Daily News Wrap

Career in doubt for Queen

Superstar mare Arcadia Queen’s (Pierro) racing future remains in limbo after scans on Wednesday revealed tendon damage.

Leviathan owner Bob Peters is still holding out hope that his Group 1-winning galloper can return to the track, declaring that he will wait until inflammation settles before making a concrete decision.

‘’I don’t think it is bad but it doesn’t really matter because once you start dealing with tendons, it can be a long time in recovery and there are no guarantees,’’ Peters told Racing.com.

‘’She has inflammation of the tendon in the nearside front and with any tendon injuries you have to be very careful, so she’ll be scratched from her entries.”

Classique returns to Bridge

Superstar sprinter Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) is set to defend his $14 million The Everest crown, after it was announced that the gun gelding will return to former trainer Les Bridge in Sydney.

Hong Kong-based horseman Caspar Fownes confirmed that the 5-year-old will no longer remain in his care, after connections decided to call time on his international stint in wake of a mandatory three-month ban being enforced after a recent bleeding attack.

“He was absolutely flying. We got him to where we wanted to get him and then he comes back, he coughs a couple of times and there is a little trickle of blood and I have to call time unfortunately,” Fownes told the Post.

“However, the horse is intact, he’s going to be fine. He’ll go back to Australia and they’ll give him back to Mr Bridge and, god willing, they can win The Everest again.

“I think that’s the right way to go. ‘Bon’ (owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui) was very good, obviously he was saddened by what’s happened, but he’s taken the news as well as you can take it.”

Top filly looks Ahead to next Group 1 task

Trainer John Sargent is expecting a bold showing from his star filly, Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel), when she steps out in next month’s G1 Sires' Produce S. at Randwick.

Sargent confirmed the classy juvenile to be well within herself, stating that she has come through her fourth-placed effort in last Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper S. in good order.

“It was a month between runs heading into the Slipper and she didn’t enjoy the gluey track at Randwick, but the winner won really well anyway,” Sargent told Racenet.

“She should improve two weeks between runs and is bred to get the mile so the 1400 metres shouldn’t be a problem.”

Stable eyes Coolmore with Profiteer

Co-trainer Mick Kent Jnr believes leading juvenile Profiteer (Capitalist) to be a Group 1 winner in waiting.

Kent Jnr is confident that the classy colt still has his best racing ahead, despite his last-start failure in the G1 Golden Slipper S.

He said the stable will send the talented 2-year-old to the paddock prior to unleashing him down the Flemington straight during the Melbourne spring carnival.

"His debut performance down the straight was super, so he's ticked that box. There are no real plans, but you would think a race like that would be ideal for him,” Kent Jnr told RSN927.

"He has to learn to harness his energy a little bit, but we have no doubt he will get 1200 metres, as he was beaten a nose in the Todman and wasn't fit that day.”

Queensland on cards for Mugatoo

Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett expects The All-Star Mile winner Mugatoo (Ire) (Henrythenavigator {USA}) to press on after next Saturday’s G1 Doncaster H.

Lovett declared that it would be unlikely to see the Kris Lees-trained gelding back-up in to the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on April 17.

He said the G1 Doomben Cup over 2000 metres looms as a potential alternative for the star gelding.

"It would be unlikely he backs up unless we got a good, Soft track on Doncaster Day because he seems to bounce out of them. Firm tracks he needs a bit of time," Lovett told Racing.com.

Steinem shines at Sandown

Co-trainer David Eustace has identified the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville as a potential autumn grand final for exciting filly Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}), after the lightly raced filly bolted in by 3.5l at Sandown on Wednesday.

Jockey Jye McNeil was delighted by the 3-year-old's second-start performance, declaring that she still has plenty of improvement to come.

"I did have a lot of ground to make up but initially after letting down I was worried whether I got there too early, she really put them away really quickly,” McNeil told Racing.com post-race.

"Thankfully she's switched on and smart enough to go on with it. She's a nice one for the future.

