February 26th 2009
Silvano arrived in Germany Champion Sire Silvano arrived save and sound on Thursday at Gestüt Fährhof in Germnay. He will cover a book of 90 mares and German breeders are excited to have the best son of Lomitas back in Germany for the upcoming season.

February 10th 2009
Silvano colt tops South African yearling sale A COLT by Silvano topped South Africa's Grandwest Yearling Sale in Cape Town on Sunday when fetching R450,000 (£31,387 /€36,000). Bought by Robert Bloomberg and partners who own his Cape Derby-placed half-brother, Bluemambo, he was consigned by Carole and Martyn Doggrell's Netherfield Stud in Zimbabwe. Silvano, who has transferred to Gestut Fährhof in Germany for the 2009 European season, formerly stood at the Jacob family's South African farm Maine Chance Farms. The aggregate of R12 million was down nine per cent on last year's R13,217 million, but Bloodstock SA's chief executive Jan Naudé was satisfied with the result. Naudé said: "We've seen the turnovers of bloodstock sales elsewhere in the world decline by up to 50 per cent recently which means that we can be proud of what was achieved at GrandWest. "It is important also to keep in mind that this was a smaller auction, 27.8 per centsmaller than last year yet the lots sold were only down by 16.8 per cent on last year. "It was encouraging too that breeders were willing to let their yearlings go more readily. Our pass-out rate of 84 per cent was four per cent up on last year and the average price per foal of R78,341 was 9.2 per cent up on last year's R71,834.'' Source: www.racingpost.com

December 28th 2008
Proudinsky wins Grade 2 He was winless since opening his 2008 campaign with a victory in the Mar. 8 GII Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. at Fair Grounds, but Proudinsky had shown a fondness for the Santa Anita lawn in the past, with a win and a second in two starts. He demonstrated that affinity again yesterday. The five-year-old was out of action for three months after his Muniz score, returning to be 11th in the June 7 GI Manhattan H. Caught in traffic early in the Aug. 23 GII Bernard Baruch H. at Saratoga next time out, he closed ground late and finished sixth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths. The bay ran into Big Brown in the Sept. 13 Monmouth S. and couldn’t quite get the better of that rival, running second by a neck. Back on just two week’s rest, the German-bred had trouble handling the 12 panels of the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont and ran a distant fifth. He was fourth in his two most recent outings, the Oct. 25 GIII Knickerbocker H. at Aqueduct and, after having his jock lose the whip, in the Nov. 28 GI Citation H. at Hollywood. Proudinsky was the crowd’s choice to end the season the way it had begun. On the bit as he chased the early pace, he drove between horses to take the lead in deep stretch and outgamed Ferneley for the narrow score. The win marked trainer Bobby Frankel’s 900th career victory at Santa Anita. “It’s nice that I’ve won that many races here, but I didn’t realize it” Frankel said.

October 19th 2008
Lomitas son wins Group 3 in England Classic Punch (Mozart) made the running but was headed by Veracity (Lomitas) approaching the final furlong. The latter stayed on well in the closing stages and was driven out to hold off his fast finishing stablemate Sagara (Sadler’s Wells), who deprived the third Fiulin (Galileo) of second close home. This was Veracity’s fourth career win and his first at Group level, though he was second in the 2007 Gr.3 Queen’s Vase and third in this year’s Gr.2 Goodwood Cup, as well as finishing fifth in the 2007 St Leger. He is a half-brother to the Listed Prix de Tourgevillesecond Terra Verde (Indian Ridge) and is the third foal of his dam Vituisa (Bering). She won at three and is a halfsister to a winner out of the Gr.2 (then) Sun Chariot Stakes winner La Confederation (Nureyev). She in turn is the best foal of her dam Unite (Kris), who was the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in Ireland in 1987, boasting victories in the Oaks and Irish Oaks. Unite is a full-sister to Point of Honour (dam of the Champion Older Mare in Ireland in 1994 Del Deya) and Northern Anthem (Northfields; grandam of the dual Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup winner Joyful Winner).

May 04th 2008
Classic double for Silvano Silvano emerged as one of South Africa’s most promising sires after the running of yesterday’s Oaks and Derby, at Turffontein. His daughter, Happy Spirit, would have had to be considered an unlucky loser, had the Stewards not upheld an objection, lodged on her behalf by rider Weichong Marwing, after the first horse past the post, the Irish-bred Front Of House, had impeded her. The latter, racing in the colours of John Magnier, who co-owns her with Mary Slack, carried Happy Spirit about five or six horse widths wide, largely through inexperience, in the final furlong, and the bump which she gave Happy Spirit prevented Marwing from riding her out to maximum advantage. There was no doubt as to the superiority of King’s Gambit in the SA Derby, however, and he coasted home under a well judged ride by the talented Gavin Lerena (surely destined for international stardom) to pass long time leader, Classic Oasis, in the final 50 metres. Piere Strydom almost poached an unassailable lead on the latter, a rank outsider by Durban July winner Classic Flag, and there is no doubt that Classic Oasis is a horse of some considerable ability. King’s Gambit, who is ably trained by Lance Wiid, at a private training yard, which is fairly unusual in South Africa, had previously triumphed in the SA Classic over 1800 metres. That race provided Silvano (Lomitas) with his first Gr.1 success in South Africa, but it looks as though the floodgates are about to open, given that his oldest crop is just reaching maturity. Silvano himself won the Gr.1 Arlington Million In Chicago, the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong, and the Gr.1 Singapore Cup at Kranji. Given his smashing good looks and the fact that he’s a beautifully balanced horse, he is going to prove a huge boon to South African breeding. King’s Gambit is out of the seven times winner, Lady Brompton (Al Mufti), who umbered the Gr.1 Spring Challenge, the Gr.2 Empress Club Stakes and the Gr.3 Jacaranda Handicap amongst her victories. She, in turn, is out of the Listed winner Underground Lady (Gatecrasher, an outstanding but unsound son of the Crepello stallion, Kirsch Flambee), who won five races. The gelding’s third dam, Soho Secret (Regent Street) has left a huge legacy of black-type performers, including her son London News (Bush Telegraph) a winner of numerous Gr1 races, including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 1997. King’s Gambit is the third foal of Lady Brompton, who has an unraced two-year-old colt named Mountain Ash and a yearling colt named Garrison, both by Fort Wood. He was bred at the Danika Stud of Nicky and the late Basil Bartlett in Port Elizabeth, and has won R1,496,000 from six career starts.

April 30th 2008
Successful in last year’s Gr.3 Hessen-Pokal and runner-up in the Gr.1 Premio Lydia Tesio, Fair Breeze tracked the pace-setting Claire Et Bleu until igniting her turbochargers approaching the final 400 metres. She and last month’s Gr.2 Mervin Muniz Jr Memorial Handicap victor Proudinsky hail from the first crop of the German Horse Of The Year Silvano, whose second features last year’s Gr.2 German 1,000 Guineas and Gr.2 Oettingen-Rennen heroine and Gr.1 Coronation Stakes runner-up Mi Emma. By Lomitas, Silvano won the Gr.1 Arlington Million, the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Gr.1 Singapore Cup and is a three parts-brother to Haras des Chartreux’s triple Gr.1 victor Sabiango. Silvano stands in South Africa at Maine Chance Farms. Fair Breeze is the third foal of Fairwind, who has a yearling colt by Königstiger. By the 1975 Preis des Winterfavoriten victor Andrang, Fairwind is a greatgranddaughter of the Listed victrix Frederica (Luciano), whose half-sister Friedrichsruh (Dschingis Khan) was successful in the Preis der Diana of 1977. ALASTAIR NICOLSON

April 29th 2008
SILVANO’S DAUGHTER BREEZES HOME Europe hosted three Stakes races yesterday, the cream of which was the Gr.3 Prix Allez France, run over 2000m at Chantilly. This was won impressively by the German raider Fair Breeze, who sailed home ahead of the Anabaa Blue filly Claire et Bleu, scoring by four lengths. The daughter of Silvano had shown that she handled a testing ten furlongs at the end of last season, when successful in a Gr.3 at Frankfurt, and went on to finish a close second in the Gr.1 Premio Lydia Tesio at a very soft Capannelle. Source: EBN

April 28th 2008
Silvano 1-2 in Listed Race Silvano had a fantastic first & second in Zürich over the weekend when his son Romanoff won the Grand Prix BMW Preis over 2300m. Romanoff who is one of the best horses in Switzerland beat his paternal sister First Time by nearly two lengths. It was his second start of the season and after many near misses his first win in a Listed Race. First Time is the “Queen of Snow” in Switzerland, having won the Grand Prix de Moritz two times in a row in 2007 and 2008.

April 27th 2008
Lavana wins her fifth race The 5- year-old Silvano daughter Lavana won her first race of the season when she defeated ten rivals in the Grosser Erdinger Weissbier-Preis in Munich over 2200m. This was already her fifth win from seventeen starts and her third consecutive win after she won her last two races at the End of 2007. Lavana is by Silvano out of the Königsstuh mare Lady Lilac and is breed by Wilhelm Fasching, and trained by Werner Glanz in Munich on the actual race track. Lavana is entered for a Listed Race in Baden-Baden and it she must be strongly considered after this smooth success.

April 26th 2008
Esparanto wins main race in Hoppegarten On the day racing came back to Berlin-Hoppegarten, the capital´s only thoroughbred racetrack, after Gerhard Schoening purchased the whole areal a few weeks ago, the 4-year-old Esparanto by Silvano won the Siegfried Erkner-Preis over 1600m with half a length, carrying top-weight and giving weight all around. It was his first attempt over this shorter trip since the age of two, after he was tried over longer distances as as 3-year-old. He was already a winner in France before and his next race could be in Baden-Baden in four weeks time.

April 06th 2008
King’s Gambit wins SA Classic King’s Gambit caused an upset in the valuable Gr.1 SA Classic at Turffontein yesterday, winning easily under a well-timed ride by the up-and-coming Gavin Lerena, (a likely international star of the future), at a starting price of 16-1. The gelding, who provided a first Gr.1 winner for Lance Wiid, has won his first two starts as a threeyear- old and finished fifth behind Imbongi (fifth yesterday) in the Gauteng Guineas over a mile, but showed that he is much more effective over further, and will now be aimed at the South African Derby in a month’s time. The gelding also provided the first South African Gr.1 winner for the multiple Gr.1 winner Silvano (Lomitas), and made something of a mockery of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s decision to disallow his progeny into the Select Session of this year’s National Yearling Sale by downgrading his points value. It could hardly be expected that a stallion whose best performances were over 2000m would be a prolific sire of two-year-old Graded winners. Several breeders who sent top-class mares to Silvano were greatly disadvantaged by this decision and it is a pity that the relevant committee did not take a closer look at the performances of his northern hemisphere runners before acting so hastily. King’s Gambit, bred by Nicky and the late Basil Bartlett’s Danika Stud in Port Elizabeth, is out of the Gr.1 winning Lady Brompton (Al Mufti), who scored seven times in the Bartlett’s colours, winning three Graded races and being placed in four others. She has previously produced a winner by National Emblem,but Garrison, her handsome yearling colt by Fort Wood, was withdrawn from Friday’s Select Session of the National Yearling Sale after injuring a hoof. Lady Brompton is out of Underground Lady, a Listed winning half-sister, by Gatecrasher, to multiple Gr.1 winner London News (Bush Telegraph). Their dam, Soho Secret (Regent Street), the winner of ten races, produced eight bold black-type winners and is the ancestress of numerous others. King’s Gambit had only won R121,325 from his four starts leading up to yesterday’s feature, but has now earned R846,325. His trainer made it clear after his victory that he would not be pitted against older horses during his three-year-old career.

March 10th 2008
Proudinsky rallies to win Mervin Muniz Memorial Multiple graded stakes winner Proudinsky, by Maine Chance resident Silvano, unleashed a determined late run to overtake Grade 1 winner Daytona near the finish line and drew clear in the closing strides of a one-length win in the $500,000 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Making his first start since concluding his previous season with a runner-up finish to Daytona in the San Gabriel Handicap (G2) on December 30 at Santa Anita Park, Proudinsky moved up to second through a half-mile in :49. Positioned one length behind pacesetter Daytona in early stretch, Proudinsky quickly seized command and won the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.44 on turf rated as yielding. Bobby Frankel trains Proudinsky for owner Gary Tanaka. The Silvano colt earned his first stakes win in the 2006 Bay Meadows Derby (G3). A half brother to German Group 3 winner Proudance, Proudinsky earned his fourth win in ten starts and increased his earnings to $555,864. Proudinsky is out of Proudeyes (Ger), by Dashing Blade.

November 26th 2007
Proudinsky third in Grade 1 race in America Silvano´s son Proudinsky, trained in the US by Bobby Frankel, was an excellent third in the Citation Handicap (Gr.I - 400,000 $), beaten only about a length by the winner. Proudinksy was trained in Germany by Mario Hofer in 2006 and was among the leading three-year olds in his native country last year; scoring easily by 15 lengths on his debut he hinted more class as runner-up to Saddex in a Listed Race race. After his subsequent sale to the US in 2006 Proudinsky was placed in the Arlington Classic Stakes (Gr.III) and the Secretariat Stakes (Gr.I) before scoring in the Bay Medows Derby (Gr.III) In 2007 Proudinsky gave a belated debut in an Allowance race which he won easily. His 3rd place in Saturdays Citation Handicap earned him 48,000$ in price money and owner Gary Tanaka has something to look forward for the coming season.

November 12th 2007
Silvano daugther wins final Group race of the season Runner-up in last month’s Gr.1 Premio Lydia Tesio, Fair Breeze joined the pace-setter Ioannina on the final turn, asserted approaching the final 400 metres and kept on strongly despite swerving sharply right 2000metres from home. She and the Gr.3 Bay Meadows Derby victor Proudinsky hail from the first crop of the German Horse Of The Year Silvano, whose second features this year’s Gr.2 German 1,000 Guineas and Gr.2 Oettingen-Rennen heroine and Gr.1 Coronation Stakes runner-up Mi Emma. By Lomitas, Silvano won the Gr.1 Arlington Million, the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Gr.1 Singapore Cup and is a three partsbrother to Haras des Chartreux’s triple Gr.1 victor Sabiango. Silvano stands in South Africa at Maine Chance Farms. Fair Breeze is the third foal of Fairwind, who has a colt foal by Konigstiger. By the 1975 Preis des Winterfavoriten victor Andrang, Fairwind is a greatgranddaughter of the Listed victrix Frederica (Luciano), whose half-sister Friedrichsruh (Dschingis Khan) was successful in the Preis der Diana of 1977.

November 10th 2007
FAIR BREEZE TO BUILD ON GOOD SEASON This week’s attention moves to Frankfurt, where the Gr.3 Großer Preis der Helaba - Hessen Pokal is the main race of the weekend. The favourite Fair Breeze (Silvano) has been knocking on the door all year, looking for a Group win and, with a little luck in running last time out, she could have won the Gr.1 Premio Lydia Tesio. She likes the course and distance and this time of year, so this could well be her day.

