Former Adelaide race broadcaster, Kevin Dagg, was preoccupied at the weanling sales on Sunday, keeping his ear glued to the radio of a Cranbourne race, and at the same time bidding on a weanling colt at the Inglis sales.

As it happened the race finished before the sale, the winner, Northkape, was sold for $5,000, while her weanling half brother was still in the ring, out of the mare Northeast Note, he sold for $85,000.

Terravista is right on track for another much awaited spring campaign, with his sights firmly centred on another successful tilt at Group I Darley Classic, run at Flemington over 1200 metres.

He has returned from a break in good shape, two months in the paddock and he is about ready to buck his brands off.

While the Darley Classic is the prime objective at present, the Group1 International Sprint in Hong Kong could be on the radar.

Blazing Beau was far from disgraced in finishing second to Updrafted in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was the only one in a quartet of Aussie horses that earned their stripes, competing at the most colourful and prestigious racing carnival in the world.

In hindsight it could be questioned if Shamal Wind, Criterion or Wandjina, were the best we could muster up, there was no point in expecting miracles.

Shamal Wind is a handy sprinting mare at best; whilst she did win the Oakleigh Plate that race has lost a lot of its former credence and is in need of a stakes lift to make it more competitive.

Whilst there could be excuses made for her, as she was not at her best behaviour, but she was never in the hunt at any stage, doing little more than ambling behind the main body of the field throughout the 1000 metres of the King Stand Stakes.

As for Criterion, general opinion is he was completely out of his class, he would have been better off home in the paddock at Euroa, rather than strutting his stuff among the top hats and tails at Royal Ascot.

His win in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes was nothing to get excited about, whilst hats were tossed into the air he only defeated a mob of out of form tired horses.

The logical favourite, Contributor, was withdrawn leaving a field of 12 runners and only two last start winners.

As for the reason of taking Wandjina to Royal Ascot is unknown, it didn’t do his impending stud value any favours.

Brazen Beau did what we expected of him, a great performance; he came up the outside on his lonesome, a huge task, much more difficult than the straight six at Flemington.

There is a possibility he may go to Newmarket for the July Cup over 1200 metres, which is also run over a straight course.

Starspangledbanner defeated Equiano in the July Cup, which was his last race appearance before going to stud.

Rich Enuff has returned to the stables of his trainer, Ken Keys, looking a ball of muscle, but not likely to race before September.

He has thickened up into a magnificent colt, however, “there is no need to rush him we will not be taking any risks with him,” said Ken Keys.

The horse comes first, certainly this is the one, he is a very exciting racehorse with a huge future ahead of him.

Whilst lightly raced with an impressive record, never out of a place in five starts, his three wins have all been at Stakes level.

He is an on pace runner, that was quite evident leading almost over the entire journey of the Caulfield Guineas, only to be run down in the last few strides by Shooting To Win, who has since been retired to stud.

Rich Enuff was bred by Ken Keys’s wife, Louise, she had her mare Hotnuff, by Spartacus, mated to Written Tycoon, who is having a remarkable season at present, siring a number of winners over a variety of distances.

Woodside Park Stud could see the merit in Rich Enuff, there was no hesitation shown in securing a slice of him, he looks the real deal, an outstanding prospect you would think, it is just a formality, Group 1 will be beside his name.

Breeders will forgive a little depth in pedigree as long as it is made up with a Group1 besides the horse’s name, you will not get far without it now.

Woodside will have a good selection of mares to ultimately mate with Rich Enuff, which is essential they have the personal touch of rearing foals to yearling stage and to a large extent the majority of winners are bred by professionals that have the control of their destiny.

Rich Enuff getting ready to resume

Free Eagle, a lightly raced Irish bred colt, scored a narrow win, and his first Group 1 success, in the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.

It was a win that his trainer, Dermot Weld, would prefer not to be repeated, as the winning margin was so slender, the result not was much more that a lip at best.

The colt by the dual Derby success, High Chaparral, could easily be an inclusion on the wish list for the Melbourne Cup.

Free Eagle, the favourite, took up a good position in the early running, where Gailo Chop, raced by Melbournians, Simon O’Donnell and Terry Henderson, was giving a lot of cheek at the head of affairs.

Criterion was being ridden the prefect race by Chad Schofield, just off the pace, back on the fence with room at his disposal.

When the pace quickened Schofield drove Criterion forward, he was about on terms with the leaders and looking pretty good, he gave with all he had, it proved a short lived affair, he soon wilted on the vine, finishing out of a place.

Free Eagle deserved his win, he was there all the way of the 2000 metres trip, another stride and the purse would have slipped away, The Grey Gatsby was running on at the rate of knots.

French champion, Solow, proved he is the superior miler in Europe, with a highly impressive win in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In what was considered, pre post to be a two horse race between Solow and Abel Friend, from Hong Kong, never eventuated.

Possibly the best way to sum it up is that Solow handled the undulating territory as if he was born there, Abel Friend didn’t ,he didn’t look comfortable at any stage, he was running well off the pace set by Toormore.

There is no question that Solow was the elect with punters, he was firm from the outset of betting, whereas Abel Friend was a bit shaky in the market.

Shamal Wind Disappointing

Shamal Wind known for her barnstorming performances at the end of her races was missing in the King Stand Stakes.

She basically trailed the field from the outset, just passing a few outsiders over the last 100 metres or so, but never a chance at any stage of the 1000 metres that was run in the time of 59.15 seconds.

Her game plan seemed to be astray, she did not settle at the barrier, her mind was not on the job at hand, a barrier blanket was used and she missed the start.

It was obvious from there she had a lot of work to do and was not capable of doing it under those circumstances.

The result was a thrilling finish decided by a photo, the winner Golddream from Medicean Man, and Muthmir, filled the third placing.