O’Brien on Monday – Bjorn again with colts play, Aussie mares making their mark overseas and State set to return
With Tim Rowe on leave – Bren O’Brien steps in and discusses Bjorn Baker’s big weekend, a Slipper connection to Keeneland, an Aussie-flavoured feature in Japan, the state of play with State Of Rest and why a breeders’ award in Queensland has prompted calls for change.
A Baker’s double
Bjorn Baker has enjoyed some memorable days on the racetrack in recent years. While Saturday did not deliver a 13th Group 1, the two feature three-year-old victories carried considerable long-term value for the trainer and one of his major supporters, Ridgmont.
Every colt who has won the Run To The Rose in the past 12 years has ended up at a major stud, including four currently on Darley’s roster, Bivouac, Anamoe, Cylinder and Traffic Warden.
Saturday marked the first time in five years that Godolphin’s royal blue had not been carried to victory in the crucial early-spring feature, with Warwoven, owned by Ridgmont in partnership with his breeder Kia Ora and others, defying two Coolmore colts and one bearing the Yulong colours.
The Golden Rose awaits, where victory could send the Sword Of State colt’s value soaring. Kia Ora, which now stands its stallions at Vinery, may be in the box seat for any deal, but a Group 1 victory would stir up the colts market.
Ridgmont, through agent Jim Clarke, had already completed a stud deal for Paradoxium during the autumn, but remains heavily involved in his ownership despite the colt racing in Yulong’s colours.
Baker headed to Flemington to watch Paradoxium’s impressive victory in the Poseidon Stakes, where the trainer said he reminded him a little bit of Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis, although Yulong’s slot in The Everest could be on the cards.
There is arguably no trainer who has a stronger hand when it comes to the spring three-year-old features. Asked by this column how he feels about that, Baker used two words, the second of which was excited.
A Keeneland eye
There are 4642 horses catalogued for sale at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which begins Monday (US time), but one inside the first half an hour of trading will be capturing most Australian attention.
While Australian pedigrees aren’t unusual at the famous sale – there are eight yearlings from Australian mares in the catalogue – it is rare to see a half-brother to a Golden Slipper winner on offer.
Hip 12, a colt consigned by Four Star Sales, is by Justify out of Blue Diamond winner Samaready, making him a half-brother to Coolmore stallion and Slipper winner Shinzo, as well as Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates.
As has been documented, Coolmore, which bought Samaready for $1.8 million in 2020, sent her to the US in 2022, 18 months after she foaled Shinzo. A tricky mare to breed with, she did get in foal to Justify and delivered the final foal of Coolmore America’s breeding season in May last year.
Amphitrite’s legacy
The success of the progeny of Australian mares in Japan is a story well told, but the latest chapter was added on Sunday when Monroe Walk impressively won the G2 Rose Stakes at Hanshin.
The Hiroyuki Uemura-trained filly is by Kizuna out of Thousand Guineas winner Amphitrite and is now unbeaten in four starts after Sunday’s three-length win.
The Shuka Sho, the final leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara, now awaits her on October 18. That race was won by the late champion Liberty Island in 2023, another star out of an Australian mare, in her case Yankee Rose.
Monroe Walk is the third foal to race from her dam, who also produced the winner Trident Spear.
Amphitrite, a $50,000 yearling filly for Flying Start Syndications, also has an unraced two-year-old Lord Kanaloa colt, Vasto Mare, and a yearling filly by Contrail.
Faith in State
When Henry Field made the late decision not to shuttle State Of Rest ahead of the 2026 season – a not uncommon tactic for shuttle stallions in their fourth season – there were some small doubts in his mind.
But he is confident a run of success for the Cox Plate winner in the Northern Hemisphere will only enhance State Of Rest’s prospects when he returns to Australia in 2027.
State Of Rest has had five first-crop winners from 26 runners in Europe led by Star Of State, runner-up in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York, who bolted in at The Curragh over the weekend.
Field told Giddy Up With Gareth Hall that State Of Rest began producing ‘winner after winner’ as soon as Newgate advised transport company IRT that he would not shuttle south.
He believes the stallion has “two or three very, very smart ones” emerging in Europe and said several Australian trainers had given Newgate positive reports about their first-crop two-year-olds.
The missed season is not intended to become a permanent absence. “He’ll definitely come back to Australia next year,” Field said last week. “100 per cent, we’ll bring him back next year.”
Queensland award prompts calls for eligibility change
Tim Rowe wrote in this column a few weeks ago about Sheza Alibi’s dam Sheza Gypsy being awarded Queensland Broodmare of the Year by Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association.
Well, at least one Queensland breeder believes that victory should prompt a review of eligibility criteria and has raised those concerns with TBQA.
The breeder in question is Wally Gleeson. Gleeson’s family bred Rothfire, whose dam, Huss On Fire, was also eligible for the award. But his concern was with the criteria itself rather than the fact Sheza Gypsy was honoured.
While acknowledging Sheza Gypsy, who was bred and is owned by Queensland couple Fred and Desley Monsour, was a worthy winner, Gleeson said the mare had spent most of her life in New South Wales and had not visited a Queensland stallion.
“The Monsours deserve enormous credit for breeding such a high-class racehorse,” Gleeson wrote in correspondence sent to The Straight.
“The broader question is whether the criteria for Queensland Broodmare of the Year should place greater weight on a mare’s actual contribution to the Queensland breeding industry.
“Queensland has experienced a significant contraction in its thoroughbred breeding base, including the number of stallions, broodmares and active breeders.
“Against that background, awards carrying the Queensland name provide an opportunity to encourage investment in the local industry – standing stallions here, sending mares to Queensland stallions, foaling and raising horses here, and supporting Queensland studs and breeders.”
Gleeson raises a reasonable point for discussion and it will be interesting to see if he gains any traction with TBQA.
One thing we do know is that he is not a man to back down on something he sees as a matter of principle.
Tim Rowe is on leave and will be back later in September.
Author
Related Articles
Rowe On Monday – Singapore owners filling the gap, Calliope’s big weekend, a Group 1 worth celebrating and an Everest conundrum
In this week’s Rowe On Monday, Singapore and Macau owners turn their attentions to Australian and New Zealand racing, a weekend double for a Godolphin blue hen, a cause for celebration after a Group 1 win, and a sticky question for the rest of The Everest slotholders.
Rowe On Monday – Proxima Dea finds a way to Payne, Queensland honours its best, and Aquis’ Davies heads south
In this week’s Rowe On Monday, David Payne on making the best of his chance with promising filly Proxima Dea, a Queensland legend honoured and a star broodmare almost overlooked, plus a change of scenery for long-time Aquis employee Jonathan Davies.
Rowe On Monday – On parade – Highlights from the Hunter
Tim Rowe gives his impressions from the Hunter Valley after the annual stallion parades. He chatted to Andy Makiv about American sires and the festival impact on the region, plus Tim reveals unusual musical and political influences on the parades and adds a Queensland flavour to round it off.
