Vale Sir Dragonet
Reigning G1 Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) broke down during a routine piece of work at Moonee Valley on Saturday and, due to the severity of a leg injury, he was humanely euthanised.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Sir Dragonet was among 18 horses that worked on the course ahead of next weekend's Cox Plate meeting.
“In the year the Dragon has been in our care, he won our hearts with his exploits both on and off the track,” Maher and Eustace said in a statement.
“It has left a hole in our hearts, but we’re forever thankful for our time with him and he will forever remain a Cox Plate champion.”
Broodmare gem
Galileo (Ire) mare Abscond has been a broodmare gem for Queensland breeder Andrew Grant-Taylor and the mare looks to have produced another rising star in Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice).
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt completed a hat-trick of wins from only five starts when he claimed the Listed Polytrack Gothic S. at Caulfield.
Extreme Flight | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He has improved each time I have ridden him. He quickened really well and was waiting for them and stargazing, but he held on,” rider Damien Thornton said.
Resident at Sledmere Stud, Abscond’s first foal was the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara winner Invincibella (I Am Invincible) and is also the dam of the G3 JRA Cup winner Secret Blaze (Sizzling).
She had a Russian Revolution filly last year and is due to foal to I Am Invincible and a decision on a breeding plan for this season will be decided after she foals.
Family double
The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl (Sebring) emulated the effort at Randwick of her dam Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago).
She triumphed in her black-type debut in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality, a race won by her mother in 2009. She was also trained by Waller for the Ingham family, who bred and race Fangirl.
Stallion strikes again
Raheen Stud stallion Heroic Valour doubled his winning tally when his first-crop representative Mishani Persuasion was successful at Eagle Farm.
The Les Ross-trained Mishani Persuasion was the only runner to have raceday experience following a debut fifth at Doomben a fortnight ago.
That event was won by Heroic Valour’s son Heroic Son, who is prepared by Peter and Will Hulbert.
NZ 1000 Guineas favourite
Cambridge filly There You Go (NZ) (Niagara) firmed into the clear favourite for next month’s G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton after dominating her rivals in the G3 Barneswood Farm S. at Ashburton.
The Tony Pike-trained filly had turned plenty of heads when she broke her maiden status in effortless fashion over 1400 metres at Riccarton earlier in the month, smashing the clock in the process.
“Nothing really went right for her today and she still got the job done in good fashion, so I’m delighted with her,” Pike said. “We’ve always thought she was very good, as she is a beautiful, big strong filly with a massive action.
“She had to step up a few classes today and did it nicely and I think she will be even better when she gets back to the bigger, roomier track at Riccarton, so it is very exciting.”
Partnership celebrates
A successful global partnership celebrated another international victory when the aptly-named Almanzor (Fr) colt Franz (GB) won at Haydock in England at the first time of asking.
The 2-year-old is owned by Nicolas de Chambure’s Haras d’Etreham and Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s Cambridge Stud, who also raced and now shuttle the youngster’s sire and the multiple Group 1-winning stallion Hello Youmzain (Fr).
Franz is trained by Kevin Ryan, who also prepared Hello Youmzain to win the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup.
“Nicolas named this horse after the French and New Zealand alliance,” Cambridge Stud Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said. “Kevin will put him out now and he said we’ll all have a lot of fun with him next year.”
International support
International connections forged by the travel restrictions of COVID-19 were key to Roll The Dice Racing and John Foote successfully participating at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
The Victorian-based operation and the Queensland agent secured a Nathaniel (Ire) colt for 60,000 gns (AU$115,000) with European agent Luke Lillingston, of Lillingston Bloodstock, and Lincoln Collins, of Kentucky’s Kern Thoroughbreds, playing major roles on their behalf.
“John works closely with them and they did all the work on the ground so we’re very grateful to them. John has been going over there for years, but hasn’t be able to go in recent times because of COVID,” Roll The Dice Racing Director Steve Travaglia said.
Victor Ludorum retired
Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), an unbeaten Group 1-winning 2-year-old who trained on to be a Classic winner at three for Godolphin, has been retired from racing and will stand at Haras du Logis in Normandy next year. A fee will be announced at a later date.
“We're delighted to be standing him in France, scene of all his races. He hails from a particularly exceptional stallion-making family and has every chance of being a great stallion son of Shamardal,” Darley Director of Stallions Sam Bullard said.
Victor Ludorum started three times at two in the space of five weeks for trainer Andre` Fabre and won all three outings culminating in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He trained on to take the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and was third behind Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club.
He picked up another pattern race win over a mile this season when taking the G3 Prix Messidor at Chantilly and was third behind the ascendant Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Prix du Moulin.
Saved for another day
Last-start Listed Weekend Hussler S. winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was withdrawn from the G2 Tristarc S. due to the wet Caulfield track.
The Jamie Richards-trained mare, who won last season’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, is likely to trial at Moe during the week ahead of a tilt at the G1 Empire Rose S.
Flotus on market
Listed winner and Group 1 placegetter Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner), the second-highest rated juvenile filly currently trained in Britain, will be offered at this year's Tattersalls December Mare Sale on November 30.
A 125,000 gns (AU$240,000) purchase from last year's edition of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Flotus broke her maiden at first asking on May 22 for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.
She missed the board in her next three tries, but bounced back to take Ripon's Listed Champion 2YO Trophy S. before finishing second to Tenebrism (USA) (Caravaggio {USA}) in the G1 Cheveley Park S. Flotus is the second winner out of Floriade (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and is third in the betting for next year's G1 1000 Guineas.
