McEvoy toasts 50th carnival winner

Kerrin McEvoy secured his 50th winner of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and gave Cranbourne trainer Julius Sandhu the biggest thrill of his career aboard Do You Reckon (So You Think {NZ}) in the $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final at Flemington.

McEvoy came with a well-timed run on the 5-year-old to capture a rich race for country-based trainers, bringing up his own milestone as the seventh jockey to ride a total of 50 winners during Cup week at Flemington.

"It’s a good thrill, I didn't know I was at that number until you mentioned it earlier. It’s a nice feather in the cap and I'm not here Saturday, so it's nice to get it done today rather than have it hanging over my head for next year," he said.

McEvoy's first Flemington carnival win came 20 years ago aboard Grand Seattle (Le Grand Seigneur {Can}) on Melbourne Cup day, hours before he won the Cup aboard Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).

Thursday's success was McEvoy's first ride for Sandhu, who celebrated his biggest racetrack win .

"It's a really big thrill and it was a gun ride. Having never ridden the horse before, and he can be a bit of a quirky boy, to get him to settle and do all the things we need to do, was a big thrill," the trainer said.

"It’s a special feeling to be able to work hard with a horse like that and for it to pay dividends is just great. It’s a massive privilege to train for Lofty Thoroughbreds."

Double for Bowman, O’Shea and Abrahams

Hugh Bowman and John O’Shea secured a running double at Flemington on Thursday as Berdibek (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) took out the Off The Track Subzero H. before Rocha Clock (Pierro) won the inaugural running of the $250,000 Inglis Bracelet in the yellow and black silks of Jason Abrahams' Sedgewyn.

"John (O'Shea) was a bit bullish when he rang me about the horse," Bowman said of Berdibek. "He said 'The horse usually wears earmuffs, I've taken them off, he's first-up, he's been set for the race and I think he'll run very well'.

“When John speaks in those terms, win, lose or draw, the horses always perform.”

Rocha Clock, who Bowman is undefeated on, was wayward over the final stages of the race, tightening runners to her inside before veering out to meet runner-up Re Edit (Camelot {GB}), who was beaten 0.2l.

"She was a bit lost here at Flemington. There's plenty to look at and that's without a crowd, but we were quite confident," Bowman said.

"I hadn't seen her for a while but obviously I have had a bit to do with her and I know her well and I was able to get the run that I hoped I might from a good barrier.

"She didn't show quite the same turn of foot that she can, but I put that down to her being here for the first time. She still won with a bit of authority, I thought."

More to come for Tralee Rose

Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) made it back-to-back wins for trainer Symon Wilde when successful at Flemington in the TCL TV S. in the opening event on Oaks Day.

The Warrnambool-trained 4-year-old was perfectly ridden by Kerrin McEvoy to score by 1l, advancing her record to two wins and two placings from six starts.

Wilde believes the mare, who like G1 Victoria Derby (2500 metres) winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), is bred on the Tavistock (NZ) - Zabeel (NZ) cross, will be better suited over further ground.

“I think she’s got a really bright future and the further she goes, the better she’s going to get. She was a really late-maturing horse so she’s got a lot to look forward to,” Wilde said.

“For her to do that over 1700 metres today was fantastic. She got a really good ride from Kerrin, he made good use of that gate (two). She took a little while to get into gear at the top of the straight and she’s green still but I’m really excited to see where she can land.”

Luck of the Irish for Kiwis

Mornington trainer Brett Scott was delighted to pick up a winner at Flemington on Oaks Day with handy middle distance galloper Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the Twitter Trophy (1800 metres).

The son of Zed (NZ) transferred from Scott’s old boss John Wheeler after a Waverley trial in late June and the six-time winner in New Zealand has now had seven starts for his new conditioner for two wins and four placings.

Irish Flame was pushed forward by expat Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse, who was a late replacement for Michael Walker, to sit behind pacemaker Think We’re Due (So You Think {NZ}).

The 6-year-old reeled in the leader early in the straight and Irish stuck on stoically to hold out the late challenge of Hangman (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) to win by 0.75l.

Scott was pleased with the brave win and is now eyeing the Listed Ballarat Cup with his charge.

“That was a really good win,” he said. “I thought halfway down the straight he might have been a sitting duck but when that horse challenged him he fought hard.

“The visors and the earmuffs have just got him to relax a bit better in the run but also give him better fight at the end of his race. He is going great.

“Hopefully we can just roll on and if he pulls up well we will go to the Ballarat Cup.”

Debut win for Camelot sister

Russian Camilla (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the 2-year-old sister to multiple Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (Ire) broke her maiden on debut at Kempton on Wednesday.

The filly was slow away but finished off well to score the 1600 metre event on the all-weather track by 0.2l

Russian Camilla will be offered at the upcoming Tattersalls December Mare Sale where she is catalogued as Lot 1667.

Tiger Of Malay scratched

Impressive Randwick winner Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) has been scratched from the $1 million Golden Gift after pulling up sore following trackwork.

Trainers Richard and Michael Freedman confirmed the colt would be spelled immediately with a view to the autumn 2-year-old races.

