Waller secures Wanganui Guineas winner

Chris Waller and Star Thoroughbreds have purchased Listed Wanganui Guineas winner Only Words (NZ) (Sweynesse) to join the stable in early October.

“Together with Star Thoroughbreds we are excited to secure the purchase of exciting 3-year-old filly Only Words who took out the Listed Wanganui Guineas recently and she will join our Sydney stable early October,” Chris Waller Racing said in a statement.

Cup penalty for Al Galayel

After posting an impressive win in the G3 JRA Cup on Saturday Night, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Al Galayel (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) has been handed a 1.5kg penalty for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup.

The gelding is now at 47 in the order of entry for the Caulfield Cup.

“Al Galayel has struck a rich vein of form this season winning his past three starts and his maiden Group 3 victory at The Valley on Friday night came in dominant fashion by a comfortable margin,” Racing Victoria’s Executive General Manager of Racing, Greg Carpenter, said.

“It was a competitive field that Al Galayel defeated with three Derby winners, a VRC Oaks winner and last year’s Caulfield Cup placegetter Mirage Dancer among the beaten brigade which added merit to his performance.”

Back-up plan

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has already booked her spot in the G1 Melbourne Cup this year but will target the G1 Caulfield Cup as her main lead-up race.

This weekend she will run in the G1 Turnbull S. but should she not make it into the field for the Caulfield Cup, Kent Jnr said they have a back-up plan.

“She runs in the Turnbull now, not sure who rides her there, and then we are hoping to go to the Caulfield Cup,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com.

“She is number 56 in the order and there will be a natural attrition rate obviously. Hopefully, we get a run.

“If not, the Geelong or Moonee Valley Cup and then into the big one.”

Defining day

Robert Hickmott assesses the upcoming meeting at Flemington as the defining day of the spring for his stable stars Schabau (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) and Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist {USA}) as they both need to win to catapult their way into spring features.

Schabau will run in the G3 The Bart Cummings over 2500 metres and he needs a victory to get into the Melbourne Cup as he is number 72 in the qualifying order.

Django Freeman will run in the G1 Turnbull S. over 2000 metres and he also needs to win to force his way into the Caulfield Cup, where he is also number 72 in the qualifying order.

Hickmott said the former German stayers were both revelling in the cold weather at Mount Macedon where it snowed on Friday.

"They'll have their last gallop at Bendigo early this week but they're both ready to go," Hickmott said.

Options open for Impact

Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) could be a surprise starter in the G1 Epsom H. with trainer Matthew Smith revealing the race is still on the table.

Smith was thought to be tossing up between the G1 Turnbull S. at Flemington and the G2 Hill S. over the same distance on the Epsom undercard.

While both races remain in the mix, Smith says he hasn't ruled out the Epsom in which Fierce Impact has equal top weight of 58kg.

"We haven't really cemented which race we're going to," Smith said.

"I'd like to look at the nominations first and see what's going to the races.

"We will have a look at the Epsom and just see what is in there light (weights) because we do have 58 kilos.

"Same with the Turnbull. We want to see what's in light (weights) there because we will be carrying 59 kilos in the Turnbull.”

Stamp of approval

The Edmonds' stable has given Robbie Dolan a vote of confidence as he prepares to partner talented mare Vanna Girl (Husson {Arg}) in the G1 Epsom H. at Randwick.

Dolan was booked for Vanna Girl after Glen Boss elected to ride Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) for Chris Waller.

"Robbie rides 50 kilos quite easily and he bobs up in these big races from time to time because he can ride so light," co-trainer Toby Edmonds said.

"I've been watching him ride for some time and he's very aggressive on them which is par for the course for most of those international riders, especially the Irish and English riders, so it'll suit her."

Toorak target

Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) will have his next run in the G1 Toorak H. after finishing seventh in the G1 Underwood S. on Saturday.

Connections of the gelding believe a freshen up and drop down in distance could see him return to his best form.

Coolmore path

G2 Danehill S. third Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) will kick off his path towards the G1 Coolmore Stud S. with a jump-out at Flemington on Friday.

“Ranting is really well. He is just ticking over at the moment,” co-trainer Troy Corstens told Racing.com.

“We will probably give him a trial, maybe next Friday, and then head to the Blue Sapphire with him and then onto the Coolmore, hopefully.

“Ben Melham has said he is keen to stick with him, so Ben will ride him at his next (start).”

Jennifer on trial

Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has pleased her trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray ahead of Saturday’s G1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

The popular mare has never finished worse than fourth in her 12 career starts and caught the eye when finishing into that placing in the G1 Tarzino Trophy when resuming.

“She is doing very well,” Shaune Ritchie said.

“The barrier draw (1) gave us the benefit of the most economical run in the race and because she only got galloping room 250 metres out, she certainly didn’t have a tough run.

“She will go into this next one a little bit of an improved horse with that run under her belt.

“Matt Cameron was impressed with the run. She was very willing and travelled keenly. When he asked her to go 250 metres out she took 100 metres to get going but we aren’t racing against 3-year-old fillies anymore, we’re in the big time.”

Guineas test

Peter and Dawn Williams are looking to their promising filly Helsinki (NZ) (Savabeel) to spearhead their hopes of a trip to their old stomping ground for the New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton in November.

Helsinki, a runner-up in two of her three starts and an unlucky eighth in the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO (1200 metres), holds a nomination for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600 metres) on November 14 and will be out to press her case for a trip south when she starts at Avondale next week.

“She’s a nice filly and she’s coming up really well,” Peter Williams said. “She’ll run at Avondale and if she goes well we’ll probably look at the Soliloquy S.

“We’ll make our minds up after that whether she’ll go down for the 1000 Guineas. I think she’s good enough.

“She was unlucky not to win fresh-up. She got knocked around a bit and did well for second.”

Second for Belardo

Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo (Ire) sired his second stakes winner with Elysium (Ire) scoring the G3 Weld Park S. at The Curragh on Sunday.

A maiden winner in June, Elysium showed a good turn of foot to beat Aunty Bridy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) by a 1.5l.

The win continues a strong run of results from Belardo’s first Northern Hemisphere crop, with smart filly Isabella Giles leading the charge with her Group 2 victory at Newmarket last week.

He is the only son of Lope De Vega (Ire) at stud in Australasia and stands for a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST).