No Stradbroke guarantee for Military Zone
Co-trainer Peter Snowden is unsure whether impressive G3 Fred Best Classic winner Military Zone (Epaulette) goes to the G1 Stradbroke Hcp.
The Triple Crown Syndications-owned 3-year-old was a convincing one-length winner of the race, but Snowden is not committed to a Stradbroke run with him and will decide this week.
“I reckon he is still another prep away, maybe a spring or autumn horse but not so much now,” Snowden told Channel Seven. “I just think that one run might be run one too many - you would give yourself an uppercut if he ran poorly."
“But it is way too early to say yet."
Noble puts forward Stradbroke case
Trainer Todd Blowes hopes promising 4-year-old Noble Boy (Bon Hoffa) has done enough to get up the weights and get into next month's G1 Stradbroke Hcp off his impressive win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Noble Boy made it seven wins from eight starts with a 2.25l win in a Bm90 Hcp and Blowes is hopeful of getting enough of a ratings boost to secure a spot in the $1.5m feature on June 8.
"We'll get a better idea of where we sit in order of entry for the Stradbroke when weights come out next week," Blowes said.
"But we have another option with the Listed Hinkler Stakes at Eagle Farm on the same day."
Nobu a clear Derby favourite
Chris Waller's Nobu (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) established himself as a clear favourite for the G1 Queensland Derby with a narrow win over 2000m at Randwick on Saturday.
Nobu surged late under Jason Collett, to just nab another Queensland Derby aspirant in Carif (So You think {NZ}) in the final stages in his final run before heading to the Eagle Farm feature on June 8.
The Derby market received a major shake-up with the two key main New Zealand hopes, Lord Arthur (Camelot {GB}) and Bobby Dee (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), both finishing down the track in the G3 Mullins Grand Prix S. at Eagle Farm.
That race was won by all-the-way leader Fun Fact (The Factor {USA}), who rolled along on a strong tempo and found plenty to win by a length. It was the first Australian stakes winner for his sire, who stood for four seasons at Newgate.
"He's had 10 runs this prep so we might as well keep him going," trainer Bjorn Baker said when asked about Fun Fact heading to the Derby.
Prince Fawaz stamps JJ Atkins ticket
Anthony Cummings heads to the G1 JJ Atkins S at Eagle Farm on June 8 with plenty of confidence in Prince Fawaz (Fastnet Rock) after his powerful win at Randwick on Saturday.
Prince Fawaz charged down the outside to defeat previous JJ Atkins favourite Reloaded (Snitzel) by 1.3l and he is now a clear favourite for the final 2-year-old Group 1 in Australia for the season.
“Even though he was interfered with on the turn and had to go back and regather, we still had plenty of time to win and in the finish it was a reasonably soft win,” Cummings said.
Cummings threw Prince Fawaz in the deep end when he was fifth at his second start in the G1 Champagne S. and he hopes that experience will serve the colt well heading into his second run at 1600m.
He is out of a Group 1 winning family, with his dam Lady Paget (Testa Rossa) a half-sister to Casino Prince (Flying Spur) as well as the dam of Onemorenomore (Red Ransom {USA}).
Flying Fidelia has big Spring aims
Robbie Griffiths is eyeing spring Group 1 riches with Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt) after she made it four straight wins at Flemington on Saturday.
Coming from the rear of the field, Fidelia prevailed in the Donate to NJTAppeal.com.au Trophy over 1600m by 0.5l, to make it six wins from ten starts.
Griffiths wants to test Fidelia out over the same track and distance but at Group 1 level over the spring.
"The (spring) target race is the Empire Rose here – the Group 1 mile – so the plan is to run in the Cockram (Stakes) in August into three Flemington runs, the Let’s Elope, the Blazer and then the big one being the Empire Rose," he said.
Hawkshot, Stronger head to Hong Kong
Another top-quality 3-year-old is headed to Hong Kong after Hawkshot (Fiorente {Ire}) was sold.
Hawkshot, who was trained by Darren Weir and Lindsay Park in Australia and was second behind star filly Mystic Journey (Needs Further) in the G1 Australian Guineas, will be trained by John Size in Hong Kong.
Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes said he was disappointed to have lost the gelding, who won the G2 Autumn S. in February.
“The stable thought he could be our top-rated horse this spring and would have really measured up,” Hayes told Racing.com. “But obviously they had made a really good offer and had to sell."
Bloodstock agent George Moore facilitated the sale as well as that of Group 3 winning 2-year-old Stronger (Not A Single Doubt), who will now be trained by his father John.
Comeback makes it five in a row
Comeback (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) made it five straight wins, claiming the Roaring Lion North Island Challenge St (1400m) at Hastings.
The Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson trained 4-year-old claimed his seventh success in his 21-start career, relishing the heavy conditions to win by 1.75l under 59.5kg.
He looks ready to step up to stakes class having easily beaten the favourite Art Deco (NZ) (Road To Rock), who has multiple stakes placings in his career.
Comeback races in the familiar colours of Westbury Stud boss Gerry Harvey, under his NZ Thoroughbred Holdings Ltd banner.
