Straight Up – Australia’s most valuable race?
In this edition:
- Choosing Del Mar over Derby day, Sandblom still harbours Coolmore ambitions
- Fool’s Gold? Two more New South Wales races handed black type status
- Furlong the latest marker in Siemsen’s thoroughbred journey
- The A$150 million stallion – share sale puts huge value on unbeaten US champion Flightline
- Sports betting/grand finals power PointsBet’s growth
- Straight Talk Podcast – Episode 2
Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes has arguably become the feature race of the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. While the day itself will likely long be known as ‘Derby Day’, the importance of the three-year-old sprint to the broader thoroughbred industry is greater than the Classic.
It is a true stallion-maker, with the 10 colts to have won the race since it went to Group 1 status among some of the most influential sires in Australian breeding. Headed by Zoustar, those Coolmore-winning stallions have banked over $300 million in service fee earnings for their respective studs.
As a partner in Newgate, Matthew Sandblom knows a thing or two about colts becoming stallions, but will be hoping to spoil the party with his homebred gelding Stoli Bolli attempting to knock off the colts and fillies in the race.
However, Sandblom won’t be at Flemington, as he has a date with the Breeders’ Cup thanks to his star filly Ramatuelle.
It is arguable that the most valuable race in Australia in terms of prize money to the winner is actually the Golden Eagle, staged at Rosehill on Saturday.
The winner gets $5.25 million, which is more than the Melbourne Cup and, depending on the slot deal, more than first prize the owners receive for The Everest.
The evolution of the racing calendar in New South Wales has certainly changed the shape of the spring and the ongoing debate over The Pattern is unlikely to calm down any time soon.
The Straight can reveal a further two NSW races have been afforded black-type status, the Golden Gift on Saturday week and The Warra, a sprint held at Kembla Grange. With other states putting their upgrades on hold because of a lack of international recognition, Racing NSW seems determined to press on.
Brian Siemsen has emerged as a significant influence on the Australian thoroughbred scene, chiefly through his breeding and racing interest with Black Soil Bloodstock.
He has utilised his own success in the insurance space to inspire his new venture, Furlong Insurance, aimed at helping overcome what he feels is a “tension and fragmentation” for trainers and owners when it comes to insuring horses.
In the wagering space, PointsBet announced it remains on track to post positive numbers this financial year with growth in several key metrics over the first quarter. What is interesting, it is achieving its success with a strong focus on sports, revealing two-thirds of its active customers are ‘sports preferred’.
Finally, back in bloodstock and the sale of a share of exceptional racehorse and North American sire Flightline has valued him at more than A$150 million.
Check out the second episode of our new podcast, Straight Talk, where myself and Tim Rowe talk Melbourne Cup, Australian investment in overseas sales and stallion fertility in the wake of the premature end to Militarize’s stud career. Available on Spotify, Apple, Podbean or watch on YouTube below.
ICYMI this week:
- ‘The rituals are gone’ – Bruce McAvaney laments the Melbourne Cup’s lost lustre
- Have prize money, will travel – French trainer’s global approach could land him a Golden Eagle
- Scone the next step of Neasham and Archibald’s expansion
- Out of ammunition – Militarize poised for return to the racetrack
- Rowe On Monday – How Inglis and Magics nearly joined forces, Bitter sweet rejection for Corstens and Tubba on top
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Enjoy your Group 1 racing weekend and thanks for your support, it means a lot!
Regards
Bren O’Brien
Managing Editor and Founder
The Straight
Author
