Bucharest becomes latest winner for Miss Finland

Regally bred colt Bucharest (Deep Impact {Jpn}) made a brilliant debut for trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald, winning over 1500 metres at Newcastle on Thursday.

The 3-year-old son of champion filly Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice) showed substantial improvement from his recent trial to sit up outside the pace and then hold off the fancied stablemate Zarzou (Zoustar) to win by 0.75l on the line.

Bucharest holds a nomination for the G1 Caulfield Guineas later in the spring and becomes the sixth winner from as many to race from five-time Group 1 winner Miss Finland, a list which includes Group 1 winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}).

Watch: Bucharest win

Retained by Arrowfield, he races in the black and yellow diamonds for them as well as Alan Jones' Belford Productions and Planette Thoroughbreds.

His victory came on the same day another foal from a superstar mare, Sublime Diva (Brazen Beau), broke her maiden over 2219 metres at Sale.

Sublime Diva is the sixth winner from triple G1 Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (Desert King {Ire}).

Pike backs Power over Queen

Champion jockey William Pike is confident he has chosen the right horse in selecting Regal Power (Pierro) over stablemate Arcadia Queen (Pierro) in Saturday's PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield.

Pike partnered both Grant and Alana Williams-trained horses in separate pieces of work at Bendigo during the week and has elected to ride the All-Star Mile winner with Damian Lane to ride Arcadia Queen.

"Regal Power felt great and Arcadia Queen worked that good, we just want to try to get her there in one piece," Pike told RSN. "They never lose it and as soon as I sat on her, I thought that's the horse I remember.

"It was my decision, I was pretty keen to reunite with Regal Power after the success we had here last time. I hadn't seen Arcadia Queen for quite a while so I stuck with the horse that I knew at the time.

"I picked Regal Power because he's the horse I think I can get the job done on."

Hype horse shows considerable promise

Clayton Douglas' first win as a trainer came in memorable fashion, with Barocha (Ilovethiscity) a 5l winner at Sale after a substantial betting plunge.

A fake text message circulated pre-race declaring Barocha just about unbeatable and as a result, he was plunged from $6 into $1.75. He gave his backers few worries, coming from off the pace and powering clear in the 1100 metre maiden in a performance of some promise for jockey Jamie Kah, who is also Douglas' partner.

"I'm just rapt," Douglas said.

"Jamie has done a really good job with this horse, he's not an easy horse and she's really educated him well.

"There was a lot of hype on him but I knew he was pretty good and so did Jamie so we did think he could do that."

Sam Freedman also celebrated his first winner as a trainer, in partnership with his father Anthony, at Sale when Criminal (Pride Of Dubai) won over 1611 metres.

NZTR advises on Auckland horse movement

NZTR has advised that trainers with horses stabled north of the Auckland and Waikato boundary, that they can nominate for trials or races in the Waikato or beyond.

NZTR has considered the situation for such trainers subject to the government COVID-19 Alert Levels that are in place as at August 13.

While the present government legislation generally prohibits persons leaving the Auckland super-city region and entering the Waikato, an exemption is provided to transport and logistics services.

This means trainers may travel provided that:

- the horse and its associated gear is transported to, and return from, the meeting by an independent horse freight company, loaded and unloaded in compliance with the freight company’s COVID-19 protocols; and

- the horse is not accompanied by the trainer or other stable staff; and

- the trainer must notify the RIU the name of the licensed Trainer or Stablehand who will be responsible for the horse when at the race or trial meeting.

$1 million offer knocked back

The ownership group of ruling G1 VRC Oaks favourite Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) has turned down a $1 million offer for the David Payne-trained filly.

Part-owner Hugh Docherty told Racing.com that last Saturday's Rosehill winner had created plenty of interest, including a confirmed bid in seven figures.

"We knocked back $500,000, we knocked back $600,000 and then they went up to $1 million and we've knocked it back. We're new into the game, we have got a nice filly, we are having a lot of fun with her and we are getting to that stage in our lives that the money part isn't too important to us," Docherty said.

"It's about the fun we are looking to have. She's one of the first horses we purchased up at the Magic Millions and she's just like a family pet. And that's what it is."

