ROAD TO THE MELBOURNE CUP Tuesday, October 27, 2020 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here LEE MOTTERSHEAD SPEAKS TO KERRIN MCEVOY - P12 | MACAU NEWS - P17 Newcomer Zhongli Read Tomorrow's Issue For Thoroughbreds well-armed for Steve Moran What's on Race meetings: Newcastle (NSW), Grafton major shot at Victoria Derby (NSW), Swan Hill (NSW) Dundeel colt to give Chinese breeding and racing Barrier trials / Jump-outs: Grafton (NSW), operation first Group 1 runner Caulfield (VIC), Colac (VIC), Ballarat Clockwise (VIC), Gold Coast (QLD), Toowoomba (QLD), Morphettville Parks (SA), Longford (TAS), Taupo (NZ), Foxton (NZ) International meetings: Catterick (UK), Southwell (UK), Kenilworth (SAF) International sales: Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale (UK), Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale (USA) Hit The Shot RACING PHOTOS MORNING BRIEFING The Gu Tao-owned Zhongli Thoroughbreds, BY TIM ROWE | @ANZ_NEWS which is based in the NSW Southern Highlands, Corstens happy with hinese-owned Australian racing was formed earlier in 2020 after the Chinese Coolmore pair and breeding start-up Zhongli businessman expanded his racing interests in Troy Corstens, who prepared Moonee Thoroughbreds will reach an the past two years beyond his homeland. Valley Fillies Classic (Gr 2, 1600m) winner important milestone this week The Matt Cumani-trained Hit The Shot, a Yes Baby Yes (Dissident) on Saturday, is Cwhen promising three-year-old Hit The Shot $170,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase enthusiastic about the prospects of his two (Dundeel) contests Saturday’s Victoria Derby from the Arrowfield Stud draft in 2019, wears Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) runners at (2500m), the operation’s first runner at Group Zhongli Thoroughbreds’ yellow and emerald green Flemington this weekend. 1 level. armband colours. Continued on page 2>> Morning Briefing page 5 >> ENTER NOW JULY 24 -29 ONLINE SALE ENTRIES CLOSE JULY 22. Featuring broodmares, yearlings and racing stock. FRICatalogue 23RD available at inglisdigital.com - WED 28TH OCT INGLIS DIGITAL OCTOBER SALE (LATE) SALE LIVE - VIEW HERE Follow us @anz_news | 1 | Brought to you by Newcomer Zhongli Thoroughbreds well-armed for major shot at Victoria Derby | 2 | Tuesday, October 27, 2020 << Continued from page 1 The colt’s closing third in the Caulfield slackened off the tempo a little, which didn’t suit him because he’s a Classic (Gr 3, 2000m) behind likely Derby rivals Albarado (Savabeel) and momentum horse,” he said. Let’s Karaka Deel (Dundeel) at his first start in stakes company came as no “When they sprinted, it left him flat-footed but once he gets going surprise to Quinton Cassidy, who shares in the ownership of Hit The Shot there’s no stopping him. alongside his Zhongli Thoroughbreds founder and boss Gu Tao. “So, getting him to Flemington on a big roomy track over 2500 metres “He’s been really well prepared by Matt and he’s always had an opinion looks ideal for him.” of him. Every time he’s stepped him out he has shown us signs that he Expatriate New Zealander Cassidy has been in Australia since January could be the real deal,” Cassidy told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday. and has played a pivotal role in helping Mr Gu set up a permanent base in “Unfortunately, in a couple NSW and assist in managing a team of horses purchased from the yearling of early races, he had a bit of sales to be broken-in and re-offered at the respective Inglis, Magic Millions HE’S BEEN REALLY bad luck but he still ran very and New Zealand Bloodstock two-year-old sales. WELL PREPARED creditibly, so going into the He admits the exercise has been a “learning curve” but is excited by BY MATT AND HE’S Derby with a live shot is quite the long-term prospects for Zhongli Thoroughbreds which has been set ALWAYS HAD AN exciting for the company.” up in an area which is becoming increasingly desirable for breeders, given OPINION OF HIM. Cassidy believes the slow its close proximity to Sydney. EVERY TIME HE’S tempo of the Caulfield Classic The region is also home to Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Milburn STEPPED HIM OUT HE counted against Hit The Shot, who Creek and Steve Grant’s Silverdale farm. HAS SHOWN US SIGNS won his first start on the synthetic “It was a property Mr Gu fell in love with when we came and looked THAT HE COULD BE THE track at Ballarat on August 11 at the place and it’s working out well. We are also leasing another farm REAL DEAL before two encouraging efforts at nearby while we do some alterations here,” he said. - QUINTON CASSIDY metropolitan level. “The property has broodmares and foals who are on the ground “He got himself in a good already. We have ten mares on the books and eight