Slipper winner Kiamichi retired

Godolphin has confirmed that 2019 G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Kiamichi (Sidestep) has been retired.

The filly led home a Godolphin sweep of the Slipper trifecta in 2019 in the highlight of a 13-start career which saw her win three races, including the G3 Magic Night S.

Trainer James Cummings said Kiamichi was a genuine Group 1 star.

"She was our first 2-year-old winner of the season and she just grew stronger and better as her preparations progressed,” Cummings said.

“I have nothing but praise for her win in such a high-pressure race. We trained her for strength and she was the toughest on the day. They all had the chance to run her down, but they didn’t threaten her.”

“The Golden Slipper is a race that shapes the breed in Australia, and she now gets her chance to contribute to that tradition.”

Godolphin Australia Managing Director, Vin Cox, confirmed Kiamichi retires sound and healthy to Godolphin's broodmare band and that a mate would be confirmed.

She is out Ouachita, a daughter of the 1990 Slipper winner Canny Lad and her family also features the Slipper winners Vain, Marscay, Dark Eclipse (Baguette) and Storm Queen (Coronation Boy {Ire}).

LA leans on media and good friends ahead of Sale

Little Avondale Stud believes its long-held focus on digital and social media will hold it in good stead for the Inglis Virtual Easter Yearling Sale which gets underway on Tuesday.

LA sends a draft of four fillies through the sale and Sam Williams feels the combination of good relationships and excellent preparation puts in as good a possible shape in what will be a unique sale.

“Easter is the best of the best; you have to target the sale a long way out and be sure that the quality is right-up there. Their pedigrees were always a given but of course you need them to go the right way."

Williams said it won't be easy to part with the fillies, who are by I Am Invincible, Tavistock (NZ), Savabeel and Capitalist.

"It’s well known that our spring was one for the ages and you saw the results of that at Karaka. As it happens, I’ve found myself wondering more and more should I be selling these fillies. They’re just the complete package; Australasian and International Group 1 pedigrees and such great physicals, ultimately they’ll be standouts in the best broodmare bands in Australasia.”

All Aged on Sargent's agenda

Trainer John Sargent is weighing up a shot at the G1 All Aged S. with G1 Doncaster Mile placegetter Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).

Brandenburg started favourite in the Doncaster and the 3-year-old finished third having hit the front briefly at the 200 metre mark.

Far from disheartened, Sargent told Racenet that he wants to press on with the colt's campaign.

“His run was very good and I am very happy with him, he was just beaten by two better horses on the day,” Sargent said.

“He seems to have come through the run okay but we just want to wait and see and give him a few days.

“I want to be 100 per cent sure before we head to the All Aged.

“It is obviously going to be a nice All Aged S. with a few of those horses from the TJ Smith heading there.”

Bosson versus Belle

Jockey Opie Bosson admits it will be strange taking on his favourite mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth S. aboard stablemate Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

Bosson has opted to ride Te Akau Shark with Kerrin McEvoy to partner Melody Belle, the first time in her past seven starts Bosson hasn't ridden her.

“It will be a bit weird,” Bosson said. “She’s one of my favourites and has been really good to me.

“I wish her all the best and you know she’s a real competitor too. With the right run she’ll be right in it.

“They’re two totally different types of horses but there’s not a lot between them. I’ve got a good association with both horses but I’ve always been committed to Te Akau Shark, so that’s why I’ve gone that way but you can’t take anything away from Melody Belle.”

Bosson will partner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Australian Oaks and believes the filly is up to staying the 2400 metres.

“Probabeel just wants a better track,” Bosson said. “Apparently we’re meant to get some better weather this week so that should be ideal and back at Randwick should suit her as well.

“She’s just thrived since she’s been here, she got home from the races the other day and ate everything, she’s a very happy horse.”

Pearson injured in trackwork fall

Trackwork rider Alana Pearson has suffered a fracture dislocation of her shoulder in a fall at Randwick.

