Daily News Wrap

Top colt ready to go

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is in prime order to resume in Saturday’s G1 All Aged S. at Randwick.

Last season’s G1 Blue Diamond S. winner hasn’t raced since he finished third in the G1 Australian Guineas, but will be in forward condition to return to action.

“He only had 10 days out after the Guineas, a nice little freshen-up and didn’t lose too much fitness,” Young said. “Generally, he’s better second-up but we’ve got him more cranked-up this time. This is his grand final and we’d love to see him winning another Group 1.

“He’s very well and we’re happy with him. He’s trialled here at Cranbourne and had an exhibition gallop at Sandown two weeks ago and had another one on Saturday at Caulfield and they have brought him on.”

Fresh Roheryn in fine fettle

James Cummings is expecting a bold showing from Roheryn (Lonhro) in the G3 TAB Hall Mark S. at Randwick.

“As his record shows, he’s a very good horse fresh and we’ve kept him that way this preparation,” he said.

“He tried every inch of the way in good company to finish third in the Star Kingdom last-start when giving weight to the winner and the runner-up.

“He meets a similar strength field here, mostly on better terms.”

Hummalong tops bill

Hummalong (Hallowed Crown), a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman) and unbeaten 2-year-old stakes winner Tycoon Humma (Capitalist), headlines the Inglis Digital Online Auctions, which is now open for bidding.

The April (Late) Sale features 373 lots including 142 racehorses (69 race fillies), 156 broodmares, 30 weanlings, 21 yearlings and 21 shares.

To be offered as Lot 102, Hummalong is out of the quality producer Humma Mumma (Bel Esprit), whose latest yearling to be offered at public auction realised $600,000 at this year’s Premier Sale at Oaklands.

Among the Inglis Digital April (Late) catalogue there are also close relations to the likes of Group 1 stars and sire The Autumn Sun and Bella Vella (Commands), as well as quality mares in foal to the likes of Street Boss (USA), So You Think (NZ), Frosted (USA), Dundeel (NZ), Blue Point (Ire), Toronado (Ire), Pierata and Russian Revolution.

Record turnover

Turnover on Victorian racing increased 32.6 per cent to a record $5.07 billion in the first half of the 2020/21 season, Racing Victoria has announced.

Turnover per meeting also rose significantly to $19.42 million, an increase from $14.7 million in the corresponding period 12 months earlier.

RV boss Giles Thompson told Racing.com the record turnover is a really great outcome, but admitted the challenge is to sustain that growth.

"We'd have to be fools if we think it's totally sustainable," he said. "We have no doubt attracted new people and we have re-energised people in racing. Our challenge is to see how much we can hold onto now that we have experienced that.”

Ribchester filly stars

Ruthin (GB), a 2-year-old daughter of Haunui Farm’s shuttle stallion Ribchester (Ire), was a 350,000 gns (AU$672,525) TATOCT yearling purchase and kicked off her career with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance sprinting on the Keeneland lawn for Wesley Ward Thursday.

Sent out favourite, she shot to the front and, despite racing greenly, was far too good and coasted home by 6l.

Freshman sire Ribchester was the European Champion miler in 2016 and 2017 whose Northern Hemisphere base is at Darley's Kildangan Stud. Ruthin is his first winner and was his priciest, first-crop yearling to change hands in 2020.

Strong Kiwi flavour

Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will have a strong Kiwi contingent at Randwick on Saturday led by Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), who will be vying for his third elite-level victory when he contests the G1 All Aged S.

“Kolding has had no luck with track conditions and barrier draws,” Waller told Sky Racing. “He has freshened up nicely since the G1 George Ryder S.”

Waller will have a three-pronged attack in the G3 JRA Plate and has labelled former Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Fr}) as his best chance.

“She is racing very well, it was a good win last-start and she drops back to a handicap and sits in just above the minimum weight,” Waller said.

Matchmaker (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) is another Kiwi-bred looking for back-to-back Group 3 victories following success in the G3 PJ Bell S.

“She has drawn a little bit awkwardly, but a good jockey in James McDonald will hopefully overcome that,” Waller said.

Asano in fast lane

Jockey Kozzi Asano is understandably bullish about the chances of Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday's Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep S. at Riccarton.

The Stephen Marsh-trained filly will be dominant favourite following successive wins, the last of them in the Listed NZB Airfreight S. by 7l.

"It's pretty simple really. She's one of the fastest horses I've ever ridden. She ran home her last 600 metres in 31.94s when she won at Riccarton last month and I've never had a horse do that before,” Asano said.

"You look at the leaders out in front and think 'am I giving them too much of a start?' But then she just flies home. It helps that at Riccarton you can come from anywhere."

Dispersal Sale

A dispersal of 135 lots for the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry (NZ) group is now live online on Gavelhouse.com and will close from Sunday at 5pm (NZ time).

The 135 listings include mares and foals, weanlings, yearlings, 2-year-olds and unraced stock. The Rider Horse stock is based at two properties, Highview Stud and Willow Glen Stud.

Mares by leading broodmare sires Zabeel (NZ), O’Reilly (NZ), Pins, Stravinsky (USA), Redoute’s Choice, Savabeel, Iffraaj (GB) and Montjeu (Ire) will be offered and young stock by Mongolian Khan.

The Sale also features young stallion Mongolian Falcon (NZ), a Group 2-winning son of Fastnet Rock and Mabsam (Stratum), the dam of three winners including I Am Invincible mare Festivity (NZ) (I Am Invincible), a five-time winner for Jamie Richards.

“This is a complete dispersal as a result of Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry not being able to export horses to China since COVID-19 hit, which is a significant part of their business,” said Highview Stud’s Brent Gillovic.

Queensland beckons

Andrew Forsman has only just returned to New Zealand after overseeing the final preparations of his team competing in The Championships in Sydney, but he is hoping it won’t be too long until he is back across the Tasman.

Forsman and training partner Murray Baker will have a strong contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday, including a couple of 3-year-olds they have earmarked for Classic targets in Queensland over the coming months.

While a trip to the sunshine state is in the offing for Joy Alone (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) and Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}), Forsman said they will need to perform in the G2 Trelawney Stud Championship S. at Ellerslie to warrant the trip.

Both featured prominently in the G3 Manawatu Classic at Awapuni over Easter Weekend, with Joy Alone running home late to take out the feature, while Daqiansweet Junior held on for third.

Exciting prospect

Carl Henderson is full of excitement heading into the Listed Staphanos By Deep Impact Champagne S. at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Te Awamutu trainer will lineup Atullibigeal (Street Boss {USA}) who has been installed a NZ$2.50 favourite by TAB bookmakers after his last-start victory at Ellerslie.

“I was pretty confident the other day. A little bit of wet ground certainly doesn’t worry him,” Henderson said. “I think he is possibly a Derby horse next year, so the mile shouldn’t worry him,” he said.