Breeding News- (Luckygray)

Bradbury’s Luck’s exceptionally talented Group 1 winning 4YO Luckygray,(pictured) not only stamped himself as Perth’s best galloper with a barnstorming victory in Saturday’s G3 Belmont Stakes (1400m) but also sent out a very strong warning to his eastern counterparts that he is going to be a serious force to be reckoned with come Melbourne Spring Carnival time.

The Gino Poletti trained gelding was asked to carry an imposing 61kg after the first up demolition job he handed to his opponents in the G3 Roma Cup two weeks back and, at one stage, he was a clear last and spotting the leaders some fifteen lengths at the 600m.

However the newly crowned $1million earner took every obstacle in his enormous stride as he swept past his rivals to take his record to nine wins and one second from just the twelve lifetime starts.

“He had plenty to overcome today,” Gino beamed post race. “Including a couple of very hefty bumps not long after they entered the straight.

“Considering the hurdles (big weight, outside barrier, second-up and being a long way off them approaching the turn), today was the first time I thought he was vulnerable and was worried he might be beaten.

“However, if you allow him to be ridden to his strengths, and he can get a clear shot at them, he is lethal and practically unbeatable.”

When asked what the long term plan was for the Bradbury’s Luck 4YO, Poletti admitted he kept changing his mind as the horse seemingly keeps taking bigger and bigger steps.

“Providing he comes through this race well he will line up in another two weeks here in the Hyperion Stakes,” Gino added. “Then we will get a chance to put him in the paddock before heading to Melbourne.

“Each time I go through the Spring Carnival I keep finding a better race than the one I was originally going for.

“However, we’ve still got six weeks from the Hyperion to get him over there and we’ll wait until after his next run before firming up on a final program.”

Upon dismounting, jockey Shaun O’Donnell was almost in awe of Luckygray. “He’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden in my life,” he stated. “He just knows what to do and I was pretty kind to him in the run to the line because he had them covered a long way out.

“He is an amazing animal!”

Luckygray’s outstanding performance continued the terrific run of Bradbury’s Luck this season. Despite having far less runners than many of his opposition, the beautifully bred grey is currently running 4^th on the Qld Sires table behind Show A Heart, Falvelon – who also stand at Glenlogan Park and Lyndhurst Stud’s Sequalo.

Queensland’s hottest new sire Written Tycoon, standing at Eliza Park’s Queensland nursery, recorded a win for the maroon’s on the weekend.

Grand Emperor, first-up after running sixth at Flemington behind the outstanding Samaready, began quickly from gate six and had the race in its keeping a long way out.

Grand Emperor travelled very strongly in the run and dashed away at the 200m for an ultra-impressive win for his second crop sire Written Tycoon, currently second on the National Leading Second Crop Sires List for prizemoney and is the leading sire for winners.

Once again our Magic Millions June National sales results have been phenomenal, especially when compared with others around the Country. The quality stock brought top prices and it was a good, solid sale.Over the two days of the National Broodmare Sale almost $20 million was traded on 299 lots sold at an average price of $66,406 and clearance rate of 74 per cent. The average price was up 38 per cent on last year’s auction, while the sale gross was also up 24 per cent.

The select session of the weanlings also saw spirited bidding, over $4.7 million was given for 146 lots sold at an average price of $32,651 and improving clearance rate of over 76 per cent.

The general session was certainly a lot tougher, the buyers came out smiling at the end of trade that day, but all was back on track for vendors of the National Yearling Sale. All up the select component of the Yearling sale grossed over $7.7 million on 241 lots sold at an average price of $32,012. The clearance rate rounded out at 74 per cent – well up on last year’s 70 per cent figure.

The general yearling session was again a little tougher, but it grossed over $307,000 for 42 lots sold at an average price of $7,318 and clearance rate of 62 per cent.With statistics like that, I’m sure we will all move into the foaling and breeding season with a lot more confidence.

The 4th Australasian Equine Science Symposium will be held on the Gold Coast this week (june 13-15)

The symposium will have some of Australia’s leading equine scientists and practitioners presenting and attending.

It is open to the public and this year there are significant thoroughbred related topics of interest breeders and owners.

