Doncaster for Brandenburg

The John Sargent-trained Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) will bypass the G1 Australian Derby at Randwick next month in favour of the G1 Doncaster Mile on the same card.

The 3-year-old will first run in Saturday's G1 George Ryder S. on Saturday and will take a strong form line into the race, having won the G2 Hobartville S. and placed in the G1 Randwick Guineas in his last two starts.

“I think with his breeding, a mile at this stage might be his best distance. Out to 2000 metres, the Burgundys aren’t known to get out to that distance.

“The main reason we are heading to the Doncaster is the 49kg on his back and 3-year-olds have got a great record in the race and I think he will be a huge chance.”

Sydney trips off

Japanese horses Mozu Ascot (USA) (Frankel {GB}) and My Style (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) will not travel to Sydney for the G1 Doncaster Mile because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A third Japanese horse, Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), is on his way to Sydney for the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on April 11 at Randwick.

He is the equal second favourite with English horse Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) behind Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

The William Haggas-trained Addeybb has been in Sydney for some weeks and is scheduled to run in Saturday's G1 Ranvet S.

Barrier a worry

A wide gate has made the task of Victorian filly Mildred (Hinchinbrook) that much tougher in Saturday’s G1 Longines Golden Slipper S.

Grahame Begg's filly drew barrier 17 and will go from 14 if the ballots don’t make the final field.

"Farnan has drawn just a bit inside of us and he's been going forward in his races so hopefully we're able to use him to come across," Begg said.

Less in Pippie’s favour

Pippie (Written Tycoon) will have to defy distance and weight rises if she is to continue her winning form at The Valley on Friday night.

The last-start G1 Oakleigh Plate winner over 1000 metres steps up to 1200 metres in the G1 William Reid S. and will also move up from 52kg to 56.5kg.

Pippie led all the way in the Oakleigh, but co-trainer Chris Meagher, who trains in partnership with his father John, said it would take a more measured approach at The Valley.

"She probably won't get the 1200 metres if she runs the times she did early in the Oakleigh Plate, so we'll restrain her a touch," Meagher said.

"I knew nothing would lead her, but in saying that you want to run a touch slower and go through the gears on Friday night which she will as she's not a hard pulling horse.

"She'll probably lead again, lead into the straight, and if she can hold on, terrific, but they'll be swamping her late."

Early finish

Racing at Cranbourne was halted on Tuesday after the discovery of two holes near the finishing post.

The first three races on Tuesday's program were run without incident before Denhill (Denman) fell in race four and apprentice Nathan Punch came to grief.

The Victorian Jockeys' Association said Punch may have suffered a broken collarbone but appeared to escape further injury. Denhill was uninjured in the incident.

A drainage issue appears to be the cause of the affected area near the winning post. Cranbourne is scheduled to host another 10 meetings this season, the next a night fixture on March 27.

Mild scare

Trainer Chris Waller has told Racing New South Wales stewards that G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. winner Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}) had a mild health issue on Monday with an elevated temperature.

However, Waller said the colt had continued to eat well and had not missed any work and will undergo a routine inspection by Racing NSW veterinarians ahead of Saturday’s Slipper.

Global Quest won the G3 Breeders’ Plate in the spring and finished fourth last time out in the G2 Todman S.

Waller has yet to win the Slipper and will also be represented by the impressive G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}).

Staying home

Plans to run The Candy Man (Casino Prince) in Sydney have been scrapped.

Trainer Barry Baldwin wasn’t satisfied with the way the horse worked between races at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

He had intended to run The Candy Man at Eagle Farm on Saturday as a lead-up to the G1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 4.

"It is no use taking a horse to Sydney when not fully fit let alone for a race like the Doncaster. You are just asking for trouble," Baldwin said. "In these cases you have to err on the side of caution.

"He is now going for a couple of days on the water walker and then we will get him back in the stables for the winter carnival.”

Group 1 option

Quality mare Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) may be joined in next month’s G1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Te Aroha by emerging stablemate Levante (NZ) (Proisir).

Levante suffered her first defeat in five starts when beaten into second in Saturday’s G2 Wellington Guineas, but lost no admirers after turning in a colossal performance after bombing the start.

“It’s just one of those things, that’s racing,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said. “Those sort of things happen and there is not much you can do about it.

“She still would have got up had she not been crowded in the straight. Star Of Bombay came across on her when she was mounting her run, so it was a fantastic effort.

“The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ is three weeks away so we will be wanting to make a call by the end of this week in which direction we are heading. "

Helping hand from ATC

The Australian Turf Club has distributed almost 1000 hay bales and further funding to New South Wales communities still recovering from the devastating summer bushfires and drought.

Following last month’s assistance along the NSW South Coast, the Australian Turf Club Foundation visited trainers and local communities around Wauchope on Monday and surrounding districts on the mid North Coast of NSW on Tuesday.

The funds raised from the Racing for the Bushfire campaign and special race meeting at Royal Randwick on January 25 have provided hay for horses, livestock and injured animals, and funding for fencing and buildings, in a number of local communities.

Amongst the latest donations this week were: $25,000 for almost 1000 hay bales to be delivered along the mid north coast, $15,000 to Blaze Aid to use local businesses to repair fences and other structures and $20,000 to animal rescue organisation Fawna and its carers.