Mo’unga primed for Doncaster
Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) has an awkward gate to overcome in the G1 The Star Doncaster Mile, but trainer Annabel Neasham and rider Robbie Dolan don’t believe it is too much of a concern.
“It’s not an ideal barrier (21), but both of us have gone back and watched a lot of previous Doncasters and it does seem the one start at Randwick where barriers don’t matter so much, winners have drawn very wide there,” Neasham told RSN927.
“I am not overly concerned. If it was 1400 metres or a 2000 metre race I would be a bit more wary, but it is going to suit his pattern anyway. He is going to be in the second half of the field and hopefully they go hammer and tong up front and he can run over the top of them.”
Neasham said Mo’unga hadn’t missed a beat since winning the G1 Rosehill Guineas at his last appearance.
Mare Pike’s favourite
Top jockey William Pike has paid Arcadia Queen (Pierro) the highest compliment following her retirement.
"It's a little bit sad, but all things come to an end. I'm very grateful for the journey she took me on. My first Group 1 in Melbourne, so she was good to me in many ways,” he told Racing.com.
"She's the best horse I've ever ridden. She's a big, strong horse. It's well documented that she had a lot of setbacks through her career and still managed to get three Group 1s and if she didn't get so many setbacks, she may have been able to get more, that's how good she was."
Owner Bob Peters called time on Arcadia Queen’s retirement earlier this week after she suffered a tendon injury.
Lion ready to Roar
Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) will be chasing his second Group 1 victory at Randwick when he contests the G1 Australian Derby.
The John O’Shea-trained 3-year-old was victorious in the G1 Randwick Guineas at the Sydney track two starts back before running fourth behind compatriot Mo’unga in the G1 Rosehill Guineas.
“He is out of a very stout Kiwi family,” O’Shea told Sky Racing. “His grandmother is a mare called The Mighty Lions and she was a really good staying mare. Hopefully, he draws on that blood at the 200 metres on Saturday.
“He is a really relaxed customer. He just drops the bridle and that will help him get around the mile and a-half. It’s an exciting day. The owners have a genuine chance in an Australian Derby.”
Probabeel impresses
Next weekend’s G1 Coolmore Legacy favourite Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) stretched her legs during Friday morning’s Randwick trials.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the star mare settled at the back of the field in her 1200 metre heat before she picked up ground near the turn and finished strongly to win by 0.8l.
The Richard Litt-trained Centro Storico (Snitzel) measured up well in strong company during her first preparation and her trial victory under Robbie Dolan suggested she was in for a good campaign.
The quickest of the 1040 metre 2-year-old heat winners, she was given a break after fifth placings in both the G2 Sweet Embrace S. and the G3 Magic Night S.
Godolphin headlines catalogue
A Godolphin draft of seven racehorses highlights a 255-strong Inglis Digital April (Early) Online Sale, which opened for bidding on Friday afternoon.
Catalogued as lots one to seven, the Godolphin entries are 3-year-old geldings and includes city-performed Damaged (Exceed And Excel) and Raoul (Kermadec {NZ}) and will be available for inspection at Inglis' Riverside from 9am on April 13-14 (Barn B 49-57).
“This is a draft of young, lightly raced gallopers that have definite potential for future connections,” Godolphin's Australia's Managing Director Vin Cox said.
The April (Early) Online Sale includes 135 racehorses (60 race fillies), 80 broodmares, 24 yearlings, 10 weanlings, three shares and three stallions.
There are also multiple entries from Aquis Farm, Blue Gum Farm, Hawkes Racing, Kooringal Stud, Lindsay Park Racing, Rathmore Bloodstock, Rosemont Stud, Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, Toolooganvale, Turangga Farm, Widden Stud, Yarramalong Park and Yulong Investments.
The final countdown of bidding begins from 3pm AEST on Wednesday, April 14.
Vintage performance
Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel) proved a class above her rivals in the G3 Japac Homes Manawatu Breeders’ S. at Awapuni on Friday, running out an easy 3l winner.
“It was a great win by a mare that has proved herself at stakes level and is developing into a very good staying mare,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
“We scratched her from the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup last Saturday because of the wet track, after consultation with her owners Bill and Jim Gartshore. They were happy to wait, with the prospect of improving weather and footing, and it’s worked out really well.
“She will head to the G2 Travis S. at Te Rapa next and should be awfully hard to beat.”