November 05th 2007
Proudinsky wins in Santa Anita German-bred Proudinsky (by Silvano), sent off as the 2-1 favourite despite not having raced in nearly one year, dominated his opposition Friday in Oak Tree’s $52,000 allowance feature, the Singletary, while taking the one-mile turf event at Santa Anita by 1 ½ lengths over Bobby Frankel-trained stablemate Optimer. Proudinsky made a sweeping move on the extreme outside turning into the stretch to gain command in what his jockey, Victor Espinoza, described as feeling “more like a good workout.” The lightly-raced 4-year-old colt, imported from Germany during the summer of last year, had the credentials to shine under the race conditions. His previous four races in this country all had been graded stakes, and his last on Nov. 5 of 2006 was a victory in the Grade III Bay Meadows Derby. He completed his one mile journey in 1:34.39 on Friday. Runner-up Optimer, who had been second in four of his five previous starts, finished one length ahead of third-place Artist’s Tale in the field of 10. “They went fast on the front end and the race set up great for me,” said Espinoza. He was unfazed by having to race so wide on the final turn. “It didn’t matter,” he said. “Not when you have a horse like this that is better than the others.” It was only the seventh career start for the bay colt owned by Gary A. Tanaka. Proudinsky’s winning purse of $30,000 hiked his career total to $177,864 from a 3-2-0 record.

November 03rd 2007
GREAT GERMAN-BRED PERFORMANCES There was a very nice German-bred double in Rome last Sunday, when Turfrose (Big Shuffle) just held on for victory from the fast-finishing Fair Breeze (Silvano) in the Gr.1 Premio Lydia Tesio. This is the second year running that a German-bred has won this race, as Floriot (Monsun) was successful last year.

October 28th 2007
FAIR BREEZE SECOND IN GROUP 1 RACE The day’s other European Gr.1 race was the Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle which saw a narrow victory for the German-bred Turfrose. She became the first Gr.1 winner for her sire, Gestut Auenquelle’s Big Shuffle, bravely holding off the German-trained Fair Breeze (Silvano), with French raider Musical Way (Gold Away), three-parts of a length back in third.

October 23rd 2007
SILVANO’S BORIS IS VICTORIOUS IN AUSTRIA Racing fans at Magna Racino near Vienna, Austria on Sunday were treated to a thrilling win in the Kirkwood Stables Grand Prix by odds on favourite Proud Boris (Silvano) owned by Stall MPL Racing and trained by Jaroslav Hanacek. Only a head and a nose separated the top three finishers in the 2,200m race, with Hipoliner (Belenus) and Saldenzar (Zinaad) completing the three-horse photo.

October 16th 2007
MI EMMA ENDS HER GREAT SEASON In other German news, the top three-year-old filly Mi Emma (Silvano) has ended her great season and will be loading all her batteries for a new campaign next year. The small filly with the great turn of foot was unraced as juvenile and has started six times this season, winning four races, including the Gr.2 German 1,000 Guineas and Gr.2 Oettingen-Rennen and she was also placed second in Gr.1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Her account rose to € 249,699 through the year and could easily be raised again next season.

September 05th 2007
PROUD BORIS WINS GRADE 2 RACE IN AUSTRIA After defeat by an average German runner Carmond in the Slovak Derby, Proud Boris, the best three-year-old colt in Slovakia and maybe in all of Central Europe, once again showed his class. In Austria’s KincsemPreis he beat one of the best older Polish horses Hipoliner. Sabato finished third and in fourth was Red Rocks’ half-brother Blue Coral, winner of the Austrian 2,000 Guineas

September 01st 2007
THE NEW DARLING OF GERMANY On Tuesday, all eyes were on the three-year-old filly Mi Emma (Silvano) , when she was the sole representative of this year’s Classic crop to take on older horses in the Gr.2 Oettingen-Rennen over a mile. The little filly never gave her rivals a chance, taking the lead from the stalls and setting a good pace. Only the old warrior Soldier Hollow (In The Wings) and mile specialist König Turf (Big Shuffle), seemed likely to get close to the leader in the straight, but they couldn’t quite get to her and she won very handsomely by two lengths.

August 29th 2007
EMMA BEATS THE BOYS AT BADEN-BADEN The runaway Gr.2 German 1,000 Guineas winner Mi Emma bounced back to form in the Gr.2 Oettingen Rennen at Baden-Baden yesterday. The daughter of Silvano, who had disappointed on the soft ground at Deauville a month ago, made her first venture against colts a winning one. She made all the running for a very comfortable victory over the classy Soldier Hollow (In the Wings), The seven-year-old, winner of four Gr.1 events over his favoured ten furlong trip, was dropping back to a mile for only the second time since his three-year-old days. Mi Emma had won her first three races in Germany, including the Dusseldorf Classic, before taking some notable scalps, including Darjina and Finsceal Beo, when finishing second in the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes to Indian Ink.

July 06th 2007
SILVANO FILLY IS TOP ON OPENING DAY Clematis, a Silvano half-sister to tomorrow’s Durban July contender Badger’s Drift, topped the first session of the Sibaya Yearling Sale outside Durban yesterday. The elegant, bay filly, offered in the final hour by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, was the subject of brisk bidding but it was breeder Terry Andrews who emerged the victor at R325,000.

May 06th 2007
SILVANO YEARLINGS STEAL THE SHOW Following a record-breaking select session of the 2007 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale on Friday night, trade continued to chug along at a solid pace yesterday. As expected, the phenomenal average price of R784,302 achieved on the opening night had to normalise. After 250 lots had gone through the sales ring, it had dropped to R436,452 – still way ahead of last year’s R359,197 – while the aggregate of R91,655,000 was also well up on last year’s figure of R78,305,000. The first of the Silvano yearlings made their muchawaited appearance in the ring at this session. Sire of last weekend’s runaway German 1,000 Guineas Mi Emma, the German champion has already caught the eye with five juvenile winners in his first South African crop, all of which have been fillies. Not surprisingly, Lot 159, a half-sister to the smart sprint filly Mocha Java, found favour with the buyers and when the dust had settled, Mauritzfontein’s Stud manager Gavin Schafer had the final say at R1.2 million. Ironically, the stud privately had sold her dam Mabola Plum as a filly out of training, and owner John Slade has reaped the rewards of a truly international pedigree. From the high-class Tartan family of champion sprinter Dr Patches, it has flourished in South Africa via the Super Concorde mare Michabo, who produced Mabola Plum and her stakes-winning Fort Wood full-brother Patache, as well as Stirrup Cup, the dam of Gr.1 SA Classic winner Hunting Tower, also by Fort Wood. The Silvano filly’s pedigree received another boost recently when two-year-old fullsister Mochachino missed out on Gr.3 status when beaten on the line in the recent Strelitzia Stakes. Silvano had a second youngster sell for over a million when Zackly (Lot 224) was secured by trainer Charles Laird for R1.1-million. Offered by Maine Chance Farms, the grey colt is a half-brother to Gr.2-placed five times winner Perakeen (Rakeen). Their dam is the Straight Strike mare Perfick, herself a Gr.2-placed winner of six races, from the family of Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer’s champion Greys Inn, successful Australian sire Zeditave and last year’s New Zealand Filly of the Year Shikoba. Source: EBN

April 30th 2007
Silvano filly turnes German 1000 Guineas into one horse show Mi Emma got the ball rolling at Mulheim Mar. 17 before spreadeagling her rivals in the Listed Henkel Trial over course and distance Apr. 8. Repeating the dose on her first serious test, the bay made light of this contest to turn the first domestic Classic into a one-horse show. Keen while trapped wide on the front end early, she was eased to the head of affairs at the top of the stretch and opened up to settle the issue in emphatic style

