There’s an old rule of thumb when attending a yearling sale with a pocket full of cash – there is no value in buying the “hype” horse.

The “hype” horse of the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale was the grey daughter of Dash For Cash from the Octagonal mare Matter.

The good-looking filly was part of the Rosemont Stud draft, offered on behalf of breeder Gerry Ryan, of Limerick Lane Stud, Nagambie.

The day before the sale began, the filly’s half-brother Carnero impressively won the $350,000 Inglis Premier Classic (1200m) at Caulfield – a feature race restricted to horses sold at the 2007 Melbourne Premier Sale.

In the few weeks before the sale, there was only a smattering of interest in the Matter filly, but all of a sudden, the filly became an object of desire. Rosemont’s man on the spot Anthony Mithen was rushed off his feet organising viewings as if he was salesperson at a Myer Christmas sell-out.

In 2007, trainer Dean Binaisse paid only $30,000 for Carnero, a colt by Carnegie.

A year later, on the back of the Carnero hype, the colt’s half-sister sold to Newcastle trainer Paul Perry for $210,000 – about seven times more than Mithen was expecting before Carnero did his thing at Caulfield.

The filly was named National Gift, and today, at her 12th start, she broke through for her maiden win at Cessnock, over 1350 metres.

Footnote: Carnero, at his next start, ran second behind Von Costa De Hero in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m, Flemington), but he failed to win another race, despite some promising efforts as a three-year-old in the spring – he was fifth behind Whobegotyou in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m, Caulfield) and third behind the same horse in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m, Moonee Valley).

Carnero was retired after he finished 11^th behind Rebel Raider in the 2008 Group 1 Victoria Derby. He stands at Christoph Bruechert’s Bombora Downs, Bittern, on the Mornington Peninsula. His fee is on application.

MEDIA RELEASE

Magic Millions is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stephen Silk as Managing Director commencing October 4 2010.

Stephen is a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing.Stephen commenced work as a practicing vet in Victoria and then Ireland and then joined the Veterinary Division of The CSL Group which today is a major global company based in Australia with over 10,000 employees in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the United States.

The company is involved in the invention, production and marketing of Plasma products, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.Stephen spent more than 15 years working with CSL and in 2003 was Marketing and Sales Director CSL Pharmaceuticals.

In 2003 Stephen joined the Victoria Racing Club as General Manager Strategic Marketing with responsibility for brand strategy and the strategy for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

In 2008 Stephen moved to the role of General Manager Flemington Racecourse with responsibility for all operations at Flemington.  Stephen has also served as a Committee Member of the Melbourne Racing Club. Stephen and his family have been passionate horse breeders and racers for generations with his most notable horse participation being the great Lee Freedman trained stayer, Naturalism.

It is clear that Stephen brings a wealth of racing, breeding and most importantly business experience to Magic Millions.

David Chester, our current CEO who has been in the role for 10 years and asked to be able to step aside from his day to day CEO duties to a role as full time roving ambassador for Magic Millions reporting to Stephen with a focus on David’s outstanding relationships in Asia.

“On behalf of the partners of Magic Millions I want to thank David for his hard work and dedication as CEO and as an employee of Magic Millions since 1986,” Rob Ferguson said.

Picture: Stephen Silk at Flemington.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable has nominated 10 horses for this year’s 150^th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 2.

The Dubai-based Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor has been trying to win the Cup since 1998, but so far has come up just short with three second placings – Crime Scene (behind Shocking last year), Give The Slip (Ethereal, 2001), Central Park (Rogan Josh, 1999).

bin Suroor has nine of the 10 Godolphin entries – the other is Claremont, trained fellow Dubai-based trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Interestingly, Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian stable, Darley, hasn’t an entry.

The Godolphin entries help make up a total of 253 nominations for the $6million Cup, which were released today by Racing Victoria along with nominations for the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Caulfield Guineas.

In all 67 horses – 49 trained overseas – bred in the northern hemisphere and South Africa have been entered for the Melbourne Cup; another 74 have been bred in New Zealand.

bin Suroor’s nine are: Campanologist (USA), Cavalryman (GB), Darley Sun (IRE), Holberg (UAE), Libel Law (GB), Mastery (GB), Once More Dubai (USA), Pompeyano (IRE) and Sopranist (GB).

Godolphin’s trainer Saeed bin Suroor isn’t the only European trainer trying to break through for a Melbourne Cup win – Luca Cumani, who has twice been runner up, has five horses entered, including his two runners-up Purple Moon (behind Efficient, 2007) and Bauer (Viewed, 2008).

Of course, Irishman Dermot Weld has been able to achieve the feat with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002). Weld has four entries this year, including his outstanding mare Profound Beauty, who was fifth behind Viewed in 2008.

