First foals arrive
First foals by Exceedance, Unite And Conquer, Zousain and Too Darn Hot (GB) have safely arrived.
A colt by Vinery Stud’s Exceedance was safely delivered by the Sledmere Stud-owned Catchulata (Charge Forward), who is from the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Estijaab (Snitzel).
Stakes-placed mare Shamurt (Murtajill) has produced a filly by Kingstar Farm’s Unite And Conquer while first foals for Widden Stud’s Zousain and Darley shuttle stallion Too Darn Hot have also arrived.
Covid case
Racing NSW has confirmed a positive COVID-19 case at Warwick Farm racecourse. In conjunction with NSW Health, five close contacts have been directed to take a test and self-isolate.
Black-type quest
Caulfield trainer Lloyd Kennewell will try to nab a stakes success at his old stomping ground of Morphettville on Saturday with his promising filly Esta La Roca (NZ) (El Roca).
She has been in pleasing form this preparation, winning first-up over 1000 metres at Sandown before finishing second over the same distance behind subsequent G3 Sir John Monash S. runner-up Malkovich (Choisir) at Caulfield earlier this month.
Esta La Roca (NZ)
“She could easily be unbeaten (this prep),” Kennewell said. “She won brilliantly first-up at Sandown and I thought she was good at Caulfield.
“She went up in grade and bumped into a horse that then came out and ran second in the John Monash S. against the older horses, so the form has been franked.
“She is in really good order, she is physically a bit stronger and if she can run the 1050 metres out she will be right in the thick of things.”
Remarque looks sharp
Promising colt Remarque (Snitzel) continued his winning trial form at Rosehill on Friday morning with a performance that augurs well for his spring campaign.
Trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, he won once from two appearances this season and was turned out after he ran fifth in the G2 Todman S. and only 2l off the winner Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
Remarque, who had also been successful in a Rosehill trial on July 16, is raced by Arrowfield Stud with Katsumi Yoshida and is a brother to the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Estijaab.
Team Hawkes also won a 2-year-old heat with expensive filly Invencible (I Am Invincible), a $575,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy for Commendable Bloodstock out of Kia Ora Stud’s draft. She is a daughter of the G2 Challenge S. winner Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt).
Ward to manage Gooree
Peter Ward has been announced as the new stud manager of Gooree Park Stud and joins the team following the departure of his long-time predecessor Andrew Baddock.
Ward brings an extensive resume and has worked at numerous studs in Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years.
His roles have included positions as foreman to Group 1-winning trainer Graeme Sanders, stallion manager and stud manager positions at Highview, Windsor Park Stud and at Bell View Park Stud.
Crosshaven ‘spot on’
The well-performed Crosshaven (Smart Missile) won a jump-out at Euroa on Friday morning to further his spring preparation.
"It looks like he has come back a lot better this prep. Last preparation his action wasn't 100 per cent, but this time it's back to what we think is spot on,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
Crosshaven is likely to have another jump-out at Flemington next month and may resume in the Listed Regal Roller S. with the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., G1 Toorak H. and the Golden Eagle all options for the dual Group 3 winner, who also placed in the G1 CF Orr S.
Crosshaven
Track staff stood down
COVID-19 protocols have forced the Moonee Valley Racing Club to stand down all of its track team for Saturday's meeting.
Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed on Wednesday that a traffic controller at The Valley Racecourse COVID testing site, returned a positive for coronavirus two days after developing symptoms. RV subsequently made the call to stand the entire track team down.
Both the Victoria and Melbourne Racing Clubs have loaned key staff to ensure Saturday's meeting will proceed.
"Racing Victoria, acting on the advice of its chief medical officer and in an abundance of caution, has ordered members of The Valley's tracks and facilities team to stand down and not officiate at this Saturday's race meeting," RV said in a statement.
Ryder can top grand season
It's already been one of Allan Sharrock's most memorable seasons, but the New Plymouth trainer is keen to add the icing on the cake at Otaki on Saturday.
Sharrock has already set new personal benchmarks with 54 wins and stakes earnings of NZ$1.11 million and heads to Otaki with a formidable team of six, including Yeaboi (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and Catsacharmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder S.
Yeaboi (NZ) (outside) | Image by Peter Rubery courtesy of Race Images
"I really can't split my two for the Ryder. They'll both be very hard to beat on their work - and their raceday form too," Sharrock said.
"It's only a moderate field for a Ryder so we think we're going into it with a good chance. Yeaboi is the big improver. He's a robust fella and we think a bit of him, but Catsacharmer's win at Te Rapa was pretty special too.”
Welfare initiatives
As flagged at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s Annual General Meeting last November, a one per cent deduction will be applied to stakes to fund thoroughbred welfare initiatives from August 30, 2021.
“Thoroughbred welfare is at the heart of what we do, and NZTR has been progressively rolling out initiatives to fulfil the industry’s collective obligation for the guardianship of our horses,” NZTR GM Welfare & Sustainability Martin Burns said.
“These initiatives are in addition to our standard welfare provisions, such as raceday procedures, plastic running rails and drug testing for example, and support and reinforce these high standards of welfare that our horses are provided in their day-to-day care,” he said.
One of the largest and most significant developments within welfare recently has been the establishment of a national fleet of eight Horse Ambulances. This was achieved by the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust thanks to generous sponsorship and donations from key industry figures and organisations.
Stakes challenge
There is still one stakes race up for grabs this season and Karyn McQuade is hoping to get her hands on it.
The Matamata trainer will contest the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder S. at Otaki on Saturday with Ima Roca Bee (NZ) (El Roca) and she believes her youngster is a leading hope in the juvenile feature.
Ima Roca Bee (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
It’s been eight weeks between runs, and while McQuade believes she has her filly rock-hard fit for Saturday, the long break still poses a question at the back of her mind.
“That will be the biggest question, but we have done everything we can to keep her fit bar throwing a trial or race in for her,” she said.
