Lucicello ready for Rosebud
The Chris Waller stable is delighted with the preparation of promising filly Lucicello (I Am Invincible) for Saturday's Listed Canterbury Hurlstone Park Club Rosebud at Rosehill
Lucicello impressed with a recent 1200m win at the same track two weeks ago, and while she drops back 100m, rather than go to the 1400m race on the same card, confidence is high of another positive result.
Lucicello is ready for the Rosebud at Rosehill
"She is going as well as ever,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth told Racenet. “She galloped nicely on Tuesday and we gave Tommy Berry the option for which race he thought we should run in so we had more than just one brain in the decision."
“Being drawn nine in a field of nine for the Rosebud probably isn’t the worst for her because she is still learning."
“She will go in last and be in for 30 seconds, and then probably drop out (towards the back) anyway. We will see if she is good enough over the concluding stages.”
Sky Racing App launches
Tabcorp has launched its new Sky Racing Active App, a product it believes will revolutionise the way Australians watch racing.
Sky Racing Active allows punters to tailor the app to watch the racing content they want on-demand, providing a level of customisation not seen before in the Australian market.
“Sky Racing and Tabcorp are thrilled to be launching this new product that allows our customers to shape their racing experience; it really gives the customer the power to play producer – creating channels specifically around their preferences. What they want to watch, when they want to watch it,” Darren Pearce, Executive General Manager Media and International at Tabcorp said in a statement.
“The product is flexible and will appeal to the experienced racing fan who has honed their interests over time and knows exactly what they want as well as the new racing fan, the digital native who has come to expect their content to be personalised and customised to their preferences.”
Users can build their own playlists to follow their favourite jockey, runner, trainer, driver, venue or tipster throughout each day, there is also an advanced form guide, access to Sky Racing’s replay library and barrier trials, Sky Racing shows on demand and dedicated channels across thoroughbreds, harness and greyhounds.
Due to rights restrictions, the App does not include vision of Victorian and South Australian thoroughbred races.
Bounding colt to sell at Keeneland
A Curlin (USA) colt out of G1 ARC Railway S. winner Bounding (Lonhro) will be offered on the second day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale next month.
Bounding, whose half-brother Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won this year's G1 Investec Derby, was purchased for $1.9 million at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Stonestreet Thoroughbreds.
Curlin (USA) has dominated the recently completed Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale
This Curlin colt, listed as Hip 274 in the catalogue, is her first foal and will be consigned by Eaton Sales as Agent for Stonestreet.
Curlin dominated the recently completed Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale with two colts selling for US$1.5 million.
Aussie winner for El Roca
Westbury Stud's El Roca has marked his first Australian winner with Courageous' (NZ) victory at Kembla Grange.
Courageous, trained by ex-pat Kiwi Bjorn Baker, burst through late to claim a narrow victory and become the fourth overall winner for his sire, and the first in Australia.
El Roca had his first crop to the track last season and stands at $9,000 (ex GST) at Westbury.
The last two races at Kembla Grange were postponed because of strong winds.
Westbury Stud Stalllion El Roca has had his first winner in Australia
Proven approach
Gerald Ryan is using a tried and true method to get the best out of Harper’s Choice (Street Cry {Ire}).
The G1 Australian Derby runner-up will be chasing his first win in almost a year in the TAB Open H. on Saturday.
Harper's Choice turned in an encouraging effort when second to G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Kiamichi (Sidestep) in a Rosehill trial on Tuesday.
Ryan said Harper's Choice had shown a liking for trialling in the week of a race.
"We have done it before - trialling him on Tuesday and raced Saturday. He did it before he won the Premier's Cup Prelude last year.”
RV: Cup 3YO change no disincentive
Racing Victoria doesn't expect the change in the weight conditions for Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds to be a disincentive to international horses to make the trip to Australia for the G1 Melbourne Cup.
The last two Melbourne Cup winners, Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) were 3-year-olds by Northern Hemisphere time and RV decided earlier this year it would reduce their weight allowance from 4kg to 3kg.
A reduction to weight allowance by Racing Victoria for the G1 Melbourne Cup is said to be no disincentive
But RV's International manager Paul Bloodworth told Racenet, there was little concern over the change.
“They were very understanding because they almost assumed that’s what would happen, given they had won the last two Melbourne Cups,” Bloodworth said. “They all thought it would be reviewed and reduced given recent history."
“There was a lot of interest in what happened and when they were informed, there was a feeling of ‘that’s probably about right’. They probably even showed interest that it didn’t get reduced further.”
Rain has trainer smiling
The likelihood of rain in Melbourne has persuaded Warwick Farm trainer Jason Coyle to test You Make Me Smile (So You Think {NZ}) in the G3 Aurie's Star H. at Flemington.
You Make Me Smile had his first start since the autumn at Rosehill recently and while the gelding finished fourth, Coyle was encouraged by his effort.
"Timing wise, second-up off the back of a good first-up run I thought this looked a nice race to take him down for and the weather there at the moment looks perfect for him to make sure he gets his toe in the ground," Coyle said.
Another winner from Moody's imports
Peter Moody's raid on the 2016 Tattersalls December Foal Sale has produced another winner with Cernan (GB) (Sea The Moon {GB}) breaking his maiden at Warrnambool.
Moody purchased five horses out of the sale, with Cernan the most expensive of them at 32,000 guineas, being a half-brother to six winners, including the Listed winner Azabara (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
Trained by David Brideoake, Cernan stepped up to 2000m at just his second start and proved the superior stayer, with Linda Meech getting him home by three-quarters of a length.
One of the other foals Moody purchased, Caffrey (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}), broke his maiden at Ballarat in June.
Peter Moody with one of his winning imports Caffrey
Up for the challenge
Black Magnum (Magnus) is in the right order for a rise in class in Saturday's Cabra Bowl H. at Rosehill.
"He's got a few things against him. He's going up in distance, up in weight and up in grade and he's coming onto a dry surface," trainer Mark Newnham said.
"If you look at all those things there's a lot of reasons why he can't win, but on the way he's going, there's every reason he can win."
Trainer Mark Newnham believes Black Magnum is up for the challenge
Black Magnum underwent a minor procedure to his knees at the end of his last campaign and Newnham has been training him on the forgiving Polytrack surface at Randwick.
Both factors have contributed to Black Magnum's vein of form, as has natural maturity which has given the horse the tools to develop a racing style that gives him a competitive edge.
Chef cooks up Isa win
One-time Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Le Chef (Exceed And Excel) has won his ninth race, proving too strong in an open handicap at Mt Isa.
Mt Isa was staging its first TAB meeting for four years and Le Chef opened up proceedings with a comfortable win for trainer Jay Morris, who has had the now 7-year-old since late last year.
Le Chef won the 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic in an upset victory for then trainer Darryl Hansen and jockey Luke Tarrant.
