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News
Catapulted red hot for Millions cup
Christmas presents galore
Alezan Thunders into Millions contention
Winners for the week
Superstar filly sparkles in Wakeful
War Ends claims Murray Bridge Gold Cup
Atlantic Jewel wows them in the Guineas
Miss Stellabelle stars in Champagne
Whobegotyou stars first up
Adelaide Trainer's Title No 2
Treble tilt toward Metro title
December Draws a double at Flemington
Shocking retires to stud
CATAPULTED RED HOT FOR MILLIONS CUP
2 January 2012
 Outstanding sprinter Catapulted will head to the Gold Coast for the $400,000 Magic Millions Cup after his sizzling win in Monday's Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
A group winner in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, Catapulted was regarded the best horse in the race by the handicapper and he lived up to the rating with a stunning win.
The win was sensational - considering the margin was a widening three lengths and the time for the 1200 metres was a sizzling 1 minute 7.66.
The time was just half a second outside Iglesia's long standing track record for the famous Flemington six furlong straight journey.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh said he would be in line for a kiss from his wife Isobel, who is a part owner in the son of Catbird.
Kavanagh said Catapulted would now head to the Gold Coast to play his part in Queensland's richest race meeting - the $4.3 million Magic Millions raceday.
"I was surprised he did that with the weight (59kg) but he is a good horse when right," Kavanagh said after the emphatic win.
"I thought we had him nearly back and it is good to see him hit form again."
"He got them off the bridle a long way out and that always helps in straight races."
"He's been a fabulous horse - a great horse."
"It is a quality handicap so we might take him up there now," Kavanagh said referring to the Magic Millions Cup.
"He will fly up on Thursday with a couple of others (including BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic bound youngster Alezan Thunder)."
A $90,000 purchase for Kavanagh from the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Catapulted was bred by Bob and Helen Dinham along with the Watson family's Mill Park operation at Meningie which prepared and sold the youngster at the Morphettville auction.
Catapulted now boasts the outstanding record of 11 wins and six minor placings from just 27 runs and earnings of nover $770,000.
The win topped a terrific weekend for the Melbourne stable who produced three first time winners in the form of Artie Royale and Zephyron, who combined for a double at Cranbourne on Friday; and Pakari Toa who was an impressive four and a half length winner at Bendigo on Saturday.
With thanks to www.magicmillions.com and http://ultimateracingphotos.com.au/
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Christmas presents galore
26 December 2011
The Kavanagh stable enjoyed a busy festive period with winners Alezan Thunder, Strum Cha, Set And Forget and Bagman giving their owners a very, merry Christmas.
Speedy two-year-old Alezan Thunder was a record setting winner of the opening race at Sandown on Christmas Eve and was joined later in the day by Morphettville winner Strum Cha (replay) who scored a sensational come from behind win in the last race on the program.
The winners continued on Boxing Day with a race to race double in Adelaide.
Set And Forget, first up from a spell, was an all the way winner and was followed by Bagman (replay) who took out the day's feature - the Listed $80,000 Christmas Handicap.
Bagman has been a great success since joining the Adelaide stable winning six of nine starts for career earnings of $177,000.
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ALEZAN THUNDERS INTO MILLIONS CONTENTION
24 December 2011
 Alezan Thunder could head to the Gold Coast for Queensland's richest race following a brilliant win in today's Swettenham Stud Plate (900m) at Sandown.
While admitting the Gold Coast was "a long way" from Melbourne leading trainer Mark Kavanagh said he would consider a trip north for the $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).
On the speed throughout from the inside barrier, Alezan Thunder raced clear when asked by rider Stephen Baster and she streaked clear to win by three and three quarter lengths.
The win was the second in three runs for the daughter of Written Tycoon following a barnstorming debut success at Morphettville in October.
In between that run and today she ran well when third in listed company at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
"Obviously she's above average," Kavanagh said. "We'll have a chat with the boys (who own her) and see how we go (regarding the Magic Millions Classic)."
"The knock would be going the opposite way and if it rained, I'm not sure (she would handle it)," he added.
"We'll wait and see," Kavanagh summed up when referring to a possible trip to the Gold Coast.
The win continued the good recent run for popular senior rider Stephen Baster - a rider preparing for a stint in Singapore.
 "Obviously having had a couple of runs already helped and she was pretty strong on the line," Baster said.
