Group 1 test
Levante (NZ) (Proisir) will get a first chance to prove herself at elite-level at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day when she contests the G1 Sistema Railway.
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained 4-year-old has won all but one of her six career starts, with the only blotch on her perfect record being a runner-up result in the G2 Wellington Guineas in March.
But she returned to her winning ways when first-up in the Listed Counties Bowl last month, where she impressed her trainers after missing away at the start.
“It was a fantastic effort. The sectionals were unbelievable,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said. “She has trained on really well.”
Levante has drawn the ace marble for Friday’s feature, but Kelso isn’t overly perturbed about the barrier.
“I would have preferred to have drawn out a bit, but two things we can’t control are barrier draws and weather,” he said.
Cup start up in air
David Brideoake can’t be any happier with Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) in the lead-up to the G2 Perth Cup at Ascot Park on Saturday, but whether she will be able to take her place in the field is another matter.
The Mornington trainer has booked her on a flight to Perth on Thursday morning, however, a backlog of freight may mean that she won’t make the flight.
“We have gone through the week like we are going to run, and she has had her final gallop on Tuesday morning,” Brideoake told RSN927 radio. “If she gets the flight at 3am on Thursday morning, that is good, and she is prepared.
“If she doesn’t, we will reconsider and see what we do next. It all depends on the backlog of freight and whether there is a spot.”
Millennium goal for colt
Exciting 2-year-old Profiteer (Capitalist) has been set for February’s Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm.
Price told RSN radio that Profiteer would have his next run in the Millennium and then target the G1 Blue Diamond S. on his home track at Caulfield.
"There's not many $2 million races around so it's worth a shot at and then we'll get him back here for the Blue Diamond," he said.
Price and training partner Michael Kent Jnr lifted the bar for Profiteer following an impressive display from the colt to win on debut at Flemington earlier this month.
Raring to go
Miyake (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is in top shape for the Listed Bagot H. at Flemington on Friday.
The Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old is also in outstanding form having won his last two for a career tally of four victories from 13 attempts.
“We’ve always thought quite highly of him and it has just taken him a while to really come into his own, but especially over those staying trips he looks ready to take that next step," Waller's Melbourne stable foreperson Jo Taylor told Racing.com.
"He’s come on really well since the win at Flemington. He’s thrived after a couple of days at the beach and has come back in good order and everything is on track for Friday.”
Brunton may hold key
Scott Brunton looks to hold a strong hand in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas at Hobart on Wednesday.
The Seven Mile Beach trainer will be represented by last-start winner First Accused (Turffontein) and Brandum Bay (Charge Forward) in the Unique Doors & Windows-sponsored feature.
First Accused was successful at Launceston and is a two-time winner at Hobart with the only negative an awkward barrier.
By contrast, stablemate Brandum Bay will jump from the coveted inside alley and with successive victories to his credit is obviously in the right form to take advantage of the gate.
Adam Trinder is another trainer with two strong hopes with Vivilici (Needs Further) and Warrior Prince (Artie Schiller {USA}) also in excellent form.
Perfect beginning
Lonhro colt Western Springs (NZ) made a highly-encouraging start to his career with a debut success at New Plymouth on Tuesday.
He made the running and repelled the challenge of the favourite Mister Blue Sky (Zoustar) to win the Team Landrigan 2YO in the hands of Vinnie Colgan.
Western Springs was bred by Monovale Farm and offered by the Cambridge nursery at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where he was knocked down to trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood for NZ$280,000.
He is a brother to the G1 Diamond S. runner-up Star Treasure (NZ) and their dam Lost In Dubai (NZ) (Dubai Destination {USA}) is out of a half-sister to the G1 Cox Plate winner Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Kiwi duo impressing
Phill Cataldo’s connections with Melbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr is looking set to pay some serious dividends through two unbeaten horses in 2021.
Cataldo brokered deals which resulted in Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Kurabui (NZ) (Proisir) both making their way to the Price-Kent Jnr stable this year and both have two wins apiece.
Bred by Greg McCarthy of Cambridge, Ayrton was passed in at Book 2 of the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale after failing to reach his NZ$40,000 reserve. He showed ability when just beaten at his only New Zealand trial.
“I didn’t think he’d be hard to sell,” Cataldo said. “I know Greg McCarthy well, and I thought if I angle it where Greg could stay in, it would certainly be of interest to him, so that’s what we did.”
Kurabui’s sale to clients of Price and Kent Jnr was brokered by Cataldo before she’d even run in a trial. She was sold last year after her half-brother Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) won the G2 Adelaide Cup.
Richards in pole position
Champion trainer Jamie Richards has an unparalleled Karaka Million record and he has an ever-growing number of chances for further success at Ellerslie on January 23.
Richards and the powerful Te Akau Racing operation have won the Karaka Million 2YO in each of the last four years with Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel).
Probabeel also returned as a 3-year-old to complete an unprecedented double with her victory in this year’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
Richards currently has six 2-year-olds among the top 15 positions in the order of entry for the 2021 DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO with the undefeated Palamos (Extreme Choice) top of the table with earnings of NZ$40,050, courtesy of his Boxing Day victory.
Gosden champion again
John Gosden was this week named champion flat trainer for the third year running and fifth time overall. Gosden’s runners earned £3,114,226 (AU$5.5 million) and took home seven Group 1 trophies, including a third win in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. for Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Sheikh Hamdan was named champion owner, his flagbearers including the Gosden-trained G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. scorer Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), G1 King’s Stand S. and G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and G1 Sussex S. scorer Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).
Ben Curtis took the 2020 annual flat jockeys’ title with 170 wins. Curtis won a pair of Group 3s in June before a career high with Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, on whom he also won the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. the following month.
Act becomes law
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act officially became law when President Donald Trump signed the COVID-19 relief and government funding legislation.
The legislation will establish national standards to promote fairness and increase safety in thoroughbred racing nationwide. The HISA legislation will go into effect no later than July 1, 2022, but could be effective earlier following the formation of an independent national racing authority and approval of an anti-doping and medication control program and racetrack safety program by the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC will review the programs developed by the authority, allow for public comment, and once approved by the FTC, the programs will go into effect.
Group targets
Promising stayer Super Hoof (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}) will have a final hitout on Wednesday before being set for his first tilt at black type next month.
The 6-year-old will lineup in the Harcourts Taupo Cup With Fasttrack $5K and trainer Glenn Old believes that will top him off nicely for the G3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup at Trentham next month.
Old has been pleased with Super Hoof in the lead-up to Wednesday’s assignment, with the gelding winning at Te Rapa last month over 2100 metres, before finishing runner-up over the same distance at Ellerslie.
“He has trained on well since Ellerslie,” Old said. “He is nice and sound at the moment, so we are very happy with him. He’s been in really good form. He just got a bit lost at Auckland. He ran out a bit up the straight.”
