Templeton Stud

Native Khan, bought for 160,000gns by Vefa Ibrahim Araci, a good friend and supporter of Templeton Stud, at Tattersalls Craven breeze-up and therefore the second most expensive offspring of his sire Azamour sold at public auction, ground out a determined victory in Saturday's Solario Stakes at Sandown.

Ed Dunlop trained grey created quite a buzz when pulling well clear on his debut at Newmarket, but found things more demanding on his step up to Group Three company and was trapped behind horses with two of the seven furlongs remaining.

Once his jockey Eddie Ahern located a gap Native Khan picked up the bridle quite stylishly and while he did not stride right away, he appeared to be in control of dual winner Measuring Time, who finished half a length behind.

While there have been plenty of subsequent underachievers among the former winners of the Solario, horses like Raven's Pass and Oh So Sharp went on to great success and Dunlop is now considering a handful of Group One options for Native Khan.

Lord Shanakill was made to work hard for his success in the Group 2 Betfair Cup, taking his Group-race tally to three.

Tom Queally's mount, sent off at 13-2, was delivered to win his race at the three pole, slowly grinding down 7-2 favourite Dalghar, who raced prominently and stayed on for third.

The Henry Cecil-trained winner overhauled the French raider and then battled gamely to repel a late challenge from the fast-finishing Cat Junior under Jamie Spencer by a head.

Speaking after the race, Mike Marshall, assistant to winning trainer Henry Cecil, said: "He really deserved that, the confidence booster we gave him at Chester last time did just the trick.

"He's done everything right since and looked a picture today. He came here in terrific form and we'd have been disappointed if he was not in the shake up."

Queally added: "It's good to get his head in front in what looked like a really decent affair. He's entitled to another crack at the top level, but that's not for me to say."

The son of Speightstown was bred by Vimal and Gill Khosla, British-based owner-breeders whose familiar blue, grey and yellow silks have been carried with distinction by Mac Love, Royal Destination and Tournedos, in partnership with Caroline Green, owner of Templeton Stud.

Lord Shanakill, bred by Gillian and Vimal Khosla and Templeton stud, was sent off the 8-13 favourite. He easily justified his short price with a drop in class when defeating Dunelight in the City Plate on 10th July.

The four-year-old, who started this season for new trainer Henry Cecil with a third-place finish in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, was running in Listed company for the first time - having been campaigned extensively at Pattern level - and his class told through the final furlong as Tom Queally pushed his mount out for a first victory since last season's Prix Jean Prat.

Georgebernardshaw was the last to break as the field left the stalls, and it was left to Dunelight and Bow Beaver to contest the lead.

The former eventually got the better of the argument, with Bow Beaver bustled along fairly early before dropping away turning for home.

This years July festival has proved a huge success for our Turkish friends Araci family thanks to their recent Tattersalls Craven breeze-up purchase Native Khan, who scored at his first outing.

First-time-out juvenile winners for Ed Dunlop are something of a rarity, so the prospects for Native Khan are already looking rosy after his victory in the EBF Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

The grey Azamour colt was always prominent under Kieren Fallon and showed a really willing attitude when asked to win his race.

The Godolphin pair of Baransky and Bowermaster, also in the front rank throughout, filled the minor places three and a quarter lengths and a length adrift respectively.

Dunlop said: "He's done that very well but as for future plans, I don't know.

Gazi Derby, the most prestigious race in Turkish racing calendar, has been run since 1927. It is a race that commemorates Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic and a keen supporter of horse racing. One of the Leaders most quoted expressions was that “horse racing is a social need for modern societies.” Therefore it was an immense pleasure for the representatives of Templeton Stud to witness the 84th renewal of the race on June 28th.

We would like to say many thanks to the Turkish Jockey Club for their exceptional hospitality. During the weekend all international guests had the opportunity to visit Karacabey Stud farm and Izmit Stallion Station and were treated with sumptuous dinners and lunches. It was also a great occasion to catch up with delegates from other countries, especially our good friend Azedine Sedrati from Morocco.

Besides the official program, Caroline Green enjoyed a very warm welcome at the stud farm of Araci’s – invaluable Templeton supporters for almost two years.

