News

Caviar takes VIC breeders all the way

10th May 2013

Racing Victoria - Sarah Peatling - Friday 10 May 2013

Gilgai Farm’s Rick Jamieson and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria share their thoughts on what the latest world thoroughbred rankings mean for Victorian breeders Black Caviar being crowned the world’s best racehorse, with a rating of 130 in last week’s first release of the World Thoroughbred Rankings for 2013, is the ultimate accolade for horse, trainer, owner, jockey and breeder.

But the accolade is much more far reaching than that.

Black Caviar remains the highest-rated Australian horse in the history of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ ranking, which started in 2004, when she scored a rating of 132 in 2011 and she is almost certain to make it as the world’s highest-rated sprinter for an unprecedented fourth straight year by the end of 2013.

This unique achievement is something that the Victorian thoroughbred industry can proudly share due to the fact that the daughter of Bel Esprit and blueblood mare Helsinge is a home-bred star.

But it doesn’t stop there for Victorian-bred champions. The recently retired colt All Too Hard, who is also out of Helsinge by Casino Prince, making him a half-brother to Black Caviar, was given a rating of 122 and ranked 13 on the world stage for his latest triple Group 1 victories.

One of Australia’s leading breeders, Gilgai Farm’s Rick Jamieson, believes the latest ranking is a testament to the high quality racing stock that is produced by Victoria and a special achievement for his prized gem Helsinge, a daughter of another blueblood mare, Scandinavia.

“To have Black Caviar reach number one on the latest World Thoroughbred Rankings and her half-brother All Too Hard reach number 13 is not only an achievement for Gilgai Farm, but an achievement for Victorian breeders in general,” Jamieson said.

“It’s no easy task to breed a Group 1 winner which is the ultimate aim for any breeder, so for Helsinge to produce two individual champions in Black Caviar and All Too Hard is a serious testament to the mare.

“Hopefully these rankings help highlight the fact that Victorian breeders have long been producing champion racehorses and will continue to do so.”

In addition to Black Caviar and All Too Hard achieving significant ratings, other high-achieving Victorian-bred horses to have made it on the world thoroughbred ranking stage are:

• Hay List (Statue of Liberty x Sing Hallelujah) rated 125 in 2012
  
• Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago x Courtroom Sweetie) rated 123 in 2008
  
• Sepoy (Elusive Quality x Watchful) rated 123 in 2012
  
• Silent Witness (El Moxie x Jade Tiara) rated 123 in 2005
  
• Starspangledbanner (Choisir x Gold Anthem) rated 121 in 2010
  

Other Victorian-related champions include 2008 Australian Racehorse of the Year Weekend Hussler, who was sold at Victoria’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, secured a 122 rating in 2008 and Australia’s recent Champion two-year-old Pierro, who was pinhooked and raised by the Mornington Peninsula-based Musk Creek Farm, received a 121 rating in 2013.

Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Chairman Tim Johnson paid special tribute Jamieson and sees a bright future ahead for Victorian breeders.

“Victorian breeders can be proud to know that the first and 13th internationally-ranked gallopers came out of Gilgai Farm’s Nagambie paddocks,” Johnson said.

“Congratulations must go to Rick Jamieson and his dedicated team as it is a wonderful achievement.

“Helsinge, who’s also a half sister to Group winners Magnus, Wilander and Scandiva, is very much a Victorian mare and these results are affirmation that she is one of the world’s most influential broodmares.

“It’s heartening to all breeders that you don’t have to send your mares to the highest-priced stallions to produce champions nor operate a large broodmare band, and further, these rankings are a great advertisement as to why prospective buyers should invest in a Victorian-bred racehorse.”

The beauty of owning and racing a Victorian-bred horse is that you can compete for an extra $18 million in bonuses each year and gain entry in to the exclusive $1million VOBIS Gold Race Series, as long as your horse is signed up for Super VOBIS (Victorian Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme) and VOBIS Gold.

Owners and breeders have until 30 June 2013 to register and nominate for the lucrative Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold schemes. For more information click here or contact Customer First on 1300 139 401.