McEvoy to Ballarat

Tony McEvoy is the latest trainer to confirm a move to Ballarat where he will have a 100-box facility that may take up to a year to build.

The leading trainer, who will keep his stables at Flemington and at Angaston in South Australia, said his son Calvin is likely to be based at the new Victorian operation.

The reasons behind the move are doubts over long-term training opportunities at Flemington and the depressed nature of the South Australian industry.

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have recently taken over disqualified trainer Darren Weir's Ballarat stable while Mitch Freedman and Symon Wilde have been others to move to a Ballarat facility in the last 12 months.

3YOs Goodwood threats

Dwayne Dunn fears one of the 3-year-olds could upset his hopes of breaking his duck in the G1 The Goodwood aboard Booker (Written Tycoon) at Morphettville.

Having cut his teeth in Adelaide before riding in Hong Kong and then Melbourne, Dunn has won most of South Australia's biggest races, the exception being The Goodwood.

Dunn believes Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Behemoth (All Too Hard) are major threats.

"This year, the 3-year-olds have a really good chance just with the weights being compressed and the high-class sprinters not being there," Dunn said.

Cup runneth over

Veteran Destiny’s Kiss (Power Of Destiny) will run in the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup at Rosehill on Saturday, the 47th time in his 95-start career that he has contested a Cup race.

It is not over his preferred 2400-metre distance, and it won't be on his favoured rain-affected surface, but trainer Joe Pride has no doubt the gelding will give his best.

"He doesn't even get hot until he gets to 2400 metres these days," Pride said. "He is purely a 2400-metre horse, that's why he does the majority of his racing at that distance, but he's in good order and he loves life."

Woodside complex on market

The state of the art Woodside Park Equine Complex is being offered for sale via an International Expressions of Interest tender process by William Inglis & Son’s, Inglis Rural Property.

“This property has been meticulously designed and boasts unrivalled facilities only one hour from the Melbourne CBD and within close proximity to the Nagambie region, renowned for producing some of Australia’s outstanding thoroughbreds,” Jamie Inglis, Director of Inglis Rural Property, said.

The facility is currently operated under the umbrella of Woodside Park Stud with a landmark feature the modern architect designed stable compound for 80 horses, as well as additional stabling to accommodate, spelling, breeding, rehabilitation and pre-training work.

“Following long discussions internally, we have made the decision to divest our Tylden Complex. It would be nearly impossible to replicate a development/asset of this magnitude,” Woodside Chief Executive Officer Mark Rowsthorn said.

Santa's half-sister joins Weanling Sale

A half sister to multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Santa Ana Lane (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is the highlight of five supplementary lots for next week's Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.

By Darley's freshman sire Frosted (USA), the filly is the latest foal from Fast Fleet (Fastnet Rock) who was sold for $800,000 in foal to Zoustar at the recent Inglis Chairman's Sale.

The filly is one of three supplementary lots from Aquis Farm Operations to join the catalogue, with a Written Tycoon half-sister to New Zealand stakes winner Cyber Attack (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and a colt by Medaglia d'Oro (USA), also added.

The sale starts next Wednesday on the Gold Coast and runs for three days with 730 lots catalogued.

Walker after a double

Michael Walker has a chance to make it consecutive wins in the Group 1 Doomben Cup.

Walker has picked up the mount on the imported Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was 26th in order of entry when he took the ride.

"A couple of others were being a bit reluctant but Michael's agent said he was willing to wait," trainer Matthew Smith said.

Fierce Impact did his early racing in England and won at a mile before being sold to Australian interests. He has since won twice for Smith and picked up minor prize money on five other occasions.

Currie fails

Trainer Ben Currie has failed in an application to the Supreme Court for a temporary order preventing Racing Queensland from refusing his nominations.

RQ invoked a recently revamped Australian Racing rule AR55 which it says allows it to refuse Currie's nominations. It has meant a large number of horses have been transferred from Currie's stables to other trainers so they can continue racing.

Currie sought an interlocutory injunction which would have prevented RQ implementing the rule until a full hearing and determination of the use of the rule, but after hearing several hours of legal argument, Supreme Court Justice Jean Dalton refused the application on Thursday.

Top mare for Ascot

Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will return at the Royal meeting at Ascot to begin her quest for a third consecutive G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title.

Despite enduring a troubled preparation last year, the John Gosden-trained mare successfully defended her crown in an epic edition of the Longchamp feature to become the eighth dual winner of Europe's premier middle-distance prize.

“She's in great nick and is enthusiastic," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for breeder-owner Khalid Abdullah. "We've always said the Arc is the main target.

"She could go for either the Prince of Wales's or the Hardwicke and I think the ground could possibly dictate. They are two very nice options to have."

Julius on comeback trail

Exciting galloper Julius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was retired last year after a scan revealed he had a hole in his near fore tendon, but the John Bell-trained gelding is now on the comeback trail.

The dual Group 3 winner looked to be in imposing form heading into spring last year after running Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) to a nose in the G2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate in August.

"Julius was tearing around Te Akau Stud on 3000-odd acres and being a real pain, so we brought him back in,” Bell said. “Veterinary surgeon Paul Fraser did a procedure on both tendons and at this stage he will come back into work in September.”

Rain a boost

Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors is happy to be racing on a rain-affected track at Awapuni where She’s Poppy (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) will defend her Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup title.

"She needs rain and our concern was that the track might be too good for her again, but the rain this week should have helped," he said.

Safely through Saturday's race, Connors said She's Poppy would tackle the Listed Ag Challenge S. at Wanganui on June 1.