Cox Plate goal
The G1 Cox Plate is on the spring agenda of multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
It will be a step into unfamiliar middle-distance territory for the mare, but trainer Michael Moroney believes she deserves her chance.
Tofane (NZ)
“She had a break in New South Wales on her way down from Queensland and is due back in work next week. At this stage she’ll kick off her spring campaign in the G1 Memsie S. at the end of August and then step up to a mile in the G1 Makybe Diva S.,” he said.
“We’ll then assess how she’s going, but all going well she’ll head to Moonee Valley. Her Stradbroke win was pretty impressive and then she just toyed with them in the Tatt’s Tiara, so she’s really become a racehorse, which is why we’re keen to look at the Cox Plate.”
Well-bred filly scores
Pedigree was very much to the fore when Baronova (Fiorente {Ire}) came from the tail of a small field to win the Listed Drummond Gold Classic Belmont Classic.
One of two fillies in the line up, the Justin Warwick-trained 3-year-old finished resolutely in the hands of William Pike to open her stakes account.
Baronova is a half-sister to the G3 La Trice Classic winner I’m Feeling Lucky (Bletchley Park {Ire}) with their dam Twinkle Toes (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) out of a half-sister to the three-time European Group 1 winner and sire Dr Devious (Ire) and the stakes-winning sires Archway (Ire) and Shinko King (Ire).
The family also features another dual Group 1-winning stallion in Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and Dancing Rain (Ire), successful at the top level in the English and German Oaks.
Top run continues
The Kevin Corstens-trained Kalkarni Royale (Nicconi) is enjoying a rewarding preparation and that continued at Flemington where she downed the Sydney visitor Spaceboy (Deep Field) in the Trevor Clarke H.
"She's been going great guns and we've always known she has a lot of talent. She just needs these rain-affected tracks," stable representative, Will Larkin, said.
Kalkarni Royale has now picked up a brace of wins and a runner-up finish from four outings this campaign.
Overdue victory
Furrion (GB) (Camelot {GB}) ended a lengthy winning drought when he bounced back to his best at Flemington to claim the ATA Celebrates Women In Racing H.
It was the 6-year-old’s first victory since he claimed the 2019 Listed Warrnambool Cup when he was prepared by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
Now with Lindsey Smith, he has suggested he was ready to break the drought when runner-up in the Listed Winter Championship a fortnight ago.
“He hadn’t won for a while and hopefully if horses do get confidence, it’s a good thing form him. We’ll savour this moment,” Smith said.
Mare back in form
An injection of variety into the training regime of Chassis (Al Maher) brought about the desired result when she won the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final at Flemington.
“I’ve changed her work around a bit, hoping that she would return to the form she showed as a 3-year-old,” trainer John Price said.
“She’s very versatile as far as conditions go. We’re enjoying her racing well and we’ll find something for her in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Brave performance
Vitesse (Snitzel) over came a torrid run to add to her winning tally at Randwick.
From an outside barrier, the Chris Waller-trained mare was stuck three-wide on the pace with no cover in the Tax Today H. and hit the front halfway down the straight.
Vitesse gave everything rider Jason Collett asked for and she clung on grimly to nose out Think Free (So You Think {NZ}) and post the sixth victory of her career.
Oliver injured
Injury ruled top rider Damien Oliver out of action at Saturday’s Flemington meeting.
His manager Mark Van Triet confirmed to Racing.com on race morning that the champion jockey would be absent due to a muscular complaint.
Weather has final say
Extreme weather conditions forced the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting at Trentham on Saturday to be called off.
The fixture was abandoned due to gale force winds, torrential rain, surface water on the track and an unfavourable forecast. The Wellington Steeplechase and the Wellington Hurdles have now been added to Thursday’s card at Hastings.
Local domination
Ken Rae and his daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro provided the first three runners home in Saturday’s 2-year-old feature at Ruakaka.
Race favourite Dream Queen (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) proved too strong for Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) to win comfortably with Van Diesel (NZ) (Vanbrugh) third.
It was a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for Dream Queen, who had finished second behind the impressive debutant Tsunami Sam (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), to kick off her latest campaign as Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) finished a well-beaten fourth in the same race.
“That was a pretty special result as I never thought I could trifecta the race in my wildest dreams,” Rae said. “The first two home are smart customers, but the third bloke is an out-and-out stayer who I thought would probably get run off his feet.
“To see him make up that much ground was a big surprise, but means we’ve got plenty to look forward to with him.”
Group 1 targets
Last year's G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) is on course for either the G1 Nunthorpe S. or the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh after an eye-catching seasonal debut in Thursday's G3 Quick Call S. at Saratoga for trainer Wesley Ward.
It was Golden Pal's first start for the Coolmore partners and Westerberg since being purchased privately from breeder Randall Lowe.
“He's just so quick and agile, and mentally he's really coming around, more so this year than last year,” Ward said. “He's always been able to run, but now the rider can contain him, and when he asks for that little burst, very few horses I've had have been able to do that.”
Options for Mishriff
While the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II S. is the most likely next port of call for dual Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), the 4-year-old also has the option of the G2 York S. on the same day, said Ted Voute, racing manager to the colt's owner Prince Faisal.
The plan would be to then push on to the G1 Juddmonte International on August 18.
After winning the Saudi Cup going 1800 metres on the dirt in February, Mishriff backed up five weeks later to win the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic over a mile and a half on the grass for John and Thady Gosden. He was third of four runners on his return to the European turf in the G1 Coral-Eclipse over a mile and a quarter on July 3.