Neck and neck in Great Britain

Whilst Invincible Spirit has led the Irish, Italian and All European third season sire lists by big margins for some time he was running a close second to Kyllachy in the Great Britain list until a few days ago when he stuck his head in front. He currently leads by a mere $3,100 with a week to go in their year. See http://www.stallions.com.au/sire_lists.asp

Start Four at Gosford

KW will start at Gosford on Monday 29th Dec in an 1100m Maiden.
Gerald will try a new bit and reports that he has improved in the coat since Rosehill and that he is expecting a better showing from him. He is to be ridden by former top apprentice jockey Joshua Parr (pictured) who is riding in the best form of his career with 16 winners and 49 placings from his last 100 rides. KW will jump from barrier seven, pending scratchings.

Choice of three for start four

Just got this from Gerald

18/12/08
Done well since his race at Rosehill. Have entered him at Rosehill in an 1100m 3 year old no metro win race on the 27th and Newcastle a 1200m maiden on the 26th and also Gosford an 1100m maiden on Monday 29th. Will decide after entries.
Regards
Gerald Ryan

Start Three

He jumped well, took up a forward position and loomed on the outside like a likely winner at the turn but from that point failed to run on. He faded in the straight to finish fifth.
Gerald will give him one or two more starts this preparation over shorter distances hoping he will settle early and run home.
In this regard the pacifiers did seem to work so if he can save himself for a run home over a shorter trip he may greet the judge for the first time.

Gear Change

KW will start from barrier 5 in a field of 10 on Wednesday in the, hopefully, appropriately named "It's Our Time Handicap" over 1300m.
In order to curb his enthusiasm and get his mind on the job Gerald intends to try him in pacifiers, a mesh invention put over a horse’s eyes and used to try to help excitable horses relax or “pacify” them. The closely knit mesh ensures the horse has to concentrate just to be able to see. The stewards may direct them to be removed if muddy conditions apply, to negate the possibility of restricted vision.
On the weather front we are going to be looking skywards a lot in the next few days as showers are predicted. Exactly how many and where they will fall remains to be seen.
Latest forecast and Radar

Hey, who taught him to count?

KW is nominated to start next Wed, 10th December at Rosehill. Click here for the field and form.
So far KW has run fourth in his trial and at each of two starts. I hope it's not becoming a pattern. I've heard that some horses are very competitive and just have to win but insisting on running fourth would be a new one.
Let's hope that he can't count and that this time round he can go at least one, preferably three, better.
Maybe some lessons on subtraction would be in order.
OK KW, repeat after me, 4 - 3 =

4th Again

Jockey Rod Quinn and trainer Gerald Ryan talk to owner/breeder Eddie Cassar before KW's race.

KW placed fourth in Sunday's race in Canberra. The concensus is that although he jumped on terms with the leaders he over-raced and was a spent force at the business end of the trip.
The current thinking is that he should be tried over a longer distance where they don't go so fast early and if the jockey can get him to settle then he may be able to run-on and perform to his ability.

14 To Start

Fourteen will start in KW's second race at Canberra on Sunday. Unfortunately he has drawn wide (12) and with a short run to the first turn will have to get away better than at Canterbury to take up a forward position.
Gerald has Tommifrancs and Ready to Lift engaged in the Canberra Cup so let's hope the stable can top off a great day with a good result there too.

Things Looking Up

The weather forecast for Canberra continues to be upgraded in our favour. ie less rain predicted than first thought.
What great news about Gerald's first born grandchild. As a grandfather twice over myself I can assure him it's a great time to be alive.
Let's hope his luck continues on the weekend and that KW becomes even a small blip on the radar. -Geoff

Grandpa Gerald

As you may or may not know, Warren (Wruck) and I publish Turf Monthly. As part of this we do a daily newsletter and I source a lot of the news from AAP. I posted an interesting story this morning on Gerald and his upcoming week - no mention of KW though as he is still under the radar but interesting nonetheless. - Liam

23 Nominated

Twenty three horses have been nominated for KW's race on Sunday. Check the form of the nominated runners here

Weather Watch

The weather seems to have reverted to winter, just days from the official start of summer. Rain is predicted for the next several days in Canberra but Sunday is expected to be fine. Let's hope the rain is not too heavy and the track stays ok for KW's second start.
Check Canberra's weather forecast here.

Canberra, here we come.

Just got this from Gerald-

KHAMSIN WARRIOR

---

19/11/08

Has improved and done well since Canterbury. On track to go to Canberra in a maiden on Sunday week.

