Game Keeper ready
Co-trainer Tony McEvoy is expecting an improved performance from Game Keeper (Fastnet Rock) in the Listed Sportsbet Ballarat Cup.
“I think stepping up to the 2000 metres looks ideal for him. He’s in great order, he’s had a couple of days down at the beach and he’ll be ready for Saturday,” he said.
The winner of the Listed Adelaide Guineas last season, Game Keeper opened his current campaign with a third placing in the G3 Aurie’s Star.
At his most recent appearance he made late ground for sixth in the Listed Cup Day Plate over 1800 metres at Flemington and an extra 200 metres on Saturday will assist him.
Quality Inglis addition
The Group 1-winning dam of unbeaten 2-year-old Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) is among several high quality offerings in the latest Inglis Digital Online Sale that is now live for bidding.
Small Minds (Canny Lad), winner of the G1 Schweppes Oaks, has produced three foals to race and all are winners with two at stakes level, headlined by Sneaky Five, who claimed the Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley on debut before a dominant win in the Golden Gift.
Lot 167 - Small Minds
Small Minds will be offered by Goldin Farms in foal to dual Group 1 winner Grunt (NZ) and her next offspring is a yearling brother to Sneaky Five.
The addition of Small Minds to the November (Late) Online catalogue, comes on the back of Segenhoe Valley (Dane Shadow), dam of recent Listed Springtime S. winner Shelby Cobra (Toronado {Ire}) selling for $325,000 in the November (Early) Sale, a record for a broodmare on the platform.
Magical to Hong Kong
Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), runner-up behind Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland, has remained in training and is expected to make her next start in next month’s G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.
Earlier this season, the 5-year-old mare won the G1 Irish Champion S., G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and the G1 Pretty Polly S.
Magical (Ire)
“She ran very well in America, we were very happy with her at the Breeders’ Cup,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.
“At the moment the plan is to take her to Hong Kong. She’s still in full work at the moment and that’s what we are looking at the minute.”
Border to open
From Monday, industry participants from New South Wales will be able to enter Victoria without self-isolating or undergoing COVID-19 testing.
The NSW Government has opened the border from Monday with current requirements to isolate for five days and a coronavirus test on the sixth day will no longer be necessary.
"Racing Victoria continues to monitor instances of community transmission in Australia and will revise its protocols on movement as appropriate to protect the industry," it said in a statement.
Racing Victoria also confirmed that South Australian horses will be allowed to continue to race in Victoria, despite the Andrews Government closing its western border.
First stakes tilt
Cambridge trainer Alex Oliveira is expecting more of the same from Only In Jakarta (Snitzel) when she contests the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl at Pukekohe on Saturday.
The 5-year-old mare kept her undefeated record intact when winning at Te Rapa last month and has continued to impress Oliveira.
Only In Jakarta
“In the last couple of weeks she has been working really well so I am looking forward to running tomorrow (Saturday),” he said.
“It is another step up for her, there are some good horses there, but I think if she is on her game we will see the same performance that we have seen in the past.
“We are thinking about the G1 Railway at this stage, but we will see what Saturday brings first.”
On Group 1 trail
A stakes winner at her only start to date, Hawke’s Bay filly Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to command plenty of attention in the opening race at Awapuni on Saturday.
Trained by Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen for breeder and part-owner Tony Rider, she began her career with a hiss and a roar in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy at Hastings on September 19.
Shezzacatch (NZ)
Two months on from that auspicious debut, Shezzacatch is set to line up for her second start in Saturday’s Smartphone Repairs NZ Ltd/Tui Backing a Winner Since 1889 3YO at Awapuni, where she will jump from gate two with Lisa Allpress in the saddle.
“She’d always shown us plenty of ability leading into that debut run, and it was great to see her go out and perform the way she did first-up,” Lowry said.
“After this, she’ll go to the G3 Eulogy S. back at Awapuni next month, and then her end goal is the G1 Levin Classic at Trentham in January. Hopefully she’ll be good enough to make it there.”
Whip use consultation
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is seeking consultation from industry participants and other interested parties regarding potential changes to the whip rules.
The most recent amendments were made in October last year and this has led to the current directive, which restricts the use of the whip to no more than five times prior to the final 100 metres, after which it may be used at the rider’s discretion.
Other racing jurisdictions have already imposed more restrictive whip usage than New Zealand with France limiting whip use to just five times within a race; Ireland, eight times and the UK, seven.
From October 2020, jockeys riding in California were prohibited from using the whip more than six times in a race and from using it more than twice in succession without letting the horse respond.
The New Zealand consultation period will close on February 12, 2021, with all feedback to be considered and recommendations made to meetings of the NZTR Integrity and Welfare Committee and the NZTR Board.
Group 2 winner on market
Last year’s G2 July S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. placegetter Royal Lytham (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) has been added as a wildcard to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and will be offered as a horse out of training as Lot 1508A.
The 3-year-old son of the stakes-winning Gotlandia (Fr) (Anabaa {USA}) was unplaced in three runs this year for Aidan O’Brien.
Three other wildcards added to the Sale on Thursday include the winning 4-year-old filly Ela Katrina (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) (Lot 1752A), a daughter of the G3 Lancashire Oaks winner and multiple Group 1-placed Ela Athena (GB) (Ezzoud {Ire}) and a half-sister to the top stayer Pallasator (GB) (Motivator {GB}).
Jamie Railton offers two wildcards: the winning Facilitate (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) (Lot 1613A), from the family of G1 King’s Stand S. winner Prohibit (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and in foal to Exceed And Excel and Littledidyouknow (Ire) (Due Diligence {Ire}) (Lot 1858A), a winning half-sister to G2 Yellow Ribbon H. winner Bodhicitta (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).
Overbury trims fees
Overbury Stud has announced reduced stud fees for three of its five stallions for 2021.
Ardad (Ire), who will have his first runners next season, will stand at £4000 (AU$7300) having stood his first three seasons at £6500 (AU$11,800).
Cityscape (GB) will also stand at £4000 (AU$7300), while G1 Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs (GB), another with first 2-year-olds in 2021, has also had his fee reduced by £1000 (AU$1800) and will stand at £3000 (AU$5500).
The fee for Schiaparelli (Ger) will return to £2000 (AU$3600) after he stood last year at £1500 (AU$2700), while Frontiersman (GB), whose first foals were born this year, will remain at £1000 (AU$1800).
Jockey COVID positive
An active jockey at Woodbine has tested positive for COVID-19. The jockey will not be permitted to access Woodbine Racetrack for a minimum of 14 days while self-quarantining.
At the conclusion of the 14-day self-quarantine, the jockey will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to being allowed to return to Woodbine Racetrack.
In following these established protocols, contact tracing has been performed and individuals who were in close contact with the jockey who tested positive are being notified. Those individuals, which include one other jockey, will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to being permitted to return to Woodbine Racetrack.
Public locked out
In response to current state COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park temporarily closed to the public from Friday, but will continue to accommodate owners and other licensed horsemen who wish to attend the races.
Live racing will continue as scheduled from Thursday through to Sunday for the remaining days in November and Thursday through to Saturday in December. All off-track betting venues will remain open.
