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While we all love to highlight success, we are confident that ‘Harry’ will make the grade in the coming weeks after recording her third consecutive second placed finish this time in!

Wide Acclaim as he is officially known, returned from a spell to finish second over 1000m at Kembla Grange on June 16, before finishing in the same position just over two weeks later when stepped up to the 1100m at Hawkesbury.

Starting race favourite at Kembla on Tuesday, Wide Acclaim was ridden by leading jockey Blake Shinn and after settling down in third position in the run where upon entering the home straight looked a live chance of taking the win.

With the race favourite, the well-spruiked Egyptian Symbol still in front of him, Wide Acclaim was doing a few things wrong but still set out after the leader.

Narrowing the margin to a half-neck on the line, it was a great effort from Harry and we are confident that it won’t be too long before the son of Vinery stallion Congrats finds himself crossing the line in front!

To view his run from Tuesday, click here.

With five runs under his belt for four placed effort, Wide Acclaim, will slightly frustrating, is proving to trainer Gary Portelli that he is at least consistent.

Purchased from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2014 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Wide Acclaim is out of the Hussonet mare Dirty, a winner of the Listed BTC Vo Rogue Plate during her career.

Congrats to fellow the fellow owners in Harry and we hope to be writing about his maiden win in the coming weeks!

Sky Dazzle produced a big effort to lead all the way on debut at Sale for Mornington-based trainer Tony Noonan and triple her purchase price in earnings from just one race.

“She was a $5,000 yearling purchase so Louis Mihalyka at Laurel Oak Bloodstock has really outdone himself by picking out this lovely filly,” said Alfred Chan, Racing Manager for Tony Noonan.

“She’s shown a lot of ability in her jumpouts at home and the Super VOBIS bonus today just makes the win all the more sweeter for her owners.”

Jumping well from gates, Sky Dazzle showed excellent tactical speed under rider Jake Noonan to drift across from barrier 7 and find the lead.

Travelling sweetly, Sky Dazzle ($8.50) gave a kick in the straight to hold on by a head from Magna Rossa ($26) and Rillito ($7) a further two lengths back in third. To view a reply of the race, click here.

“She’s a really nice filly,” Noonan said after the victory.

“I’ve got to give credit to Michael Carson who rides trackwork for Dad and has done a lot of work with this filly.

“He’s always had an opinion of her and he’s done a really good job educating her.”

The win continues the excellent partnership Laurel Oak Bloodstock are having with Noonan-trained horses for Sky Dazzle to be the 7th individual winner for the major syndicator in the Noonan stable this season.

Secured from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Ultra Thoroughbreds, Sky Dazzle was was offered to clients as part of the Tony Noonan Club Syndicate 2 – moral of the story – take notice next time!

Racing in Victoria will become more viable for owners in the 2015/2016 racing season with a $16.5 million prizemoney increase announced from 1 August 2015. Across the various race types and grades, the increases range from 6.7% up to 71.4%, all very significant percentages which will be very much appreciated by all owners.

Importantly the increases are from maiden grade up to open handicaps which has a greater widespread benefit than the black-type races. A summary of the new prizemoney for each class of race can be viewed here.

This is very welcome news and we are looking forward to the Laurel Oak horses taking home more prizemoney in the future.

In major news for industry professionals like yours truly, Inglis have announced that they will be moving their office and auction facilities to Warwick Farm.

Inglis acquired 26 acres of land adjacent to the Warwick Farm racecourse in 2009 as an option for the future. Now with the rezoning of Inglis’ Newmarket site in Randwick that property will be sold and relocation plans will proceed.

It is expected that the first yearling sales to be held at Warwick Farm will be in 2019.

Sydney will then have a similar set up to Karaka and Melbourne’s Oaklands Junction whereby the industry participants generally stay in the city centre and make the 30 to 40 minute journey each day to the sales complex.

The current Inglis site will be redeveloped to Newmarket Green, a new community for Randwick with a mix of housing, neighbourhood shops and services while retaining heritage elements and all significant trees, including the iconic Moreton Bay fig that dominates the current Inglis auction ring.

To read more about the move as per the Inglis Press Release, click here.

Anaphora booked a trip to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) with a last-stride victory in Saturday’s $80,000 No Fuss Events Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

Trainer Tony Noonan said he went into the race confident despite the fact the daughter of Dylan Thomas was beaten as favourite last start at Seymour.

“I always knew that she was going to be better back on the firm ground and her work during the week was really good so we were really confident that she’d come here and run well,” Noonan said.

“Gee I was a bit worried along the side, I know they were going along at a good clip but she was giving them a big start so it was a good effort.

“We’ve always had a good opinion of her and she’ll be even better as she gets over more ground.”

After settling at the tail of the field, Anaphora ($12-$8) produced a powerful finish under jockey Vlad Duric to win in a photo over Violent Snow ($12), with Tears Of Joy ($7.50) a further two lengths away in third.

Noonan said Anaphora may have one more run over 2000m at Caulfield in a fortnight before heading north.

“She’ll only have one more run before the Oaks but I don’t think a mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) will worry her,” he said.

“The Oaks is only 2200m this year and she’s got to improve a lot still but she’s lightly-raced and on the up.”

A special congratulations to the connections; Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Laurel Oak Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Four Up, Mr A N Fitzgerald, Club Number One, Mr P J Macbeth, Mrs J E Macbeth, Mr M S Mannix, Mr R T Spargo, Mr P A Atley, Mr B Marotta, Mr R A Lloyd, Mr D A Russell, Miss E Morrissey, Mrs E K Grant and trainer Tony Noonan.

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