Daily News Wrap

7 min read

Bowman suspended

Hugh Bowman has been suspended for 20 days after his misjudged ride on Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in last Saturday's G2 Run To The Rose.

The penalty starts after Saturday week's G1 Golden Rose meeting and Bowman will return on Everest day on October 17.

Bowman confirmed he will lodge an appeal against the ruling.

Hugh Bowman

Groundswell gelded

Last year’s G1 Caulfield Guineas placegetter Groundswell (Fastnet Rock) has been gelded after a frustrating autumn campaign.

The 4-year-old is a brother to multiple Group 1 winner Shoals, making him a valuable stallion prospect but connections opted to geld him to give him his chance to perform on the track.

"It's (gelding) obviously a big decision to make for a horse with his pedigree, but hopefully it pays dividends," co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com.

"There may have been a (stud) gig somewhere with his pedigree and with a placing in the Caulfield Guineas, but obviously the owners Jonathan Munz and Arrowfield along with Ozzie Kheir, John O'Neil and David Kobritz (Musk Creek Farm), they were all for the opinion that we should give him his chance as a gelding.

"It's always hard to know what improvement there could be in gelding them so it was not an easy decision."

Roheryn to stay home

James Cummings believes G3 Show County H. winner Roheryn (Lonhro) will bypass the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and instead run in the G3 Bill Ritchie H. at Randwick.

First emergency Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is now likely to gain a start in the 1400 metre Group 1 event at Caulfield.

"He hasn't made the trip down to Melbourne yet and he's probably going to run at Randwick," Cummings said on RSN927.

"I could see him getting left a bit too flat footed at Caulfield in that Group 1.

"He's got a good record at Randwick so that's probably the way we're leaning.”

Mirage Dancer to wait

Trent Busittin and Natalie Young have opted to scratch Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) from Saturday’s G3 Naturalism S. after the entire drew a wide barrier of 13 and would have to carry 61kgs.

"There's nothing wrong at all with the horse but with the topweight of 61kg coupled with that barrier draw (13), basically we were going to have a nothing run," Busuttin told Racing.com.

"We wouldn't push him forward from that draw and get up and try to slot in because that just wouldn't happen, so we'd end up going right back with 61kg and he'd have to loop around the field and he'd run a good sixth or seventh.

Mirage Dancer (GB)

"He's a 7-year-old stallion and if he just keeps following them around every start and just gets into the pack, they can very quickly switch off.

"You don't want to be going to the races knowing that your horse is not a real chance and putting all your eggs into a Caulfield Cup basket.

"Don't get me wrong, he'll run very well in the Caulfield Cup, but we want to be picking up some stakes every time we step out."

Oaks no certainty

G1 VRC Oaks plans for emerging filly Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) will hinge on the COVID-19 situation in Victoria but her next two spring starts are set in stone.

Montefilia returns from a six-week break in the G2 Tea Rose S. at Randwick on Saturday against G2 Silver Shadow S. and G2 Furious S. winner Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible) and favourite Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}).

Montefilia

The race will be a stepping stone to the G1 Flight S. in two weeks before Payne decides whether Montefilia stays in Sydney for the G1 Spring Champion S. or heads south for the classic.

"It all depends on Victoria and what's happening there," Payne said.

"At the moment, I don't think so. I'd rather see it settle down. We will see what happens in the next month."

Promising filly

Breeding and racing personality Sir Patrick Hogan has another promising filly on his hands.

Sir Patrick and his wife Justine, Lady Hogan bred and own Tavistock (NZ) filly Sweet Anna (NZ), who tackles Saturday’s G3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail S. at Hastings.

Prepared by Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Sweet Anna cruised clear of maiden rivals at Te Rapa last start, scoring by 3.25l to earn her opportunity in stakes company.

Sweet Anna (NZ)

“She put on a pretty good performance at Te Rapa when she was able to deal with the older horses,” Sir Patrick said.

“For a spring 3-year-old to do that, it was a pretty good effort. She’s not a big filly but she’s got a bit of quality and she deserves a chance to go down to Hastings and chase black-type.

“As owners, we are always hoping to win but I’d like to see her run in the first four anyway. This is only her third start and we think she might be able to get black-print somewhere on the way through the season.”

Fownes on top

Caspar Fownes’ fast start to the 2020/21 Hong Kong season continued as the three-time champion trainer bagged a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday to put him four wins clear at the top of the trainers’ premiership after four meetings.

“I’m going to be a chance (for the championship) that’s for sure, I’ve done it three times before so I feel I’ve got the horses to give me a chance and certainly go out there and give it a big shake,” Fownes said.

The handler has charged out of the blocks with seven wins already, bagging Wednesday’s three fresh off a Sunday double at Sha Tin which included the win of the up-and-coming 4-year-old Sky Field (Deep Field).

“I’m very happy – they’re racing well and we’ve got something to work with,” Fownes said. “We have a nice team spread across the classes so we give ourselves a chance to get a few winners here and there and see how long we can maintain it.

“The plan was put the foot down and have a go and see if we can put pressure on the big boys and make my presence felt.”

Five for Pride Of Dubai

Former Coolmore reverse shuttler Pride Of Dubai sired his fifth Northern Hemisphere winner when the Jessica Harrington-trained Malaysian (Ire) broke her maiden at Cork over a mile on Wednesday.

The 2-year-old filly defeated the fast-finishing Belmont Avenue (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) by a 0.1l with Always Waitin (USA) (Tamarkuz {USA}) a further 3l away in third.

Malaysian was purchased by BBA Ireland for 27,000 gns (AU$53,865) at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Islanmore Stud draft and is the first winner out of Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Booker (GB).

Pride Of Dubai, who is the sire of 20 individual winners worldwide, shuttled to Coolmore Ireland for three seasons but now permanently resides at their Jerrys Plains property where he will stand for $38,500 (inc GST) this season.

11 for Shalaa

Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Ire) scored his 11th first-crop winner on Wednesday when My Swallow (GB) broke his made over seven furlongs at Sandown.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt kicked clear in the straight to win by 2l ahead of Bullace (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) in second with Ebnzaidoon (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) 0.5l away in third.

Purchased by Rabbah Bloodstock for 130,000 gns (AU$259,350) at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Newsells Park draft, My Swallow is out of G3 Prix du Calvados winner Green Swallow (Fr) (Green Tune {USA}), making him a half-brother to Group 2 winner Yellow And Green (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) and a further four winners.

Shalaa is standing his fourth season in Australia for an unchanged fee of $33,000 (inc GST) at Arrowfield Stud this spring.

Arqana-Osarus October catalogue online

The 784-strong Arqana-Osarus October Yearling Sale catalogue is now online. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Sale has been completely restructured combining the Arqana October Yearling Sale and the Osarus September Yearling Sale, running from October 19 to October 23.

Alumni of the October sale include Group 3 winner and dual Classic bridesmaid The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), MGISW Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Speak Of The Devil (Fr) (Wootton Basset {GB}), and GSWs Policy Of Truth (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Port Guillaume (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), and Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}).