April 27th 2007
STATELY WINS STRELITZIA STAKES There was an upset in the Gr 3 Sunday Tribune Strelitzia Stakes over 1200m at Scottsville on Sunday, with 40/1 shot Stately prevailing after a four-way battle inside the last furlong. Jockey Stuart Randolph kept Neil Bruss's charge covered off the early pace as Bernice eventually claimed the early lead. Mochachino showed good early pace along the inside rail, with Class In A Glass, Laser Fan and Imperialist all prominent and Indian Express pulling hard early but restrained just off the early leaders. Bernice was tackled by Mochachino at the 400m mark and she started to come under pressure as Laser Fan and Two Moccasins moved up threateningly and Stateley started her run. Mochachino was hard pressed by all of Laser Fan, Two Moccasins and Stately inside the last 200m as the four of them raced briefly abreast, but Stately had the most in hand and she finished strongly to win by a length from Mochachino, with Two Moccasins turning in a good post-maiden effort in third ahead of Laser Fan. It was surprising to see that Stately was ignored by the market to such a great extent. Although only a maiden winner, so were most of her rivals and she had won her previous start, albeit in a weak field, in good style. Her winning sequence should not end here. Mochachino showed good pace and was only mastered late. She should make amends soon, as should Two Moccasins, Laser Fan and fifth-placed Indian Express, who didn't fare too badly in finishing only three lengths behind after a four-month layoff. Source: www.sahorseracing.com

April 20th 2007
Silvano Juveniles in the Spotlight The Strelitzia Stakes on Sunday looks a straight contest between two daughters of freshman sire Silvano. Duncan Howells-trained Bernice has won both starts in fine style and takes on Michael Azzie’s highly-regarded Mochachino, a half-sister to the smart sprint filly Mocha Java. Bernice streaked to a four length victory at the track last time out and is one of the more impressive local juveniles around, while Mochachino confirmed her ability with a game debut win over this trip.

April 10th 2007
MI EMMA TOUGH TO BEAT IN GERMAN 1000 GUINEAS MI EMMA bolted up by nine lengths in the big Trial for the German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf, running the fastest time of the day - faster even than the colts in the 2000 Guineas Trial. She'd won her only previous start a few weeks earlier and looks set to start at short odds in the big race itself in three weeks time. She's bred to get the longer distance of the Preis der Diana (German Oaks as well) and it will be interesting to see how she progresses.

February 27th 2007
Silvano´s son NESTOR still unbeaten in higher spheres Nestor, a four-year-old entire by Silvano, made it three out off three today with yet another convincing performance over hurdles. Bred in Germany by Gestüt Bona and trained in their colours by german champion Trainer Peter Schiergen, Nestor beat 13 rivals in Paris-Auteuil and had no trouble maintaining his unbeaten record over the jumps.

February 24th 2007
Silvano filly leads a hot dance on cold snow Silvano might be warm and cosy in his South African base, but his daughter FIRST TIME led them all at a hot dance when running away with the Grand Prix de St. Moritz, the feature event of the prestigious St. Moritz Racing Festival. There won’t be a more unusual setting for horseracing than a frozen lake high in the Swiss Alps, but the annual Racing Festival draws racing fans as well as the High Society from near and far to enjoy the fascinating mix of fast horses and a cool scenery. The feature race of the meeting is the Listed Grand Prix de St. Moritz with a staggering 111.111 Sfr in total prize money (650.000 Rand), and it was easy pickings for the brown 4-year-old daughter of Silvano, who showed a clean pair of hooves to her opponents, among them the very smart Quiron and Collow, to win in decisive fashion by 3 1/3 length. Bred in Germany by Gestüt Elite but now trained in Switzerland by Karin Suter, this was a much celebrated local success in front of a big passionate crowd including important owners like the Niarchos, Wildenstein, Oppenheim, Jacobs and many other racing passionate families.

February 09th 2007
Silvano filly Fusili bought back for 78.000 € The mighty Fusili was bought back by her connections for 78.000 € at the Tattersalls February Sales yesterday. Fusili must without a doubt be rated one of the toughest horses in Europe. She has already raced 29 times, won 4 races and finished placed more than 16 times. She is very versatile ground-wise and was the first runner for her sire as a 2yo, 3yo and 4yo. She has hardly stopped running since she finished second beaten by a nose April 2005 over 1000m in Leicester (England). She raced over a variety of trips from 1000m up to 2600m and earned more than 80.000 € in prize money for her connections, the highlight certainly being her strong 2nd place in the Lingfield Oaks Trail where she was beaten in a photo finish against strong opponents.

January 22nd 2007
FIRST FOALS FOR GR.1 winner Sabiango The first foal by the triple Gr.1 winner Sabiango (Acatenango) was born on Sunday at Gestüt Fährhof. The half-brother to the Gr.1 Arlington Million hero Silvano (Lomitas) won three races at three, including the Gr.1 Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal and Gr.2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen. He later went on to win the Gr.1 Deutschland-Preis, Gr.1 Charles Whittingham Memorial and Gr.3 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap. Stud manager Herbert Kahrs commented, “We are very delighted with Sabiango’s first foal. He is a smashing colt and we will support Sabiango with four mares in the coming breeding season.” The colt’s dam, the five-year-old Zilzal mare Codera, is a winning half-sister to the Group scorers Casanga (Rainbow Quest) and Concepcion (Acatenango), out of the dual German Classic heroine Comprida (Windwurf). Codera visits Black Sam Bellamy this year. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, at Haras du Taillis in France, the Theatrical mare Neogel produced a chesnut Sabiango colt. Neogel’s grandam, Madam North (Halo), is a full-sister to Machiavellian’s dam Coup de Folie. Neogel has a yearling Lando colt named Amigo Mo and is owned by Bongo Racing. Sabiango stands at Haras des Chartreux in Normandy for Euro 4,000.

January 16th 2007
SILVANO DEBUTANT WINS The striking daughter of Silvano, Bernice, was impressive on Sunday when she recorded a win on her debut over the 1100m at Scottsville. The Duncan Howells inmate had all the answers when asked the question by jockey Gavin Lerena. She responded with a gallant effort. Bernice was heavily supported in the betting market and opened in the betting market at odds of 5-1 and shortened down to 14-10. The money kept pouring on the filly and she did not disappoint. She broke out the pens full of running and set a good gallop up front. She stayed 2 lengths clear of her opposition most of the way through the race. At the 400m mark, she never looked like being challenged and at the 200m mark the race was all but over. She won by 0.75 lengths and beat Chase The Wind into second with Lioness holding on for third. This was an emphatic victory for Bernice and there should be much more to come from this filly. She was bred by J. Kleinhans and owned by Mr E. Appollis.

October 14th 2007
TRICK TREATS HER CONNECTIONS TO A GR.3 WIN The four-year-old filly Trick of Treat continued her progress when winning the Gr.3 Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot. The daughter of Lomitas flatly refused to give in when challenged by Queen’s Best after making all the running and kept her advantage to win by half a length. The filly, who was bred by Peter Onslow, owned by Onslow and Ian Henderson, was bought for 8,000gns at Tattersalls December Sale and for 11,000gns at the same company’s October Yearling Sale Part Two. Trained by James Given, Trick of Treat finished third behind Peeping Fawn in the Gr.1 Yorkshire Oaks and connections will now decide whether to retire her to the paddocks or race on with her next year.