Hawkes not carried away by Masked Crusader

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes is not buying into the hype around Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) just yet, saying the 5-year-old still has plenty to prove.

Masked Crusader resumes from a spell in the Schweppes BM88 H. at Randwick on Saturday, and while he has been spruiked as a possible Group 1 winner, Hawkes told Racenet that he still has to show what level he is up to.

“He’s got x-factor and people naturally grab onto horses like him but the reality of where he’s at right now is he’s still a benchmark horse in an 88 handicap on Saturday," he said.

“He’s continuing to improve all the time. An exciting prospect going forward that is a bit of a blank canvas going into the spring.

“Saturday is only going to be his fifth race start. The horse is still learning so that’s why he’s running around in a benchmark race.

“The race on Saturday is a starting point and the horse will tell us where he goes this spring. He’s probably got a couple of benchmark races before we have to think about what to target.”

Black-type beckons for Rosewood

Rosewood (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) will be looking for what her trainer Marilyn Paewai believes would be a deserved stakes win at Riccarton this weekend.

She tackles the G3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup, a race she was narrowly beaten in last year.

"Rosewood needs a Group win. That's why we're here," Paewai said. "She's getting closer to being a broodmare and we really think she deserves one.

"She's very well. We left home Tuesday. She stayed the night at Trentham and she arrived down here in Christchurch last night.

"She travelled well. She worked this morning and she's gone really well. Rohan Mudhoo rode her when she was down here last year and he was really happy. He said she feels spot on.

"She looks good. She's only had one leadup race but she had a trial and a couple of jumpouts so we think she's done enough."

Quiet trial doesn't concern Wellwood

A quieter than expected trial at Taupo on Wednesday was not ideal for Group 2 winner Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), but co-trainer Robert Wellwood says she remains on target for key races over the next few months.

“I am happy enough with the way she went,” he said. “It would have been nice to see her get a bit of room and be able to extend out to the line and have a solid hitout.

“She had a good blow, it was good to get her out here and we will just pick a path for her, we may need to give her an exhibition gallop now.

“Her early spring goals will be getting her down to Hastings for at least the second two days (of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival). How we get there we will figure out over the next week or so.”

Wellwood said the G2 Waikato Guineas winner and G1 New Zealand Derby runner-up has strengthened a lot since her autumn preparation.

“She has strengthened right up and looks immaculate,” he said. “Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) was very happy with the way she felt and she is coming up just as we had hoped.

“She is a mare who is going to excel once she gets to a mile plus.”

Bettor sues over doping race

In a landmark case that could pave the way for bettors to recoup gambling earnings they may have lost when their picks were beaten by doped horses, a US harness racing horseplayer has received US$20,000 (AU$27,900) in a settlement after he claimed he was cheated out of winnings in a 2016 race at the Meadowlands.

In 2018, Illinois resident and gambler Jeffrey Tretter went to court in an effort to recoup over US$31,000 (AU$43,255) he says he was entitled to because his bets would have come in if not for his selections being defeated by a horse that was racing on performance-enhancing drugs. The race in question occurred on January 15, 2016 at the Meadowlands and was won by Tag Up And Go (USA). An investigation revealed that trainer Robert Bresnahan Jnr. had allegedly been treating Tag Up And Go with EPO.

Backed by PETA, Tretter sued Bresnahan and owner J.L. Sadowsky. A 25-page lawsuit alleged violations of the RICO act, arguing that federal laws were violated because Bresnahan was engaging in interstate commerce.

Tretter said his selections finished second, third, fourth and fifth behind Tag Up And Go and that had they not been beaten by the doped horse he stood to collect US$31,385. After negotiating, both sides agreed on the US$20,000 settlement.

Goffs Champions Sale moves online

The Goffs Champions Sale, a boutique horses in training sale traditionally held in the Leopardstown parade ring prior to the opening day of Irish Champions Weekend, will this year take place as an “online timed auction,” Goffs revealed on Wednesday.

Bidding will open on September 9 and close on September 11, the eve of Irish Champions Weekend. The two-day meeting at Leopardstown and The Curragh will take place behind closed doors.