The Japanese, who return for the first time since their historic quinella with Delta Blues and Pop Rock in 2006, have entered five horses, headed by Jaguar Mail, winner of this year’s Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m).

Bart Cummings, who has won the great race 12 times, has an even dozen entered under his name this year, including last year’s Cox Plate winner So You Think and pre-post favourite, the 2009 VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume.

Five-times Cup winner Lee Freedman has seven nominated – five former Europeans, headed by Group 3 Easter Cup winner Fanjura (IRE), and two 4YO mares, Gallant Lady and Well Rounded.

Owner Lloyd Williams’ private trainer Robert Hickmott has the most entries with 20, including the 2007 winner Efficient, the evergreen Zipping (winner of this year’s Australian Cup and a three-time Melbourne Cup runner for two fourths and a ninth) and the imported former Aga Khan-owned star Alandi (IRE), the likely top weight, who is one of eight imports purchased by Williams and his son Nick in the past 12 months and entered for this year’s Cup.

Late last year, Alandi won the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m) at the Curragh and the Group 1 Prix du Cadran (4000m) at Longchamp. Williams gave Alandi a warm-up run in the Listed Straight Six (1200m, Flemington) in May before giving him another break from training.

Last year’s Cup winner Shocking is one of six entries from Mark Kavanagh, while David Hayes has 14. Others include Peter Moody (11), Gai Waterhouse (8), Chris Waller (6) and John O’Shea (3).

View the full list of entries:

Melbourne Cup.

Caulfield Cup

Cox Plate

Caulfield Guineas

Pictured: The 2010 Melbourne Cup (right) with the 1910 cup won by Comedy King – and new Slattery Media publication, The Story Of The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s Greatest Race.

Back in 2003, when I was doing a bit of bloodstock buying, I fell in love with an athletic yearling filly at the Karaka Premier Sale.

The filly, from the Windsor Park draft, was from the second crop of Group 1 winner Danske, by Danehill (USA) from a smart Stakes-winning filly, Straussbridge, by a former top Sydney sprinter Straussbrook.

I broke all the rules about keeping my opinion of the filly to myself – I made four visits back to her barn to inspect her, and even came to loitering around the Windsor Park area waiting for someone else to drag her out, so I could get another look.

This was infatuation. In another place and another situation, I’d be arrested for stalking.

I followed her to the pre-parade ring, a velodrome of a space where four or five yearlings strut around, some in perfect unison with their handlers, while others, created all sorts of attention by dancing sideways, prancing, kicking and screaming.

“My filly” just strode around like it has been part of her routine all her short life.

The filly was a “Danehill” bay, but with no white; she possessed a mother-in-law shaped rear end, powerful forearm, just the right amount of length of body, and an exquisite head. To cap it off she walked like a Kings Cross hooker.

The good news was that I’d gleaned from the Windsor Park crew that the reserve was around $35,000 – I had $50,000 to spend, so I was very much in the game.

While the filly was walking around the outside parade, I noticed a familiar person, as usual clouded in cigarette smoke, leaning on the rail. I was sure Gerald Ryan had honed in on the filly. He’s an astute judge of a good horse, and this filly fitted his profile.

I sidled up to Ryan and asked the question: “You interested in the Danske filly?” He didn’t directly answer the question with his reply – “Yeah, nice … that Flying Spur’s a lovely filly.”

The Danske filly was lot 365; following her around the ring was a big, strong, chestnut Flying Spur filly, lot 366, from the Trelawney draft. The filly’s dam, Street Star, was a daughter of Jetball.

Relief, I thought, he’s probably on the other one, but this is a horse sale, a place for card sharks where tactics and sleight of hand are as important as the bank balance.

The bidding started slowly. More good news, I couldn’t see Ryan. Sometimes when I bid, I like to be on the horse from the start, dictate the pace of the encounter. This time I waited. Bidding stymied at $37,500. I came in at $40,000 – I was on the right leg to bid my maximum of $50,000, if needed.

Back to me at $45,000 … $47,500 from the opposition. … I made my last bid $50,000, but the call came back quickly, new blood at $52,500. I’d missed her.

Well-known Australian agent Kieran Moore signed the ticket for $60,000. Oh well, I thought, he’d have been hard to beat at any time. As Moore walked away, I noticed Ryan come from the side to greet him. Hands shook, smiles all round … and a lesson learned.

The filly, not surprisingly for a horse with her athleticism, raced as a juvenile in Sydney under the name Dancing Bridges for a syndicate of owners that included Ryan.

Dancing Bridges won at Canterbury at her second start in February 2004, but then ran ninth behind Burning Sands in the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Canterbury in March. Her next start third, behind Gaze On, in the Listed Baillieu Stakes (1400m, Warwick Farm) was a beauty, a sign of her real talent.

