East Queensland. I count myself very fortunate to have been tutored in business and life by both men, both leaving indelible marks spanning almost 20 years. John Gilbert had a wonderfully common touch that made him at ease with business heavyweights and street sweepers alike. He never forgot his humble roots and the work ethic that made him. Rest easy John with your beloved Barbara beside you. Forever in our hearts and minds. Late last week we lost an incredibly special person and one of the strongest ‘All Gold’ supporters with Barbara Gilbert passing late last week in Melbourne. Our immediate thoughts are now with John Gilbert who tragically suffered a serious stroke this week, adding to the immense pain being suffered by the family. Barbara and John have been a cornerstone of our syndicate and tour business since our inception. “John and Barbara have been amazing supporters, staunch advocates, but above all, wonderful friends particularly when times were tough,” said Grant Morgan. “ I’m devastated by Barbara’s passing and John’s subsequent serious illness. Words really can’t express how everyone is feeling about this horrible news.” At the time of her passing, Barbara was a shareholder in Brazen Gem, Invincore, Brazen Force, Gallant Mist and Alfresco. John and Barbara formed an integral part of our initial tour groups to the Hunter Valley and New Zealand, before later joining us in Hong Kong, Royal Ascot, Ireland, Dubai and subsequent tours of the Hunter Valley and New Zealand. Barbara was also the major part owner of the first horse to carry our ‘All Gold’ colours at Group 1 level when the Mick Price prepared Galaxy Lad was unplaced in the 2007 VRC Derby. Our love and support is with sons Simon, Craig, Mark and Adam and their extended family and friends. Lauren Abbott scores first win for OnTrack Immature three year-old Calcareous broke through for a character building win at his first start for new trainer Lauren Abbott on the final day of the time honoured Grafton July carnival. Now a rangy grey gelding by Not A Single Doubt, Calcareous had shown good ability at the trials for Toby and Trent Edmonds before being switched to Lauren Abbott in an attempt to try and unlock his quirky personality. Ontrack’s Grant Morgan explains that Calcareous has been an immature horse with ability, but has required some left field thinking after disappointing at his only start. “Calcareous has been very immature mentally and has really taken a long time to grow up after disappointing on debut in his first prep," said Morgan. “We gelded him, but last prep after three trials he just wasn’t holding condition and enjoying training so we bit the bullet and turned him back out without racing. “He appeared to me as one of those horses not ideally suited to bigger stable life so I thought we would try him with a smaller stable which might be able to get in between his ears and work out what makes him tick. Morgan turned to Brisbane trainer Lauren Abbott. “Lauren does plenty of beach work and has him going on and off floats all the time. This has made him a bit tougher and has made him grow up. “As a result he seems to be enjoying his work and holding his condition much better. “I think its also been good that Lauren rides much of her own work, enabling her to get to know his quirks and traits. “This is the first horse Lauren has had for us, but I’ve known her for a long time and have every confidence in her ability. I’m thrilled she has been able to get an immediate result and I hope it helps put her on the map,” said Morgan Calcareous is out of the grey Reset mare Warpath who won 7 races for John O’Shea, including a Listed win in Sydney over 1600m. “I have no doubt he will be a better 4yo and 5yo and is likely to get out to a mile like his dam did. I think that this family gets better with time although they all show ability early. “But we really needed to change things up with him as he could have been a horse that slipped right through the cracks,” said Morgan. Warpath is now the dam of 6 six to race for 6 winners, including Group 2 winner Positive Peace. She is also the dam of last week’s impressive Eagle Farm winner Rotator, a four year-old full sister to Calcareous now being prepared by David Vandyke. Andrew Mallyon partnered Calcareous to victory at Grafton, but much of the ground work for success was laid by fellow rider James Orman. “Jimmy (Orman) has ridden him a fair bit in a jump out and gallops to get him ready for this. It was unfortunate he couldn’t take the ride due to other commitments at the Sunshine Coast,” said Morgan. Congratulations to Calcareous owners: Sean Reilly, David & Sue Worthley, Grojo Racing (Manager Brett Grogan), Paul Kitching, David Moretti, Mark Ostermeyer, Ricky & Reg Kim, Russell Neave, Tracey Lindstrom, Andrew Wellington, Dr Andrew Terluk, Nicole Lennox, Ken Stocks, Colin McFarlane, Brady Crowe, Stuart Cadzow, Stephen Carroll, Paul Ashley, Jenny Ball, Scott Boole, Tony Browning, Brian Cadusch, Darren Chiswick, Gary Egan, David Garnett, Trevor McPhail, Wendy Meppem, Gary Nelson, Troy O’Neil, Melissa Taylor & Peter Viney. The much-loved Dream Master has been retired as a happy and sound seven year-old. Dream Master was placed in his new off track home by current trainer Mitch Beer with enthusiastic young employee Kip Rieck. Kip fell in love with Dream Master whilst in work, and was quick to put her hand up to provide a wonderful new direction away from the racetrack. Full credit must go to the Dream Master ownership group which didn’t hesitate to retire him following a lack lustre final start at Wagga on 29 May which indicated he had lost his zest for racing. Aside from Kip Rieck, the shareholder group also put forward several other re-homing options, whilst former trainer Toby Edmonds also volunteered a new