Enthaar in, Dosh out
Enthaar (Written Tycoon) has been given a clean bill of health and will run in the G1 Blue Diamond S., while another unbeaten filly Dosh (Rich Enuff) will miss the race.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Enthaar pulled a shoe on Thursday to throw a scare into the camp.
“She‘s in great condition. We just hope for her to run well and come home safely,” Assistant Trainer Lucy Yeomans told Racing.com. “We think we’ve got the best horse in the race. We’re as confident as you can be going into a Group 1.”
Enthaar
Dosh (Rich Enuff) was to have undergone a veterinary inspection on Friday, but trainer Grahame Begg pre-empted that by scratching the youngster, who has been suffering from a bruised heel.
Marine One (Capitalist) will be reassessed on Saturday morning following a second inspection on Friday.
Strong hand to play
Last-start winners Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Zethus (Exceed And Excel) give James Cummings a powerful hand in the G2 Iron Jack Silver Slipper S. at Rosehill.
Paulele will be ridden by Hugh Bowman when he resumes from a break following a successful first campaign.
“His track performances, unbeaten in two starts, have stamped him as a colt with above-average ability,” Cummings said.
“Saturday’s contest presents a new level and he will have to be on his game to be competitive in this classy contest.”
Zethus won the G3 Canonbury S. last time out and will again be partnered by Rachel King.
“He comes here with race fitness on his side and has continued to improve,” Cummings said “His last-start victory showed us he knows how to win and a repeat of that determined finish, to win the Canonbury, will see him delight his supporters.”
On Classic path
Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) will line-up in the G2 Millie Fox S. at Rosehill on Saturday ahead of a tilt at the G1 Coolmore Classic next month.
“She has returned well from her summer break,” trainer Chris Waller said. “She would appreciate the track improving a little and she loves Rosehill. She has trialled and worked well so I am expecting a good showing from her first-up.
“It was my preference to give them both (Subpoenaed and Madam Rouge) two runs into the Coolmore, but as time is likely to be against us. They will both probably have a trial to ensure they can run in the Coolmore second-up over the 1500 metre distance.”
Quality mare on offer
A stakes-performed mare with a colt at foot by Written Tycoon and in foal to Street Boss (USA) headlines Inglis’ Digital catalogue of 262 lots in the February (Late) Online Sale.
Divine Power (NZ)
Consigned by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock as agent, Divine Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) was a 2-year-old winner and placed in the G3 Wellington S. and is a grand-daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Lashed (Encosta De Lago).
The February (Late) Sale is the biggest Inglis Digital catalogue so far this year, with 156 lots alone in the racehorse categories. There are also 70 broodmares, 19 yearlings, 13 shares, three unbroken stock and one stallion, the G2 Prix de Chantilly winner Spiritjim (Fr) offered by Sun Stud as agent.
Group 1 form on display
Wren’s Day (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) looks well out of place at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
He will make his first appearance from Cody Morgan’s stable in the Class Three sprint and as an international Group 1 placegetter looks well-treated with 59kg.
Wren’s Day finished second to Cracksman (GB) in the 2018 G1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp and was subsequently transferred from Andre Fabre’s yard to James Cummings.
He was successful in a couple of minor events before he was bought by Australian Bloodstock for $140,000 at the Magic Millions National Racehorse Sale.
Camelot cruises around
The All-Star Mile contender Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) stretched his legs on Friday morning with an 800 metre jump-out at Flemington.
Trainer Danny O’Brien had given some thought to running him in Saturday’s G1 Futurity S., but has opted to keep him fresh.
Russian Camelot (Ire)
“I think we’ve done enough with him, he could’ve easily run this weekend if we really wanted to but opted to trial him this morning instead on the course proper,” O’Brien told Racing.com.
“He sat at the back at the trials and we asked him to do a bit late. We have got another few weeks to give him a couple more gallops, but there will be no excuses fitness wise by the time we get there.”
Derby contender
Il Affare's (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) iron constitution will serve her well as she continues her Classic preparation at Ellerslie this weekend.
That's the word from the filly's co-trainer Peter Williams ahead of Saturday's G2 AJC Avondale Guineas. She will back up after running fourth in last Saturday's G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic at Te Rapa.
"She's fine. She's one of those fillies that does pretty well and we wanted to give her one more run before the Derby," Williams said. "She'll run this weekend and then it's two weeks into the Derby. They've got to be fit to run the Derby."
Noverre opens account
High-priced youngster Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel) showed he had a bright future with a dominant first career victory at Wanganui on Friday.
The Waikato Stud-bred and sold colt was sent out at short odds in the 2-year-old event and the Jamie Richards-trained youngster was untested to the hands of Opie Bosson to justify his favouritism.
Noverre was the third highest-priced lot during the Book 1 session at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale when he was purchased by David Ellis out of Waikato Stud’s draft for $800,000. He is a son of Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), a smart performer who won the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic.
Nearing return
Group 3-winning mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) had a gallop between races at Wanganui on Friday after the trials were called off at Te Rapa earlier in the week.
The Robbie Patterson-trained 5-year-old was placed in the G2 Rich Hill Mile at her most recent start on New Year’s Day, having won the G3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa in mid-December.
“She will go to a fillies and mares' set weights and penalties race on Saturday week at Matamata. The plan is to then go to the G3 Cuddle S. and then on to the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., all going well.”
Hot performance
Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) failed to sparkle first-up, but she was ready second time around to win the Meydan G2 Balanchine S.
“Obviously, she ran with the hood on this time, which has helped her. We ticked a few more boxes on the way in and obviously James (Doyle, jockey) gave her a great ride on the front end and she got a soft lead,” trainer Charlie Appleby said.
Ridden by James Doyle, Summer Romance revelled in her work at the head of affairs and raced clear to beat Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) by 2.25l.
Smart start to career
Mnasek (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) continued her impressive form at Meydan, posting her second win from three starts and first stakes win with a facile score in the G3 UAE Oaks.
“She just goes out there and tries hard. We've done very little with her since she last ran. She's a small filly and she has a lot of talent,” trainer Doug Watson said.
“I don't know if they'll want to run her in the G2 UAE Derby, but who knows. The owners should send her to America. She's got a lot of options over there. If she stays sound and training like she is, she could win over there.”
Stakes targets
Regally-bred filly Aquaoir (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will head to Ellerslie on Saturday in preparation for a tilt at the G3 Sunline Vase next month.
The Cody Cole-trained 3-year-old is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins).
Aquaoir placed in her two initial starts before recording her maiden win at Matamata last month over a mile. She drops back in distance to 1500 metres in the Ecochill H. on Saturday after Cole had to rejig his plans with her after she tied-up last month.
“It is a big step-up and 1500 metres is probably not really ideal for her, she just had a wee setback and that kind of changed our plans a bit,” Cole said.
Cole had eyed the Sunline Vase as a major target for his filly this autumn and he said Saturday’s run is a stepping stone to getting there.
