Offers flow for Kinane

Next month’s G1 South Australian Derby is shaping as a thrilling contest, with rising star Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) a likely opponent for the exciting Russian Camelot (Camelot {GB}), despite intense interest from Hong Kong buyers.

There had been reports that the G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Kinane might be sold for upwards of $2 million and miss the May 9 race, but part-owner Mick Kent said the Derby was still on the cards.

Kent, who sourced Kinane via the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for NZ$165,000 through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, sent Kinane to Chris Waller in Sydney after taking a break from training.

“There has been a fair bit of interest in the horse, there’s no denying that, but the thought is that the horse is going to be running in the Derby,” Kent said. “Things might change, but my understanding is that that’s the plan.”

Raffles reduction bolsters Bhima draft

Bhima will play an integral part in the upcoming Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale held on the May 10, with 19 top-class mares catalogued, 12 of which will be offered as part of the major reduction of bloodstock from New Zealand-based Raffles Farm.

Six of Raffles Farm’s mares carry black type, including Group 1 winner Ride Of Valkyries (Arg) (Orpen {USA}) who is in foal to Darci Brahma (NZ) and currently located in New Zealand, Group 3 winner Ready To Lift (More Than Ready {USA}) who is in foal to Impending and stakes-winner McIvor Silk (Fastnet Rock) who is in foal to Capitalist.

Spectacular Vision (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and El Sagrado (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) are both stakes performers carrying covers by Written Tycoon, while the last start stakes performer Tears Of An Angel (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven), who is in New Zealand, will be offered as a breeding proposition. Snow Spell (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) is a half-sister to the dam of Pierro and is in foal to All Too Hard.

The remainder of the Bhima draft provides opportunities to get a head start with progeny by the new stallions in the ranks. Lady Koocachoo (Stratum) and Al Maher mare Sidrah are in foal to Super One while Dinicanbern (Bernardini {USA}) is in foal to Kermadec (NZ).

Stakes performer and winning producer Exceedingly Regal (Exceed And Excel) is in foal to Flying Artie, while Maine (Americain {USA}) is in foal to Divine Prophet. Star Salute (General Nediym) is in foal to Russian Revolution and Esseftoo (Al Maher) is in foal to Santos.

Bhima will also send Royal Fashion (Snitzel), a Group 3 runner up out of a winning Zabeel (NZ) mare, to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on the May 8. She is in foal to American Pharoah (USA).

Kid gloves approach again

Melbourne Cup Day 2020 will be like Christmas Day for Horsham trainer Paul Preusker with Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking).

With the possibility that COVID-19 might turn the Melbourne and Sydney spring carnivals into a largely Australian and New Zealand affair, Surprise Baby shapes as an even better prospect of winning the Cup second time around after finishing a luckless fifth last year.

Preusker mapped a plan to last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup with just two spring runs, finishing fourth in the G2 Feehan S., before cementing a place in the great race when winning the G3 Bart Cummings.

“It will be pretty much the same. He has come up beautifully. He had a good solid prep with a few weeks out and then back in now. The horse is in super order.

“It’s a funny thing, you get the Cup over and done with and it’s a sigh of relief, but after a few weeks all the pressure starts again.”

Guineas tilt

Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) will attempt to secure her first stakes victory at Rosehill on Saturday when she contests the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas.

She heads into the race in good form, having won two of her four starts this preparation, including a last-start second in the Listed South Pacific Classic at Randwick earlier this month.

“She has come through her last start well and she seems in good order,” trainer Brad Widdup said.

“This preparation she has been excellent. She ran great last start, it was just unlucky. It didn’t pan out for her, it’s just one of those things with racing. Unfortunately she couldn’t win, but I think she raced very well.”

Ready to resume

Group-winning mare Etana (Shamus Award) will begin her winter carnival campaign at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Annabel Neasham, who runs the Sydney stable for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, said Etana had been in Queensland for several days to fit in with interstate travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

"She appears to have travelled well and she has won twice at 1400 metres. Etana will probably have three runs in Queensland," Neasham said.

"After Saturday she will go to the Wayne Wilson Mile (and then probably the Chairman's H.). They seem to be the right type of races for her."

Quick back-up

Sizzlepel (Sizzling) will be on a quick back-up at the Gold Coast on Friday after winning at Ipswich on Sunday.

The filly steps up to 1400 metres in the Remembering Our Wailers QTIS H., in which she will be ridden again by Glen Colless.

Bryan Guy, who trains in partnership with his son Daniel, said Sizzlepel had been booked for a spell but had thrived since her Ipswich run.

"We have a bit of a wrap on her and she is like a lot of her sire Sizzling's horses who get better with time," co-trainer Bryan Guy said.

"She has been looking for more ground and 1400 metres on her home track looks ideal. Sizzlepel can run Friday and then go for a break. We think she will be more than handy later."

Lengthy suspension

Queensland jockey Luke Tarrant has been handed a six-month ban after admitting to head-butting fellow rider Larry Cassidy at the weighing scales at Doomben.

As well as the seriousness of the physical incident, stewards took into account the breach of the COVID-19 social protocols and the potential for Tarrant's actions to have an adverse effect on the racing industry.

It is the latest disqualification or suspension for the jockey who had been making a successful comeback after facing criminal drug charges.

Tarrant and Cassidy had been involved in a scrimmage during the ninth race at Doomben and he pleaded guilty to misconduct, which started out as a verbal altercation.

Trainer charged

Victorian trainer Kylie Vella has been charged over the race day treatment of a horse with an anti-inflammatory medication.

Racing Victoria stewards have issued three charges stemming from a urine sample taken from the Vella-trained Admiral's Joker (Bel Esprit) after he won at Flemington on May 25 last year.

The first charge states Vella administered or caused to be administered, Diclofenac (using Voltaren), to Admiral's Joker inside one clear day before the race. She has also been hit with two alternative charges relating to the positive swab.

The charges will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date yet to be fixed

Call for track additions

Ruakaka and Taupo have been a staple of winter and spring racing for many years and Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie is hoping racing administrators reconsider adding them to this year’s proposed racing calendar.

On Tuesday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) released a proposed racing calendar for the months July-November, which leaves out the two tracks in favour of more localised venues.

“I think there needs to be some revision from August through to November to ensure that we have places like Taupo, Ruakaka, and Hastings even, racing as much as possible so that we can get the races into these horses,” Ritchie said.

“Punters like betting on firm ground and some of the best betting and supported races are races at Ruakaka and Taupo and tracks that aren’t bog tracks in the winter.”