Rain key to Igraine
A wet track was key to the New Zealand visitor Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) trumping her rivals in the Listed Caloundra Cup.
"She had no luck at her start in the Brisbane Cup after she had run two good races in the lead up, but she likes the track to have some give and she got that," trainer Robert Priscott said.
"We can head down to Grafton now for their Cup, which should suit her as well. Then she is staying in Australia to go to stud."
The Trelawney Stud-owned Igraine is to be served by Fastnet Rock.
Rev up inspires jockey
A pre-race spray from trainer Les Ross to jockey Matthew McGillivray inspired a winning ride aboard River Racer (Hidden Dragon) in the Listed Glasshouse H.
Ross revealed he had given McGillivray a blast before the race.
"He came out with three girths and then he didn't come out and I had to send in to the jockeys’ room for him,” he said. “I said to him I have a live chance here and you will not muck it up.
"Then I said to him it was no wonder I didn't give him too many rides, but I will have to give him a lot more now."
Ross said it had given him a thrill to win a stakes race for owner Leslie Ung, who had been a great supporter of his stable.
Royal performance
Call Me Royal (Sebring) bounced back to her best at Rosehill with a dashing front-running victory.
She was too strong for Phaistos (Helmet) in the Winter Racing H. to make up for a disappointing performance at her prior performance at Randwick.
“I was really going in confident last start so it was a bit of a head scratcher,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said. “We let her get over that and she appreciated that time between runs and raced nice and fresh.”
Call Me Royal was ridden by Sam Weatherley and she stayed on strongly after sprinting three lengths clear into the straight.
Iridessa back to best
Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) revived her fortunes in style as she stamped her class in Friday’s G1 Juddmonte Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh.
Always happy under Wayne Lordan tracking the pace against the rail, last year’s G1 Filles’ Mile winner, who had run fourth when last seen in the G Irish 1000 Guineas, seized the advantage approaching the 200 metre mark and drew away for an impressive two and a-quarter length success from Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
“The race set up lovely for her and obviously the step up in trip was a big help for her,” trainer Joseph O’Brien said.
“We had come home a little bit disappointed after her last two runs, but she was crying out for further. That was a hot race with fantastic fillies in it so we’re delighted.
Cup beckons
Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has won the G2 Curragh Cup to set up a possible tilt at the G1 Melbourne Cup.
The Jim Bolger-trained gelding led all the way under jockey Kevin Manning to defeat Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is raced by Australian Lloyd Williams and won the G1 Irish Derby before finishing runner-up in the G1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington last November.
“He's a great looker and he has the ability to match the looks," Bolger said. "We'll aim him at the Irish Leger and he'll probably go for the trial race before that. It's amazing, he's a 6-year-old and he's still improving."
Twilight Payment has entered the Melbourne Cup market as a 50-1 chance.
Azuro too tough
Azuro (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) dug deepest to win the Stayer's Cup over 3200 metres at Rosehill.
He is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who have a Sydney stable at Warwick Farm, but Annabel Neasham, who runs the Sydney stable, said Azuro was a product of the trainers' Ballarat operation.
"It was a long old race," Neasham said. "We were pretty confident although the heavy track was a bit of an unknown. Ballarat is a really good facility for training stayers and he was fit even though it's five weeks between runs."
Track specialist rules
The special affinity Tarzan (Drumbeats) has with the Sunshine Coast was again evident when the specialist sprinter was successful there again.
Trained by Stuart Kendrick and ridden by Luke Tarrant, he led all the way to claim the XXXX Gold Open H. for his ninth win on the track and 12th over 1000 metres.
“He just loves it here. I was a bit worried on the turn when they kicked up inside him, but Luke knows him pretty well and when he gave him a little squeeze he just accelerated,” Kendrick said.
“He’s just got to get balanced and that’s why he loves this track so much. Around the tight, turning tracks he struggles to get around them.”
Trainer stood down
Kembla Grange trainer Michael Tubman has been stood down following the alleged discovery of EPO in his stable.
Acting on advice from NSW Police, Racing NSW stewards went to Tubman's stable on June 14 and discovered several substances, one of which was later identified as "containing an Erythropoiesis - stimulating agent (EPO)."
Analysis of the other substances is continuing.
Tubman has five days to make submissions why his licence should not be suspended beyond the interim order.
