Lindsay Park support local CFAs

Lindsay Park Racing are getting behind their local Country Fire Authority's by offering $10,000 for each horse voted in to gain a start in the All-Star Mile.

The team have three horses eligible for voting, Cape Of Good Hope (Ire), So Si Bon and Fifty Stars (Ire).

New jockey

Randwick debut winner Rulership (I Am Invincible) will have a new jockey when he heads to Melbourne to prepare for the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield.

Nash Rawiller rode the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 2-year-old to win last Saturday, but has been informed that Mark Zahra will ride the colt in Melbourne.

Rulership is scheduled to start in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday week ahead of the Blue Diamond on February 22.

"I've already found out that I've been overlooked for Melbourne," Rawiller told RSN927. "I was already booking my plane ticket, but Zahra is going to ride him. I don't think I ride too bad at Caulfield, it's one of my favourite tracks."

Kolding called up

Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is among four late entries for the G2 Expressway S. bringing the nominations to 11.

The winner of the G1 Epsom H. and the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle, the Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old was joined by G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Kiamichi (Sidestep), Sir Bacchus (Sebring) and Vegadaze (Lope de Vega {Ire}) as additional entries on Tuesday for Saturday's event.

Kolding has had two recent trials and Waller is keen to get him to the All-Star Mile at Caulfield in March.

If it does not look like he will get a start in the All-Star Mile, Kolding will stay in Sydney for the G1 Chipping Norton S. and the G1 George Ryder S.

Ready for business

Adelaide colt Free Of Debt (Unencumbered) is ready to resume at Caulfield after a lengthy lay-off.

Free Of Debt has not raced since last year's G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill, a race he came out of with a number of cuts and abrasions.

As he was being prepared for a spring return, Free Of Debt sustained a hind leg ligament injury in a barrier trial at Murray Bridge, forcing his campaign to be aborted.

"Jake Toeroek, who rides him in his work and at his first two wins, said while he trialled well he wasn't himself," trainer Chris Bieg said. "We sent him over to Ballarat for a bone scan, that came back clear, but when we scanned the ligaments, that's when we found one with a slight strain in it.

"It was a 30 to 40 per cent strain, but if it was to come out in a race, it could have been 80 or 90 per cent."

His performance on Saturday and in the G3 CS Hayes S. at Flemington on February 15 will determine Free Of Debt's program.

Not finished yet

Joe Pride belives the 9-year-old sprinter Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi {Ire}) still has something to offer.

Ball Of Muscle is running out of time to claim a Group 1 win, but Pride hopes to give him a shot at next month's Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield, a track and distance he excels over.

“He has been back in the stable for a few weeks," Pride said. "I'm mindful he is now a 9-year-old and we have to pick his races.

"The Oakleigh Plate is ambitious, but it is not always the strongest of the sprints. I really want to dodge the good 3-year-olds, but we will have to see what the handicap is."

Health scare

Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote has put a health scare behind him and is back on the job.

Heathcote was back at trackwork on Tuesday morning after undergoing heart surgery on Saturday.

"Medicine these days is amazing. I had a stent put in four days ago but here I am and I feel terrific," Heathcote said.

"I was short of breath at Doomben last Thursday and went to see my doctor who sent me for some tests. Before I knew it I was on the operating table. It is a case for all people to note - listen to your body.

"I felt something was wrong and did something about it. The good news is everything else is fine and working properly, but I have avoided a possible heart attack or stroke."

Focus on Australia

Consistent 3-year-old Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) has been sent for a short break after his fourth placing in the Karaka Million 3YO at Ellerslie.

It was the first time the consistent colt finished outside the top three this season, having won the G2 Sarten Memorial S. and placed in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, G1 Levin Classic and the Listed Uncle Remus S.

Michael Moroney, who trains the colt in partnership with Pam Gerard, said Harlech’s lengthy campaign began to show in Saturday’s contest.

“I thought he just raced a little bit tired, even though he didn’t get a lot of luck in the running. He did pull up looking pretty tired, so he has gone to the paddock briefly and we will work out if we can get him back in time for Sydney or whether we wait until Queensland.”

Earlier start

Race times for an upcoming Stony Creek meeting have been brought forward to avoid the hottest part of the day. Thursday's seven race card will begin at 1pm with the final race at 4pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the temperature to peak at Stony Creek at 37 degrees around 5pm on Thursday and with that in mind Racing Victoria has brought the meeting forward.

RV will monitor the weather ahead of Thursday's night meeting at Pakenham which is scheduled to go ahead as planned with the first race at 6pm and the last of eight at 9.30pm.

With meetings at Werribee on Friday and The Valley that night, RV will monitor the forecast as temperatures of around 40 degrees are expected.

Local assignment

A new addition to the Matamata Breeders S. meeting will be the next step on a path to a further Group 1 assignment for consistent mare Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel).

A second-up winner of the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Pukekohe in November, Yearn continued her solid form when third in the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham.

“She’s come through it terrific,” trainer Karen Fursdon said. “We’re so proud of her. She’s got the heart of a lion.”

Yearn will have her sixth start of her current campaign in the inaugural Lisa Chittick Plate, a fillies and mares set weights and penalties event at Matamata on February 22, and her main goal will be the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.