Debut day for young Newgate sires

Written by

Bren O'Brien

5 min read

Newgate's Deep Field and Wandjina have their first runners in Saturday's 2-year-old features at Randwick.

Saturday's meeting at Randwick looms as a crucial day for Newgate's freshman stallions Deep Field and Wandjina, who will have their first progeny in action in both the Breeders' Plate and Gimcrack S.

The opening 2-year-old races in Sydney always offer plenty of interest for the big studs and while Newgate's General Manager Bruce Slade will be watching all the Deep Fields and Wandjinas, there is one colt in particular who will be in for special attention.

Autocratic, who runs in the Breeders' Plate, is not only by Wandjina and is part-owned by Newgate, he is also the half-brother to another Newgate stallion, the G1 winning sprinter Russian Revolution.

Traits from both sides

Slade said Autocratic, who was sold for $335,000 as a weanling, shares traits from both sides of his pedigree, but is more likely to stretch out in distance than his half-brother.

"I think Russian Revolution was a jump-and-run sort of horse with enormous speed, where I think this horse who could easily extend to six or seven furlongs and perhaps a mile down the track," Slade said.

Russian Revolution, pictured here winning the G1 Galaxy

"He's a horse with a huge stride, Autocratic. I think he'll be effective up to a mile, very much like Wandjina."

"He’ll be getting over heels late and hitting the line hard. Let’s just hope he jumps well and puts himself somewhere near it. Because if he is somewhere near them on the turn and gets a clear run, he's a big chance."

"They are three very progressive horses who have got the class to be there on Saturday, and you’d expect them to improve further and deeper into their 2-year-old careers." - Bruce Slade on Wandjina's progeny

The Richard Freedman-trained Vaporizing is the other colt by Wandjina in the Breeders' Plate, while impressive trial winner Honey Go Lightly makes her debut in the Gimcrack S.

Vaporizing as a yearling

Wandjina won an Australian Guineas as a 3-year-old but was considered precocious enough to run in the Breeders' Plate and Slade said it is not surprising he has a strong representation on Saturday.

"I think he always showed natural ability for Gai (Waterhouse) and was a very dominant winner of his two-year-old trial at the same time," he said.

"I think the main thing about his progeny is that all three in their heats really hit the line hard. They looked like they'd really appreciate the 1000m up to 1200m and 1400m in time."

"They are three very progressive horses who have got the class to be there on Saturday, and you’d expect them to improve further and deeper into their 2-year-old careers."

Deep prospects

Slade gets a similar sense about the offspring of Deep Field, two of which make their debuts in the Breeders' Plate.

"The Northern Meteors were probably autumn 2-year-olds themselves," he said in refernce to Deep Field's sire.

"But just with the way they (the Deep Fields) sold and the good yards they went to, with their physicals at the sales, we expected them to pop up early and its good they have."

Deep Field was not sighted on the track until he was a late 3-year-old but Slade said that was not a good guide to how his progeny might perform early on.

Deep Field

"It was injury driven, that was the reason why. He crushed a stifle joint and he had to recover from that before he could get racing. His race record is probably not a true reflection of his own precocity, because of that injury," he said.

"But just with the way they (the Deep Fields) sold and the good yards they went to, with their physicals at the sales, we expected them to pop up early and its good they have." - Bruce Slade

"At the same time, the Northern Meteors were back-end autumn 2-year old types and then good 3-year olds. I suppose we expect them to show more and more between now and the end of the season and then into their 3-year-old years."

Fresh Fields

King's Champ, who is out of Group 1 winning mare Yosei, won his trial from behind, overcoming Newgate's other colt in Saturday's race, Lionsgate (More than Ready {USA}).

Watch: King's Champ overcoming Lionsgate in trial 12

"King's Champ hit the line really well and won his heat. I know Gerald Ryan thinks a lot of him. He's drawn a bit awkwardly, but there is only one bend at Randwick, so hopefully he can find some cover somewhere and hit the line again." Slade said.

Redicon, trained by Neville Layt, overcame a slow start to be narrowly beaten in his trial on the same day.

