DURHAM LODGE BUYS INTO UNIVERSAL RULER 

Durham Lodge is delighted to announce that we have purchased an interest in last start stunning Group 3 Belmont Sprint winner Universal Ruler.
This will enable us to secure him to stand at Durham Lodge when he retires to stud in 2010.
The deal will see Universal Ruler race on this season and be set for some feature events over the Victorian Spring Carnival.

Universal Ruler was bred by Durham Lodge and is by our former champion sire Scenic out of a daughter of Group 1 AJC Sires winner Rhythmic Charm. Universal Ruler was sold in the same golden crop which contained Scenic Blast at the Perth Magic Million Sale.

We have no doubt that Universal Ruler has the right credentials to retire to stud this season but due to a series of unfortunate events at the wrong time he has missed out on his chance to win many more Group races. We have made the decision to race Universal Ruler on as he is well and in good form and seems to have overcome his setbacks. Being a son of Scenic and knowing they often improve with age was also a factor but importantly we feel Universal Ruler deserves the chance to improve his already impressive record by targeting some nice race over the Victorian carnival and any success will be a huge bonus.

Full credit must go to his trainer Darren McAuliffe as he has done a fantastic job to get this horse right after the setbacks and achieve an important Group 3 win last start. We know Darren may have his hands full as Universal Ruler has been getting quite bullish but a different environment based in Victoria may help in this regard. We are very happy that Darren has agreed to continue to train Universal Ruler when based in Melbourne as he knows the horse so well.

We are also very supportive of the other owners in Universal Ruler as they have great faith in him.. This has seen them actively securing quality mares for him when he retires to stud. Working in with them together we are confident Universal Ruler will get the best possible opportunity at stud to make it commercially.

We also have a little inside knowledge having bred the horse and know his pedigree so well. Being a son of Scenic is a great start but his speed through his dam-side may not be as well know. His dam Rulings was reported
to be one of the fastest early 2yo's at Randwick although she only scored 2 wins and Rulings dam Rhythmic Charm won the Group 1 2yo AJC Sires.
Universal Ruler's pure speed was exciting in his early days but the Scenic factor is now coming into play as his tough latest win was testimony to that. With so many
yearling buyers wanting a quick return we think Universal Ruler has the potential to be that type of sire but with the added Scenic factor that should help them improve with age. It's a long way off but we are already looking forward to our boy returning home for the 2010 season.

Scenic Blast's outstanding Victory in King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

PERTH'S Scenic Blast continued the domination of Australian sprinters on the world stage with a commanding victory in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last night. Scenic Blast, trained by Danny Morton and ridden by Steven Arnold, unleashed a paralysing burst to easily win the group 1 sprint over 1000 metres on the first day of the Ascot carnival.

Explosive WA sprinter Scenic Blast does Western Australia proud.

Scenic Blast ( Scenic-Daughter's Charm) was bred by Durham Lodge and sold at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearlings sale in Perth for $85000 . Unfortuately Scenic Blasts Sire Scenic(Ire) died in March of 2005..
Ironically Scenics sire the world champion Sadlers Wells who is aged 27 is still standing at stud. It is worth noting though that of all the high profile sons of Sadlers Wells to go to stud, Scenic has been clearly his best performed at stud to date.

Credit to Breednet www.breednet.com.au and photographer Caroline Searcy as the photographer.

UNIVERSAL RULER WINS GROUP 3

Universal Ruler scored a stunning win in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint at Ascot on Saturday. After drawing the river Universal Ruler was forced to do it the tough way but under hard riding from Paul Harvey responded magnificently to hold all charges at bay.
If ever a horse deserved to win a Group race it was Universal Ruler as he has had to overcome a number of various problems which have disrupted his career.

Universal Ruler who was bred by Durham Lodge was sold in the same draft of yearlings that included Scenic Blast. Only lightly raced Universal Ruler has now won 6 of his 11starts for prizemoney of $314,000.
Connections are considering options on his racing or stud career and an announcement by connections is expected soon.
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June 2009 Newsletter

View Durham Lodge's June Newsletter

REDUCED STALLION FEES FOR 2009

In announcing the reduction of fees for the 2009 breeding season Durham Lodge is committed to remaining one of the premium breeding operations in W.A. As a result we fully recognise the importance of keeping new and long time participants in this industry during these difficult times. We are sure you will find our fee's this year extremely competitive.

BLACKFRIARS $8,000
HURRICANE SKY $7,000
UNIVERSAL PRINCE $6,000
BROCCO $3,000

*All fee's are subject to 10% gst and include a free-return

Bookings for the 2009 season are now been taken. For bookings or further information please contact Jeremy Smith 041 994 3356.

NO 13 FOR SCENIC AS SHOT WINS

The outstanding tough Group 1 win by Scenic Shot provided Scenic with his 13th individual Group 1 winner.
Scenic Shot was bred by local breeders Robert & Ann Anderson and was sold in the Perth Magic Millions sale for $36,000. The win pushed Scenic's earning for the season to over $8 Million and he is currently sitting just behind heavyweights Redoute's Choice and Encosta De Lago on the Sires premiership.

WESTSPEED APRIL SALE YEARLINGS -VIEW HORSES HERE

A sample of some of the quality yearlings on offer by Durham Lodge at the April Sales.

BLACKFRIARS (3 Lots), BROCCO (3 Lots, FIGHTING FALCON (1 Lot), HURRICANE SKY (1 Lot), VISCOUNT (1 Lot), ZENTSOV STREET ( 1 Lot).

This is the time to buy a Value Priced Yearling from the Stud that gets results.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YEARLINGS FOR SALE IN THE APRIL SALES.

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Pictured: Lot 341 Blackfriars - Tropical Touch (Colt)

SECOND GROUP 1 WIN FOR SCENIC BLAST 

The amazing Group 1 success of Durham Lodge continued at Flemington on Saturday when Scenic Blast won his second Group 1 race when he recorded a stunning victory when he finished all over the top of Swiss Ace to win by a short neck.
Scenic Blast's trainer,Dan Morton was delighted with the win and will now make plans to head towards the big sprint races at Royal Ascot.Jockey Steve Arnold rates Scenic Blast as one of the best sprinters he has ever ridden and is keen to keep the ride at Royal Ascot.

THREE GROUP 1 WINS IN THREE MONTHS FOR DURHAM 

Durham Lodge's amazing run over the last few months continued in New Zealand last weekend with Durham breeding the winner of the New Zealand Derby in ConistonBluebird. This win follows the Group 1 wins of Gilded Venom and Scenic Blast over the past three months.

Coniston Bluebird was sold to Bede Murray for $85,000 at the Perth Ma gic Million Sales and was from the last crop of Scenic's ever to b e sold. Murray had enjoyed previous great success with the stock of Scenic which included training Scenic best ever racehorse Universal Prince.

Murray thinks Conistion Bluebird has the right attributes and constitution to have a crack at this years Group 1 AJC Derby a race he won with Universal Prince, however Murray feels we will not see the best of Coniston Bluebird for at least another 12 months.

DOMINICANO WINS TJ SMITH

Blackfriars promising 3yo gelding Dominicano upset his more fancied rivals to win the listed TJ Smith at Ascot on Saturday. The win provided Blackfriars with his 7th individual Stakes Winner. Dominicano will now head towards the WA Derby at Group 1 level.