Star sprinters to trial

Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) and Nature Strip (Nicconi) will square off in a trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday with the programs to be confirmed after that.

Trainer Chris Waller has overseas ambitions for both with Nature Strip a possible G1 Lightning S. contender with Yes Yes Yes pencilled in against his own age in Sydney.

Ambitions for both include Royal Ascot in June with Nature Strip tagged for the G1 King's Stand S. and Yes Yes Yes for the G1 Diamond Jubilee.

"I'm really happy with how they have come up," Waller said. "I haven't spoken to the owners yet about where they will go. I want to wait until after the trial."

Cup winner thriving

Danny O’Brien has a number of options for his G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) during the autumn and winter, including the G1 Australian Cup.

The stayer was given a six-week break at O'Brien's property near Barwon Heads and he has been back in work for almost a month based at the Victorian coastal property.

The $4 million Queen Elizabeth S. in Sydney on April 11 features in the plans for Vow And Declare before he heads further north for a winter campaign in Brisbane and he could firstly resume in the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 7.

"He's in great shape. We'll step things up over the next month. He'll come to Flemington to trial some time in February and we'll have a look at him from there.”

Improved deal essential

Trainer Robert Heathcote believes an improved media rights deal is essential to safeguard the future of Queensland racing.

There is a consensus among industry stakeholders that the current Sky Racing coverage favours second-tier New South Wales meetings ahead of Brisbane metropolitan races with pre and post-race interviews.

Heathcote said it was vital Queensland received the best possible deal when the new contract, which is up for renewal in June, is signed.

"It doesn't matter if the new contract goes to Sky, Racing.com, free-to-air, or a combination of all three," he said. "What must be assured is we get a guarantee of the best coverage and the most money for the industry."

Silvera ready

Trainer Tony Gollan had high summer hopes for Silvera (High Chaparral {Ire}), but injury dashed those plans.

The gelding was side-lined by an eye injury caused by a flying clod in his first-up run in the Recognition S. and was back to finish unplaced in the Listed Bernborough H.

Gollan is now eyeing off Saturday’s Listed Sunshine Coast with Silvera.

"He has been ticking over nicely and the big Sunshine Coast track will suit him," he said. "Silvera will have a jump-out on Tuesday and that should top him off."

Emotional win

Lord Von Costa (Von Costa De Hero), who has come back from two tendon injuries, delivered a special victory for his connections at Flemington.

Trained by Donna Scott at Albury, the family-owned and bred Lord Von Costa's victory in Saturday's Thankyou Firefighters at Flemington was the 7-year-old gelding's first win since the 2016 Listed Creswick S.

Lord Von Costa was ridden by Blaike McDougall who is the partner of Scott's daughter, Danielle.

"It's huge. This is just massive," Scott said. "There's nothing bigger than winning a race on Saturday at Flemington. It's been a long time for the horse.”

Spell key to success

Time has been a best friend to Lashes (I Am Invincible), who showed her versatility at Rosehill with a convincing heavy track win.

Her success in the Lou Cox H. was her second on the bounce following on Randwick's Kensington track two weeks ago.

Trainer Matthew Smith said the lightly-raced mare had benefited from a long spell which had helped resolve a hoof problem which had previously needed artificial filler. "The hoof has had time and it has grown back.”

Close race

Results at Eagle Farm on Saturday haven’t clarified the closest Queensland metropolitan jockeys’ premiership in decades.

After Saturday's meeting five jockeys are battling it out to clinch the title with Jim Byrne leading on 37 wins from Robbie Fradd and Baylee Nothdurft on 34-1/2, with Ryan Maloney on 34 and Stephanie Thornton on 32.

Byrne, who broke a leg in a fall at Doomben on December, made a brief visit to Eagle Farm on Saturday. He was on crutches, but said he would visit a specialist in early February and hoped to be back riding in March.

"Sitting around is driving me crazy. I am a fast healer so hopefully things will improve.”

Loving Group 1 feeling

Twenty-four hours on from securing the first Group 1 win of his riding career, jockey Shaun McKay is still coming to terms with the achievement.

The amiable 23-year-old was taking time on Sunday morning to let the achievement sink in after booting home one of his favourite horses, The Mitigator (Master Of Design), in the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham.

The fact that the win was aboard a horse trained by his father Peter and that he and his mother Kim were on hand to witness the feat first-hand meant even more to McKay.

“It was really special and quite emotional in the birdcage afterwards,” McKay said. “Since the day I started riding I have had the goal to ride a Group 1 winner so to do it with Mum and Dad there and on one of their horses, it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

Drought broken

Owners of veteran galloper Cool Chap (High Chaparral {Ire}) had to wait more than two years between his most recent wins and trainer Robert Heathcote is confident the gelding can add another in quick time.

Cool Chap showed staying ability as a 3-year-old and won the 2016 Listed VRC St Leger and running third in the G1 South Australian Derby. He continued to race well in top company, but was unable to break through again and syndicate head Rob Slade sent him north to Heathcote .

Heathcote said Cool Chap will run next in an 1800 metre race at Eagle Farm in a fortnight. "It might have been 800 days between wins this time, but it will only be two weeks to the next.”