off track home. Dream Master won 6 races and was placed in a further 14 in a 34 start career spanned between three stables - Chris Waller, Toby and Trent Edmonds and Mitch Beer. Born in Western Australia, Kip Rieck comes from a pony club back ground and embarked in a full time career with Mitch Beer from school after moving to a Sheep/Grain farm in Swan Hill. “I fell in love with Dream Master straight away. He had a beautiful temperament around the track and stables. I’m so thankful to have been given him and I look forward to our future together after he’s had a well deserved rest,” said Kip. Encouraged to ride by her mother from a very young age, Kip’s talents in the saddle grew as she worked moving cattle and participating in horse events at pony club. “ Me and my brother did school of the air back in WA but half of my schooling was done on horse back as I didn’t like the classroom. “ We eventually moved closer to Perth where my mum either worked with horse or cattle on farms. I always helped and quite often was required to move cattle on horseback," said Kip. We wish Kip and Dream Master (aka Andy) the very best for the future and we look forward to seeing them both progress. Promising middle distance future ahead for New Zealand bred filly Ultra consistent 3yo filly Always On Show was the beneficiary of a sparkling ride from in form jockey Craig Williams to score her first metropolitan win at Doomben. Prepared by dual state trainer Kris Lees, Always On Show was sent North to Lees’ Gold Coast stable following metropolitan placings in Sydney at her last two starts in harder grade. Always On Show has now won 2 races 8 placings from just 13 starts, with both her victories coming over 1600m. “Her full sister is Group 2 placed over 2100m in New Zealand so we have always felt that Always On Show would get out over ground,” said Ontrack’s Grant Morgan. “She has just been a bit immature mentally but is really starting to put it together now. “We think there is plenty more to come. She will spell in Queensland now she is up this way and I am sure she will furnish out during her break in ideal spelling conditions. “She’s a Magic Millions filly so you always have to think towards the races on offer here in Queensland. They are catering for horses that get over more ground now which is great,” said Morgan. Images courtesy of Grant Peters Trackside Photography www.tracksidephotography.com Always On Show was bred in New Zealand by the Chitty family at their Haunui Farm, which was also the former southern hemisphere home to her sire Showcasing (GB). Bred to stay being out of the Monsun mare Forever and Ever, Always On Show is a. full sister to Gr 2 runner up (Our) Intrigue who is a winner up to 2200m for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike. Her second dam Time Ahead was Group 1 runner up as a three year-old in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (2100m) at Chantilly. Always On Show was purchased at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale by Ontrack boss Grant Morgan. Congratulations to owners: FTB Syndicate (Manager Paul Holloway), Paul & Karen Davis, Marilyn Searles, Mike Larmer, Kate Kelly, Norm & Ted Land, Babu No 4 (Manager Prof James Dale), The Fifthhole Racing (Manager Damien Dwyer), Brad Maltby, Denis McGrorey, Albert Cid, Gary Pratt, Bruce Young, Mark Wood, Dinah Newhouse, Michael Byrne, Gary Batchelder, Brian & Linda Irwin, Carl Fischer, Robert Hill, Glenda Newick, Tim O’Neil & Julee Van Steenis. Admire Mars standing 2021 Australian breeding season John Messara has long been a fan of Japanese racing and breeding with the leading breeder adding Admire Mars to the Arrowfield roster for 2021. Admire Mars will be available for inspection on the next OnTrack Hunter Valley Horse and Wine Tour (10 -14 October, 2021), with only a handful of seats remaining. An unbeaten champion two year-old, Admire Mars is a triple Group 1 winning miler and the only three year-old winner of the prestigious Hong Kong International Mile. Left in his wake at Sha Tin was champion 7 time Group 1 winner Beauty Generation, stamping Admire Mars as one of the worlds best 3yo milers in 2019. Admire Mars is a grand son of the great Sunday Silence being by Daiwa Major and was bred at Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm. Out of the Medicean mare Via Medici, Admire Mars is Danehill free making him highly compatible with the Arrowfield broodmare band, and indeed, the wider Australian stud book. Admire Mars will stand alongside another Hong Kong International mile winner in another Japanese bred mile star in Maurice. With his oldest Australian progeny 2, Maurice has made a very good start to his stud career thus repaying Arrowfield’s faith in the Japanese breed. Maurice has produced 6 individual winners and 5 stakes place getters in Mazu, Maurice’s Medad, Invinsible Tears, Morioka and Port Louis. Admire Mars stands at Arrowfied Stud in 2021 at a fee of $22,000, whilst Maurice is available at $44,000. Video Courtesy of Racing Queensland Gold Coast trainer Shirley Batten shows no signs of slowing down as she approaches the 90 year mark. It was fabulous to see Racing Queensland highlight Shirley with a recent video profile on this remarkable horse women. Shirley has been a fixture on many OnTrack Racing Tours for more than ten years. A veteran of two Royal Ascot tours with OnTrack, Shirley has also attended Ontrack tours to Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. The team at OnTrack always love spending time with Shirley and her family, we feel privileged to know her. with Steve Hewlett of Radio TAB (Queensland) Newmarket bloodstock agent STUART BOMAN tells the story of how he secured outstanding middle distance prospect ZAAKI (GB) who was a dominant winner of the Grpup 1 Doomben Cup.
