Derby coup for NZ breeders

Leading international bloodstock agent Paul Moroney has struck gold once again.

Moroney pioneered sourcing German bloodlines for New Zealand clients back in the 1980s and more than 30 years later his judgment of the European stock is still paying off.

Three years ago he selected the Galileo (Ire) mare Igraine (Ger) as a racing and breeding proposition for clients Trelawney Stud out of the Tattersalls December Sale, and that purchase looks to have been a masterstroke for the New Zealand breeding industry.

Her success on the track led to two other New Zealand breeders purchasing half-sisters to Igraine, and all three were elated when watching their half-brother In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) take out the G1 German Derby at Hamburg on Sunday.

Moroney was instrumental in purchasing two of the three mares that now reside in New Zealand and he said he is delighted for all three owners with Sunday’s result.

“It’s a very good result for the New Zealand industry,” he said. “There are three half-sisters to In Swoop in New Zealand now. It’s a wonderful family and could create a dynasty in New Zealand in coming years and decades, hopefully.”

Import makes mark

Import Mind The Crack (Ire) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) hasn’t taken any time to impress co-trainer Ciaron Maher.

A two-time winner from Mark Johnston’s stable in England, the gelding has recently joined Maher and David Eustace and will be given the opportunity to move into Spring Cups’ contention.

"Mind The Crack, he's got a big rap on him and he seems a nice horse," Maher told Racing.com. "He went straight into training when he got here and we'll just take him along steady, but he's at that handicap level where he can win a couple and you never know.

"If he had enough time to qualify (for the Cups), that would be ideal. I think he's definitely got the ability."

3YO target for Lord Bouzeron

Lord Bouzeron (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) made a successful introduction to Australian racing with a dominant victory on rain-affected going at Caulfield and is likely to be back at the same venue in a fortnight.

He is now trained at Cranbourne by Francis Finnegan after registering three wins for his sister in-law Chrissy Bambry from 13 appearances in New Zealand.

“I did think he’d need the run, but he is such a hardy, honest and genuine horse,” Finnegan said. “I was surprised by the margin he put on them, but Chrissy and Tony Bambry were more than confident.

“He is very honest and he beat a good field and I think a mile and a-half in a fortnight will suit him better.”

Another jockey positive

According to his agent, Derek Lawson, top California rider Flavien Prat has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Because he left California to ride on Saturday at Keeneland, Prat was required to take a test Sunday before being allowed to ride at Del Mar. The test results were positive and Prat had to be taken off all his mounts.

Lawson said that Prat is feeling fine and will return to his home in the Los Angeles area to wait out the quarantine period.

Along with Victor Espinoza, Martin Garcia and Luis Saez, Prat becomes the fourth jockey who rode on the July 4 card at Los Alamitos to test positive. For Saez, it cost him the mount on Maximum Security (USA) (New Year’s Day {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 San Diego H.

Prat, who was the leading rider at the 2019 summer meet at Del Mar, will also lose several important mounts and Lawson was quick to blame Los Alamitos for his predicament.

“All of this transpired at Los Alamitos,” Lawson said. “They were so careful at Santa Anita and then at Los Alamitos it was like the wild, wild, west. They let everything get out of hand. We only went over there to ride Bellafina and for Baffert. They didn’t do anything.”

Purton retains title

Australian rider Zac Purton has won his fourth Hong Kong Jockeys' Premiership and third on the bounce.

With one meeting remaining in the 2019/20 season, Purton has an unassailable lead at the top of the premiership standings with a seven-win buffer on Joao Moreira.

Moreira will sit out the final meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday through a suspension having also missed last Wednesday's Happy Valley fixture through another ban.

Purton and Moreira have shared the past seven Hong Kong jockeys' titles with Purton snaring his first in 2013/14 when he ended Douglas Whyte's run of 13-straight crowns.

Purton began Sunday's meeting with an eight-win lead and rode two winners on the 11-race card to take his season tally to 145.

City debut

High-flying apprentice Tom Sherry will be in action at Randwick on Saturday.

The Irish-born rider, who is attached to Mark Newnham’s stable had his debut ride in Australia last spring and with 93 winners is leading the New South Wales Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership by five from Samantha Clenton.

“Saturday the 18th will be the first time we launch Tommy Sherry into town so it will be a good transition period,” Newnham told Racenet. “Robbie will be out of his time at the end of the month and he will have won the last two Sydney apprentice titles.”

Newnham was referring to current champion Sydney apprentice Robbie Dolan.

Southern trip planned

A trip south is now on the cards for Major Tom (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}), who will likely target the G3 Winter Cup at Riccarton following his last-start success at Ellerslie.

“The key to him is to have him in at this time of the year, or space his races when the tracks are firmer,” trainer Ken Rae said. “He has won on a Good 3 track, but he won’t last on hard tracks.”

Rae was also pleased with the return of veteran galloper Kaharau (Ad Valorem {USA}), who finished fifth behind his stablemate under 74kgs in the Rating 94 highweight.

The winner of 14 races, Kaharau has competed in the G3 New Zealand Cup on three occasions, placing in two of them including finishing runner-up last year.

“That’s the plan again this year,” Rae said. “I might give him a couple of hurdle starts before it, so he doesn’t get too badly handicapped. He has had a hurdle trial and won it.”

Bright prospect

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston has had a good run with former North Island horses and that continued on his home track at the weekend when Hunua Hank (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) took out his 1600 metre contest.

The former Nigel Tiley-trained gelding was having just his second start for Carston and he believes he has a bright future at his southern base.

“It was a nice win, he is a pretty progressive horse,” Carston said. “He was a last-start winner before he arrived, he has definitely got ability. I thought his first-up run was very pleasing over the short distance and we were confident he would run well.”