Regards

Gerald Ryan

Desert Wind Launches

Team Khamsin experienced a glimpse of things to come from this young 3yo. The trainer needs to be acknowledged given the gelding's focus and tracktability in his 1st race start on an unsuitable turning track. The gelding was able to race amongst,around and outside his competitors without stargazing or loss of direction which must reflect on his mental maturity as well as Gerald Ryan's good training. If the jockey had greater hands and strength Khamsin could have held the fence behind the pace rather than being asked to do an impossible and come out on the turn into the straight in an 1100m scamper: I guarantee a 2nd placing would have resulted if he was kept in the pack. There are however positives in the ride the gelding was given in so far as he had very useful lessons from Rodney Quinn which will prove to be extremely valuable in the gelding's future starts. The gelding needs a stronger jockey and a minimum 1400m race to really shine as he needs to get into his fabulous rhythm and big stride as shown in this 1st start.This is not to say a fast pace 1200m maiden win in Canberra is beyond him : far from it so bring it on. Cheers to all...Eddie

Great first run

KW's first start went smoothly with a satisfying 4th today at Canterbury.
After jumping away slowly and settling about 8th in the field of 12 he was looking for somewhere to go in the middle stages of the race. When switched to the outside, across the heels of several slower runners as the field rounded the turn, he accelerated into third before being beaten into 4th by the fast finishing King of Drift, a veteran of two previous starts.
All owners agreed with trainer Gerald Ryan that KW's effort was an indication that he will win races soon.

Photos courtesy of Liam and Turf Monthly Magazine. Click on image to see full size image

1st start coming up

Just got the news that KW came through his jumpout OK and will start next Wed, 12th Nov at Canterbury over 1100m.
KW will be ridden by Rod Quinn. He is horse number 6 and will start from barrier 5 in race 4. Post time is 3.00pm
For full form click here.
The Canterbury track is small and turning and unsuited to long-striding horses who get back. As a larger than average horse he will have to jump well and take up a forward position before the first turn to figure in the placings.
In any event it is only his first start and without the benefit of a recent barrier trial we shouldn't be overconfident.
Latest betting click here

Fleeting Spirit impresses again

Fleeting Spirit, KW's half-sister, continues to impress. Following her 5th in the re-run of the farcical Prix de l'Abbaye at the Arc de Triomphe meeting in France, she has finished a gallant fourth, after looking like the winner in the straight, in the $1,000,000 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, California.

Her jockey John Murtagh said, "She ran well. I took her inside and got through the gap. The horse on the outside (Desert Code) was just too good. She's just a 3-year-old filly. She'll be a top-class sprinter next year."

Watch the race here

A Sad Day

Part owner and breeder of Khamsin Warrior, Eddie Cassar, reports some tragic news. Coquette, the 14 yo broodmare who foaled KW in 2005 has passed away.
Eddie says, "Just when KW is ready to have his 1^st start his 14yo dam COQUETTE, recently served by “Not A Single Doubt” had to be put down today after a failed repeat operation for strangulated bowel. Hopefully KW will leave a legacy to his lovely mum!! "

Europe's Number One tops $4 million

Invincible Spirit is in line to be declared Europe's leading third season of 2008.
As at 28/10/08 his European progeny have achieved 70 wins from 172 runners (a staggering 40% winners/runners) and have amassed earnings of A$ 4,071,481 .

Leading money earner is Baileys Cacao (IRE) (pictured) with $571,711

Invincible Spirit tops the third season sire lists in Ireland and Italy, rates number two in Great Britain, 14th in France, 17th in Germany, 7th in NZ, 9th in HK and 15th in Australia.

Trial looming

A trial for KW on the 11th Nov at Rosehill is on the cards. Gerald is pleased with his progress and told Mick the other day that "KW is going well. Bit of a cheeky bugger but good on the track. Will trial in 3 weeks".

Great Omen

KW's little (3/4) brother was unlucky not to win first-up today. He raced a little greenly when held up for a run in the straight but finished strongly along the rails for second to the more experienced winner who was having its second start.
A win is close for Riding to Win.

3/4 brother's first start Saturday

KW's 3/4 brother, Riding to Win, will have his first race start this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. At his only public outing he finished second to Coco Kerringle in a trial over 740m at Randwick on 10/10/08
He is owned by the same interests as Racing to Win, Reigning to Win and Running to Win. The latter two will also start at the same meeting.
Riding to Win is by Invincible Spirit out of the Zabeel mare, Calm as a Lady.

Invincible Spirit gelding wins UK Gr3

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a group success when Irish-bred 4YO gelding Conquest (Invincible Spirit-Aguinaga, by Machiavellian) scored a 0.75-length victory in the £65,000 (A$137,000) Gr3 Bengough Stakes (6 furlongs) at Ascot.
Conquest (ridden by Jimmy Fortune for trainer William Haggas) defeated 6YO gelding Zidane (Danzero-Juliet Bravo, by Glow) & US-bred 3YO colt Sir Gerry (Carson City-Incredulous, by Indian Ridge). Previously this season, Conquest also won March's Listed Hever Sprint Stakes (5 furlongs on all-weather) at Lingfield Park and last year he finished 3rd in the Listed Scarbrough Stakes (5 furlongs) at Doncaster. As a juvenile in 2006, he won the 2006 Gr2 Gimcrack Stakes (6 furlongs) at York & finished runner-up in Listed Windsor Castle Stakes (5 furlongs) at Royal Ascot. Overall Conquest now has 5 wins & 3 placings from 25 starts for £227,100 (A$476,000) earnings.

Third Time Lucky?