Equiano, ridden by Mertoun Paddocks sponsored jockey Michael Hills, bounced back to his brilliant best when regaining his crown in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Barry Hills-trained five-year-old, sent off at 9-2, won the Group 1 in 2008 when trained in Spain and was soon putting his rivals to the test this time round.

Australian raider Gold Trail tried to follow Equiano up the nearside rail but was soon found wanting.

It was a similar story for the majority of the field, who struggled to go with the quick pace set by Hills, and ante-post favourite Nicconi could only arrive late on the scene to finish fourth.

Markab was the first to emerge from the pack to mount a challenge and has clearly come on for his Group 3 victory at the Curragh last month, the 14-1 shot running on well up the centre of the track to take second.

Kieren Fallon will attempt to use all his powers of persuasion to to get a winning tune out of international ace Presvis after the former champion jockey was confirmed to ride the Luca Cumani-trained star in Wednesday's Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Fallon suffered three consecutive defeats on Presvis during the Dubai Carnival, after the last of which he relinquished the mount, claiming that he was unable to build "a good rapport" with the six-year-old.

However, with first choice rider Ryan Moore claimed to partner Glass Harmonium in the Royal Ascot highlight, Fallon has been booked for the ride on Presvis.

Fallon said: "I went to Dubai to ride him, trying to get to know him on the Tapeta, which he didn't like. The surface was no good to him, so I gave up the ride on him. But this is different, this is back on turf, and it could be a different story.

Richard Hannon has earmarked the Weatherby's Super Sprint at Newbury on July 17 for Templeton graduate Roche Des Vents.

 Monsieur Chevalier gave Hannon his seventh win in the 5f dash last year, and the trainer said that Roche des Vents will be among his team when he tries to make it eight later in the season.
"We thought Roche des Vents would leave his debut run behind him and he did. He has electric early pace, and his owner, Robin Blunt, is keen on a crack at the Super Sprint at Newbury in July, so he'll definitely be in our team for that," Hannon said.

For the first time ever at the Derby meeting in Epsom the jockeys will be able to represent their sponsors. Therefore team Mertoun Paddocks is thrilled to have our ambassador Michael Hills riding promising each way chances in both Epsom Classics.
 
Champagnelifestyle, lightly raced daughter of Montjeu, came third in Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks on the 5th May. Her trainer Barry Hills is confident about filly’s chances at the Oaks: "She has come on bundles for her Chester run and we are hopeful of a place in a very open looking race. Her coat looks fantastic, having looked very wintry for a long time, and the race should be run at a good pace which will suit her.”

For Derby Michael will partner Ted Spread, the Mark Tompkins trained Cheshire Vase winner. Haven worked the Beat Hollow colt over seven and half furlongs on Friday, the jockey was full of prise for his mount:  "I was surprised how much speed he showed, and the good thing is that he has the stamina to go with it."

Olivier Peslier will replace Eddie Ahern as rider of Elusive Pimpernel in the French Derby at Chantilly on June 6.

Trainer John Dunlop confirmed that the four-time French champion jockey had been booked for the colt who finished fifth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Dunlop said: 'Olivier has ridden winners for me in England and France and has a great deal of experience of Chantilly. 'I think the step up to a mile and a quarter is definitely what Elusive Pimpernel wants.'

Peslier won the French Derby on Peintre Celebre in 1997. The last four British-trained winners of the Gallic Classic have come at five year intervals through Roger Charlton's Sanglamore (1990), Lady Herries-trained Celtic Swing (1995), Michael Jarvis trained Holding Court (2000) and Saeed bin Suroor's Shamardal (2005).

Lolly For Dolly, supplemented at a cost of €32,500 for Sunday's Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas, was a significant market mover on Wednesday, challenging Music Show for favouritism for the Curragh Classic.

Paddy Power cut the Tommy Stack-trained Lolly For Dolly to 9-2 (from 5), just half a point behind Music Show, while Ladbrokes went4-1 (also from 5). They quote Music Show as 3-1 market leader.

The prospect of good ground at the weekend is looking likely, given the weather forecast over the next few days.

Curragh manager Paul Hensey said on Wednesday: "We had just three millimetres of rain overnight and it's lovely good ground here today and the forecast is for warm weather over the weekend.

"It is very unlikely we'll water the whole track between now and Saturday, but we may put a splash on the round course from the four-furlong marker to the six-furlong marker, as it tends to get quite quick around there.

