In today's Straight Shorts, Australian Cup runner Atishu will be sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Noverre tops New Zealand coverings, our latest podcast is online and big numbers for Te Akau in Group 1 Sires'.
Atishu to go under the hammer at Magic Millions
Three-time Group 1 winner Atishu will be sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, 12 months later than initially intended, after the auction house announced her high-profile addition to the May catalogue.
The seven-year-old daughter of Savabeel was withdrawn from last year’s Magic Millions sale and kept in training with Chris Waller by her owner, New Zealand syndicator Go Racing.
A Group 1 Queen of the Turf and Mackinnon Stakes winner in 2023, Atishu vindicated connections’ decision to keep her in work by winning last year’s Empire Rose at Flemington on Derby Day and she is a $7 chance in Saturday’s Australian Cup.
"She's taken us on a fantastic ride," Go Racing’s Albert Bosma said.
"She’s a very special horse. From day one she showed she was going to have an exciting future. She was able to run amazing sectionals in New Zealand from the outset.
"At home she won four straight before heading to Australia and winning first time out in Sydney. Two starts later she won a Group 2 Bill Ritchie (Stakes).
"She’s one of those mares that has kept getting better and better and she continues to race so well at the highest level."
Jessica Owers
Atishu, who is a sister to Group 3 winner Mazzolino and out of a sister to three-time Group 1-winning filly Daffodil, will be joined in the National Broodmare Sale by fellow Go Racing-owned mare, three-time Group winner Diss is Dramatic.
Group 2 winners Amazonian Lass and Revolutionary Miss have also been confirmed as being offered at the National sale, to be held on the Gold Coast from May 27 to 29.
Entries are also being taken for the preceding National Weanling Sale, scheduled for May 25 and 26, and the National Yearling Sale on June 3 and 4.
Noverre New Zealand’s busiest stallion in 2024
Young stallions Noverre and Profondo were New Zealand’s busiest sires during the 2024 breeding season, covering 179 and 173 mares respectively.
Waikato Stud’s Noverre, a Group 1 2000 Guineas-winning son of the Chitticks’ champion Savabeel, led the way in a season in which 15 New Zealand-based stallions covered 100 mares or more.
His first crop yearlings have sold up to $500,000 this year, with his numbers climbing from 127 in his first year, 2022, to 136 and the country-high 179 last year.
Deep Impact’s Spring Champion Stakes winner Profondo, a $1.9 million Magic Millions graduate who stands at Windsor Park, was again popular in his second season, covering just four fewer mares than what he did in 2023.
Super Seth, another Waikato Stud stallion who has enjoyed a stellar autumn by siring the winners of the Group 1 Australian Guineas and the Randwick Guineas as well as the Karaka Millions, covered 164 mares last year, up significantly from 117 the year before.
Paddington, a rostermate to Profondo by Siyouni, covered 161 mares in his first season shuttling to New Zealand.
Almanzor (145) was Cambridge Stud’s busiest stallion while Hilal, a half-brother to Saturday’s Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, was also well-received at Grangewilliam Stud in his first season, covering 137 mares.
Straight Talk - stay informed on the latest industry news
In the latest episode of Straight Talk, proudly sponsored by Darley and Inglis, Bren O'Brien and Tim Rowe from The Straight explore insights into new stallions both domestic and imported.
Ryan McEvoy from Rosemont Stud joined the team to shed light on the recent success of Schwarz and Tim talks about Coolmore and Arrowfield's new additions.
From Inglis, Brett Gilding previews a highly anticipated Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The episode provides an update on Rosehill and takes a closer look at the economics of running a racing club.
Bren and Tim also further delve into wagering trends, identifying the most bet-on races in Australia.
Straight Talk
Weight of numbers for Walker-Bergerson stable in Sires’
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will present nearly a third of the field in Saturday’s Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), vying for a seventh title in the last eight years with their all-conquering juveniles.
Te Akau’s glamour girl Melody Belle commenced their string of dominance in the $550,000 feature in 2017, with the likes of Avantage and On The Bubbles taking the crown in the following years.
Each of that trio also were victorious in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), a feat completed this year by Sires’ Produce favourite La Dorada.
The Super Seth filly backed up her Millions performance swiftly when taking out the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and as a leading hope in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) earlier this month, she was ruled out on race morning with a spiked temperature.
On the back foot, Walker and Bergerson have taken an alternative route with La Dorada but are confident she is ready to take on the elite-level feature at Trentham with alongside three stablemates for Te Akau Racing.
