Group 1 goals beckon
Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) showed she was ready for a return to Group 1 racing following her resuming victory in the G2 Millie Fox S. win at Rosehill.
Third in last season’s G1 Tatt’s Tiara, Savatiano was making her first appearance since claiming The Hunter at Newcastle in the spring.
"She's come back in tremendous order. I gave her a click at about the 500 metres and it was the wrong thing to do because she just towed me up behind them," successful rider James McDonald said.
"I thought she'd blow out after looking at her parade. She looked fat and I thought she'd need the run but she was just way too good. She is a genuine Group 1 horse for sure."
Stakes success
Coolmore shuttle stallion No Nay Never (USA) was credited with his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner when his son Need I Say More won the G3 Waikato Stud Slipper at Matamata.
He sat on the leader’s quarters before striding clear in the straight to beat stablemate, Karaka Million winner and raging favourite Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel).
“There was a question mark on the soft track, he’s a lovely, big horse with a nice action. He’s a nice horse who’s just needed a bit of time,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
Need I Say More and Cool Asa Beel will renew their rivalry in the G1 Sistema S. at Ellerslie on March 7.
Derby targets
The G1 South Australian Derby in Adelaide and the G2 WATC Derby in Perth are future options for Saturday’s G2 Autumn Classic winner Adelaide Ace (NZ) (Savabeel).
He made all the running at Caulfield under John Allen and stayed on strongly to beat Nonconformist (Rebel Raider).
"The second horse was quite determined to pick him up. He drifted out up the straight, but the margin was too great,” trainer Lindsey Smith said. "It was a good win. The race was run to suit him. He had them boxed up and it was only really a sprint home the last 600 metres."
Splintex sizzles
A strong midweek track gallop convinced trainer Mark Newnham to start Splintex (Snitzel) at Rosehill and the horse has justified the decision with a blistering win in the Spark Of Life H.
"He's a really talented little sprinter. He will probably go to the Fireball at Randwick and if he was able to sneak into the G1 Galaxy over 1100 metres at Rosehill, he's already shown he can handle soft track so you never know where we might end up," trainer Mark Newnham said.
Ridden by Robbie Dolan, Splintex worked hard to lead and once balanced into the straight he raced away for the fourth win of his eight-start career.
Vale A.P. Indy
Two-time leading American sire and 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}) has died at the age of 31.
"It is with extreme sadness that we today announce the passing of our beloved A.P. Indy, he was 31 years old,” a statement from Lane’s End Farm read. “A.P. Indy passed away peacefully in his stall at the Lane’s End stallion complex, the barn he called home for 27 years."
Champion A.P. Indy’s list of accomplishments range far and wide as his legacy continues to be carried through the outstanding performances of his sons and daughters across the globe.
"He was the most important and popular member of the Lane’s End team and we are deeply sorry to all who loved him as much as we did.”
Off the mark
Donnacha O’Brien has made the transition from jockey to trainer a successful one after notching his first winner at Dundalk, Ireland on Friday evening, the 3-year-old filly Flower Garland (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) winning a one-mile maiden in the colours of his mother, Annemarie O’Brien.
“It’s nice to get it [the first winner] out of the way,” he said. “She did it well. She was entitled to probably win off her mark, but I didn’t think she’d win that well.”
The 21-year-old O’Brien rode 10 Group 1 winners during his time in the saddle, headed by G1 2000 Guineas winners Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and Magna Grecia (Ire).
O’Brien, who rode his first winner at Dundalk at the age of 16, said he has 35 horses in his yard.
Cup on agenda
Aktau (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) has landed a second win on Australian soil with victory at Caulfield in the Keno Classic H.
He will now be aimed at the Listed Mornington Cup on March 21 with the winner of that race gaining a ballot exemption into the G1 Caulfield Cup in October.
"He's still a work in progress and doing it upside down at times," trainer Michael Moroney said. "Once he learns what it's all about, the talent is certainly there.”
Milestone win
A ground-saving ride by Damien Oliver aboard He'll Haunt Us (Time For War) has given the champion jockey a milestone victory at Caulfield.
Success in Saturday's G3 Zeditave S. was Oliver's first stakes win in 2020, but it provided the champion jockey with a black type victory in each of the five decades he has been riding.
"It makes me sound old, but I suppose it's not too bad and I'm not even 50 yet," Oliver said.
Oliver has enjoyed a glittering career that includes three G1 Melbourne Cups, four G1 Caulfield Cups, two G1 Cox Plates and a G1 Golden Slipper.
Stylish return
Mustajeer (GB) (Medicean {GB}) staged a sparkling return with victory in the Listed Parramatta Cup at Rosehill.
Appreciating a solid tempo, Mustajeer settled beyond midfield and was travelling well when he ranged up to the leading brigade on straightening.
Rider Hugh Bowman kicked him to the front and held off Eastender (Tickets) by a long neck.
"We probably didn't expect him to do that, but it's obviously no surprise, he has been bought for weight-for-age racing," Bowman said. "He certainly raced well in the spring in the Caulfield Cup, didn't seem at his best in the Melbourne Cup, but he's certainly a more furnished horse now mentally."
