Ryan still on the search for Star hoop
Tasmanian-trainer Bill Ryan still remains without a rider for his classy mare Still A Star (Toronado {Ire}) in Saturday’s G3 Victoria H. at Caulfield, after leading Victorian hoop and original booking Luke Currie committed to the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau).
Usual acquaintance Brendon McCoull has also been ruled out due to the 4-year-old being allocated only 54kgs for the 1400 metre feature.
"Luke was riding her up until yesterday and then he rang me," Ryan said.
"Obviously he can't ride mine, he has got to ride McEvoy’s'. So the hunt is on.
"The only problem is we're on the minimum at 54kg, so it narrows the field down a fair bit as to who you can get to ride it."
Import purchases halted
Director of Australian Bloodstock Jamie Lovett says that all buyers of international spring Cups contenders are awaiting the announcement of Racing Victoria’s updated import policies and directive, prior to committing to potential purchases.
Lovett described the process as more difficult than usual but was full of praise for the way RV and the Victoria Racing Club have gone about finalising their report into the deaths of horses in the time-honoured G1 Melbourne Cup.
Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett
"We are just on hold; everyone is in the same boat. We will see what eventuates and what the framework is to work within," Lovett told Racing.com.
"RV has been great. There's been plenty of input and plenty of dialogue from all interest parties," Lovett said.
"Ultimately we just have to see what outcomes are generated. They certainly haven't rushed in, I'll give them credit, they have listened to all different participants."
Juvenile stars sent for spell
G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) and G1 Blue Diamond S. champion Artorius (Flying Artie) won’t push on to the G1 ATC Sires' Produce S. at Randwick on April 10, according to connections.
Father and son combination Anthony and Sam Freedman touted the G1 Coolmore Stud S. over 1200 metres at Flemington on Derby Day or the G1 Caulfield Guineas as potential spring options for Artorius, while connections of Stay Inside were noncommittal according to co-trainer Richard Freedman.
Stay Inside
“He’s done his job and we don’t want to make the mistake of going back to the well too often,” Freedman told Racenet.
“The horse has pulled up really well but collectively we felt the best decision is to put him out now in really good nick.
“He’s only had two preparations in the stable and only went to the races for the first time in January. There is nothing else to prove.”
Caseys consider Victorian satellite set-up
The WA-based partnership of Jake and Sean Casey are considering the possibility of setting up a satellite stable in Melbourne, after a successful 2021 autumn carnival, which was highlighted by stable star Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) taking out the Listed Mornington Guineas.
“We’re toying with that idea,” Sean Casey told Racing.com.
“It was always going to be educational and now we have our sea legs over there and know our way around, and know the ability the horses have to have."
Tancred on the agenda for Dragonet
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher has floated the possibility of star entire Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) backing up in this Saturday’s G1 Tancred S. at Rosehill.
Maher believes the 2400 metre feature is right up his galloper's alley, confirming the 5-year-old is showing signs of his G1 Cox Plate-winning form.
Sir Dragonet (Ire)
"We'll just see how he comes through it but obviously he was right back up to form on Saturday (in the Ranvet)," Maher told Racing.com.
"A mile and a-half, that's right in his wheelhouse and he's been in work basically since the spring, so fitness-wise he'll be okay, but we'll just see how he is for the rest of the week.
"He was really strong through the line and had a little blow as well, so that should clean him up pretty well.”
Melody Belle settles in
New Zealand’s darling of the turf, Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), has crossed the Tasman and has settled in well to her Randwick base ahead of the G1 Tancred S. at Rosehill.
“She’s a frequent flyer and a seasoned traveller now,” trainer Jamie Richards told SENTrack.
“She has settled in well at JT’s (John Thompson’s) at Randwick and had a bit of a canter on the poly on Tuesday morning. She seems to have arrived in good shape.”
The daughter of Commands will be tested over 2400 metres for the first time in her career on Saturday, but that bodes no concerns for Richards, who believes she will thrive over the distance.
“I think she has been looking for it for quite some time, but we just haven’t had the right opportunity to try her at that trip,” he said. “She got caught out in the spring against the Aussie sprinters in Sydney, so she clearly needs more ground than that.”
Rothfire firing towards return
Queensland-based trainer Rob Heathcote is confident that his star gelding Rothfire (Rothesay) can return to full athletic ability.
Last year’s G2 Run To The Rose winner has continued to recover well from a fracture to his sesamoid bone suffered in last year’s G1 Golden Rose, according to Heathcote.
He said Rothfire will step out in the G2 The Shorts over 1100 metres and the G2 Premiere S. over 1200 metres in hope of securing a slot in the $14 million The Everest.
Rothfire
“I have been out to Washpool to have a good look at him and I am delighted how well he is looking,” Heathcote told Racenet.
“He has had a month in the paddock where he is now running around and behaving like a ‘horse’ again.
“He was initially a little hesitant once he was in the spelling paddock and had some freedom to run around but it didn’t take him long to realise, he is good to go again. His fetlock joints look in great order."
Weather a worry
Plans for leading juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel) will be determined by the volume of rain in the coming days, with the Jamie Richards-trained colt a warm favourite for Saturday’s G1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.
“We gave him some work on Tuesday morning like he is going to Awapuni for the Sires'," Richards said. “We have probably got to pay up and then work out by Thursday morning how we think the weather is going to be.”
Irrespective of whether Sword Of State takes his place on Saturday, Richards will have a strong hand with R. Listed Karaka Million winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) a likely starter, joined by late nominee I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel).
Boss to ride classy NZ filly
New Zealand Group 3-winning filly Force Of Will (NZ) (Power {GB}) is set to contest Saturday’s G1 Vinery Stud S. at Rosehill.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 3-year-old arrived in Sydney on Monday and is slowly settling into her new surroundings ahead of her maiden Australian start.
Glen Boss
Leading hoop Glen Boss confirmed via RSN927 on Tuesday that he will ride the exciting talent in the $500,000 feature.
“She arrived yesterday evening. She went for a trot and canter this morning and she is sound,” O’Sullivan told SENtrack.
“She didn’t eat a lot of food last night, but it’s still early days yet and hopefully 24 hours on she will be far happier. She looks very well in herself, but it’s all very new to her at the moment.”
Equine fatality rate at record low
According to the Equine Injury Database, released on Monday, there were 1.41 fatalities per 1000 starters at North American racetracks in 2020, the lowest number recorded since The Jockey Club began compiling injury rates in 2009. The number of fatal injuries declined by 7.8 per cent from 2019 and 29.5 per cent overall since 2009, when the rate was 2.0 per 1000 starters.
“Overall, there was an 8 per cent decrease in the risk of fatal injury from 2019 to 2020,” said Dr. Tim Parkin, a veterinary epidemiologist. “Since 2009, risk has declined by 29.5 per cent or equivalent to 140 fewer horses sustaining a fatal injury while racing in 2020 than would have occurred had there been no change in risk since 2009. We will dig deeper into the numbers in the coming months to better understand trends in the 2020 data.”
There was also good news out of Santa Anita, which reported six deaths for the year for a rate of 1.17. Just a year earlier, in 2019, when the breakdowns at Santa Anita were making headlines and giving ammunition to animal rights activists, there were 20 deaths for a rate of 3.01 per 1000 starters. The 2020 numbers at Santa Anita were the lowest since 2009 when the main track was a synthetic surface.