Interview courtesy of Radio TAB (Queensland) & Steve Hewlett. Coolmore buy for $1.25m Former OnTrack star Savanna Amour will call Coolmore Stud home after fetching $1.25m to the bid of Tom Magnier at the recent Inglis Chairmans Sale. Savanna Amour will have a spring date with boom new Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett in the Hunter Valley later this year. Sold in foal to Coolmore’s own Fastnet Rock, Savanna Amour was sold privately off the track by the OnTrack managed ownership group to B2B Thoroughbreds. Savanna Amour has an outstanding first foal filly on the ground by Fastnet Rock who has been retained by B2B Thoroughbreds. Wootton Bassett was acquired by Coolmore earlier this year and he represents one of the most exciting proven shuttle stallions to visit Australia in some time. A son of Ifraaj, Wootton Bassett has made a remarkable start to his career off a low grade of mare from his former base in France. Entering stud in 2013, Wootton Bassett is the sire of 139 individual winners from 257 starters. Of those winners 17 are stakes winners, with another 14 stakes placed. His principle performers have been Group 1 winners Alamanzor, Audarya and Wooded. Wootton Bassett is already represented at stud in the Southern Hemisphere by the very promising Almanzor, who stands in New Zealand at Cambridge Stud.
Alamanzor’s oldest Southern Hemisphere yearlings have been very well received this year, with much expected of the good looking son of Wootton Bassett. Wootton Bassett will be a key feature of the October renewal of the OnTrack Hunter Valley Horse and Wine Tour (10-14 October 2021). Alamanzor will again be popular with our guests on the OnTrack New Zealand Horse and Wine Tour (25-30 November 2021). ZAAKI FUELS TRIED HORSE GOALS Last week’s dominant Group 2 Holindale Stakes winner Zaaki has provided inspiration for OnTrack to enter the European tried horse market later this year. Zaaki was purchased by Newmarket based, Australian born Bloodstock Agent Stuart Boman. A long term friend and colleague of Ontrack boss Grant Morgan, Stuart Boman works closely with the team at OnTrack, most recently co-hosting our last Royal Ascot tour which was last staged in 2019. Working out of Newmarket in the UK, Boman has a detailed understanding of racing in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere’s. Grant Morgan said the team at OnTrack was preparing to enter the European tried horse market, with the assistance of Stuart Boman. “I think now is the time to target some European horses for Queensland. We have some outstanding trainers here now and the races to match,” said Morgan. “We have three high value races here in the Winter run over the the middle distances which are amazing targets. "The Gr 2 Q22 is worth $1.2m (2200m), the Gr 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) is worth $700k and the Gr 2 Holindale (1800m) is worth $700k. "I can see the prizemoney and status of these races only growing in the coming years. "They are aiming to get the Holindale to Group 1 level. I'd love to win a Group 1 in our own backyard. “These races give horses a tremendous platform to head into the Spring and Autumn in Sydney and Melbourne. “I think the model they are using for Zaaki is one I’d love to copy next year,” said Grant Morgan. Zaaki was a 150,000 guineas purchase by Boman under the Blandford Bloodstock banner from Tattersall’s 2020 Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
He was purchased for British born trainer Annabel Nesham, and carries the colours of successful owner and breeder Carl Holt. Zaaki’s Holindale victory represented one of the softest wins of the race which has a sparkling honour roll. “I think you have to go back to a horse like in 1998 Might and Power to find a more dominant win,” said OnTrack’s Grant Morgan. “Whilst his winning margin was only 2.3 len, he appeared to have a huge amount in hand and he travelled so strongly in running and through the line. “The scary thing for his rivals are that he appears a horse better suited on firmer surface than he raced on last Saturday. “If he gets a top of the ground surface, he looks to be the best of good things in the Doomben Cup at Group 1 level,” said Morgan. $38m upgrade now in motion The Gold Coast is geared to become the Australian night racing capital, taking advantage of the Cities iconic skyline as a backdrop. With COVID 19 diverting and delaying attention from the plans last year, it was welcome news to see the Queensland State Government re-confirm funding in recent weeks signalling a green light for the project’s commencement. Major upgrade plans for the Bundall track include the upgrade of the grass course proper, a new all-weather synthetic training track, the latest technology in lights for night racing and an in-field tunnel. Work on the project will commence later this year. Work on the new synthetic track is hoped to begin in August this year and be completed before the Magic Millions raceday in January 2022. Refurbishments of the remainder of the course are expected to begin after that and be finished with ‘two and a half to three years’.
