Pioneer breaks through at Flemington

Pioneer River (Snitzel) has started to repay his $1.1 million purchase price for Sun Stud with a hard-fought win at Flemington.

The Lindsay Park-trained 2-year-old was having his second start having finished sixth on debut in stakes company and edged out the other fancied runner Mystery Dancer (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) to win the 180 Years of Racing at Flemington over 1200 metres.

“It was a sprint home and he just got there,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes.

“I think when he gets over a bit further you’ll see the best of him. We’ll look for a 1400 metre race for him now.”

Offered by Sledmere Stud at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Pioneer River is a half-brother to Group 3 winner No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) from the family of 2-year-old stakes-winners Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}), Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock) and Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock).

Super Seth out of Randwick Guineas

G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}) has suffered an undetermined setback and will miss Saturday's G1 Randwick Guineas.

Super Seth had won the G3 Manfred S. impressively first-up before being narrowly beaten against the older horses in the G1 Futurity S. last time out.

The Anthony Freedman stable said the setback was minor and details on an alternative autumn path would be released in the coming days.

He had been a $2.70 favourite for Saturday's Group 1 race, with Shadow Hero (Pierro) now into $4.60 top pick having drawn barrier four, with Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) having to overcome barrier 12 and Microphone (Exceed And Excel), barrier 14.

Libertini plots Coolmore revenge

Trainer Anthony Cummings is plotting revenge and an upset with his filly Libertini (I Am Invincible) in Saturday's G1 Newmarket H.

Libertini's last run at Flemington saw her run third to the Exceed And Excel colts Exceedance and Bivouac in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington and she faces those two again, having resumed with a first-up fourth in the G2 Light Fingers S.

"I think there was enough merit in her first-up run and enough improvement since to come here and be hard to beat," Cummings told Racing.com.

"It looks like a replay of the Coolmore in the spring. If only we can get a different result.

"The 3-year-olds have had the wood on the older horses all season and I can't see why it would change on Saturday so they are the ones to beat."

Libertini has just 51kg and has drawn barrier 12 in the Flemington sprint, for which she is $9, while equal $5 favourites Bivouac and Exceedance have drawn barriers seven and 11 respectively.

Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) is the other leading chance at $5.50 and has drawn barrier four.

Almanzor’s Brother Stars In France

At a crowdless Chantilly on Tuesday, there was a performance from George Strawbridge’s newcomer Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to excite all media onlookers as the half-brother to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) showed a rare touch of class on his debut to earn TDN Europe Rising Star status. Sent off the 27-10 second favourite, the long-striding homebred soon had control on the front end. Kicking clear with the minimum of fuss soon after being straightened for home, the chestnut was eased in the last 100 metres to register a facile 4.5l success. Almanzor shuttles to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand.

Trainer Freddy Head was not surprised by the manner of the victory and said, “From day one, ever since he walked into the yard, he has impressed me with everything he has done. He’s a lovely horse who had a little setback last year and couldn’t run, but maybe that was a blessing in disguise. He has size, a lovely temperament and a beautiful action and everything you ask for from a good horse. I was expecting a good performance and he was very impressive there. He’s in all the major races and I wanted to run him early to have more time to decide what to do next.”

Flit set for All-Star shot

Godolphin is leaning towards running 3-year-old filly Flit (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) in the All-Star Mile.

James Cummings and his team have the call on which of their three runners Alizee (Sepoy), Flit or Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), as they are the three current emergencies. Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) withdrew from the event on Tuesday, meaning a spot has opened up for one of those three emergencies.

"Godolphin is leaning towards running 3-year-old filly Flit in The All-Star Mile, however, we are going to get through this weekend with our three possible candidates before confirming a runner," Cummings said.

"If Flit runs, jockey Damian Lane will ride her."

The final field will be confirmed on Tuesday, March 10, with the barrier draw to be conducted at 11am that day.