Just got this from Gerald via Graham-

14/10/08

KHAMSIN WARRIOR

Has come back well, looks good two weeks off a jump out,
three weeks from trialling.

Regards
Gerald Ryan

Always Winning

Greg and Natalie Willis from Chatswood Stud (birthplace of KW) report-
The AW brand has been seen crossing the line first in New Zealand recently with sensational 3YO Kildonan winning his only 2 starts.
By Invincible Spirit from the Lord Seymour mare Game Lady, Kildonan is the latest addition to the Stakes Winners born and raised at Chatswood. After winning a trial impressively, Kildonan won his first start by an amazing 8 ½ lengths after circling the field. He then stepped up to Stakes company and won the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and is now scheduled to run in the Group 1 NZ1Million NZ Guineas (1600m) for which he has been installed as $6 favourite.
Related story: http://khamsinwarrior.blogspot.com/2008/06/invincible-spirit-2yo-wins-in-nz.html

Kingship Spirit lands £250,000 thriller

KINGSHIP Spirit (Invincible Spirit x Jupiter Inlet) secured the £250,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes in gutsy style at Newmarket this afternoon.
The Saeed Sulhail-owned gelding was given a strong ride by Johnny Murtagh who tracked the leaders before switching right and driving him to collar the leader inside the final furlong.
He wasn’t stopping at the line as he prevailed by half a length, having been sent off a well-backed 8/1 shot following his four places in maiden company - including twice at Newmarket.
Trainer Jeremy Noseda said: “He’s been a little unlucky this year and should have won at Beverly last time. “He has been gelded and without that operation I can honestly say we wouldn’t be standing here today.“He hasn’t helped himself in the past but the fast pace and this type of race suited him well- everything fell in to place.
Posted on http://www.jeremynoseda.com 02 Oct 2008 by Jackie Jarvis

Sire Stats Update

Invincible Spirit's Australian statistics continue to be amongst the best figures of any stallion with progeny racing in Australia.
His last 100 runners are showing an amazing 20% winning strike rate and 45% the place.
Recent creditable efforts include-

7/09/2008 Sale Invinciblekindness 1 of 13
15/09/2008 Moe Spiritstar 3 of 8
16/09/2008 Kilmore Stanza Spirit 3 of 8
17/09/2008 Doomben Conquering Spirit 1 of 8
22/09/2008 Donald Annabelle's Spirit 2 of 14
23/09/2008 Warrnambool Invinciblekindness 1 of 8
27/09/2008 Seymour Spiritstar 1 of 12
5/10/2008 Benalla Invinciblekindness 1 of 10

One out of three ain't bad. Not at 30/1

Our Joan of Arc's ecstatic owners

KW's paternal half-sister, Fleeting Spirit was the centre of controversy when she was left in the stalls when her gate refused to open at yesterday's Longchamps meeting. The race was re-run some five hours later and at this time I have no idea if she was one of the three non-starters in the re-run. She knocked her head several times in her attempt to take part in the first race. In any event she failed to fill a place. However if you backed her the NSW TAB refunded bets on the original race so don't throw away your tickets.

If you backed the other runner at Longchamp with which KW has a connection, then I'm sorry, German Derby winner, Kamsin, also failed to fill a place in the Arc. If you backed him then, like me, you did your dough.

However our luck came good with the other runner this weekend with which you can claim, if only a tenuous, connection. Our Joan of Arc, the filly my friend bought a share in because I extolled her virtues after being invited to a Darby Racing Open Day by Graham, won the Gimcrack Stakes at the juicy odds of nearly 30/1 (winning dividend was $29.90). She'll never start at those odds again.

[We could be onto a system here. If a horse related to Khamsin Warrior and another with a similar name to KW, are due to start at the same overseas race meeting AND we personally know someone here with a horse whose name derives from that same overseas country and with a part of its name the same as one of the races that one of the aforementioned horses is competing in, then put the house on the local starter. eg Fleeting Spirit (by Invincible Spirit, KW's sire) leads us to Longchamps, France where Kamsin is running in the Arc de Triomphe which leads us to Our Joan of Arc at Randwick because Joan of Arc was a French heroine and Geoff advised his friend to by a share and Geoff has a share in KW. Simple really.]

Anyway you find them, a winner is a winner and they are few and far between, especially at long odds, so I hope like me you finished the weekend in the black.

Put it in under the bed and save it for KW's first start (in December?).

The Big Fella back at Gerald's

Khamsin Warrior has returned to Gerald's stables bigger and hopefully stronger following his spell and pre-training. This means we are looking at a start sometime close to Christmas.

Eddie, for one, is confident that this preparation will see him show his stuff.

I'll try and get to the stables one morning soon and take a pic.

You Little Beauty

Our Joan of Arc overcame the outside barrier, a wet track and being the 'cheapie' of the field to win the Listed Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick today.
Hope you took the tip and had something on her.

Speaking of Arcs

Unrelated to KW or his extended family is a young 2yo filly called Our Joan of Arc. She goes around in the Gimcrack Stakes this Saturday having easily won two jumpouts plus a trial and, despite drawing the outside barrier, I expect her to finish in the first few in her first outing.