"I would expect the ground to be good in the straight and good to firm on the round course for Saturday."

Presvis could run in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on July 3 after finishing fifth in the Singapore Airline International Cup at Kranji on Sunday.

The Luca Cumani-trained son of Sakhee has competed only once in Britain since winning the John Smith's Stakes in September 2008 but connections are considering the prestigious Group 1 given the way his recent races have panned out.

He had a troubled passage when fancied for the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan in March, while he was only a length and three-quarters behind Viva Pataca in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup last month.

At Kranji on Sunday, jockey Ryan Moore reported Presvis lost a shoe and heavy thunderstorms prior to racing also diminished his chances.

Lolly For Dolly was an apt winner of the Group 3 Oratorio Athasi Stakes at the Curragh on Monday, the 3rd May, thus becoming the fourth stakes winner for her sire in whose name the race was staged. Well backed through the morning, the 3-1 favourite quickened impressively to defeat 9-2 chance Famous.
 
Half of the twelve runner field held chances at the furlong marker, with the runners stretched across the field, but it was Wayne Lordan aboard the Tommy Stack-trained runner who found an impressive turn of foot to record a decisive victory.

The winner had looked a nice prospect when winning at Cork on her debut and connections will now supplement her for the EEF Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas on May 23, at a cost of €32,500.

 French raider Special Duty features among a final field of 18 fillies in the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.

Criquette Head-Maarek's charge shot to the head of the betting for the one-mile Classic after success in the Cheveley Park Stakes on her final juvenile appearance, but was beaten on her return in the Prix Imprudence.

The strong home team is headed by the highly regarded Seta for the Luca Cumani stable, the mount of six-times champion jockey Kieren Fallon.

Nell Gwyn winner Music Show lines up for Mick Channon and will be ridden by current champion Ryan Moore, while Marcus Tregoning saddles the unbeaten Rumoush.

Aidan O'Brien's red-hot favorite St Nicholas Abbey heads a field of 19 runners declared for Saturday's StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Montjeu colt was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, culminating in a clear-cut success over Elusive Pimpernel in the Racing Post Trophy last autumn.

He is one of three contenders from O'Brien's Ballydoyle base, with Fencing Master and Viscount Nelson also taking their chance.

John Dunlop's Elusive Pimpernel re-opposes following his Craven Stakes success, while Richard Hannon sends Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin.

Godolphin field two runners, with Al Zir hailing from Saeed bin Suroor's yard. Buzzword is a first Classic runner for second trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.

While would-be rivals were unable to travel to the Far East for Sunday’s race due to the volcanic ash from the Icelandic eruption, defending race champion Presvis (GB) (Sakhee) did not have to endure any such problems en route to Hong Kong. The six-year-old, who will be making his third start in the former British colony this weekend, had been based in Dubai since his luckless run in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes in 27th March.

Having arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday, 22nd April, Presvis was restricted to a canter around Sha Tin on Thursday and has settled in well, connections report. “He’s very well and very relaxed,” said Charlie Henson, Cumani’s assistant trainer, who is supervising preparations for this year’s tilt at the QEII.
“We were slightly delayed in Dubai and had to catch a later flight than originally intended. So technically we missed a day’s work. But that’s no problem. He worked on Sunday, he’s travelled very well, and he’s absolutely fine.”

Thursday’s Racing Post breezupbonus.com Craven Stakes showcased an impressive seasonal debut for Elusive Pimpernel, who kick-started his promising career last year by winning Mertoun Paddocks EBF Maiden Stakes in Newmarket at the July meeting. He subsequently won the G3 Acomb Stakes in York and was a runner-up to St Nicholas Abbey at the G1 Racing Post Trophy. Returning to racetrack after the winter break, the 3-year-old son of Elusive Quality took the lead over a furlong out and forged four lengths clear of Brian Meehan trained Dancing David.
Elusive Pimpernels victory saw an immediate response from the bookies, cutting the odds to 5-1 (from 16-1) for the 2000 Guineas. "He's a very big horse and I wondered what on earth I was doing running him as a two-year-old in July, but he had always shown a lot of ability at home," colt’s trainer John Dunlop commented. “He's continued to work very well; he has a wonderful attitude and a very good outlook on life. Today, he relaxed completely after the race and didn't turn a hair. He's an easy horse to train - he does exactly what he's asked to do and it's not a complicated job for the trainer, I'm glad to say."

