HEADLINE THREE CHIMNEYS NEWS The Idea is Excellence. For information about TDN, Smarty Jones’s ROCKLAND call 732-747-8060. Nominated for Holy Bull S. (G3) www.thoroughbreddailynews.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009 HORSE OF THE YEAR GOES TO CURLIN DECLINES AT KARAKA It wasn=t even close. When the votes were tallied for As expected, the first day of the New Zealand Blood- 2008 Horse of the Year honors, it was Curlin (Smart stock Premier Yearling Sale experienced declines across Strike) leading the way, taking the board yesterday in Karaka. The day one average of the honor with 153 first-place NZ$150,136 was a 37-percent decline from the day votes. AHe has been the horse of one average of NZ$205,616 set during last year=s a lifetime for us,@ trainer Steve record-setting Premier Sale. Meanwhile, the median Asmussen said. Unbeaten on the dropped 35.5 percent to racetrack, the dynamic filly NZ$100,000 from NZ$155,000 Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) had to a year ago and the clearance rate settle for second with 69 votes. decreased to 73 percent from 84 Three-year-old Big Brown percent. Those figures are not as (Boundary) was a distant third bleak as they first appear, ac- with 13 votes. The closest race cording to the sales company, as of the night came in the cate- last year=s auction set records for gory of Outstanding Owner, with aggregate, average and median. Hip 7 nzb.co.nz Sarah K Andrew Frank Stronach=s Stronach Sta- Yesterday=s median and aggre- bles edging IEAH Stables by a gate figures are in line with 2007 levels, which satisfied single vote, 47 to 46. A total of 242 voters from the Petrea Vela, the managing director of sales and market- National Turf Writers Association, the National Thor- ing for New Zealand Bloodstock. ABefore the sale began oughbred Racing Association/Equibase and Daily Racing today, the general expectation was that--given the Form participated. current economic environment and the record-breaking sale last year--if we could produce something close to ECLIPSE AWARD SPECIAL FOLLOWS HEADLINE NEWS the 2007 figures, then the sales would be deemed a success, Vela said. So far, we re on target for that to ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2008 @ A = be the case, so we=re pleased with how it has started. Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) We=d like the clearance rate to improve a bit, but with 2yo Male MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled’s Song) vendors realistic in their expectations, we=d expect to 2yo Female STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) see that as the Premier session progresses.@ After one 3yo Male BIG BROWN (Boundary) session in 2007, the average was NZ$152,648 and the 3yo Female PROUD SPELL (Proud Citizen) median was NZ$110,000, with an aggregate of Older Male CURLIN (Smart Strike) NZ$31,445,500. The top lot yesterday was hip seven, Older Female ZENYATTA an Encosta de Lago (Aus) colt consigned by Lyndhurst (Street Cry {Ire}) Farm. Trainer Lance Noble and his wife Leigh purchased Turf Male CONDUIT (IRE) (Dalakhani {Ire}) the colt--who is out of the Blues Traveller (Ire) mare Turf Female FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) Giovana (NZ), New Zealand=s highweighted older mare Male Sprinter BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel) over 2200 meters in 2000--for NZ$800,000. AWe=re Female Sprinter INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) really chuffed to have secured him,@ Noble said. AHe's a Steeplechaser GOOD NIGHT SHIRT (Concern) magnificent colt and I think we were lucky to get him Owner Stronach Stables for that price. I=ve got a great group of backers, and Breeder Adena Springs once we=ve tidied up the last shares, we=ll get together Trainer Steve Asmussen and map out a plan for him.@ The Premier Sale con- cludes Tuesday, while the three-day Select Sale will Jockey Garrett Gomez commence Wednesday. The sales series ends with the Apprentice Jockey Pascacio Lopez two-day Festival Sale Feb. 1 and 2. Toppers & Stats, p2 www.juddmonte.com P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 1/27/09 • PAGE 2 of 6 TDN Feature Presentation Wilkes said that he had yet to measure up the com- petition in the Hutcheson and cited some advice offered GRADE 2 HUTCHESON STAKES to him by his mentor, Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger. AOne thing Carl always taught me was to worry about your own horse first--it=s the only one you can control,@ he said. TWO-TIME HORSE OF THE YEAR: P S A L E S N E W S P CURLIN, by SMART STRIKE FEMALE TURF HORSE: NZB PREMIER MONDAY - TOP FIVE LOTS FOREVER TOGETHER, by BELONG TO ME Hip Sex Sire Dam Price ($NZ) 07 colt Encosta de Lago (Aus) Giovana (NZ) 800,000 ‘CAPT.’ WORKS IN ADVANCE OF HUTCH Consigned by Lyndhurst Farm Joseph Rauch and David Zell=s Capt. Candyman Can Purchased by L R & L Noble (Candy Ride {Arg}) worked an easy four furlongs in 85 colt Redoute’s Choice (Aus) La Sizeranne (NZ) 700,000 :49.75 yesterday morning at Palm Meadows as he Consigned by Trelawney Stud Ltd. prepares for his three-year-old debut in Friday=s Purchased by R A James GII Hutcheson S. at Gulfstream. Regular rider Julien 98 colt Redoute’s Chouce (Aus) Love Connection (Jpn) 700,000 Leparoux, who has ridden the gelding to two wins in Consigned by Pencarrow Stud four career starts, was aboard for the move, the 19th Purchased by D C Ellis fastest of 41 at the distance. Sirecam Video AIt was just a light work to stretch his legs,@ trainer Ian 209 filly Redoute’s Choice (Aus) Sarah Vee (Aus) 650,000 Wilkes said. AIt was everything I was looking for. The Consigned by Curraghmore Stud horse is ready and we=re looking forward to Friday.@ Purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock Capt. Candyman Can was tabbed a J “TDN Rising Sirecam Video Star” J when he romped by 7 1/4 lengths in his 132 colt Zabeel (NZ) Miss Power Bird (Aus) 510,000 debut at Saratoga Aug. 13. He was beaten two lengths Consigned by Cambridge Stud when sixth after a troubled trip over Arlington Park=s Purchased by D C Ellis Polytrack in the GIII Arlington-Washington Futurity Sept. 13, then rebounded with a sharp three-length NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK tally in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Nov. 1. In his PREMIER YEARLING SALE seasonal finale, the $25,000 KEESEP yearling was third Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 after setting the pace in a three-horse photo for the 2009 2008 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. under the Twin Spires Cat. 252 255 Nov. 29. The seven-furlong Hutcheson is Capt. No. Sold 173 194 Candyman Can=s first race in two months, and Wilkes is Clearance 73% 84% hoping it will be a good place to embark down the Top Price NZ$800,000 NZ$925,000 Derby trail. Gross NZ$25,973,500 NZ$39,889,500 AWe hope this is the first step in where we want to Average NZ$150,136 (-27.0%) NZ$205,616 go, which is Kentucky,@ he said. AWe=re looking at this Median NZ$100,000 (-35.5%) NZ$155,000 as a nice race to get him back going.@ www.nzb.co.nz TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 1/27/09 • PAGE 3 of 6 Sales News cont. FASIG CALDER CATALOGS ON-LINE The cata- logue for the Fasig-Tipton Sale of Selected Two-Year- Olds in Training at Miami=s Calder Race Course features To Eclipse 272 entries and is now available on-line at www.fasigtipton.com. The one-day auction will be held Your Competition Mar. 3, with a single under tack show scheduled for Feb. 27. There are several changes to the sale, accord- Buy and Sell ing to Fasig-Tipton chief operating officer Dan Pride. ABuyers will find refinements at our 2009 Calder Sale,@ At Keeneland. Pride said in a statement. AAnabolic steroids are banned, new and more stringent medication policies are in place, as well as bans on certain types of horse Curlin Horse of the Year, Older Male shoes and regulation of the use of whips in the under tack show. These are all part of on-going plans to im- 2005 September; Buyer–Kenneth McPeek, agent prove the product we present to our buyers.@ Buyers Consignor–Eaton Sales, agent will also find improved facilities. AWe are sparing no Breeder–Fares Farm Inc. effort to make Calder more attractive to existing and potential buyers,@ Pride continued. AMiami is a very special international city with its climate, hotels, restau- Stardom Bound 2-Year-Old Filly rants and top-class racing. Our aim is to bring more 2007 September; Buyer–Michael Yates buyers there and to make their visit to Calder a memo- Consignor–Legacy Bloodstock, agent rable experience.@ Print catalogues will be available beginning Feb. 2. Breeders–Fletcher Gray, Carolyn Gray and John Youngblood P N E W S T O D A Y P Big Brown 3-Year-Old Male GENERAL NEDIYM EUTHANIZED General Nediym 2007 April; Buyer–Hidden Brook, agent for (Aus) (Nediym {Ire}) was euthanized at Widden Stud Paul Pompa, Jr.; Consignor–Eddie Woods, agent Jan. 26 following a recurrence of colic he suffered last Breeder–Monticule month. AHe became uncomfortable again last night and despite the best veterinary efforts to save him, there was nothing that could be done,@ said Antony Thomp- Zenyatta Older Female son of Widden Stud. The 14-year-old sire of 22 stakes 2005 September; Buyer–Mr.