Vale Empire Maker

Empire Maker (USA), who gave Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms its lone American Classic winner in the 2003 GI Belmont S. has passed away at Gainesway Farm in Lexington.

He was 20-years-old and succumbed to a rare disease that compromised his immune system.

“The passing of Empire Maker will leave a tremendous void not only in the breeding industry as we know it, but in the hearts of all of us who worked with him, every day,” said Antony Beck, the owner of Gainesway.

To date, Empire Maker is the sire of 726 individual winners, 62 black-type winners, including 33 at the graded level and a dozen Grade I winners.

No All-Star certainty

Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}) figures prominently in early voting for the All-Star Mile, but isn’t certain to front up.

The Daniel Bowman-trained 5-year-old made rapid progress last year, culminating in his win in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield in September.

Begood Toya Mother resumes in Friday night's G2 Australia S. at The Valley and Bowman believes all indications are his stable star can take another step up.

"At the moment we've definitely locked in Friday night's race and then the Orr and the Futurity," Bowman said. “If he wins one of the two 1400 metre Group 1s, it might be an All-Star Mile. If he doesn't win one of them it will potentially be a Queensland preparation for three Group 1s."

Trainer upbeat

Trainer Tony Pike is confident smart 2-year-old Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) will be hard to beat in Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie.

The attractive colt has won two of his three starts to date, including the G2 Wakefield Challenge S.

“His work on Monday was good,” Pike said. “He got up against the rail and Leith (Innes, jockey) was really pleased with how he handled the tight turn with the rail out.

“We are pretty happy going forward especially as the horse he worked with, Merlini, is a pretty sharp sort of sprinter. He finished his work off nicely and pulled up well so we are pleased going into Saturday.

“I think he just got a bit lost around the turn at his first go at Ellerslie. That experience and the gallop there on Monday should result in him being a lot more professional on Saturday.”

Hayes defending title

Co-trainer David Hayes will be in New Zealand later this week as he puts the finishing touches on Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) ahead of Saturday’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

The good looking son of Group 1 winner Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) will be out to replicate his former barnmate Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock), who plundered the prize when successful in the race last year.

“We have been training him right-handed on the Ellerslie leg,” Hayes said. “He has been coping really well and certainly hasn’t gone backwards. He is very fit and I think he will run a good race. He will travel over on Thursday and gets there on the eve of the race.

“I would say he is a better miler than Long Leaf, he was probably more of a sprinter and this horse is more of a miler.”

Star performance

Kahlid Abdul Rahim’s Bitcoin Passion (Ire) (American Pharoah {USA})) was backed down to 2-1 favouritism at Tampa on Sunday and the money proved spot on as he overcame greenness in a powerhouse performance worthy of TDN America Rising Star status.

The chestnut settled midfield on the rail early and once out he shifted in greenly as he picked off rivals, but still surged clear to score by 1.75l.

The winner’s dam Listen Dear (USA), by one of the world’s hottest broodmare sires in Bernardini (USA), was a US$420,000 (A$612,481) purchase at the 2014 Keeneland November sale while in foal to Tiznow (USA).

She is a half-sister to stakes winner Listen Here (USA (Gulch {USA}) and to stakes performer Listen (USA) (Chester House {USA}), who in turn produced Grade I winner La Coronel (USA) (Colonel John {USA}).

Future guide

Paris Pike (Uncle Mo {USA}) holds a G1 Australian Guineas nomination and trainer Greg Eurell will get a guide on the colt’s future when he runs in Wednesday's Le Pine Funerals Plate at Sandown.

"It was worth throwing a nomination in and it will be interesting just to see what he does," Eurell said. "I don't mind the horse. I think he has improved since last time in.

"He's still a colt, but he's a very big horse. I think he's quite tough and I like his attitude for a colt. It will just be interesting to see what he can do."

Better deal top priority

Racing Queensland has prioritised an improved nationwide television coverage in its negotiations for a new media rights deal.

Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has also urged that whoever wins the media rights provides an increased coverage of Queensland races.

The media rights involve television coverage of Queensland racing with Sky Channel currently the provider. A decision on a new deal has to be made by June with Sky Channel, Racing.com, free-to-air, or a combination of all three being considered.

There has been a consensus in Queensland that the local product is playing second fiddle to the secondary NSW meetings in particular on Sky's premium channel.

Matters were inflamed last weekend when complaints were made that the Eagle Farm coverage was cut short to accommodate the Tumut meeting in New South Wales.

Winning sign

Cambridge Stud will be hoping a debutante’s success at Spendthrift Australia Park on Tuesday will be the forerunner to domestic success this week.

Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s Letzbeglam (Snitzel), who is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, easily won at the first time of asking under Brett Prebble. She was a $280,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase and is out of the winning Forestry (USA) mare Miss Charming (USA).

The Lindsays colours will also be carried by the Karaka Million 3YO Classic favourite Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Karaka Million 2YO second elect Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Booked for Shamardal

Undefeated Cartier Horse of the Year and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar {USA}) will visit Darley stallion Shamardal (USA) in 2020, Jour de Galop has reported.

The winner of five Group 1 races and currently carrying to Frankel (GB), she will produce a brother or sister to Listed winner and G1 Prix Vermeille placegetter Zarkamiya (Fr) this spring.

Her best offspring to date has been G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victor Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who currently stands under The Aga Khan Studs’ banner at Haras de Bonneval.