Wet weather could derail Slipper Day
The Australian Turf Club's General Manager of Tracks, Nevash Ramdhani isn’t willing to make a concrete decision on the potential abandonment of Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper S.
Ramdhani said that liaison with the Bureau Of Meteorology at around 2pm local time tomorrow would confirm whether the Rosehill meeting will proceed.
“To be honest, we just don’t know. However, the forecasts have been a fair way off the mark. Last week, for instance, they predicted 70-80mls and we got seven,” Ramdhani told RSN927.
“The area of concern is what we might get Saturday and we’re going to get a better indication from the BOM tomorrow than we would today. The most reliable information will come as late as we can get it.”
Surprise Baby recovering well
Trainer Paul Preusker has confirmed that star stayer Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) is recovering well from a hairline fracture to his third tarsal bone.
The Horsham-based horseman remains hopeful that the lightly raced 6-year-old will return to the track and compete at the highest level again.
Surprise Baby (NZ)
“The horse will always be put first and we won’t put any pressure on him, he’ll be ready when he is ready,” Preusker told Racing.com.
“However, the vets seemed confident everything went well and all he needs now is time on his side and a little bit of luck.”
Affair To Remember's career likely to be cut short
Trainer Dan O’Sullivan has announced that Group 2-winning mare Affair To Remember (Toronado {Ire}) is unlikely to race again, after bone scans on Tuesday confirmed significant bruising to her hoof.
O’Sullivan explained that the breeding barn would be calling by the time the 4-year-old recovered from the serious injury.
Affair To Remember
“There’s some potential she could race again but its (hoof) got to hold. If it doesn’t hold it dies and then it has to grow out, and that’s three months away and it's close to breeding season by then and she’s worth a lot of money,” Bowman told Racing.com.
“It’s just so frustrating but we can’t change it now.’’
Damien Oliver to pilot star mare
Champion hoop Damien Oliver will replace William Pike aboard star mare Arcadia Queen (Pierro) in Saturday’s G1 George Ryder S.
Oliver was delighted to secure the ride, stating that he was looking forward to reuniting with leviathan owner, Bob Peters.
“I’ve had success with Bob going back a long time and she’s (Arcadia Queen) a star,” Oliver told Racing.com.
Arcadia Queen
Dalasan to target Doncaster
Co-trainer Andrew Gluyas has confirmed stable star Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) will head towards the G1 Doncaster Mile, bearing he comes through his second-up assignment in Saturday’s G1 George Ryder S.
Gluyas said that the flashy chestnut has settled in to his Sydney surroundings at the Team Hawkes stables in good order, ahead of his eighth attempt at Group 1 glory.
“Tommy (Berry) rode him in his final piece of serious work on Tuesday morning and also provided some good feedback,” Gluyas told Racing.com.
“And all being well, after Saturday we will then head towards the Doncaster.”
Sargent delighted by first Slipper starter
Trainer John Sargent is expecting his first ever G1 Golden Slipper S. starter, Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) to relish a Heavy surface at Rosehill on Saturday.
“She seems to handle it that’s for sure and her half-sister Emeralds loves the wet, so hopefully we get her to Saturday in good order because the track won’t play a major part,” Sargent told RSN927.
Four Moves Ahead
Berry declares Slipper tactics
Leading Sydney jockey Tommy Berry has declared that he is more than likely to push forward from barrier three on classy colt Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) in Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper S.
Berry is hopeful of following last year’s winning hoop, Hugh Bowman, from the jump and taking a sit in behind his mount Profiteer (Capitalist).
“Barrier three takes the pressure off him (Stay Inside) a little bit and gives us the option to be where we would like,” Berry told Racenet.
“Profiteer is a horse we could follow from the draw and I would be happy to do so as there is plenty of pressure out wide.”
First-season sire Capitalist eyes rare company
Leading first-season sire Capitalist is looking to emulate champion juveniles, Stratum and Marauding (NZ) as only the third G1 Golden Slipper S. winner to sire a subsequent winner in his first season at stud.
The former Peter and Paul Snowden-trained galloper will have race favourite Profiteer and fellow Team Snowden-trained Kalashnikov, owned by James Harron Bloodstock, representing him in the $3.5 million feature at Rosehill on Saturday.
Blackmore makes history at Cheltenham
Irish jumps jockey Rachael Blackmore has become the first female jockey to win a championship race at the time-honoured Cheltenham Festival.
Blackmore steered the Kenny Alexander-trained Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) to success in a thrilling edition of the G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle.
The 31-year-old was elated by her ground-breaking victory in her post-race address.
“There is no deal about being a female jockey anymore. If you want to be a jockey you can be a jockey, drive on,” she said.
Grangewilliam Stud secure Miss Federer
Grangewilliam Stud Principal, Mark Corocran, has confirmed that their latest broodmare acquisition Miss Federer (Swiss Ace) will be covered by resident sire and former Australian Group 2-winning sprinter Derryn.
The multiple stakes winner and former Andrew Carson-trained galloper was secured for NZ$95,000 on Monday night via, Gavelhouse Plus online.
“Derryn is a Group 1-performed son of Hinchinbrook whose yearlings are great types, who walk with purpose and the feedback from the breakers is fantastic,” Corocran told Breednet.
“He has all the key attributes to be a success at stud and the mating with Miss Federer will put plenty of strength over her, and I believe her speed and precociousness will provide a lovely match with Derryn’s impressive acceleration and fight at the business end of a race.”
Sinarahma primed for Trentham tilt
New Zealand-trainer Allan Sharrock is confident that his star mare Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) can prevail in Saturday’s G3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle S.
The classy 6-year-old flashed home into second behind champion mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in the G1 Thorndon Mile, after blowing the start at her last Trentham attempt.
The five-time winner has since finished fifth in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. (2000 metres) at Te Rapa and was in line for the G1 Auckland Cup over two-miles before Sharrock elected otherwise.
“We toyed with going to the Auckland Cup, but when they closed the window to six days,” Sharrock said.
“She races well at Wellington (Trentham) and it is not a deep field in numbers, and she will be strong late as well if she goes away from the barrier.”
Strong start at OBS
A filly by Coolmore America’s Munnings (USA) and a colt by Violence (USA) shared top honours at US$550,000 during the opener of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
A total of 160 head changed hands Tuesday for gross receipts of US$18,482,500 at an average of US$115,516 and a median of US$62,500. The RNA rate as of Tuesday evening stood at 20 per cent.
While exact year-to-year comparisons are somewhat difficult due to OBS policy of adding subsequent post-sale transactions to its official statistics, it's clear that participants found a far different market than they did 12 months ago, when the industry and world at large was right on the precipice of COVID-19 shutting down everything and the sport was still trying to weigh the impact of a high-profile doping scandal.
