First European success

Young Coolmore stallion Pride Of Dubai is making a deep impression at home and he’s now also made his mark in England.

He is the leading Australian first-season sire by earnings with his progeny having banked more than $1.27 million and his daughter Star Of Emaraaty (Ire) has now delivered a first Northern Hemisphere success.

Trained by Kevin Ryan, the filly dropped back in grade from the G2 Queen Mart S. at Royal Ascot to win an Ayr maiden over 1400 metres.

Warwick Farm off

Racing New South Wales abandoned Wednesday’s Warwick Farm race meeting due to the number of positive COVID-19 cases confirmed to have originated from the Liverpool City Council area.

“Racing NSW has introduced strict bio-security measures to ensure racing has been able to continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer Peter V’landys said.

“The decision to abandon the Warwick Farm meeting has been made following a risk assessment performed by Racing NSW and the uncertainty in respect of the spread of the virus in that area.

“Racing NSW emphasises that this is a precautionary measure to ensure that the hard work of the industry in continuing to operate during COVID-19 is not compromised.

“Racing NSW will continue to monitor the COVID-19 developments in NSW and shall continue to react to ensure the livelihood of its 50,000 participants during the pandemic.”

Guineas focus

All roads will lead to the G1 Caulfield Guineas for the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin said the rising 3-year-old had done particularly well during his time out.

"He's thickened up over the neck and shoulders and we're very excited," he told RSN927.

Tagaloa is likely to resume in the G3 McNeil S. (1200 metres) on August 29 at Caulfield for 3-year-olds and then on to the G2 Danehill S. and possibly the G1 Golden Rose S.

September hearing

Betting charges against jockey Ben Melham will be heard from September 21 to 23 and he is free to ride until then.

Melham faces six Racing Victoria stewards charges over bets made during a six-month period in 2019 and one of giving misleading evidence during an interview last September.

The Victorian Racing Tribunal held a directions hearing on Tuesday and indicated another may be held prior to the commencement of the matter in the County Court.

Melham was charged by stewards in April and has continued riding since, landing a double at The Valley on Sunday and at Flemington on July 4.

Lively day at Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale

Early action seemed tepid, but bidding picked up noticeably throughout leading to a lively day of business at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale in Lexington on Monday.

“There was lots of activity at all price ranges and a lot of horses got moved and found new opportunities with new buyers,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The sale was well-attended. Veterinary activity, which is one of the things that I always look at to kind of evaluate pre-sale interest, was higher this year than last year. We have now had two sales in a row that should provide some confidence in the marketplace.”

The 2-year-old County Final (USA) (Oxbow {USA}) coming off a runner-up effort in the G3 Bashford Manor S., achieved the night’s highest bid when selling to West Point Thoroughbreds for US$475,000 (AU$683,359). The grey colt was one of six to sell for US$200,000 (AU$287,730) or over on the night.

“It’s rational, but it’s a legitimate marketplace,” Browning said. “It is a balanced market that is equitable for buyers and sellers alike.”

From 182 catalogued lots, 81 sold for a total of US$5,072,000 (AU$7,296,842). The average was US$62,617 (AU$90,084) and the median was US$30,000 (AU$43,159). There were 38 horses reported not sold for a buy-back rate of 31.9 per cent.

Posthumous honours

The strong recent form of the progeny of Tavistock (NZ) progeny has given Cambridge Stud Chief Executive Henry Plumptre a feeling of déjà vu.

A multiple Group 1 winner and producer, Tavistock was put down in December due to complications from a paddock injury. Since then he has sired 76 individual winners, 40 of them in the last two months alone.

Toffee Tongue (NZ) became his fifth individual Group 1 winner with an impressive performance in the Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide in May.

“I’ve been in this business for many years now, and it’s uncanny how often a stallion goes to a new level after they pass on,” Plumptre said.

“He’s had a very strong run over the last few months. The horses that are 3 and 4-year-olds now are the ones that came from his better-pedigreed books of mares, so it’s been very pleasing to see them perform so well with a Group 1-winning filly and a series of good city winners.

“Now we’re hoping that some of those city winners will convert that form into black-type in the spring. Losing Tavistock was a tragedy for us and his shareholders, but we’re enjoying the performances of his progeny and there are some good-sized crops that are still to come through.”

Alleged irregularity

Jungle Edge (Dubawi {Ire}) has allegedly returned a positive to a prohibited substance after winning the G3 McKay S. at Morphettville earlier this year.

Trainer Mick Bell has not been charged by stewards, but confirmed to Racing.com that he had been contacted to confirm the testing irregularity. South Australian stewards declined to comment further.

The rising 10-year-old Jungle Edge revelled in the rain-affected going at Caulfield last Saturday to add the G3 Sir John Monash S., to his record.

Mare trials quietly

Top mare Mystic Journey (Needs Further) was given a quiet trial outing at Devonport on Tuesday morning.

The Adam Trinder-trained mare stepped out in an 800 metre heat and was allowed to run home for fourth with little pressure from jockey David Pires.

The Group 1-winning Mystic Journey is likely to resume in either the G2 PB Lawrence S., a race she won last year, on August or a fortnight later in the G1 Memsie S.

O’Briens fined, banned

Trainers Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien have each been fined €2500 (AU$4000) and prohibited from attending race meetings in Ireland for two weeks for failing to enter The Curragh through the health screening area at a meeting last month.

The pair was found to have breached coronavirus health screening protocols at the County Kildare course on June 12, which was G1 Irish 2000 Guineas day during the week racing resumed in Ireland. The matter was heard by the referrals panel of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday.

“We noted the decision of the referrals committee and the various protocols regarding COVID-19 are very serious. It is important that they are strictly adhered to at all times to make sure that racing can continue in a safe manner for everyone involved,” IHRB press officer Niall Cronin said.

Negative test

Cambridge Stud was notified two weeks ago of a possible positive Theileria equi test from a mare that was being prepared for export to Australia.

Under MPI testing protocols, a second sample was referred to a laboratory in Hokkaido, Japan that acts as a referee on piroplasmosis and returned negative enabling Cambridge Stud to resume normal transport activities.

She had been imported from Australia last year to be covered at Cambridge Stud, and then returned to Australia. Following the notification by MPI, all movements on and off the farm was suspended until further tests were carried out.

Lane coming home

Damian Lane will be back in Australia for the start of the new racing season after successfully completing his most recent riding stint in Japan.

Lane rode a winner at Fukushima on Saturday and ended his three-month contract at the same venue on Sunday.

He rode home 41 winners, including a Group 2 success, after arriving in mid-April, four more than he posted on his previous visit last year.