"She's a nice filly and hopefully she'll win better races," he added.
Alezan Thunder is by former outstanding juvenile and Magic Millions graduate Written Tycoon.
She was spotted by the Kavanagh family at March's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale and Mark's son Sam bid to $55,000 to secure her from the draft of Rothwell Park.
"We bought her without the catalogue, she doesn't have much of a pedigree," Mark Kavanagh said. "We just walked around and picked out the best type."
Kavanagh has had great success with graduates from the Adelaide Yearling Sale - including Group One winners Devil Moon, Divine Madonna, Hard to Get and Undoubtedly.
The $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) will be run at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Magic Millions release
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Winners for the week
10 December 2011
Starcraft colt Astro Damus made a good start to the week when he saluted at Geelong on Sunday December 4. The three year old was having just his second start and despite racing greenly in the straight was too good for his rivals recording a 1 3/4 length win. Astro Damus was purchased by Mark Kavanagh at the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions and is raced by stable clients.
The Adelaide stable produced another first time winner when Simply Delightful was successful at the provincial course Gawler on Wednesday. The daughter of Foreplay proved too speedy over the 1111m circuit burning to the lead and holding off the late challenge of Break the Dry by a short head. Watch the replay at the TRSA web site
Friday night saw the Melbourne debut of Weekend Special who scored a sensational win in the Essendon Mazda 55 Second Handicap. The son of Snitzel, raced by Mt Gambier based clients, had shown terrific speed in his previous two wins in Adelaide and was sent to Melbourne specifically to compete in the 55 second challenge - a series of races held at the Moonee Valley night meetings over the short course of 955m. Weekend Special was hampered at the start and settled near the rear before producing a whirlwind finish to stop the clock at 55.51, lowering the best time set in the series thus far and giving trainer Mark Kavanagh the chance to win a Mazda BT-40 from Essendon Mazda. Read at RVL web site
Back across the border to Morphettville on Saturday where Meshmaker opened his winning account in style. The three year old by Testa Rossa relished the step up to 1800m racing away in the straight to a 2 3/4 length victory. Watch the replay at TRSA web site
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Superstar filly sparkles in Wakeful
 29 October 2011
Atlantic Jewel confirmed her status as racing's latest superstar with a stunning win in today's Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Sent out a well backed $1.26 favourite, Atlantic Jewel treated her rivals with contempt - pulling away in the straight to win by seven lengths - a margin which could have been virtually doubled if she was called upon.
A $320,000 purchase from the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Atlantic Jewel is now unbeaten in five runs - all this campaign. Last start she scored a stunning win in the Group One Thousand Guineas.
"That was a bit arrogant the way she did it, I must admit, but it was pretty good," Kavanagh beamed from the winner's stall.
"Traditionally, you'd think a three-year-old filly having her fourth start, winning a Group One they way she did (in the Thousand Guineas), she would go home, but she improved again."
"I assured the boys this filly hasn't gone backwards, she has improved and that's good enough for us."
"She has a turn of foot and she's so athletic. (She is) just a very special horse."
Despite being eased down on the line by Michael Rodd, Atlantic Jewel ($1.26-$1.28-$1.26 fav) held a massive seven length margin over the runner-up Rahveel ($51-$71). Second favourite Dowager Queen ($7-$9) was the best of the rest in third place, a further half length back.
Winning rider Michael Rodd was searching for the right superlative to be used for the horse he regards the best and most exciting he's ever ridden.
"My number one aim is to keep her out of trouble," Rodd said. "You don't have to ride a pretty race with a horse like that."
"She is quite a big filly with a massive stride on her. She just destroys them."
Demi O'Byrne, the world renowned bloodstock agent who purchased Atlantic Jewel from the Gold Coast, was on course at Flemington to witness the filly wow the massive crowd.
"A great thrill," O'Byrne described the feeling. "It was great to be here to see her race in the flesh."
Atlantic Jewel was bred by Greg Perry and sold through the draft of Vinery Stud at last year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is a daughter of Danehill's former outstanding sprinting son Fastnet Rock and is from a daughter of champion New Zealand based sire Zabeel.
Her dam Regard won two races at 1400 and 1600 metres and hails from the family of international Group One winners Pass the Peace, Embassy and King's Apostle.
