Daily News Wrap

Raheen colt tops Capricornia Sale

A colt by Raheen Stud's first-season stallion Heroic Valour topped the Magic Millions Capricornia Yearling Sale in Rockhampton, after being sold for $67,500.

The colt, Lot 87, was offered by Raheen Stud and is a half-brother to Listed winner Rocket To Glory (Shovhog). He was purchased by Anthony Fenton.

The second top lot was a filly by Divine Prophet, who sold to Clinton Taylor racing for $55,000. Offered by Kenmore Lodge, she is out of Fadetta (USA) (Rock Hard Ten {USA}), the half-sister to Grade 1 winner Seek Again (USA) (Speightstown {USA}).

All in all, the Sale grossed $1.452 million, up from the 2019 Sale which grossed just over $1 million. The average was an impressive $20,167 (up from $12,352 in 2019), and the median $20,000 (up from $10,000 in 2019).

The Sale clearance rate was 84.71 per cent with 72 lots sold.

Icebath on ice

Trainer Brad Widdup won't back G1 Doncaster Mile runner-up Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) in next Saturday's G1 Coolmore Legacy.

Icebath was just edged out by Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the feature mile race at Randwick on Saturday but Widdup won't be tempted to back her up quickly.

“We will have a look at Queensland or just start again with her," he said.

“There is the Stradbroke and the Tatts Tiara or you go to a Doomben Cup.

“Ideally, I would like to test her over 2000 metres at some stage but then there is freshening her up and sending her to a Stradbroke.”

Nature set for 10,000 challenge

Nature Strip's (Nicconi) managing owner Rod Lyons has indicated that the back-to-back G1 TJ Smith S. winner was likely to continue his campaign to Brisbane.

Lyons was rapt with the victory, the sprinter's sixth at Group 1 level, and will discuss future plans with the gelding's trainer Chris Waller this week.

“It was a fantastic performance, it was breathtaking it sent shivers up my spine, it’s wonderful and it endorses what a wonderful sprinter he is,” Lyons said on RSN.

“I spoke to Chris briefly after the race and he said I’ll' ring you on Monday, let the dust settle'.

“Before the race yesterday the plan was to go to Queensland for the Doomben 10,000 and then spell him up in Queensland then come back for the spring.

“Because he’s such a gross doer and last year he didn’t come back in great form to the spring and Chris attributed all of that to the big-long break he had.”

Wet Oaks would suit Impecunious

Impecunious (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) is set to make her presence felt in Saturday's G1 Australian Oaks, having improved off her third in the G1 Vinery Stud S. last week.

Co-trainer Natalie Young said the likelihood of wet conditions does not concern her with the filly, who has made strong progress with every start this campaign.

“She’s come through the run really well, she had a nice week, just ticking over,” Young told Racing.com.

“She’s a Sacred Falls, so she should get the trip. She’s always hit the line well. We didn’t want to change her pattern around (last start).

“We are building to the 2400 metres and we wanted to ride her how she was used to. I think she’s better ridden that little bit conservative early and then she has a really good turn of foot late.

“If we get a bit of rain next week, even better. Hungry Heart is going to be hard to beat but I don’t think she likes it wet. If we get rain a little bit on Saturday, we will be laughing.”

Newnham confirms Hero return

Trainer Mark Newnham is preparing to welcome dual Group 1 winner Shadow Hero (Pierro) back to his Sydney stables.

Shadow Hero, a winner of the G1 Spring Champion S. and the Randwick Guineas, failed to win in five starts in Hong Kong and will come back to his old stable.

“He is coming back,” Newnham told Racenet.

“He will leave Hong Kong sometime in May so I will get him back here and just assess him.

“I will probably give him a break and start fresh with him.”

Newnham has no firm targets in mind for Shadow Hero.

Reynolds loving Australian life

Long-term stakes goals are on the mind of trainer Michael Hickmott for former Hong Kong galloper Reynolds (GB) (Exceed And Excel).

Reynolds backed up his win at Oakbank last week with a victory at Morphettville on Saturday, Hickmott said the 5-year-old was enjoying his new home.

"The horse just did not settle into the Hong Kong lifestyle and was not living up to his potential,’’ Hickmott told the Adelaide Advertiser.

“Douglas (Whyte) suggested sending the horse to the farm (Lakewood) and a different environment and it seems to have worked.

“Oakbank was a lovely place to kick off his maiden and Saturday he was even better.

“He is a bit of a delicate-minded horse so we will take him quietly.

“He’s not ready for the big races during the carnival. He needs to take significant steps and maybe target something like the Murray Bridge Cup in October."

Siracusa gets second chance

A bizarre incident that looked likely to cost Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) a shot at a Group 1 title on Saturday may have a happy ending for the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained galloper.

Siracusa was stung by a wasp shortly before she was due to be transported to the Te Aroha track to contest the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and was scratched.

However, they received a lifeline when the race meeting was abandoned due to a slippery track after race three, with the Group 1 feature being rescheduled for this weekend at Te Rapa.

“I think we found out there is definitely a racing god,” Julia Ritchie said.

“It was a pretty emotional day up until the abandonment as we were just cursing our luck that such a small thing could take a Group 1 opportunity away like that.

“We really felt she was a big chance to get a piece of it as she didn’t mind the rain and we thought the wide draw would definitely be a help later in the day."

The good news for the Sir Peter Vela-owned mare is that within 24 hours the swelling had receded markedly and with the rescheduling of the race, she is still a chance to obtain some invaluable Group 1 black type.

“We had the vet to her and the swelling has come right down.” Ritchie said.

“At this stage she should be good to take her place in the race this Saturday, which is marvellous news.

“We know it will be a red-hot field, but we still think she is a good chance in it.”

Riccarton plans for Beauden

G2 Awapuni Gold Cup winner Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) is set to contest the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup on Saturday week with co-trainer Graeme Rogerson convinced the weight-for-age feature is the ideal race for his charge.

“He’s a big horse who carries weight extra well, so the race looks made to measure for him,” Rogerson said.

“We had a good talk with Joan (Egan - owner) and she thought that was the best plan for him, so we’ll head down there and give the race a shake.

“He’s absolutely thrived since his win at Awapuni and is really enjoying life at the moment. He goes out on the farm each day and potters around and you can see how much he enjoys it.

“I’m not sure what we are going to do with him after Riccarton as it will depend on how he pulls up after the race.

“We have a couple of options to look at, but we could also send him to the paddock and have a good break before we get him ready for the spring.”