No Slipper for star Queenslander

Robert Heathcote has ruled out 2-year-old Rothfire (Rothsay) competing in the G1 Golden Slipper later this month.

Heathcote confirmed the unbeaten Rothfire would contest the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 2YO (1200 metres) at the Gold Coast on Saturday March 14 and then head to the paddock.

The gelding has won four races on end, including his most recent start last Saturday at Doomben by 4.5l, but his connections would need to pay a late entry fee to get into the Golden Slipper.

Catalyst to return in spring

Catalyst's (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) autumn campaign might be over but trainer Clayton Chipperfield is plotting his return to Australia in the spring.

Bruised fetlocks suffered in the wake of his defeat in the G1 Australian Guineas have put an end to Catalyst's 3-year-old campaign, but the news from the vets is positive as to his medium-to-long-term future.

“I said to the vet, just give it to me in one hit and he said ‘you’ve got a horse in the spring but you haven’t got one for the All-Star," Chipperfield told RSN.

“A spell is all he is going to need and they are pretty confident he’ll be racing in the spring.”

The G1 Livamol Spring Classic in New Zealand will be his first major target before a possible shot at the G1 Cox Plate.

“We’d like to give him a try at 2000 metres and if he can cop that, you’ve got to have the Cox Plate in mind and if he can’t go 2000 metres, we have to go for the Golden Eagle (1500 metres).”

Cool in running for more Te Akau success

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards is looking to continue his remarkable form when Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) tackles the G1 Sistema S. at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Richards has won five Group 1 races across the last six weekends one either side of the Tasman and Cool Aza Beel, the Karaka Million 2YO winner, can add to that in the feature 2-year-old race.

Cool Aza Beel was beaten last start by stablemate Need I Say More (No Nay Never {USA}) but with that horse headed to the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. at Awapuni on March 28, the Savabeel colt is favoured in Saturday's race.

“I think the ground at Matamata was probably the main factor in his defeat that day,” said Richards.

“He’d also had a month between runs, and I think the horse that beat him that day is well above average as well.

“But I’ve been very happy with Cool Aza Beel’s work since that race, and I think being back at Ellerslie this weekend on a drier track is going to really suit him.”

Breeders' Cup purses jump

The Breeders’ Cup will boost prizemoney for the two-day meeting by US$4 million (AU$6.06 million) ahead of the 2020 World Championships at Keeneland.

The increase in purses brings the total for the two-day World Championships to US$35 million (AU$53.05 million) with purse payouts will also be modified to pay down to the 10th position from the current eighth position.

The purse increases begin with this year’s event at Keeneland on November 6-7 and will be allocated as follows:

• US$1 million to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic for a total purse of US$7 million (AU$10.61 million);

• US$2 million to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf for a total purse of US$6 million (AU$9.06 million); and

• US$1 million to the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for a total purse of US$2 million (AU$3.03 million).

These increases put the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf tied for the richest Grade 1/Group 1 turf race in the world and solidify the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile as the richest dirt mile race worldwide. The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic remains the richest race in North America and the third richest Grade 1/Group 1 in the world.

Benbatl set for World Cup

Godolphin’s triple Group 1 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), third behind Maximum Security (USA) (New Year’s Day {USA}) and Midnight Bisou (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}) in last weekend’s Saudi Cup, has been given the go-ahead by trainer Saeed bin Suroor to advance to the G1 Dubai World Cup on March 28.

A Group 1 winner in Germany and Australia, the 6-year-old Benbatl made a successful transition to the dirt on Febuary 6 when winning the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 at Meydan, and he ran with great credit in Riyadh on Saturday when beaten 2.75l by the two American champions.

“He ran really well to finish third,” bin Suroor said of the Saudi Cup. “It was a tough race, but he seems happy since and we are very happy with him. We’ll give him an easy time now and get him ready for the World Cup. He has had two good runs on dirt, so we are looking forward to going for the World Cup with him now.”

Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou are both expected to bypass the Dubai World Cup.