Rothfire draws wide

The favourite for Saturday’s G1 Golden Rose Rothfire (Rothesay) has drawn the second-widest barrier of eight in the nine-horse field.

G3 Up And Coming S. winner North Pacific (Brazen Beau), who is the second favourite, will jump from barrier six, while G3 San Domenico S. runner-up Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) has drawn barrier two.

Dual Group 1 winner King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) has drawn the widest barrier but Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) had drawn the best of the leading chances in barrier three.

Miss Fabulass retired

Miss Fabulass (Frankel {GB}), the Group 1-placed daughter of champion mare Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice), has been retired.

The 5-year-old mare last raced in the G3 JC Cameron H. at Newcastle on Friday where she finished 10th, prompting trainer Kris Lees to retire her to stud.

Guineas for exciting colt

The G1 Caulfield Guineas has been confirmed as the major target for the unbeaten colt Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel).

The untapped 3-year-old won his third race from as many starts with an impressive display at Rosehill to claim the Listed Dulcify S. earlier this month.

“After much discussion we’ve decided to prepare Mo’unga for the G1 Caulfield Guineas and therefore, he will not run in either the G3 Gloaming S. or the G1 Golden Rose S., trainer Chris Waller said.

He is raced by Aquis, who will be represented by the Waller-trained pair of Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}) and Sauvestre (Hinchinbrook) in Saturday’s Golden Rose.

Tagaloa jockey change

G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will have a new jockey on his back when he lines up in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin confirmed on Tuesday that Craig Williams will take the ride instead of Michael Walker, who has partnered the 3-year-old colt in all bar one of his eight career starts.

Positives for Exceedance

Group 1-winning sprinter Exceedance has had a positive start to his new role at Vinery Stud with nine of his first 12 mares already scanned in foal off early covers this month.

Exceedance has received industry-wide support from broodmare owners looking for an heir-apparent to his sire Exceed And Excel. There’s upwards of 45 black-type mares among those bookings and the numbers have continued to build during September.

“He has that x-factor. He’s a stunning type with a great pedigree and he could explode with an extraordinary turn of foot. That’s what we look for in a stallion prospect and he’s got it all,” Vinery General Manager Peter Orton said.

“We were very conservative with his numbers as we prefer to be less taxing on our young stallions when they first come to stud. But these early scan results and the way he works in the barn will allow us to confidently top his book up a little now.”

Exceedance heads the 2020 Vinery roster at a $38,500 (inc. GST) service fee payable on live foal.

Trials and preludes await Kiwis

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping two of their 3-year-olds can press their Classic claims at Flemington on Wednesday with Bak Da Man (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Dalgarno (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) in the Victoria Derby Trial.

Bak Da Man recorded his maiden victory at the second time of asking at Sale last month and his connections are looking for him to run his way into G1 Victoria Derby contention.

“You had to like the way he won his maiden,” Kent said. “They ran a really genuine tempo that day and he had to come from a long way back. He won impressively in the end and he was strong to the line in a strongly run mile.

Stablemate Dalgarno will also be vying for a Derby run on Wednesday.

“He hasn’t won a race yet, but he was given a freshen with an idea to head toward the Derby and he was just a little bit soft the last 50 metres the other day. He ran second in a maiden, but he has really come on and thrived.”

Rain to suit

If the forecast rain hits Melbourne this week in time for G1 Moir S. at The Valley, Clinton McDonald believes that will be no issue for his star mare Diamond Effort (Mossman).

“She is pretty bombproof and I think the StrathAyr (track at The Valley) will suit her and especially with the rain that is forecast, so we couldn’t be any happier with her going into the race,” McDonald told Racing.com.

“Obviously it looks like there is going to be a lot of speed in the race, all we need to do is draw a good gate and we’ll be quietly confident.

“She looks magnificent, she’s fit enough and she’s ready to go.”

Turnbull target

After winning his way into the G1 Melbourne Cup via the G3 The Bart Cummings last year, Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) will instead target the G1 Turnbull S. this spring.

The 6-year-old gelding has safely secured his spot in this year’s staying showpiece and trainer Paul Preusker believes the 2000 metre Turnbull is a much more suitable race for him.

“The Bart Cummings was good for us last year, but a sharper 2000-metre race might be this year," Preusker said.

Deerfield to return

The Chrissy Bambry-trained Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) will be back at Hastings on the third day of the spring carnival after a brave performance when fifth in the G1 Tarzino Trophy.

Bambry was delighted with the run of the 7-year-old, who led the quality field after crossing from barrier 12 and finished just 2.3l in arrears of surprise winner Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante).

“He is just so tough,” Bambry said. “If he had drawn easier and maybe got an easier sectional when The Mitigator took us on, I think we could have finished third.

“The plan is to freshen him up and go to the G3 Red Badge Sprint on the final day of the carnival.”

Whip regulations to go into effect

California racing regulators, who have long sought measures that would limit the use of the whip, announced Monday that a set of more restrictive rules will be implemented starting October 1.

The rules were approved June 11 at a meeting of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), but could not go into effect until undergoing a regulatory review process.

The new rules will bring about three major changes:

(*) Riders cannot use the crop more than six times during a race, excluding showing or waving the crop or tapping the horse on the shoulder.

(*) Riders cannot use the crop more than two times in succession (within the six-time limit) without giving the horse a chance to respond before using the crop again.

(*) The crop must be used in an underhanded position with the crop always at or below the shoulder level of the jockey.

Volatile retired

Saratoga’s G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. winner Volatile (USA) (Violence {USA}) has been injured with a hairline fracture of his right front cannon bone and has been retired. He will stand the 2021 season at Three Chimneys in Central Kentucky.

While competing for the partnership of Three Chimneys Farm and Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Volatile was undefeated in three starts in 2020.

“He reminds me very much of Mitole (Eskendereya) in his championship season,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Volatile is as fast as any horse I have ever trained.

“His brilliant performances this year would have made him the likely favourite for the (G1) Breeders’ Cup Sprint and a tough horse to beat. I trained his mother and his grandmother, the incredible Lady Tak (Mutakddim), who won multiple Grade 1 races for us.

“You will not find a better looking individual than Volatile, nor one with as much speed and raw talent.”

New facilities planned

Keeneland and the majority owners of Kentucky Downs have made an application for a racing license and have proposed the construction of a state-of-the-art racing facility and associated track extension in Kentucky.

“Horse racing is an extremely vital part of the Commonwealth’s economy,” said Ron Winchell, who owns, controls and manages Kentucky Downs with Marc Falcone.

“With the addition of a new race track and related amenities in south-eastern Kentucky, it will help to continue the momentum we have created for the state and our industry in recent years.”