Stablemates thriving
Trainer Chris Waller couldn’t be happier with his $15 million The TAB Everest contenders Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), who rounded off their preparation at Rosehill on Monday morning.
Home Affairs and Nature Strip
The pair also squared off in a 900-metre jump-out on the course last Wednesday where Nature Strip sat off Home Affairs before joining his younger rival on the line.
“I loved his jump-out how he (Nature Strip) took a sit off Home Affairs, showing that he’s a little bit more tractable than he was last year and I think in this year’s race it will be important, it will be a tough 1200 metres,” Waller said.
Nature Strip, who will again be ridden by James McDonald, won the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick before finishing runner-up to Eduardo (Host {Chi}) in the G2 The Shorts. Glen Boss will be on last start Listed Heritage S. winner Home Affairs.
“Home Affairs has come on nicely thanks to his first-up run. I’m very excited about taking a 3-year-old into the race with Glen Boss in the saddle,” Waller said.
Everest crowd doubles
Crowd numbers for The Everest meeting on Saturday will be doubled with 10,000 fans to be allowed trackside at Saturday's race.
Randwick will host 10,000 fans, doubled from the original plan for 5000, under new COVID-safe conditions reportedly signed off on by new Premier Dom Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
The Daily Telegraph reported the $15 million The TAB Everest will boast the slogan ‘the race that stops the hibernation’ after Sydney’s lockdown restrictions were eased on Monday.
Pace to blame
Annabel Neasham believes the pace of the G1 Might And Power S. brought about the downfall of Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
‘’For me, I just think the race wasn’t run to suit,’’ Neasham said on RSN927’s Racing Pulse program.
‘’I think it’s as simple as that. The horse likes a strong tempo and he likes to roll along and it just didn’t turn out that way.
Zaaki (GB)
‘’He’s pulled up well and I can’t find any excuse with the horse. We’ really happy with him, we’re looking forward to the Cox Plate and we’ll just make sure it’s not a sit-sprint.
“The Cox Plate naturally will be a higher pressure race 'you’d expect' and I just hope he can continue to improve over the next fortnight. I think the key to him is to utilise that big stride of his.”
Guineas raid
A $27,500 late entry payment was made on Monday morning to give Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) a crack at Wednesday’s G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Trainer Jerome Hunter's original plan for his G1 VRC Kennedy Oaks favourite was to run the filly in Saturday’s G3 Ethereal S., but connections have made the call to tackle the Guineas.
Barb Raider won at Sandown two runs back before claiming the Kennedy Oaks Prelude and Craig Williams, who rode her in both races, will take the mount again on Wednesday.
Penalty for Delphi
Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria's Executive general manager Racing, has penalised Delphi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 1kg for the G1 Melbourne Cup following his convincing G2 Herbert Power S. win.
Delphi moved from 38th to 24th in the G1 Melbourne Cup order of entry as a result of his handicap rising from 52.5kg to 53.5kg.
Stakes boost
The Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) has announced it will be contributing over NZ$2 million toward stakes at Ellerslie and Pukekohe Park this season.
The contribution, which is over and above New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s minimums, comprises NZ$930,000 previously committed by ATR and a further NZ$1.1 million, making a total of NZ$2.03 million contributed by the Club.
“We are pleased to embark on this new era of thoroughbred racing in Auckland by taking immediate action in increasing the level of return to our all-important stakeholders, our owners, trainers and jockeys,” ATR Chief Executive Officer Paul Wilcox said.
“We made it well-known during the merger process that we are firmly-focused on continuing our investment and growth in the industry, and that stakes increases are the first priority for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing.
“This is a great first step on our journey toward rewarding those who choose to race with us, whether that’s at Ellerslie or Pukekohe Park.”
Golden prospect
Trainer Desleigh Forster believes the best is yet to come from her $7.5 million Golden Eagle hopeful Apache Chase (Better Than Ready).
She has been thinking of a Golden Eagle tilt for some time, but the current COVID-19 quarantine restrictions have been an added problem to surmount.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be going down now,” Forster told Radio TAB. “Once he learns to relax and switches off, he’ll be a much better horse.”
Apache Chase was a dashing winner of the Listed Weetwood H. at Toowoomba and remained unbeaten this preparation with success at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Abbreviated campaign
Trainer Shane Nichols has confirmed his dual Group 1 winner Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) will have a short spring campaign.
"I galloped him (last) Tuesday morning, course proper at Mornington, more so because he was going to self-implode if we didn't do something with him, he's that well," Nichols told Racing.com.
"He will go toward the Kevin Heffernan, which is now Caulfield, over 1400 metres at weight-for-age. He will probably run in the Manikato S. on the way there.
"Then he will have a break. Obviously, he’ll come back through the Australia S., C.F. Orr and the Futurity."
Champion S. in mix
Godolphin's G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) might be seen once more this season in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot.
Fourth in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after leading into the home straight, the bay has been pleasing trainer Charlie Appleby since his run in Paris.
“He will be left in the Champion S. for the simple reason that at the moment he has come out of the Arc well,” Appleby told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday. “Should connections ask me how the horse is, and I say, 'jumping around' and they say, 'where can we go?' I'd look a bit daft saying I'd taken him out of the Champion S.”
Deserved break
As Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) heads to the G1 Cox Plate and Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) looks toward the G1 Livamol Classic, another of the major players in the Hawke’s Bay spring features has headed to the paddock.
Gino Severini (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) has been one of the best horses this spring, running three times at weight-for-age for three minor placings. He began by finishing second in the G2 Foxbridge Plate before heading to Hastings to finish fourth in the G1 Tarzino Trophy and third in the G1 Windsor Park Plate.
Gino Severini (Ire) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He had three runs and a couple of trips from here to Hastings, which took its toll a little bit, and he’ll probably race again in November or December,” co-trainer Grant Cooksley said.
“I thought they were all really good runs this time in. I normally give them three to three and a half weeks between runs but this time he’s run every second week for three starts, and he’s come through the runs really well.”
Bright future tipped
A bright future is being tipped for former New Zealand galloper Corretto (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) after he broke maiden ranks in his Australian debut when winning over 1100 metres at Hamilton.
Trainer Tom Dabernig was pleased with the win, but said there is plenty of upside to the 4-year-old.
Corretto (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“I had the benefit of getting him from a spell and he had a couple of trials for me which he won nicely under no pressure,” Dabernig told SENTrack.
“We took him to Hamilton and he was able to win. He drew a wide gate so had to overcome that and was still able to win. It was good to get the maiden out of the way and hopefully he can go on with it from here.
“He is still doing a bit wrong. He is a tall, angular horse that hasn’t quite put it all together. That tells me there is still some improvement to come.”
Breeders’ Cup next
Dual Group 1 runner-up Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has been confirmed for the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar in November.
A winner of the G3 Brownstown S. and G3 Fairy Bridge S., the Haras de Saint-Pair homebred was second in both the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown and the G1 Prix de la Foret.
“She came out of the race last weekend fantastic and she's in good form. She's going to the Breeders' Cup Mile,” trainer Paddy Twomey said.
“She wouldn't have liked the ground last week, she wants fast ground. If she gets a low draw in Del Mar then I'd be very hopeful of her running a good race. I spent a summer out in Del Mar when I was a kid and I'd love to have a winner there.”