July 27th 2007
RANSOM O’WAR MOVES TO AUENQUELLE The 2003 German Horse Of The Year Ransom O’War will be moving from Gestut Fährhof to Gestut Auenquelle Stud. Dr Andreas Jacobs of Fährhof commented, “Next season, besides Lomitas, Black Sam Bellamy and Königstiger, we will also have Lateral standing as a new stallion, and are pleased to have found such a highly professional new home for Ransom O’War.” Auenquelle boss Karl Dieter Ellerbracke said, “Ransom O’War will stand alongside the champion sire Big Shuffle at Auenquelle and will be a replacement for Seattle Dancer, who sadly died in June.” He added, “The first foals by Ransom O’War sold well with an average of E40,000. Breeders are also very pleased with the first two crops by him. In addition, his pedigree is most suitable for crossing with almost all German mares. His covering fee will remain breederfriendly and will be announced in August.” Ransom O’War was trained at two in England by Mark Johnston and won over a mile and was several times placed in good company. In the spring of 2003, he moved to Krefeld under the care of Erika Mader, where he developed into one of the best German horses of recent years. He won the Gr.1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich, where he beat the globetrotting German star Epalo (Lando), and the Gr.2 Grosser Müller Brot-Preis at the same track. In the Gr.1 Deutsches Derby, he was second behind Dai Jin. Dietmar Hilgert, owner of Ransom O’War, has supported his stallion each season with his own mares. “Ransom O’War originates from a dam line which has already produced 13 successful stallions, including Night Shift and Encosta de Lago. Ransom O’War won from 1600 to 2000 meters and showed plenty of speed.”

July 07th 2007
LATERAL to Gestüt Fährhof Champion juvenile and Champion miler Lateral (Singspiel), who has been retired prematurely due to injury, will stand at his breeders’ Gestut Fährhof in 2008. "In his performance and pedigree he will be a great asset to our stud," said Herbert Kahrs, the manager of Gestüt Fährhof. Lateral was unbeaten in three races as a two-yearold, including wins in the Listed Kronimus-Rennen and Gr.1 Gran Criterium in Milan, where he beat two subsequent Gr.1 winners in Dionisia (Tejano Run) and Lord of England (Dashing Blade). As a three-year-old, Lateral raced six times with wins in Cologne’s Gr.2 Grosse-Europa-Meile and Gr.3 Oppenheim-Meile, plus the Gr.3 JAXX-Meile at Hamburg. These achievements made him the Champion Miler in Germany, and Timeform selected him to the best German Three-Year-Old. Lateral is out of the dual Listed winner Ligona (Aragon), who is also the dam of the good sprinter Liandero (Night Shift) and the five times winner Lidio (Alzao). Gestüt Fährhof`s owner Dr Andreas Jacobs commented: "As champion-two-year and champion miler Lateral brings along the conditions by his outstanding achievements to follow in the footprints of his sir Singspiel."

January 23rd 2007
FIRST FOALS FOR GR.1 SABIANGO The first foal by the triple Gr.1 winner Sabiango (Acatenango) was born on Sunday at Gestüt Fährhof. The half-brother to the Gr.1 Arlington Million hero Silvano (Lomitas) won three races at three, including the Gr.1 Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal and Gr.2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen. He later went on to win the Gr.1 Deutschland-Preis, Gr.1 Charles Whittingham Memorial and Gr.3 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap. Stud manager Herbert Kahrs commented, “We are very delighted with Sabiango’s first foal. He is a smashing colt and we will support Sabiango with four mares in the coming breeding season.” The colt’s dam, the five-year-old Zilzal mare Codera, is a winning half-sister to the Group scorers Casanga (Rainbow Quest) and Concepcion (Acatenango), out of the dual German Classic heroine Comprida (Windwurf). Codera visits Black Sam Bellamy this year. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, at Haras du Taillis in France, the Theatrical mare Neogel produced a chesnut Sabiango colt. Neogel’s grandam, Madam North (Halo), is a full-sister to Machiavellian’s dam Coup de Folie. Neogel has a yearling Lando colt named Amigo Mo and is owned by Bongo Racing. Sabiango stands at Haras des Chartreux in Normandy for Euro 4,000.

January 15th 2007
FIRST KÖNIGSTIGER FOAL BORN ON SUNDAY The first foal sired by the Gr.1 winning two-year-old Königstiger was born yesterday to the Lagunas mare Hosea, a winning half-sister to dual Gr.3 victor Horeion Directa (Big Shuffle). Hosea is already a successful broodmare with Deutsches St Leger runner-up and Deutsches Derby fifth Harar (Acatenango) amongst her best offspring. Breeder Herbert Kahrs describes the new arrival as “a very beautiful and precious foal.” Königstiger is a son of Dalham Hall resident Tiger Hill and Barathea’s Listed-placed daughter Kittiwake. She is a half-sister to champion racehorse and successful sire Pentire (Be My Guest), and has also delivered the Gr.3 winner and Classic runner-up Karavel and the Stakes scorer and Gr.3-placed Kitcat (both by Monsun). In his first season Königstiger covered more than sixty mares, including the dams or half-sisters to the following champions and Gr.1 winners: Silvano, Laveron, Sumitas, Gyreka, Waky Nao and Shirocco. The five-year-old is proving very popular among German breeders and stands at Gestut Fahrhof for a fee of Euro 4,000 (1st October, Live Foal).

August 08th 2008
Grade I win for Black Minnaloushe All dressed up with nowhere to go early in the home straight, Black Mamba accelerated impressively when daylight appeared before holding the late thrust of I Can See. Successful in June’s Gr.2 Beverly Hills Handicap, Black Mamba is by the 2001 Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes hero Black Minnaloushe. A strapping son of Storm Cat and Green Dancer’s Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Coral Dance, Black Minnaloushe is a half-brother to the Gr.1 2,000 Guineas and Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes ace Pennekamp and the quadruple Gr.1 hero Nasr El Arab. Black Minnaloushe’s 226 named Northern Hemisphere foals aged three and over feature last month’s North American Gr.3 winners Artie Hot and Stream Cat, while his 216 live Southern Hemisphere foals of the same age also include the Gr.1 ARC Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes and Gr.1 MwtuRC Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes ace Jokers Wild and the Gr.3 scorer Jazzella. Black Minnaloushe stands with Silvano and Victory Moon at Maine Chance Farms, South Africa for R90,000. Black Mamba is the seventh foal of Grosvenor’s Gr.3 ARC Wilkinson Insurance Brokers Mile victrix Sneetch, whose grandson Rios (Hussonet) was successful in last year’s Gr.2 WRC Wellington Guineas. By the Canadian Champion Juvenile and Queen’s Plate hero Sound Reason, Sneetch’s dam Sellou produced the Gr.2 TaraJC Lion Red 2YO Classic victrix Fleur De Chine (Centaine), whose daughter Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch) won the Gr.1 SAJC Australasian Oaks. Black Mamba features two principal pedigree strengths. Firstly, she has a 4x5 coupling of the exceptional three parts-brothers Secretariat and Sir Gaylord. Secondly, Black Minnaloushe is 2x3 to Storm Cat’s sire Storm Bird and Green Dancer’s sire Nijinsky, who share distinct pedigree similarities. Both are by Northern Dancer, Nijinsky’s damsire Bull Page being the sire of Storm Bird’s damsire New Providence. In addition, Storm Bird’s grandam is by Chop Chop, whose sire Flares is a fullbrother to Omaha, the sire of Nijinsky’s third dam. By comparison, New Tune, the Stakes-winning dam of Sellou’s sire Sound Reason, is by New Providence out of a granddaughter of Chop Chop. Source: EBN

May 08th 2008
Championship Point wins Group 3 Championship Point (by Lomitas) deprived Maraahel of a fourth consecutive Gr.3 Huxley Stakes victory yesterday at Chester, beating the triple winner by a neck. Collecting a second prize of £12,912 however, was just enough to push Maraahel’s earnings over the £1 million mark. The seven-year-old son of Alzao, who is owned and bred by Hamdan Al Maktoum, has won nine times from 31 starts and, apart from his three Huxley victories, he has also won the Gr.2 Hardwicke Stakes twice, the Gr.3 John Porter Stakes and the Gr.3 Gordon Stakes and been placed many times at Gr.1 level. Championship Point’s victory was his first at Group level. The five-year-old son of German sire (Lomitas)is already a triple Listed winner with victories in the Chesham Stakes at two, the Predominate Stakes and the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot last year. Bred by Mount Coote Stud, he was bought for 85,000gns at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part One by Gill Richardson.

