Fituese dominant
Fituese (Deep Field) is an outside chance for a spot in the $15 million The Everest and she did her case no harm when she left no excuses for her rivals when she successfully resumed in the Vale Rick Worthington H. at Rosehill.
“She goes well fresh and she did it the hard way with her top weight and she got a long way back,” trainer John Thompson said.
“She had to go around them and beat them, she was too good. She’s a bonny little mare. "
Fituese, who claimed the Listed Denise’s Joy S. during her last campaign, is likely to run next in the G2 Premiere S.
Mare in picture
James McDonald has talked up Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) as a $15 million The Everest prospect and trainer Chris Waller isn’t disagreeing after she won the G2 Sheraco S. at Rosehill.
She raced in a handy spot to the turn before asserting her authority in the closing stages for the sixth win of her nine-start career.
Waller said there was plenty of improvement to come from Haut Brion Her and didn’t believe she would be embarrassed in Everest company.
The champion trainer said the G2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill in a fortnight’s time may be an option.
First at Flemington
Mornington trainer Rachael Frost celebrated her first win at Flemington when she produced Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) for an upset victory in the Listed The Sofitel.
“He’s just a neat horse, he’s wonderful. All his stakes performances have been on good tracks, but he’s best when there’s a bit of give in the ground,” she said.
Travimyfriend settled well back in the field and unwound powerfully in the run home for rider Dean Yendall to nab Windstorm (Redoute’s Choice).
Stayer pushes Cup claim
Lord Belvedere (GB) (Archipenko {USA}) came back from a break in outstanding fashion at Flemington to press his claims for a spot in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
He was making his first appearance for 10 weeks when he came from the back of the field to beat his stablemate Persan (Pierro) in the Very Special Kids Pin and Win Plate.
“He’s in fantastic order and it’s a great result for Highclere and the rest of the team behind him,” co-trainer David Eustace said. “He’ll go to the G3 Bart Cummings and the dream is to get him in the Melbourne Cup.”
The Bart Cummings offers free entry and stablemate Persan may also head that way.
“Persan did a great job and we would love to get him in the Bart Cummings, which may be touch and go or he could sneak into the Metropolitan,” Eustace said.
Stunning return
The cream rose to the top late in the day at Ellerslie when 4-year-old mare Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) issued a powerful statement to her spring rivals with a commanding fresh-up victory over 1400 metres on Saturday.
A multiple stakes winner during a 3-year-old campaign that culminated in a runner-up finish in the G1 New Zealand Derby, Two Illicit was kicking off her spring campaign following a quiet trial over 1100 metres at Taupo last month.
“Class always comes out, but you have to give her a fair bit of credit,” co-trainer Roger James said. “She carried 59kgs for a spring 4-year-old mare on a track that was against her fresh-up, so it was a pretty good effort all around.
“When I saw them going at break-neck speed and she was completely off the bit I thought the leaders had to come back to us at some stage.”
James confirmed Two Illicit would now head to Hastings for the G1 Windsor Park Plate on October 3.
Apprentice positive
Irish apprentice jockey Shane Crosse, who was to have ridden the Joseph O’Brien-trained Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G1 St Leger and State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster, has tested positive for COVID-19 and has begun a 14-day isolation.
Crosse has been asymptomatic and was tested as part of the protocol for travelling overseas to ride.
“Shane was completely asymptomatic and was very surprised to learn of the test result. He was not unwell and hadn’t engaged in any high-risk behaviour. He is now in isolation for 14 days and has worked with us on identifying his close contacts,” Dr. Jennifer Pugh, the Irish Horse Racing Board’s senior medical officer, said.
Course specialist
Matamata mare Shoshone (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) demonstrated her affinity for the Ellerslie turf when she headed home a quality field over 1200 metres at the venue on Saturday.
The 4-year-old has now won three of her four starts at Ellerslie with her latest victory one of her best as she pulled out plenty in the concluding stages to down the fast finishing Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) to claim her fourth career win from just seven starts.
“She likes it here and it’s good to have an Ellerslie specialist as this is where the money is,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said. “She has won left-handed on her home track as well but she really does like racing here.
“She had to do it tough in the straight as the horse that led didn’t really take her into the race and Sam (Collett) said she had to go a lot earlier than she wanted to. It was a good effort to dig as deep as she did.
“We would ultimately like to get some black type with her so while the tracks are the way they are we will look around for what is available. She is still lightly raced so I hope there is still improvement in her as she is a handy mare.”
