Bold Everest bid planned
Trainer Anthony Cummings has plans to run Libertini (I Am Invincible) in the $15 million The Everest without a preparatory outing.
“I want to go first-up into The Everest, logically I think that is what ought to happen,’’ he told Racenet.
Libertini
“I know everyone says you can’t do it, but she runs track records or close to it first-up from a spell every time. We are heading toward the main event if we can get a start.’’
Libertini, who finished eighth in The Everest last year, is a multiple Group 2 winner and has placed three times at Group 1 level.
A colt to follow
Remarque (Snitzel) looked a colt of rich promise when he was successful during a brief first campaign and his effort at Friday morning’s Rosehill trials suggested he can add to his tally in the near future.
The team Hawkes-trained juvenile won his 900-metre trial under jockey Jay Ford after sitting in second spot to the turn and then asserted his superiority with a minimum of effort.
Remarque is raced by Arrowfield Stud and Katsumi Yoshida and is a brother to the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Estijaab with their dam the dual Group 1 winner Response (Charge Forward).
Another well-bred 2-year-old trial winner was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Omni Man (I Am Invincible), a half-brother to another Slipper winner in She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) and to the G2 Silver Slipper S. winner and sire Time To Reign.
Smart trial winner
Well-related filly Miss Glenn (Written Tycoon) produced a sharp performance to dominate her 900-metre trial at Rosehill on Friday morning.
In the hands of Tommy Berry, the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained youngster crossed the field comfortably to make the running and she cruised clear to score by 3l.
Bred and raced by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Miss Glenn is a daughter of the G2 Rubiton S. and two-time Group 1 placegetter Heatherly (Lonhro). She is out of a half-sister to the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).
Divine display
Aquis resident Divine Prophet sired his seventh first-crop winner when Ostracised was successful at Dubbo on Friday.
The 2-year-old placed in all three of his starts for John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes before relocating to Kody Nestor’s stable and was a winner in his first appearance from his new quarters.
O’Sullivan upbeat
Trainer Paul O’Sullivan was in a positive frame of mind after Hong Kong’s 2020/21 racing season drew to a close on Wednesday night.
Now a veteran of almost two decades among Hong Kong’s training ranks, O’Sullivan was more than satisfied with his stable’s final result of 26 winners and 52 placegetters from 377 runners. He also marvelled at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s ability to continue racing, albeit largely without crowds, in the face of unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s definitely been a very different season to anything I’ve experienced before, but I just think it’s amazing that racing was able to go ahead without interruptions,” O’Sullivan said. “I know everything had to shut down entirely in New Zealand for a couple of months.
“The Jockey Club here jumped through every hoop to make sure that we could keep going. In the end, they’ve achieved a 12 per cent increase in turnover for the year, which is just incredible.”
Vincent is Truly Reliable
Trainer Ray Vincent is optimistic he can claim his first stakes victory, at Belmont Park, on Saturday with Truly Reliable (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Listed Drummond Golf Belmont Classic.
Truly Reliable (NZ) (white and blue silks)
He believes his confidence in Truly Reliable measuring up is warranted following his encouraging third in last fortnight's Listed Aquanita S.
"I thought his last 100m was really strong," Vincent told The Races WA. "He's still doing a few things wrong and wanted to over race early. I think he is definitely looking for 2200 metres and I was happy to press ahead."
Back to domestic action
Samantha Collett is back with her feet on New Zealand soil, keen to further the experiences she has had riding abroad.
Collett, who flew back home on Thursday night, will be straight back into action with seven rides at Ruakaka on Saturday, having ridden out of Queensland since the beginning of June.
Ben Foote and Samantha Collett
One of the main attractions of riding in Queensland was continuing her association with the Robbie Patterson-trained Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and though she wasn't able to replicate her best New Zealand form, Collett saw upside in her performances.
"Things didn't go Robbie's mare's way but we learnt a lot on the trip," Collett said.
"For me personally, I was really happy. It was a really good experience and the money is so much better than home. I haven't had an opportunity to have a decent stint overseas before and it is something that I'm interested in pursuing later on.”
Bergerson appointed
Former Sunline Trust Scholarship recipient Sam Bergerson has been appointed assistant trainer to Jamie Richards at Te Akau Racing.
Te Akau Principal David Ellis has been impressed with the 27-year-old since he has joined the racing arm of the operation, and he is pleased to offer the young horseman the new opportunity.
“Sam is an outstanding young man, a fine example of passion and professionalism, and comes from a family with a strong and generational background in working with horses,” Ellis said.
Bergerson hails from a racing family, with his father, Roydon, and grandfather, Herb, both trainers.
TAB Board
Racing Minister Grant Robertson has announced the first members of the TAB NZ Board.
“This Board will progress from the excellent work done by the interim board, put in place in August 2020,” he said.
TAB Matriarch S. winner, Affair To Remember
“The TAB Board was created under the Racing Act passed in 2020. The Act outlines a process for appointing the board through the establishment of a selection panel to make recommendations to the Minister of Racing.
“This includes three people nominated by the racing codes and up to four other members who have a range of knowledge and experience outlined in the Act.”
The TAB NZ Board comprises Mark Stewart (Chair), Anna Stove (Deputy Chair), Bill Birnie, Paul Bittar, Jason Fleming, Wendie Harvey and Raewyn Lovett. Birnie, Bittar and Fleming are the nominees of the racing codes.
Golden Pal too good
Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), off since a front-running tally in last year's G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, returned as sharp as ever to dominate the G3 Quick Call S. on Saratoga's opening day card on Thursday.
Pounded down to 1-5 favouritism while making his first start since being acquired privately by the Coolmore partners and Georg von Opel's Westerberg from his breeder Randall Lowe, the bay looked like a winner every step of the way, clicking off splits of 0:21.92 and 0:44.88 without much company and cruising away to a geared-down 3l victory.
“He's so extremely talented and quick,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “He's a big horse and he moves like a cat and that's where he really has an advantage.”
