Hollendorfer asked to leave Santa Anita

After a fourth horse from his barn broke down at Santa Anita on Saturday morning, The Stronach Group released a statement saying Jerry Hollendorfer is no longer to stable, train, or race his horses at any TSG tracks – including Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields, where many of his horses are based.

Four-year-old gelding American Currency (USA) (Exchange Rate {USA}) was breezing on the training track when he broke down. The breeze comes six days after the gelding was a vet scratch in a Starter Allowance at Santa Anita last weekend. In addition to his four Santa Anita breakdowns, CNN reported that two horses from the trainer’s barn at Golden Gate Fields had been euthanized since December.

“Individuals who do not embrace the new rules and safety measures that put horse and rider safety above all else, will have no place at any Stronach Group racetrack. We regret that Mr. Hollendorfer’s record in recent months at both Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields has become increasingly challenging and does not match the level of safety and accountability we demand,” the statement said.

Hollendorfer’s Saturday entries at Santa Anita were scratched by the stewards after the breakdown. The final day of Santa Anita’s spring meet takes place tomorrow.

Hunter O’Riley earns first Grade 1 victory in United Nations

Hunter O’Riley (USA) (Tiz Wonderful {USA}) regained his form in just the right race on Saturday at Monmouth Park when earning his first Grade 1 win in the United Nations.

Hunter O’Riley took up position on the rail near the back of the field and galloped along comfortably under Paco Lopez. Lopez took his mount to the outside as the field neared the far turn in the 2200 metre race with the horse entering the straight as the widest horse on the course.

Soon after the field turned for home, Zulu Alpha (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) took over the lead and gave Hunter O’Riley a target to aim for as he closed like a freight train down the centre of the track. It took nearly the whole straight for the gelding to catch Zulu Alpha but the gelding prevailed to win for the first time since July of 2017 by a neck over Zulu Alpha with race favourite Channel Cat (USA) (English Channel {USA}) in third.

Hunter O’Riley is from a Bernardini (USA) half-sister to two stakes winners. The gelding has an Australian connection under his third dam, with that mare producing Grade 1 winning Forestry (USA) mare Diplomat Lady (USA) and Grade 2 winner Dream Play (USA) (Hennessy {USA}). Dream Play is the dam of Group 2 Sires’ Produce winner and Group 1 Champagne Stakes runner-up Zululand (Fastnet Rock) and this season’s Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate third Chicago Bull (Exceed And Exell).

Saqqara King continues strong run for Pharoah

American Pharoah’s (USA) strong run with his first crop continued at Newmarket on Saturday when the stallion’s son Saqqara King (USA) won in his second start.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the colt was quickly in a prominent position in the 1400 metre race and took the lead with 200 metres to run. He had a brief scare about 100 metres out when Exceed And Excel’s Mass Media (GB) closed into his lead but the American Pharaoh son never gave up the advantage. In the end, he won by half a length over Mass Media to give Godolphin the exacta.

A US$200,000 yearling purchase by Godolphin at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, the grey is from Grade 1 winning mare Joyful Victory (Can) (Tapit {USA}), who is also the dam of Listed placed Jennifer’s Dream (USA) (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).

American Pharoah has sired three winners from his first seven runners with an additional two runners already placed.

Victoria Drummond wins for Rezyana

In a month that has seen Australian in the European spotlight, Redoute’s Choice’s Group 3 placed Rezyana added herself to the list when her daughter Victoria Drummond (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won at Newmarket.

The 4-year-old mare broke slowly in the 2800 metre race but quickly recovered to take on pacemaking duties up front. Harry Bentley had to start asking the mare to run with 600 metres left to go but didn’t ask for her best until they reached the final 200 metres. Bentley soon lost his whip but it didn’t matter to the mare, who continued on gamely to win by a neck.

Victoria Drummond has only been off the board twice in her eight race career and was making her first start of the year after three consecutive thirds to end 2018. She is bred on a similar cross to Epsom Derby winner Anthony Vandyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is from Australian-bred Danehill mare Believe’n’Succeed and by Sea The Stars’ half-brother Galileo.

A $300,000 Inglis Easter yearling, Rezyana won three races and finished third in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate before making her way to Europe in 2011. The mare visited the Arqana December Breeder Stock Sale ring in 2016 where she was sold for €48,000 to Rosemont Stud and returned to Australia. She had a Tarzino (NZ) filly last September and was covered by Written Tycoon.

Australasian stallions sire treble at Ayr

While most of the attention in England on Saturday was turned to Royal Ascot, at Ayr runners by Australasian sires were putting on a show.

In the third race of the day, a 1400 metre handicap, Irreverent (GB) was the first to strike for New Zealand sire Iffraaj (GB). Asked to give his best effort just outside the final 200 metres by jockey Paul Hanagan, the 3-year-old gelding didn’t have to be asked twice and pulled away by 2 ¾ lengths over Fastman (Ire), a son of Australian-bred sire Elzaam.

Two races later it was Exceed And Excel in the spotlight in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes thanks to another winning mount for Hanagan.

The Darley stallion’s daughter was close up from the start of the 1000 metre race and took over the lead with 200 metres left to run. She had a challenge from Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead {USA}) inside the final 100 metres who was one of multiple horses after her lead but was able to win by a neck for her first stakes victory. The top three fillies in the race were all by former or current Australian sires with Dream Ahead siring the second placed Glass Slippers and Dubawi (Ire) the sire of third placed Queen Of Desire (Ire).

In the sixth race of the day it was Cornerstone Stud resident Zebedee (GB) who rounded out the wins. His 5-year-old son Island Brave (Ire) showed that running 2600 metres was no problem when he was asked to quicken with 400 metres to go. He had to keep on strongly until the line but it paid off when he won by three-quarters of a length under Allstair Rawlinson to complete the treble.