Dr Peter Reid will be talking about the current state of Hendra vaccinations

Other presentations that may be of interest include:

– The incidence of OCD in thoroughbreds in the Hunter Valley, NSW

– The prevalence of limb deformities in Standardbred and Thoroughbred foals in New Zealand: a preliminary study

– The relationship between insulin status and occurrence of osteochondrosis in Thoroughbred yearlings

– Evidence for the management of back pain in horses by manual therapy

– The importance of early exercise in the horse

– Variables influencing the auction sales price of New Zealand thoroughbred yearlings

– Osteochondrosis in yearling Standardbred horses and subsequent race earnings

– Rate of gain, feed efficiency and gastric ulcers in growing horses are affected by feed processing

– Effect of Dextrose Supplementation on Electrolyte and Water Absorption in Resting Thoroughbreds

– Stress responses in stabled, young horses can be modified by music

– The role of the foal in the epidemiology of Rhodococcal disease in Australia

– Bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of chronic bacterial infections on the stud farm – Case Studies

– Comparison of the effects of treatment with Pentosan Gold and a standard Pentosan product, on the symptoms of joint disease in horses

– Use of fungal spores (Duddingtonia flagrans) for biological control of infective equine intestinal nematode larvae

– Presence of caterpillar setae in the placenta from a field case of EAFL

Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland President, Basil Nolan, welcomes the extra injection of prizemoney into Queensland’s racing circuit.

“While we are still a long way off the mark, this extra funding is certainly a good start,” said Mr Nolan.

“It shows the new RQL board is aware of the shortfalls in our state and are endeavouring to rectify the prizemoney problem. Kevin Dixon and his board need to be commended for their efforts.”

Racing Queensland Limited (RQL) has announced prizemoney increases for the coming racing year across all three codes of racing in Queensland totalling $3.5 million. These initiatives will become effective from September 1, 2012.

RQL chairman Kevin Dixon said that the changes (announced late Saturday) have been made possible thanks to the new State Government’s $5 million commitment to the Queensland Thoroughbred Investment Scheme (QTIS).

“The funding allocation to QTIS from the Government has freed up funds previously used by RQL for this purpose, which can now be redirected toward much needed prizemoney,” said Mr Dixon.

“In addition, RQL has identified internal administration savings which will be reallocated and used to fund the remaining $1 million of the increase.

“Whilst prizemoney is still far from parity with the southern states, RQL recognises that the new LNP Government has acted quickly to assist the industry,” added Mr Dixon.

An immediate priority for the RQL board has been to ensure that metropolitan midweek thoroughbred racing is once again competitive and have therefore resolved to increase prizemoney from $13,000 per race to $17,000. At the same time, metropolitan midweek meetings will return to eight races.

In addition, 42 midweek races for two and three-year-old horses will now be classed as QTIS bonus races, carrying added prizemoney of $10,000 per race, giving these races a total purse of $27,000.

“This initiative means that metropolitan midweek meetings will increase from total prizemoney of $91,000 to $146,000 per meeting, which is an increase of 60 per cent,” said Mr Dixon.

“We know that better prizemoney attracts better fields, which in turn attracts higher wagering and it is wagering that keeps the industry ticking over.”

Mr Dixon said that country thoroughbred racing will also benefit from this announcement with non-strategic race meetings’ prizemoney increasing from $4000 per race, to $5000.

“RQL has stated an intention of achieving prizemoney parity between strategic and non-strategic racedays, and today’s announcement represents the first move toward that aim,” said Mr Dixon.

“It is our intention to move to $6000 as funding becomes available. This is in addition to the $1 million funding pledged by the LNP for 20 extra country racing meetings.”

Harness and greyhound racing have also been given a much needed injection with each code allocated $400,000 in additional prizemoney funding.

“The allocation to harness racing will be used to add races to existing meetings, allowing Saturday night meetings to be increased to 10 races, and Wednesday and Thursday meetings to nine races,” Mr Dixon said

In addition, four Monday race meetings will be run during July to trial the concept.

Queensland’s new Horse Stud Locum Manager service is thriving.

Since initiating the unique service at the start of the year, Allan Bell has been very busy.

During late February they did a stint in South Australia, more precisely, the Inman Valley and were asked to do a return visit during May.

“A beautiful area, all went smoothly on both occasions and our client is doing well after an enforced hospital stay,” said Allan.

Just recently they spent a week looking after a stud on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, and in the coming weeks they’re doing a short gig in Northern Victoria looking after an agistment property.

Bookings are already running hot for later this year, including a larger Commercial Stud in the Macedon Ranges in October and their Christmas/New Year ‘holidays’ have been booked for a Boutique Farm at Romsey in Victoria.

So if you need a break or well earned holiday you better get in quick, call Allan on 0408 074 064