When complete it’s expected the Gold Coast track can enhance it’s status to among the best in the country, with the club keen to increase its footprint on metropolitan racing. “We do five metropolitan meetings at the moment and we see this as an opportunity to become the next metropolitan club in Queensland,” Gold Coast Turf Club Steve Lines said. “We want to be hosting a minimum of 10 metropolitan Saturdays and metropolitan Friday nights so that is all part of the long term plan for the club.” The Gold Coast Turf Club has become hotly sort after as a training venue. Champion trainers John Moore and Lee Freedman have recently setup bases on the Gold Coast confirming the City has come of age as a racing capital, stepping out of the shadow of Brisbane. In foal to Fastnet Rock - big price expected Former high class OnTrack racemare Savanna Amour will be sold at the prestigious Inglis Chairman's Sale early next month. Savanna Amour was sold privately as a broodmare prospect by the OnTrack managed ownership group at the conclusion of her highly successful racing career. She was purchased by emerging Southern Highlands NSW farm B2B Thoroughbreds in Mittagong. B2B mated her with champion sire Fastnet Rock, with the resultant foal an outstanding filly who will be in hot demand as a yearling in 2022. She is now safely back in foal to Fastnet Rock, adding to her massive appeal to prospective buyers. Savanna Amour was purchased by OnTrack's Grant Morgan at the 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $100,000. Bred by Newgate Farm partner SF Bloodstock, Savanna Amour was a among the first crop yearlings sired by Love Conquers All. "She was an outstanding type and that's the first thing that gets me keen on a yearling in the first place. I then learn to love the pedigree later. But in her case, her pedigree had many appeals for me too. I was pretty much sold as soon as she walked out of the box, she was a 'no brainer' for us," said Grant Morgan. "I felt she probably had more of the female pedigree shining through in terms of her type. She wasn't typical of the Love Conquers All progeny at all and she is still arguably his best performer. "In terms of pedigree I loved that she had Marauding's dam Biscalowe as her third dam. "The second positive factor was she was Danehill free. I believe this adds greatly to a mares value when the time comes to sell them for breeding. "The third factor which attracted me was having Twig Moss as her grand dam's sire. Twig Moss was an amazing stallion who instilled a great deal of toughness. "Finally, I was also very familiar with her dam Savanna La Mar who was trained and owned on the Gold Coast at Traintech 2000 where we had our office at the time. "$100,000 was a fair bit to pay for her at the time, but you have to pay 'overs' for the best QTIS fillies given their earning capacity," said Morgan. Savanna Amour won 7 times for connections during her top class racing career which featured multiple stakes wins in both Victoria and Queensland. Her keynote wins came in the MRC Angus Armanasco S., Gr.2, WW Cockram S., Gr.3, How Now S., Gr.3, Gold Coast Guineas, Gr.3 and the BRC Hinkler H. She was also placed 2d VRC Skip Sprint, Gr.3, 3d MRC Kevin Hayes S., Gr.3, Kevin Heffernan S., Gr.3 and 4th Qld Tatt's RC Tattersalls Tiara, Gr.1. Savanna Amour was prepared throughout her career by Meagher Racing and the combination of John Meagher, along with sons Chris Meagher and Daniel Meagher, from their Eagle Farm and Mornington stables. Team Meagher will also farewell their multiple Group 1 winning Pippie at the Inglis Chairman's Sale. Being sold off the track as lot 47, Pippie will also be in high demand being by the in form proven sire Written Tycoon. Like Savanna Amour, Pippie is also Danehill free. It was an absolute pleasure to finally return to the Hunter Valley with a fantastic group of guests. Our last tour to the Hunter Valley now seemed a distant memory back in October 2019. Guests assembled from a wide range of locations to join us at Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin including Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. The majority of guests on the tour went for the ‘drive yourself’ option, bypassing the flight options available to them at nearby Newcastle airport. Successful Tasmanian breeder Mandy Gunn joined the tour group and was busy planning mating’s for her growing group of broodmares back in the ‘apple isle’. Mandy and mum Val Florence extended their visit to the Hunter following our tour to also visit historic Widden Stud. Trading under the Motree Thoroughbreds banner, Mandy has enjoyed success on the track recently with three time stakes winner Mandela Effect. Gold Coast based breeder Dr Denis O’Brien was a welcome addition to our Hunter tour. Denis has been a very successful breeder for a wide period of time, one of his better performers in recent times has been Group 2 winning Brazen Beau mare Pretty Brazen. A former Ontrack Hong Kong tour member, Denis also extended his tour to return to Coolmore Stud to visit his horses. He also enjoyed a round of golf at ‘The Vintage’ prior to the commencement of the tour. It was a pleasure to welcome many new faces in the