Vale Graham Salisbury
Graham Salisbury, who cared for the charismatic G1 Melbourne Cup winner Subzero (Kala Dancer {GB}) at the end of his racing career, passed away on Saturday. He was 76.
Salisbury had been battling prostate cancer since he was first diagnosed with the illness in 2006.
It is through Subzero that Graham will be remembered most fondly after ‘buying’ him for $1 off the grey’s connections when he retired and vowed to make him the 'people’s horse,’ which he undoubtedly did.
Salisbury was a long-serving Victorian Clerk of the Course and used Subzero in that role until the horse’s full retirement in 2008 due to arthritis. They subsequently they made numerous appearances on television, at charity functions and at schools.
Top staying prospect
Team Hawkes produced a horse to follow in better company when import Mount Popa (Ire) (Maxios {GB}) won the Castelvecchio At Arrowfield H. at his second Australian start.
A dual winner up to 2400 metres in France, he had finished fourth over 1400 metres in his first appearance from his new quarters and appreciated Saturday’s step up to 2000 metres.
“He’s a lovely horse with a great physique and by the same sire as Master Of Wine,” Michael Hawkes said. "I think he's a really nice horse of the future. These sorts of imports you've got to build up and get the score on the board."
Stablemate Master Of Wine (Ger) won the G3 Sky High S. in the autumn and finished fourth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
Mount Popa is half-brother to the Listed Fairway S. winner Unnefer (Fr) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and they are out of a half-sister to the G1 English Derby winner Kris Kin (USA) (Kris S {USA}).
Favourite narrow winner
Kay Cee (Playing God) enjoyed overwhelming support in the Listed Waroa Belmont Guineas and for the filly it was a case of all’s well that ends well.
She settled at the back of the field before commencing a wide run and it was only in the shadows of the post that she got her nose in front under the urgings of rider Steven Parnham, whose father Neville is the successful trainer.
It completed a hat-trick of wins for Kay Cee, who had won the G1 Kingston Town Classic before a break and resumed with victory in the Listed Raconteur S.
Timely victory
Agassi (Pierro) produced a timely winning performance to land the tick end of the stake in the Ranvet H. at Randwick on Saturday.
The Anthony Cummings-trained 4-year-old will be offered during next week’s Inglis Digital June (Late) Online Auction with bidding to close at 10am on June 25.
A three-time winner, Agassi is out of Halle Rocks (Fastnet Rock), who is a half-sister to the G3 Nivison S. winner Diamond Earth (Choisir). Their dam is a half-sister to the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner Bring Me Roses (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the G3 Bobbie Lewis winner and sire Face Value (Red Ransom {USA}).
Welcome tonic
Viridine (Poet’s Voice {GB}) produced a spirit-lifting performance to win the Winter Dash at Randwick .
The 5-year-old is trained by James Cummings and was a welcome result for the family following the passing of Gooree Stud principal Eduardo Cojuangco, the grandfather of Cummings' wife Monica.
Stable representative Darren Beadman said the stable would probably look at next month's Listed Ramornie H. at Grafton for Viridine, subject to the weight.
Family trend continues
Will Freedman will begin his training career at Scone next month.
He will have access to 20 boxes and yards, a sand track, water-walker and treadmill adjacent to the Scone track.
Freedman will follow in the footsteps of his father Richard, who trains at Rosehill with brother Michael while Anthony is based at Mornington and Lee is training in Singapore.
Shark recovering well
Te Akau Racing has reported that star galloper Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has undergone successful eye surgery.
The operation was a straightforward process and the two-time Group 1 winner suffered no complications.
“Expert international equine eye surgeons, together with our Sydney veterinary team, decided it was in Te Akau Shark’s best future racing interests to undergo an optic implant surgery,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said.
Ideal opener
Poetic Charmer (Your Song) showed he is in for a good preparation with a first-up victory at Randwick in the TAB H.
The 5-year-old, whose previous successes had been on good ground, came from well back in the field under jockey Tommy Berry to swamp his rivals.
“He’s got poor form on wet tracks and we were going to run him last week and didn’t so maybe another week’s work has done the trick,” co-trainer Paul Snowden said.
Upset start
New Zealand racing came out of hibernation on Saturday and it opened with an upset when Keep It Real (NZ) (Keeper) won the Dunstan Return To Racing 800 at longs odds.
The 4-year-old posted a 43-1 victory at Pukekohe Park, where she is trained by the Rogers family and was ridden by apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy.
Keep It Real had been unplaced in five previous attempts on heavy going, but handled the testing ground like a toff to post her first win at her eighth appearance.
Ciao Italy, Kia Ora Pukekohe
Pukekohe is somewhat of a poor substitute for Italy at this time of year, but Byerley Park trainer Danny Walker was just happy to be back racing on Saturday.
Crystallize (NZ)
“I was supposed to be heading off to Italy for a holiday, but that isn’t happening. It’s a bit of a bugger, but Pukekohe was the substitute,” Walker said. “You never know what is going to happen. Anyway, it is what it is, we’ll have to grin and bear it.”
While disappointed not to be sunning himself in a warmer climate, stable runner Crystallize’s (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) dominant win in the Dunstan Supporting Life After Racing produced a measure of compensation for the disappointment of the cancelled trip.
Dream beginning
It may have been a mid-winter’s day at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, but it will live long in the memory of apprentice jockey Callum Jones.
The 17-year-old hoop got the sign-off earlier in the week to begin his race day career, and employer Nigel Tiley gave him five rides on Saturday. Jones rewarded his riding master’s faith with two victories and a runner-up performance.
Callum Jones
Jones recorded his first riding win aboard Diogenes (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}) in the Dunstan Equine-Safe and then with Double Happy (NZ) (Thewayyouare {USA}) in the Dunstan Sustainable Grain Kegs.
“I got the last three trials done last week and got it (apprenticeship) all signed off,” Jones said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better day to start, it was just a thrill.”
Green light for Paris
With Paris having been declared a green zone by the French government, racing will once again resume at ParisLongchamp, Saint-Cloud and Auteuil from next week.
On May 19, eight days after racing in the country resumed behind closed doors, racing was called off by government order in the country’s red zones, including Paris and its surrounding areas, causing meetings to be moved. Racing will still be held without spectators.
