A great example of a horse racing into its older age is stakes performer Destiny’s Kiss who added the Listed ATC McKell Cup to his distinguished racing record at Randwick recently.
Now a nine-year-old Destiny’s Kiss is the best racing offspring by Danehill sire Power Of Destiny and has now won 18 races.
And has also had 17 placings from 83 starts, earning $1.383 million in prize-money.
Providing he stays healthy and happy, Destiny’s Kiss could well reach NSW’s age racing limit of 12-years-old.
But there is a clause in Racing NSW Rules Of Racing that the stewards may give permission for a horse aged 12 to continue racing throughout that season after its trainer provides a veterinary report in respect to the horse’s condition and suitably to race.
A country galloper that is recalled to have raced past his 12th year is Star Of Universe, who had his final race at Canberra on July 31 2015 as a 14-year-old.
But when a racehorse turns 13, it is immediately retired and de-registered.
A country galloper that is recalled to have raced past his 12th year is Star Of Universe, who had his final race at Canberra on July 31, 2015 as a 14-year-old.
Turning 15-years-old the following day, Star Of Universe (trained at Gulgong by Percy Thompson) was a remarkable tough runner racing 196 times for 21 wins, 22 seconds and 23 thirds for $160,870 in prizemoney.
The chestnut gelding is by Group 1 winner Sky Chase (by New Zealand’s GB imported outstanding sire Star Way), also sire of legendary Bart Cummings’ champion Saintly.
The rules of racing were amended at that time introducing an age limit, instantly deeming Star Of Universe ineligible to race any further.
Another galloper that I can recall that raced in Australia, was dual Group 1 winning marvel Magistrate in the early 1980s. He was a son of New Zealand bred sire Stipulate, by Precipitation’s Great Britain import Count Rendered.
A middle and long distance stayer, Magistrate won six stakes events including five cup races in Victoria and Western Australia, notably successive 3200 metres WATC Perth Cups as a 10, then as a 11-year-old in 1982.
Million-dollar mares star at the Gold Coast
NINE female horses reached the magical seven figure price at the popular Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast last week.
The headline lot at $2.6 million, was for late entry Jameka, a five-year-old mare who after winning six races including the Caulfield Cup-G1 and $4.872 million, is now off to stud.
Offered by Ciaron Maher Racing, Victoria, the daughter of Irish-bred Myboycharlie (who incidentally will not be returning to stud in NSW this coming stud season), was purchased outright by original part-owners Colin and Janice McKenna of Warrnambool.
Yarraman Park sold Courgette (dam of 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Rein) for $2.1 million.
The Charge Forward mare was in foal to Yarraman’s I Am Invincible.
Two mares fetched $1.7 million each were four-year-old High Chaparral Group 2 winner Omei Sword, who was being sold as a breeding proposition, and New Zealand-bred Group 1 winner Diademe.
By New Zealand champion sire Savabeel, Diademe was sold via Coolmore Stud and was in foal to their young Golden Slipper winning sire Vancouver.
A former Kris Lees, Newcastle, prepared three-year-old Pierro filly, Notting Hill, who was a winner of two country races including a Class Two at Muswellbrook last month.
She sold for $950,000.
Belonging to a wonderful stakes winning family, which includes Redoute’s Choice, Notting Hill herself sold for $1.4 million at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Yearlings will conclude the massive National Sale at the Gold Coast this week.
Stay tuned.
