Waller eyeing Ascot

Chris Waller has raised the possibility of a trip to Royal Ascot next year with star sprinters Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) and Nature Strip (Nicconi).

"Royal Ascot is something unique," Waller said. "We're all striving to get there. It's a fantastic showpiece. It appeals more to colts that can really justify their big price tags.

"But a horse like Nature Strip, he'll be getting there for our stable if all goes to plan and hopefully Yes Yes Yes, who won The Everest."

Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) finished second for Waller in the 2015 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. before running unplaced in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.

Star Kiwi mare primed

A sparkling trackwork gallop has given Matamata trainer Jamie Richards all the assurance he wanted from stable star Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) ahead of the G1 Empire Rose S.

"She worked well at Flemington on Tuesday morning on the course proper,” he said. “It looked to be very good, strong work and Craig Thornton and Brad Taylor, who has been a big help to us in Melbourne, were both impressed with what they saw. They are very happy with her.

"We were going to give her a jump-out at Flemington last Friday, but we didn't think she needed it. She didn't look like she needed it and her weight is good.

"With her recent racing, she's very fit and the month between runs is fine for her dropping back to 1600 metres. She doesn't let us down and her record suggests she's one out of the box."

Out of cup

Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom {USA}) is the latest G1 Melbourne Cup casualty.

Connections have informed Racing Victoria stewards that the 4-year-old won’t contest next Tuesday’s race and is likely to be spelled.

Trained by Gwenda Markwell, Angel Of Truth won last season’s G1 Australian Derby but has failed to find any form this spring.

He dropped out to finish 16th in the G1 Caulfield Cup and again finished well back in 11th spot in Wednesday’s G3 Bendigo Cup.

Chasing consolation

Greg Hickman is chasing a consolation prize in the Redzel S. at Rosehill with Pierata (Pierro) after the sprinter luckless run in The Everest.

"That's just racing. You can't determine the barriers, luck goes a long way in racing," Hickman said.

"The horse ran super. He's broken a track record and didn't get a crack at the winner.

"I'm immensely proud of everyone, what we did to get the horse to The Everest, and I wouldn't have changed one little hair on him.

"I thought I prepared the horse the best I have prepared a horse for any race, ever, and luck just didn't go our way."

While the rails draw was Pierata's undoing in The Everest, jockey Tommy Berry faces the other extreme on Saturday with the combination to jump from barrier 12 in a 13-horse line-up.

Derby luck needed

Co-trainer Andrew Forsman is praying for a bit of early luck from a wide gate for Long Jack (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 VRC Derby at Flemington.

The colt goes into the classic as the last-start winner of the Listed Geelong Classic (2200 metres).

"It's going to have to be similar sort of tactics, just punch forward early and hope he can slot in somewhere midfield,” Forsman said.

"He looked outstanding going into Geelong. He had really improved and he's further improved. What happens in the first four or five hundred metres will tell the tale."

"He's always shown plenty of quality when he was a 2-year-old in New Zealand in the autumn. He's bred to stay, so that gave us a lot of confidence to bring him over and have a crack.”

Well-bred filly scores

A half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) has made a dream start to her career at Seymour.

The David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Zayydani (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) claimed the Lubeck Maiden over 1600 metres on debut.

Zayydani is raced by Brent and Cherry Taylor’s Trelawney Stud and is out of Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Ocean Park (Thorn Park), who is now a resident at Waikato Stud.

Vet inspections

As connections of English stayer Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) consider legal action over his withdrawal, Racing Victoria vets have begun inspections on all horses remaining in the Melbourne Cup.

They will order standing CT scans as they did with 2018 runner-up Marmelo should any problems arise.

Jamie Stier, head of integrity at RV, said those vet tests are standard practice ahead of final declarations for the Cup which are taken on Saturday.

Last year's Cup runner-up Marmelo and Godolphin's Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) were on Wednesday withdrawn from this year's race after scans revealed potential problems.

RV stewards reported Marmelo had incomplete fractures in his near fore and off hind cannon bones while Ispolini had an issue with his right front cannon bone.

Marmelo's trainer Hughie Morrison disputes those findings, claiming the process has been handled badly. Part-owner John O'Neill said connections are exploring legal options to have Marmelo reinstated.

Surgery for jockey

Jockey Donavan Mansour has undergone surgery after suffering a broken pelvis in an incident around near the starting barriers at Te Aroha on Wednesday.

“Donavan was on his horse behind the barriers ready to load into the starting gates. The horse reared up and went over backwards and came down on top of him,” Mansour’s riding agent Tony Raklander said.

“He was in a lot of pain and on the track for an hour or so before they could get a helicopter in to pick him up and get him to hospital.”

Slight dip in foal crop

A total of 13,443 thoroughbred foals have been registered this year in Britain and Ireland according to Weatherbys which this week published its annual Return Of Mares. That tally represented a drop of just two per cent from 2018, with Ireland being responsible for 8788 of those foals, while 4655 were born in Britain.

Galileo (Ire) served 155 mares at the age of 21, and a number of his sons also proved popular, including Australia (GB) (228), Churchill (Ire) (214), Gleneagles (Ire) (182), and Frankel (GB) (153).

Juddmonte’s Kingman (GB) was the busiest Flat stallion in Britain, with 235 mares in his book, while Dubawi (Ire) covered 162 mares. Also in demand among the British-based sires were Sea The Moon (Ger) (164), Showcasing (GB) (160) and first-time shuttler Zoustar (149).

Away from the Galileo sire line on the Flat, Sioux Nation (USA) (241) and Zoffany (Ire) (216) were busiest, Dandy Man (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) each covered 215, and Lope De Vega (Ire) was also above the 200-mark on 207.

Ruler of the World to France

Ruler of the World (Ire), the 2013 G1 Investec Derby winner owned jointly by Coolmore and Al Shaqab Racing, will relocate to Al Shaqab’s Haras de Bouquetot in France for 2020. He will stand for €6000 (AU$9700) and will be available for viewing during the Arqana December sales.

Ruler of the World boasts an impressive pedigree and from a first crop of only 45 foals due to an injury sustained during the breeding season, he sired the multiple Group 1 winner Iridessa (Ire).

Benoit Jeffroy, stud manager at Haras de Bouquetot, said, “We are delighted to welcome an Epsom Derby winner by Galileo (Ire), the sire of multiple Group 1 winner Iridessa from a very small first crop, here at Haras de Bouquetot. It’s a great opportunity for breeders to have access to a Group 1 producer by Galileo in France.”

Chasing Guineas berth

Trainer Matt Dunn has sent Atlantic King (More Than Ready {USA}) to Sydney instead of running him at Eagle Farm in the hope of improving the gelding's chances of a Magic Millions Guineas start.

Dunn, who trains at Murwillumbah, accepted with Atlantic King in 3-year-old races at Rosehill and Eagle Farm on Saturday.

"I want to build up Atlantic King's prizemoney so he can get a Millions start,” he said. "The Sydney prize money is better even for minor placings, but I think he is up to them on Saturday and I think the 1400 metres at Rosehill suits him."