November 2015

Court Martial Miss Makes It Three

After successes at the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, five-year-old mare Court Martial Miss headed to Doomben on November 28 to add another win to her now impressive record.

Starting well in the market in The Blue Ribbon Group Benchmark 80 Handicap (1100m), jockey Michael Cahill jumped the mare away well from the gates before surging forward to settle in second on the rail with Mywayorthehighway taking the lead.

Under a stranglehold as they turned for home, Cahill asked the mare for her an effort and she railed like a greyhound, taking the lead and holding off all challengers.

Winning the race by three-quarters of a length, the daughter of War Pass has been a revelation since heading north, taking her record to 12 starts for five wins and one second placing for earnings of $99,500 of which $62,400 has been added since moving for Brisbane.

To view a replay of the race, click the below image and select Race 4.

CMM Nov 28

Congratulations to the owners of Court Martial Miss; Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: S P Grant), M A Couter, Mrs K Couter, Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Pardon (Mgr: K G Sheppard) K Lowe, Mrs M Lowe, Mrs E Grant and G Pointon who have been rewarded for their patience.

Rebel Dane bound for Melbourne autumn

Rebel Dane will be prepared for a full Melbourne Autumn Carnival tilt for the first time in the entire’s consistent career.

The six-year-old son of California Dane has raced 25 times for seven wins, with 15 of those starts – and one of those successes – in Group 1 company.

The 2013 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner has been a consistent galloper at the highest level, despite only having four top-three finishes in G1s to show for it – most recently running third behind Chautauqua in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

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Trainer Gary Portelli confirmed Rebel Dane had a month off after the run behind Team Hawkes’ star and Srikandi, and will now target the likes of the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, plus Caulfield features the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) early next year.

Rebel Dane’s run in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes
Listen to Gary Portelli discuss Rebel Dane as well as some of the other horses he trains by clicking here.

News from Racing.com

Record Regional Racing Package Announced from Proceeds of Parity

Press Release from Racing NSW

The Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing, Hon. Troy Grant MP and Racing NSW Chairman, Mr John Messara AM, today announced $21 million of increases in Country and Provincial prizemoney to take effect from July 2016.

Increases in minimum Country TAB and Provincial prizemoney as well as the introduction of Showcase Country Race Meetings will account for more than 60% of the proceeds from the second and third years of wagering tax parity and provide an enormous boost for racing in these sectors.

The increases for Country participants will see prizemoney jump to approximately $69 million per annum, up from $31.2 million in the 2011 financial year, an increase of 120% during that period.

“On behalf of the Baird Government I am delighted to announce that from 2016/17, minimum prizemoney for Country TAB meetings in NSW will be increased by $5,000 or 33% to $20,000 per race.  In addition, minimum prizemoney for Provincial meetings will be increased by $5,000 to $27,000, a rise of 23% per race,” said Mr Grant.

“Further, Racing in Country NSW will benefit by the introduction of Country Showcase Meetings to be staged throughout the State.  Approximately 40 meetings each year will be upgraded to carry premium prizemoney of $30,000 per race.

“These increases will build upon the economic and social contribution made by thoroughbred racing, especially in Country NSW,” Mr Grant concluded.

Racing NSW Chairman, Mr John Messara AM, said:  “While our first year’s receipts from parity are earmarked to fund The Championships and Highway races, we are pleased to announce this significant rise in Country TAB and Provincial prizemoney from July, 2016.

“Country prizemoney of $20,000 per TAB race along with the new Showcase meetings make for the biggest ever injection of prizemoney into Country racing.

“On behalf of the Board of Racing NSW, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Premier Mike Baird and our Racing Minister and  Deputy Premier, Troy Grant for embracing parity and placing Australia’s largest racing jurisdiction on a level playing field with Victoria over the next few years.

“Wagering tax parity is vital for the sustainability of racing in this State.  The challenge is now to ensure NSW has a competitive, vibrant and innovative racing industry,” added Mr Messara.

These latest benefits for Country and Provincial racing, follow the introduction last season of the Country and Provincial Championships of $2.3 million in prizemoney and the recently commenced Highway Races for Country-trained horses which provide a further $1.6 million in prizemoney annually for Country participants.

Racing NSW has also committed approximately $50 million for capital works at Country and Provincial race clubs throughout NSW from accumulated race fields fees.

Racing NSW Chief Executive, Peter V’landys AM also announced that from 1 July 2016 Racing NSW will launch a new Traineeship and Apprenticeship Scheme for youth in Regional NSW by committing $1 million per annum to the Scheme.

“The first priority of the Scheme will be to employ apprentice track curators throughout NSW,” said Mr V’landys.

Mr V’landys also announced a payment of $2 million per annum to race clubs throughout NSW to enable clubs to meet their operating costs and operate at best practice levels, to commence from 1 July 2016.

“Finally, in addition to their 5% share of the increased prizemoney, jockeys will also receive a further $660,000 per annum in riding fees from 1 July 2016,” Mr V’landys said.

The five year phase-in of wagering tax parity in NSW that sees the NSW Government progressively reduce its share of TAB gross wagering revenue to that of its Victorian counterpart will provide $181.6 million of additional funding to NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry, commencing in the present financial year.

Real Support for the Gold Coast Yearling Sale

The 2016 Magic Millions Yearling Sale catalogue went online today.