The filly's $320,000 purchase price is looking a bargain considering she has now earned over $576,000 and is worth many times that as a future racing and breeding prospect.
www.magicmillions.com.au
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War
Ends claims Murray Bridge Gold Cup
12 October 2011
Hot on the heels of Atlantic Jewel's Thousand
Guineas victory Wednesday was War Ends with a slashing victory of his
own in the $82,150 Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m).
The son of Redoute's Choice rolled forward from the
eight hundred where he was caught deep and was defiant in the straight
holding out Sandhill Prince by a nose.
War Ends was ridden by (the now) Queensland based
jockey Joe Bowditch who rode Mark Kavanagh's first Group One winner Hard
To Get in the South Australian Derby.
Watch the replay here
The win was War End's first at stakes level and his
fifth overall for prizemoney of $216,093.
War Ends is pictured right along with Craig Schlein
and the Murray Bridge Gold Cup.
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Atlantic Jewel wows them in Guineas
 12 October 2011
Atlantic Jewel confirmed her status as Australia's best race filly with a stunning win in today's Group One $500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Racegoers were left searching for superlatives when the daughter of Fastnet Rock came with a run from near the back of the field, to circle the field and then race away for a three length success.
"I can't (put it into words), she's very good," Kavanagh said of Atlantic Jewel - who now stretches her unbeaten record to four.
"These (kinds of horses) don't come along very often."
"She can do many things that I haven't seen horses do before."
"She put paid to them in a couple of strides and for her to be able to dominate like that, she is a very good horse."
Kavanagh said he would not be tempted to run the filly in Australia's premier weight-for-age contest, the Cox Plate.
"No, she is a very good filly. I don't want to gut her."
"I'll discuss the matter with the owners later and probably recommend she goes to the paddock."
"She is something else and we should probably give her a chance to get there."
 Atlantic Jewel was purchased by part owner, world renowned Irish based bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne for $320,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The filly was presented at the auction on behalf of breeder Greg Perry by the team from Vinery Stud.
Winning rider Michael Rodd said the filly is clearly one of the most exciting gallopers in the country.
"She is freakish," Rodd said. "Obviously I've got to take my hat off to Kav and the stable. They just get them to peak at the right time."
"She came out of the barriers really well and I just let a few of them go from the outside."
"I just wanted to make sure no matter where I was, I was one-off (the fence). The pace was on, it was very solid and I just waited until we got around the back there at the half mile, I just wanted to put her into contention."
"If she was ridden properly and ridden a patient race you'd probably see the best of her but she is just that good you don't want to risk anything with her and you can ride her nice and arrogantly."
"On her last piece of work on Thursday morning, the work that she did, after that we came in and Kav just sort of shook his head and walked away and Merv Harvey, our stable foreman, he just said 'freak' and they just turned away."
"They couldn't even stand there. They were just blown away by the work she put in."
"It's just good to have her here raceday and one piece just to show what she's really got."
 Rodd, like most on track, is excited about Atlantic Jewel's future.
"She's still got a lot to learn, her ears are always flicking wherever she is and she's still very green so it's going to be very good to see what she can do this time next year."
"She's really laid back. She's a massive, long filly so I think we could probably be talking Caulfield Cups this time next year, but she's also very brilliant," Rodd summed up.
Atlantic Jewel is a daughter of Danehill's former outstanding sprinting son Fastnet Rock and is from a daughter of champion New Zealand based sire Zabeel.
Her dam Regard won two races at 1400 and 1600 metres and hails from the family of international Group One winning stars Pass the Peace, Embassy and King's Apostle.
Atlantic Jewel is the 21st individual stakes winner for Fastnet Rock and clearly the most exciting.
www.magicmillions.com.au release
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Miss Stellabelle stars in Champagne
01 October 2011
 Mark Kavanagh's outstanding run with his three-year-old fillies continued at Moonee Valley when Miss Stellabelle scored a brilliant win in the Group Three Champagne Stakes (1200m).
Last through the early and middle stages of the race, Miss Stellabelle produced a powerful finishing burst in the straight to reel in Platelet. So fast was the daughter of Dehere finishing that at the post she raced clear to her rivals to win by a widening length and a half margin.
The win was the second consecutive success for Miss Stellabelle following her impressive Bendigo maiden victory on September 21.
"I said before to race to Ollie - that I don't think they're making much ground tonight so perhaps you should be handy," Kavanagh said.
"But he said - no I'm not going forward - so it was a waste of time telling him anything, but he knows more than me - so full marks he rode it a treat."
Kavanagh said Miss Stellabelle was developing nicely and she would most like have one more run before he will reassess her future.
"We won't over do her. She's jumped from a maiden to a Group Three - only good horses to do that. We'll keep in mind there is plenty in the tank for the autumn."
Miss Stellabelle is a three quarter sister to the five time group winning sprinter Here De Angels - a one time Kavanagh prepared star.
Meanwhile, Kavanagh made it a double at the Valley when his flying sprinter Definitely Ready scored a high class win in the first heat of the 55 Second Challenge.
Despite being gassed early by Canberra visitor Zaratone, Definitely Ready was still able to hold off his rivals under the urgings of stable rider Michael Rodd.
Definitely Ready, now an earner of over $220,000, was purchased by Kavanagh form the draft of Mill Park for $140,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
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Whobegotyou stars first up
 14/08/11
Stable star Whobegotyou opened his spring campaign with a first up win in the Group Two MRC Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.
The win was his tenth in an illustrious career that has thus far netted over $3.2 million in prizemoney. The six year old has performed almost exclusively at stakes level throughout his career and eight of his ten wins have been at Group One (two) or Group Two (six) level.
Despite only having won first up once previously - his sensational debut in May of 2008 - Whobegotyou had finished second at each of his other resuming runs. He opened favourite but drifted to be replaced at the jump by unbeaten mare Lights of Heaven. She was the eventual runner up and lost no admirers from a Caulfield Cup standpoint.
Whobegotyou will attempt to win his third consecutive Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 11 at his next start.
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Adelaide Trainer's Title No. 2
03/08/11
The Adelaide stable claimed their second consecutive metropolitan trainers title with the wins of Resounding Miss (video) and Sezero (video) at Morphettvile on July 28.
In a battle that had been hotly contested between three trainers the Mark Kavanagh team prevailed by a solitary win with a total of 36 city winners for the season.
The Flemington stable also enjoyed an extremely successful season finishing second on the Melbourne trainers premiership with an impressive strike rate of 20.43%
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Treble tilt toward Metro title
13/07/11
The Adelaide stable sits just one win off the lead in what is a hotly contested metropolitan premiership after leading in a treble at Morphettville today.
There is a traffic jam at the top of the Adelaide trainer's table with just a single win separating the top three with the Kavanagh team now in second with 33 wins.
The stable produced the debutants Ziggy's Crown and Resounding Miss who were impressive in their respective races.
Ziggy's Crown, bred and owned by long time stable clients Barry and Marie Vandenbergh, shared the lead before sprinting clear in the straight, recording some smart sectionals. In stark contrast Resounding Miss, a half-sister to stable star Catapulted, settled last and came with a barn storming run in the straight to win by three quarters of a length.
Rounding out the treble was Barabba Rose
Watch the replays at TRSA - Ziggy's Crown, Resounding Miss, Barabba Rose
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December Draws a double at Flemington
25/05/11
 Import December Draw will be spelled after his impressive win at Flemington on Saturday and set for black type races during the spring.
It was December Draws second win from as many starts for the Kavanagh stable after his import from England late last year. He surprised punters at his Australian debut winning first up over a mile at odds of 26/1. He relished the step up to the 2000 metres of the Banjo Paterson Series (Heat 1) Handicap clearing out in the straight to record a soft five length win.
The five-year-old had won three minor races int he UK before he was brought to Australia by owner Richard Pegum who imported subsequent Group One winner My Kingdom of Fife at a similar time. Pegum races December Draw with Gary Towzell.
Rain Shadow completed a Flemington double for the stable and jockey Stephen Baster when she scored a come from last win in the last race. The giant mare made a sustained run from the rear to oust Mont Fleuri literally in the shadows of the post.
The double elevated trainer Mark Kavanagh to second on the Melbourne metropolitan premiership (now) with 32 wins.
The Adelaide stable made it a two state treble when it produced Snitzel gelding Weekend Special to win the Projection Graphics Handicap. Resuming from a spell the three-year-old was impressive recording a slick time over the 1050 metre journey.
The stable continued it's winning ways on Wednesday at Sandown when lightly raced Street Cry filly Midnight Martini registered her second win and the promising Test Pilot won his maiden in impressive fashion on the Morphettville Parks track. Test Pilots win brought the Morphettville stable within one win of the lead on the South Australian metropolitan trainers premiership.