group with the tour proving extremely popular and conducted at capacity numbers. A big thank you to the farms that hosted our group in Coolmore, Arrowfield, Yarraman Park, Vinery, Godolphin and Newgate. All the stallions looked in great order during the ‘off season’ ahead of a returning the covering sheds in Spring. A fixture on our calendar, we have conducted the Hunter Valley tour since 2003 and we are now conducting two annual tours to the Hunter Valley each April and October. Our next Hunter Valley tour is scheduled for October 10-14, 2021. Click Here for Details TOUR GALLERYBrazen Beau has two sons at leading Hunter stud Henry Field has fast made Newgate Farm the powerhouse producer of young stallion prospects. This season the farms first season sire Extreme Choice produced the Golden Slipper winner in Stay Inside. Fellow barnmates Capitalist, Flying Artie and Winning Rupert are all well on their way as young stallions too. Field and his partners have added a new stallion to the Newgate 2021 roster in the form of the very good looking son of Brazen Beau in North Pacific. North Pacific will stand alongside another son of Brazen Beau in Tassort. An exquisite type who was well sort after at the sales, North Pacific was secured for $800,000 at the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne. Co-trainer John Hawkes rated North Pacific “one of the best looking yearlings I’ve ever seen at a sale”. Prepared by the stallion making Team Hawkes stable of John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, North Pacific was a runner up at Group 1 level in the prestigious stallion making race, the Golden Rose. His keynote career victory came in the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes at Randwick. He also boasts Group 2 placings in high class races including the Silver Slipper (3rd on debut at 2), Hobartville Stakes and the Run To The Rose North Pacific stands at Newgate Farm for $20,000 (inc GST). Tassort commenced his stud career in 2020 where he covered 137 mares.
An exciting two year-old whose career was cut short by injury, Tassort was bred and raced by Godolphin under the care of James Cummings. He was a record breaking 5.3 length winner of major Golden Slipper lead up race the Golden Gift before injury curtailed his Slipper bid. Widely regarded as potentially the best two year-old in the stable, Godolphin went on to trifecta with Tassort supporters lamenting what could of been. Tassort stands at Newgate Farm for $11,000 (inc GST). On The Bubbles impresses in New Zealand Smart two year-old On The Bubbles has delivered a Group 1 win for his sire Brazen Beau. On The Bubbles captured the time honoured Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) run at Awapuni. The Sires Produce has been long regarded as New Zealand’s best two year-old race. First run in 1908, previous winners of the race include champion record breaking gallopers Melody Belle, La Mer, Daryl’s Joy and Desert Gold. The win took his career earnings to over $707,000 with 4 wins 2 seconds from 6 starts. The victory adds to his claim of being the top two year-old in New Zealand this year after earlier capturing the prestigious Karaka Millions (1200m) at Ellerslie. On The Bubbles is a gelded son of Brazen Beau from the Sebring mare More Bubbles.
A first foal for the mare, On The Bubbles was bred in Victoria by Cathy Hain’s’ Burnewang Pastoral. The family has a long history of breeding and racing group 1 winners, headed by the famed ‘Kingston’ family led by the great Kingston Town. On The Bubbles was initially sold as a weanling for $60,000 at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale to New Zealand Bloodstock agent Bevan Smith as a pinhook prospect. He was then resold at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale at Karaka for $90,000 to David Ellis. Owned by a large group of owners on both sides of the Tasman, among the ownership groups to own an interest in On The Bubbles is a syndicate headed by former Melbourne Racecaller Bryan Martin. Included in the Martin syndicate are OnTrack clients Vin & Colleen Harink and John Loftus, who both also share in our promising Brazen Beau mare, Brazen Gem. Master horseman celebrates Golden Slipper win The recent Golden Slipper victory by Stay Inside provided master horse educator Greg Bennett with a memorable ‘triple crown’. Bennett is the head trainer at Fenwick Farm’s at Canungra where he educates the next generation of equine athletes, including the OnTrack team of horses. This two year-old season, Bennett and his expert team at Fenwick have broken in the winners of the three major 2yo events in Australia, the Magic Millions, Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper. The triple crown came via three different horses, from three different stables and with three different stories. But the common thread for each was a sound beginning with Bennett. The Chris Waller prepared Shaquero (by Shalaa) delivered the first leg by capturing the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January. This was followed by the Blue Diamond win of Artorius (by Flying Artie). The final and most prestigious leg of the treble came when Stay Inside (by Extreme Choice) dominated