Written on Thursday, 01 December 2011 10:02
What price fame? In racing it is a steep price indeed.
Take for example two yearlings that will go under the hammer at the Inglis Sales in Sydney next year.
A filly by Redoute's Choice from Helsinge is a half-sister to the unbeaten Black Caviar.
Predictions escalate as high as seven figures for this regally-bred yearling even though her big sister was bought for what now is a bargain price of $210,000, considering Black Caviar has won almost $4.5million and there is more to come.
The other yearling is a colt by High Chaparral from Triassic which makes him a full brother to So You Think, which was a $110,000 yearling purchase.
So You Think has so far amassed $6.6million in stake earning and has expanded his racing career to the European circuit.
Folklore has it that Dame Nellie Melba's brother couldn't whistle in tune and Johnny Weissmuller's brother barely could dog paddle - but you can bet these two close relatives of equine champions will have sky-high expectations and price tags to match.
*****
Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has paid Peter Snowden a substantial compliment by retaining him to train Sepoy and Helmet for their important engagements at the Dubai World Cup night in March next year.
It would have been an almost accepted course for the Sheik just to transfer the two horses to his Dubai stable. However, his decision for Snowden to retain the reins until the high-class duo is transferred to the Godolphin's European-based team appears to be a vivid vote of confidence.
This latest development begs the question of whether will Snowden be given the opportunity to train the powerful Godolphin team at its Newmarket (UK) training complex at some stage in the future?
There is little doubt that the modest Snowden would handle the task with adroitness and acumen.
*****
Fresh from 12 months on the sidelines - in my humble opinion a horribly harsh penalty for betting - jockey Peter Robl has been quick to kick a goal since resuming with a winner at only his third ride back.
On Saturday at Rosehill, he is back in demand with some sound chances, including two for the maestro Bart Cummings.
The two for Cummings are In Excess in the second and Great World in the fifth.
In Excess, a three-year-old, indicated closeness to a maiden success with a strong-finishing second at Canterbury at the end of 1200 metres in October and although unplaced once since, is entitled to another chance.
Great World, a five-year-old mare, hasn't won for a while but he was not beaten far at Canterbury on November 16 and her previous form was consistent.
*****
The feature race in Sydney is the Listed Festival Stakes and I am going to have something on the Rod Craig-trained Circle of Power.
Racing consistently, Circle of Power was narrowly beaten over the same course as Saturday's race on November 12 and he has the services of the in-form Christian Reith.
This will be his third run this preparation and he should be cherry ripe.
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Million dollar babies

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