Missile hits target
Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) will head for a spell on a high after finishing strongly to win the G3 Summoned S. at Sandown.
The 4-year-old, who was narrowly beaten in last season’s G1 Thousand Guineas, came from the tail of the field to land top honours in the Rod Rocket Smith-sponsored mares’ feature.
“I was really confident and she travelled well and I thought the margin might have been greater, but I’ll take it,” co-trainer Peter Snowden said.
“I’m really glad for everyone, she was beaten an eyebrow in the Guineas, and that’s hard to take. She’s done a great job and will go to the paddock now.”
Missile Mantra
Ballarat Cup option
Co-trainer Ben Hayes is considering sending So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) back into action next weekend following his hard-fought victory in Saturday’s G3 Eclipse S. at Sandown.
In a great result for the Lindsay Park operation, the 7-year-old finished hard to edge out his stablemate Power Scheme (Fiorente {Ire}) in the Nick Johnstone Real Estate-sponsored event.
“It has been frustrating this preparation so it’s good to get a win with him,” Hayes said. I thought he had been beaten until I saw the photo.
“He’s a great horse and he just loves being in training. If he pulls up well, we wouldn’t be against backing him up in the Listed Ballarat Cup.”
So Si Bon
Carif breaks drought
Carif (So You Think {NZ}) posted a bittersweet victory when he broke a lengthy runs of outs when successful in the Listed Ladbrokes Cup for in-form jockey Jamie Kah.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 5-year-old, who hadn’t saluted since he was successful at Newcastle more than 12 months ago, is a son of the dual Group 1 winner Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park), who passed away on Saturday morning.
“It’s good to see him win and she rode him an absolute treat,” Peter Snowden said. “He wanted to duck out 50 metres from home to shake my hand. He’s a great type to look at, but gelding might be the making of him.”
Carif
Hindaam goes to next level
Improving filly Hindaam (NZ) (Savabeel) won for the third time in her career at first at black type level when she was successful in the Listed Joy Holt Twilight Glow S. at Sandown.
She came on powerfully in closing 250 metres the hands of Daniel Stackhouse to reel in La Mexicana (I Am Invincible).
“She looked the winner a long way out and it’s great to get black type, she’s from a good family and Shadwell will be pleased,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.
“She had done really well since her last run and riding her quietly is the way to go and she can show that turn of foot.”
Hindaam is a valuable filly as she is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Merchant Navy.
Hindaam
Spirit fee drops
Invincible Spirit (Ire) once again leads the stallion roster at the Irish National Stud and will be priced at €80,000 (AU$150,500) in 2021. The 23-year-old came down from €100,000 (AU$188,000) this year, with the entire roster at the Kildare nursery taking fee cuts in the midst of a difficult economic climate.
G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain (Ire), the highest-rated son of Lope De Vega (Ire), is available this year for €12,500 (AU$23,500) and Free Eagle (Ire) will stand for €8000 (AU$15,000) in 2021.
Group 1 winners Decorated Knight (GB) and National Defense (Ire) will both be represented by their first runners next year, and will stand for €7500 (AU$14,000) and €5000 (AU$9400) respectively.
New recruit Equiano (Fr) will stand for €3000 (AU$5650) and rounding out the roster are Elusive Pimpernel (Ire) at €2500 (AU$4700) and Dragon Pulse (Ire) at €2000 (AU$3760).
Vale Wally O’Hearn
Popular New Zealand racing journalist Wally O’Hearn has died, aged, 61, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
O'Hearn plied his trade for more than 40 years and worked for a host of publications including the Friday Flash, Best Bets, Sunday Star, Sunday News, DB Racing Annual, Waikato Times, the Informant, established NZ Racing News website and was also a regular contributor to the NZ Racing Desk until his passing.
The Matamata scribe was also the author of the book Harry, the ride of my life, an autobiography of champion New Zealand jockey Noel Harris and BJ, The White Robe Legacy, the story of studmaster Brian Anderton.
Well-regarded by all in the racing industry, the length and breadth of New Zealand, O’Hearn built a unique rapport with the people behind the horses and could often conjure emotions from even the most reserved participants.
Dragon Storm takes Cup
Ruakaka raider Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking) produced the performance of his life when he took out the G3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Riccarton in a thrilling finish to the time-honoured event.
The Chris Gibbs-trained 6-year-old was well fancied in the race after a stunning 5l victory in his final lead-up run over 3000 metres.
“I must admit I was a little worried when I saw them all start to roll around him,” Gibbs said. “With his breeding we all know he can stay, but the beautiful big track here just suited him down to the ground.
“I don’t know about these nose margins though, as I think my heart is going to jump out of my chest.”
Lucrative week
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable capped off a superb week when classy mare Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) captured the G2 Gartshore Tauranga S. on Saturday.
The Cambridge stable picked up the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on Wednesday with Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and made it a stakes double courtesy of the Joan Egan-bred and raced Concert Hall.
James has made no secret of the high regard he holds for the 6-year-old, who has come of age in the past eighteen months, registering four wins from 13 starts with all of her victories coming in stakes company.
Concert Hall (NZ)
“I thought it was a terrific effort. She’s very versatile and handles most ground up to a heavy surface so there were no worries with what they were running on today and she can really sprint on top of the ground,” James said.
“You never make any decisions about future races on race day so we will take her home and see how she comes through this one before we look at future plans for her.”
Sir Prancealot tops roster
Rancho San Miguel has set 2021 stud fees for its roster of seven stallions, led by the globetrotting Sir Prancealot (Ire), whose fee will remain a California-leading US$15,000 (AU$20,600) for his second season at stud in California.
Sir Prancealot, who has sired progeny to win stakes in at least six countries in 2020, will return from Cornerstone Stud in Australia after breeding 105 mares in California in 2020.
The 2021 Rancho San Miguel roster also includes: Curlin To Mischief (USA) who will stand at US$3500 (AU$4800); Danzing Candy (USA) at US$5000 (AU$6880), Northern Causeway (USA) at US$2000 (AU$2750), Richard’s Kid (USA) at US$2500 (AU$3400), Slew’s Tiznow (USA) at US$3000 (AU$4100) and Tom’s Tribute (USA) at US$2000 (AU$2750).
New to Tara Stud
River Boyne (Ire), a Grade 1-winning son of Dandy Man (Ire), will join the roster at Tara Stud in Ireland for 2021. His fee is yet to be confirmed.
The 5-year-old started his racing career in Ireland with Gordon Elliott before being transferred to the Californian stable of Jeff Mullins.
A winner in each of his racing seasons between the ages of two and five, River Boyne was victorious in nine of his 25 races, including the GI Frank E Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, where he also won the GII Twilight Derby and GII Mathis Brothers Mile.
