Cox Plate time locked in
The Moonee Valley Racing Club has confirmed the G1 Cox Plate will be run at 4.15pm AEDT on October 24.
"With the announcement that the 2020 AFL Grand Final will be held at 7.30pm AEDT, we will now work closely with our broadcast partner Channel 7 to deliver a spectacular coverage of an incredible and historic day in Australian sport," Club Chief Executive Michael Browell said.
"We are thrilled that these two iconic sporting events have been coordinated in their timing so they can both be given the air time they deserve.
"The 100th running of the WS Cox Plate will be a brilliant spectacle that we look forward to sharing with the nation and indeed the world."
The Bostonian ruled out
Triple Group 1-winning sprinter The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) will miss the remainder of the spring after suffering a fetlock injury in a gallop on Thursday.
The Tony Pike-trained sprinter has been campaigning in Sydney but will return home to New Zealand for a spell.
The Bostonian (NZ)
“Unfortunately, he pulled up a little bit short in front after a gallop on Thursday morning,” Pike said. “We have taken some x-rays of his front fetlock and with a bit of inflammation in there it looks like he has taken a small piece off his sesamoid bone, so he is out for the spring.
“He has done us proud for the last couple of seasons and he will head back to New Zealand and hopefully he can recuperate, and we can get him back for later in the autumn or Brisbane next year.”
The 6-year-old gelding won the G1 Doomben 10,000 and G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup in Queensland last year and enjoyed a lucrative campaign in Sydney in the autumn, winning the G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick in March.
Funeral service
A funeral service for respected horseman Rick Worthington will be held at The William Inglis at Warwick Farm on Monday, September 14 at 1pm AEST.
The Service will be lived streamed via www.inglis.com.au .
Due to Government restrictions, up to 100 people will be allowed in the auditorium and social distancing must be adhered to.
There will be an overflow area in the Barn and Garden Pavilion where the service will be live streamed. Rick's final journey will be via Warwick Farm Racecourse which played such an integral role in his life.
The late Rick Worthington
Ghaiyyath rated tops
Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) remains firmly atop the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 130, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities announced this week.
The Godolphin bay is undefeated this year with scores in the G3 Dubai Millennium S. in February, the G1 Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup S., the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. and a latest victory in the G1 Juddmonte International S..
Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) earned a 124 for her win in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. and won the G3 Unibet September S. on September 5.
Second in the rankings this season is Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (126) ahead of Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) (122) and Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) (120).
Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and American GI Belmont S. winner Tiz the Law (USA) (Constitution {USA}) match outstanding stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at 125. Next highest from America is the Derby winner Authentic (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) at 123, who also won the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S.
End Of Life program
In a further extension of Racing New South Wales’ existing equine welfare programs, an End Of Life Welfare Program has been established to ensure thoroughbreds have access to a free humane euthanasia service throughout its life in circumstances where a vet has certified that it is in the horse’s best interests.
“This End Of Life Welfare Program reiterates Racing NSW’s position that under no circumstances should a NSW Thoroughbred horse ever be sent to an abattoir or knackery,” Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding said.
“The vast majority of thoroughbred owners both within and outside the racing industry ensure that their horses have the best possible welfare during and at the end of their lives.
“However, there is a cost involved in euthanising a horse which may have been a deterrent for owners to act in the best interests of the horse’s welfare. Accordingly, the End Of Life Welfare Program removes the cost associated with euthanising a NSW thoroughbred horse, further protecting the welfare of the horse right up until the end of its life.”
Track a concern
Trainer Rob Hickmott is keeping a close eye on track conditions ahead of Saturday’s Listed Sofitel at Flemington.
He has Bumper Blast (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) engaged following a sixth placing in the Listed Regal Roller at Caulfield last start.
"He spun his wheels at Caulfield on that Soft 6, he's such a long horse," Hickmott told Racing.com. "Flemington can be a bit different, the profile is a bit different (when it's wet). You just hope it doesn't downgrade quick. If it stayed at that Soft 5 to Good 4 range you'd be over the moon."
Bumper Blast (NZ) (red and blue silks)
Rubisaki laid low
A virus has almost certainly ended the chances of Rubisaki (Rubick) gaining a start in the $15 million The Everest.
The mare’s six-race winning streak was broken when she was unplaced when resuming in the G3 Cockram S. last month.
Rubisaki
Trainer Patrick Payne said Rubisaki pulled up well from the race, but subsequently showed signs of suffering from a mild virus.
She may be ready to step out again in the G2 Rose Of Kingston S. next month and, depending on her performance, a possible trip to Sydney for The Golden Eagle.
Cup bid begins
Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) will begin his G1 Melbourne Cup quest at Flemington.
Last season’s G1 VRC Derby winner will resume in the G1 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva S., but first-up fireworks aren’t expected.
Warning performed well in a recent 1200 metre jump-out at Mornington and co-trainer Sam Freedman indicated the gelding would improve with the outing and would be more comfortable once he gets out in distance.
Warning
Collett bullish
Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett will saddle two solid chances at Ellerslie on Saturday, with My Callisto (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) to contest the Dunstan Feeds 2100 and Sweet Clementine (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}) will tackle a strong field in the JRA Trophy (1400 metres).
Runner-up over 2100 metres at Avondale last time out, My Callisto has been installed a NZ$4.80 favourite for the BM65.
“He has got to be hard to beat on his last run,” Collett said. “He had had a big break from his first-up run to his most recent run and his effort was really good.”
Last-start Tauranga winner Sweet Clementine will take on a talented field which includes Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) and Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), the duo that quinellaed in the G1 New Zealand Derby in February.
“She ran in blinkers for the first time the other day. She had done a bit of work in them prior and I always knew she needed them,” Collett said .
Phoenix barred in UK
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has barred Phoenix Thoroughbreds from having any runners in Great Britain until further notice.
Phoenix had earlier in August made the decision to leave racing in the United Kingdom and was reportedly banned from racing in France a few days later. Any horse currently entered will not be permitted to be declared in its current ownership.
All racing administration accounts of all registered ownership entities that involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds have been suspended. The BHA is in regular correspondence with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, and after reviewing the information available to date, the BHA decided on the suspension of Phoenix entries.
Last November, Phoenix principal Amer Abdulaziz was named in a United States federal court trial as being involved in a money-laundering operation. Abdulaziz was also alleged to have stolen money from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin. Phoenix’s US Head of Operations Tom Ludt left the company in August.