Unfortunately, she broke down after four runs in the spring, which included a terrific second behind Johan’s Toy in the Listed Reginald Allen Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm.

This story surfaced after I watched Dancing Bridges’ impressive 2YO son, Testarhythm (by Testa Rossa), plough through a heavy track to win at Canterbury last Wednesday, his first win from only three starts. Testarhythm (pictured as a yearling) is a male version of his mother, a cracking-looking yearling, who topped the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at $110,000, to the bid of Sydney trainer Darren Smith.

Obviously, Smith had something I didn’t in 2003 – more money than Gerald Ryan.

AJC Derby winner Shoot Out (pictured winning the Randwick Guineas) has been installed a surprising second favourite for tomorrow’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (wfa 1200m) at Caulfield.

He is as short as $4.20 with some pre-post operators, a firm second pick behind the mare Velocitea, who is favourite around $3.50.

Bookmakers are obviously expecting Shoot Out to be fresh and sprint well despite the fact trainer John Wallace warns that the almost 4YO (on Sunday) is “going into the race very underdone”.

Wallace said he is planning a long, race-driven campaign to get Shoot Out fit for his chief assignments, the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.

The Bletchingly – run either late in July or early in August – is not a traditional lead-up race for the spring majors. The 1400m Group 2 Liston Stakes (wfa, Caulfield), run two weeks after the Bletchingly, is usually the starting point for the spring stayers.

But the Bletchingly is not a race without some spring influence.

Elvstroem resumed with a third behind Le Zagaletta in the 2004 Bletchingly Stakes, and he went on to win the Group 1 Caulfield Cup after winning the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. He capped of his campaign with a sound fourth behind Makybe Diva in the Melbourne Cup.

It’s worth noting that Elvstroem, like Shoot Out, also had won a Derby the previous season – the Group 1 Victoria Derby.

Back in 1994, when the Bletchingly was first run – and won by Poetic King, who went on to win the Group 1 Toorak Handicap that preparation – George Hanlon used the sprint to kick off the cups campaign for Our Pompeii, who had won the Group 1 Adelaide Cup in the autumn.

Our Pompeii was only 13^th behind Paris Lane in the Caulfield Cup and 15^th behind Jeune in the Melbourne Cup, but he won the Group 2 Sandown Cup at the end of the campaign.

Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter has assembled what he regards as the greatest 24 winners of the Melbourne Cup.

Carpenter has handicapped his fictional 24-horse field – including barriers drawn by the Racing Victoria stewards – featuring Phar Lap as the top weight with 60kg.

The “race” was unveiled as part of the launch of the magnificent book, The Story of the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s Greatest Race, which was edited by Stephen Howell and published by the Slattery Media Group.

The book has been released as part of the celebrations leading into the running of the 150^th Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.

Melbourne Cup winning jockeys Roy Higgins (two wins) and Glen Boss (three wins) – pictured with Phar Lap in the background at the Melbourne Museum – were just some of the special guests at the book launch.

The Greatest Cup Never Run will, in fact, be run at Flemington on Cup day when the digital simulation of the race, with race call, will be presented on the big screen.A panel of 22 experts have analysed the race and their thoughts will go into the simulated race to produce the result. Punters will be able to participate for prizes in a soon to be announced promotion.

The Story of the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s Greatest Race will be available in all good bookstores for $99.95, or can be ordered through the Slattery Media Group’s website.

FIELD FOR THE GREATEST MELBOURNE CUP NEVER RUN:

Melbourne Cup (3200m), Flemington

Comments courtesy of the Herald Sun.

S’cloth No. – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight

1. PHAR LAP - Harry Telford – Jim Pike – 21 – 60kg: 1930 Equine freak. Won with 62.5kg. Only odds-on winner

2. CARBINE – Walter Hickenbotham – Bob Ramage – 16 – 59kg:
1890 19th century champ who carried 65.5kg, a weight carrying record

3. MAKYBE DIVA – Lee Freedman -  Glen Boss – 14 – 58kg:
2003-05 Only Cup threepeat winner. Viewed as modern-day equivalent of Phar Lap

4. PETER PAN – Frank McGrath -  Darby Munro – 13 – 58kg:
1932 & 1934 Dual winner in Phar Lap era

5. GALILEE – Bart Cummings – John Miller – 1 – 57.5kg:
1966 Won Toorak Hcp, Caulfield-Melbourne Cup and Fisher Plate in spring of ‘66

6. POSEIDON - Ike Earnshaw -  Tom Clayton – 3 – 57.5kg:
1906 Won Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, VRC and AJC Derby as a 3YO

7. RISING FAST – Ivan Tucker – Jack Purtell – 11 – 57kg:
1954 Capped a stunning spring when he won Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup – the only horse to win the triple crown.