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Shocking is retired to stud
20/05/11
Dual Group I winner Shocking will offer top-class performance, versatility and the looks to match a classic pedigree when he retires to stud in New Zealand this spring.
Shocking will join the roster at Rich Hill Stud in 2011 and is a magnificent individual with brilliant acceleration, he also retires to stud as Australasia's only top-flight winning stallion by the champion sire Street Cry.
"Shocking is a superb type with a unique race record and a global pedigree," Rich Hill studmaster John Thompson said.
"We're confident he will be a highly successful commercial addition to the New Zealand breeding industry.
"His progeny will have also great appeal to our overseas buyers that come here to buy tough, sound horses who can perform at the elite level from 1600 to 3200 metres."
Shocking's race record was ample proof of his ability and stamped him as one of the most versatile racehorses in Australia over the last decade. He had the brilliance to win the Group II Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m, the class to win the Group I Australian Cup over 2000m and the courage to trounce an international field in the Group I Melbourne Cup over 3200m.
Shocking, who also won the Group III Lexus Stakes over 2500m and ran fourth in the Group I Caulfield Cup, retired as the winner of seven races and $6.4 million.
He was prepared throughout his 27-start career by leading Melbourne trainer Mark Kavanagh.
"The turn of foot he showed in the Australian Cup was nothing short of amazing and when he won the Melbourne Cup he sat three deep all the way and not many horses would be able to do that,” he said.
"He got better with age and he was the quietest and most relaxed horse around the stable – he was right up there with the best of them. He's going to a quality stud where he will get the very best opportunities.”
Top Sydney jockey Corey Brown partnered Shocking in both his Australian and Melbourne Cup triumphs.
"He was a very versatile horse and he'll always hold a special place in my heart," he said.
"He was an absolute gentleman to ride and you could put him anywhere in a race and then just push the button. He showed a turn of foot and there's no doubt riding him has been the highlight of my career.”
An analysis of Shocking's pedigree highlights a number of outstanding Australasian breeding influences.
His sire Street Cry, who commands a service fee of $A100,000 has produced 12 individual Group I winners at all ages, distances and on all surfaces.
Leading North American representatives of the Group I Dubai World Cup winner feature the wonder mare and multiple Group I winner Zenyatta and Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.
In Europe, Street Cry is the sire of Group II Dante Stakes winner Carlton House, who is currently high up in pre-post betting for the Group I Epsom Derby.
Shocking's former stablemate Whobegotyou has also proved himself a top-class performer with Group I victories in the Caulfield Guineas and the Caulfield Stakes.
Shocking is out of Maria Di Castiglia, who is a daughter of the international breed-shaper Danehill, while his grand-dam is a stakes-winning grand-daughter of Roberto. His third dam Morbella is a daughter of Silly Season who has founded an Australasian dynasty through his son Lunchtime, the sire of Snippets and grandsire of Pins.
Shocking was raced by Laurence and Prue Eales, of Eales Racing, who said the time was right for the horse to embark on a stud career following his last start Group I Australian Cup success.
Shocking is currently being syndicated among a number of leading New Zealand breeders with Eales Racing retaining a significant share.
"I have been delighted with the response to the horse from New Zealand breeders,” Thompson said. "Laurence visited New Zealand for the first time last week and was suitably impressed with our environment for breeding and rearing thoroughbreds and is looking forward to the next phase of Shocking's career at Rich Hill.”
Breeders that have already purchased shares include Millfield Stud, Nearco Stud, Colin and Irene Thompson, Bloodstock Resources Ltd, Cambridge Hunt Ltd, Raffles Dancers Pty Ltd, GG Syndicate Ltd, Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan, Oria Road Investments, Tim Harrison, Archer Equine Investments Ltd, Masterpiece Enterprises, Markwood Lodge Ltd, Broadway Partnership and Kevin Algie. Former trainer Mark Kavanagh has also taken an interest in the stallion with a few remaining shares still available.
Shocking was retired sound and is currently spelling in Melbourne, is expected to arrive at Rich Hill in mid-June and will be offered at a service fee of $NZ12,000 +GST with a live foal guarantee. He will stand alongside leading sire Pentire ($NZ30,000 + GST and LFG), champion English 2YO and Derby winner Sir Percy ($NZ15,000 + GST and LFG) and the promising young sire Any Suggestion ($NZ6500 + GST and LFG).
Rich Hill Stud Release
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