Templeton graduate Mappin Time landed £10,000 racing Post Yearling Bonus by winning a two-year-old maiden in Beverley on Wednesday, 14th April. It was the second start for the Orientate colt. Mappin Time was born and reared at Templeton Stud. Sold at Doncaster St Ledger Yearling Sale for £16,000 to Tim Easterby, the colt has already earned his owner Peter Baillie over £13,300 (including the Yearling Bonus) in just two outings.

Bred by Jerry Jamgotchian, Mappin Time is the third foal out of Stravinsky mare Different Story. The colt finished a promising second at his debut at Southwell on 31st March, and was the favourite entering the Maiden two weeks later. He broke well and raced in a prominent second. Pushed along passing the 2f pole, Mappin Time was driven out up the hill to win by a short head.

Trainer Tim Easterby was delighted: "I think the scheme is a fanastic idea, it's really encouraging for the owners. Peter was having his first winner for 2 years, so it'll help pay some of the bills for the ones who haven't won!"

There is a fresh optimistic feel in Newmarket ahead of the Craven meeting, which takes place over the next two days. With the breeze up sales at Tattersalls and Classics’ trails for both the fillies and colts there is a real feeling that the flat season is starting to gather pace.

A spring morning at Rowley Mile racecourse greeted the 2-year-olds on Tuesday. There was a great turnout of agents, trainers and owners to watch them be put through their paces. A real mixture of horses and pedigree’s means there should be a horse to suit everyone. A couple which caught the eye early on were lot 33, a colt by successful first season sire Dubawi bred on the same cross as Sand Vixon, and Lot 72, a sharp looking son of Shamardal.

Owners from the Richard Hannon stable landed Racing Post Yearling Bonuses worth £20,000 in just 20 minutes on Monday, 12 April – with one winning owner, Julie Wood, declaring: “People are really beginning to talk about the scheme, it is a great incentive for owners to go back to buy at the yearling sales.”

As well as dreaming of buying new yearlings, Wood also appears to have a Royal Ascot contender to dream of after Zebedee  was a very comfortable winner of the European Breeders’ Fund Maiden at Windsor.

Assistant trainer Richard Hanon junior said: "He's a nice horse who has always worked well, and although he's still quite big he looks a sharp two-year-old. He's very quick and I wouldn't rule anything out, but we'll take it one step at a time and we'll try and find a conditions race for him next.

The Templeton-born Presvis will be given a quick opportunity to make up for the run in the Dubai Duty Free when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Audemars Piquet QE II Cup at Sha Tin on April 25.

The Sakhee gelding was a length winner of the race last year, but has only recorded one victory since and could only finish 11th of 16 under Christophe Lemaire in the Duty Free, where he met trouble in running.

The trainer Lucas Cumani also revealed a step up in trip could be on the cards for Presvis culminating in a crack at the Japan Cup in November.

Awesome Act proved Newmarket trainer Jeremy Noseda's impressions that he would be suited to a dirt campaign with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Mar. 6 G3 Gotham Stakes and he  will continue along the road to the May 1 G1 Kentucky Derby in Saturday's G1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

“The performance in the Gotham confirmed what we believed, that he would handle the dirt well and, hopefully, be a better horse on the dirt," Noseda said. "It's put him in the firing line, but we need a good performance on Saturday to keep moving forward and to believe that we are realistic about our dream of being in Kentucky."

History was made at Lingfield Park today, when the owners of Primo Lady, winner of the bluesquare.com Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes, became the first recipients of a £10,000 Racing Post Yearling Bonus cheque.

The race was the first opportunity in Britain to land the bonus, after an eligible horse failed to win the first Irish-nominated race at the Curragh last Sunday.

Primo Lady, a daughter of Lucky Story saddled by Gay Kelleway for owners Kevin Jarvis, Gary Hodson and Peter Moule, was consigned to the DBS St Leger Festival yearling sale by Little Lodge Farm and purchased by the trainer for £5,000.

The £10,000 bonus is nearly five times the prize-money connections of Primo Lady picked up for winning the race.

