Everest looms again for In Her Time
Dual Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) will return to work next week as she bids to reach The Everest again.
A 50 per cent share in In Her Time was secured by emerging powerhouse Orbis Bloodstock recently, and in conjunction with her existing owner Peter Brown, they will be looking to secure a slot for the $14 million sprint on October 19.
"She's in the paddock. She’ll be coming back into work early next week. She seems in great order and we are hopeful of getting another Everest slot with her at some stage," Lees told Sky Racing Radio.
In Her Time was seventh in the second edition of The Everest last year. She is considered one of Australia's leading sprinters having won the G1 Galaxy last year and the G1 Lightning S. this year.
A foot issue saw her sidelined after her Lightning S. win, but Lees said all is on track for her return to the track ahead of the spring.
In Her Time
Winx's grand honour
Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) will have a new stand at Randwick named in her honour.
The ATC has announced that the Winx Stand will be built on Royal Randwick’s Leger Lawn and cater for approximately 5,000 spectators on major race days.
Pending approvals, the Australian Turf Club is aiming to have the Winx Stand open to the public for the running of The Everest in 2020.
“Winx has provided us with a lifetime of memories and now her name and career will be linked at Royal Randwick and the scene of some of her most famous wins,” Australian Turf Club Chairman Matthew McGrath said.
“Winx is an Australian sporting icon and it is fitting such a major addition to Sydney’s historic Royal Randwick racecourse is permanently named in honour of this remarkable horse."
War Decree remains unchanged
The pulling power of War Decree (USA) was evident in his first season at Inglewood Stud, but his 2019 fee will remain unchanged at NZ$6500 + GST.
“We were rapt with the response to War Decree,” Gus Wigley said. “For a non-syndicated horse to serve just under 100 mares speaks volumes about his appeal as a stallion. "
“He drew mares from all over the country and the quality was outstanding. On one day alone he covered maiden siblings to Australian Group 1 winners Ace High, Shamexpress and Who Shot Thebarman.”
War Decree
Dubious a chance at Kingsford Smith
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher has conceded he is considering giving star 2-year-old Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) a shot at the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
The 2-year-old was an impressive winner of the G2 Champagne Classic last Saturday and would carry just 47kgs against the older horses under the weight-for-age conditions of the Group 1 race.
"We're having a think about it for sure," Maher told Racing.com. "He won well and pulled up in good order so we're having a look."
Meanwhile, James Cummings has confirmed that Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) is headed to the paddock and won't contest either the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup or the G1 Stradbroke,
Mares top Goodwood weights
Last start Group 1 winner Spright (Hinchinbrook) has drawn wide but maintains favouritism for Saturday's G1 The Goodwood at Morphettville.
The G1 Robert Sangster S. winner has top weight along with fellow Group 1 winning mare Booker (Written Tycoon) with 56.5kg and they have drawn the outside two barriers in 16 and 15 respectively.
The mare Spright beat last time, Cool Passion (Not A Single Doubt), is second in the market after coming up with barrier 2, which should suit her front-running style, while Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) has come up with barrier 12.
Spright
Waddell remains sidelined
Leading NZ jockey Jason Waddell will remain sidelined after opting to have surgery on his right leg.
Waddell has been sidelined through suspension and while he is free to return to the saddle, he has been having a break ahead of surgery for compartment syndrome in his calves later this month.
That will likely rule him out until the start of the new season, meaning he will finish 2018/19 on 53 wins, including his victory on Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in the G1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham.
Gem flies in trial ahead of Doomben test
Unbeaten Queensland filly Gem Of Scotland (Rothesay) tuned up for a shot at her first stakes race with an easy trial win at Toowoomba on Tuesday.
The Rex Lipp-trained 2-year-old has won all four of her starts to date including a 6.5l win in a 2-year-old race at Doomben last month.
She will take her place in the Listed Bill Carter S. at Doomben on Saturday after winning her 925m trial by 6.25l in 54.67s.
Double success for All Too Hard debutants
Two first-starters for Vinery's All Too Hard won impressively at Sale on Tuesday, including a 3-year-old filly who trainer Phillip Stokes hopes can make stakes grade.
Too Good Too Hard had her first start in a 1200m maiden and swooped down the outside to secure her win by a comfortable margin.
Purchased for $120,000 at the 2017 Melbourne Premier Sale, she is out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) and Stokes said post race she'd head straight to a midweek metropolitan race and would measure up in much better races.
Earlier, the Danny O'Brien-trained 2-year-old Can’t Be Done won by 2.75l on debut. He was also a $120,000 buy for her trainer at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Musidora (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}).