My interest? Well, I attended a Scott Darby Racing Open Day at Clarrie Connors stables at Graham's invitation some months ago and she took my eye. I mentioned her to my friend (actually I sent her a longwinded email extolling the filly's virtues) and a week later she snapped one of the two remaining shares. If only I had taken my own advice and bought the last share.

That's racing I guess.

I think I've said that once or twice before.

Invincible Spirit filly an Arc De Triomphe support act

Fleeting Spirit (Invincible Spirit x Millennium Tale) faces her toughest task since her gallant third to Equiano in the King's Stand stakes in the northern Spring, on Sunday when she takes on the big boys again in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye over 1000m at Longchamps, France.

The race, a support to the Prix De L' Arc De Triomphe , promises to bring together a crack field of speedsters including Marchand D'Or, Overdose, Fleeting Spirit, National Colour, African Rose, Borderlescott, Equiano, Kingsgate Native, Corrybrough and US Ranger.

Pre-post betting has Fleeting Spirit at 7/1 or the far less colourful $8.00 as we say it here now.

Related story: Close relative rated World's 10th top two-year old...

Invincible Spirit Adds Italy Black-Type

In Italy, Khamsin Warrior's sire Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a juvenile black-type success when Irish-bred daughter Laguna Salada (Invincible Spirit-Flying Flag, by Entrepreneur) prevailed in a 3-way photo-finish to the €44,000 (A$75,000) Listed Premio Coolmore (1500m) for 2YO fillies at San Siro in Milan. Laguna Salada (ridden by Daniele Porcu for trainer Roberto Feligioni) scored by a nose from Ars Nova (Barathea-Statokips, by Statoblest) with a further nose to Miss Pidwid (Straight Man-Per Diem, by Kissin Kris).
Previously this year Laguna Salada also finished 2nd in July's Listed Premio Gino Mantovani (1500m) at San Siro & 3rd in June's Listed Premio Vittorio Crespi (1200m) at San Siro. Overall she now has a win & 2 placings from 3 starts for £28,706 (A$60,000) earnings. (Sep 29)

Graham visited KW at Cobbitty Lodge last Friday as promised and reports that he is looking great. The 'girls' who run Cobbitty Lodge have apparently fallen in love with him so he is bound to be getting lots of TLC.
A couple more weeks of pampering then it's back to the real world and preparation number three at Ascot Lodge.

KW back at pre-training

Graham reports-
"The Big Fella is doing fine down at Cobbitty Lodge and has been pretraining for 2 weeks. Just got off the phone to Gerald and he says he saw him last Friday and the horse has done a treat.

I will be down there myself next Friday so will send on another report then."

Unique win but more to come

After a third placing at his first start, 3yo gelding Unique Spirit (Invincible Spirit/Unique Bird by Bluebird) scored his first win at Morphettville (SA) today in the 1000m 3yo Maiden Plate.

His dam is bred similarly to Coquette, the dam of Khamsin Warrior, being by Bluebird, yet another successful sire bred on the Northern Dancer/Sir Ivor cross.

HicCups first, then Cups

Many owners have responded to the slightly disappointed tone of my blog entry below with some wise words of logic and encouragement

Mick and Wendy wrote-
Many a very good horse does not get to the track until a 3 year old. Good news is 95% of the time horses just grow out of shin soreness, and other than that KW has made it through 2 full preparations without any other problems. So the signs are that he has some ability and is generally a good sound type. Here's hoping next time in we get to meet and have a beer at the track.

Eddie says-
Agreed.Just look at the race record of Might & Power on which bloodlines and genetic crosses KW’s mating was developed.

and Warren replied-

In the past I think have had only 2 out of 16 or 17 (or so) previous horses race as 2YO's (both won but one of them ended up with bone chips and had years in the paddock after two wins at 3 and after a lot of tlc won again at 6 - albeit by that time in the backblocks where I was living at the time) so I am patience personified! Just about all the rest of them commenced racing at three years after two or three preps. I don't know sometimes how people get some 2YO's into the top races - must take a lot of pushing - and I suppose who can blame them with the money out there for the very best??).

And Eddie, you would be pleased to know that I ran into Denis Roberts (Trevannah Stud Principal) one evening at Woolworths in Scone (doing the grocery shopping - both of us were!) and mentioned the then unnamed KW to him because I knew he had been in a Trevannah draft at the sales. His face absolutely lit up and he said he always, always rated him highly. He said he always had the natural athlete thing going and that we were sure to have a lot of fun with him. His words were "he is a racehorse". Enough said.

Haven't gone deeply into the pedigree yet and appreciate the background as to what you did with the mating plan. The bloke who owns Tesio Power is our NZ correspondent for Turf Monthly so I will get him to do a comparison of both and send it to me. I will pass it on to you.

I can wait for quite a while yet-

Khamsin may be Arabic for 'fifty' but it could also be Aussie for 'heartbreaker'. Just when the owners were starting to think about what hat to wear for his first start in only a few weeks we got the following news-

11/07/08 After galloping on Thursday morning the horse pulled up shin sore; was quite excited about him as his work the last week has been really good; we have been fighting shin soreness with him sometime now and it doesn't look like we are winning. Will go to Carramar Park today for 4 to 6 weeks which may turn out
for the best as he has had an interrupted preparation.
Regards, Gerald Ryan

That's another win he owes us.

