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Rip Van Winkle filly for Laurel Oak

Heading to the 2014 Karaka Yearling Sales in New Zealand, Laurel Oak Bloodstock in conjunction with our trainer Tony Noonan were fortunate to secure Lot 478, a chestnut filly by first-season sire Rip Van Winkle, out of the stakes-winning More Than Ready mare Floramour  – pedigree.

From the draft of Curraghmore Stud, the sire of our filly in Rip Van Winkle is a Champion Three-year-old son of Galileo, the winner of five races highlighted by victories in the York Juddmonte International Stakes, Goodwood Sussex Stakes and the Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – all at Group One level.

The first foal from Floramour, the broodmare sire of our filly More Than Ready has been represented by three Group One winners – all in the last 12 months – Atlante, Miracles Of Life and our very own Rebel Dane, while he is also the broodmare sire of this year’s Magic Millions winner Unencumbered.

For more information on this attractive filly, contact Louis on 0418 962 858 or email the Laurel Oak Office office@laureloak.com.au

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Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Purchases

Attending the Inglis Classic Sale last week, Laurel Oak were lucky enough to secure four yearlings.

Lot 146: Snitzel x Enchanted Melody filly – Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, $60,000 – Pedigree

Purchased specifically for a client, this Snitzel filly is the first foal of an Encosta de Lago daughter of the stakes placed Flying Dansino, herself a half-sister to the three-time Listed-winning, Group One placed Zagreb.

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Lot 153: Zizou x Exclusive Bid filly, Turangga Farm, $50,000 – Pedigree

This filly is a full-sister to three time Sydney winner Zin Zan Eddie.

This filly is bred on the same inbreeding to Easy Date cross that is evident in all of Zizou’s best horses – Zin Zan Eddie, Marseille Roulette and Everage. Last year’s Blue Diamond winner Miracles Of Life is also inbred to Easy Date.

This filly will target the Inglis Classic, Black Opal and Golden Slipper.

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Lot 163: Al Maher x Fipple filly – Emirates Park, $6,000 – Pedigree

First foal out of a Viscount three-quarter-sister to Listed winner Tinamou, as well as being a half-sister to the Listed winner Happier.

Third Dam is the stakes winner Whistling, dam of Group Two winner Syrinx, Group Three winner Whistle Up and the Listed-winning, Group One placed Noise.

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Lot 275: Northern Meteor x Luscillas Choice – Broadwater Thoroughbreds, $130,000 – Pedigree

She is a filly out of a Redoute’s Choice mare. While buying a Northern Meteor is pretty special in itself this one is particularly special as she is the same Northern Meteor/Redoute’s Choice cross that produced Zoustar, Northern Meteor’s Group One-winning son.

If you would like any information on any of these fillies, please contact the office on office@laureloak.com.au

 

“Congrats” on our Magic Millions purchase

Purchased on the second day of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Laurel Oak Bloodstock were lucky enough to secure Lot 330: b. c. Congrats (USA) x Dirty from the draft of Vinery Stud – pedigree

Set to be trained by Gary Portelli Racing, the dam of our purchase is Dirty, a Listed-winning Hussonet mare from the family of Group One winner Nashville as well as fellow stakes winners Hawajiss, Torumba, Fast Company and Trudeau.

For more information on this impressive colt, contact Louis on 0418 962 858 or email the Laurel Oak Office office@laureloak.com.au

MAGNUS OPUS IN TUNE

Wow! Another year gone! As commented about a year ago, the sales catalogues have arrived, Christmas is looming large, and the cycle of yearling sales, racing carnivals and social functions starts all over again, and before we know it, we will be back here preparing for Christmas 2014.

But each year has so many challenges and so much enjoyment that all we can do is look forward to it, embrace it, enjoy it, and hope that we all stay healthy and can enjoy many more of them.

And nothing makes a year more enjoyable than winners. In 2013, REBEL DANE was obviously the Laurel Oak star, taking us to Group 1-winning heights that we have not enjoyed for ten years. He contested several Group 1 races, won at Group 1, 2 and 3 levels, while his best performance of all may even have been running a close second to Pierro at Group 2 level.

There were also plenty of winners amongst the support team, although not as many perhaps as in some of our recent years. But the signs are good that most of the Laurel Oak team will be winning in 2014.

Leading the charge in that regard was MAGNUS OPUS. The giant 3yo Magnus gelding debuted at Seymour at the end of November with a very impressive victory. Trainer Tony Noonan thought that he would likely need the education, and that the tight circuit over 1100m would be too short for him. However, after getting back early, he tracked into the race very well approaching the corner under Dwayne Dunn’s guidance, and then let loose in the straight for an impressive win.

Tony has given him a few quiet weeks with a view to bringing him back for a VOBIS Gold race at Caulfield on 4 January, followed by a 3yo race at Flemington over 1400m on 18 January.

Magnus Opus was our first exposure to VOBIS Gold and we are certainly impressed. The 3yo maiden win at Seymour yielded not just the $10,500 normal first prizemoney, and not just the $4,900 winning owners’ Super VOBIS bonus, but also a VOBIS Gold bonus, which was $14,000 to the winner. That resulted in an extremely healthy first prize of $29,400 gross (before jockey/trainer deductions) for a maiden win.

Magnus Opus, for a big, growing horse, showed great natural aptitude through his early 2yo training, and looked like he may defy his physical size by getting to the races early. However, in January he required a wind operation which set him back timing-wise. While the wind operation itself was successful, the extra time out no doubt gave him the time he needed to physically mature and furnish into a racehorse. The fact that he is still learning indicates that there is genuine upside to him.

Ironically Magnus Opus was bred by Peter Moody to a Brain-recommended mating and we bought him from the second session of the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $35,000 plus GST. He is the reverse of the Black Caviar mating as his sire, Magnus, is out of Black Caviar’s female line, while his dam, McCune, is by Bel Esprit, the sire of Black Caviar. The pedigrees of both Black Caviar and Magnus Opus contain close-up linebreeding to Vain, which has likely injected some speed into both pedigrees, no doubt more into the great mare’s pedigree!

Rebel Dane aimed at Group One T.J. Smith first-up

Rebel Dane, one of the best short-course horses in Australia, will run first-up in the $2.5 million T. J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12.

Trainer Gary Portelli this afternoon told Racing Network he would not be tempted to start the horse before that race.

“He’s unbeaten first-up, that’s his go, so he’ll go to the T. J. Smith fresh and first-up,” he said.

“I went and had a look at him two days ago in the paddock and he looks magnificent.

“He put on quite a show for us in the paddock, he’s put on a stack of weight and has definitely done very well while he’s been out,” Portelli said.

During the Melbourne Spring Carnival Rebel Dane won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Portelli said he would be bringing Rebel Dane back into work in two weeks.

“He’s going to come back in very good order but he will be aimed at the TJ,” he said.

Portelli said the BTC Cup, Doomben Cup and Stradbroke Handicap were three possible races for Rebel Dane during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

“I’ll see how he goes first-up and if he runs in the first three we’ll probably go to Brisbane for those races,” he said.

Reported on Racing Network