April 06th 2008
Black Mamba second in Grade 2 Black Minnaloushe’s daughter Black Mamba lost the Santa Barbara Handicap over 2000m by the shortest possible distance – a nose. The New Zealand breed mare finished second in her last four runs and it will defiantly not be a surprise seeing her winning a Grade 1 or Grade 2 race during this season. She is in owned Double Down Stables and is in training with J W Sadler.

March 23rd 2008
Black Minnaloushe son wins Listed race at Kempton MALT OR MASH came through it with flying colours to win the Dragonfly Stakes (Listed Race, 2400m) at Kempton on Saturday. He made good headway from off the pace to take second approaching the straight and was in no danger once he had collared the pace-setting Miramare well over a furlong out, even though jockey Ryan Moore reported that he blew up, as connections feared he might. A winner four times last year, including off a mark of 97 in the November Handicap, he is a big, strong horse who looks very much the sort to go on improving. The Group 3 John Porter at Newbury could come next, although Moore told connections afterwards that he had so many gears he would not want it soft, and last year’s turf form confirms he goes particularly well on fast ground.

November 12th 2007
Son of Black Minnaloushe wins November Handicap in Doncaster A cracking contest for the time of year and nothing like the muddy war of attrition the November Handicap usually provides, with a Royal Ascot winner and several clearly improving performers in the line-up.They went a strong pace and several of the progressive animals came to the fore in the latter stages, so this looks decidedly good handicap form and the way Malt or Mash (by Black Minnaloushe) won marks him out as very much one to look out for next year. For he won this very well, coming from behind to lead over two furlongs out and quickly putting the race to bed, scoring very readily.The winner's record previously had suggested he was on the upgrade and that remains very much the case. He will stay beyond 1m4f and connections believe he could ultimately make a Cup horse. He should win another decent handicap or two before making it into pattern company on this evidence.

August 24th 2007
Maine Chance Farms’ latest acquisition, Black Minnaloushe was the leading first season sire in New Zealand in 2005/6 where he sired champion juvenile Jokers Wild. A dual Gr.1 winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’ Palace Stakes, the son of Storm Cat is set to cover a high-class book of mares in his first South African season. Heading the list of confirmed bookings is the superlative racemare Jamaica (Sportsworld), a triple Gr.1 winner who is carrying her first foal to Western Winter. Best Gem (Best By Test), the dam of champion sprinter and American stakes winner Tara’s Touch (Tara’s Halls), will also visit the son of Storm Cat, as will Starlit, a multiple graded stakes winning daughter of Jet Master. Maine Chance mares booked to Black Minnaloushe include triple Gr.1 queen Paraca’s dam Paraguaya (a half-sister to dual American champion Paseana), Fleuret (a half-sister to Yard-Arm) and Lucienne (dam of Gr.1 winner Lyrical Linda).

July 12th 2007
RED LETTER DAY FOR SOUTH AFRICAN RUNNERS There was almost a famous double for South Africanbred horses in Europe yesterday as Tiza (Goldkeeper) triumphed in the Gr.3 Prix de Ris-Orangis at Deauville just over half an hour before his compatriot Irridescence (Caesour) finished a length off Simply Perfect (Danehill) in the Gr.1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket Tiza, a dual Gr.2 winner in South Africa, was making his debut for Alain de Royer-Dupre, after racing in Dubai earlier this year. The Mike de Kock-trained Irridescence is the first runner from South Africa to place in a Gr.1 fixture in the United Kingdom. Contested over a distance too short for her best, the Falmouth was designed to bring her forward for a challenge next month in the 11th August renewal of the $750,000 Gr.1 Beverly D Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Arlington Park. “We picked this race out as the best possible prep for the Chicago race,” said Barry Irwin of Team Valor International. “The timing is perfect, as it is exactly a month between races.” Irridescence is an experienced international traveller, having won in South Africa, Hong Kong and Dubai, while also racing in France last summer. The only South African racehorse to win a Group race in the United Kingdom was Crimson Palace, a mare once owned by Team Valor and trained by de Kock before she was sold to Godolphin, for whom she won the Gr.3 Middleton Stakes and the 2004 Beverly D Stakes. Source: EBN

April 28th 2007
Jazzella (NZ) on Song for Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes Crack filly Jazzella (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe x Jazzmatazz by Citidancer) looks to be right on song to claim further Group Three spoils in Saturday's Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa (1200m). The speedy daughter of Black Minnaloushe (USA) has performed with distinction in all of her seven starts, winning on four occasions, and weighing in on the additional three. Jazzella (NZ) looks to be right on song to claim further Group Three spoils in Saturday's Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa (1200m). Furthermore, she is a winner on the track, and a winner at the 1200m distance. Trained by Donna and Dean Logan, and Chris Gibbs at Ruakaka, Jazzella (NZ) was sent on a "hit-and-run" mission to Australia in March, with her assignment the Listed Darby Munro (1200m) at Rosehill. Showing that she was right up to her Trans-Tasman counterparts, Jazzella (NZ) finished a game third, beaten narrowly by a short neck, three-quarters-of-a-length margin. Saturday's race will be her first start since returning from Australia, with the stable reporting their star filly has thrived on homecoming. Jazzella (NZ) has already won at Group level, sprinting brilliantly to victory in the Gr.3 Darley Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 3 in the hands of Lisa Cropp, who is again engaged to ride the talented filly on Saturday. Jazzella (NZ) is by boom Windsor Park Stud sire Black Minnaloushe (USA) (Storm Cat), who currently leads the Second Season Sire premiership. A $40,000 purchase at the 2005 Select Yearling Sale, she is the fourth foal to race for dam Jazzmatazz (NZ), herself a winner of three races including the Listed CJC Welcome Stakes (1000m).

April 27th 2007
FIELD EVENT BREAKS MAIDEN IN DEBUT AT CLAIRWOOD Record-setting debut winner Field Event has impressed the racing community in South Africa Field Event lived up to advanced notices on Wednesday by overcoming his initial greenness to split horses in deep stretch and go on to a half-length victory at Clairwood race course in Durban. The son of Western Winter (Gone West) opened at odds of 4 to 5, but drifted in the closing stages of the betting to start the 11 to 10 choice in the face of heavy action on the debuting colt Festive. With a quarter-mile remaining in the 6-furlong grass race, Jeff Lloyd was beside Festive, found a split, sent the colt through it and to the inside, and Field Event lengthened his stride dramatically to pass and pull away from the runner-up Modern Odyssey. The place colt had been second in both of his starts and was the 5 to 1 third choice. Field Event clocked 1:09.92, shaving .06 seconds from the class record for a juvenile maiden colt at the “garden race course.” Average winning time in the class and trip is 1:11.94. Neil Bruss, who is developing the colt for a partnership between Team Valor and Anant and Vanashree Singh, marveled at the length of stride exhibited by the Maine Chance-bred colt. “At the end he looked like he was taking one for every two of the others,” said the Durban-based trainer.

