Top sprinter thriving
Dual Group 1 winner Vega Magic (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is closing in on a return to racing.
"I think he has come back brilliantly," co-trainer David Hayes said. "I'm very, very happy with him.
"He's going to be trialling in the next week and then we'll make a decision what we do with him after the first trial."
Vega Magic has won 13 races, including the G1 Goodwood H. and the G1 Memsie S., he was spelled after he failed to flatter in the G1 TJ Smith S. in the autumn.
Vega Magic is close to making his racetrack return
Spell for Elton
Trainer Adam Duggan will send Sir Elton (Your Song) to the paddock after he runs at Randwick.
Saturday's Book Spring Hospitality H. will be the 3-year-old's final start this preparation and he will enjoy a decent break with a view to his longer-term future.
"I'm not going to get too cute in terms of giving him a short spell and aiming at the end of the spring. I'm going to give that a miss," Duggan said.
"We're completely in at the wrong time and I want to make sure we do the right thing with him."
Sir Elton will be heading to the paddock after Saturday's run at Randwick
Patient approach
David Payne is hoping his patience will be rewarded with War Baron (Declaration Of War {USA}) at Randwick.
The colt has just one minor placing in seven starts, but has showed enough to press on with.
"He's been unlucky, but he's also been his own worst enemy because he still runs like a first-timer," Payne said.
"Some horses take a while to switch on. They're like kids at school. It's just a mental thing.”
War Baron
Finalists announced
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced the finalists for five of the six racehorse categories with the Champion Jumper contenders to be confirmed later this month.
All finalists are eligible for the Horse of the Year title, which will be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland, at the Ellerslie Racecourse, on Sunday, September 8.
The flat racing finalists are: Champion Two-Year-Old: Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel), Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}). Champion Three-Year-Old: Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}), Madison County (NZ) (Pins), Media Sensation (I Am Invincible), Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Surely Sacred (Rock ‘n’ Pop). Champion Sprinter-Miler (up to 1600m): Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa), Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Shadows Cast (Per Incanto {USA}), Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). Champion Middle Distance (1601m to 2200m): Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Melody Belle, On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel). Champion Stayer (2201m and further): Five To Midnight (Domesday), Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {NZ}), Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
First winner for Atlante
The ill-fated Atlante sired his first winner when Callsign Mav (NZ) took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race at Hastings.
“I was quietly confident,” successful trainer John Bary said. “I thought he opened up quite short on the tote ($3), but the jump-outs form around him was nice, especially his last jump-out.”
Callsign Mav (NZ) winning at Hastings
Atlante, who also sired the runner-up Riva Capri (NZ), stood at Mapperley Stud for two seasons before his untimely death in 2016.
A freak accident claimed the life of the Group 1 winning son of Fastnet Rock when he reared and slipped and suffered a fatal blow to his head.
Small Haskell field
Maximum Security (USA) (New Year’s Day {UAS}) will take on six rivals in his second start since being disqualified as the winner of the G1 Kentucky Derby when he runs in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has sent dual Grade 3 winner Mucho Gusto (USA) (Mucho Macho Man {USA}) in from the West Coast. Baffert will be seeking his ninth win in this race.
King for a Day (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), who beat Maximum Security in the Pegasus S., is also entered. Joevia (USA) (Shanghai Bobby {USA}), third in the Belmont S., and Everfast (USA) (Take Charge Indy {USA}), the Preakness runner-up, are also accepted.
If Maximum Security wins Saturday's race, he will be the only 3-year-old colt with two Grade 1 victories this year, having captured the Florida Derby in March.
Close to title
Baylee Nothdurft has six rides at Eagle Farm as he closes in on his first metropolitan apprentices' title.
Nothdurft won on Golly Hutt (Better Than Ready) at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday and now leads last year's champion apprentice, Jag Guthmann-Chester, 30 wins to 26.
It has been a good effort from both young riders because Nothdurft did not start riding in the city until January and Guthmann-Chester has had injury problems.
"I'm not counting on anything until it is over that is for sure," Nothdurft said.
Mile starts in balance
Trainer Steve Tregea has yet to decide whether Bergerac (Drumbeats) and Prioritise (Rothesay) run in the Listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm.
The former won the $150,000 Mackay Cup last Saturday with Prioritise eighth in the race after going hard in the lead.
Tregea brought the horses back to his Toowoomba base on Monday and after looking at nominations elected to accept with both in the Tattersall's Mile.
"They are both seasoned travellers and they ate up well when we went from Mackay to Rockhampton on Saturday night and then home on Monday," Tregea said. "There isn't much around for them after Saturday but you don't want to over-tax them."
