January 16, 2017
Firstly, I’d like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year, along with my best wishes for a host of enjoyable and rewarding racing experiences in 2017.
My first story for the new year concerns a very positive boost for an arm of the South Burnett’s racing industry.
Although the outcome of Saturday’s Magic Millions Juvenile Classic was unfavourable, James and Laurie Curtain should score well from the runs already compiled by the aptly named Ours To Keep, the colt that trainer Chris Munce was left stranded with post-purchase.
The brothers, who operate from Old Boyneside near Kumbia, pulled the right rein last spring when they purchased Seidnazar, the lightly raced stakeswinning sire of Ours To Keep.
Thoroughbreds referenced on Seidnazar’s pedigree page include Rory’s Jester (Golden Slipper), Straight Strike and Mr Prospector.
The bay also traces on both sides to Star Kingdom and Nasrullah.
Seidnazar was a talented two-year-old, winning the MVRC St Albans Stales (Listed) and finishing second in the coveted Blue Diamond Stakes and the VRC Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 2), and the MRC Debutante Stakes (L).
The colt picked up third money in the Group Two STC Pago Pago Stakes (behind Stratum), the MRC Blue Diamond Preview (Gr 3) and the SAJC Dermody Stakes (Gr 3).
His freshman season form line was 9:1-3-3, and all 13 career appearances were in black-type affairs.
The service fee for Seidnazar is $2,200
Interestingly, Ours To Keep’s maternal sire Piccolo (King Stand Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes) is well known through the feats of Temple of Boom and Picaday.
Owners of Piccolo broodmares no doubt will be keen to follow a cross that has already acquired this season’s Phelan Ready Stakes (Listed) and the Bruce McLachlan Stakes (Group 3).
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Locals On The Board
Given the mint of money spent by interstate and overseas buyers at the Magic Million sales, it is remarkable to note the success rate achieved by Queensland stables in the restricted, signature event for two-year-olds.
The first edition in 1987 was taken out by Snippets.
That colt was bought for $22,000 by his Victorian breeders after failing to meet their $30,000 reserve. The subsequent star was prepared at the Gold Coast by Sally Rogers with guidance by Jim Griffiths.
There were some years with the race run in gender specific units, and also some extra offerings in May.
Houtzen’s triumph at the weekend means that 14 of the 37 MM juvenile features have been won by Queensland domiciled youngsters.
The other previous Queensland based MM Classic are Sea Cabin (retained for $40,000), Sunblazer (bought for $50,000), St Jude ($25,000), Kinjite ($60,000), Our Fiction ($10,000), Brave Warrior ($22,000), General Nediym ($20,000), Regimental Gal, ($16,500) Phelan Ready ($150,000), Military Rose ($155,000), Real Surreal ($70,000) and Le Chef ($122,000).
Incidentally, the Bart Cummings trained Miimi Leebrock, at $170,000, is the most expensive yearling to progress to the MM Juvenile winner’s circle.
Houtzen, the MM’s latest heroine, was knocked down to her trainer Toby Edmonds for $105,000 while the runner-up Chauffeur – with a $1,600,000 sale price – was trying to be the first million dollar baby to land the laurels.
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Locals To The Fore On Saturday
The Snitzel gelding Klammer took out the Class Three Plate (1000m) at Calliope for Nanango trainer Glenn Richardson on the weekend.
Klammer, now part-owned by Peter Jackson, cost his original southern owners $100,000 at an Inglis Classic Yearling Winter sale.
The five-year-old has been stakes-placed in Sydney in the Pago Pago Stakes, Kindergarten Stakes and the Heritage Stakes.
The gelding’s lineage features connections to some outstanding two-year-olds.
His sire won the AJC Breeders Plate, STC Skyline Stakes, BTC Tommy Smith and was third in his Magic Millions Classic while his grand-sire Redoute’s Choice polished off a Blue Diamond and fathered Miss Finland and Stratum.
That duo saluted in Golden Slippers.
Klammer’s maternal side also has Slipper hoof prints through winners Danzero and Marscay. The dam sire More Than Ready, courtesy of Phelan Ready and Sebring, also has Slipper winning descendants.
Klammer, with a credit at Canberra and two at Hawkesbury for Gerald Ryan, was having his third run under new livery.
The bay that was bred by Damion Flower went fairly at his two Doomben outings on Christmas Eve and the second day of 2017.
Incidentally, Snitzel was a nickname Flower was given after he was involved in a serious car accident at age 17.
The Richardson stable apprentice Hannah English booted home Our Clarky for the Bradley Hudson outfit at Toowoomba on Saturday.
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Marking The Calendar
Understandably over the Christmas-New Year-School Holiday period, the country racing scene across the state was quieter than usual.
Kilcoy (Australia Day), Bundaberg (February 4), Gatton (February 11) and Eidsvold (February 18) are forthcoming fixtures.
Nanango kicks off the South Burnett’s 2017 race program on February 25 with its Think Pink meeting.
An added feature of the day will be a tribute to Papilloma, a grand performer of yesteryear.
It will also be a chance for friends and colleagues to catch up with Ted Fisher, the long serving vet who was closely associated with the gelding.
Here’s hoping that everyone made a New Year resolution to go to live horse-racing at least once during 2017.
