In today's Straight Shorts, we have the latest supplementary entries for the Magic Millions National sales series, Freedman stable farewells Cups legend, an I Am Invincible filly impresses on debut and NZB releases 2025 weanling catalogue.
Quality fillies and mares supplemented for Magic Millions National Sale
Five-time Group winner See You in Heaven, last-start Australasian Oaks runner-up Sweltering and Blue Diamond-placed Kuroyanagi have boosted the depth of the opening session of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale later this month.
Also adding to the supplementaries for the mares’ sale is Group 1-winning mare Media Award, a daughter of Shamus Award who will be offered on the Gold Coast in foal to Arrowfield shuttler Maurice.
Stakes performers In Her Eyes, Iphimedia and The Dabble Effect have also been supplemented to the race fillies and mares session of the National Sale.
Meanwhile, the catalogue for the National Weanling Sale, which starts the National Sale series on May 25, has welcomed an extra six lots.
Foals by sires including Admire Mars, North Pacific, Profiteer, Stronger and Tagaloa have been added to the 371-Lot weanling catalogue.
The mares’ sale will be held on May 27 and 28 while the National Yearling Sale will take place on the Gold Coast on June 2 and 3.
Cups hero Without A Fight retired
Without A Fight, the only horse in the past 23 years to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the same year, has been retired.
The eight-year-old son of Teofilo trialled on Thursday morning, but while he won the hitout, it is believed he bled. It prompted an immediate decision to retire him from the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.
"He has been an absolute gentleman to have in the stable and he will be remembered as one of the finest stayers of his generation,” a stable statement said.
"His Cups double not only delivered the pinnacle of our training careers but also created unforgettable memories for all involved - from our dedicated track riders, stable hands, strappers, vets and farriers to those at the spelling farms.
"He has left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to be a part of his journey.”
Without A Fight wins the 2023 Melbourne Cup. (Vision: YouTube)
Bred in Ireland by his owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the man who also raced champion sire Dubawi, Without A Fight began his career under the care of Simon and Ed Crisford, winning seven races for them before coming out to Australia to contest the 2022 Melbourne Cup.
He then came under the care of the Freedmans, winning a pair of group races in the Brisbane winter of 2023, where jockey Mark Zahra formed an affinity with the stayer.
At his second run back for the spring, the pair claimed the Caulfield Cup and then 17 days later Without A Fight became the first horse since Ethereal to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year and the 12th overall.
He appeared only twice after his Melbourne Cup triumph, when third to Via Sistina in last year's G1 Champions Stakes and then when he finished 12th in the Hong Kong Vase.
"We extend our heartfelt thanks to his owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum for entrusting us with the privilege of training such a remarkable horse in Australia,” the Freedmans said.
"As Without A Fight begins the next chapter of his life, we wish him the very best in retirement.
"He has given us all so much and for that we are forever grateful."
Biologics creates instant impression in Pakenham win
Trainer Grahame Begg has labelled Biologics as a spring filly after the daughter of champion sire I Am Invincible made a last-to-first debut at Pakenham.
A $700,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by agent Dean Hawthorne for prominent owner Jonathan Munz, Biologics swept down the middle of the track to win with authority.
“She wasn't really gunned up to win tonight,” Begg said.
“She had a couple of little soft jumpouts and we decided to bring her here to get on the big track, on a good surface, and to be able to ride her where she was going to be comfortable.”
Biologics streaks down the outside & is first to greet the judge 🤩@Grahame_Begg's filly looked the goods on debut ✅@JChilds47 pic.twitter.com/ulTDf9L7Zn
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 15, 2025
Begg, who rarely asks too much of his two-year-olds, said Biologics would be turned out to come back as a three-year-old where he expects her to shine up to 1600m.
“She'll go for a break now and get ready for something in the spring,” Begg said.
Biologics is the sixth foal from the Turffontein mare Fontein Ruby who earned more than $1 million as the winner of six races including the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington as a three-year-old.
She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Parure while other members of her family include weight-for-age star Fields Of Omagh, New Zealand Group 1 winner The Mitigator and Group 2 winner Infinite Grace.
NZB releases 2025 weanling catalogue
New Zealand Bloodstock has announced a 134-strong catalogue for its National Weanling Sale on June 26.
The catalogue features the progeny of champion sires Proisir (one) and Savabeel (two) as well as proven stars Super Seth (three), Shamexpress (two), Almanzor (six), Per Incanto (two) and Shocking (four). Emerging sires Ace High, Ardrossan, Satono Aladdin, Sword of State, U S Navy Flag and Hello Youmzain also feature.
Windsor Park Stud’s first-season sire Profondo has nine lots on offer, having covered 177 mares in his first season.
All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series, including the NZ$1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, the NZ$1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO as well as the new NZ$1 million Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand.
Among recent graduates are stakes-performers Jedibeel and Pivotal Ten, as well as Group 1 winners Pignan, Callsign Mav, Jennifer Eccles (NZ) and Karaka Millions 2YO winner Tokyo Tycoon.
Lendlease signs deal with Royal company that owns Ascot
Australian developer Lendlease is about to ink a joint-venture deal with King Charles’ property empire that includes Ascot Racecourse as one of its real estate jewels.
The Crown Estate is a portfolio of lands and holdings belonging to the reigning British monarch of which Ascot ranks as a high-profile asset.
It operates as a corporation managed by an independent board and chair but the real estate holdings are neither government property nor part of the monarch’s private estate.
The Crown Estate is one of the UK’s largest property managers, with about $32 billion of urban and agricultural land on its books.
ASX-listed Lendlease confirmed on Thursday it was in the final stages of negotiations to become the master developer of existing projects on behalf of the joint venture.
Moor escapes serious injury from Bendigo mishap
Daniel Moor hopes to return to riding sooner rather than later after doctors cleared the Group 1-winning jockey of serious injury.
Moor was tossed from his mount on the way to the barriers at Bendigo on Wednesday and was taken to hospital complaining of hip pain.
“Thankfully scans all clear, just some minor soft tissue soreness,” Moor posted on social media.
“Aiming to resume riding asap.”