Laurel Oak Bloodstock are sure to be in attendance, and if you are interested in being invovled, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Magic Millions Press Release

On behalf of breeders across Australasia, Magic Millions is proud to unveil its catalogue for the 2016 edition of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Following a record year of real results in the sale ring and on the racetrack, Australia’s number one thoroughbred sales company acknowledges that its capacity to continually produce quality catalogues is dependent on the support of breeders.
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“This catalogue is a product of the faith breeders have shown in Magic Millions,” Managing Director Vin Cox stated.
The unequivocal support from breeders has resulted in an exceptional offering of yearlings to be presented for sale on the Gold Coast to a global market.

“The breeders have raised the bar and elevated 2016 to the next level. Take a look at the sensational catalogue they are responsible for,” Cox added.

Real dreams begin on the Gold Coast in January with 1016 quality yearlings set to be offered over five days. Book 1 of the auction comprises 746 lots and another 270 lots have been catalogued in Book 2.

The 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale will commence on Wednesday January 6 – to view the online catalogue click here or download it on your iPad via the Equineline Sales Catalog App. Printed copies of the catalogue will be available for distribution from November 23.

You Beauty..

After three winners in the last few days for Laurel Oak Bloodstock horses, the well-bred Auckland Beauty made it four!

Winning last time out over 1200m to break her maiden, the Peter Moody-trained Redoute’s Choice mare started the race favourite in the field of eight at Sale.

Going forward after jumping away from the second widest barrier, jockey Linda Meech kept the mare where she was comfortable, and that appeared to be striding freely, about four – five wide.

As they tracked even wider around the home turn, the leading duo were closer to the outside rail than the inside.

Giving her head down the centre of the track, Auckland Beauty didn’t appear to have any issues with the slow rated surface as she continued to charge to the line, winning the race by almost two lengths from Powerossa with a long neck back to Rubyone.

To watch the footage of the race, click on the below image to be taken to Racing.com website.

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By Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice out of the Group 2 AJC Shorts winner Fritz’s Princess, Auckland Beauty was purchased earlier this year at the Inglis Broodmare Sale and is looking like she was a good buy!

Congratulations to our fellow owners Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: S P Grant) and Carpe Diem (Mgr: K R Lowe).

Great Cup Day Had By All

While it wasn’t the Melbourne Cup – which was an amazing race in itself, Laurel Oak Bloodstock horses did manage to secure two victories on the day; in Canberra with Bid Of Faith and at Kembla Grange with Tuscan Falls.

Off a very good second at her last start, improving three-year-old Zizou filly Bid Of Faith headed back to her home track of Canberra for trainer Keith Dryden where she contested the Ttm Secutity Maiden Plate over 1200m.

Starting the favourite based on her half-neck second last time out, jockey Brendan Ward wasn’t able to get her in from a wide gate, but she still travelled extremely well within herself during the run.

Rounding the home turn it was clear she would be in the finish, but had the wide run taken its toll?

Charging away from the field, Bid Of Faith broke her maiden by an impressive two and a quarter lengths for owners; Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd Syndicate, F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook, B L J Syndicate, G J McAllister, Goolabri 1 Syndicate, Mrs J E Wise, Club Dryden Sydney Syndicate, Trapper Syndicate, G K Syndicate, S R Syndicate, Ms D M Van Meegen, M G Houston, G C Harders, B J Speering and K P Griffiths.

Our second winner of the day came via the Gary Portelli-trained Tuscan Falls (below) in the Waples marketing Handicap at Kembla Grange over 1000m.

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Fourth as favourite at his most recent run, Nicconi gelding Tuscan Falls settled mid field on the rail with jockey Shaun Guymer in the saddle.

With the home turn reached and the runs starting to come, Tuscan Falls had drifted off the fence, but after no runs appeared, Guymer charged back towards the inside, finding a gap between the leading duo.

Joined by Cashenti, the two went head for head down the straight, with luckily Tuscan Falls getting his head in front when it counted – recording his second career win for owners Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd Synd (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Hon. W R Haylen, J M Ryan, J T O’Brien, N Macdonald, S C Cook, Mrs K Fraser, M R Tudehope, D Monch, M J Baumann, K Macdonald, J R Wilson, C J Reynolds, R H Spee, W A Chalker, S M Sandridge, M J Clift, R I Cullen and P McKenzie.

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Back to back wins for our Miss

An impressive winner last time out when scoring by two-and-a-quarter lengths at the Sunshine Coast, our five-year-old War Pass mare Court Martial Miss has really shown that she hass appreciated some ‘sun on her back’, giving rewarding her owners with another exciting victory.

Contesting the Nucon Concrete Handicap over 1100m at the Gold Coast, jockey Daniel Griffin had the mare settled handy in the run, just like at her last start, before she was too powerful at the finishing, charging away for a length victory.

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Defeating Brigadoon Legend by a length with the same margin back to Italian Storm in third, the Liam Birchley-trained Court Martial Miss has now recorded four wins from 11 starts for Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: S P Grant), M A Couter, Mrs K Couter, Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Pardon (Mgr: K G Sheppard) K Lowe, Mrs M Lowe, Mrs E Grant and G Pointon.

With a nice pedigree, being out of the stakes performed Zeditave mare Grand Juror, the more success the mare has on the track, the better her broodmare prospects are come yearling sale time, if connections decide to sell her offspring.

Fingers crossed she can keep up her winning momentum at her next start – best of luck to everyone involved!