Invincible Spirit Adds UK Stakes Success

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a juvenile stakes-success when 2YO colt Light The Fire (Invincible Spirit-Rouge Noir, by Sain Ballado) won the £30,000 (A$62,000) Listed Dragon Stakes (5 furlongs) at Sandown Park for 2YOs. Ridden by Jimmy Fortune for Brian Meehan, Light The Fire beat off a spirited challenge by fillies April Pride (Falbrav-Hasta, by Theatrical) & Moss Likely (Clodovil-Lichen, by Lycius). Source: Racing and Breeding Magazine

First Start Imminent

Gerald feels Khamsin Warrior does not need another trial before his first start. Graham inspected KW this morning after the Rosehill Trials and says he looks fit and composed for his assault on the track.

Geoff visited too, at 6am, and caught him as he was being led 'off to work' on the track. He appears to have beefed up a bit in the last few weeks but some of that may be fat, courtesy of his recent few weeks of recuperation without too much exercise. Another few weeks will see that go and he should be race fit for start number one.

Gerald will give him a serious jumpout on Tuesday of next week and then enter him for a suitable race at Canterbury if he comes through OK.

Another K(h)amsin

Kamsin too strong in German Derby
GERMANY - Kamsin made all the pace on soft ground in the Gr 1 German Derby and had plenty of power in reserve for a comfortable victory in the classic at Hamburg.
Trained by Peter Schiergen, Kamsin cruised across the finish line three lengths in front of stablemate Ostland, who beat British-based Top Lock by a half-length for second in the 16-runner field.
Kamsin covered the 2400 metres in 2:39.29, providing Schiergen with his third victory in the race. A five-time champion jockey and three-time leading trainer in Germany, Schiergen won the German Derby in 2001 with Boreal and with Schiaparelli in 2006.
In a departure from original plans, Kamsin was sent to the front early by jockey Andrasch Starke and had too much in reserve for Ostland and Gr 2 King Edward VII Stakes third-place finisher Top Lock.

Source: Turf Monthly

You can see Kamsin's German Derby victory courtesy of youtube.com by clicking here: Kamsin wins Deutsches Derby

Good News

1.7.08 Gerald's progress report this morning means the new (financial) year has started with good news for owners. See below-

"Back working full time now; taken us a long time to get him over his cold; will probably jump out in 2 weeks prior to trialing again; has done extremely well during his easy time" Regards, Gerald Ryan

Let's hope this is an omen, not just for a start soon but also for some prizemoney to accompany it.

Invincible Spirit Adds UK Black-Type

In the UK, Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a juvenile black-type success when Irish-bred daughter Baileys Cacao (Invincible Spirit-Baileys Cream, by Mister Baileys) scored a 2-lengths victory in the Listed Empress Stakes (6 furlongs) for 2YO fillies at Newmarket. Baileys Cacao (ridden by Richard Hughes for trainer Richard Hannon) defeated fellow Irish-bred Select (Choisir-Intercession, by Bluebird) & Aunt Nicola (Reel Buddy-Night Gypsy, by Mind Games). Source: www.breedingracing.com

Back on Track

Graham reports: "Just got off the phone to Gerald and he advises that treatment on the Big Fella is working well. Horse worked nicely this morning and pulled up OK. Will send on more news in due course."

Recent local results for Invincible Spirit

The Invincible Spirits seem to hitting their straps in both hemispheres. Below are some recent local results of merit-

• 24/05/2008 Mildura Spirit Bay 2nd of 8
• 26/05/2008 Benalla Invinciblekindness 1st of 13
• 04/06/2008 Sandown-Lakeside Sanpan 2nd of 14
• 06/06/2008 Swan Hill Spirit Bay 3rd of 12
• 21/6/08 Monee Valley Sanpan 1st of 9
• 25/06/2008 Balaklava Invincible Diva 1 of 11
  

Invincible Spirit filly wins at Royal Ascot

Khamsin Warrior's sire Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added an overnight UK black-type success when daughter Festivale (Invincible Spirit-Cephalonie, by Kris S) snatched victory by a neck in the £60,000 (A$126,000) Listed Sandringham Stakes (8 furlongs) for 3YO fillies at Royal Ascot.

Irish-bred Festivale (ridden by Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy for trainer John Dunlop) defeated Illusion (Anabaa-Fantasize, by Groom Dancer) & US-bred Shabiba (Seeking The Gold-Misterah, by Alhaarth). Last month Festivale finished 3rd in the UK Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' Stakes (7 furlongs) at York.

On the mend

Geoff visited KW this morning and was told he has missed about 10 days work with a repiratory infection which, according to the 'scope' that was done yesterday, is almost cleared. He has also had a sample of mucous taken from his throat for culturing to make sure he is getting the right antibiotic. He is expected to 'return to work' in the next few days. He looked well enough but was noticbly more sooky than on previous visits and just wanted to put his head out for a cuddle. Geoff and Carolyn obliged.

