Waller wary of tempo
Trainer Chris Waller is expecting a brutally run G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. which could leave superstar sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) vulnerable late.
Waller is confident that the 6-year-old can make amends for his lack-lustre spring campaign, but remains wary of sprint specialists Pippie (Written Tycoon) and Fabergino (Machino) pestering his galloper for the lead.
He said that he would prefer not to engage in their speed battle, but will leave proceedings up to leading local hoop Jamie Kah.
Nature Strip
“Last year we went too fast and didn’t respect the 1000 metres, it’s still a long way especially first-up,” he told RSN927.
“There’s such a fine line between getting it right and wrong but if he gets in a nice rhythm and is comfortable throughout, he’ll be extremely difficult to beat.”
All-Star black out
The All-Star Mile 2021 leader board has now been blacked out.
Voting for the third edition of the world’s richest mile race officially closes at 11.59pm (AEDT) on Sunday, but for the final 50 hours the live leader board will not be available to view on the official All-Star Mile website, adding to the intrigue as owners and trainers across Australia and New Zealand make a final pitch for votes before the deadline.
The top 10 vote-getters in the public vote, currently led by Arcadia Queen (Pierro), will secure a place in the $5 million race at The Valley on March 13, with five wildcards to be added in the coming weeks to deliver a final field of 15 horses.
One lucky voter will be selected to be the owner ambassador for each of the top 10 horses where they’ll get the chance to share in a prize pool of $500,000. The owner ambassador of The All-Star Mile winner will collect $250,000.
Sale on track
The 2021 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale will take place at Quercus Park, Launceston on Monday, February 22.
Magic Millions is monitoring the current COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria following the five-day lockdown announced in Victoria.
At present, the 2021 Tasmanian Yearling Sale is proceeding as scheduled with no change.
Magic Millions, Tasracing and Tasbreeders will keep industry participants informed and up-to-date with all news in relation to the Sale as soon as practical.
Callsign Mav thriving
Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) upset the apple cart when winning at odds of 82-1 in the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings last September, but he won’t start at such a lucrative price when he contests another 1400 metre weight-for-age feature on Saturday.
The John Bary-trained gelding came of age over the spring, also placing in the G1 Windsor Park Plate, and he has continued his impressive form line over the summer, placing in the G2 Manawatu Challenge S. in December before winning at Awapuni last start.
“He has held his weight really well. He is exactly the same weight as the Friday before he won, carrying 63kg. He had an exhibition gallop with Jonathan (Riddell, jockey) on him here at Hastings at the end of January, and that went extremely well,” Bary said.
Vale Ray Huxley
Respected racing journalist Ray Huxley passed away on Friday following a battle with cancer.
Huxley, 76, was a leading reporter for the Melbourne Herald, succeeding Bert Wolfe and then Jack Elliot in 1986. He was also a member of the VRMA and served on the committee and shared judging duties for the annual VRC Awards.
He began his career as a 15-year-old with The Truth and subsequently worked on the Sporting Globe, Sun, Herald and The Age and as a form analyst with RSN. He was recently acknowledged with the Bert Wolfe Award for his contribution to the thoroughbred industry.
Nothing ruled out
Leading trainer Chris Waller hasn’t ruled out running superstar mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in next month's The All-Star Mile, despite removing the six-time Group 1 winner from voting.
Waller said that the decision was made to provide the public with enough time to direct their vote elsewhere, as the stable is likely to target Sydney’s autumn features. A decision will be finalised after the 5-year-old resumes in Saturday’s G2 Apollo S. at Randwick.
“If there was a reason that we needed to go there (The All-Star Mile) we would try for a wildcard but to me it looks likely that she’ll stay in Sydney for the Chipping Norton S., Ranvet S., Tancred S. and then the Queen Elizabeth,” told RSN927.
Pernod passes away
Trelawney Stud is mourning this week’s passing of its top-class performer and successful broodmare Pernod (NZ) (Centaine). She was 23.
She won eight of her 19 starts, including the G1 Invitation S. and the G3 Tristarc S. and seven of her nine foals were successful. Among them was Martini Red (Red Ransom {USA}), who was twice successful at Group 3 level.
“She has been a wonderful broodmare to us and her legacy lives on in her daughters,” Trelawney said. “She was also a valued nanny in her later years.”
Otaki pair primed
Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard have yet to saddle a winner at Te Rapa, but classy 3-year-olds Montre Moi (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and Key (NZ) (Exceed And Excel) give them two chances to open their account with Group 2 successes on Saturday.
Montre Moi will be a favoured runner in the G2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas after flashing home for a close third in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie.
“He produced a strong finish and wasn’t far off them at the line. We came away from that pretty happy with how he’d performed,” Benner said.
Key will tackle the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic and was one of the favourites for last month’s G3 Desert Gold S. at Trentham, but finished a luckless 10th. “Nothing really went right for her that day, and she should have finished a lot closer,” Benner said.