Smart trial effort
The Phillip Stokes-prepared Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt) furthered her preparation with a trial victory over 1000 metres at Morphettville on Friday morning.
Ridden by Kayla Crowther, she hasn’t raced since finishing third in the G1 Thousand Guineas and her only defeat in five appearances.
"That was fantastic and she will take great benefit from that hitout," the trainer’s son Tommy told Racing.com. "Kayla said she felt great, but just idled a little bit late when she got to Kemalpasa.
"We now head to the Listed Redelva S. on Saturday week and then a fortnight later the G1 TAB Classic (Robert Sangster S.)."
Runner-up in the trial was Richard Jolly’s Kemalpasa (Magnus), whose main autumn aim is the G1 Goodwood.
Jockey happy
Michael Walker is bullish about Odeum (Written Tycoon) doubling her Group 1 tally in the upcoming Coolmore Legacy.
He won the G1 Thousand Guineas aboard the Mick price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly in the spring and to minor placings in both outings this preparation.
"I spoke to Mick Price and he said she worked really, really good in Sydney," Walker told Racing.com. "She is a filly that every time she steps out, she gets better and better.
“She is always on the up. She's really, really peaking at the right time for the Coolmore Legacy. I can't wait."
Lord Grimthorpe leaving
Lord (Teddy) Grimthorpe, who has for 22 years served as racing manager for Juddmonte, will stand down from that position after this year's Royal Ascot meeting. Prince Khalid Abdullah, who founded Juddmonte and began racing horses more than 40 years ago, died aged 84 on January 12.
Since taking up the role in 1999, Grimthorpe has worked with 24 European trainers and overseen 3000 horses in training. Of those, 1400 won over 2400 races, including almost 100 Group 1 wins.
Lord (Teddy) Grimthorpe | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The list of champions Grimthorpe was involved with includes Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Frankel (GB), Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill {USA}), Rail Link (GB), Special Duty (GB), Workforce (GB), Twice Over (GB), Midday (GB) and her sire Oasis Dream (GB) and Kingman (GB).
“I have always felt that the time for me to stand down from Juddmonte would be when Prince Khalid was no longer involved,” said Grimthorpe, who currently serves as deputy senior steward of The Jockey Club and is on the York Racecourse board after nine years as Chairman.
“It has been a huge privilege to work for the Prince and his family, and with the outstanding Juddmonte team, which has been so successful for so long. Of course I am sad to leave, but with the Prince's death two months ago and over 20 years as his racing manager, now is the right time.”
Mishriff, Mystic Guide tops
After impressive displays during the Dubai World Cup card, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Mystic Guide (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) share the top spot with a 122 ranking in the second edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021. The rankings are compiled by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
Mishriff, who led the rankings following his victory in the Saudi Cup, switched back to turf and won the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic next time out. Joining Mishriff at the top with a win in the G1 Dubai World Cup, Mystic Guide came into the race having won Oaklawn Park's G3 Razorback H. earlier this season.
Joining Nature Strip (Nicconi) at 121 in the co-third spot is Eduardo (Host {Chi}), who is a perfect two-for-two this season. Eduardo defeated Nature Strip by a short head in the G2 Colours Challenge S. and then went on to win the G1 The Galaxy.
TDN Rising Star for Fastnet
Lawrence Goichman's Star Devine (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) gave her rivals a bit of a head start at Aqueduct after hopping slightly at the break, but she was handled perfectly thereafter by Trevor McCarthy and stormed home down the centre of the track to graduate in sharp time to become a new 'TDN Rising Star.'
Spotting the field a couple of lengths after that slow break, Star Devine, a 200,000 gns (AU$384,000) purchase by Mike Ryan out of the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale Book 1, was allowed to find her feet and settled last as the leaders went a good gallop up front.
She improved wide to hit the front at the top of the lane and finished strongly to score by 1.5l.
Graduates shine
With New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale of yearlings is now live to view on Gavelhouse Plus, a pair of graduates have provided a timely reminder of the auction’s success.
Group 1 winner Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who was passed in at the 2014 South Island Sale with a NZ$10,000 reserve, collected the fourth black-type win of a high-class career in the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Stakes at Awapuni.
At Ellerslie, the NZ$13,000 purchase Markus Aurelius (NZ) (Ghibellines) recorded his fourth consecutive victory with a dominant performance.
Bidding on the online Sale will commence from Monday, April 12, with the first lot closing incrementally at 7pm (NZT) on Wednesday, April 14.
