Easter Sale to proceed as planned

Inglis has confirmed it is planning to proceed with its iconic Australian Easter Yearling Sale on April 7 and 8 as scheduled despite the global uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.

The sales company said it was continuing to monitor developments and government advice around the outbreak of the virus, but everything was still on track for inspections to begin on April 1.

"Bookings from both domestic and international buyers planning to attend the sale are tracking similarly if not better than previous years while vendors are prepping their yearlings ready for official inspections at Riverside from Wednesday April 1," Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.

"We have been monitoring the Covid-19 situation closely and will continue to do so in coming days and weeks. The Australian Government has been very proactive in managing this situation over the past month which allowed us to deliver excellent results a week ago in Melbourne and we anticipate the appetite for quality yearlings will continue at Easter.

"That said, we are obviously well aware of the Coronavirus situation and the potential complexities it may cause. We have developed contingency plans to help us conduct the sale with minimal disruptions should government put in place additional travel or event based restrictions.

"We will continue to communicate closely with our clients in coming days and weeks but at this stage it’s all systems go ahead of Easter and we look forward to hosting the world’s racing industry at Riverside Stables for the sale in a couple of weeks."

Vandyke staying cool

Trainer David Vandyke isn’t feeling the heat leading into the $5 million All-Star Mile with his star galloper Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).

"Group 1 status, Australian Guineas, Flemington. That was a huge feather in his cap," he said.

"It was a first Group 1 for the owners and a first Group 1 for (jockey) Ryan Maloney, so the pressure is off and we're really enjoying this week."

The All-Star Mile is in its second year and while it does not hold Group status, the field features 10 individual Group 1 winners, with Queenslander Alligator Blood at $2.70 for his first attempt at weight-for-age.

"I think he's probably got to put in a career-best performance to win the race and I'll walk away happy if he runs top three," Vandyke said.

"I think it's a great honour to him that he is that price in a field of 10 Group 1 winners. I hope he lives up to that price and wins the race. "

Major cheque awaits

Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes is tipping a bold showing from So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) in the $5 million All-Star Mile.

So Si Bon has been out twice this preparation and is now at the top of his game for the Caulfield feature.

"We're thrilled to get him in and we get to ride him on the quiet side," Hayes said. "There's plenty of speed, and he loves charging down the outside of the track.

"He wasn't ridden upside down last time. He just landed in front and pulled a bit being second-up, but now that he's had that run I think he'll be more relaxed and race in his normal pattern.

"I'm not saying he can win, but I'm expecting a top-five finish."

Layo Layo tops sale

Encosta De Lago mare Layo Layo has topped Inglis Digital’s March (Early) Online Sale realising $95,000, the 12th consecutive catalogue to gross more than $1 million.

Out of the stakes-winner mare Tantra (Royal Academy {USA}), a blood sister to Liberty Rose and from the family of recent G3 Widden S. winner Away Game (Snitzel), Layo Layo was offered by Mullaglass Stud in foal to Press Statement and with her maiden filly by Hellbent at foot.

A six-time winner, Layo Layo was secured by Brett Gall, of Gall Bloodstock, after a late bidding war between several parties.

“I really liked the mare and she will go to our stallion I Am Invincible, who I raced with my father Ray and we still own 50 per cent with Arthur and Harry Mitchell of Yarraman Park Stud,” Gall said.

“We scan through every catalogue when they come out as we’re trading stock all the time and the 3-in-1 package was a big attraction with Layo Layo, plus I find the buying process very straightforward on the platform.”

Nikolic out of luck

Controversial former jockey Danny Nikolic has lost his latest bid for a riding licence in Queensland.

Nikolic sought an internal review of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission refusal of his application for a licence to ride at provincial meetings.

The internal reviewer refused the application this week and Nikolic is now expected to lodge a further appeal at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It can take up to a year for QCAT cases to be heard and resolved.

Internal review reasons are not published until after the result of any QCAT decision.

Three-pronged Oaks tilt

Valachi Downs trainer Stephen Autridge will be vying for his first G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks when he lines-up three fillies in the race at Trentham on Saturday.

Autridge will saddle Communique (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Karalino (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) in Kevin and Jo Hickman’s gold colours, while he has Nothing Compares (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) in the race. She is part-owned by respected Horowhenua horseman Chris Rutten.

Nothing Compares finished unplaced in the G2 Lowland S. last start after finishing runner-up in the Listed Oaks Prelude at New Plymouth last month, while Communique and Karalino pleased Autridge when providing the quinella in the G3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie last start.

“They have come through those runs really well,” Autridge said. “Communique and Karalino have gone the right way and have ended up with good draws, so I am quite happy.”

Costa has fingers crossed

Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa would love to give jockey Michael Cahill his first stakes winner aboard Malahide (Shamus Award) in his comeback from injury.

The mare will join her stablemate and last-start winner Manaya (Hinchinbrook) in Saturday's Listed Goldmarket H. on their home track.

Cahill returned last Saturday from four months on the sidelines after breaking his foot in a barrier accident in October.

"Michael rode her in her most recent trial when she was second. It was a funny trial because the winner really tore away, but my mare worked home like we wanted," Costa said.

Licences suspended

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in conjunction with the New Jersey Racing Commission has announced that the State has suspended the horse racing licenses of seven New Jersey licensees.

The suspensions come two days after the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York unsealed indictments against a total of 27 individuals in an alleged international conspiracy to dope racehorses.

Seven individuals received letters from New Jersey Racing Commission Executive Director Judith A. Nason notifying them of their immediate suspensions. The septet includes trainer Jason Servis, Nicholas Surick, Dr. Rebecca Linke, Scott Mangini, Scott Robinson, Christopher Marino and Rick Dane, Jr.

“Here in New Jersey, we are committed to ensuring the integrity of horse racing, and we have a robust system in place to ensure the fairness of races, the legitimacy of the outcomes and the safety of the participants,” Grewal said.

“However, there are sometimes unfortunate instances in which individuals choose to break the rules and try to game the system in the racing industry generally and in New Jersey. Fortunately, these alleged unethical and deceitful practices did not go undetected, and the perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.”

Distance a help

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike knows his Group 1-winning filly Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) has got her work cut out to turn the tables on Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) when the pair clash again in the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks.

But he is confident she will be suited by the 2400 metre distance at Trentham on Saturday and has timing on her side.

The last two clashes have gone the way of Jennifer Eccles, who has displayed a superior turn of foot in both the G2 Lowland S. and G2 Fillies Classic to dominate her rivals.

“We have targeted Loire to peak on Saturday so it wouldn’t surprise me if she finished a lot closer than her last two starts,” Pike said. “Her work has been super this week.

“A mile and a-half around Trentham is a lot different to 2000 metres around Hawke’s Bay and Te Rapa.”