his rivals in the stallion making Golden Slipper. By his own admission, Bennett has lost count of the number of horses he has broken in over the years but the figure is in the thousands. Among them is amazing three time Melbourne Cup winning mare, Makybe Diva. Bennett is currently breaking in what we hope will be the next generation of stars at OnTrack, Magic Millions colts by Savabeel and Dundeel. Both yearlings have been set on a path towards Guineas and Derbies as three year-olds under leading Queensland trainers Tony Gollan and David Vandyke. Hands-on Brisbane trainer Lauren Abbott has been added to the OnTrack trainer roster. Located 5 minutes from Eagle Farm racecourse, Lauren prepares a small team from a boutique stable complex which features day yards and modern airy boxes. A former jockey who did much of her race riding in Townsville, Lauren rides most of her own work and also utilises nearby Nudgee beach to keep her charges fresh. Recent Brisbane city winners for Abbott include Mort Doyle and One Stryke. One Stryke was an $8,000 tried horse purchase by Abbott and he has since returned connections more than $150,000 in prizemoney with 4 victories. Mort Doyle has also recorded 4 wins to date, including 3 wins on end culminating in an all the way win at Doomben which followed back to back Sunshine Coast victories. “Lauren rides her own track work so this gives her an intimate knowledge of each horse and gives her the opportunity to get to the bottom of any niggling issues,” said OnTrack CEO Grant Morgan. “Lauren is an ideal option for us to use when we have horses that may need some more individual attention, a change of scenery and totally different routine. “Lauren gives us a valuable alternative training option outside our primary Queensland trainers and also horses relocating from Sydney or Melbourne. Lauren is also widely experienced in Equestrian disciplines, which provides another exercise option for horses in her care. “Not every horse fits neatly into larger stables and I think its beneficial to use a trainer of Lauren’s talents to try and bring the best out of some horses who may not be so straight forward. “Lauren campaigns horses on the road both in North Queensland and the Northern Rivers tracks across in NSW and often overnights to ease the travel burden on her horses,” said Morgan. Evergreen sprinter Kievann is prime example of Lauren’s rejuvenating talents with older horses. Kievann arrived with in Queensland for Abbott after previously racing in Victoria where he faced the starter on 47 occasions for trainer Steven Brown. Winless for 2 years before arriving in Queensland, Kievann has won 6 times and placed on another 7 occasions and returned prizemoney approaching $120,000 under Abbott's care. Now a ten year-old, Kievann has ventured far and wide with Abbott, registering victories at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ballina, Grafton, and his most recent start in the Dalby Newmarket. Kievann was also runner up in the time honoured Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville behind the talented sprinter Grey Missile. Lauren Abbott joins the Queensland training roster for OnTrack which currently includes Eagle Farm trainers Tony Gollan and Chris Meagher, Gold Coast trainers Toby & Trent Edmonds and Kris Lees, as well as Sunshine Coast conditioner David Vandyke. 7 day back up no problem for tough mare 19 February, 2021 Progressive four year-old mare Brazen Gem made it back to back wins at Canterbury and earning herself a well earned break. The Bjorn Baker prepared mare was on the quick back up after winning a week earlier over 1250m. Up in weight, back in distance and facing a softer track, Brazen Gem showed grit to tough out a narrow win. Again partnered by James McDonald, the win came at start 8 this preparation demonstrating Brazen Gem’s toughness. She heads to the spelling paddock now for a well earned short break, before returning to target Saturday Sydney metro class. Brazen Gem’s record now stands at 6 wins 4 placings from 16 starts and prizemoney of almost $140,000. Brazen Gem was secured by Ontrack’s Grant Morgan at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for $160,000 from the Westbury Stud Draft. From the first crop of in form sire Brazen Beau, Brazen Gem is the first foal of a winning Dane Shadow mare Fifty Eight Facets. Brazen Gem was bred in New Zealand at Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud, under the guidance of respected Kiwi horseman Russell Warwick. Congratulations to owners David Worthley, Vin Harink, Fine Dining (Mark Ostermeyer), Mark Snowden, Malcolm Borger, Dr Ailsa Morrison-Galt, David Moretti, Wayne & Paddi Muller, John & Barbara Gilbert, Christine Shaw, Rob Corolla, Bobby Vucenovic, Peter McClintock, Bob & Gladys Harvey, Barry Tangitu, Anne Wade, Ken Stocks, John Loftus, Judy Bandidt, Ty Wagstaff, Gerald & Antoinette Pacholec, David Sparkes, Brad Leaity, Garry Batchelder, Dan Paton & Roger Perusich. Tony Gollan stable in sparkling form Sunday 14 February, 2021 The Tony Gollan prepared Foxy Rippa made light work of a wide barrier thanks to a patient ride by champion hoop Michael Rodd at the Sunshine Coast. The Foxwedge three