Daily News Wrap

Eduardo gets Everest slot

Eduardo (Host {Chi}) is the latest sprinter to secure a run in The Everest after being selected by The Star and Arrowfield.

Arrowfield Chairman John Messara confirmed on Sunday that Eduardo will fill their slot for the $15 million race at Royal Randwick on October 16.

“I wanted to do the right thing by The Star who are great supporters of racing and get them a horse that will be very competitive in The Everest," Messara told the Daily Telegraph.

“Eduardo is a proven sprinter, he is coming off his best-ever race campaign where he won two Group 1 races and he’s still only had 21 lifetime starts."

The Joe Pride-trained sprinter has won both the G1 The Galaxy and the G1 Doomben 10,000, while he was unplaced when he ran in The Everest last year after fading from off the speed.

“I’ve spoken a number of times to Joe Pride, he is very happy with his horse and he has given me the confidence to make this call," Messara said.

“We know Eduardo can mix it at the top level and he handles wet or dry tracks which is very important.’’

Eduardo is the sixth runner confirmed with a slot, joining Nature Strip (Nicconi), Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}), Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Rothfire (Rothesay). Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) is yet to be officially confirmed but has the inside running for the slot of his owner Bon Ho.

Eduardo resumes racing in the G2 The Shorts at Randwick next Saturday.

Sadlers to team up

Group-1 winning trainer John Sadler will join with his son Tom in a training partnership.

"I couldn’t be more excited to have Tom join me,” Sadler said in a statement.

“He has been incredibly fortunate to learn from Australia’s leading stables particularly with his full time roles with both Gai Waterhouse and Danny O’Brien and these experiences, along with his riding accomplishments, will hold him in good stead for a future training career.

“I will be as hands-on as ever and continue to work diligently in building a consistently successful stable for our clients.”

Tom Sadler is a former jockey who rode 230 winners, and has been working with the Danny O'Brien stable.

Distance dilemma with Ayrton

Co-trainer Mick Price admits he is uncertain about which distance best suits talented 4-year-old Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) after his defeat over 1400 metres at Flemington on Saturday.

Ayrton was deposed as favourite for the 1500 metre Golden Eagle next month after just the second defeat of his seven-start career, and Price, who prepared the horse with Michael Kent Jnr, said there were a few questions to come out of the run.

“I still think he needs further,” Price said.

“He’s not a 1400-metre horse as such, he’s all right in lesser grade but I’ve just got 2000 metres in the back of my head with him," he told Racenet.

“We’ll sit down (with the owners) and discuss our plans.”

Newcastle kick-off for Duais

G1 Queensland Oaks winner Duais (Shamus Award) will kick off her spring campaign in the G3 Cameron H. at Newcastle on Friday.

Trainer Ed Cummings said the current COVID situation meant the 4-year-old mare would mean Duais would remain in New South Wales for her first two runs.

“The plan is to now go to the Cameron H. into the Hill S. and then two weeks into the Caulfield Cup,” Cummings told Punters.com.au.

“It (COVID) has forced us into staying in Sydney until we absolutely have to go to Melbourne."

In-form rider Alysha Collett will ride Duais on Friday.

Double for Maurice

Arrowfield Stud's second-season sire Maurice (Jpn) secured an interstate double on Sunday with the victories of Hitotsu at Donald and Mauricently at Coffs Harbour.

Hitotsu, who contested the G1 Blue Diamond S. last season, was having his first start for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and got a timely run to break his maiden in a 1350-metre event,

Mauricently was on debut for the Kris Lees stable and won his 1300-metre maiden at Coffs Harbour by 0.5l.

Stars in two states

Vinery Stud's Star Turn now has eight Australian winners for the season after the victories of Max Fire at Oakbank and All Dash at the Sunshine Coast.

Max Fire won at his second start for Travis Doudle with a maiden victory over 1400-metres, while All Dash, who is trained by Alan Jones, enjoyed the step to 1600 metres to break through for his first win.

More for Artie, Shalaa, Capitalist and Wolf Cry

A day after getting his first stakes winner for the season, Newgate stallion Flying Artie celebrated his seventh winner with the maiden success of Democracy Manifest for trainer Kody Nestor at Dubbo.

Democracy Manifest, a $70,000 Inglis Ready2Race Sale graduate, where he was purchased by Allam Racing/Andrew Williams Bloodstock last year, was having his third start, when winning the 1000-metre maiden.

Other second-season sires to get Australian winners on Sunday were Arrowfield's Shalaa (Ire), through Shajea at the Sunshine Coast, Newgate's Capitalist via Miss Tuppence at Devonport and Larneuk Stud's Wolf Cry through impressive Cranbourne winner Prowling.

Fast 400 for Smart Missile

The David Vandyke-trained Smart Star Prince secured a landmark 400th career winner for his sire Smart Missile with victory at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

The 4-year-old broke his maiden at start number six, camping just off the pace and arriving in time to win the 1300-metre race by 0.2l.

The Twin Hills stallion achieved the 400-winner milestone at speed with only I Am Invincible, Fastnet Rock and Sebring have reached this milestone faster.

Aegon to be assessed

Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) will return to New Zealand after a bleeding scare in Saturday's G1 Makybe Diva S.

Aegon finished 11th in Saturday's race having pulled up with what was reported a bleed. However, stewards later reported that the bleeding was a result of external trauma and wouldn't lead to a three-month ban for the 4-year-old.

Co-trainer Andrew Forsman said Aegon would return across the Tasman, where his prospects for contesting the $7.5 million Golden Eagle will be assessed.

“We’ll give him a gallop and get him scoped again and then make a decision on a Golden Eagle start," he said.

“We want to make sure everything is clear before we press on and if it’s not then he can go out for a good break.”