foals on the ground, so position (at Caulfield) but they it’s another avenue for the company.” Continued on page 4>> Sale of Two-Year-Olds 18 & 19 November Extended Breeze Up Videos Online Now MORE PRIZEMONEY Graduates of the last five editions of NZB’s Ready to Run Sale have earned on average 49% more prizemoney than both Australian two-year-old sale graduates combined. www.nzb.co.nz Follow us @anz_news | 2 | Brought to you by Every year top-class racehorses are sold out of Ballydoyle Racing Stables. Quite a few have gone on to achieve considerable success in other people’s colours. The latest are…. SIR DRAGONET wins the Ladbrokes Cox Plate-Gr.1 for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and owners Aziz Kheir (PICTURED), P. Mehrten et al 2020 Cox Plate-Gr.1, a great result for the Coolmore stallions siring the first 5 home: 1st Sir Dragonet, by Camelot 2nd Armory, by Galileo 3rd Russian Camelot, by Camelot 4th Mugatoo, by Henrythenavigator 5th Arcadia Queen, by Pierro Gr.1 winner HOMESMAN wins the Schweppes Crystal Mile-Gr.2 for Anthony and Sam Freedman and owners Nick Williams, Lloyd Williams et al Other success includes: TUSCAN GAZE, by Galileo, won the Italian Derby-Gr.2 (dsq) just two weeks after being purchased by Freddie Tylicki for his new connections MAG Racing The happy connections after ADELAIDE, by Galileo, won the 2014 Cox Plate-Gr.1 For details on horses for sale contact: Australia: Rob Archibald +61 438 458 137 Europe: Gerry Aherne, Jamie Moriarty or Mick Flanagan +353 52 6131 298 USA: Charlie O’Connor or Robyn Murray +1 859 873 7088 Newcomer Zhongli Thoroughbreds well-armed for major shot at Victoria Derby | 4 | Tuesday, October 27, 2020 << Continued from page 2 Among the mares were five purchased Despite remaining in from the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale headed by Australia, Cassidy has overseen IT WAS A PROPERTY $540,000 addition Karavali (Nadeem), a Group 3 winner who has since foaled his stable of horses at Wuhan MR GU FELL IN LOVE an August-born colt by Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and the $400,000 stakes-placed remotely and he prepared two WITH WHEN WE CAME Dinnigan (Snitzel) who also had a colt by Pierro (Lonhro) born on September 12. winners at the weekend as AND LOOKED AT To assist Zhongli’s expansion into the breeding industry, the well- racing in China ramps back up THE PLACE AND IT’S known Alex Kingston, who had stints at Kia Ora Stud and Ricky Surace’s following an extended hiatus WORKING OUT WELL. B2B Bloodstock, and her husband Jose have recently joined the operation due to Covid-19. - QUINTON CASSIDY at its Southern Highlands property. “It’s been an anxious wait Cassidy said: for the team over there, not “We’re very lucky that only for us, but everyone over there and the other clubs,” he said. the property came up “It is normally the biggest race on the calendar in China where at the right time, so the international jockeys come over and race to promote the carnival. we were able to get It’s always been a big meeting, so to win a race for Zhongli was very Alex and her husband rewarding for the company.” Jose to join the team. Cassidy paid tribute to his Wuhan-based staff who have overseen the We’re building good day-to-day running of his stable. foundations for our “I am very lucky to have a good team over there to help. I operation, not just in communicate with them on a daily basis to make sure the horses Australia, but also in are happy and well and that things are done to the highest standard Karavali AAP China.” possible,” he said. TATTERSALLS AUTUMN HORSES IN TRAINING SALE Winners of 100 Group/Listed races since 2018 RIVER BOYNE FIERCE IMPACT winner of Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes, Gr. 1 winner of Makybe Diva Stakes, Gr. 1 OCTOBER 26 - 29 70,000 gns purchase 120,000gns purchase THE WORLD’S LARGEST HORSES IN TRAINING SALE Jenny McAlpine +61 411 504803 [email protected] www.tattersalls.com Follow us @anz_news | 4 | Brought to you by Morning Briefing -Sponsored by Woodside Park Stud Tuesday, October 27, 2020 2020 VIRTUAL ONLINE STALLION PARADE NOW MORNING BRIEFING if he couldn't get there. He came out of his last of a forgotten horse," Australian Bloodstock AUSTRALIA race really well.” Wohler is prepared to back director Luke Murrell said. "I was happy with Corstens happy with Ashrun up three days after the Lexus for a shot his run in the Caulfield Cup and I think he'll run Coolmore pair at the Melbourne Cup, which is something that top 10." Rodd, who won the 2007 Melbourne Troy Corstens, who prepared Moonee Valley is rarely done in Europe: “It's very different here Cup on Efficient (Zabeel), has not ridden the Fillies Classic (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Yes Baby in Australia.