"Based on the feel and the progress she's made (from her debut) there's more improvement to come as well. She is going to get over further ground I suspect."

Stokes eyes Sydney Cup

Trainer Phillip Stokes expects Saturday’s G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield to bring on last start G2 Adelaide Cup winner Good Idea (So You Think {NZ}) perfectly for next month’s G1 Sydney Cup.

He said the rising 6-year-old is continuing to improve with age and will be aimed at November's G1 Melbourne Cup.

"He's rock-hard fit. We've just got to get this run into him to keep him on track going onwards to the Sydney Cup,” Stokes told Racing.com.

"He'd probably be better with a bit of moisture in the ground and although he might not get it with this weekend, but we probably will in Sydney.

"It's Sydney Cup then a break for the spring. He's getting closer to qualifying for the Melbourne Cup and a good run in Sydney would help for sure. He runs the trip, and any wet tracks will suit him down to the ground."

Waller stable staff party probe finds ‘no evidence’ of drugs

Queensland Racing Integrity Commission boss Mark Ainsworth has confirmed that two, now former, Chris Waller staffers involved in a post-work punch on were not under the influence of illicit drugs at the time of the altercation.

It had been announced at the time by well-known broadcaster Ray Hadley on his 2GB radio that the physical altercation involved a drug issue. However, a subsequent investigation into the incident by Queensland Racing Integrity confirmed otherwise.

“It has been determined there were no breaches of the rules of racing and no evidence of any drugs being present or consumed during what was effectively after-work drinks,” Ainsworth told Racenet.

“The incident occurred at a private residence; it was not a licensed stable, training venue or a racecourse.

“Nor did the incident occur at a race meeting or while the licensed participants were working in a licensed capacity.”

Ryan confirms ride for star

Tasmanian trainer Bill Ryan has confirmed that rising young hoop Michael Poy will ride his stable's first lady, Still A Star (Toronado {Ire}), in Saturday’s G3 Victoria H.

Ryan is confident the classy 4-year-old can make amends for her lacklustre last start showing when she steps out in the 1400 metre feature.

He said his doctors have confirmed his medication is keeping his terminal lung cancer at bay and that he will be on course cheering home his bonny mare.

“We know now that she cannot handle a Heavy track,” Ryan told RSN927.

“She came through it excellent, and she surprised us how well she handled the trip (to and from Tasmania).”

Ellis eyes Melbourne spring riches

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis has his sights set on the G1 Caulfield Cup with star New Zealand galloper Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) this spring.

Ellis is confident that the G1 NZ Oaks winner can stamp herself as a top tier talent by accounting for the best fillies Australia has to offer in the G1 Australian Oaks over 2400 metres at Randwick on April 17.

"She's ideally suited to a Caulfield Cup and that is the race we will set her for,” Ellis told RSN927.

Sires’ fight back on for star NZ juvenile

Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis has confirmed that star NZ juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel) will contest the G1 ATC Sires' Produce S. at Randwick next month.

Ellis declared the Jamie Richards-trained galloper to be in fantastic order ahead of his first trip across the Tasman.

He said the last start Group 1 winner will arrive in Sydney next Monday, in preparation for his biggest test to date.

“It probably will be just a run in the Sires’ and then he will head for a spell before we look to run him again in Sydney in the spring. Then we will look at Melbourne,” Ellis told RSN927.

Mer De Glace to stand in Turkey

2019 G1 Caulfield Cup-winning entire Mer De Glace (Jpn) will stand in Turkey, according to Turkish Bloodstock.

The multiple Japanese Group 3 winner was acquired by Keles Ekurisi, Ozcolak Stud and Olguner Ekurisi. He hails from the extended family European champion Blue Note (Fr) (Habitat {GB}), dam of fellow European heavyweight Blue Duster (GB) (Danzig {GB}) and her full brother Zieten (GB) (Danzig {GB}), who won the G1 Middle Park S.