Gerald will shortly return from Qld (Stablemates Hy Dream a winner on Brisbane Cup day and Synonym a good fourth in the Ipswich Cup) and make his assessment on his progress then.

Invincible Spirit 2YO Wins In NZ

Australian-bred 2YO gelding Kildonan (Invincible Spirit-Game Lady, by Lord Seymour) motored home from the tail of the field to blitz his rivals by 8.5-lengths on debut over 1400m at Avondale (NZ) for trainer Yves Sequin.

Kildonan, bred similarly to Khamsin Warrior being out of a Sir Gaylord line mare, was a $20,000 yearling at the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Sale & subsequently a NZ$56,000 2YO at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock Horses-In-Training Sale at which he posted an impressive breeze-up time of 10.82 seconds.

NZ's Thoroughbred News ran this story following his win.
Kildonan impresses at Avondale
11 Jun 2008 By Jeff Dore
In much the same way that Rafael Nadal destroyed Roger Federer in the recent French Open tennis final, debutante Australian bred galloper Kildonan (2 B. G. Invincible Spirit – Game Lady by Lord Seymour) decimated his rivals in the New Lynn RSA (1400m) Maiden Juvenile at Avondale on Wednesday.
While Nadal only allowed Federer a total of four games in his three-set whitewash, Kildonan hardly gave his opponents a look-in when racing away to win untouched by eight and a half lengths.
A trial winner at Avondale prior to his first race-day outing, Kildonan was heavily supported on the tote and ridden with extreme confidence by Andrew Calder.
After loping along at the tail of the field on a genuine pace, Calder let Kildonan slide forward wide on the track from seven lengths off the lead at the 600 metres, while still firmly held. He slipped into another gear when improving widest of all to level at the 400 and turned the race into a procession when sprinting clear under minimal urging.
And, his two closest rivals had proved themselves to be no mugs at their previous debut starts. Finishing second, Bakup (Kilimanjaro - Dastaria) had recorded a big late run to fill the same position at Pukekohe last time, while the richly bred Monte Cervino (Montjeu – Sierra Dane) improved to claim third, having found the line for fourth in the same race as Bakup prior.
The time for the 1400 metres on a genuine slow track was 1:27.36.
Prepared at Cambridge by Yves Sequin for Bruce and Maureen Harvey, Kildonan was purchased by Michael Wallace Bloodstock for $56,000 from the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, and the enormity of his win appears to make the outlay chickenfeed.
His Irish bred sire Invincible Spirit (Green Desert – Rafha by Kris) was a group one winner of seven races, including two as a two-year-old, and his oldest Australian bred progeny are three.
Kildonan obviously has any amount of ability and seems quite capable of going over more ground, judging by both his racing manner and pedigree.

Trial Postponed

KW's slight illness is continuing so it was decided that a trial today was a bit too much to ask of him. Instead he will trial in two weeks if recovered and has enough work under his belt.

Today's trial was won easily by his stablemate, Hothavananights, in the fastest 2YO time of the morning. He is entered for a race at Rosehill on June 21. Worth a punt I reckon.

Scope first

Following a slight nasal discharge earlier in the week and a couple of days rest, the horse will be scoped today as a precaution before trialling Friday (see below).
I think I'll move in to Gerald's; KW gets better health care than me!

First Start Delayed

Trainer Gerald Ryan has decided against a first start for Khamsin Warrior next Wednesday. He has been listed for another trial at Rosehill next Friday (13th) at 8.35am.

Stallion Statistics for Invincible Spirit Auger Well for KW

Invincible Spirit progeny in Australia may not yet have reached the heights of their half-brothers and sisters in Europe but his local statistics are nevertheless encouraging.

Progeny such as Sanpan, Invinciblekindness, and Invincible Power have seen his last 100 starters average 17% wins and 45% placings.

In races from 1501m-2000m these figures jump to a very impressive 23% and 61% respectively. (By comparision leading sire, Redoutes Choice's figures for his last 100 starters are 11% and 31%).

Spiriting Ahead

The new Northern Hemisphere racing season seems to have kicked off with a bang for Khamsin Warrior's sire, Invincible Spirit. This report is from Australian Racing and Breeding Magazine.

Invincible Spirit Adds Irish Gr3
In Ireland overnight, former Chatswood Stud shuttler Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a group success when daughter Age Of Chivalry (Invincible Spirit-Aravonian, by Night Shift) grabbed victory by a head in the €70,000 (A$119,000) Gr3 Ballyogan Stakes (6 furlongs) for fillies & mares at Leopardstown. Age Of Chivalry (ridden by Fran Berry for trainer John Oxx) defeated UK-bred pair Eastern Romance (Oasis Dream-Ocean Grove, by Fairy King) & Cartimandua (Medicean-Agrippina, by Timeless Times).

Age of Chivalry is bred similarly to Khamsin Warrior being 4 x 3 & 5 to Northern Dancer and 4 x 5 to Sir Ivor.
Khamsin Warrior is 4 x 5 to Northern Dancer and 4 x 4 to Sir Ivor.