Watch: Redicon being beaten narrowly at trial

"He missed the kick pretty badly and kicked up the inside and was pretty game in running second there, so I'd expect a lot of improvement from that horse. He's out of a Rory's Jester mare, so there's some nice speed on his dam's side," Slade said.

Sidestep, who stands at Telemon Thoroughbreds in Queensland, also has his first runner with One Step in the Gimcrack, while Rubick, who had two runners in Australia's opening 2-year-old race at Toowoomba on Sunday, has Bright Rubick in the Gimcrack S and Krameric in the Breeders' Plate.

Robbie reviews the Australian weight-for-age scale

5 min read

Written by Rob Waterhouse

The time-honoured weight-for-age (WFA) Scale fascinates form students and provokes much discussion, research and argument.

An illustration of this is the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) paper to justify where they have modified their scale recently.

Alterations to the Flat Weight For Age Scale

Also, Australian handicappers take a very different view and use a very trimmed scale, which I say is at great cost to our staying races. But I concede some small changes to the classic scale are appropriate.

It is important to understand the WFA scale’s evolution and history.

The history of the WFA Scale

Weight-for-age scales have always been part of English racing.

Weight-for-age principles had been long in use before the 1740 Act of Parliament, which set in stone a weight-for-age scale for Royal Plates. Racing men of that era were acutely aware of the difference between different age groups. There was a famous match race in the 18th century at Newmarket where the two-year-old received 98lbs (44.5kg) from an older horse. The baby, unsurprisingly, won!

The Craven Stakes (first run in 1773) was run at weight-for-age till the 1870s (when it became a three-year-old colt race). In the early weight-for-age scales for individual races, two-year-olds are often shown as to carry “a feather”, i.e. “catch weights” - light as you can!

The first race meeting in Sydney, in 1810 at Hyde Park, races were run at a WFA. It is fair to say that Admiral Rous published the first scale which had a monthly changing table as such, but racing programs pre-Rous gave weights for up-coming races that were similar in pattern to the Rous scale, i.e., cognizant of age, time of year and distance.

Trapeze Artist winning the weight-for-age G2 Expressway Stakes

Purpose of a WFA scale

There are three primary purposes of a wfa scale:

· As a handicapping aid for handicappers

· To help measure the relative merits of horses in different age groups and different years

· To anticipate likely improvements of horses

It should also be said clearly: there is a strong ‘public policy’ argument that young horses be favoured. That is: three-year-olds should win a much larger proportion of races than their representation would suggest.

WFA scales’ strengths and weaknesses

The weight-for-age scale is “beautiful thing” and accurate in assessing the change over the season of actual open class races themselves but not so precise for individual horses themselves. The class of Group races, of different age groups at different times, closely reflects the weight-for-age scale.

Contrary to common perception, they are however, less helpful in assessing the amount of improvement young horses will make. On average, horses only make about half the improvement the WFA scale anticipates, consequently it is not open to say, as in the BHA document, that the weight-for-age scale “is based on a theory of how the average horse develops”.

"The weight-for-age scale is beautiful thing." - Rob Waterhouse

Sadly, WFA scales do a poor job with lower class racing. They are terrible with, for example, Australian maidens – I know (counterintuitively) there is, in fact, little difference ratings wise, where the prizemoney and venue is the same, between two-year-old, three-year-old and older maiden races at any time of the year, over any distance, in Australia.

The temptation to meddle with the WFA scale

Unfortunately, there have been and will be always moves to meddle with the WFA scale.

The BHA decided to alter the UK scale because they could show three-year-olds won a disproportionate number of staying handicaps. But I think it was a mistake to alter it. It is, in fact, great for racing that fresh three-year-olds have their “day in the sun.” The UK changes reduce the weight difference between two and three-year-olds over 10f or more, by up to three pounds.

Official handicappers in Australia allow younger horses a very miserly allowance in staying races with unfortunate consequences. In NSW, for three-year-olds, in races 1800m or longer, on a sliding scale, between 3.5kg and 1kg is allowed. UK handicappers allow, over 16f in January 13.5kg. A big difference!

