Hiccup for colt

Top colt Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) missed a planned track gallop at Randwick on Saturday due to a leg issue.

Trainer Chris Waller said The Everest winner had inflammation in one of his legs and his condition will be monitored in the coming days before giving him any fast work.

He had been scheduled to join stablemate Nature Strip (Nicconi) in the G1 Lightning S. at Flemington in a fortnight.

Statement made

Spokesman credited Press Statement with his first siring success after the colt won at Canterbury Park on Friday evening.

The 2-year-old is prepared by Chris Waller, who trained Press Statement to win six of his 11 starts, including the G1 JJ Atkins S. as a 2-year-old and the G1 Caulfield Guineas the following season.

The Vinery Stud stallion, who made his breakthrough with his sixth race day representative, is a son of the late Hinchinbrook and Kaaptive Empress (Kaaptive Edition {NZ}) and is a half-brother to the ill-fated Pressday.

He won the G1 TJ Smith S. and three Group 2 events before retiring to Eliza Park where he succumbed to a tumour on his spleen after serving just one season.

Newcastle falls to heat

Racing at Newcastle was been called off after the temperature hit 41 degrees, higher than original estimates.

Senior jockeys and some trainers who had travelled their horses from Sydney met with stewards before the first scheduled race on Saturday and all agreed to abandon the meeting.

A couple of the horses were reported to be in poor condition after the road trip from Sydney. Original predictions were for temperatures in the mid-30s.

Group 1 plan

Chris Waller has Group 1 autumn carnival hopes for Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) after she resumed with a strong win over older rivals at Randwick.

The 3-year-old was given time to find her feet by Tommy Berry and gave backers no cause for concern, winning Saturday's Sky Racing Active H. with ease.

"We thought she would be a nice 3-year-old filly in the autumn, the spring just came up a bit too quick so we didn't get too ambitious" Waller said.

"I'd be having a little look at a race like the Vinery with her. I know it's a bit ambitious, a Group 1 3-year-old fillies race, but that's what we bought her for so we'll set these horses for these races.

In top form

Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) continued his winning way in the G3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup at New Plymouth.

“He’s a promising horse. It takes a good animal to put five wins together,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “We’ll probably drop him back to a mile next at Otaki, I’m not sure he’s a 2000 metre horse.”

The race in question would be a tilt at the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic.

HK entries

Ballydoyle’s globetrotting filly Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and stablemate Mount Everest (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) have been nominated for the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup going 2000 metres at Sha Tin on February. 16.

They are two of just three international entries with Sacred Capital (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) from Macau also engaged.

Magic Wand, who won the G1 Mackinnon S. in the spring, was a short-head second in the G1 Hong Kong Cup in December over the Gold Cup course and distance and she was last seen finishing second in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf last weekend.

The 4-year-old Mount Everest, who was last seen finishing last of 14 in the G1 Hong Kong Vase, is owned by the Coolmore partners in partnership with breeder the Niarchos family.

Sweynesse off mark

Bonita Aurelia (NZ) prompted celebrations at Novara Park when she claimed the G3 Woburn Farm Classic to hand sire Sweynesse with his first winner.

The 2-year-old is prepared by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, who have her on track after past issues in the gates.

“She’s a promising filly and we thought she would be a big chance,” Baker said.

Bonita Aurelia finishes the race off strongly to get the better of Piaggio (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) close to home.

Another first

El Gladiador (NZ) opened Ghibellines’ winning account when successful last season and on Saturday became the White Robe Lodge stallion’s first black type winner when he landed the Listed Mediaworks Dunedin Guineas.

He was sent to the front by rider Tina Comignaghi and, after slipping clear on straightening, proved too good in the run home.

“I thought I get luck out of the question and go forward. He was travelling really well on the turn,” she said.

El Gladiador is raced by breeder and co-trainer Karen Parsons and is a half-sister to Querer (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) who won six races and finished runner-up in the Dunedin Guineas.

Successful sale

The two-day Tattersalls February Sale came to a close on Friday with figures well up on the 2019 renewal. With the catalogue size down slightly, 305 horses went through the ring with 264 sold for a clearance rate of 87 per cent, compared to 85 per cent a year ago.

The average settled at 12,350 gns (AU$23,465), up 16 per cent on last year, while the median rose 30 per cent to 6500 gns (AU$12,350). Despite the smaller offering, the aggregate was up at 3,260,300 gns (AU$6,194,570).

Leading the way on the price board was the 4-year-old gelding Creationist (Noble Mission {GB}), twice a winner on the all-weather for Roger Charlton and rated 92. He was bought by Rupert Pritchard-Gordon for 60,000 gns (AU$114,000).

Blanket finish

The judge at New Plymouth had his work cut out on Saturday when less than half a length separated six of the fillies engaged in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance Oaks Prelude at the line.

In a desperate finish, it was The Oaks Stud’s Seven Seas (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) who got in the deciding stride.

“It was a superb run as she has been a work in progress all the way through and we were throwing her in the deep end a little,” he said. “She has always shown she could stay so dropping back from the 2000 metres at her last start was a question, but she showed plenty of heart to get up and win.

“It’s great for the Oaks Stud as well as they have played a big part in my career so it’s nice to be able to win a good race for them.”