Blood positive

A second sample has confirmed the prohibited substance altrenogest in the swab taken from Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) following his Magic Millions 3YO Guineas win at the Gold Coast.

Trainer David Vandyke will now face a stewards' inquiry at a date to be set.

If he is found guilty of presenting a horse to the races with a prohibited substance it is likely he would face a fine, but Alligator Blood would be disqualified from first place in the January 11 race and the $1.1 million first prize would be forfeited.

Vandyke said he has been informed the B sample taken from Alligator Blood had come back positive and he now faced an inquiry.

"This presents a challenging time. Since moving to Queensland in May, 2016 this is the first irregularity that I have had in this state," Vandyke said. "It is my hope that the inquiry will shed light on how altrenogest entered Alligator Blood's system and help prevent any similar incident occurring in racing again."

Chenier to HK

Group-performed 3-year-old Chenier (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has been sold to clients of Caspar Fownes’ Hong Kong stable.

The former Godolphin galloper was prepared by Anthony Freedman and won one of his five starts and finished third in the G3 CS Hayes S. and fourth in the G1 Australian Guineas to attract offshore interest.

“We operate in a commercial environment and when you get a good offer for a horse, you have to evaluate where you sit on the horse and what the future may be,” Godolphin Australia Managing Director Vin Cox told racing.com.

“He is a horse with a lot of potential and it wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one of those decisions you have got to make in a commercial world.”

Blinkers to go on

Brandenburg (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) will sport a new look on Saturday in the G1 All Aged S. at Randwick.

He will race in blinkers for the first time after working in them over 1000 metres on Tuesday morning and trainer John Sargent also confirmed it will be the colt's final outing this preparation before a break.

"He doesn't get in as well at the weights as he did in the Doncaster, but he's a good 3-year-old," Sargent said. "He won the Hobartville over the distance.”

Change of luck due

Trainer Michael Moroney believes Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is overdue a change of Group 1 fortune and is hoping that eventuates in Saturday’s All Aged S. at Randwick.

The mare was a close third two runs back in the G1 The Galaxy and prior to that was seventh in the G1 Newmarket H. and fifth at her latest appearance in the G1 TJ Smith S.

"She's been pretty luckless. We had a nice race in The Galaxy and she had her chance and just got beaten, but in the Newmarket and the TJ Smith she was pretty unlucky.

"She just didn't get much luck in running during the Newmarket and she just got back and wide from a bad draw last start. She deserves a Group 1 on what she's been doing.”

Cup stake withheld

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia is withholding Maximum Security's (USA) (New Year’s Day {USA}) winning prizemoney for the US$20 million (AU$31.3 million) Saudi Cup, after trainer Jason Servis was indicted on federal charges in the United States.

The trainer is one of 27 people indicted by the District Attorney for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan as part of an investigation into alleged doping of horses.

"JCSA is conducting its own investigation in respect of the allegations and until that investigation is concluded, JCSA will withhold payment of prizemoney due to all connections of horses placed in prize-winning positions in the Saudi Cup," a JCSA statement said.,

"This decision has been communicated privately to connections of Saudi Cup runners. Due to difficult operational circumstances caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic, the investigation has not yet concluded."

Spring staying targets

Caulfield trainer Robert Hickmott has an eye on spring targets with progressive stayer Highland Jakk (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}).

The 3-year-old was ready to follow the 2019 path of Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) to the G1 Melbourne Cup by targeting the G1 Queensland Derby, however COVID-19 has put an end to that plan.

“It’s a pity. We had him set for the Queensland Derby, but obviously those plans went out the window,” Hickmott said. “We don’t have enough time and conditioning into him to get to the G1 South Australian Derby.

“We will just pick a few races off over the winter and get his rating up leading into the spring carnival,” Hickmott said. “I’m hoping he can develop into a Melbourne Cup horse. If it’s not this year it will be the year after.”

Focus on 2YO

Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) will be carrying the weight of his stable when he contests the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick on Saturday.

The 2-year-old is the only active runner for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike and pleased his connections with his first-up effort in Australia when placing in the G3 Kindergarten S.

“We were really pleased with his run in the Kindergarten,” Pike said. “Over the 1100 metres, from the outside gate and to go back to last, it was always going to be a bit sharp for him. He was very strong over the final stages.

“Reports are really good and he has bounced through it in great order. He galloped on the course proper at Rosehill on Tuesday morning with an older country cups horse and worked really well over 1200 metres.

“If he runs well on Saturday we will probably wait and go straight into the G1 JJ Atkins in Brisbane.”

McEvoy suspended

Kerrin McEvoy is set to miss the Hawkesbury Guineas meeting at Rosehill after being suspended at Warwick Farm on Monday.

McEvoy pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ride Godolphin-owned Duenna (Sepoy) out to the end of the Hyland Race Colours Plate, with the filly finishing in a dead-heat for second.

McEvoy was suspended for a week from Sunday, a day after Group 1 racing ends for the season in Sydney.

James McDonald was fined $1500 at Monday's meeting for using the whip unnecessarily inside the final 100 metres of the Darley Stallions H. on Adana (Snitzel) who finished seventh. Adam Hyeronimus was also fined $500 for entering a jockeys' room other than the one he had been allocated.

Black type hope

Excelida (Exceed And Excel) has South Australian black type features in her sights after a strong last-start win at Sandown.

The Cambridge Stud-owned filly let down well for jockey Damien Oliver to reel in the leaders and score a comfortable victory in the Same Race Multi H.

“It was a fantastic win and a great ride by Ollie,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “He summed it up well from the gates and she really extended well to the line and was strong.”

Pressure off

A scaled back winter program has taken the pressure off Eagle Farm racecourse.

Racing Queensland had planned to rest the track for up to six weeks, but that will now be eight weeks. The track has not hosted a meeting since March 25 and the next one is planned for May 23.

Eagle Farm's course proper chopped up during the seven meetings it had during February and March. It was partly put down to a grub infestation, which has been addressed in recent weeks.