Sydney Cup an option
Trainer Mark Newnham will be raising the bar with his progressive stayer Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the autumn.
He produced the 6-year-old for consecutive Listed wins with the gelding adding Saturday’s January Cup at Randwick to the Summer Cup title he claimed on Boxing Day.
“He’ll have a freshen and he’ll get up to a mile and a-half and further and even the G1 Sydney Cup might be on the agenda,” Newnham said.
Spirit Ridge (GB) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Stakes double beckons
Never Again (High Chaparral {Ire}) will be given the opportunity to double his black-type tally following his success in the Listed Chester Manifold S. at Flemington.
The Clinton McDonald-trained 6-year-old had won his previous start in BM78 company and had no trouble handling a rise in class.
“He’s a family horse so it’s a great result. He needs the tempo on and got that and had a light weight. He got in with he’ll probably go to the Listed John Dillon S. at Caulfield now,” McDonald said.
Sale protocol
The following protocol will apply to all visitors to the Magic Millions complex from Greater Brisbane in accordance with the Queensland Government following the lockdown in that area that came into effect at 6pm AEST on Friday evening.
Essential Sale participants who have been in Greater Brisbane (local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan) on or since January 2 will be permitted to Magic Millions and will be required to wear a mask.
Upon entry, visitors are required to use the dedicated contract tracing app and verify eligibility for access. Non-essential Sale participants who have been in Greater Brisbane on or since January 2 will not be permitted access.
Essential Sale participants include vendors and staff, purchasers, trainers, bloodstock agents, syndicators and those essential to the safe conduct of the Sale.
Filly displays versatility
Boomnova (Spirit Of Boom) showed she was no one-trick pony when she came from off the pace to continue her winning form at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The 3-year-old had been successful in her two previous starts when making the running and showed her versatility with a strong finishing run for jockey Bobby El-Issa to land the Aquis QTIS H.
“He rode her like the best filly in the race and she’s a very good galloper,” trainer Chris Munce said. “If she pulls up well, she’ll run in the QTIS race next Saturday.”
Sweet winner
Speed merchant Sugar Boom (Spirit Of Boom) made light of the outside gate in Saturday’s Play Gold Coast Open and she crossed the field to lead to have the race in safe keeping a long way out.
“I was worried about the weather all week as she doesn’t like rain-affected ground,” trainer Tony Gollan said. “She’s really quick and a very good short-course performer. When the track started to dry out I was confident.”
Sugar Boom, who has now won seven of her 15 starts, was ridden by Michael Rodd and they were too slick for Spurcraft (Jet Spur), who did well to come from the back for second.
Malkovich strikes again
Malkovich (Choisir) continued his quick-fire progression with another front-running success on Saturday.
The Bjorn Baker-trained colt has now won four of his eight starts after burning off his rivals in the Sky Racing Active H. with Josh Parr in the saddle.
Malkovich had ben unplaced at his previous run on a heavy track in the Listed Gosford Guineas and appreciated a firmer surface at Randwick.
“Back to 1200 metres on a drier track helped him and I think Bjorn has the Inglis 3-year-old race in mind for him,” stable representative Stephen McLean said.
Vale Zoffany
Zoffany (Ire), a Group 1-winning son of Dansili (Ire) and successful sire, has died aged 13 at Coolmore Stud due to liver failure.
“Zoffany was a great servant and he’ll be a big loss,” said Coolmore’s David O’Loughlin.
He won on debut in April of his 2-year-old campaign and proved an honest and tough performer throughout the season, winning five of his six starts including the G3 Tyros S. and G1 Phoenix S. for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O’Brien before finishing third in the G1 National S.
He became best known the next season as the horse to almost run down Frankel (GB) in the G1 St James’s Palace S., pushing the unbeaten champion to 0.75l before again finishing second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat.
Zoffany sired 38 stakes winners with three at the highest level including the G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club winner Ventura Storm (Ire), also successful in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup and placed in the G1 Turnbull S. and G1 Australian Cup.
Beauden defends crown
Exciting stayer Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) returned to the scene of his 2020 triumph in the Listed Japac Marton Cup on Saturday and made it back-to-back victories in the race with a devastating performance.
The Team Rogerson-trained 6-year-old came into the race off the back of an emphatic 4l win in the Taupo Cup, where regular rider Ryan Elliot had set him alight well before the home turn that day to blitz his race rivals.
Beauden (NZ) | Image by Peter Rubery of Race Images
Elliot adopted similar tactics on Saturday as he stalked the speed on the topweight before joining issue at the 600 metre mark. Beauden bounded to the front rounding the home bend and kept up a strong gallop to jog home to win by 3.5l.
“He’s back to his best and we thought he would be hard to beat,” co-trainer Graeme Rogerson said. “He’s a Cup horse and the win won’t see him re-handicapped for the G3 Wellington Cup.”
Back in business
Smart filly Bonham (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was back to winning ways at Awapuni courtesy of a fine Lisa Allpress ride.
Trained by Johnno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, Bonham won her first two starts before she finished seventh after racing three wide in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
In her first appearance since the Classic, Bonham raced midfield on the fence and Allpress brought her with a strong run along the fence to land the Spreading Bulk 1400. Shorter-term options include the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic or the G1 Levin Classic.
Weight no issue
Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) produced a powerful display of weight-carrying when he lumped 63kg to victory at Awapuni.
The G1 Tarzino Trophy winner gave runner-up Times Ticking (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) a whopping 10kg and a beating in the Property Brokers 1400.
Trainer John Bary had the option of a claiming apprentice to lighten the load, but elected to stick with regular rider Jonathan Riddell to continue Callsign Mav’s education and getting him to settle with the long-term aim of Group 1 success at 1600 metres and beyond.
“I think he showed he can get the 1600 metres so the G1 Thorndon Mile is an option we will consider for him,” Bary said.
Top sire retired
Lane’s End Farm has announced that perennial leading sire and 2000 champion older horse Lemon Drop Kid (USA) has been pensioned from stallion duties. The 25-year-old will remain at the stud to enjoy the rest of his retirement.
Lemon Drop Kid is responsible for siring 98 black-type winners and 46 Graded winners worldwide to date, including Grade I winners Beach Patrol (USA), Cannock Chase (USA), Citronnade (USA), Christmas Kid (USA), Lemons Forever (USA), Romantic Vision (USA), Richard’s Kid (USA), Santa Teresita (USA) and Somali Lemonade (USA).
“Lemon Drop Kid has been a Lane’s End stalwart for 20 years,” Bill Farish said. “We are very fortunate to be associated with a horse like him. We want to thank the syndicate members and breeders who have supported him for the past two decades. His legacy will live on through his sons and daughters across the globe.”
