Stars please O’Brien
Barwon Heads-based trainer Danny O’Brien was delighted by the performances of his stable stars at Wednesday’s Geelong jump-outs.
O’Brien sent around Cups hopefuls Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) and Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) along with recent stable recruits Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Superstorm (Sebring).
Danny O'Brien
"They were all there just to stretch their legs and build some fitness, they got that done and we were happy with all of them, the two WA-horses (Inspirational Girl and Superstorm) were good,” O’Brien told Racing.com.
“The other three are all mile-and-a-quarter-plus horses that were there to build fitness. But they all moved well and the jockeys were very happy with them."
Plans outlined
Leading Queensland-based trainer Robert Heathcote has confirmed that promising gelding Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom) will resume in a 3-year-old Plate at Doomben on August 28 before pressing on to Rosehill’s G2 Run To The Rose a fortnight later.
Prince Of Boom | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Aysar impresses
Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes is confident resuming entire Aysar (Deep Field) can fire fresh in Saturday’s G3 Aurie’s Star H. at Flemington.
The G1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up was majority purchased by Leneva Park after Shadwell Stud dispersed its Australian racing and breeding stock earlier this year.
"He's come back fantastic. He's really strengthened and we are flirting with the idea of keeping him as a sprinter."
It was confirmed this week that Leneva Park had purchased Aysar from Shadwell.
Aysar (blue silks)
Sprinter up And Running
Sydney-based trainer John O’Shea has confirmed that The Everest-bound sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will use the G2 The Shorts and G2 Premiere S. at Randwick as lead-up runs into the $15 million sprint feature.
TAB secured Lost And Running to represent their slot in the race after his 2.3l romp in May’s Listed Luskin Star S. at Rosehill.
“He seems to have made that nice bit of improvement from last preparation, he is a bigger, stronger horse that will continue to build over the next 12 months,” O’Shea told Racing Pulse.
“However, only time will tell whether he has improved significantly enough to mix it with the top weight-for-age performers.”
Cups smokey
Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes believes exciting French import Port Guillaume (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to be a “smokey” for this year’s G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup.
Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brother JD, said the lightly raced 5-year-old has recovered from bone bruising that ruled him out of last year’s spring carnival.
“We have now gelded him and the time in the paddock for a young horse was a blessing in disguise,” Hayes told RSN927.
More surgery
SEN Track host Andrew Bensley has reported that Group 1-winning hoop Michael Walker will undergo a full knee reconstruction on Saturday in an attempt to aid his recovery from serious leg injuries sustained in a fall at Pakenham in May.
Proven formula
New Zealand-based co-trainer Andrew Forsman has confirmed that high-class stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) will resume in the G2 Feehan S. at Moonee Valley on September 4.
Forsman, who trains in partnership with Hall of Fame trainer Murray Baker, told RSN927 that the 6-year-old entire will then press on towards the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup.
The Chosen One (NZ) (pink cap)
Title defence
Three-time Australian Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) will return to Ascot in October to defend his G1 Champion S. crown.
The William Haggas-trained galloper notched up his second consecutive victory in April’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick before finishing second behind superstar galloper St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown on July 3.
“Right now, he is in the field, but he will have a run before the Champion S. He was a little rusty in the Eclipse and the ground wasn’t really slow enough for him, but I thought he ran well and kept going up the hill as usual,” Haggas told TDN Europe.
