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".