Newmarket trainer John Gosden landed the first blow for the European trainers at Meydan with success in the Dubai Sheema Classic for Dar Re Mi. The first five races at the world's richest meeting had been dominated by horses trained in Hong Kong, America and South Africa. But Dar Re Mi travelled sweetly under William Buick, who sent the Lord Lloyd-Webber-owned mare to the front inside the final furlong.

Gosden said: "What a run from the filly. William rode her positively and she got a great position from the gates as it is a short run to the bend here.
It was only last Monday that she arrived from the cold of England and I thought she would run well. We kept her warm at home, but she liked the weather here and it is wonderful that fillies finished first and second.
She is like a fine wine and is getting better with age. The Breeders' Cup is her main target this year and I'd be inclined to side with the Filly & Mare Turf. I wish we had gone for that race last year. The King George will be her mid-summer target and we'll also look at the Coronation and Pretty Polly."

Richard Hills, HH Hamdam Al Maktoum stable jockey has been riding in Dubai since 1992. Richard has had 8 winners on the world cup night including the Dubai World Cup on Almutawakel in 1999 the richest race of the last century.

To date Richard has ridden 460 winners in Dubai and is hoping to increase his tally on Saturday when he has a book of 5 rides on World Cup night.

Richard has had 7winners at the carnival meeting this year, and recently won the International Masters Jockeys series.

Richard, who’s twin brother Michael is sponsored by Mertoun Paddocks, will be updating us daily with all the news and views from Dubai.

Quirina, a 5-year-old Red Ransom mare bought by Caroline Green for OTI racing, is starting to justify her connections’ beliefs in mare’s talent by adapting quickly to the new life in sunny Australia. Returning back to the racetrack after a 31-week absence, Quirina is showing constant improvement and after a close miss at her second start, she came home victorious at Wednesday’s 1m1f Beaulivre Handicap in Betfair Park Sandown Hillside. Quirina’s trainer Peter Moody, who on last Saturday celebrated the first Group 1 win of his star 3-year-old Wanted, is thrilled about the mare’s performance. The happy owners Terry Henderson and Simon O’Donnell do see black type potential in Quirina and are considering to send her to a Group 3 race next time out.

Presvis,  runner-up in last year's Dubai Duty Free, will bid to go one better on World Cup night after getting back in the winning groove with a typical last-to-first victory.

Reunited with Ryan Moore, who won twice on him at last year's Dubai Carnival, the Luca Cumani-trained six-year-old followed hot favourite Alexandros through a gap, passing the Godolphin hope with the minimum of fuss inside the final furlong.
 
Cumani told afterwards that Presvis will run in the Duty Free instead of the World Cup.

Super Thursday, the warm-up event for the Dubai World Cup meeting, has attracted many high-class entries from all over the world.  Being the biggest meeting outside of the World Cup night, Super Thursday features the second leg of UAE Triple Crown as well as five Group races.

The first Thoroughbred race of the night, Listed Al Bastakiya, will mark the return of Godolphin’s Vale Of York, the winner of Breeders’ cup Juvenile. The 3-year-old son of Invincible Spirit has an entry in Kentucky Derby, though Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford suggests the colt will be in need of his first outing since the Breeders' Cup. " Vale Of York has been a bit behind schedule in his preparation so will improve for the run. He is ready for the outing though. We have the option of taking him to Europe or America and the race will teach us a lot." 

On a day when the snow and icy conditions led to cancellation of all race meetings in the UK, the White Turf Festival at St Moritz, taking place at three consecutive Sundays in February, reached its climax in Switzerland.

The last of 2010 White Turf meetings featured the Gubelin 71st Grand Prix of St Moritz and attracted 13,000 visitors. Run over 1m2f, it is the richest race in Switzerland. The public had a special treat when, 17 years after his first ride at the White Turf Festival, Frankie Dettori returned for the second time to Engadine. The day started on a high note for the star jockey, as he partnered Sweet Venture to victory in the first race. Though it was the Panamanian jockey Eduardo Pedroza on board of German bred Rolling Home, who landed the Grand Prix of St Moritz. The only British representative, Mark Johnston trained Mannlichen came a respectable fourth.

The Arqana Mixed Sale, held at Saint-Cloud on the 16th February, showed a healthy 38% improvement in aggregate on the 2009 figures.  The average rose by 59%, while the median went up by 33%.