Pearson, who rides for the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, sustained the injury on Monday morning and was transported to hospital.

She has been transferred to the Sydney Adventist Hospital and will have reconstructive surgery on the injured shoulder by Dr David Duckworth.

TAB investigates cash out error

Tabcorp continues to investigating a systems error which led to 1353 customers being able to cash out of bets at wildly inflated dividends on Saturday.

Quaddie players in races at Rosehill and Doomben were offered massive returns to cash out of their bet before the final leg, resulting in TAB subsequently freezing over 1000 accounts after an error was discovered.

Tabcorp in a statement said it was working through the issue urgently with customers impacted to “ensure the correct reconciliation of balances, including the payout of funds where customers were entitled to that."

“I’m sorry for the frustration this technical fault has caused some of our customers. Rectifying the problem is a top priority and our people are working around the clock to fix it and ensure customers entitled to receive payment get those funds as soon as possible,” Tabcorp Managing Director Wagering & Media Adam Rytenskild said.

Tabcorp said it would look to provide bonus bets or other rewards, where appropriate, in recognition of the inconvenience to impacted customers.

Graham and Subbie offer positive message

Graham Salisbury has urged the thoroughbred industry to stay positive during the current coronavirus crisis having weathered his own challenges with cancer to be well enough to be re-united with his great mate Subzero (Kala Dancer {GB}).

Salisbury and the Melbourne Cup winner have been inseparable over the years but in recent times, Salisbury has been battling serious illness.

He was well enough to visit Subzero on Monday and sent a message to everyone in the industry who is struggling through the current global crisis.

“It’s so important that you stay positive, to get through what’s happening now you have to stay strong," he told Racing.com .

“Don’t whatever you do drop the bit, it’s hard times we all know that, but we’re in this together and you always have to keep having a crack and appreciating life.

“We’re in one of the best industries in the world, we’re a family and we have to stay positive together.

“That’s what mine and Subbie’s message has always been, helping each other out and this filthy virus won’t beat us.”

Casse backs Clenbuterol call

The recent announcement by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) that Clenbuterol can no longer be used within 28 days of a horse racing was something trainer Mark Casse had been waiting a long time to hear.

The veteran trainer has been the sport’s most outspoken critic of what he saw as the abuse of the drug and the new regulations in Canada will be among the strictest in North American racing. But Casse said that the new rules only go so far in curbing the problem and that the real answer is a total ban of the drug.

“Hopefully, this is the first step of many,” Casse said. “I know there are a lot of things out there in the works. The 28 days is a good start, but I would still like to see it banned. Not only is it being abused at the racetracks, it’s being abused with weanlings and yearlings at the sales. If we can make it zero tolerance then it’s much easier to police.”

Casse argues that Clenbuterol acts like a steroid and artificially puts muscle on a horse. Woodbine and the HBPA of Ontario have also come out for stricter Clenbuterol rules. The CPMA posted the new rules, which will cover racing throughout Canada, on its website Saturday. Previously, Clenbuterol use had to be curtailed seven days before a race.

Kimari headed for Royal Ascot

Ten Broeck Farm’s Kimari (USA) (Munnings {USA}) may be in line for a return date at the Royal Ascot meeting this summer following her win in the Purple Martin S. at Oaklawn on Saturday.

Trainer Wesley Ward said the tentative plan for Kimari, who was second in last year’s G2 Queen Mary S., is to return to England for the June 19 G1 Commonwealth Cup.

“She’s going to be just a pure sprinter, dirt or turf,” Ward said after his first career Oaklawn victory on Saturday.

“We’ll probably try to stick a little bit to the grass to keep her sound because the ultimate goal would be the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. I’ve told them all along that I feel so strongly about this filly. Plus, Keeneland [site of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup] is my home base and hers as well, so we would like to go against the boys. It’s a six-furlong [dirt] race. I think she’s really going to jump up as we get through the season, and numbers-wise she’ll be right up there as a serious contender for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint against the boys.”