Following Kettle Hill’s triumph last weekend at Rosehill, we turn to a new week of racing and sales. The Inglis Classic Sale begins on Sunday, preparations are well underway as 808 lots are set to go under the hammer at Riverside. It is public entry to the sales at the Warwick Farm precinct and owners are welcome to attend on any of Sunday, Monday or Tuesday to experience the sales live.

In the racing arena, we’re particularly excited about Ahab from our Stayers Pack making his much-anticipated debut this weekend at Ararat. This marks a significant milestone for the Stayers Pack, and we’re eager to see Ahab showcase his training on the track. We also have Reasonable set to be back in action next week with the Ciaron Maher Racing team identifying a few good maiden races for the Justify filly.

Additionally, we’re proud to spotlight a new ownership opportunity that marries the thrill of horse racing with a heartfelt cause – the Race for RULE initiative. In collaboration with Griffiths de Kock Racing, RULE Prostate Cancer, and Cranbourne Turf Club, this charity horse pack is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer. Pre-registrations are now open for those who wish to join us on this meaningful journey.

There’s happening this week so make sure to stay tuned to BTX Racing.

Reasonable To Aim At Canterbury On The 16th

The Ciaron Maher Racing team have identified a $60,000, 1250m Maiden as the key target for Reasonable’s racing return at the Canterbury Night Racing next Friday.

The free entry Kia Friday Night Racing Series during summer at Canterbury Park offers live music, an extensive range of food stalls, free entertainment for children and racing under the lights.

The CMR Team have identified the contest as an ideal starting point for the daughter of Justify, whilst also nominating her for 3 other maiden races should she not head to Canterbury.

The team are confident she will be ready to head to the races after a solid grass gallop was completed on Tuesday with assistant trainer Joh stating “She has definitely returned stronger this preparation”.

Having done the majority of her training at Bob’s Farm in Newcastle she has settled in well since her return to the hustle and bustle of Warwick Farm.

The return of Reasonable is long awaited after she was last seen in August, and the team are confident that should she improve on her results last preparation she will be given the opportunity to perform on racing’s biggest stage.

Should she perform to the level of her highly successful half-sister, races like the Emancipation Stakes or Vinery Stakes are not unreasonable targets for her autumn.

Join the Charge: Pre-Registrations Open for Race for RULE

Together with Griffiths de Kock Racing, RULE Prostate Cancer, and Cranbourne Turf Club, we’re uniting the thrill of horse racing with the mission of supporting prostate cancer through raising funds and awareness to support the cause.

The fight against prostate cancer is personal to many in our community, including two of the initiative’s founders Ross Holburt and Robbie Griffiths. We honour the memory of his late brother, Rodney Griffiths, and show our support for the Holburt Family through this initiative. Each race and victory is a step towards triumphing over prostate cancer.

RULE Prostate Cancer is instrumental in providing support to over 5,000 men each year. Through your participation, a portion of the initial funds raised, and subsequent prize money won by these horses will aid RULE’s ongoing commitment to the Australian Prostate Centre (APC) in North Melbourne.

The Race for RULE pack features four carefully selected yearlings, two colts and two fillies, that will be ready to make their mark on the tracks by spring 2024.  As we look forward to following their journey to the track, we warmly invite you to pre-register and join us on this meaningful journey. By pre-registering today, you’ll be the first to access detailed information on pricing and availability.

Discover the story behind the Race for RULE from the voices of Ross Holburt, Robbie Griffiths, and the team at RULE Prostate Cancer in the video below.

Kettle Hill Records 2nd Win For Preparation

The CMR team are ecstatic at the resolve and significant improvement of overseas import Kettle Hill, after he recorded a race win, consistent with his overseas record when recording a 92 race rating, raising his personal rating from 78 to 83. The team will now give the horse time between that run and his next, but ensure that keeping him in training whilst in form is the right thing to do. As a gelding, he has the ability to lose condition, so giving him a short break before returning to full training suits him well.

The team will now turn their attention to either a $160,000 Benchmark 88 on the 3rd of March, or the Listed $200,000 Parramatta Cup at Rosehill on the 24th of February. Both are a step up in grade and the team will place him where they think he will have the best opportunity to win more prizemoney for his owners.

Ahab Debut On The Horizon

The anticipation is building as Ahab, the first runner in our Stayers Pack, gears up for his debut. This Sunday the 11th, he’ll be showcasing his stride in Race 3 at 2:37 pm — the D.A. Dalgleish Maiden Plate over 1300m. After his recent jumpouts at Geelong, the Ciaron Maher Racing team is confident he’s ready for the challenge.

Happy with his progress, the Ciaron Maher Racing team expect the 1600m mark is where we will see Ahab’s full potential.

As we count down the hours to Ahab’s debut, there’s still the chance to be part of his journey and that of three other promising NZ-bred stayers. The Stayers Pack, handpicked by Ciaron Maher, remains available for just $99.

Yes Lulu Ready For Second Jumpout

Assistant CMR Trainer Jack Turnbull and Group 1 winning jockey Ben Allen are both content with the progress of Fillies Pack member Yes Lulu, who will return to the jumpouts next week before her debut race is planned out. The team are happy with her progress over the past couple of weeks and is excited to see what she can do on the track. The fact that the team have paired the daughter of Yes Yes Yes with Allen for trackwork is an extremely positive sign for owners as it gives the impression the team are quietly confident about her ability and progression. More updates to come shortly.

Inglis Classic Sales – BTX Insight

The Inglis Classic Sales will be run from Sunday 11th to Tuesday the 13th at Warwick Farm’s Riverside complex this weekend. Australia’s biggest breeders will send 808 total lots to the complex with inspections completed from Tuesday to Friday this week.

The sale has a long list of successful graduates including last year’s The Everest winner Think About It. It is the only sale at which you could have bought the winners of each of The Everest, Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cup and Blue Diamond in the past 10 years and is the sale that produced recent carnival stars such as dual G1 winner Pride of Jenni, Buenos Noches, Opal Ridge, Roots, Skybird, Mazu, Democracy Manifest, Veight, Arkansaw Kid etc.

Classic has become known for its diversity of offerings and 2024 will prove no different as the catalogue contains yearlings by 110 individual sires to be offered by 79 individual vendors, an increase of 10 from 2023.

Including lots by BTX Broodmare Pack sires Russian Revolution and Maurice, as well as a half-sister to Jon Bon (Lot 74).

The sale is free for public entry so readers are welcome to attend the sales from Sunday-Tuesday if interested.