Daily News Wrap

Live Classic Sale

Preparations are ongoing for next month’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, which will proceed as a live auction at Riverside from February 7 to 9.

Inglis is continuing to work with respective State Government authorities and other bodies to further develop COVID-19 protocols that will allow for attendance at the Sale by interstate participants while facilitating their safe and responsible return home.

“The permit system now in place for travel to Victoria is a very positive development for those looking to participate in the Sale,” Inglis Managing Director, Mark Webster, said.

“It is an excellent catalogue of horses for what year-after-year proves itself to be the best-value yearling sale on the calendar and we are excited to get the 2021 Inglis Yearling Sales Series up and going with Classic on February 7.”

The 2021 Classic Yearling Sale, for which 803 yearlings have been catalogued, includes the progeny of 108 different stallions offered by 76 individual vendors.

Three-strong hand

The scratching of Fake Love (I Am Invincible) from The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic has handed Chris Waller a third runner with first emergency Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock) gaining a run.

“It is with great disappointment that we announce that Fake Love has been scratched due to still being sore on her near fore this (Friday) morning,” the filly’s stable said in a statement.

“While this is frustrating for all concerned, the well-being of the horse is our priority and we look forward to getting her sound, with lofty targets ahead for the second half of the season.”

Glen Boss had been booked to ride Fake Love and he has picked up the ride on Ranch Hand who joins stablemates She’s All Class (I Am Invincible) and Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) in the field.

Fillies leads Waller troupe

Last season’s G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) won a star-studded 900 metre trial at Rosehill on Friday morning with all 10 contestants from Chris Waller’s stable.

Hungry Heart, in the hands of Kathy O’Hara, claimed the heat by 0.1l from multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi), who was kept under a tight rein throughout by jockey Tim Clark.

The G1 Flight S. winner Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and Tommy Berry finished a close third while the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner September Run (Exceed And Excel) ran sixth after making the running and wasn’t pressured by Jason Collett in the run home.

Star mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) also enjoyed a quiet hitout and was under a good hold at the post by Kerrin McEvoy in eighth spot.

Dual Group 1-winning 3-year-old Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) also stepped out in a 900 metre heat and was allowed to cruise home under his own steam by Berry to finish fourth behind stablemate Greyworm (Master Of Design).

Filly hard to roll

Co-trainer Michael Freedman believes Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) is a major contender for top honours in the Gold Coast R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

“She hasn’t raced for a couple of weeks since she last raced in the Listed Gosford Guineas, but she hasn’t had to do much,” he told Queensland Racing.

“She’s only had three weeks off since her Group 1 run and she maintained her residual fitness from that race for the Gosford Guineas. It’s just been a matter of keeping her ticking over.

“Her form reads pretty well after only going down by a narrow margin in a Group 1.”

Expensive colt scores

High-priced youngster Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) was a comfortable winner of his first trial when successful over 900 metres at Rosehill on Friday.

With jockey Sam Clipperton sporting the Coolmore colours, the Chris Waller-trained 2-year-old accounted for Peter and Paul Snowden’s King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) by 2l.

Home Affairs was bred by Torryburn Stud and bought out of its Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft by Tom Magnier for $875,000. The colt is out of a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner and sire Russian Revolution.

Waller also produced Authentic Jewel (I Am Invincible) to win the fillies’ juvenile heat and she was bought for $650,000 by BK Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock out of breeder Yulong’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. She is from the legendary Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) family.

Fresh Fagergino a threat

Fresh is best for specialist short-course performer Fabergino (Maschino), who will step out in Saturday’s Listed Kensington S. at Flemington.

The Tiarnna Robertson-trained mare will run over her favourite 1000 metre trip and is unbeaten over the course in distance in two appearances.

Fabergino, who will be ridden by Jordan Childs, missed out in the G1 VRC Classic two runs back and then led all the way at Flemington last month to post the 10th win of her 16-start career.

Te Akau pair in

Te Akau has bolstered its numbers for the NZ$1 million R. Listed Doubletree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO with a good result at Tauranga on Friday.

The Jamie Richards-trained pair of Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Sneaky Shark (Capitalist) contested the Ray White Papamoa 2YO (1200 metres) and both have earned enough money to make it into the 14-horse field for next Saturday’s rich race.

Millefiori was given a perfect trip by jockey Samantha Collet in the tail and rounded off well in the straight to win with Sneaky Shark running on late for fifth.

“It was a nice win. It’s well documented that we have had a bit of trouble with her. She just had a temperature last time in before she ran. We had her on a bit of treatment and thankfully she has come right,” Richards said.

Hunta Pence chasing hat-trick

Hunta Pence (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) will be out to make it three stakes victories on-end when he contests the G3 Dixon & Dunlop Trentham S. on Saturday.

The Patrick Campbell-trained gelding was victorious in the Listed Wanganui Cup in November before recording a nose victory in the G3 Manawatu Cup at Awapuni last month.

“I thought the Wanganui win was great and then to follow it up in the Manawatu Cup was a blessing,” Campbell said. “You have got to be realistic under the terms of this race, with set-weights and penalties.

“The two horses (Dolcetto and Camino Rocoso) that finished behind him in the Manawatu Cup meet him so much better under the race conditions. If he can run in the money I would be more than happy.”

Sir Patrick excited

Sir Patrick Hogan is looking forward to getting back to Karaka for New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series.

Sir Patrick, 81, has battled ill-health in recent years, but has a spring in his step as he looks forward to seeing his 14 yearlings go under the hammer.

Among his yearlings are three by first-season sire Almanzor (Fr), with one each selling through the Carlaw Park, Woburn Farm and Cambridge Stud drafts and is also confident about the prospects of a Written Tycoon colt (Lot 52) out of Pussy O'Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Lot 461, a colt by Pierro out of the stakes-performed Redoute’s Choice mare Joy's Choice (NZ) is also sure to prove popular.

“There is a Tavistock colt out of La Belle Beel (Lot 487), who is an absolute typical Tavistock. When he presents for inspection, straight away you say, this is a Derby colt,” Sir Patrick said. “I’ve also got a Shalaa colt out of Diamaint (Lot 346), who is a strong, low-set sprinter type of yearling.”

Tatts catalogue out

Tattersalls has catalogued 497 horses for its two-day February Sale, which takes place at Park Paddocks on February 4 and 5.

The largest consignment comes from The Castlebridge Consignment, which fields 47 including the 92-rated 4-year-old filly Dancing Feet (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) (Lot 460), a three-time winner in 2020 for Archie Watson; the 3-year-old filly Coloratura Soprano (Ity) (Golden Horn {GB}), a half-sister to last year’s G2 Oaks d’Italia scorer Auyantepui (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) (Lot 162) and Aubade (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (Lot 163), an unraced 3-year-old half-sister to three stakes winners from the family of the outstanding producer Halfway To Heaven (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell have 49 horses catalogued between them. Juddmonte’s drafts always draw plenty of attention and this time around it includes At Ease (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (Lot 385), a winning 4-year-old daughter of dual Grade 1 winner Jostle (USA) (Brocco {USA}).