Fresh Faatinah strikes again
Faatinah (Nicconi) added to a formidable first-up record when he won the G2 Mitty’s McEwen S. at The Valley.
Ridden by Jamie Kah, the 7-year-old sat outside the pacemaker Eduardo (Host {Arg}) and then held off his challengers in the straight to beat Bons Away (Bon Hoffa).
"He has just been flying at home," co-trainer Ben Hayes said. "He has done it two years in a row. He came back from Dubai and won first-up last year and now he has done it again, he's a great fresh horse."
Faatinah wins the G2 Mitty’s McEwen S. at The Valley
Williams exhillarated
Melbourne's premier jockey Craig Williams couldn’t have been more impressed with Exhilarates (Snitzel) after riding her to victory in the Listed Atlantic Jewel S.
He had trailed the leaders on the James Cummings-trained favourite before challenging on the turn and led over the final 100 metres.
"I thought that her win was even better than what it looked on face value," Williams said.
"She's very, very professional and they've got options whether they keep her over shorter distances or even go out in distance with her.
Exhilarates and Craig Williams paired to win the Listed Atlantic Jewel S.
Powerful performance
Derby hopes are held for Power Scheme (Fiorente {Ire}) and took a stylish first step toward a classic start with a resuming win under 60kg in The Valley H.
Last season’s Listed Fernhill H. winner sat close to the pace and once rider Mark Zahra got him into the clear he showed his class.
“He wasn’t wound up and did that nicely,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “He had a big weight and was first-up over 1500 metres. He’s a really exciting horse and just wants to go further.”
G1 hopes boosted
Yao Dash (Smart Missile) has put forward a compelling argument for a crack at the G1 Golden Rose S. with an impressive front-running victory at Randwick in the Strawberry Hill H.
Inflicting a first defeat on Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}), he retained his perfect record from two appearances for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and rider Nash Rawiller.
“He’s given us a bit to think about. It was a quality field and he it was a very impressive performance,” Bott said.
“Whether we take a more conservative approach or put him in at the deep end in the Golden Rose we’ll decide in the next 24 hours or so.”
Runaway winner
Lightly raced 3-year-old Cooga Doon (Makfi {GB}) made it two wins from as many starts when he took out the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1340 metres).
Cooga Doon was forced to sit three-wide outside the early speed before making his way to the lead with 800 metres to run. He then shot clear halfway down the straight and away to win untouched by 9l.
“It’s a privilege to have these types of horses although it didn’t quite go to script,” trainer Fraser Auret said.
“The Hawke’s Bay Guineas is on the radar, but we will have a meeting with his owners and go from there.”
Posthumous honour
Riva Capri (NZ) credited her late stallion Atlante with a first black type honour when she triumphed in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ S. at Wanganui.
Runner-up on debut, the Lib Petagna-bred and raced filly showed tenacity in the run home to get the better of the previously unbeaten Trifolium (Krupt).
“We were a little bit worried after she missed a run at Taupo and her condition told in the last 50 metres, but she toughed it out,” trainer Guy Lowry said.
The G3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail S. on September 21 is likely to be the next appearance for Riva Capri, whose half-sister Style By Design (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) finished third in the Wanganui fillies’ event in 2017.
Savabeel strikes early
Champion stallion Savabeel has produced the first winner of the 2-year-old season In New Zealand with his son Cool Aza Beel (NZ) scampering away to victory at Wanganui.
Trained by Jamie Richards, the colt was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Te Akau chief David Ellis for NZ$150,000 out of Fairdale Stud’s draft.
He is the first foal of Cool ‘N’ Sassy (Testa Rossa), who was successful three times, and her second dam is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Malaguerra (Magnus). It’s also the family of the boom Sydney filly Libertini (I Am Invincible).
Cool Aza Beel jumped well to sit outside the leader for rider Troy Harris and dashed away in the straight to win the Taranaki-Wanganui Thoroughbred Breeders’ 2YO at the expense of De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), a sister to the Group 1 performer Aalaalune (NZ).
Wind rules meeting out
Gale force winds forced officials to call off Saturday’s meeting at Kembla Grange.
When Racing New South Wales stewards got to the venue and found the running rail had blown over because of the wind.
With further wind forecast they decided it was too dangerous to go ahead.