year-old was trapped wide throughout the 1000m journey with Michael Rodd electing not to panic. Keeping her balanced and on the bit despite the wide passage, Rodd produced her in the straight before cruising away for a commanding 2 length win. Foxy Rippa is a half sister to the multiple stakes winner I’m A Rippa, a winner of more than $1.2m and also prepared by Tony Gollan. Picking up valuable QTIS bonuses, Foxy Rippa broke her maiden at just start three after a luckless first preparation. Foxy Rippa was secured by Ontrack’s Grant Morgan at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $100,000 from the draft leading Darling Downs nursery Eureka Stud. Foxy Rippa is out of the winning Seidnazar mare Derippa, who is now the dam of four named foals for four winners. Congratulations to our owners Dennis & Dell Bates, Tracey Wheelan, Maryann Bender, Shari Kubler, Haimes Racing (Jamie Haimes), Smeath Racing (Darren Smeath), Nigel Green, Dr Ailsa Morrison-Galt, Glenn Townsend, Paul Lindstrom, Andrew Wellington, Admiralty (Dr Dilip Dhupelia), Collin Willoughby, Executive Racing Club, Paul Ashley, Stephen Carroll, Jim Conroy, Deslee Davis, Tony Juric, Bebe Mawer, Gavin O’Brien, Sam Politi, Michael Rose & Elizabeth Wilson. Bjorn Baker and James McDonald combine Friday 12 February, 2021 The talented, tough and consistent mare Brazen Gem made it a one act winning at Canterbury. With six runs already under her belt this preparation, Brazen Gem had been runner up on three occasions this time in. Few horses can peak at run number seven, but Brazen Gem overcame that hoodoo to record a resounding 2.3 length win over the 1250m course. Prepared at Warwick Farm by Bjorn Baker, fellow Kiwi expat James McDonald did the steering at Canterbury aboard the daughter of Brazen Beau. Whilst Brazen Gem has been racing well on softer ground, a return to a Good 4 surface appeared more to her liking. Brazen Gem has now won 4 races and placed in 4 from 15 starts and over $117,000 in prizemoney with the promise of plenty more to come. Brazen Gem was secured by Ontrack’s Grant Morgan at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for $160,000 from the Westbury Stud Draft. From the first crop of in form sire Brazen Beau, Brazen Gem is the first foal of a winning Dane Shadow mare Fifty Eight Facets. Congratulations to owners David Worthley, Vin Harink, Fine Dining (Mark Ostermeyer), Mark Snowden, Malcolm Borger, Dr Ailsa Morrison-Galt, David Moretti, Wayne & Paddi Muller, John & Barbara Gilbert, Christine Shaw, Rob Corolla, Bobby Vucenovic, Peter McClintock, Bob & Gladys Harvey, Barry Tangitu, Anne Wade, Ken Stocks, John Loftus, Judy Bandidt, Ty Wagstaff, Gerald & Antoinette Pacholec, David Sparkes, Brad Leaity, Garry Batchelder, Dan Paton & Roger Perusich. Cobar legend passes at age 90 OnTrack client and friend Lilliane Brady has passed away in her beloved Cobar at age 90.
Lord Mayor of Cobar for almost 23 years, Lilliane was the longest serving female Mayor in New South Wales. Lilliane was the part owner of OnTrack’s talented mare Arctic Shock and also the promising unraced So You Think gelding Pascal. The OnTrack team will miss the very frank and open conversations with Lilliane who was never afraid to call a spade a shovel. OnTrack’s Brian Lawlor spoke regularly to Lilliane and she was very much looking forward to Pascal debuting. “She entrusted us with what she said were going to be her final horses and she had high hopes for Pascal,” said Brian Lawlor. “We only spoke last week. I will miss having a chat to her, she was an amazing lady and a real character. She loved her racing.” The ABC report that in 2020 Lillian was given a Minister For Local Government Award for her commitment to increasing participation of women in local government. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award and an Order of Australia medal, and in 2019 helped organise Australia's first Grey Mardi Gras in Cobar, to celebrate seniors and bring tourism to the town. The mayor was known for not suffering fools and famously once smashed her mayoral gavel down so hard on a council desk, the top came loose and was flung across the room. Fittingly, this week Lilliane and Cobar were featured on the popular ABC programme Back Roads. Rest in Peace Lilliane. Outstanding first foal for Group 2 winner OnTrack's former topflight mare Savanna Amour is relishing her new life as a broodmare in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. Savanna Amour was purchased privately by Ricky Surace's B2B Thoroughbreds. Located on an impressive 250 acres in Mittagong, B2B is building a strong reputation of producing high class yearlings through a select, boutique broodmare band. When retired to stud, Savanna Amour first met with evergreen champion stallion Fastnet Rock. The Coolmore Stud stallion continues to fire with his progeny in the headlines in recent weeks. The result of the mating was a gorgeous filly who is already being earmarked towards a leading yearling sale in 2022. On the strength of the first foal, Savanna Amour was sent back to Fastnet Rock and is again safely in foal. Savanna Amour was originally purchased by Grant Morgan at the 2015 Inglis Classic Sale for $100,000.
