Waller firms up Millions options
Leading R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender She’s All Class (I Am Invincible) will trial Monday morning in what shapes as her main hitout ahead of the $2 million feature.
Trainer Chris Waller confirmed plans with the filly, who was an impressive winner of the R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.
“I am happy with her, she is good as gold so we will just give her a trial for a nice clean out for two weeks later,” Waller told Racenet.
She's All Class | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
She will have a 900 metre trial at her home track of Rosehill on Monday, while Waller is uncertain about the future plans of stablemates Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock) and Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}).
“I think he is a good horse but I don’t think he is the right fit for the Magic Millions mould,” Waller said of Ranch Hand, who was beaten into third at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
“We won’t say he’s not going but I think he will be better suited in the autumn."
G3 Breeders' Plate winner Shaquero will be given his chance to book his ticket to the Gold Coast during the week.
“He will either trial Tuesday up there or run on Saturday but he won’t go to the race without one of the two,” he said.
Thornton lines up Magic plans
Steph Thornton is excited about her prospects for the rich Magic Millions raceday on January 16.
Thornton won Saturday’s QTIS 2YO H. on debutant Queen Of Wizardry (Not A Single Doubt) for Annabel Neasham and finished second on Gotta Kiss (Not A Single Doubt) in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate for Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted.
Both horses will contest major races on the Gold Coast, with Queen Of Wizardry in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Gotta Kiss in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“She (Queen Of Wizardry) looks pretty smart, she surprised a few of us,” Thornton told Racing.com.
“The way she won it yesterday, knowing it was only her first start and there’s going to be some natural improvement, it’s pretty exciting going into the Millions.
“And Gotta Kiss was very gallant, unfortunately it was one of those situations where she experienced bad luck through nobody else’s fault.
“She still had a nice run throughout but she’s very much a momentum horse and being on the fence was exactly where we didn’t want to be.
“She’s been set for the Millions and we know she runs out a strong 1400 metres.”
Fly-in jockey restrictions imposed
COVID-19 restrictions will mean Victorian jockeys will no longer be permitted to fly in from Victoria for Queensland races on the same day,
Racing Queensland has adopted recommendations made by the state government, which means any rider hoping to ride in Queensland will have to arrive at least a day before the meeting.
“If they are flying in from Victoria, the expectation from Racing Queensland, following the government’s advice, is they present for a COVID-19 test and self-isolate until it’s negative,” a Racing Queensland spokesman said.
500 up for determined Maskiell
Jockey Jason Maskiell secured his 500th career winner when successful on Plymouth Road (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) at Sale on Sunday.
The 30-year-old began his riding career in his native Tasmania in 2007, and won the Melbourne apprentice jockeys' title in 2009/10 but has endured a multitude of issues and injuries including a three year hiatus from riding, recovering from a much-publicised addiction to the drug ice.
He has returned in recent years and continues to show his talent, and has 29 winners for the 2020/21 season, including his long priced success at Sale on Sunday.
Laming fined over outburst
Trainer Richard Laming has plead guilty to a charge of engaging in conduct detrimental to the interests of racing and has been fined $5000.
Stewards have concluded an inquiry into an incident at the Cranbourne Training Centre on August 13 in which Laming was found to have directed threatening, racially vilifying and insulting comments towards trackwork rider Darshan Prakish.
He was charged under AR228(e) and penalised, taking into account Laming’s guilty plea, his record and noted the serious nature of the offence.
The Cranbourne-based trainer is also awaiting a sanction after pleading guilty to a charge of presenting Iam Ekstraordinary (Ekraar {USA}) to race with an elevated cobalt level in his system in 2018, having had a more serious charge of administering cobalt dismissed by the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
Melody on song ahead of return
Trainer Jamie Richards feels star mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) is building nicely to her racetrack return in the G1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile on January 30.
Melody Belle hadn't been seen since her third placing in the G1 Mackinnon S. at Flemington in November before her track gallop at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, where she worked over 1000 metres in 0.59s, coming her last 600 metres in 0.34s.
Melody Belle (NZ)
“She was on the bridle, quickened, and seemed very happy to be out there,” rider Opie Bosson said.
“She was flying back to the birdcage too.”
Her first run of the campaign will be at Trentham later this month where she will attempt to equal the record of mighty mare Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) with 13 Group 1 wins.
“She’s scheduled to trial on January 12 at Matamata, ahead of the Thorndon Mile,” Richards said.
Group targets after Dream debut
A NZ$1500 purchase has trainer Ken Rae dreaming of stakes racing after an impressive debut win at Te Aroha on Sunday.
Dream Queen (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) was bought off Gavelhouse for owner Sue Martin and looks a promising type off her win on Sunday.
“Sue had asked me to bid for her on Gavelhouse and I think we got her for NZ$1500,” Rae said. “She walked straight on the float without a care in the world which had me thinking she was my type of horse, easy to handle.”
Rae took his time with the filly and gave her two trials before electing to start her over 1000 metres, where she scored by over 1l.
“Sue said to me 'should we enter her for Ellerslie on Boxing Day', but I thought that the field there might be a little tough and we should wait for something easier.
“The way she won today was great, so I’ll need to have a think about what to do next.
“I don’t have anything planned, but if she came out and won again, then a race like the Matamata Breeders’ S. (Group 2) might well be a target for her.”
No.13 for American Pharoah
Calumet Farm homebred Kentucky Pharoah (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) earnt his first stakes success in the Dania Beach S. at Gulfstream and became the 13th black-type winner for his Triple Crown-winning stallion
Quickly into stride from gate two, Kentucky Pharoah had early company to his inside in the form of favoured Fighting Force (USA) (Air Force Blue {USA}) but was intent on rolling forward and was a clear leader turning up the backstretch. Bowling along at a good clip while racing a touch keenly, Kentucky Pharoah settled better on the turn and had plenty left for the final couple of furlongs, proving a comfortable winner in the end.
“Fantastic ride,” winning trainer Jack Sisterson said. “We really put it in Kentucky Pharoah’s hands whether he could come back in two weeks. He’s energetic. He was either going to breeze at Palm Meadows, and he probably would have breezed too quick, so why not run him instead.”
Life Is Good all class
China Horse Club and WinStar’s Life Is Good (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) lived up to his dazzling debut with a good-looking score in Saturday’s G3 Sham S. at Santa Anita.
Romping by 9.5l at Del Mar on November 22, he fired a pair of bullet works in the interim and was hammered down to $1.20 favouritism to repeat in this first try at two turns.
Not off to the fastest start from the outside post in this five-horse affair, Life Is Good seized the early advantage and galloped along on a clear lead, Turning for home alone, Life Is Good was still going along at an easy gallop in the lane and neither he or his motionless pilot Mike Smith flinched as stablemate Medina Spirit (USA) (Protonico {USA}) closed the gap to 0.75l at the wire.
“He’s a good horse and I could tell that Mike was just cruising out there,” Hall of Famer Bob Baffert said.
“It reminded me a lot of Authentic last year, when he did the same thing, he looked like a drunk out there coming down, he almost hit the rail and stuff. Just to get the two turns out of the way, it’s big. I always feel that the second race is most important, you’re going up against winners. I think Mike did a great job just sort of cruising around there and it was just the kind of race we were looking for. They ran pretty fast, these are two good horses. It is so exciting he passed the two-turn test.”
