First-up Legend?
Les Bridge is contemplating a first-up raid on the $15 million The Everest with reigning champion Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) after opting to bypass this Saturday’s G2 The Shorts at Randwick.
Classique Legend
Bridge told Radio TAB on Tuesday that the 5-year-old lacks the fitness required to measure up on raceday despite winning a 1000 metre Group and Listed trial at Randwick last Friday.
Classique Legend hasn’t raced since finishing down the track in December’s Hong Kong Sprint. He returned to Australia after incurring a three-month ban from racing following a bleeding attack in March.
Spring over
Inspirational Girl’s (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) spring is all but over after an untimely temperature spike saw the G1 Railway S. winner miss her planned second-up run in Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington.
Inspirational Girl (NZ)
“She is still here (Flemington) but I think Bob (Peters) is leaning towards taking her home and taking the spring off,” trainer Danny O’Brien told Racing.com.
“We haven’t spoken since the weekend, but it looks likely she’ll miss the spring.”
Jump-out to outline Enthaar's plans
High-class filly Enthaar (Written Tycoon) is no certainty to kickstart her spring campaign in Friday week's G1 Moir S. at Moonee Valley.
The dual Group 3 winner's co-trainer, Ciaron Maher, said the stable will be guided by how she comes through a jump-out at Sandown on Wednesday.
“She had a nice break, so it will be interesting how she goes tomorrow. I’m just keeping an open mind with her, as there is plenty of options for her,” Maher told Racing.com.
“She can kick off in her own age group or there is the Moir there, so we are just letting her tell us.”
Enthaar
Zahra’s fate decided
Leading Victorian-based hoop Mark Zahra has been outed for four-months on charges relating to his attendance at a Mornington Airbnb gathering last month.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) dismissed Zahra’s appeal against the severity of a three-month suspension and in turn added another month onto his penalty for providing stewards with false and/or misleading evidence when first asked about his attendance.
The VRT will announce its decision on the same false and/or misleading evidence charge against Jamie Kah on Wednesday morning while it has rescheduled a directions hearing into the same charge against fellow jockeys Ben Melham and Ethan Brown to Friday.
Mark Zahra
Another for Xtravagant
Strawberry Swing provided Newhaven Park sire Xtravagant (NZ) with his fourth individual winner when saluting at Corowa on Tuesday.
The Andrew Dale-trained filly proved too sharp for Wilful Spirit (Wilful Default) and Master Kostya (Zoustar) in the 900-metre dash.
Xtravagant, the sire of Listed McKenzie S. winner He’s Xceptional, stands at Newhaven Park for a service fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Boss buoyant
Champion hoop Glen Boss is buoyant about securing the prized ride aboard boom gelding Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in next month’s G1 Epsom H. at Randwick.
Ayrton (NZ)
Boss was given the green light by the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable on Monday to ride the G3 Gunsynd Classic winner 1kg over his 50kg allocation.
“The weight is a massive factor and Mick (Price) has got a very good opinion of this bloke, and he has from the get-go,” Boss told RSN.
“Mick (Price) is a wonderful judge, and he has had some amazing horses over the years, so he knows what it takes to win a good race. I just think he (Ayrton) fits the bill (for an Epsom).”
Up and Running
John O’Shea expects rival gallopers to prove too sharp for his The Everest runner Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 The Shorts at Randwick.
O’Shea is hoping to see the 5-year-old attack the line with intent in his first start since winning April’s Listed Luskin Star S. by 2l.
“We will be happy to blow out a few cobwebs and get close to them in the run. If we do that then we will know we are in the mix for later in the season,” O’Shea said.
“On Saturday they are probably going to be a bit sharp for him. He is not a genuine five and a half (furlong) horse.”
International picture clearer
Connections of last Sunday’s G1 Irish St Leger winner, Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) have opted to send the equal G1 Melbourne Cup topweight for a spell rather than press on towards the time-honoured Flemington feature.
Racing Victoria’s General Manager of International and Racing Operations Paul Bloodworth also confirmed that trainer Ismail Mohammed remains eager for G1 Goodwood Cup runner-up Away He Goes (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) to make his way to Melbourne this spring.
"We still have a problematic issue for a flight for his (Away He Goes) groom, which is a similar issue with what we had with Andrew Balding (for Spanish Mission), but should we be able to find a solution for that the horse will be definitely on the plane," Bloodworth told Racing.com.
Sonnyboyliston (Ire)
Tide is high
Spring Tide’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) recent form has persuaded trainer Chrissy Fox to nominate the gelding for this Saturday’s G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings.
The 5-year-old’s rating has risen from 77 to 93 after winning three of his past four starts, including an Open H. at Wanganui on September 4 by 5.5l.
“Originally, we were going to aim at the G3 Red Badge Sprint (1400 metres) on the last day at Hastings and then the (G2) Couplands Mile but with his current rating, he’ll nearly be topweight in any open handicap he goes to,” Fox told NZ News Desk.
“So, while he’s well and fit he’s worth a crack at the Group 1.”
Arc Sale catalogue released
A total of 40 horses-in-training, 31 of which have already earned black type, have been catalogued to go under the hammer at Arqana's Arc Sale on Saturday, October 2.
Among the select lots on offer is Colosseo (USA) (Street Boss {USA}), who was runner-up in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains to five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and holds an entry in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret.
Other horses sure to generate plenty of interest are: G3 Prix de la Force winner Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}); G3 Prix Psyche winner Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who carries an entry to the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Opera, Reine d'Amour (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who won the G3 Sparkasse Holstein-Cup in Germany; and Group 3 winners Saiydabad (USA) (Blame {USA}) and Bellharbour Music (USA) (Mshawish {USA})