March 07th 2007
Jazzella to Have a Break after Brilliant Gr.3 Darley Win Black Minnaloushe Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan has said Jazzella (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe x Jazzmatazz by Citidancer) won't be seen on the racetrack for another two months despite the filly's brilliant win in Saturday's Gr.3 $100,000 Darley Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie. Logan, who trains Jazzella (NZ) in partnership with Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs, has plans to campaign the horse in Queensland this winter and doesn't want to over-race her before then. "She's a very exciting horse but she can have a bit of a break now before her next race," Logan said. The next raceday outing for Jazzella (NZ) is likely to be the Gr.3 $80,000 Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on April 28 and another top effort there should see her on a flight to Brisbane in May. Jazzella (NZ) made it four wins from just six starts with an all the way victory on Saturday, in the hands of Lisa Cropp. Her winning margin over second placed My Hangover (NZ) (My Halo x Hangover Street by Whiskey Road) was only a long head but Logan is certain it could have been a lot more. "Lisa said she (Jazzella) had a lot left in the tank and she really won quite easily," Logan said. Logan added that Jazzella (NZ) never ceases to amaze her in everything she does. "She looked like she was only going three-quarter pace in trackwork last Thursday yet still ran 35s for her last 600," she said. "She has grown a lot and is getting better all the time." Jazzella (NZ) finished an unlucky fourth in her debut as a two-year-old last season before outstanding winning performances in her next two starts. She then finished third behind Amazing Me (NZ) (Deputy Governor) and Seven Hills (NZ) (City On A Hill) in the Listed $60,000 Oceanz Seafood Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka at the end of the season before going out for a spell. The daughter of Black Minnaloushe resumed with a game nose win over 1200m at Te Rapa on February 10 and produced another gutsy winning performance on Saturday. Although Jazzella (NZ) has never won beyond 1200m, Logan is confident she will run out a strong 1600 metres in time.

February 26th 2007
Jokers Wild books Aussie trip Jokers Wild (by Black Minnaloushe) did enough to book a trip to Melbourne when finishing runner-up to Sir Slick at Otaki on Saturday. The Matamata three-year-old found Sir Slick too tough in the Otaki WFA (1600m) but was comfortably clear of Shinzig with a gap to the remainder. Jokers Wild, who is trained by Mike Moroney, is booked to travel to Melbourne tomorrow week and will take on Miss Finland in the A$750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 10. "Mike knows the Melbourne form and reckons the horse can be very competitive," stable manager Paul Moroney said yesterday. "He found Sir Slick too tough on the day but we thought there was a lot of merit in his run and he's still got a bit of improvement in him. "He travelled up well and we aren't using the track as an excuse. But a dead track might have taken the edge off him slightly and we thought it was a bit odd that the track came up like that," Moroney said. The track was rated as good, with a penetrometer reading of 2.5, on Saturday morning but was downgraded to dead after the second race and improved little over the remainder of the programme, despite the warm temperatures. The riders reported that a number of horses lacked confidence on the track and that the inside section was the most testing.

October 11th 2006
Black Minnaloushe's topclass son Jokers Wild won impressively at the weekend in the Gr.2 Hawkes Bay Guineas. He was shut in on the rails and had to check back and move out four horse widths with only 250 metres to run. He accelerated quickly with a top-class turn of foot to get to the lead with 50 metres to go and then began to loaf so the margin was only half a neck. However the margin would have been greater if he had obtained a clear run. He now goes for either a Gr.1 WFA race against older horses or a Gr.2 race against 3YO's in a fortnights time as a lead up to his ultimate spring target of the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas.

September 13th 2006
Jokers lays card's on the table ! New Zealand's champion two-year-old last season, Jokers Wild (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory), trounced his challengers with a dominant win over 1200m at Hastings on Saturday. Bred by Jo Wilding of Te Mania Thoroughbreds in partnership with Mr C W Wong and Bee Tech Hoong, Jokers Wild was a NZ$40,000 purchase for Paul Moroney at last year's Karaka Select Sale. His since connections rejected an offer of $1 million for the colt last season saying he was not for sale. Jokers Wild has a half-brother by Montjeu entered in the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale in January. Jokers Wild's dam Miss Rory will return to the champion freshman sire Black Minnaloushe this season. Joker's Wild now has five wins from just nine starts including two Group 1 wins at his last two starts earlier in the year. The colt's next appearance will be the Hawkes Bay Guineas on 7 October

August 07th 2006
Black Minnaloushe Adds US Black-Type NZ Windsor Park Stud shuttler Black Minnaloushe (Storm Cat-Coral Dance, by Green Dancer) added a US black-type success when Act Of God (Black Minnaloushe-Green Boundary, by Robellino) scored by 2.75-lengths in the US$50,000 Listed Regaey Island Stakes (8.5 furlongs on turf) for 3YOs at Ellis Park. Act Of God (ridden by John Jacinto for trainer Fred Seitz) defeated Sea Of Trees (Belong To Me-Wood Sprite, by Woodman) & Goodtogoagain (King Cugat-Gelca, by Diesis).

August 06th 2006
Black Minnaloushe Champion First Season Sire in New Zealand Black Minnaloushe comfortably took the First Season sires’ title, with his son Jokers Wild taking the only two juvenile Gr.1’s on the New Zealand calendar. However the overall Two-Year-Old title evaded him, Stravinsky taking it due to Italia’s win in the New Zealand Bloodstock Classique. The Broodmare Sire Title went down to the wire with Centaine getting the better of Sir Tristram and Rory’s Jester.

August 06th 2006
Black Minnaloushe Champion First Season Sire in New Zealand Black Minnaloushe comfortably took the First Season sires’ title, with his son Jokers Wild taking the only two juvenile Gr.1’s on the New Zealand calendar. However the overall Two-Year-Old title evaded him, Stravinsky taking it due to Italia’s win in the New Zealand Bloodstock Classique. The Broodmare Sire Title went down to the wire with Centaine getting the better of Sir Tristram and Rory’s Jester.

June 24th 2006
Soapy Danger and Linas Selection provided a memorable double win at Royal Ascot today for Newsells Park Stud. The Newsells' bred, Soapy Danger, kept finding more to take the Gr.3 Queens Vase over 2m by 1¼l. This three-year-old colt has an excellent attitude and continues to improve with each outing. He now has a handsome record of four wins and three seconds for trainer Mark Johnston and owner Mrs RJ Jacobs. By Danzig, he is the first foal of the Newsells Park Stud mare On A Soapbox, winner of six races including the Gr.1 Coaching Club American Oaks, Belmont Park. She has been covered by Singspiel this season. Linas Selection's success in the L. King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) provided the second win of the day for Newsells' bred horses and a treble for trainer Mark Johnston. He is another colt owned by Mrs RJ Jacobs to improve with each outing having won last time out after a promising second on his three-year-old debut, and a two-year-old win to his form. By Selkirk, his dam is the Newsells Park Stud mare Lines of Beauty, who won nine races including a Gr.3 in USA, and was placed 15 times, four times in Stakes races. She has a yearling colt by Highest Honor and has been covered by Alhaarth this season.

June 21st 2006
Black Minnaloushe filly "freakish" Brilliant filly Jazzella confirmed the high opinion trainer Donna Logan has of her when blitzing fellow 2YO rivals by 5 ½ lengths in the $30,000 Team Tait Real Estate 2YO ‘1200’ at Ruakaka today. Logan described Jazzella as ‘freakish’ after the Black Minnaloushe filly bounced quickly from the gates to lead, never being headed thereafter, to win in the sparkling time of 1.9.89 on a track officially rated as dead. Jazzella’s success today means she has now won the first two legs of the Whangarei Racing Club’s $100,000 2YO Triple Crown and she will now go forward to the third leg, the Listed Oceanz Seafood Northland Breeders Stakes, to be held at Ruakaka racecourse on the 15th of July. Jazzella continued the outstanding start Black Minnaloushe has made with his first Australasian-based crop to the races which includes dual Gr.1 winner Jokers Wild. At the weekend, Black Minnaloushe sired his 10th individual 2YO winner when Let Loushe won decisively at his second start for Victorian based trainer Lee Freedman.

