Gates may open: V’landys

Racing New South Wales Chief Executive Peter V’landys believes the return of owners to racetracks is imminent.

He told RSN’s Racing Pulse that Racing NSW was consulting with the state government about allowing crowds to return to both the racetrack and NRL rugby games on July 1.

V’landys believed the chance of a patron contracting coronavirus at the races was next to nil.

“The risk is now extremely low so there’s no reason why they could not be let in. It’s minimal or no risk,” he said.

V’landys said normal stake-money would be returned to, including the $15 million and $7.5 million purses for The Everest and Golden Eagle, as NSW reserves held up better than expected through coronavirus.

Newnham 2YOs star

Warwick Farm trainer Mark Newnham dominated the 2-year-old heats during Tuesday’s trials on his home track.

Newnham won both of the 794 metre heats for the fillies with Escape Artist (Exceed And Excel) and Ashra Jahre (Headwater) and took the heat for colts and geldings with Mission Legend (Reward For Effort).

The slickest winning time of 47.79s was posted by Escape Artist who was a $525,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Jadeskye Racing and Brad Widdup. She was offered by Kia Ora Stud, who has remained in the ownership.

The filly is a daughter of the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner Se Sauver (Bel Esprit), whose two foals to race have been winners, and she is a half-sister to the G1 South Australian Derby winner Escado (Casino Prince).

Bidding open

Bidding has opened for the Magic Millions Online Sale, comprising over 130 lots.

The June 2-4 online auction includes a reduction sale from Goldin Farms featuring a quality line up of weanlings and broodmares to be offered without reserve.

Among those lots are Group 1 winners Bel Mer (Bel Esprit) and Linky Dink (NZ) (Keeper) and 13 unreserved weanlings, 11 by Akeed Mofeed (GB) as well as youngsters by Pierro and Zebedee (GB).

Multiple Group-winning French mare Spinning Memories (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) and Group performed local Lunar Light (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) are being offered as racing and breeding propositions and look incredible opportunities for prospective buyers.

Bhima Thoroughbreds has consigned 22 lots to the sale, 17 of which are unreserved. The draft comprises 16 weanlings, four broodmares and two yearlings. All weanlings are x-rayed, with reports listed on the Kick Sales Platform.

The Bhima weanlings include youngsters by All Too Hard, Capitalist, Dissident, Dundeel (NZ), Exosphere, Impending, Rubick, Russian Revolution, Sebring, Spieth (NZ) and Written Tycoon.

Group 1 to crown season

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have enjoyed a royal season with their 2-year-olds, but the best might yet be to come with Macroura (Snitzel) to tackle Saturday’s G1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm.

The training partnership has won 30 juvenile races in 2019/20, with 10 at black type level, and the unbeaten Macroura will bid for the icing on the cake with a Group 1 victory.

The filly is undefeated in three appearances, including a most recent success in the Listed Woodlands S. and is currently on the fourth line of betting for the Atkins behind favourite Rothfire (Rothesay).

Maher and Eustace also have the consistent Bam’s On Fire (Universal Ruler) in the G1 Stradbroke H. with the 4-year-old coming off a solid run for third in the G1 Robert Sangster S.

Retirement not on agenda

One of New Zealand racing’s senior statesman, Frank Ritchie, is looking forward to welcoming back a couple of his better quality gallopers in the coming weeks as the Cambridge trainer prepares for spring racing.

The COVID-19 enforced lockdown provided the 75-year-old with a glimpse of retirement and the respected horseman said in the main it didn’t agree with him, but there were some new habits forged.

“One was to bring my wife Colleen a cup of tea in bed at 7am every day,” Ritchie said. “So when it opened up again, she said I had to come back from the stables at 7am to continue the trend.

“On a personal level, I had aches and pains everywhere because I like to get around at the stables and I do a lot of walking around the place. That month I really dried-up so it took a little while to get the body back into shape.”

Ritchie has a dozen horses in work at present with 26 on the books and will welcome back Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Dawn Patrol (NZ) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and multiple Group 3 winner Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled).

Weather watch

As is often the case with Jungle Edge (Dubawi {Ire}), the veteran sprinter’s next port of call will be determined by the weather.

Trainer Mick Bell has nominated the veteran for a 1000 metre handicap at Flemington on Saturday and the Listed Bob Charley AO S. at Randwick in Sydney.

Bell will keep a close eye on the weather and track conditions and head where Jungle Edge will get the most suitable wet track.