"He pulled up slightly sore behind and with the horse's health the highest priority, we've opted to give him a spell," the stable said in a tweet.

Belle with unfinished business

After finishing second in last year’s G1 Mackinnon S., Jamie Richards believes his mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) has unfinished business but he admitted it is not going to be an easy race to win.

"It's a Mackinnon, it's not going to be an easy race to win," Richards said. "But we are looking forward to it. It is a race she ran second in last year and we think we have a bit of unfinished business.

"We're pleased with the way she has gone about everything. She seems to have settled back into it well, so you've got to be happy. The Australian form is very strong, especially at 1200 metres and 1400 metres, where she was running in Sydney. We got her back in her routine at home and kept her happy. She enjoys being back in New Zealand.”

Tough task for Tofane

Mike Moroney knows Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) has her work cut out for her in Saturday’s G1 Darley Sprint Classic at Flemington, but believes she will be more than competitive.

“She’ll need some luck in the run, but she is a Group 1 horse and good enough to win,” he said.

The mare is one of five runners to come out of The TAB Everest, where she finished unplaced after pulling up with breathing issues.

“She ended up with a black eye the next morning so there was a lot of kickback there and the only thing we can put it down to is that she swallowed some dirt in the run,” Moroney said.

“She does wear a Norton bit and they race with their mouths open slightly and she has probably copped some dirt down the throat because she was making quite a bad noise on pulling up and then all the way back to the parade area which she has never done before.”

Tough Doc on song

The number one horse in Tony McEvoy and Calvin McEvoy’s stable, Hey Doc (Duporth) is ready for the challenge of the G1 Darley Sprint Classic and Tony McEvoy knows he will give his all in the race.

McEvoy isn't certain Hey Doc can win the race, which he regards as the best sprint event of the spring, but he is certain the horse won't be far away.

"He's a beauty. You can guarantee that he'll be there trying his heart out at the finish," McEvoy said.

"There's no doubt Moonee Valley is his number one track but he also likes Flemington. He's won the Australian Guineas and also the Aurie's Star over the track and distance so he's quite adept there.

"He's in top shape. He needed his first two runs to bring him on for the Manikato and he's maintained his fitness since but this is a slightly harder race."

Stokes’ juvenile Melbourne bound

The Phillip Stokes-trained Brazen Boy (Brazen Beau), who was an impressive trial winner in Adelaide recently, is set to head to the trainer’s Victorian stable.

"I've decided to bring him to Melbourne and run him in the Listed Merson Cooper S. at Sandown on Saturday week," Stokes told Racing.com.

"If he can come here and win it would be a massive result for his owners as they bred him and obviously still own the dam Cocoa Doll.

"She has a Written Tycoon filly being sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January and if this bloke could strike in the Merson Cooper it will add quite a few dollars on her.

"Brazen Boy himself reminds me a lot of a precocious filly I trained called Freestyle for John Messara.

"She only had seven starts and won four of them and coincidentally won the Merson Cooper at her first race start."

Tattersalls December remains on schedule

The Tattersalls December Sales will take place in Newmarket on their originally planned dates - November 23 through December 3 - in accordance with government regulations concerning livestock and horse auctions.

The UK will enter its second national lockdown on Thursday and it will run through December 2. The sales will be restricted to those attending in a professional capacity and under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. Live internet and telephone bidding will be available.

“We are delighted and relieved that we have received clarity on this crucial issue and it is clear that the ratified government regulations will allow us to stage the full Tattersalls December Sale on the originally scheduled dates,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony.

“This is a huge relief for the industry and we are enormously grateful that the 2020 bloodstock sales season in Britain can proceed and conclude as planned. The Tattersalls December Sale is an event of global significance within the bloodstock industry and the possibility of wholesale disruption was a deeply worrying prospect for all concerned.”

Shaman to Yeomanstown Stud

Multiple stakes winner and Classic-placed Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) will stand at Yeomanstown Stud in 2021. The Wertheimer Et Frère homebred’s fee will be announced at a later date.

“He is a great-looking son of the mighty Shamardal from one of the best pedigree’s around, add to that his impressive race record. Shaman is a huge addition to us and should prove popular to breeders from both Ireland and abroad,” said Yeomanstown’s David O’Callaghan. “We are delighted to have Wertheimer Et Frère retain a share in Shaman and look forward to their support.”

HKJC partners with World Horse Racing

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has partnered with digital media brand World Horse Racing, the latter announced on Wednesday.

The fifth partner of World Horse Racing alongside Ascot, Breeders’ Cup, Goodwood and the Victoria Racing Club, the Hong Kong Jockey Club reflects the growth of World Horse Racing, which has monthly views in excess of 12 million and over 1.85 million combined followers. There are 12 Group 1 races and two festivals that the HKJC brings to the table.

“The vision of the HKJC is always on world-class racing, something we advocated at the 2018 Asian Racing Conference and we feel is an important initiative to broaden the fan base regionally and globally,” said HKJC Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “We join a strong group of partners which are aligned on positioning racing as a global brand to develop our future growth, health and success as a world-class sport.”