The Northern Dancer/Sir Ivor cross is well known as a potent producer of winners. For example Redoute’s Choice has sired 8 stakeswinners from 33 runners out of mares by Sir Ivor line stallions. The chief source is Sir Tristram who is the damsire of 3 stakeswinners including multiple Group 1 winner Lotteria while 5 of Sir Tristram’s sire sons have each been represented as the damsire of a Redoute’s Choice stakeswinner: Marauding, Zabeel, Sovereign Red, Dr. Grace and Military Plume.

Three out of four of our current top four stallions are by Northern Dancer male line stallions out of mares which trace tail female to a Sir Ivor mare! They are Flying Spur, Redoutes Choice & Encosta De Lago. The fourth, Zabeel, is not male line to Northern Dancer or tail female to a Sir Ivor mare but is (coincidently or not?) bred on the reverse cross as he is by a Sir Ivor line stallion out of a Northern Dancer line mare.

Let's hope KW lives up to all this theory when he gets his chance on the track.

First Start Next Wednesday

Khamsin Warrior has pulled up well from his trial and Gerald has nominated him for a 2-YO maiden race at Canterbury Racecourse next Wednesday, 11 June.


At the moment 19 are nominated and they include some very well bred youngsters including several by Hussonet, Encosta de Lago etc from big stables representing well known owners such as Nick Moraitis (Might and Power) and Sheikh Mohammed (Darley and Woodlands Studs). Several already have provincial wins under their belt.

At the moment the weather doesn't look so good from a track point of view, so cross your fingers that it clears and the track dries out for his first start.

First trial completed with flying colours.

Khamsin Warrior trialled today at Rosehill. Graham's assessment of his effort is as follows,

"Our Boy trialled very well at Rosehill today. Beaten into fourth place about four and a half lengths from the winner, a colt fired up and very fit from the Waterhouse stable. They ran the 2nd fastest two-year-old time of the day so it was very meritorious."

"Matthew Palmer rode KW and told me afterwards that there was a lot of improvement still in him; green still but learning fast. Matthew rode him as per instructions from Gerald - 'don't knock him about'."

"He's grown in to a magnificent gelding and I am sure he pleased all owners who came along to see him trial. Another trial in 2 weeks and then into a race, all going well."

Results of today's trials can be found by clicking here

Trial Friday

Graham advises that KW will trial this Friday, 30th May at Rosehill in Heat 5 (run at 8.55am). Gerald expects him to run well.

Geoff visited the horse at the stables after he worked this morning and reports that he looks in great shape.

" He was much more animated than last visit and I put this down to him now being near race-fit and therefore not so physically exhausted from his morning exertions. On both occasions I turned up not long after he had worked. I’m looking forward to a bold showing on Friday," he said.

He commented, "On several occasions he stood alert and struck a pose that looked uncannily like…












We wish....

She's Back

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a UK group success when 3YO filly Fleeting Spirit (Invincible Spirit-Millennium Tale, by Distant Relative) scored a 2-lengths victory over her older rivals in the £100,000 (A$210,000) Gr2 Temple Stakes (5 furlongs) at Haydock.
Fleeting Spirit (ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Jeremy Noseda) set a new track record (57.15sec, cutting 1.05sec off the previous mark of 58.2sec) in defeating 6YO gelding Borderlescott ( Compton Place-Jeewan, by Touching Wood) & 8YO gelding Desert Lord (Green Desert-Red Carnival, by Mr Prospector).
Last season as a juvenile, Fleeting Spirit won both the UK Gr2 Flying Childers Stakes (5 furlongs) at Doncaster & Gr3 Molecomb Stakes (5 furlongs) at Goodwood, as well as placing in both the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes (6 furlongs) at Newmarket & Gr2 Lowther Stakes (6 furlongs) at York). see also Close relative rated World's 10th top two-year old

Khamsin Warrior continues to please

Graham reports: "The horse is working along great. I saw him this morning and he seems to have grown even more! Gerald is heading The Big Fella to a barrier trial and as soon as I get confirmation from Gerald I will let all owners know."

Goffs Flat Breeze-Up: $73k Invincible Spirit Colt

Agent Bobby O'Ryan paid €43,000 (A$73,000) for a colt by Irish National Stud stallion Invincible Spirit. The colt is a half-brother to 3 winners out of Firth Of Clyde Stakes runner-up Randonneur, consigned from Con Marnane's Bansha House Stables.

O'Ryan told racingpost.co.uk: "I've bought him for Michael Green who is a new owner with David Murray Smith. He is a very nice colt by the right sire & looks a nice prospect."

KW making great progress

Graham reports- "Saw 'The Warrior' at Gerald's stables after the Trials at Rosehill on Tuesday and he looks great. Lovely big quiet fella - until he gets on to the track - and he is pleasing Gerald no end."

