Daily News Wrap

Easy trial for Legend

The Everest winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) cruised around Sha Tin in his first trial since arriving in Hong Kong, finishing third without being put under pressure.

The gelding is being aimed at the G1 Hong Kong Sprint and was given an easy time by jockey Vincent Ho, being hard held through the entire 1000 metre heat to finish beaten no more than 0.5l.

Alligator on the mend

Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) is recovering well after undergoing surgery for kissing spine on Monday.

"We were very, very happy," owner Allan Endresz told Racing.com of the operation.

"The comments from Ben, the surgeon, were that it went really well and post-op he was fantastic. He came out and started eating.

"He is going to be under some close care and treatment for the next few days.

"I'm glad in hindsight we pushed hard (for the scans) to identify the problem. It turns out… on a scale of one to 10 of problems, Al came in at a 10.

"There's six vertebrae there and three were almost fusing together. How he was running through the thing, no one knows."

Owners to return to stables

Victorian owners will again be allowed to visit their horses in stables from Friday, Racing Victoria Chairman Brian Kruger announced on Tuesday.

RV is expected to finalise the details within the coming days.

"We will be changing our protocols so that owners will be able to visit stables and see their horses from this Friday," Kruger told RSN927.

"Our team will be putting out a lot of details around exactly how that will work in the next few days.”

Tavidance eyeing change of luck

Mick Price is hopeful Tavidance (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) can have a change of luck when he lines up in a 1600 metre handicap on Saturday.

In both starts this campaign, the gelding has been held-up for a run and Price is hoping that is not the case this weekend.

"He is overdue for a change of luck," Price told Racing.com.

"He is back to a mile handicap on a big track. He's going great and that will definitely be our best chance for the day.

"He races well with the edge on him. He is nice and bright and bouncy. He worked good this morning. I think he will be very hard to beat."

Trainer still smiling

Trudy Keegan is still on cloud nine after taking out the G3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ S. at Riccarton with Aimee’s Jewel (NZ) (Proisir) last month.

It was the first time the Stratford trainer had campaigned in the South Island and she said she couldn’t have hoped for a better experience.

“Riccarton was our first time racing on southern soil and to go down there for the first time and win a Group 3 was pretty massive,” Keegan said.

She is now looking forward to Saturday where Aimee’s Jewel will have her first crack at Group 1 glory in the Rydges Wellington Captain Cook S. at Trentham.

“She is a very special horse who is still on the improve. She is still six months away from probably being at her best physically and she is still learning. It will be her first time stepping up to the mile, which we think will suit her.”

Subsidy timely

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association breeding course has been boosted by a timely government Apprentice Boost subsidy.

This subsidy allows up to NZ$1000 per month for the first 10 months and NZ$500 for the following 10 months paid directly to the employer as the employee continues their breeding course Level 4 apprenticeship studies.


For further information about the Level 3 and Level 4 Breeding courses and the NZ ‘Apprenticeship Boost’ initiative which is linked to the Level 4 program visit the below link.

Asano to head north

The South Island’s leading jockey, Kozzi Asano, will leave the mainland next week to further his riding career with a stint in Matamata.

He will take up an opportunity with Wexford Stables where he will get the chance to garner further knowledge off co-trainer and former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan.

Asano was a surprise package last term, coming out of the blue to lead the National Jockeys’ Premiership for much of the season before being gunned down late by Lisa Allpress. He is apprenticed to Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston.

“My boss asked me if I wanted to go and work for Lance O’Sullivan. He is a legendary jockey, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn off him, so I have taken up the opportunity,” Asano said.

Keeneland January to include dispersal of Pompa stock

Keeneland will offer 39 horses in the Complete Dispersal of the late Paul P. Pompa Jnr. - including Turned Aside (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}), winner of Saturday’s Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship S., and additional 2020 Grade 3 winners Country Grammer (USA) (Tonalist {USA}) and Regal Glory (USA) (Animal Kingdom {USA}) - during the 2021 January Horses of All Ages Sale, to be held January 11-14.

Lane’s End will serve as agent for the consignment, which consists of broodmares, foals of 2020, horses of racing age and broodmare or stallion prospects. The January Sale catalogue is scheduled to be online at Keeneland.com on December 8.

“Mr. Pompa’s industry involvement was admirable on every level,” Lane’s End Sales Director Allaire Ryan said. “He was dedicated to, and ever enthusiastic about, his investments as a breeder, owner and fan.

“He created strong relationships around a lifelong passion and never wavered from his philosophy to do right by his stock and enjoy the sport. The success of his breeding and racing operations is a direct result of his daily involvement with trainers, farm staff, agents and caretakers alike.

“We have valued the opportunity to care for his horses at Lane’s End and will be proud to stand behind his offerings at the January Sale.”

Eight mares in the Pompa Dispersal are in foal to Connect (USA), a Grade 1-winning son of Curlin (USA) who raced for Pompa and stands at Lane’s End.

Bravazo to Calumet

Bravazo (USA) will enter stud in 2021 at his owner’s Calumet Farm and will stand for US$6000 (AU$8170).

Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Bravazo was second in the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and earned his way onto the Triple Crown trail with an upset victory in the G2 Risen Star S. in 2018. He finished second behind eventual Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) in the G1 Preakness S. and placed in the G1 Haskell Invitational S., G1 Runhappy Travers S., G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and G1 Clark S.

The Calumet roster is topped by English Channel (USA), the number one turf sire by earnings with eighth individual black-type winners, five of those Graded, including Eclipse Award candidate Channel Maker (USA). English Channel will stand for US$27,500 (AU$37,400) in 2021.