In today's Straight Shorts, UK bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever spends $1.2 million to buy a stakes placegetter for Watership Down Stud, Darley's Ghaiyyath sires first Australian winner, a respected Victorian trainer will take a step back and Blake Shinn on ice for Group 1s.
Hot destination for Written In Code
Stakes-placed mare Written In Code is set to head to champion young sire Too Darn Hot this breeding season, having been purchased by Watership Down Stud and Johnny McKeever for $1.2 million.
Watership Down Stud owns a majority share of Too Darn Hot and recently sold her Group 1-placed and Group 2-winning daughter Too Darn Lizzie for $2.4 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Through the bloodstock manager of choice, McKeever, the stud re-invested half of that at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale into the I Am Invincible mare who was placed last start in Group 3 Dark Jewel at Scone.
A winner of four races and nearly $300,000, the five-year-old, who raced for Annabel and Rob Archibald, will head to the breeding barn this season.
“We have bought this for Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber for Watership Down Stud in England,” McKeever said.
“She will be kept here at Yarraman Park for them and will be bred to Too Darn Hot who is their racehorse.
“She’s a very good model for him - a big, strong girl. She has a bit of run in her. We might put her back in training for a little while more and see if we can get a Group race win. She was placed the other day.”
Too Darn Hot, last year’s champion first-season sire who is destined to be champion second seasons sire as well, returns to Darley Australia this year at a service fee of $275,000 (inc GST).
Marshall lands at Blue Gum as stud fees are announced
Blue Gum Farm has announced Phil Marshall is joining as Nominations & Sales Manager while confirming Sejardan will stand at an unchanged fee and Flying Artie and Oxley Road at slightly reduced fees in 2025.
Marshall, previously at Widden Victoria, Sun Stud and Eliza Park, comes on board for the upcoming season.
“Joining Blue Gum Farm is a tremendous opportunity,” Marshall said. “Blue Gum Farm has an incredible history here in Victoria and is indeed renowned both locally and globally for the quality that comes off the property.
“Blue Gum has an exciting lineup of stallions for the spring ahead, offering a great range for breeders of all stripes.”
Sejardan will stand his third season at an unchanged fee of $13,750 (inc GST). His first crop of weanlings averaged $64,900 with a top price of $130,000.
“Sejardan is doing everything right,” said Blue Gum Farm Co-owner and Principal, Sean Dingwall.
“The consistency and quality of his foals is exactly what we want to see, and this has been evident in the sales results of his first crop of weanlings.
“He’s a stallion with a bright future and a gentleman in the breeding barn with excellent fertility, significantly upgrading mares and representing tremendous value at this price point.”
Flying Artie, winner of the Group 1 Coolmore and with progeny earnings over $20 million, will stand at a reduced fee of $11,000 (including GST), while Oxley Road, the Group 2 and Group 3 winning sprinter by Exceed And Excel will stand at $6,600 (including GST) in his second season.
Breakthrough for Ghaiyyath
Darley’s Ghaiyyath has marked his first Australian winner with the victory of the James Cummings-trained Crocodile at Hawkesbury on Wednesday.
The homebred Godolphin colt dominated from the front to win by a comfortable 3.4 lengths over the 1400-metre trip at his second start. He is a half-brother to multiple stakes Character.
A four-time Group 1-winning son of Dubawi, Ghaiyyath has had 10 starters in Australia. His first crop in the northern hemisphere features 26 winners, including French Group 3 winner Mandanaba.
Having served 377 mares at Darley’s Northwood Park across his first few seasons, Ghaiyyath is not slated to return to Australia in 2025.
Brideoake to call time on training career
Victorian trainer David Brideoake will step away from his day-to-day operation to provide behind-the-scenes support to one of the state’s emerging stables.
A Group 1-winning trainer, Brideoake says he will not renew his licence for the start of the 2025/26 racing season,
Instead, he plans to assist his daughter Kate and her partner Matt Laurie as their business goes from strength to strength on the back of four Group 1 wins this season.
Brideoake, 70, has been training in partnership with Matt Jenkins since February 2023.
After a successful equestrian career in the show jumping discipline, Brideoake turned his hand to training thoroughbreds in 1986.
The most recent of his three Group 1 winners came when he trained Princess Jenni to win the 2019 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.
Joliestar, Giga Kick favoured for Kingsford Smith Cup
A field of 14 sprinters has accepted for the $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup, headed by Giga Kick and Joliestar.
Giga Kick, beaten as a short-priced favourite when resuming in the Group 1 Goodwood, has drawn barrier 10 with Mark Zahra keeping the ride.
Joliestar will start from gate 13 as she bids to add another Group 1 win to her record at Eagle Farm after claiming the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.
The Kingsford Smith is the final lead-up to the Stradbroke Handicap, the $3 million Group 1 that ranks as Queensland’s most prestigious race.
Joliestar holds an early call over Giga Kick for favouritism.
Top Sydney sprinter Private Eye, who is closing in on $12 million in career earnings, steps out for the first time in 2025 from a middle draw.
Statuario heads betting for Queensland Derby
Victorian three-year-old Statuario is favourite to avenge a last-start defeat when he contests the $1 million Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
In an open betting race, Statuario is a $6 chance to turn the tables on his South Australian Derby conqueror Femminile.
Trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne at Pakenham, Statuario has draw an inside barrier in gate five.
Femminile, a $10 chance, has stall nine. She was purchased by a Yulong entity for $1.5 million on Tuesday.
Twenty-three horses stood their ground at acceptance time, including five emergencies.
Shinn in fitness battle for Eagle Farm Group 1 rides
Leading jockey Blake Shinn is confident he will fulfil two key Group 1 rides at Eagle Farm despite suffering a minor injury.
Fresh from winning Doomben Cup on Antino, Shinn was injured during a jumpout session at Cranbourne on Monday.
One of Australia’s busiest jockeys among the elite riding ranks, Shinn gave up rides at Seymour on Tuesday.
Hi everyone,
— Blake Shinn (@blake_shinn) May 27, 2025
Just a quick update – I’ve had to step back from my riding engagements over the next couple of days due to a minor injury, picked up during jump outs at Cranbourne yesterday.
I’m fully focused on my recovery, with the help of RV doctor Ben Barresi. We’re doing…
He will also be missing from Wednesday’s Sale meeting as he works with Racing Victoria doctor Ben Barresi to be fit for the Queensland Derby and Kingsford Smith Cup fixture in Brisbane.
Shinn is booked to ride South Australian Derby winner Femminile in the Queensland Derby.
He is also down to partner Lindsay Park’s Rise At Dawn in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
