12/30

Racing How'd You Do?
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A lovely set of results to finish off the year.

Happy New Year everyone.

Wins:
The Crown (2yo, Quarren) in a NW2 Allowance
Port Macquarie (3yo, Worthy Victor) in a NW2 Allowance
Invaluable (3yo, Usain Bolt) in a NW3 Allowance
SweetLittleMystery (2yo, Franco Classico) in a maiden
Astronomy (3yo, Frankel) in a maiden
Lingering Success (4yo, Daredevil Dan) in an Allowance
Acrobatics (3yo, Nobly Regal) in a NW3 Allowance
Cold Barrel Zero (3yo, Gun Runner) in a NW1 Allowance
Ravenglass (3yo, Dubawi) in a NW3 Allowance
Velvet Kisses (3yo, Sionnach) in a NW2 Allowance
Ch. Catsby (4yo, Quarren) in the Omaha Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)
Ch. Cwtch (4yo, Sionnach) in the Grafton Cup (Gr. 3)

Places:
Roses For Jenny (3yo, Run Jenny Run) in a NW3 Allowance
Innocent Rail (4yo, Run Jenny Run) in a NW3 Allowance
Draped (4yo, Quarren) in an Allowance
Cheering Charm (4yo, Crafty Magic) in an Allowance
Crest Stone (2yo, First Born Son) in a maiden
Annwn (3yo, Tir Na Nog) in a NW3 Allowance
Drifting Art (4yo, Moonopoly) in a Starter Allowance
Ch. King of Swords (2yo, Express Yourself) in the Man O’War Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)
Ch. Lady Penelope (4yo, Fight The Twilight) in the Highland Raven Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

Shows:
Launch The Fleet (3yo, Naval Commander) in a NW3 Allowance
FairytaleOfNewYork (3yo, California Chrome) in an Allowance
Varenna (3yo, Quarren) in an Allowance

Fourths:
GrĂ­an (4yo, Sionnach) in an Allowance

Fifths:
Dark Jester (6yo, Foolhardy) in a NW3 Allowance
Circe (4yo, Golden Text) in an Allowance

Also Rans:
Ch. Electric Dreams (4yo, Sionnach) 9th in an Allowance
Ch. Lust For Life (5yo, Quarren) 6th in the Omaha Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)
Wicked Flee (2yo, Quarren) 6th in the Eternal Hope Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)
Ch. Loveisabattlefield (3yo, Sionnach) 6th in the Grafton Cup (Gr. 3)

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Mixed results to close out the year. Overall, we were ranked 3rd for highest earning stable, 4th for most wins, and 5th for OTB percentage.

9(5)-1-2(1)-2(1)-2(2) $169,000

Wins:
Space Dust (2yo, Space Chips) in an Allowance

Places:
Kiss and Tell (2yo, Turnpike Wannabe) in a NW3 Allowance
Paean (2yo, Dubawi) in the Eternal Hope Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

Shows:
Belle de Jour (3yo, Zadar) in a Starter Allowance
Ch. Straitlace (3yo, Straticus) in the Highland Sorceress Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

Fourths:
Ch. Mighty Flea (2yo, Blue Smoke) in the Man O’War Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)
Ch. Macaroon (4yo, Black Cherry) in the Omaha Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

Also Rans:
Miss McKinley (2yo, Gun Runner) 8th in an Allowance
Ch. Urban Icon (3yo, Unabridged) 6th in the Highland Sorceress Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

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Claimed Speaking Birds from FF because I like the name (:

Places:
Naja Naja (2yo, Space Chips) in an Allowance

Shows:
U Look Rough (2yo, Golden Text) in a NW3 Allowance

Fourths:
Midnight Angerday (2yo, Lucky Streak) in an Allowance

Also Rans:
Vice Versa (2yo, In The Navy) 7th in a maiden
Speaking Birds (3yo, Starling) 6th in a claiming race

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So-so day to round off this year of racing. This was Gotapa’s third year of racing and the first year we really dabbled into stakes. FF is not an easy game to get a foothold in, so it’s really satisfyin to watch the caliber of horses racing under Gotapa skills grow. Next year will be the introduction of our first crop of homebreds, so lots to look forward to!!

11(1)-1-3-1-2

Wins:
Just Keep Swimming (3yo, LiveLong&Prosper) in a NW3 Allowance

Places:
Dangerous Game (2yo, Blue Smoke) in a NW3 Allowance
Friendly Frog (3yo, First Born Son) in an Allowance
Rhea (4yo, Space Chips) in a NW3 Allowance

Shows:
Invisible City (2yo, City of Light) in an Allowance

Fourths:
Ragged Fact (3yo, Von Lichtenstein) in a NW3 Allowance
Saxophone (3yo, Golden Horn) in an Allowance

Fifths:
Devil’s Bride (3yo, Devil’s Heir) in a NW3 Allowance
License To Kill (3yo, Gun Runner) in the Alex M. Robb Stakes (Ungr.)

