Black Caviar has successfully gave birth to her third foal last Sunday, a filly by Snitzel. “We are making a habit of just arriving in time (for the births). We had about an hour to spare this time,” said managing owner Neil Werrett. “You just want to see a healthy foal and that’s what we got.”

Black Caviar’s first foal was an Exceed And Excel filly, which is now two but unraced, and last year she had a Sebring colt. To date, the owners have retained all the foals and a decision about who will cover Black Caviar this season has not been announced.

Astern misses out

Astern, blistering winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose two weeks ago, has had his Caulfield Guineas aspirations scuttled with an elevated temperature forcing his withdrawal from next month’s big race.

“The horse was found to have an elevated temperature this afternoon,” said trainer John O’Shea on Monday. “His treatment will compromise his travel plans and as a result he won’t be going to Melbourne for the Guineas Prelude.”

The Medaglia d’Oro colt was not declared a second acceptor for the Caulfield Guineas on Tuesday and may now be reset for a tilt at the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day.

The 1000 Guineas, to be run on the same day as the Caulfield Guineas sees the Chris Waller-trained filly Omei Sword heading the early market after her eye-catching second to Astern in the Golden Rose.

By High Chaparral, Omei Sword is out of the 2009’s 1000 Guineas winner Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock, who raced for a Coolmore syndicate. Sold at the Inglis Easter Yearling sale, Omei Sword went for A$675,000 with Coolmore as vendor.

O’Brien trio in Cup

Second declarations were taken on Tuesday for the BMW Caulfield Cup and William Hill Cox Plate. Just five internationals remain in the Caulfield Cup field of 58 if you don’t include Exosphere who has switched to an Australian yard.

They are the Aidan O’Brien-trained Order Of St George, Highland Reel and Sir Isaac Newton, Charlie Appleby’s Scottish and Andreas Wohler’s Articus.

For the Cox Plate, 53 remain for the 23rd October feature, which also include five internationals. They are the O’Brien trio of Order Of St George, Highland Reel and Sir Isaac, Charlie Appleby’s Scottish, and the Andre Fabre-trained Vadamos.

First declarations for the November 1st Melbourne Cup are taken on October 4th.

Exosphere to Freedman

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Exosphere has been sold to an Australian syndicate and will race from the yard of Lee and Anthony Freedman this spring.

“Ozzie Kheir was tracking the horse and took a shine to him and it (the purchase) all got put together in the last couple of days. I am extremely excited, he looks a real acquisition,” said Lee Freedman last week adding the “Caulfield Cup would be his first aim.”

Hunter Valley mining outrage

The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association have expressed outrage at the Department of Planning’s recommendation the Drayton South mine should be approved.

They have called on Premier Baird and Minister Stokes to implement immediately the recommendations made by the PAC in November last year to safeguard Australia’s nationally and internationally important thoroughbred breeding industry through appropriate buffers, exclusionary zones or preservation measures.

“It beggars belief that the Department of Planning continues to support this proposal against the expert advice of three independent PACs and the NSW Gateway Panel.

“What is extraordinary about the Department’s position is that it is prepared to allow the sacrifice of a sustainable long-term industry for the sake of one mine whose future is unknown.

“In doing so, the Department relies on economic “theories” that have no application in the realities of our industry and betray a breathtaking ignorance of the thoroughbred breeding industry,” HTBA president Dr Collins said.