Stayers in good order
Anthony and Sam Freedman are happy with Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) and Le Don De Vie (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) ahead of the G1 Heineken Metropolitan at Randwick.
"Both are going into that well. Warning was a really good return at Flemington and Le Don De Vie lugged a big weight (58.5kg), so he drops a lot, which will help him,” Sam Freedman told Racing.com.
Warning (purple cap) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"He has got a bad gate (21) though, so will need a Glen Boss special, which he generally saves for the Group 1s, so we'll leave it to him."
Warning will appreciate the step up in trip after an unplaced resuming run over 1700 metres while Le Don De Vie was a first-up fifth over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley.
Champion gets top lot
Champion Thoroughbreds purchased the top offering during the first session of the Goff’s Sportsman’s Yearling Sale in Ireland.
It went to €140,000 (AU$235,280) for a Dark Angel (Ire) filly, Lot 475, offered by Lumville Farm with Cathy Grassick of Brian Grassick Bloodstock doing the bidding. Bred by Shadwell, she is the first foal out of the Listed-placed Ghazawaat (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), whose dam and half-sister Simply Striking (Fr) (Kheleyf {USA}) were both stakes-placed.
The Sportsman's Sale, like the Orby, was relocated last year to the Goffs UK headquarters in Doncaster with the pandemic making it all but impossible for visitors to travel to Ireland, and back at its rightful home in Kildare on Thursday the first session returned positive figures.
Whereas in 2020 during the first session 104 yearlings had grossed £1,404,000 (AU$2.6 million), 186 were sold on Thursday for €3,945,000 (AU$6.32 million). This year's average of €21,210 (AU$34,000) was up 43 per cent on last year's figure of £13,500 (AU$25,000). The median climbed 45 per cent to €16,000 (AU$26,000), it was £10,000 (AU$19,000) last year.
Simplicity the key
Chris Waller’s instructions to Damian Lane will be kept as simple as possible when the jockey partners Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) for the first time in the G1 TAB Turnbull S. at Flemington.
Verry Elleegant (NZ)
“She is pretty versatile in terms of where she can settle. I think it’s about keeping her happy,” Waller told RSN 927.
“Flemington isn’t too bad a track, I guess, there’s plenty of room and horses can do a few things wrong, like she can from time to time, and still get away with it.
“Hopefully, she will find a nice position and a nice rhythm.”
Generosity applauded
To own a share in a Group 1 winner is a dream for any young racing fan, and for siblings Jamie and Casey Lock that dream has come true.
Their father, trainer Peter Lock, purchased Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) out of Ardsley Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale draft as a 2-year-old for NZ$2000, and both Jamie and Casey became attached to the filly while she was in their care.
Sierra Sue (NZ) and Natalie Young
She was subsequently sold to Australian interests and has gone on to win eight of her 18 starts for Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, including the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
Off the back of reading an article about the Lock family’s continued interest in the mare, Sierra Sue’s principal owner Ozzie Kheir made contact with Peter Lock and gifted Jamie and Casey a one per cent share in the mare.
“It is a dream come true,” Peter Lock said. “I have never met the bloke in my life and he rings me up after reading an article on Sierra Sue. He was touched by it and out of the blue to give my children a one per cent share is just terrific. I just can’t thank him enough.”
Favourite romps home
Short-priced favourite Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) had no trouble justifying his support at Echuca on Friday when he made his first appearance as a 3-year-old.
The colt made a four-wide move before the turn and he dashed clear in the closing 200 metres to score by 4.25l.
Extreme Warrior was making his first appearance since he finished fifth in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (colts and geldings). He had placed in his first two runs at Listed level in the Debutant S. and the Blue Diamond Preview (colts and geldings).
Double strike
Cambridge Stud enjoyed a notable winning double at Chelmsford in England this week with a pair of 2-year-olds with close ties to the farm.
Abbado (GB), a son of shuttle stallion Almanzor (Fr), was again successful while the Brendan and Jo Lindsay-bred Hilary’s Boy (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) also made it two victories on the bounce.
The Les Eyre-prepared Hilary’s Boy is the first foal of the winning Lawman (Fr) mare Mitigate (GB), who was purchased by the farm at the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale for 50,000 gns (AU$96,000).
A half-sister to G3 Sovereign S. winner Kick On (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Mitigate foaled a So You Think (NZ) filly last month and will be served by Hello Youmzain (Fr).
Trained by Sir Mark Prescott, Abbado broke his maiden at Chester and repeated the dose over 2000 metres at Chelmsford. He is out of the former top staying mare Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was successful in the G1 Prix Royal Oak and also at Group 2 level on four occasions.
The Landing arrives
Well-related 3-year-old The Landing (NZ) (Tivaci) lived up to his pedigree on debut at Te Rapa on Friday when he finished powerfully from back in the field for a stylish victory.
Trained by Tony Pike, he is a half-brother to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and the G1 Thorndon Mile winner A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins).
“The 2000 Guineas will probably come up a bit quick for him, but he could be a nice horse to give a break to and target a Derby path in the autumn,” Pike said.
The Landing was purchased by Pike for NZ$300,000 out of breeder Trelawney Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft. The Cambridge farm also races The Landing’s stablemate Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro), who won the following event in impressive fashion in his first appearance. He is out of the G3 South Australian Fillies’ Classic winner Okahu Bay (Flying Spur).
“It was a big effort from him and he’s a gorgeous individual with a very big future,” Pike said.
Strong Guineas hand
Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson has a host of promising 3-year-olds including Wakari (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) and Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who will clash in Saturday’s G2 Dundeel At Arrowfield Hawke's Bay Guineas.
Wakari enters the Hastings contest as the favourite off the back of a strong win in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Carnival.
He is on a path towards the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas and Bergerson is hopeful Nest Egg, who is also Guineas-nominated, can shape as a middle distance horse of the future.
Vale Colin Sherwood
Trainer Colin Sherwood, a native of Perth, Western Australia who won the 1960 G1 Railway S. with Wesmaster (Cyrus {GB}), has passed away in Florida after a brief illness. He was 90.
Sherwood enjoyed considerable success on the racetracks of his homeland for 15 years before becoming a bloodstock agent in the early 1970s, exporting racehorses and stallion prospects to horsemen in Singapore, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Africa and the United States.
He returned to racing in the late 1980s and resumed training, competing in the mid-Atlantic region before establishing his base at Tampa Bay Downs, where he retired in 2013.
Terrific Tevere
Tevere (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) recorded her second win at just her fourth start at Te Rapa on Friday when winning the Dunstan Recovery Mash 1200.
“She was fresh and well to resume and had been jumping out of her skin at home,” co-trainer Pam Gerard said. “We just needed to get her out and racing, and while expecting a bold run, we also knew she would gain plenty of benefit from it.
“It was a good effort to win fresh-up over 1200 metres and as the tracks get better we’d like to try her over 1400 metres and a mile.”
Curraghmore Principal Gordon Cunningham bred and races Tevere, who is out of a half-sister to the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude winner Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking).