"It is, in fact, great for racing that fresh three-year-olds have their “day in the sun.” - Rob Waterhouse

Inadvertently, because of the parsimonious Australian allowances, great harm is done to our staying ranks, as three-year-olds are not aimed at a staying career early in their careers, unlike yesteryear.

There are ways of auditing the WFA scale

Weight ratings (excluding the weight-for-age bonus) must reconcile with time ratings. From that, the weight-for-age scale can be tested. Also, in a season, all ratings form a “normal curve” graph and should produce very similar graphs to other years. And of course, a study of ‘group one’ weight-for-age racing results is appropriate, see below.

Weight-for-age races

I recently did a study of all Group 1 weight-for-age races in Australia since 1991 (when anabolics ceased having their effect here). The sample size was over 5,000 runners. (The Australian scale is slightly different to the English one).

Were I asked my advice on the Australian weight-for-age scale, in light of the above study, I’d suggest:

· two-year-olds need a bigger concession

· While the strike rate is good, more three-year-olds should be encouraged to participate and a bigger concession.

· 4yos need a touch more relief against the old, proven warriors

In this study, mares did better than entires and geldings strike rate-wise, but were under represented. Less than 20% of runners were female. Were I in charge, I would increase the female allowance slightly, but take away a pound or half kilo with every group 1 weight-for-age win, avoiding the domination of Black Caviar and Winx. Therefore, top mares were not being patronised by being allowed to run on their merits against the boys.

Girl Tuesday wows J-Mac

3 min read

By Bren O'Brien

James McDonald has ridden champion horses all over the world but even he was impressed by what Girl Tuesday (Street Cry {Ire}) did on her step-up to city class racing at Rosehill on Wednesday.

At just her third start, the daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (Carnegie {Ire}) made it three from three in a Benchmark 76 race, racing away to win by 3.3l.

While the win was visually impressive, with McDonald sitting her back along the rail before coming with a surging run over the final 300m, it was the reaction of the jockey post race which gave the best indication of what class he feels the 4-year-old is in.

Watch: Girl Tuesday winning at Rosehill

"She's a top mare in the making. She’ll definitely go through the grades in the autumn," McDonald said. "She's got so much furnishing to do, she's so raw. She's got so much ability. She's a Group horse for sure."

Trainer Chris Waller has been patient with Girl Tuesday, with her debut coming early in her 4-year-old season at Newcastle last month. She impressed over 1400m that day and then stepped up to a Class 2 at Newcastle on September 14 where she also won with ease.

"She's got so much ability. She's a Group horse for sure." - James McDonald on Tuesday Joy

On Wednesday, on a soft Rosehill track over 1500m, she toyed with her rivals

"She got through that ground ok and it shows her class. She's a big improver," McDonald said. "She's very special and she can do anything at this stage in these type of fields. But when she steps up, she’ll step up with them. She's very good."

Waller's racing manager Charlie Duckworth praised the horse's owner John Singleton for persisting with Girl Tuesday despite the delayed start to her career.

"I guess John Singleton is more known for his two or three-year olds and he's had to wait for her, but I'm glad she's made the wait worth while for him because he's had to be very patient," he said.

"She hasn’t been the most straight forward horse. She's got to her four-year-old year and has only just had three starts, but she's won every start and hopefully she can continue."

"I'm glad she's made the wait worth while for him because he's had to be very patient," - Charlie Duckworth

"She's obviously a little green, she wandered around a bit and she'll improve again."

Her next destination is not clear but the team is likely to target top-class races in the autumn with the regally-bred mare.

Girl Tuesday is the fourth foal to race from Tuesday Joy, with all of them winners. Tuesday Joy (NZ) won Group 1 races from 1500m to 2400m and is a half sister to Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}) who was an ATC Oaks winner and produced the champion mare More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}).

Tuesday Joy winning the 2008 G1 Ranvet Stakes

Dominant wins in Oaks and Derby trials

4 min read

Savoie (Ilovethiscity) and Greysful Glamour (Stratum) have put their names forward for the Flemington classics after their impressive victories in the Derby and Oaks Trials respectively on Wednesday.