As anticipated, the sale was boosted by the dispersal of the late Zakaria Hakam’s French bloodstock interests: from the ten top lots of the sale seven came out of the Hakam’s draft, including the sale topper Ivory Pearl, a 2-year-old filly by Muhtathir. It was Sylvan Vidal, who secured the filly for €77,000. Her dam Ivory Cost has already produced a listed winner Ivory Land and was led through the ring some lots earlier.  The mare went to David Redvers for €54,000, who also paid €36,000 for Cote D’Ebene, her yearling filly by Muhtathir.  

On Sunday, 14th February the racing world lost one of it’s most extraordinary men – legendary jockey and best-selling novelist Dick Francis. He was a very successful post-war jockey, earning the title of Champion jockey in 1956.  One year later, in 1957 Francis retired from racing and begun an exceptional writing career, with his autobiography, “The Sport of Queens”, being the first work. His most recent novel, “Even Money”, written together with his son Felix, was published September 2009. Acclaimed as one of the greatest thriller writers in the world, Dick Francis is the author of 42 novels. Caroline Green, the owner of Templeton Stud, has some special memories about contributing to the creation of the novel “Second Wind”.
In these difficult times our thoughts are especially with the eldest of Dick’s sons, Merrick and his family. Merrick is not only the main person to be in charge of biggest bulk of our transportation requirements, but also he is an invaluable friend and supporter of Templeton and Mertoun Paddocks.

After a short winter break top jockey Michael Hills, proudly sponsored by Mertoun Paddocks, has successfully opened the account for 2010 by riding his first winner on Wednesday, 10th February. The 3-year-old Bepopalula (IRE), trained by Barry Hills, was very well backed for her seasonal debut in Lingfield and didn’t disappoint by crossing the finishing line first of the 11 contenders.

The grey daughter of Galileo was an eye-catcher on her sole outing last year at Doncaster in a much hotter fillies´ maiden over a mile, where she came respectable sixth out of 21. Now, having stepped up in trip to 1m2f, she got the job done under a sensible ride and rates better than the bare form, as according to Racing Post, she blew the start and idled having been in front off the home turn. She has scope and, judging by her attitude in the preliminaries, should learn a deal again for the experience.

Ryan Moore is to replace Kieren Fallon on potential Dubai World Cup contender Presvis following the six-year-old's defeat in a three-runner race at Meydan last week.

However, scotching rumours the ride had caused a rift with the former champion jockey, Presvis's trainer Luca Cumani said the change was Fallon's idea.

Moore has been in the saddle for four of Presvis's five career victories, most notably when winning the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin last April, while Fallon, who has a gentleman's agreement to ride for Cumani when available, has suffered frustration on the three occasions he has partnered the gelding who needs to be held up for a late run.

The classy Presvis (Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon) is set to face only two rivals in a 1m2f Tapeta handicap at Meydan on Friday after connections elected to run him in that contest instead of the 1m1f Group 3 Al Rashidiya on turf on Thursday.

His chosen reappearance is over the same course and distance as the $10million Dubai World Cup, as opposed to the Dubai Duty Free in which he was second last year.

Presvis as well as Crowded House, two of Britain's potential Dubai World Cup contenders, are set to make their bow at this week's Carnival double-header at Meydan, where the turf track will be used for the first time.

Although both horses have alternative engagements on Friday, they could clash a day earlier in the Group 3 Al Rashidiya over 1m1f, the $200,000 highlight of Thursday's card.

In the early hours of Monday the 25th January Mertoun Paddocks welcomed the first foal of the new breeding season. The Australian bred mare No Fear No Favour gave birth to an attractive bay colt by Starcraft (NZ). He is also the first foal to be born in the recently completed foaling unit. Featuring two large foaling boxes with infrared lamps and Internet surveillance system, as well as 9 spacious broodmare boxes, it marks one more important step towards the accomplishment of the audacious project that is Mertoun Paddocks. Stud groom Rob Speers, who foaled the mare, described the Starcraft foal as a quality colt with good limbs and good bone.

