Ashrun bags Cup spot

Ashrun (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) left his run late to claim a place in the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, but made it just in time with a slender victory in the G3 Lexus Hotham S.

Fourth in the G3 Geelong Cup at his previous appearance, Ashrun came from last near the turn with a relentless finish for rider Kerrin McEvoy, sporting the colours of Australian Bloodstock, to nab Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) on the line.

Ashrun carried 61kg in the Hotham and will drop to 53kg on Tuesday after he escaped a penalty for his Hotham success.

“I was a bit worried because he didn’t jump well and didn’t have the position we wanted and they slowed up, but he came into contention quickly and kept on going,” trainer Andreas Wohler said. “We’ll have to see how he comes out of the race and keep him well.”

Wohler and Australian Bloodstock won the Cup in 2014 with Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), but the trainer was loathe to compare the two.

“Protectionist was a different horse, he was a speedier type who could get himself out of trouble,” he said.

Perfect carnival opening

Lindsay Park opened Melbourne Cup week in ideal fashion with Crosshaven (Smart Missile) defeated stablemate Aysar (Deep Field) in the G3 Network 10 Carbine Club S. at Flemington.

Rider Daniel Stackhouse made the running aboard Crosshaven and the gelding rallied gallantly after being headed by his barnmate in the straight.

“It’s always good to win the first race and Tom and I are thrilled to quinella it, a great result,” said Ben Hayes, who trains with Tom Dabernig.

“We’re very lucky to have two fantastic horses and I also have to say well done to all the team.”

Gytrash cashes in

Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) collected another sizeable cheque when he won the $1 million Yes Yes Yes S. at Rosehill.

The gun sprinter had finished third in the $15 million The Everest at his previous start, and banked $1.3 million for his effort, with his career earnings now within touching distance of $3.2 million.

“He’s just a really good horse and a people’s favourite. He had some work to do when the leaders sprinted and was left flat-footed, but he wanted to win,” trainer Gordon Richards said.

In his customary determined fashion, Gytrash pinned his earns back for rider Jason Collett to chase down runner-up Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) in the run home.

Kemalpasa too slick again

Kemalpasa (Magnus) successfully defended his title in the G2 TAB S. at Flemington, much to the expectation of connections.

“It’s a terrific result and we had set him for this a fair while ago, he loves the straight. We had other options, but decided on this race,” Morphettville co-trainer David Jolly said.

“We were reasonably confident, I thought he was going better than he was last year.”

Ridden by Craig Williams, Kemalpasa was in or near the lead all the way and dug deep when challenged by Order Of Command (Squamosa) to take his career winning tally into double figures.

Siracusa takes feature

Promising galloper Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) brought up a hat-trick of wins in the best possible style when she stormed home out wide to take out the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic at Pukekohe.

The Sir Peter Vela-bred and owned mare only made the final field for the race after scratchings on race morning saw her sneak into the final field from off the ballot for the day’s feature event.

Apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy, who was registering his first victory at stakes level, rode a cool, calm and collected race on the 4-year-old, who came from last in running from a midfield barrier.

“We knew there weren’t going to be many riders around if we did make the field, so I was really worried for a while,” co-trainer Julia Ritchie said. “The other thing is that she really likes some cut in the ground and when they posted a Good 3, it was also a concern.

“We told Ashvin that he should ride her where she was happy and give her plenty of room as she likes her space. When she was so far back, I was thinking this is a huge, huge task for her but she still managed to get up when it mattered.”

Mohaka goes all the way

Some surprise tactics from rider Darryl Bradley paved the way for promising mare Mohaka (NA) (Nadeem) to claim her biggest career victory when she led throughout to win the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup at Awapuni on Saturday.

The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained 5-year-old was backing up just six days after finishing fifth over 1400 metres at Trentham last Sunday and was having just her second career run past 1600 metres.

“We thought she would be midfield getting a nice cart along and then finding the line, but Darryl has taken the bull by the horns and gone forward and he has judged it nicely,” Cullen said.

“She’s a real, dour staying type of mare so we’ve always wanted to get her over ground.”

Whitsbury cuts fees

Whitsbury Manor Stud has announced Showcasing (GB) will stand at the reduced fee of ₤45,000 (AU$82,500) in 2021.

“Our industry finds itself in uncertain times and it is vital that we act accordingly,” said Stud Director Ed Harper. “We have therefore listened to our clients and chosen to drop the fees of our three highest-priced stallions to offer the best possible value to breeders and keep the wheels turning.”

Due Diligence (USA) and Havana Grey (GB) will both have their fees reduced to £6000 (AU$11,000) while Adaay (Ire), who is one of the leading first-season sires in Europe with 22 individual juvenile winners and three black-type horses, will again stand at £5000 (AU$9165).

Additionally, Sergei Prokofiev (Can) will kick off his stud career at £6500 (AU$11,915).

Arizona to Castlehyde

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier’s Arizona (Ire) winner of the G2 Coventry S. in only his third career start, has been retired from racing and will stand under the Coolmore banner at Castlehyde Stud for the 2021 season. A fee for Arizona will be announced at a later date.

“Arizona is a very good-looking and good-moving son of No Nay Never who really fills the eye,” said Castlehyde Manager Paddy Fleming. “He’s got a very current, fast pedigree too, so I think he has a lot of appeal.”

Owners, spectators locked out

France Galop has confirmed that racing will be allowed to continue in the country during the new lockdown which came into force at midnight on Thursday.

The action will return to being staged behind closed doors with only key personnel allowed to attend.

The trainer and one member of staff per runner will be permitted but owners and spectators are no longer allowed to be present at race meetings in France. The current restrictions are expected to be in place for at least a month.

Post-Sale tragedy

There was a tragic postscript to the Tattersalls Horse In Training Sale when a lorry carrying horses from Newmarket to Spain caught fire. Seven of the 10 horses on board lost their lives but no people were injured in the accident.

“It is very sad. The horses were on their way to Madrid racecourse and I believe one of the front tyres burst and the lorry caught fire,” Dominick Mahony, the Spanish representative for Tattersalls, said.

“It was very windy and the wind fanned the flames which spread very quickly. They managed to get four of the horses off the lorry and three of them have survived, but one has sadly had to be put down.”