Career in doubt
The racing career of Tony Gollan’s G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is in doubt.
The 5-year-old underwent leg surgery after finishing second in the G1 Stradbroke H. and subsequently suffered a serious infection.
Vega One | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“They did everything they can and the basic way to treat it was coming along really well then it took a turn for the worse. From there the next week was pretty ordinary to the point where we didn’t know if he would make it,” Gollan told Racenet.
“Now it looks as if he will make it, but we’re not sure if he will race, we just need to let everything settle down and see how it works out in a few months’ time.”
Say Hello to Belle
Reigning New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), dam of 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will be served by Cambridge Stud’s Hello Youmzain (Fr) this season.
After visiting Australian-based stallions in recent years Meleka Belle's owner Marie Leicester has elected to keep her in New Zealand this season.
She is also the dam of the Tony Pike-trained Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who was a runaway last-start winner of the Listed Life Members’ S. last weekend and rated as a G1 VRC Derby contender.
Vale Arazi
Stockwell Thoroughbreds has announced the passing of Arazi (USA) at the age of 32.
He won his first five starts in France, including two Group 1s, before he came from last to win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs by 5l.
The son of Blushing Groom (Fr) subsequently retired to Dalham Hall Stud and later to Australia where his stud career did not match the highlights of his racing career, but he left a champion son in Congaree (USA).
A number of his daughters proved to be highly successful broodmares, most notably his stakes-winning America (Ire), who in turn produced the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Americain (USA).
“It has been an honour never lost on us to have been guardians to such a beloved horse,” said Stockwell’s Mike Becker. “He had major bowel surgery as a 4-year-old and has lived with a major heart murmur for the past 16 years, but in the end it was his body that gave out, not his big heart. He will be very missed around here.”
Odeon primed for Final
Trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra are expecting another bold showing from their consistent galloper Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) when he contests the Listed Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.
Odeon finished third to Saturday race rival Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) over 1420 metres at Flemington last start, but they will meet on level terms in the weights at the Melbourne track this weekend.
“The other day he had a few things go against him,” Zahra told RSN927. “There was a difference in the weights, the winner carried 3.5kg less.
“The 1400 metres for Odeon third-up wasn’t ideal. We have just had him ticking over for this race, which has been our goal all the way through.”
Sun shines for Price
Sunfall (Zoustar) handed co-trainer Mick Price a pleasant surprise when he powered home from last to open his winning account at Geelong on Friday.
The 2-year-old was coming off a six-month break, having placed once from three starts in his first campaign, and comfortably won the bet365 Odds Drift Protector Plate in the hands of Craig Newitt.
“That was a bit above and beyond expectations. I looked at the (outside) barrier and thought whether to run or not,” Price said. “He’s a big, strong and sound horse so 1400 metres to a mile will be for him.”
Sunfall was bought out of Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft by Price for $150,000. The chestnut is out of Queen Of The Falls (General Nediym), a half-sister to the G2 Reisling S. winner and G1 Golden Slipper S. and Oakleigh Plate placegetter Elite Falls (More Than Ready {USA}).
Trio of trial winners
Godolphin 2-year-olds were to the fore at Friday’s Canterbury trials with the James Cummings-trained trio of Campin (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Larkspur Rain (Shamardal {USA}) and Brigantine (Astern) all claiming their 900 metre heats.
Campin is a half-sister to the G2 Surround S. winner Ghisoni (Lohnro), who is a half-sister to Aspen (Exceed And Excel) and the dam of stablemate Larkspur Rain.
Cummings’ Brigantine claimed an 895 metre heat for the colts and geldings and is a half-brother to Listed winners Rusambo (Elusive Quality {USA}) and Handfast (Street Cry {Ire}).
Payne takes charge
Michelle Payne will train Sunlight’s (Zoustar) half-brother Halogen (Sebring) after she went to $60,000 to secure the 3-year-old at this week’s Inglis Digital June Sale.
Halogen
“I’ve been doing a bit of work for the McEvoys, some gallops and stuff, and I really love working for the stable, they have some beautiful horses,” Payne told Racing.com.
“I rode this horse in trackwork and fell in love with him. He’s a beautiful, kind-natured horse. I just thought being trained on the farm, out in the paddocks in a smaller stable (might help)."
Out of the multiple Group 3 winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward), Halogen was originally bought by McEvoy Mitchell Racing for $650,000 out of Widden Stud’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft and has since won one of his eight starts.
Group 1 appeal fails
Connections of Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) have lost their appeal to have the colt's disqualification from victory in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup overturned.
Dragon Symbol and the American-trained filly Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) fought out a thrilling stretch duel in the 1200 metre contest, with Dragon Symbol crossing the wire a head the better, but the placings were reversed on account of Dragon Symbol bumping Campanelle on numerous occasions during the run and taking her off her line.
Stewards on the day deemed the interference was enough to have prevented Campanelle from winning, and a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel agreed on Thursday.
Well-related colt
Leith Innes is looking forward to heading north to Ruakaka on Saturday where he will have a handful of quality rides, including a well-bred debutant.
He will don the yellow and black chequered silks of Cambridge Stud Principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay aboard Tavirock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the July 17 ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup.
Tavirock (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
The 3-year-old colt has pleased in his recent trials, winning his 800 metre heat a fortnight ago at Avondale, and Innes believes he will show a good account of himself on debut.
“He is a really nice colt,” Innes said. “I wasn’t on him when he won his last trial at Avondale on a wet track, but talking with Graeme Rogerson, he is very happy with him."
Tavirock is a half-brother to the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Derby second to O’Meara
After one start for local trainer Raffaele Biondi that resulted in a runner-up effort in the G2 Derby Italiano, Juan De Montalban (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is headed back to Britain and to the yard of David O'Meara after the trainer and his assistant Jason Kelly went to a Sale-topping €400,000 (AU$634,400) for the 3-year-old at Arqana's Summer Sale on Thursday.
Juan De Montalban (Lot 488) had been bought by trainer Andrew Balding for 85,000 gns (AU$163,300) as a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, and sold privately to Italy after posting back-to-back wins for Mick and Janice Mariscotti.
“We've bought him for Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, who is a long-standing client,” O'Meara told TDN Europe. “He's a lovely looking horse. I think he still has a lot of room to improve and hasn't yet shown us everything he is capable of.”
Juan De Montalban was offered by The Channel Consignment.