Equinome, an Irish biotech company founded 2009 by Dr Emmeline Hill, a leading horse genomics researcher in University College Dublin in partnership with the renowned Irish racehorse trainer Jim Bolger, have announced the launch of the “ Speed Gene Test”. This breakthrough genetic test should help predict the optimum racing distance for individual racehorses.

Dr Hill and her associates have published their study on the relationship of specific gene alleles to maximum win distance on Wednesday, 20th January at the Plos1 online journal. The research shows that there are two alleles, “C” and “T”, at a particular position on the Myostatin gene that is contributor to muscle mass in Thoroughbreds. This means that every race horse is either a “C:C”, “C:T” or “T:T”. The study indicates that horses with the C:C code are essentially sprinters and generally precocious, those with the C:T code are milers effective to 10 furlongs, and those with the T:T are wanting time to find their feet and extended distances to excel.

The long-awaited first initiatives from the Britain’s much-debated Racing For Change program that were announced Jan. 5 are not radical or major but will provide small steps toward making racing more understandable and fun, according to the organizers.

The big Racing For Change moves are due to be announced later in 2010 and will concern shaking up the fixture list in future years to provide big races each weekend and a clearer narrative over 12 months.

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, 13th December, was the long anticipated reappearance of five-year-old Presvis, bred by Mette Campbell-Andenaes and foaled at Templeton Stud, into international racing scene after his summer break. Sent in the race as second favorite, Presvis crossed the finishing line third, behind a spectacular Vision D’Etat and well-backed Collection.

Trainer Luca Cumani was pleased enough with the gelding’s performance: “When he got going he passed a lot of horses. He will improve and I’m looking forward to Dubai. I was pretty sure he would be in the first three today.”

The Templeton Stud graduate Deep Purple has opened the new jump season on a very high note, by landing two Grade 2 chases in the row.

The market said Deep Purple could not triumph in the Peterborough Chase on Thursday, but the Evan Williams-trained eight-year-old defied the negative vibes to run out the six-length winner.

The Paul Green-owned Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase winner, who was carrying a penalty for his Wetherby success, drifted all the way out to 12-1, having been as low as 9-2 in the morning.

Deep Purple travelled and jumped strongly for Paul Moloney and was cut to 12-1 (from 25) for the William Hill King George VI Chase by Totesport.

With an impressive 75 % rise in the aggregate, average price up 18% and median rising 29% in comparison with the 2008 figures, Tattersalls December Yearling Sale proved to be a very positive opening of the December sales.

It was also a pleasing sales day for Templeton, with all three offered yearlings being sold well.

The highlight of the Templeton yearling consignment was lot 128, a racey Pivotal filly. The first foal out of a listed winner Bobcat Greeley, the brown filly was kept for the December sales in order to give her more time. The tactics worked out well and the filly, closely related to the family of Miesque and looking every bit like a two year old, attracted lot of interest in sales ring. She was finally knocked down to Willie Brown on behalf of Meadowlands stud for 60 000 guineas, leaving Brian Smart as an under-bidder.

Ronnie O'Sullivan lived up to his nickname of the rocket on Tuesday, 10th November, when he eased to a three-frame victory over Shaun Murphy at Newmarket.
The best-of-five frames clash between the two former world champions formed the centrepiece of the exhibition night held at Tattersalls, in aid of the Paul Hunter Foundation and the Newmarket Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Following a 30-minute trick shot session with six-times world champion Steve Davis, it was the turn of stars from the racing world to try their hand on the baize.

On Tuesday Mertoun Paddocks Racing enjoyed a fun night at Australia House for the celebration of  the 149th Melbourne Cup. Having the reputation as one of the most popular events organised by Australian Business, it had attracted hundreds of people.

Being sponsors of the evening, along with the main contributor National Australia Bank, team Mertoun was delighted to have the support of jockey Michael Hills and trainer Jamie Osborne.

Thanks to Foster’s, who made sure there were plenty of beverages, and Vili’s – the Australian gourmet pie company- for supplying delicious pies, everybody had good time.

A fashion parade by one of the world’s most iconic names in surf culture, Hot Tuna, brought some sunshine into the evening.

The Animal Health Trust held its 21st UK Equestrian Awards on 5th November 2009 Lancaster Hotel, Hyde Park, London, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.

For the first time in its 21-year history there was a dead heat in the Duralock Racing Award, which was won by Barry Hills and Sea The Stars.