Cup contender arrives
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s G1 Caulfield Cup hope Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has landed in Australia.
The Group 3 winner will be raced by a syndicate formed by Busuttin and prominent bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington.
“He arrived on Saturday in brilliant order and we’re thrilled with him. His track rider came over with him and Brendon (Hawtin) is looking after him in quarantine for two weeks,” Young said.
“He’s due out on October 12 and hopefully he can run a week later in the Caulfield Cup. He’s already guaranteed a start and is number six on the list with 56kg. We’ve booked Ben Melham to ride him.”
Mirage Dancer was second in his last start in the G3 Glorious S., which he won last year, and at his previous appearance was also runner-up in the G2 Princess of Wales’s S. at Newmarket.
Messara buys unbeaten colt
John Messara has purchased a major share-holding in the unbeaten European 3-year-old Skyward (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) as a future G1 Melbourne Cup contender.
The Arrowfield Stud principal has bought 75 per cent of the colt, whose three wins include success in the Listed Prix Turenne over 2400 metres at Saint-Cloud for trainer Fabrice Chappet.
Messara said it was the first time he had bought a horse to try and win the Cup and by next winter will know if Skyward is good enough to relocate to Australia with the 2020 Cup in mind.
Skyward is a half-brother to the dual Group 3 winner Siyoushake (Ire) (Siyounni {Fr}) and they are from a strong black type family that includes the G1 Belmont Suburban H. winner Frost Giant (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and the dual South African Group 2 winner Kavanagh (SAF) (Tiger Ridge {USA}).
Sprinter stretches legs
Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) has had a light work-out at Canterbury where he is in quarantine preparing for the $14 million The TAB Everest.
The G1 July Cup winner travelled to Australia with National Guard (USA) (War Front {USA}), who led the pair in a canter on Monday.
Ten Sovereigns will represent his owners Coolmore and trainer Aidan O'Brien in The TAB Everest as long as the track at Randwick on October 19 is not rain-affected.
He lost seven kilograms on the flight to Australia, but travelling foreman Andrew Murphy said he would not take long to regain the weight.
James Harron and Godolphin have yet to confirm who runs in their slots with the winner of the G2 Schillaci S. at Caulfield on October 12 to be offered the Melbourne Racing Club's spot.
Kosciuszko opening
A spot in the $1.3 million Kosciuszko has opened up after further wretched luck for trainer Danny Williams.
He had two slots in the race for country-trained horses on the same programme as the $14 million Everest on October 19.
Don't Give a Damn (Bon Hoffa) will be his only runner now after She Knows (Denman) suffered a career-ending injury at Caulfield on Sunday.
Her suspensory injury follows the sudden death of stablemate Floki (Hinchinbrook) from a viral illness.
New name on Cup
A new winner will be added to the G1 Turnbull S. roll of honour for the first time in three years.
Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) took on seven opponents when she raced to a 6.5l win in the race at Flemington in 2017 before recording a 1l win last year, defeating her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Youngstar is among 19 nominations for Saturday's race which has nine Group 1 winners entered.
The G1 Cox Plate favourite Mystic Journey (Needs Further) will progress her claims for that race at Moonee Valley on October 26 as she attempts 2000 metres for the first time.
Mystic Journey will attempt 2000 metres for the first time
Sleeping Beauty retired
Dual stakes winner Sleeping Beauty (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has been retired.
The Sir Peter Vela-owned mare had her last run in the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings and has been scanned in foal to Iffraaj (GB).
Dual stakes winner Sleeping Beauty (NZ) has been scanned in foal to Iffraaj
“We were looking for a proven stallion and he succeeds across a wide range of mares, but he does seem to have a real affinity with Danehill (USA) close up on the dam side,” Pencarrow Farm studmaster Leon Casey said.
Sleeping Beauty won 10 of her 24 career starts for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, including the G3 Rotorua S. and Listed Tauranga Classic.
Vlahos’ pleads guilty
Disgraced Victorian racing identity Bill Vlahos has admitted to defrauding punters of almost $18 million in a complex betting ring fraud.
The former BC3 Thoroughbreds chairman pleaded guilty in the County Court on Monday to two charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception totalling $17,520,225. He is accused of defrauding investors through his betting syndicate between 2008 and 2013.
Vlahos's bail was extended until a two-day pre-sentence hearing starting on February 4 before Judge Douglas Trapnell.
His lawyer said his former high-flying client was now broke and did not have the means to be considered a flight risk.
Time called on warhorse
Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta has announced the retirement of Group 1 winner and perennial stable favourite Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit {USA}).
The 10-year-old raced 101 times for 11 wins and 35 placings for just over NZ$780,000 (AU$723,000) in stakes earnings.
A consistent black-type performer his biggest victory came in the 2017 edition of the G1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie after five Group 1 placings, two of which were third in the previous editions of the race.
“He’s been battling in his last few races,” Latta said. “He’s been such a good horse to us and we don’t want to see anything go wrong with him. He’s been retired to a nice home and will be well looked after.”