Savoie, having just his fifth start, sat outside the early speed in the AAMI Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) and bolted clear late in the event to win by a widening four lengths from Tolemac (Camelot {GB}) and Approach Discreet (Dawn Approach {IRE}).

His odds for the G1 Victoria Derby in November plummeted after the win which came off the back of a five-length maiden win at Swan Hill.

"He's a beautiful horse and you can see how he lengthens. I was quite confident that if he took up a forward position, he'll take some running down." - Weir stable representative, Darryn Murphy

Stable representative for Darren Weir, Darryn Murphy, said the horse just keeps on improving with every run.

"There's not many horses that every time you see them in the mounting yard, they look like they own the place and he has just really relished Darren's training," Murphy said.

"He's a beautiful horse and you can see how he lengthens. I was quite confident that if he took up a forward position, he'll take some running down."

Murphy has every confidence the horse will handle the progression to the 2500m of the Victoria Derby on November 3.

"He's been able to handle everything that Darren has asked of him. As long as that doesn’t change, he’ll get the distance for sure."

Savoie breaking his maiden with a five-length win at Swan Hill

Jockey Dean Yendall was also full of praise for the colt.

"It's a big step-up from a Swan Hill maiden to this so all the other horses have got to do the same thing but he took it in his stride and pretty well brained them," Yendall said.

"Obviously he's still learning the caper. He's still young and immature but taking everything in his stride. He's just a pleasure to ride."

Savoie is home-bred by the Efthim family from the mare Larrisar (Street Cry {Ire}), who has had four foals to the track for three winners.

Greysful Glamour was just as impressive in the Kennedy Oaks Trial, winning by 3.25l after also sitting on the outside of the pace.

Ridden by Tim Clark and coming off a last-start third in the G3 Spring S. at Newcastle, she strode clear to beat Yulong Meteor (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and Pressure (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}).

"She's pretty laid back and casual and probably hasn't got a brilliant turn of foot or anything but she's very tough and she gives her all and it will take her a long way." - Jockey, Tim Clark on Greysful Glamour

Clark was delighted with how Greysful Glamour responded and is looking forward to her getting towards the Kennedy Oaks later in the spring.

"She's a really tough little filly and it was a good plan by Mark (Newnham, the trainer) to target this race," he said.

Greysful Glamour winning at Flemington

"She's pretty laid back and casual and probably hasn't got a brilliant turn of foot or anything but she's very tough and she gives her all and it will take her a long way."

"She rests in a race, which is really important for stayers when they are getting over a trip. She rests and has got good tactical speed and can take up a position."

Greysful Glamour is likely to stay in Melbourne and contest the G3 Ethereal S. at Caulfield on October 20.

She was a $90,000 buy by Darby Racing at the 2017 Easter Sales and her younger sister by Hinchinbrook was also bought by Darby at this year's Magic Millions.

Greysful Glamour as a yearling

Her dam Rippled (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) is from a three-quarter sister to Always First (GB) and Dubai Success (GB), a family which also includes Chris Waller's multiple stakes-winner Libran (Ire).

Meanwhile, Michael Walker was very impressed with second-placed Yulong Meteor, who had to swoop around the field before finishing second,

"The Oaks is two runs away, look out then," he said.

Yulong Meteor's granddam Magical Miss (Danhill {USA}) won the 2001 VRC Oaks, while her dam Gioe (Hussonet {Ire}) finished fifth in the 2011 edition.

Daily News Wrap

Team Australia wins Singapore jockey challenge

Kerrin McEvoy, Hugh Bowman and Mark Zahra took Team Australia to a narrow victory in Tuesday night’s inaugural PGI International Jockey Challenge at Kranji.

McEvoy claimed the only win of the trio aboard the Cliff Brown-trained Mister Yeoh in Race 3, while Bowman claimed one third and Zahra two fourths.

All up Team Australia compiled a final tally of 119 points, clear of Team UK (117) and Team South Africa (102).

