Highgrove bred Stakes winners list continus to increase

21 December 2011

The Highgrove bred Stakes winners list continued to increase when 2 yr old filly Discreet blitzed her rivals in the Calaway Gal stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Trained out of the in-form Kelly Schweida yard, the Show A Heart filly was having only her 2nd race start after being tried earlier in the year and then given a little break. She jumped cleanly from the barriers and found a spot in behind the speed on the fence but, as they turned for home, it was quite obvious that jockey Chris Munce had a lapful of horse and just needed some luck to get out. Discreet then displayed terrific courage for such an inexperienced youngster, shouldering her opposition out of the way and then letting down with a barnstorming finish to completely wallop her rivals. When the judge called a halt, Discreet had posted an ever widening margin of 3.5 lengths on the rest of the field and was being eased down as she crossed the line.

“We have always liked the filly quite a lot,” Kelly explained after the race. “But she was just a little light in her first preparation so we tipped her out and she has come back a much bigger and stronger youngster now.

“I threw blinkers on her to try and sharpen her up in the early stages of the race as I thought the 1000m might prove too short. However once she jumped so smartly and I saw her position up that close I knew what she was capable of doing over the concluding stages and I just hoped we would get a split when we needed it. When she did, she put them to sleep!”

Jockey Chris Munce agreed with his trainer. “She was never going to bet beat,” he said after the race. “She was really strong to the line and I am sure as the races get longer she will be even more suited. It would be hard not to be impressed by what she did and I am sure she has a really big future in front of her. Queensland can be very proud they have such a good chance going forward into the Magic Millions. I think she is top class!”

Discreet will have her final lead up run in the $150,000 G3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes on December 31.

DISCREET – SHOW A HEART’S 15TH STAKESWINNER AND ONE OF THE FAVOURITES FOR THE 2YO MM – Trackside Photography

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Gai Waterhouse's Blog 15th November 2011

15 November 2011

Gai’s Blog after her stay at Highgrove Stud to Inspect the 2012 MM Yearlings

“ I love this time of year when we visit the farms and last night was a hoot. One of the highlights of our trip was our stay at Highgrove Stud (www.highgrovestud.com.au). Ron and Debbie Gilbert take great pleasure in showing us their beautiful yearlings and then treating us to one almighty meal which is washed down with some excellent wines. And for the girls a manicure is thrown in. Sorry Bruce!

Lea and I were secretly looking forward to it and were hoping Ron hadn’t forgot about it. The food, wine and manicures are great treats but the biggest treats are in the paddocks. Ron’s recently bought some mares and is turning his stud into the number one farm in Queensland. He explains to me that it costs $X to run the place, $Y to buy the horses and I need “…” to make a profit, and that’s exactly what Highgrove Stud does. They make a profit because they have quality yearlings.

Last night my room over looked the paddock where a half brother to Wanted is. This youngster who’ll be seen at the Easter sales next year grazed away peacefully as I watched. Ron said that his job is to get them well fed and rested. “I have four mares in the paddock and five feeders”. All I can tell you as a trainer is that it certainly produces the goods. Gordon, who is the stud manager is a most capable chap, has great credentials and has the horses looking in excellent order. “

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Ron Gilbert and Highgrove Stud: Curlin Filly Sells for USD $700,000

14 September 2011

As a follow-up to the story that appeared in the September 12 edition of the sales notes regarding Australian Ron Gilbert and his Highgrove Stud, who were consigning their first yearling at an American sale – the Curlin filly (Hip 127) sold for USD$700,000 to Terry Finley’s West Point Thoroughbreds. The final bid was the fourth-highest price paid during the second and final select session on Monday evening.

Gilbert bought the filly’s dam, stakes winner Tears I Cry, carrying the Curlin filly, for USD $735,000 at Keeneland’s 2009 November Breeding Stock Sale. Tears I Cry is out of Mount Helena (GB), a half-sister to Grade 1 stakes winner and leading sire Street Cry (IRE) and stakes-placed Helsinki (GB), dam of European champion colt and sire Shamardal.

“We hope Ron’s great success will encourage Australian buyers to purchase in-foal mares here in November and sell the resulting foal at Keeneland in September,” said Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell.

Tears I Cry was sent to Jim FitzGerald’s Knockgriffin Farm near Lexington that year to foal, and later shipped to Australia. She currently has a weanling (colt/filly) by champion Australian sire Redoute’s Choice.

The Curlin filly, which sold Monday night, remained in Kentucky to be raised at Knockgriffin. She was consigned to the Keeneland sale by Brookdale Sales, agent.

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