Also Rans:
Galavant (4yo, Strike It Rich) 8th in an Allowance
Fool For The Night (3yo, I’m No Fool) 6th in a NW2 Allowance

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Not a bad way to end the year. We ended up with 12% wins, 40% OTB, and our highest yearly earnings so far. We also really ramped up the breeding program and had over 100 foals, which I’m really excited about. The past few years we have only had 3-4 homebred foals. I’m also really proud to say we had our first homebred stakes winner, Grammar Hurricane.

Wins:
Ch. Dash to the Exit (5yo, Exit Poll) in a Starter Allowance

Places:
Crepuscular Light (3yo, Mantle of Power) in a NW1 Allowance

Shows:
American Bird (3yo, American Pharoah) in a NW2 Allowance
Below Zero (2yo, Frosted) in an Allowance

Fourths:
Larian Triangle (2yo, Sionnach) in a maiden
Pound Sterling (4yo, Celtic Star) in the Grafton Cup (Gr. 3)

Fifths:
Beautiful Mistake (2yo, One Lucky Soul) in a NW2 Allowance
Animated Chain (4yo, Changeling) in a NW2 Allowance

Also Rans:
Departure (3yo, To Die For) 8th in an Allowance
Reynard (5yo, Sionnach) 6th in an Allowance

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Nice to finish on a Gp1 to Ch. Thriller (3yo, All That Appeal) in the Cigar Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

25(6)-9(1)-4(2)-3(1)-2 $546,500

Wins:
Silvanus (3yo, Straticus) in a NW3 Allowance
Starontherise (4yo, Bernardini) in a NW3 Allowance
Hengist (3yo, Hogsmeade) in an Allowance
Sarayburnu (3yo, Golden Horn) in an Allowance
Princely Magic (6yo, Exit Poll) in an Allowance
Ch. Unscripted (9yo, Unabridged) in an Allowance
Hope’s Evil (2yo, Dr. Evil) in an Allowance
Calmness (2yo, Glorious Victory) in an Allowance
Ch. Thriller (3yo, All That Appeal) in the Cigar Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)

Places:
Shaded (4yo, Dr. Evil) in a NW2 Allowance
Let’s Go (3yo, Highland Burning) in an Allowance
Ch. The A Ring (4yo, Clockstopper) in the Omaha Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1)
Ch. Outlast (4yo, Last For More) in the Grafton Cup (Gr. 3)

Shows:
Dashing Dr Rose (2yo, Dr. Evil) in a NW2 Allowance
Gangbuster (5yo, Gang of Thieves) in a NW3 Allowance
GCh. Diamond Impact (5yo, Unabridged) in the Alex M. Robb Stakes (Ungr.)

Fourths:
Ch. Grandstand Finish (8yo, Highland Burning) in an Allowance
Black Ops (4yo, Chivalry) in an Allowance

Fifths:
Contraband (3yo, Gun Runner) in an Allowance

Also Rans:
Dr. Murray (6yo, Dr. Evil) 11th in an Allowance
GCh. Thom Browne (8yo, I’m No Fool) 12th in an Allowance
Ha’way The Lads (2yo, Away The Lads) 6th in an Allowance
California High (5yo, California Chrome) 8th in an Allowance
Ch. Hidden Indy (5yo, Hidden Destiny) 6th in the Alex M. Robb Stakes (Ungr.)
GCh. Off Limits (8yo, Can’t Touch This) 10th in the Grafton Cup (Gr. 3)

I’ve been playing FF for a long time and have never held the ambition to challenge, always wary of some of the bigger stables over the years and not having as deeper pockets to buy better stock, relying on homebreds etc.

Even this year it was a few months in before I thought I’d try and win the most races for the year, racing majority from Australia I used to spell most of my horses during the Australian break with only the odd stakes horse heading overseas, this year I sent them far and wide and it was pleasing to see some good results. We eclipsed last years total of 618 to record 727 winners for the year. I consciously raced some of the non stakes horses more, not only to help win more races but to bolster some of the fields so it wasn’t just FF horses.

Still the year isn’t without some frustration, I’ve always been cautious not to over race the stable but I feel this has gone against me somewhat as I have 9 boys stuck 1 win shy of stud qualification, 2 will retire failing to get there and another 3 falling 2 short :face_with_raised_eyebrow: I’ve tried to race some of the younger stock more regularly to hopefully qualify earlier in their careers. :thinking:

Thanks for the fun everyone - I really enjoy the distraction FF provides.

Andy

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@Andy Congrats on Thriller’s G1 win!

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Not a bad way to wrap up the racing year. Looking forward to what the new year will bring!

Wins:
Shiny As Stars (2yo, Starling) in a NW3 Allowance
Mourning Hour (4yo, Formal Occasion) in a NW3 Allowance

Shows:
Bling Ring (3yo, Eighteen Karat) in an Allowance
Marilyn’s Ruby (3yo, French Ruby) in an Allowance
Psychic Caramel (3yo, Black Cherry) in a NW2 Allowance

Fifths:
Lonesome Quarter (6yo, Cryptic Ballad) in an Allowance
Quirky Sky (5yo, Gang of Thieves) in the Grafton Cup (Gr. 3)

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Ta Shelbie - he looks pretty promising. Fingers crossed he can go onto stud qualification, he and his younger 1/2 brother Bubbles are the last two from Neverland who I’ve had fun with all the Micheal Jackson references in the names.