No Newmarket for Nature Strip

Trainer Chris Waller has withdrawn Nature Strip (Nicconi) from Saturday week’s G1 Newmarket H.

The 5-year-old triple Group 1 winner will instead contest the G2 Challenge S. at Randwick on the same day with Waller saying the 58kg impost in the Newmarket would be too much.

“The ownership group and I have been weighing up our options as to where he should have his next run,” Waller wrote.

“There is obviously the option to run in the G1 Newmarket Handicap where he would carry 58kg, which would make things very tough for him giving a lot of weight to some top-class horses.

“It has not been an easy decision but we have now made a final call to bring him back to Sydney and prepare him for the Challenge Stakes.

“He has some big targets over the next four months which will, all going well, include a run in the TJ Smith (Stakes) during The Championships and also fulfil a lifetime goal of the owners to have a runner at Royal Ascot.”

Eight in for Guineas

Eight horses will contest Saturday's G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington with Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) drawing barrier two and Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) barrier four.

The pair memorably matched motors in the recent G3 CS Hayes S. with Alligator Blood getting the honours on that occasion.

The horse that ran third in that race, Anthony Freedman's Chenier (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), has drawn barrier five, while WA raider Superstorm (Sebring) comes from barrier seven.

Last start G1 CF Orr S. winner Alabama Express (Redoute's Choice) has drawn barrier six, Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) has barrier three, Soul Patch (Shamus Award) the inside and the maiden Commodus (Uncle Mo {USA}), barrier eight.

Surround quality at top end

A quartet of previous Group 1 winners highlight Saturday's G1 Surround S. at Rosehill.

G1 Flight S. winner Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) resumes and must overcome barrier 14 in the 14-horse field, while Golden Slipper S. winner Kiamichi (Sidestep) has barrier six with stablemate Flit (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), the G1 Thousand Guineas winner next to her in barrier seven.

The Anthony Freedman-trained Lyre (Lonhro) has come up with barrier two, while Kiwi mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will have plenty of options from barrier five and Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) the inside alley.

Unbeaten filly How Womantic (The Wow Signal {Ire}) will need to overcome barrier 13.

Avilius ready for Randwick

Trainer James Cummings is confident Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) can get back to his best in Saturday's G1 Chipping Norton S. at Randwick.

Avilius was fifth beaten 1.75l first-up in the G1 CF Orr S. but steps up to the 1600 metres where he has three wins from five starts.

"He’s bounced back in tip-top shape from his excellent return at Caulfield a few weeks ago,” Cummings said.

“There’s a brightness to his eye, he’s swishing his tail and his coat has that sunburnt look that he gets at this time of year. We’re looking at a balance between a swagger and a squeal as he goes onto the track in the morning.”

The Godolphin import has drawn barrier eight for the Group 1 race.

Gingernuts given Derby honour

Triple Group 1 winner Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) will return to the scene of his G1 New Zealand Derby triumph when he leads the field out at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The 2017 Derby winner would go on to capture the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres) for trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards as well as the G1 Windsor Park Plate before a serious leg injury ended his career after just 12 starts.

He fractured his pastern and was nursed back to health but retired from racing and has since resided at Te Akau Stud.

"We really believe that he can be a wonderful ambassador for racing and would love to see him enjoy more activities that benefit racing and in particular deserving equine and youth charities," Te Akau's Karyn Fenton-Ellis said.

"Jerry has a hashtag #jerrylove and we are working on a plan to have him carry out more ambassadorial activities for charity that will reinforce how much this industry loves our horses, and how cared for they are after racing."

Coronavirus Steering Group in place

The British Horseracing Authority is prepared to act–if the need arises–regarding any potential coronavirus impact on fixtures, including the Cheltenham Festival. BHA chief executive Nick Rust has confirmed an industry steering group is in place to consider the implications of the virus.

Rust, speaking on a Betfair podcast, said, “We have an industry group in place that has been and continues to work on the potential impact of the coronavirus on the horse racing industry as a whole.

“The BHA executive met with the team at Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday morning to discuss final plans for the Festival, and the coronavirus was discussed at that meeting.”

The PA News agency understands the steering group– comprising the BHA, Racecourse Association and horsemen– sees no need as yet for new contingency plans other than to continue to liaise with the Government.

Rust added, “In terms of potential ramifications for the Festival, any decision that impacts on it taking place will not be a decision that racing makes, but rather the Government. "

Almond Eye ready for defence

2018 Japanese Horse of the Year and six-time Group 1 winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is in good form as she prepares to defend her G1 Dubai Turf title at Meydan on March 28.

The Silk Racing colourbearer will return to trainer Sakae Kunieda’s base at Miho this week before contesting the US$6 million (AU$9,124,158) 1800-metre feature over the grass in Dubai.

Successful in the 2018 Japanese Filly Triple Crown and G1 Japan Cup that same year, the 5-year-old was most recently ninth in the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama on December 22. She will be joined by stablemate Curren Bouquetd’or (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), placed three times at the highest level. Racing for Takashi Suzuki, the 4-year-old, a bridesmaid in the G2 Kyoto Kinen in her seasonal bow on February 16, is targetting the 2410-metre US$6 million (AU$9,124,158) Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

“Both fillies are planning on coming,” Kunieda said. “Almond Eye was tired after her Arima run, but she has rebounded well and will be coming back to Miho [Training Centre] this week. We never really thought of the Sheema Classic [with her], as the Turf suits her so well. We will prep her the same as we did last year.

“Curren Bouquetd’or came out of her race last week well,” he continued. “The winner just loved the ground, though our filly can run on any ground. She is best on counter-clockwise courses like Tokyo and Dubai, so I’m not worried about her ability to run well in Dubai. She came out of her race in good order and she will train together with Almond Eye once she gets to the training centre.”

Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze Up Sale catalogue out

The catalogue for the Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze Up Sale, featuring a Kodiac (GB) half-brother to G1 Manhattan S. victor Slumber (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) (Lot 154) from Grove Stud, is now online.

A total of 165 juveniles will aim to follow in the hoofsteps of 2019 Royal Ascot scorer A’Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) who saluted in the G2 Norfolk S. and last year’s £450,000 sale topper Al Raya (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who went on to claim the G3 Prix d’Arenberg at Chantilly in August. The breeze-up portion of the sale will take place at Doncaster Racecourse beginning at 11 am on April 22, with the sale starting at the same time one day later at the Doncaster Sales Complex.

The catalogue boasts offspring from a variety of sires including Invincible Spirit (Ire)’s son Kingman (GB) who has one juvenile–a Gaybrook Lodge Stud-consigned colt as Lot 31. He is a product of the SP Asaawir (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and is also a half-brother to GSPs Marsh Hawk (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). French sire Siyouni (Fr) has a filly (Lot 61) also slated to sell from Gaybrook Lodge. The latter is out of an Oasis Dream (GB) half-sister to Group 3 winner Pincheck (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).