King gets Vega One ride
Rachel King has secured the ride on G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for the G1 Stradbroke H.
Vega One's jockey at his win on Saturday, Jamie Kah, opted to return to Victoria, leaving her availability to ride the Tony Gollan-trained sprinter uncertain given current COVID-19 border restrictions.
“It is hard to get information out of Victoria with what is happening there so we thought we would lock it in,” Gollan told Racenet.
“We would have liked to have waited as long as we could for Jamie but it is hard with 53kg to try and get someone at the weight.
“I think we have done pretty well. Rachel can ride him and hopefully we can get girl power to work twice in a row.”
King was initially due to ride Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the race, but that horse failed to qualify when beaten as a short-priced favourite last week.
Duty still waiting after jump-out win
An impressive jump-out win at Cranbourne from Duty Dynasty (Snitzel), the half-brother to Group 1 winner Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}), won't see the colt rushed to the track by trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
Duty Dynasty stopped the clock at 51.0s in the fastest of the 800-metre heats of the morning and while he was thriving on the work, Young told Racing.com that there was no rush to get him to the track.
“He’s shown us a lot on the track so far, he’s a lovely type and he’s obviously got a nice pedigree, being a half to Hungry Heart,” Young said.
Duty Dynasty trainers, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young
“The jockeys that have come in to work him have said that he can definitely gallop. He looked to do it pretty easily but you can’t get carried away about an 800-metre jump-out at Cranbourne.
“He’ll have another jump-out in a couple of weeks over 1000 metres and then we’ll hopefully get him to the races.”
Duty Dynasty was bred by Yulong and is out of the imported mare Harlech (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was purchased for 60,000 gns (AU$119,700) at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2016.
Williams stays in Queensland
Leading jockey Craig Williams will remain in Queensland for the next two weeks and will take rides in key races for the remainder of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, including the ride on Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the G1 Stradbroke H.
Craig Williams
While Victorian-based jockeys Jye McNeil, Ben Allen and Jamie Kah have returned back in Victoria, Williams, a nine-time Champion rider in Melbourne, has opted to stay and assess the development of the COVID-19 situation.
He will ride the Chris Waller-trained Only Words (NZ) (Sweynesse) in the G1 Queensland Oaks, while he is booked on Wisdom Of Water (Headwater), who is nominated for both the Listed Queensland Day S. and G2 Moreton Cup for Annabel Neasham.
He has also been confirmed to ride the Michael Moroney-trained Tofane the following week.
Upton to head Widden Victoria pre-training and spelling facility
Widden Stud Victoria has launched a pre-training and spelling facility, which will be overseen by renowned horseman Matt Upton.
Upton who has worked for Peter Sidwell of Sutton Grange as well as Robbie Laing, Andrew Noblet, David Moodie’s Yungaburra and most recently a decade at Woodside Park, will head up Widden Victoria’s pre-training division which will include a high-speed treadmill, water walker, a 1600 metre sand track and starting gates.
"The resources on offer will cater for both breaking and spelling, the lush pasture and spacious, tree-lined paddocks the ideal location to freshen up or recuperate horses that are in need of time, as well as educating those embarking on their racing careers," Widden said in a statement.
Calthorpe backs his star
Chris Calthorpe remains confident that his star filly Media Award (Shamus Award) can make her presence felt in Saturday's G1 Queensland Oaks.
Calthorpe said the last start G1 Australasian Oaks winner had come on well and he expected her to handle her next challenge with aplomb.
Media Award
"I have always had a lot of faith in her and she’s honestly very underestimated,” he told Racing.com.
“She’s only had six starts and in fairness, she’s come from third last in the Australasian Oaks and put a good field away in that Group 1.
"I don’t think I have got to the bottom yet, everything I ask her to do she keeps stepping up, and everything she has done has been with ease.
“I think she’ll be right in the contest on Saturday, she’ll give us a good shake.”
Jennings set for return
Jockey Koby Jennings is expected to return to race riding this week after a near six-month absence due to a serious arm injury.
Jennings broke his arm at Goulburn in December but is building back to full health and told Racenet that he expects to have his first ride back either at Wyong on Thursday or Rosehill on Saturday.
“The arm has come up good,” he said.
“It took a lot longer than we were expecting. There were a few niggling problems with the hand as the nerve and knuckles came back together. The stronger I am getting, the better it is going.
“I am just trying to get the race fitness back. You can work as hard as you want but nothing compares to race fitness.”
Tiptronic's extended Queensland stay
Graham Richardson has opted to allow Tiptronic (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) to stay in Queensland to spell over the winter after his below-par run in the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup at Eagle Farm.
Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, said the 7-year-old would be given the benefit of some sun on his back in the spelling paddock after a post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering from atrial fibrillation.
Tiptronic (NZ) as a yearling
“He didn’t pull up flash. He fibrillated and it wasn’t anybody’s fault, it just happens, and they can do that occasionally,” Richardson said.
“It was quite disappointing because his work last Tuesday was outstanding, but he is good now which is the main thing. He is going to spell over there for six to eight weeks and it will do him the world of good.
“He is not a great spring horse. I will bring him up slowly when he is back in New Zealand.”
No Compromise delight for Thurlows
The Thurlow family are looking forward to more Australian success with No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) at Randwick after his win on Saturday at his second start for Chris Waller.
Bill Thurlow previously trained the 4-year-old, who is raced by his wife Patricia and brother Grant, and they were rapt to see his powerful come-from-behind performance in the Taylor Construction H. on the day of a family wedding.
No Compromise (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“My brother’s daughter was getting married in Tauranga on Saturday, so we all spent the day there and watched the race from there,” Thurlow said. “It was a lovely day for the family and it was a good night.
“The horse did a great job there at Randwick and won really well, so it was pretty exciting for all of us.
“I’m not sure what Chris has in mind for him from here, but he’s the one who’s in charge now and I’m sure he’ll map something out over the weeks and months ahead.”
