BEL’S MIRACLE

What a super performance by Miracle to Me (below) at headquarters on Saturday.

Still last at the 400m coming down the famous Flemington straight, the Bel Esprit 3YO had some pretty good horses in front of her: stakes winners Metastasio and Casquets, Group One winner Ruud Awakening …

But Miracle to Me just kept grinding away and while it’s the longest straight in the world when you’re on the leader, it looked as if the filly wasn’t going to make it 50m from home. Needless to say they were probably lining up to buy jockey Chris Symons a drink on Saturday night and trainer John McArdle no doubt breathed a sigh of relief when his Group One Thousand Guineas hope got up by the barest of margins.

Despite coming off a barnstorming win at Sandown at her previous outing, Miracle to Me wasn’t rated against that opposition and was sent out a $26 pop – the 9^th line of betting in a 13 horse field.

Based on Saturday’s score, you might not get those odds again for a while.

Bred and subsequently sold by Cathy Hains’ Burnewang North Pastoral, the vendor wisely decided to retain a share in the filly who is out of the winning Fuji Kiseki mare, Miracletto, closely related to multiple Flemington stakes winner, Skyrocket.

THE MOSHES ARE HERE

Plenty of oohs and aahs for the Moshe foal from Sleek’Nsassy at the Eliza Park International Open Day.

Let’s face it, most foals melt the toughest of hearts, but Moshe appears to have well and truly put the ‘stamp’ on his.

Covering 175 mares in his first season, the coming months will see a lot more foals touch down … hopefully all in the mould of what’s been presented thus far.

Tellingly, breeders obviously think so because bookings have certainly been brisk(er) since the Open Day!

Moshe ex. Sleek'Nsassy

Moshe ex. Libertas @ 17 days

Moshe ex. Quid Pro Quo @ 17 days

PREMIER HONOUR FOR PREMIER STALLION

It was a big night at the Myer Mural Hall: plenty of dignitaries including Dr Denis Napthine, Premier of Victoria and Minister for Racing, who did the honours at the Victorian Owners and Breeders Awards for season 2012/13.

One who wasn’t there though was Bel Esprit who clearly had his mind on other matters.

The Premier certainly acknowledged Bel Esprit’s impact on the breeding landscape though given that this was not only the stallion’s sixth straight champion sires’ title, but that he’s also the sire of the much beloved Black Caviar and 2013 Group One winner Bel Sprinter.

Other award winners last Thursday included Rick Jamieson (leading breeder for the third consecutive year), Eliza Park International-bred Helsinge (champion broodmare), Bel Sprinter’s breeder Glen Bailey (small breeder – surely we can find a better name than ‘small’?), Vern Rayner (TROA Outstanding Contribution to Ownership Award) and David Moodie (Super VOBIS Nominator of the Year and Country Owner of the Year), Darley Australia (Super VOBIS Owner of the Year) and the ownership group for All Too Hard (Metropolitan Owner of the Year).

“These awards recognise the dedication, commitment and hard work of breeders in Victoria over the past season,” Dr Napthine said. “The awards are also an acknowledgment of the invaluable contribution made by owners to the Victorian racing industry.”

Dr Napthine said the breeding industry is a major contributor to the economy, particularly in regional areas.

“Hundreds of millions of dollars of expenditure and many hundreds of jobs are generated annually by the thoroughbred breeding industry – mostly in regional Victoria.

The Premier with Moshe and Bel Esprit

THAT’S MR MAGNUS

Gee, there was a lot to like about the win of Mr Magnus in Singapore on Friday night.

Trained by Stephen Gray and ridden an absolute treat by the all-conquering Joao Moreira, the Magnus 4YO recorded his third win in Singapore since arriving late last year.

We’ll let the video do the talking (he’s the one running last until well into the straight) but it’s another clear example of the Magnus’ improving with age and over a mile and longer. Given that this was only his second run since May, expect to see a lot more of Mr Magnus in the winners’ enclosure in the coming months.

Linebred to Mr Prospector through a daughter and son, Mr Magnus is out of the Timber Country mare, Gamelan, in turn a daughter of multiple Group winner Reno Belle.

A NEW OPENING

The Victorian arm of Eliza Park International staged its first open day under the new banner on Friday 30 August and, as has been the case for the past decade or so, the weather gods favoured us – and so too the crowds.

Suitably wined and dined, attendees were treated a rock solid mix of established, promising and new with this year’s parade.

Stallion manager, David Grant, and his team did a superb job in turning out the boys in spectacular fashion and the likes of Bel Esprit, Wanted, Magnus and Statue of Liberty have clearly lost no fans.

Speaking of which, new kid on the block – Squamosa – gained quite a few and he’s proving to be very popular among the breeding fraternity.

One that almost stole the show though was Black Caviar’s brother, Moshe – he looked nothing short of sensational, as did one of the his first foals … the colt from Sleek’Nsassy (and he’s certainly got plenty of sass!).