Captain Marvelous wins another one for 'The Spirit'

In the UK, Invincible Spirit (Green Desert-Rafha, by Kris) added a black-type success when Irish-bred 4YO entire Captain Marvelous (Invincible Spirit-Shesasmartlady, by Dolphin Street) gained the judge's verdict in a 3-way photo-finish to the £30,000 (A$63,000) Listed Leicestershire Stakes (7 furlongs) for 4YOs & up at Leicester.

Captain Marvelous (ridden by Michael Hills for trainer Barry Hills) scored by a head from fast-finishing favourite & fellow Irish-bred Al Qasi (Elnadim-Delisha, by Salse) with a further neck to Eisteddfod (Cadeaux Genereux-Ffestiniog, by Efisio).

As a 2YO in 2006, Captain Marvelous won France's Gr2 Criterium De Maisons-Lafitte (1200m) & finished 3rd in the UK Gr1 Shadwell Middle Park Stakes (6 furlongs) at Newmarket; he was a €100,000 (A$170,000) yearling at the Goffs November Sale.

Invincible Spirit progeny in demand

Following the earlier sale of Invincible Spirit fillies for $270,000 and $330,000, the Tattersalls (UK) 2yo sale has seen the sale of a $970,000 Invincible Spirit colt, the third-top priced lot of the sale.
Newmarket trainer John Gosden out-bid London-based agent Jamie McCalmont (standing with Coolmore's Paul Shanahan & Michael Tabor) & paid 440,000 guineas (A$970,000) for a colt by Invincible Spirit out of Robellino mare Need You Badly consigned by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm.
This colt was previously purchased as a yearling for just 50,000 guineas (A$110,000). Oak Tree Farm at County Meath in Ireland sold 5 lots over the 2 days of the sale for a total 1,255,000 guineas (A$2.761m). Gosden told racingpost.co.uk: "He's for an American-based client with a lot of interests, so I don't know if I'll be training him. He looks like he'll be a 2YO & was a gorgeous, athletic horse, who was very well put together."

Back in Work

Khamsin Warrior is back at Gerald's Rosehill stables and the task of getting him race-fit has commenced again. Graham, Steve and Geoff visited him this morning and were very impressed with the way he has come back from Bimbadeen Park.

The gelding op has also been a success with Gerald reporting that he is far more tractable now, so we are looking forward to him applying himself 100% to the task ahead- earning a start in a race in 8 or so weeks time.

Home Soon

28/3/08 Graham reports- "Saw Gerald this morning for an update on 'The Warrior'. He says Bimbadeen Park are very happy with him and he will get the horse down to Rosehill in 2 weeks time. I will let all owners know when he arrives so that we can meet at the stables."

He's Back

Khamsin Warrior has returned to Bimbadeen Park where he will do 2/4 weeks of pretraining before coming down to Gerald at Rosehill.

All's well with The Warrior

Graham reports-
"Just got off the phone to Wayne Alchin at Carramar Park at Grose Wold.
All's well with 'The Warrior'. He came through the gelding operation with flying colours and lived up to his name! He will be up there for at least another 5 weeks and Gerald and I will keep an eye on him - as will Wayne of course - and report back. We will probably be up at the farm next week looking at the yearlings Wayne is taking to the Melbourne Yearling Sales - including a full sister to 'The Warrior'!"

That's racing

Unfortunately Khamsin Warrior's first preparation has suffered a minor setback. He is experiencing a bout of shin soreness , common with two-year olds in their first preparation, and has been sent for a short spell.

Since trainer Gerald Ryan says he is a bit too colty for his own good he will be gelded during this break and return to Rosehill a more robust and tractable horse, albeit 'two stone' lighter.

Gerald is confident that the all new KW will "make the grade".

A racehorse takes shape

Khamsin Warrior is really starting to take on that hard-fit, racehorse-in-training shape as these pics show. They were taken last Saturday when owners, Wendy and Mick visited him at Rosehill.

Close relative rated World's 10th top two-year old

Invincible Spirit filly, Fleeting Spirit has been announced as the 10th top two-year old at the World Thoroughbred Rankings ceremony in London.

She is by the sire of Khamsin Warrior out of the Sir Gaylord-line mare, Millenium Tale.

Khamsin Warrior is bred similarly through his damsire, Zabeel (sire of Melbourne Cup winners Might and Power and Efficient), a great-grandson of Sir Gaylord.

In addition Khamsin Warrior's maternal grand-dam traces to Busted who features in the pedigrees of many of Green Desert's best horses. For more detailed analysis click here.

Progress Report

Gerald Ryan reports that Khamsin Warrior's name is now official and that horse has "come along well, goes really nice on the track and shapes up well".
He will have a jump out at Rosehill on the 29th and trial a week later.

First Start Soon

Now in full training at Rosehill under the care of master trainer Gerald Ryan, Khamsin Warrior is expected to have his first start in late Feb or early Mar '08.

Gerald reports that he is quietly confident in the colt's ability as he has done everything asked of him to date.

If ready in time, his first race may be the $200,000 Magic Millions Two Year Old Slipper (1100m) at Wyong on Sunday Feb 24. This a qualifier for the $1.5 million Magic Millions classic on Mar 24 on the Gold Coast.

Fingers and toes are firmly crossed.