“I’m very proud to have represented Australia,” Bowman said. “I was lucky to have not only world-class riders on my side, but also very good mates."

“It was a great team effort, and Kerrin obviously did very well with a winner and two placings, but we all worked together to bring up points for all of us.”

Individual riding honours went to South African jockey Aldo Domeyer (56 points) who edged out UK rider Rob Havlin (54), with McEvoy in third (51).

Amphitrite a Guineas possibility

Amphitrite (Sebring) remains on track for 3-year-old fillies' features later in the Spring with a hard-fought win in the Rose of May H. at Flemington on Wednesday.

Amphitrite made it two wins from as many starts this preparation working home from midfield to beat Sacharro (Magnus) with East Indiaman (Hinchinbrook).

She was a second acceptor for the G1 Thousand Guineas on Tuesday and she could be set to head towards that race on October 13.

"The ability she's showing, that may be the way we go," stable representative Darryn Murphy told Racing.com. "The mile won't be an issue, she relaxes so well, she’ll probably get further in time."

Amphitrite was a $50,000 buy at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale out of Ocean Dream, who is a half-sister to G1 winner Marble Halls as well as Tigereye, who is the dam of G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Sleek Chassis.

Sunset headed to Melbourne

Magic Sunset (Fighting Sun) won't go to the G1 Thousand Guineas but she will contest fillies' black-type racing in Melbourne after winning her maiden by six lengths over 1200m at Gawler.

Owned by JHB Syndications, bigger and better things await Magic Sunset after her win.

"She's still a bit wintery today, but she's coming in the coat," stable representative Calvin McEvoy said. "She's just going to improve again."

Magic Sunset as a yearling

Merovee hits form

Former $1.6 million yearling Merovee (Frankel {GB}) broke through for his second career win at Rosehill on Wednesday.

Watch: Merovee winning at Rosehill

The 4-year-old, who is out of More Strawberries, looks to be living up to his potential after working home well to win the TAB Hcp over 1500m by 1.5l.

Jockey James McDonald feels the entire is only now just working out how to race after 11 starts.

"It was nice to see him do that because I thought his run last start was ok. He left a bit in the locker there and was not giving his all, but he definitely did that today," he said.

"My opinion would be that he would stretch out over 10 furlongs. He's good over that kind of trip. He travels well. He's a more furnished colt as a 4-year-old. He's taken a little time but I think they’ll reap the rewards soon."

He comes the latest progeny of Frankel to win in recent weeks, joining Frankely Awesome, New Horizons and Miss Fabulass.

He is raced by some significant racing names, including Vinery Stud, Chris Waller, Rupert Legh and Werrett Bloodstock.

Deal's spring far from done

A trial on Friday will determine if Dealmaker (Dundeel {NZ}) heads towards the G1 Spring Champion S at Randwick on October 6.

The 3-year-old hasn't been seen since being narrowly beaten in the G2 Stan Fox S. at Rosehill on September 8 and he missed a run in the Gloaming S. when blood tests revealed he wasn't quite right.

However, the ambitions to get Dealmaker to a Group 1 this preparation are far from lost, and owner Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds said his performance at Randwick on Friday was crucial to his spring prospects.

"If he trials well, there is still a realistic chance he can get to the Spring Champion on Saturday week. If he gets through the trial, I think he’ll be fine," she said.

"He's an extremely talented colt. I think he's one of our most exciting prospects going forward."

12 horses depart Macedon Lodge in online sale

Twelve horses owned by Lloyd Williams and family have found new homes as part of the Hudson Conway reduction sale through Inglis.

4-year-old Elgin (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) went for the biggest pricetag at $160,000 in the digital sale having run third on debut earlier this month.

Kilimanjaro (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) sold for $140,000 having been placed three times in five starts since arriving from Ireland after finishing fourth in the 2015 G1 Irish Derby.

Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the 2018 Listed Roy Higgins Quality, was sold for $75,000, while others sold include Crocodile Rock (Ire) for $60,000 (Galileo {Ire}) and Hans Holbein (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) for $45,000.

A full review of the sale will be featured in Friday's edition of TDN AusNZ.

