Sunlight scratched

Sunlight (Zoustar) is the latest casualty from the G2 Shorts because of the wet Randwick track.

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained mare is now likely to run in the G1 Moir S. at The Valley next week.

The Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts is a major lead-up to the $14 million TAB Everest on October 19, for which the favourite is Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who was scratched from the Shorts on Thursday.

Sunlight is also headed to The Everest as is Pierata (Pierro), whose trainer Greg Hickman will decide as late as possible whether he runs in Saturday's Shorts. Dual Everest winner Redzel (Snitzel), a noted wet track specialist, has been confirmed as a definite runner in the Shorts.

McDonald booked for the Shark

Te Akau Racing has confirmed the booking of James McDonald for Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in the G1 TAB Epsom H.

The operation’s former stable jockey partnered the chestnut in his Australian debut, in which they finished runner-up in the G2 Tramway S. behind Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock).

The winner of five of his eight starts, Te Akau Shark carried 57kg last time out and the Jamie Richards-trained runner will drop to 54.5kg in the Epsom at Randwick on October 5.

Quality import side-lined

Robert Hickmott’s stable has suffered a blow with Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist {USA}) ruled out of the spring carnival.

The highly-regarded import required surgery to remove a bone chip from his knee and will be side-lined until the middle of next year.

Django Freeman has won three of his six starts, including the G3 Bavarian Classic and finished runner-up in the G1 German Derby at his last appearance.

Lane’s colts impress

A pair of Damien Lane-prepared youngsters stole the show at Friday’s Warwick Farm breeze-ups ahead of the 2019 Inglis Ready2Race Sale.

Lot 99 by Real Impact (Jpn) and Madison Park (Perugino {USA}) and Lot 138 by Deep Field from Prinny’s Girl (Commands) breezed as a pair with the colts stopping the clock at 10.17ss and 10.18s respectively.

The breeze-ups were transferred to the pro-ride track after 92ml of rain fell on the course proper in the lead-up.

“I’m not totally surprised because they are both very nice horses and I was very impressed by both of them,’’ Lane said. “The Deep Field is a ready-made colt and the Real Impact has improved through the prep so much so for him to be the fastest time is a credit to his continuing maturity.”

The Inglis breeze ups continue next week when Eagle Farm and Taupo host sessions on Monday (Sept 23) from 10am.

Zoustar colt quickest

A colt by Zoustar starred at Friday’s Seymour breeze-up session ahead of next month's Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale.

Catalogued as Lot 214, the chestnut colt is the second foal of an unraced half-sister to Coolmore Classic winner Regal Cheer (Arena), the dam of multiple stakes winner Knoydart (More Than Ready {USA}).

A member of a quality Nolen Racing draft, the chestnut colt clocked 10.18s for his 200 metres.

Lot 56, the El Roca-Mandeville (Hussonet {USA}) colt for Moffatt Breaking & Pre Training and Lot 165, the Starspangledbanner-Vintage Class (More Than Ready {USA}) colt from Rosemont Stud, both ran 10.32s.

"Again the Seymour Racing Club has presented a fantastic surface to breeze and I must thank Penny and her team for hosting us this morning," Magic Millions Victorian Bloodstock Consultant Tim Brown said.

The breeze-up action now switches north for a large line-up to step out at the Gold Coast Turf Club from 9.30am on Monday.

Filly up for the challenge

Trainer Grahame Begg is confident Beauty Bolt (Redoute’s Choice) can acquit herself well in black type company after two lower grade wins.

She was successful on debut at Geelong and then followed up in style at Seymour to fit the filly for the Listed Aquis Jim Moloney S. at Caulfield.

"She's done everything we've asked of her so far and the bar is getting raised on Saturday going from a Class One to a Listed race, but from what we've seen so far it looks a nice progression," Begg said.

"We could have gone the high road and run in the (Thousand Guineas) Prelude next week, but we thought we'd go the low road and take softer steps."

If Beauty Bolt runs well on Saturday she could go to the G2 Edward Manifold S. at Flemington on October 5 or the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield the following week.

Clark bullish

A wet track and a step up in trip has Tim Clark plotting an upset win in the G2 Darley Tea Rose S. at Randwick.

Libertini (I Am Invincible) will start a warm favourite, but Clark is keen on his chances aboard Godolphin’s Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}). He has picked up the ride after Hugh Bowman pulled out of the meeting with a broken finger.

"I'm a bit lucky to get on her. Hopefully I can make the most of the opportunity," Clark said.

"She's a very talented filly and the 1400 looks like it will suit her. Obviously the wet track is a bit of an unknown, but I'm sure she will be strong late."

Te Akau star to shine again

Reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) hasn’t missed a beat leading into the G1 Windsor Park Plate after her impressive opening day success at Hastings in the G1 Tarzino Trophy.

“It was quite outstanding I thought,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “To jump away a little bit slow and be well back, I thought she really showed she is not just a one trick pony. She doesn’t always have to race on the speed, she can get back and finish off as well.”

Melody Belle will be reacquainted with jockey Opie Bosson on Saturday and will jump from barrier six.

“She should be able to find a nice spot from there,” Richards said. “I would like to think she would be able to race in the first couple of dozen, but we will just leave it up to Opie. We are pleased with how she is going and the step up to the mile will suit her.”

Guineas for filly

Ben Foote has a Group 1 goal with Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) and she added winning momentum to his plan when successful on debut at Taupo on Friday.

“She’s nominated for the 1000 Guineas so we’ll try and find a race between now and the Soliloquy S. for her before that,” the Cambridge trainer said.

“She’s always showed us plenty. Her half-brother The Great Southern won his first start and he’s up in Singapore now. I trained the mother so I’ve always had the family around me.”

Buying at all levels

Gatewood Bell’s Cromwell Bloodstock agency has played at a variety of levels during the opening 10 days of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, filling orders for as low as US$35,000 (AU$51,587) all the way up to a US$950,000 (AU$1.4 million) purchase in Book 1.

Bell remained busy during Thursday’s first of two Book 5 sessions in Lexington and signed the ticket at US$300,000 (AU$442,177) on the session’s most expensive offering, a son of Maclean's Magic (USA) consigned by Eaton Sales as hip 3147.

“Frankly, I thought he might have been one of the best physicals in the entire sale,” said Eaton Sales’ Reiley McDonald, who consigned the March foal.

“He way outsold his pedigree and we were very happy with that. He’s above average in size and I find that the really good horsemen start with the back shoulder set. He has the model profile and he was very deep through his girth. I hope he goes on and does great things for them.”

Brooker outed

Queensland jockey Tiffani Brooker has been banned for nine months after a recent urine test showed traces of a number of prohibited drugs.

Stewards opened an inquiry after she submitted a urine test at the Sunshine Coast on August 11.

The inquiry heard Brooker's test showed traces of amphetamine, methamphetamine, oxazepam, nordiapazem, temazepam, ketamine, norketamine and dehydroketamine.