She was from the first crop of Love Conquers All and was bred by the Henry Field led SF Bloodstock from his Hunter Valley base at Newgate Farm. Racing under the training guidance of John, Chris and Daniel Meagher, Savanna Amour won on 7 occasions and accumulated prizemoney of $662,000. Her keynote victories came at Caulfield in the MRC Angus Armanasco Stks, Gr.2, WW Cockram Stks, Gr.3 and How Now Stks, Gr.3. She also recorded black type Victories in Queensland in the Gold Coast Guineas, Gr.3, and BRC Hinkler Hcp., Listed. On The Bubbles & General Beau impressive stakes winners by Grant Morgan Brazen Beau has enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2021 with top line juvenile stakes winners on both sides of the Tasman in recent weeks. On The Bubbles captured New Zealand’s richest race the RL $1m Karaka Million at Ellerslie last week. On The Bubbles is the first foal of Sebring mare More Bubbles. Bred in Victoria at Cathy Hain’s Burnewang Pastoral, On The Bubbles was sold as a weanling for $60,000 at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Weanling as a pinhook. Resold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Yearling sale in 2020, On The Bubbles was snapped up for just $90,000 by David Ellis and his Te Akau operation. The Karaka Millions win extended On The Bubbles record to 3 wins from as many starts with prizemoney of $574,000. Meanwhile in Melbourne, General Beau continued his strong early season 2yo form by winning the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield.
Prepared by Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, General Beau was a winner on debut at Flemington in September before being runner up at Listed level also at Flemington. A homebred for leading Victorian owner and Breeder David Moodie, General Beau is the fourth foal of the Lonhro mare Phosphorescence. His second dam is the smart Nediym’s Glow (by General Nediym). Also carrying Moodie’s Contract racing silks, Nediym’s Glow won on 4 occasions including 3 wins as a two year-old, with a keynote win in the Gr 3 Blue Diamond Prelude. General Beau is not nominated for the upcoming Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. His connections will have the option of a late nomination pay up of $55,000 for the colt ahead of prestigious Caulfield juvenile contest run over 1200m. Moodie has a history of avoiding early nomination fees for his large string of horses which normally sits at around 30 two year-olds each year. He prefers to weigh up the option of paying late entry fees when the cream of his team rise to the top. Among Moodie’s best two year-olds over a 30 year span have been Crystal Lilly, Paint and Hurricane Sky. Moodie shelled out a $150,000 late entry fee in the 2009 Golden Slipper, before Crystal Lilly proved it was money well spent when prevailing in our most sought after Group 1 for two year-olds. Hellbent joins brazen beau for I Am Invincibleby Grant Morgan I Am Invincible will further increase his presence in the stallion market with his son Hellbent represented by his first yearlings in 2021. Standing alongside his illustrious father at Yarraman Park Stud, Hellbent will certainly lack nothing in terms of representatives. At the Gold Coast, Hellbent is the most represented first season sire with some 39 yearlings catalogued for sale. Hellbent will also showcase some 34 yearlings at the Inglis Classic Sale in February. In terms of mares covered, Hellbent has been incredibly well patronised. He met with 182 mares in his first season, followed by a further 156 in his second year. Hellbent is an imposing individual built much in the mould of his father. On the racetrack, he eclipsed his sire by winning at Group 1 level in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. In all he won 7 races after winning on debut as a June 2yo at Canterbury. Like most of the I Am Invincible progeny, Hellbent’s racetrack ratings improved as he matured. He won his Group 1 sprint as a five year-old demonstrating that good things come to those who wait. Given I Am Invincible’s ability to match with a wide range of mares, its reasonable to expect Hellbent to do something similar under the expert management of the astute Mitchell family.
Hellbent was an inexpensive yearling purchase from the second crop of I Am Invincible. He fetched just $95,000 in the Inglis Classic ring of 2014 from the Dartbrook Downs draft. Just a year earlier I purchased Brazen Beau from the same ring for just $70,000. Nowadays I Am Invincible is very much hot property. That type of value on the ‘Vinnies’ is long since gone. Those of us craving more reasonable yearling prices will be casting a close eye on the stock of Hellbent. In doing so we will reminisce of the days where I Am Invincible didn’t grace the inspection lists of the big boys. We can also look forward to a further branch of the I Am Invincible family to develop in the coming seasons. Despite his oldest progeny only being four year-olds, Brazen Beau himself now shapes as a sire of sires. His first son at stud is the highly talented Tassort, who stood his first season at stud this year at Newgate Farm. Waiting in the wings to enter stud is another highly impressive son of Brazen Beau in North Pacific. A narrow runner up at Group 1 level in the stallion making Golden Rose, North Pacific must surely be one of the hottest young stallion prospects in training. Hellbent stands at Yarraman Park Stud, Scone for $22,000 (inc GST). |
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