Blog

We have become ‘fussy’ at the sales this year. The improved performance of our team in general over the past 12 months has been courtesy of a few lessons learned from past disappointments, compared to past successes. To try and maintain the higher quality we have tried to stick with the criteria we have been applying particularly last year and this year. Somehow last year we just found more horses that fitted the bill because, leading up to the Melbourne Premier Sale, we had bought four horses and then another five in Melbourne. This year we have bought only two horses, and even one of those is likely to go first to the Ready to Run Sales in New Zealand before we know whether it will be available for Laurel Oak owners.

Consequently, we would have been happy to buy three or four horses in Melbourne, but somehow couldn’t find the standard we were looking for. The one horse we did buy was on the first afternoon, at Lot 94, which was a Dylan Thomas colt out of Stravinsky’s Image.

Dylan Thomas/Stavinsky’s Image Colt

The colt rated a sensational 108***** under the Brain system, and is a full-brother to Agon, who is a well-performed city-winning 3yo filly with Chris Waller. We were keen on Dylan Thomas in general as he was such a great racehorse, and we always figured he would be able to produce some outstanding horses, even if they would likely be 3yos, just like he was. That had been a contributing factor to our purchase of Return Journey, who appears to have vindicated the decision by earning more than her $55,000 purchase price within her first three career starts. The Stravinsky’s Image colt was the one we liked most, and it suited what we were looking for in conjunction with Keith Dryden.

Having only two confirmed purchases so far, plus three yearlings that are being retained, gives us the potential to buy two or three yearlings at the Easter Yearling Sale, which is the highest-quality sale in Australia and the greatest source of stakes-winning horses, albeit at a price. Regardless, if they are good horses they become good value. We have already started the process of inspecting, having spent two days in the Hunter Valley at the start of this week, to get an early feel for some potential purchases.

There are some genuinely exciting prospects already, and, we encourage you to report any genuine pre-sale interest beforehand and we will stay in touch with you regarding potential purchases, or give you priority notice immediately after any purchases.

The Easter Yearling Sale is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9, 10 & 11 April, which is the week following the Golden Slipper.

A year ago, VILAKAZI STREET was in a rich vein of form that culminated in a victory in the $60,500 Albury City Handicap, and a great second in the Wagga Town Plate.

As a consequence of his consistency and achievements, he was severely penalised by the handicappers under the benchmark system, which rendered him uncompetitive in his new grade. Despite actually racing in form, he’d had seven unplaced starts before a return to Albury for the same race, albeit for $10,500 less prizemoney than the previous year. Constant rain had made the track softer than what was ideal for the horse, and the outside draw also made it theoretically difficult. A solid tempo in the race meant that he was back in last position, but he was able to get to the outside and gradually work home under Kevin Sweeney’s persuasion to arrive in time to make it back-to-back victories in the feature race on the first day of the Albury Carnival.

It was Vilakazi Street’s eighth win from 33 career starts, and took his earnings past $200,000. In addition to the victories, he has also run second nine times, so the fact he has run in the first two in more than half his career starts, despite his string of unplaced runs, highlights what a consistent horse he has been for his connections in his career to-date. At this stage, the next-start plans for him haven’t been determined, but a return to Wagga for the Town Plate in early May looms as a possibility.

Vilakazi Street defends his Albury City Hcp crown. Photo courtesy of Bradley Photography

Saturday, 2nd March 2013 – Our rising star, Rebel Dane, took another huge leap forward at Rosehill today when he gave champion, Pierro, a big scare in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.

Rebel Dane make Pierro fight for victory. Photo courtesy of Bradley Photography.

We headed into today’s event under no illusion that it would be a mammoth task to knock over the champ, but our tough colt ran him down to a short-half-head on the line despite blundering the start.

Rebel Dane was tardily away but was able to muster speed and take a position midfield, just behind Pierro. Rounding the turn jockey, Jason Collett had no alternative but to take runs towards the inside and well into the straight he was giving Pierro a good length start.

Passing the 100m mark, we looked set to run a pleasing second, however, Rebel Dan pinned his ears back and set out after Pierro. He was taking considerable ground off the champ over the concluding stages and he had to pull out all stops to hold off Rebel Dane.

While we did have a fitness advantage, we will be improved by the run and we look forward to locking forms with “the big guns” again in the Randwick Guineas.

A huge congratulations must go to Gary Portelli and his staff for the tremendous work they have put into preparing Rebel Dane thus far.

\Sunday, 24 Feb 2013 – Consistent 3yo gelding Crusader General made a return to the winners stall at Canberra this afternoon, taking out the Jack Thomas Memorial Hcp on Black Opal Preview Day.

Crusader General was aided by a superbly judged ride from Winona Costin, who dictated terms from the outset and gave nothing else a chance to run Crusader General down.

While the lure of running in the Canberra Guineas is a big attraction, Crusader General’s owners will be patient and wait for the Albury Guineas where their General Nediym 3yo will be eligible to collect a $50,000 Inglis Bonus should he salute in this race.

Crusader General cruises to victory.

Crusader General’s happy connections.

Saturday, 16th Feb 2013 – Our star 3yo colt, Rebel Dane, continued his undefeated run, making it four wins from four starts when sensationally winning the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes at Rosehill.

Our pre-race plans went out the window on jumping, when Rebel Dane received a check and was squeezed out the back, to settle in last place.

Things looked grim when the race was run at a slow tempo Rebel Dane spotted the leaders a good eight lengths on entering the straight.

Jockey Jason Collett switched the California Dan colt to the outside and he set sail after the leaders.

At the 200m mark he was still giving away a big start but gradually kept finding and over the final 50m he gave his all to nail, Urquidez on the line.

It was a thrilling moment for his large syndicate of owners, most of who were in disbelief of what they had witnessed.

Rebel Dane is building an imposing record and is now set to take an even bigger step, when he takes on champion, Pierro, in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes. This will be no mean feat but one we are excited about facing.

Not only was it a tremendous result for Rebel Dane’s owners, but also his Laurel Oak syndicate of breeders that own his dam, Texarcana.

Texarcana won three races over her career but gave her owners many tremendous highlights competing,  in such races as the VRC Oaks and AJC Flight Stakes. Despite these unsuccessful ventures, they provided unforgettable experiences and Rebel Dane is only continuing the thrill for this group of breeders.

Texarcana has a yearling Bernadini filly, a Rothesay colt and is currently in foal to Zoffany, and if any of these siblings have the determination of their older brother, there are more exciting times ahead.

Rebel Dane wins the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes.

Rebel Danes connections following his stunning Royal Soveriegn Stakes victory.