June 03rd 2006
Maine Chance Farms acquires Black Minnaloushe A majority of New Zealand’s leading first Season Sire Black Minnaloushe has been acquired by Maine Chance Farms. As part of the arrangement, Coolmore will keep 25 % in the horse. Black Minnaloushe will stand again in New Zealand at Windsor Park Stud for the coming 2006 breeding season, before coming to South Africa in 2007. Windsor Park Stud has been his southern hemisphere base and Ashford was his northern hemisphere base for the last five seasons. “The tremendous start Black Minnaloushe has made with his first runners in both hemispheres has attracted our interest in buying him.” (Andreas Jacobs of Maine Chance) “We are disappointed we will have him for just one more season, the offer Coolmore have accepted would mean standing him for considerably higher than this seasons fee of $17,500 if we were to purchase him outright.” (Nelson Schick of Windsor Park) “We are delighted about the partnership with Andreas Jacobs and Maine Chance Farms. By sending this horse we acknowledge the huge success of South African breed horses around the globe.” (Christy Grassick of Coolmore) A champion son of Storm Cat, Black Minnaloushe sired his eighth individual 2YO winner from his first New Zealand-bred crop this week when the Donna Logan trained filly Jazzella impressively won the first leg of a $100,000 triple-crown bonus series of races. Among his first New Zealand-bred crop of runners, Black Minnaloushe has also sired Champion 2YO elect and dual Gr.1 winner Jokers Wild, as well as the highly regarded Australian performers Changing Eyes and Canyonville and the exciting Hong Kong winner Butterfield. “Black Minnaloushe has made a greater initial impact than we could have hoped and though this season will be his last with us, the exciting thing is that there will still be four more crops of his runners to represent him in our region ” said Schick. In the northern hemisphere Black Minnaloushe has sired group-level horses in both the U.S.A. and Europe including leading turf 3YO and multiple stakes winner Stream Cat, unbeaten on the grass in 2006 and placed in the Gr.1 Breeders’ Futurity at two, as well as multiple European group performer Black Charmer.

February 26th 2006
What a fantastic day! South Africans prefer to let stallions prove themselves before splashing out on their progeny, but Silvano had a head start. The German-trained Arlington Million winner was moved there in 2003 when his first crop were on the ground. They proved good enough to make him champion first-season sire in his native country last year. However, under the rules of the sale, his progeny qualified for Saturday night’s first- and secondseason sire session – and he swept the board with the four top prices. Best of them was R400,000 paid by Weiho Marwing for Happy Spirit, a filly that traces to the Australian champion Starcraft. Marwing, who trains at Turffontein near Johannesburg, was acting for building magnate Kenny Geemoi and was delighted with his purchase. He said: “He is a very well balanced horse and he has an outstanding pedigree. I didn’t think the established sires would beat that price.” The Silvano yearlings sold for a total amount of 2.015.000 Rand and averaged 252.000 Rand. He was the top-selling stallion of the entire sale

February 26th 2006
Jokers Wild books Aussie trip Jokers Wild (by Black Minnaloushe) did enough to book a trip to Melbourne when finishing runner-up to Sir Slick at Otaki on Saturday. The Matamata three-year-old found Sir Slick too tough in the Otaki WFA (1600m) but was comfortably clear of Shinzig with a gap to the remainder. Jokers Wild, who is trained by Mike Moroney, is booked to travel to Melbourne tomorrow week and will take on Miss Finland in the A$750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 10. "Mike knows the Melbourne form and reckons the horse can be very competitive," stable manager Paul Moroney said yesterday. "He found Sir Slick too tough on the day but we thought there was a lot of merit in his run and he's still got a bit of improvement in him. "He travelled up well and we aren't using the track as an excuse. But a dead track might have taken the edge off him slightly and we thought it was a bit odd that the track came up like that," Moroney said. The track was rated as good, with a penetrometer reading of 2.5, on Saturday morning but was downgraded to dead after the second race and improved little over the remainder of the programme, despite the warm temperatures. The riders reported that a number of horses lacked confidence on the track and that the inside section was the most testing.

February 12th 2006
Useful three-year-old Golden Shina was amply rewarded for a string of consistent performances when she won the Riverworld Stud Prix du Cap for fillies and mares over 1400m on the Kenilworth new course on Saturday. Her formline from her last six starts going into this conditions race read 221211, and she seized her opportunity to grab some valuable “black type” in a race devoid of any real superstars. Golden Shina was well treated by the weight conditions of the Prix du Cap and went off as the favourite in a field of 13, with the likes of Badger’s Gift, Red Dor, and Kelly’s Olympics expected to give her most to do. Golden Shina is frequently slow away and tends to race from well off the pace, but this time she was more prominent than usual and was perfectly positioned in around fourth spot as stable companion Sarkara came across from the widest draw to set a decent pace. Jallad’s Star and Lingfield were closest to Sarkara early on, with Bridal Lace also handily placed. Kimberlite passed horses on the turn to be second behind Sarkara turning for home, but her effort was shortlived and she soon weakened out of contention. Sarkara still led racing to the final 300m, but Golden Shina was starting to move up well under Glen Hatt. The favourite picked it up racing into the last furlong and went about a length ahead, but then had to fight hard to shake off a challenge from Red Dor. Taking the short way round down at the rail, Red Dor had Golden Shina screaming for the line as she bore down on the market leader in the last 100m, but the post did come in time for Golden Shina, who found just a little bit extra at the finish and held off the year-older Red Dor by a neck. Badger’s Gift finished third under joint top weight, after moving up very strongly wider out but then not quite finishing it off, and found it all a bit too much with 58kg. Sarkara managed to hold on for fourth place, a very decent effort in the circumstances, but Bridal Lace never threatened to repeat her win in this race twelve months ago, when she carried 7.5kg less. Kelly’s Olympics was never in the hunt at all and may now revert to sprinting. Golden Shina is trained by leading Cape conditioner Joey Ramsden, who also won the race with Bridal Lace in 2005. A daughter of National Assembly, she is the third foal and second winner of Golden Thatch mare Golden Braids, who won seven races up to 1400m including the Gr3 Racecourse Bookmakers H and the Silver Slipper Sprint(L). Golden Shina was knocked down for R100.000 at the '04 National Two Year Sold Sale, but still races in the name of her breeder, Dr Andreas Jacobs’ Maine Chance Farms. She has now won 5 of her 11 races, earning R217.750. On the evidence to date she is some way short of top class, but she never stops trying and as a late November foal could still have some improvement to come. (www.sportingpost.co.za)

March 05th 2009
VICTORY MOON OFF THE MARK Freshman sire Victory Moon celebrated his first winner with his very first runner, when juvenile daughter Moon Song blitzed past favourite Velvet Hue to score by a length at Turffontein. The pair are set to re-oppose in this weekend’s Listed Ruffian Stakes (1000m) at the same track. Out of the Western Winter mare Western Song, Moon Song is one of 70 first-crop foals for her young sire, an accomplished son of Al Mufti. Following a winning debut in South Africa, Victory Moon was exported to Dubai, where he completed the UAE Guineas/Derby double and also finished third in the 2004 Gr.1 Dubai World Cup. He was retired to stud at Dr Andreas Jacobs’ Maine Chance Farms in Robertson and commanded a fee of R30,000 in 2008 Source: EBN