HQ Insurance appoints Doughty, Morley

Equine insurance specialist Stuart Doughty has joined HQ Insurance as Business Development Manager, while Dean Morley has joined the company in a dual role of Account Executive and Media & Marketing Manager.

Doughty, formerly of Ausure Insurance, was delighted to join the company.

"I’m very excited to join Wayne (Aldridge - Managing Director) and the dynamic HQ team, they really are leaders in the field. Having the opportunity to now offer my clients the guaranteed renewal policy exclusive to HQ Insurance, among other superior offerings, is particularly appealing." Doughty said.

Morley worked with Sky Racing from 2010-2016 before spending a stint with bet365.

Aldridge said he was rapt to have Doughty and Morley on board.

Apprentice eyes Group 1 ride

Jasmine Fawcett hopes to take her association with star filly Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins) all the way to Group 1 level after breaking through for her first stakes success last weekend.

Matamata-based apprentice Fawcett is still buzzing from the biggest win of her career, but is keeping an eye on the prize, a ride on the Kevin and Pam Hughes-trained filly in November's G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

“She’s definitely up there with being one of the smartest fillies I’ve ever sat on. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to ride her and it is my goal to stick with her,” she said.

“They have not guaranteed me the ride but in saying that they don’t have a reason to take me off her,” she said. “It’s always a bit of a risk putting an apprentice on in a Group race but then again, I know the horse, I know the racecourse and I follow instructions."

“I don’t see a reason not to put me on. I’m confident and I’ve proven once already that I can handle the pressure so I don’t see why I can’t do it again.”

The win in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park last Saturday was a career highlight but Fawcett is not willing to rest on her laurels.

"Winning a stakes race was a big goal of mine and now that’s ticked off, I’ve just got more to look forward to achieving. It was a huge feeling for me and I’m very proud and grateful to have had the opportunity,” she said.

Looking Ahead - September 26

3 min read

Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

On Thursday we visit Bendigo to watch a couple of Danny O'Brien's 3-year-olds before moving to Hawkesbury to check out a resuming gelding from the Waterhouse and Bott yard.

Bendigo Race 1, Share Media Maiden Plate, $26,000, 1300m - 12:55pm AEST

While a lot of attention will be focussed on Prince of Caviar (Sebring), his close relation Spilia (Pierro) is definitely a horse worth following. A $400,000 buy at the 2017 Easter Sales, this colt is out of Belle Couture, the half-sister to Black Caviar and All Too Hard.

He has had just one run, finishing ninth on heavy track at Bendigo as a 2-year-old but he looks to have returned better in his 3-year-old year. He was narrowly beaten in a recent Cranbourne trial and looks a much-improved horse. He'll have his work cut out to knock off Prince of Caviar, but he should be winning soon.

Spilia as a yearling

Bendigo Race 2 Bet 365 Maiden Plate, $26,000, 1300m - 1:30pm AEST

Provan, another Pierro from the Danny O'Brien stable, makes his debut in Race 2. He ran third in a recent Cranbourne trial and with a good barrier here should prove pretty competitive on debut.

A $190,000 buy at the 2017 Easter Sales, he is out of black-type winning mare Nediym's Glow, who is a half-sister to the likes of Red Colussus and Radiant Star. Nediym's Glow was good enough to win at Flemington on debut before winning a G2 Blue Diamond Prelude at her second start.

Provan as a yearling

Hawkesbury Race 2, Seppelt the Great Entertainer Mdn, $35,000, 1300m - 1:35pm AEST

Ulusaba (Exceed and Excel) resumes here for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott having had three trials, all of which he has been very competitive in. He only had a couple of starts as a 2-year-old running third on debut before finishing last at his subsequent start.

A $230,000 buy from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2017 Premier Sale, he is out of the stakes-placed Mabsam (Stratum), which means he is related to Viking Hero and Invincible Star as well as Innocent King and Royal Snack.

Ulusaba as a yearling

Black-Type Entries - 28th September

VIC: Moonee Valley

NSW Race Results

Rosehill (Metropolitan)