Setback for Shark

Group 1 winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) remains in an equine hospital in Sydney after undergoing eye surgery.

The striking chestnut had optic implant surgery for a rare condition last month and while recovering well from the operation picked up a lung infection that is causing concern.

"The plan is to spell him in New South Wales for probably three or four weeks to make sure everything is 100 percent and then get him back to New Zealand," trainer Jamie Richards told RSN927.

"Then we will give him a break and get him ready for racing later in the summer and hopefully have him back to Sydney in the autumn."

Disqualifications determined

Racing Victoria has identified 81 Aquanita starters that can be disqualified and the managing owner of each starter has been notified and asked for a response before stewards decide final penalties.

“Of the 81 starters for which a preliminary determination has been made that they be considered for disqualification, 24 were winners, 24 were minor placegetters and 33 were unplaced, with the prizemoney won by each varying from $300,000 to none at all,” RV Executive General Manager – Integrity Services, Jamie Stier said.

Following the conclusion of the show cause period for the 81 starters on August 10, stewards will then make a final determination as to whether a horse is disqualified or not.

In the event of horses being disqualified, the placings can be amended accordingly and connections of horses who finished behind the disqualified horse paid the balance of any prizemoney owing.

Licensed Aquanita trainers Robert Smerdon, Stuart Webb and Tony Vasil were all disqualified by an VCAT hearing in 2018, as were registered stablehands Greg and Denise Nelligan, Trent Pennuto and Daniel Garland.

COVID-19 forces rethink

The return of star mare Mystic Journey (Needs Further) to Victoria has been delayed with plans for a start in the G3 Bletchingly S. scrapped due to Victoria’s COVID-19 spike.

"We've pushed that back probably for two reasons, obviously the current situation in Victoria with recent outbreaks, COVID has put some indecisiveness into the decision," trainer Adam Trinder told RSN927.

"That being said, the ground that we saw presented at Flemington, which is a really good draining track there on Saturday, might still be too easing for her.

"So, tentative plan is now to hold and kick off in the G2 PB Lawrence S. two weeks later, which is the race she kicked off in last year and was fortunate to win."

Stackhouse back aboard

Daniel Stackhouse will be reunited with Ashlor (Hard Spun {USA}) in the G3 Sir John Monash S. at Caulfield.

The leading jockey has ridden Ashlor in 16 of his past 21 starts, including four wins and has ridden the sprinter in two Group 1 events.

Tahlia Hope was aboard Ashlor in his last-start win at The Valley, when making use of her 2kg claim, and trainer Dan McCarthy said she did a great job, but with Saturday's weight-for-age Monash a no-claiming race senior jockey Stackhouse will be back aboard.

Stackhouse, who won the Listed Winter Championship with Sircconi (Nicconi) last Saturday, currently leads Victoria’s premiership with 127 wins, one ahead of Jye McNeill.

Sydney beckons

Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom) may earn himself a trip to Sydney in the spring if he performs up to expectations in Wednesday’s Listed Ramornie H. at Grafton.

The 4-year-old hasn’t raced since he was unplaced at the Gold Coast in January, but has placed at the trials ahead of his return and is a past first-up winner.

Trainer Chris Munce said if Boomsara runs well in the Ramornie he would be looking for suitable races in Sydney between 1200 and 1400 metres.

Posts prompt outrage

Dozens of angry industry members took to social media this week after a racially-charged social media post by a prominent thoroughbred consignor surfaced on Twitter.

By the end of the day, The Jockey Club, Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, the Stronach Group and the NTRA had issued statements denouncing the posts.

Tom VanMeter, who owns and operates VanMeter Sales, Kentucky, posted two comments in response to a question posted on Facebook by Farm Manager Donnie Snellings, asking people to repost his post if they planned to boycott the NFL season.

Some fans pledged to boycott the NFL in 2016 after Colin Kaepernick first sat down, and then kneeled on the sidelines during the playing of the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality in the United States.

The question of the boycott was raised again when the NFL, after the nationwide protests and outrage in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, reversed its policy on allowing players to kneel before the game.

VanMeter’s first reply contained an abbreviation of the “N-word,” when he referred to the NFL as the “n-word football league,” and he later posted, “Put em back in their cage!!!”

TDN America has also informed VanMeter that it would no longer accept advertising from him out of respect to its staff, readers and fellow advertisers.

Gosden upbeat

John Gosden is looking forward to the rest of the campaign with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) despite the mare suffering the third defeat of her career on her seasonal return in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

A third G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win remains her ultimate target in the autumn and she satisfied her trainer when second to Charlie Appleby’s Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) over a trip short of her optimum.

However, Gosden believes Enable could face a tricky task at ParisLongchamp in October should G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and G1 Investec Oaks winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) be in opposition, with the 6-year-old having to concede 7lb (3kg) to her younger rival.

“The G1 King George would be the plan. We were lucky the Eclipse was only one day late because of everything, so we’ll look towards the King George, then York and Paris.”

Polly Grey pleases

The New Zealand connections of smart mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) were delighted to see her show a glimpse of her ability when runner-up in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600 metres) at Flemington.

The 5-year-old mare joined Chris Waller recently after winning six races for Matamata trainer Kylie Fawcett, including the Listed Matamata Cup.

Fawcett races Polly Grey with her partner Rob Joyce and brother Brook, whose battle with serious health issues inspired her to give him his first taste of racehorse ownership, and leased a half-share in the mare to Auckland client John Thompson for the Australian campaign.

“Chris was happy with the run and he is confident that she will get over more ground,” Joyce said. “He is keen to get her out over 2000 metres and there is a race in two weeks’ time at Flemington over that trip, which he is looking to line her up in.