8. RAIN LOVER – Mick Robins – Jim Johnson – 7 – 56kg:
1968 Eight-length winner of the Cup then carried 60.5kg to win successive Cups

9. COMIC COURT – Jim Cummings – Pat Glennon – 24 – 55.5kg:
1950 Trained by Bart’s dad, just one of five original top weights to win Cup in 1950

10. GRAND FLANEUR – Tom Brown -  Tom Hales – 4 – 55.5kg:
1880 Only Cup winner never to be beaten. Won nine from nine.

11. MIGHT AND POWER – Jack Denham – Jim Cassidy -  12 – 55kg:
1997 Modern-day champ who defied 3.5kg penalty from Caulfield Cup win to win the big one

12. ARCHER – Etienne De Mestre – Johnny Cutts – 22 – 54kg:
1861-62 Started it all. Won first Cup by six lengths and the second by eight

13. VINTAGE CROP – Dermot Weld – Michael Kinane – 10 – 54kg:
1993 First European-trained Cup winner and introduced DK Weld to Cup folklore

14. DELTA – Maurice McCarten – Neville Selwood – 9 – 53.5kg:
1951 Won 11 of his 14 starts as a 5YO including ‘51 Cup with 59.5kg

15. MALUA – Isaac Foulsham – Alick Robertson -  17 – 53.5kg:
1884 Carried 61kg to win Cup one year after winning Oakleigh Plate/Newmarketnts and four years before won Grand National Hurdle

16. NIGHTMARCH – Alex McAulay – Roy Reed – 5 – 53.5kg:
1929 First horse to win Cox Plate/Melbourne Cup double defeating Phar Lap in 1929

17. POITREL – Harry Robinson – Ken Bracken – 20 – 53.5kg:
1920 Sydney-centric stayer who won with 63kg

18. SAINTLY - Bart Cummings – Darren Beadman – 2 – 53kg:
1996 Maybe Bart’s best Cup winner. One of only five to win Cox Plate/Cup double in same year

19. THE BARB – John Tait – William Davis – 18 – 53kg:
1886 Phenomenal 19th-Century stayer who won as 3YO and given highest ever handicap – 73kg as a 6YO.

20. DALRAY – Clarrie McCarthy -  Bill Williamson – 19 – 52.5kg:
1952 New Zealand champ. Only Phar Lap carried more weight to win as 4YO

21. HALL MARK – Jack Holt – Jack O’Sullivan – 23 -  52.5kg:
1933 Another champ from the Phar Lap era. Won as 3Y0

22. LIGHT FINGERS – Bart Cummings – Roy Higgins – 15 – 52.5kg:
1965 Introduced Bart Cummings to the great race he would make his own

23. DORIEMUS – Lee Freedman – Damien Oliver – 6 – 52kg:
1995 Completed Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double then gave weight to Might And Power when beaten a pimple in ‘97

24. THINK BIG – Bart Cummings – Harry White – 8 – 52kg:
1974-75 Another of Bart’s Cup winners. Dual winner, latter with 58.5kg

Japanese horses have been given Australian Government approval to travel to Australia, without going through Europe, for this year’s 150^th running of the Melbourne Cup.

Quarantine restrictions, enforced after the equine influenza outbreak in 2007, have meant that Japanese horses haven’t been able to defend Delta Blues’ historic Melbourne Cup win in 2006.

“The lift of restrictions only allows for horses from one area, Tokyo,” said Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper, at the launch of the The Story Of the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s Great Race, a book celebrating the 150 years of the Cup. View details.

Carpenter added that the state-of-the-art Miho Training Centre, north of Tokyo, from where Delta Blues and Pop Rock (second in the 2006 Cup) were trained, will remain restricted for the time being.

At this stage, two horses are likely to make the trip south – the 2010 Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m, Kyoto) winner Jaguar Mail (pictured) and the runner-up, Meiner Kitz. Australian jockey Craig Williams, who rode Jaguar Mail in the Tenno Sho, will partner the horse in Australia.

While all the attention will be on the Melbourne Cup contenders, coming with them will be an Australian-bred colt, Break A Theory (ch c 2007, Galileo (IRE)-True Doubt, by Redoute’s Choice), who will be entered for the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington three days before the Melbourne Cup.

“He’s a very interesting horse. Whereas no Australian two-year-old has raced beyond 1600m, this Galileo colt already has beaten Japanese three-year-olds over 2300m,” Carpenter said.

Break The Theory, who cost $50,000 as a yearling at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale (Morning Rise draft), is trained by Hiroshi Miyamoto.

The colt’s dam, True Doubt, is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Road To Rock (by Encosta De Lago), who has been retired to stand at stud in New Zealand this spring.