Crucial race

Daniel Bowman expects the G1 CF Orr S. to answer an important question about stable star Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}) over his pet distance at a course where he excels.

Begood Toya Mother has raced twice at weight-for-age, finishing sixth in the G1 Memsie S. before winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. in the spring.

Bowman believes the gelding did not handle Moonee Valley in the G1 Australia S. last time out .

"If he can't be highly competitive on Saturday at weight-for-age then he's just not a weight-for-age horse," Bowman said. "We've got him as good as we can. He's ticked every box. He's drawn a great gate, he's second-up.”

Family knowledge

Edward Cummings has a soft spot for his $2 million Inglis Millennium hope Sunborn (Casino Prince).

When he came across Sunborn at last year's Inglis Classic Sale, not only did he like the filly on type and temperament, he had previously trained her half-sister, city winner Making Whoopee (High Chaparral {Ire}).

"She looked like a strong, well-balanced filly, a really sensible horse," Cummings said. "She is a very good moving horse and the added benefit I had is I had trained her half-sister with my father Anthony so I knew a little bit about the family.

"I was around at the stable when Dad had (her dam) Honeymoon Cruise in work and she was always very talented. I suppose that background knowledge helped me bid confidently."

Class duo to fore

Group 1 winners Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) showed they are on track for their upcoming Australian campaigns with forward showings in a special 1050 metre trial at Tauranga on Thursday.

Bostonian cruised home a length to the good of Sheezallmine (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) with Melody Belle finishing off nicely back in third.

“Melody Belle trialled well. They went a decent clip and she was out of her comfort zone without the hood on,” trainer Jamie Richards said.

Richards confirmed the mare would fly to Australia this Sunday before her first task which will be the G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield on February 22.

Bostonian is set to have his first-up run in the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick on March 7.

Unfinished business

The recently gelded Accession (Brazen Beau) will attempt to avenge a defeat 12 months ago when he resumes in the $1 million Inglis Sprint.

At the corresponding meeting a year ago, he started favourite for the $2 million Inglis Millennium and appeared to have the race in the bag when he swept to the front in the straight.

But he was mowed down in the final bounds by Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}), who has since collected a Group 1 win and a G1 Cox Plate second to stamp himself as one of the most promising horses in training.

Accession returns to Warwick Farm on Saturday chasing another lucrative pay day and Star Thoroughbreds' syndicator Denise Martin is hoping for redemption.

"On this day last year he was unfortunate in the $2 million 2-year-old race to encounter Castelvecchio. He shot to the lead and just got run down very late," Martin said. "Hopefully this year, back to the scene of the event, he can be really competitive."

Weather watch

Sydney racing officials remain on weather watch as predictions for torrential rain in the coming days threaten the Inglis Millennium meeting scheduled for Warwick Farm.

Stewards have already nominated Rosehill as a back-up venue for Saturday, but such is the level of rain forecast, both tracks could be washed out.

Chief steward Marc Van Gestel said most of the rain predicted on Friday was expected to fall in the morning and as such officials would inspect Warwick Farm around 1pm (AEDT).

"We will then make a decision as to whether the track is still suitable or not," Van Gestel said. "At the same time we need to consider Rosehill and whether it will be suitable as well. Inspections of both tracks will be conducted and we'll ascertain suitability for both of those venues. "

Japan deal done

A half-share in 2019 G1 Juddmonte International S. hero Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has been purchased by Masaaki Matsushima, the Racing Post reported.

Also a winner of the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, the Newsells Park Stud-bred horse was previously owned solely by a Coolmore partnership. Out of a stakes placed daughter of Saganeca (USA) (Sagace {Fr}), he is a brother to G1 Investec Epsom Oaks bridesmaid Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the stakes winners Sir Isaac Newton (GB) and Mogul (GB).

“Mr. Matsushima saw Japan at Longchamp on Arc day last October and was very impressed by the horse,” racing manager Yasufumi Sawada told Racing Post.

“He loved the horse and believes he is not only very talented but very courageous, and is one of the best in the world. We would like to thank the entire Coolmore team as well as Aidan O’Brien, for whom we have enormous respect as a horseman.

“One thing is for sure, the main objective will be the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe again.”

Ready for defence

On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) is in good order to defend his Group 1 crown in the Herbie Dyke S. at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The Pam Gerard and Michael Moroney-trained gelding takes some mixed form into the race, including a last start sixth-placing in the G1 Thorndon Mile (1600 metres) at Trentham last month.

“I was really happy with his run in the Thorndon, he just didn’t have a lot of luck,” Gerard said. “He went to the line with his head on his chest, so he didn’t have much of a run that day.

“He was probably not suited to the sit and sprint. He just needs a bit of room to get moving. Without getting a result, I was happy enough with the run.”

Sheranda stars

The second and final day of the February Sale at Goffs saw a selection of 2-year-olds, horses in training, breeding stock and a pair of stallion prospects come under the hammer and after a tough morning for vendors, trade picked up in the early afternoon when a number of attractive broodmare prospects were offered for sale.

The Aga Khan Studs can always be relied upon to offer a draft that contains some star quality, and it was one of their select offerings, Sheranda (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) that proved the most sought after when selling to Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland for €220,000 (AU$355,789).

This top price comfortably eclipsed the highest achieved last year and contributed to a total sale aggregate of €4,078,700 (AU$6,635,117), a small increase on last year, admittedly from a slightly bigger catalogue.

The clearance rate of 65 per cent dropped a couple of points on last year’s 68 per cent while the average of €13,965 (AU$22,720) and median of €6500 (AU$10,575) also just failed to match the corresponding 2019 figures.

Rained off

Thursday’s twilight meeting at Doomben was abandoned after around 60mm drenched the track in three hours.

Course manager Jim Roberts and stewards inspected the course and decided racing was not possible and officially abandoning Thursday's meeting at 7am.

"We had 53mils from 3:45am until we inspected the track but we have had at least another seven since then and it showed no signs of stopping," Roberts said.

"There is water lying all over the track and even though we had a late start there was no chance of drying in time."

Tilley banned

Queensland's leading jockey Les Tilley has been suspended for seven days for failing to make his allocated weight at Kilcoy.

Stewards opened an inquiry after Tilley was overweight for his rides at 54kg and 54.5kg in four races on Thursday. The last three races at the meeting were abandoned because of a slippery patch at the 800 metres.

After noting Tilley had a poor record in regards to the offence, stewards suspended him for seven days until next Wednesday night.

He is currently the leading jockey in the state with 56 for the season, one ahead of Jim Byrne who is on the injured list.

Kempton safe

Racing at Britain's Kempton course could be assured for the foreseeable future after the Jockey Club announced it has submitted plans for a smaller-scale residential development on part of the site.

In January 2017, the Jockey Club unveiled a shock proposal to close the venue, with the land submitted for consideration following the local authority's call to address unmet local housing needs.

A statement from the Jockey Club explained the new proposal would involve only previously developed land and would retain all racing facilities.