Gold Trip out, Mav cleared
French import Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) has been ruled out of Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley after failing a veterinary inspection on Friday morning.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned 5-year-old had shown signs of lameness in his off-fore and off hind leg on Thursday and hadn’t made any improvement since, according to stewards.
New Zealander Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) was cleared to contest the weight-for-age race on Friday morning after showing signs of lameness on Thursday.
Epaulette colt stars at final Ready2Race breeze ups
The final breeze-up session ahead of Tuesday’s Inglis Ready2Race was run at Warwick Farm on Friday, with the fastest gallop of the 16 to breeze being Lot 155, an Epaulette colt from Blake Ryan Racing's draft, who clocked 10.61s.
Ryan also had the third-fastest breeze of the morning – a Hallowed Crown colt (Lot 84) - which ran 10.63s, while Will Forrester’s Supido filly (Lot 92) split the pair at 10.62s.
Lot 155 - Epaulette x Dilemmas (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He’s a good style of colt, he’s breezed well obviously, he’s settled in well, the stallion is going well so he’s definitely one for the buyers to take note of,’" Ryan said of the Epaulette colt.
“And the Hallowed Crown, he’s done really well since he’s been gelded, he’s super sensible and does everything right, he looks well and has just done so well through the preparation and Hallowed Crown is doing good things, he’s got Relentless who is a horse I sold here 2 years ago that is a good horse in Singapore, as well as Colette in Australia."
Inspections for the Sale are underway with the Riverside Stables with the Sale to commence at 11am Tuesday (AEDT).
Coolmore on the cards
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher has earmarked next Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. as a possible next start for impressive Friday night Moonee Valley winner Marine One (Capitalist).
Owned by Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski, Marine One accounted for the Phillip Stokes-trained Island Edition (Furnaces) in the 1000 metre 3-year-old handicap.
Inglis Digital sale opens
A 210-lot strong Inglis Digital October (Late) Online Sale has opened for bidding, highlighted by 11 Godolphin-consigned racehorses.
Among the draft are stakes winner Kordia (Epaulette), stakes-placed Conceited (Brazen Beau) and Caulfield winner Dickin Medal (Snitzel).
The Godolphin draft will be available for inspection at Riverside Stables from 9am Tuesday, October 26.
Another highlight in the catalogue is Sunday Legend (More Than Ready {USA}), an unraced sister to eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (NZ), whose daughter Joyous Legend (Snitzel) sold for $1.025 million to Rosemont Stud this week.
There are 84 racehorses (57 race fillies), 35 broodmares, 14 shares, 11 yearlings and two 2YOs in the October (Late) catalogue.
Progeny of Champions perform in 2-year-old trials
The two 900-metre juvenile trials held at Rosehill on Friday morning were won by the progeny of Champion sires. Exceed And Excel and Redoute’s Choice.
The quickest of the two heats, 54.49s, was run by Bjorn Baker-trained filly Ginger’s Gal (Exceed And Excel), who made it two wins from as many hitouts when she scored nicely for Jason Collett to win by 0.7l.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Mount Brilliant, a product of Redoute’s Choice’s final crop, narrowly accounted for Encroachment (No Nay Never {USA}) in a time of 54.76s when asked to extend by Nash Rawiller.
Staff disqualified, Baker fined
Three of Bjorn Baker’s stable staff have been disqualified after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges.
Stephen McLean, Daniel Henkel and Hannah Olden have received various punishments following the treatment of unnamed gelding at the Warwick Farm equine pool on the morning of Saturday, August 28.
McLean received a four-month ban for failure to exercise reasonable care, control and supervision to prevent acts of cruelty committed, while Henkel and Olden were outed for four months and two weeks and three months respectively.
Baker, who pleaded not guilty, was fined $4000 on the following terms.
Maurice and American Pharoah notch winners
Clyde (Maurice {Jpn}) and Wenet (American Pharoah {USA}) added to their respective young sires’ seasonal tallies when saluting at Scone on Friday.
The Gary Portelli-trained Clyde, who claimed a BM58 handicap over 2200 metres, is one of Arrowfield Stud stallion Maurice’s (Jpn) 12 winners for the season after notching his second victory from seven starts.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Wenet became Coolmore shuttle stallion American Pharaoh’s (USA) fifth individual winner for the season when breaking her maiden status in the fourth event over 1300 metres.
Mikki Isle and Xtravagant to the fore
Secret Isle provided young sire Mikki Isle (Jpn) with his seventh individual winner for the season when saluting on debut at Echuca on Friday.
The Louise Bonella-trained gelding proved too strong for Philadelphia Storm (Choisir) and Back In The Day (More Than Ready {USA}) in the 1200-metre maiden.
Newhaven Park stallion Xtravagant (NZ) notched his eighth individual winner for the season when Bookman broke through at start number two in fourth event at the same meeting over 1600 metres.
Elleegant ready to roll
Chris Waller expects a high-pressure G1 Cox Plate to bring out the best in star mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
“I’m fully aware Verry Elleegant has been beaten at Moonee Valley before but I’m not too concerned by that,” Waller told Racenet.
“I think she will be fine; she just needs to be on the back of the right horses going forward. Let the race unfold as the pressure of the Cox Plate will suit her.”
Weather a worry
Jamie Richards is unwilling to declare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) a certain starter in Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Richards remains wary of forecast rainfall, saying that a final decision will be made raceday morning as to whether his stable star contests the time-honoured weight-for-age feature.
“We want to run, we really want to be a part of it and compete but if the rain arrives and it got to a Soft or Heavy, she’s an uncertain starter,” Richards told RSN.
“We were caught out in last year’s Cox Plate and then in The All-Star Mile when we made the wrong decision, so we are very mindful of that.”
Mo’unga to measure up
Hugh Bowman believes Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) is capable of spoiling stablemate Zaaki’s (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) G1 Cox Plate party.
The Sydney-based Bowman will partner the Annabel Neasham-trained entire in Saturday’s 101st edition of the 2040 metre Moonee Valley feature.
Mo'unga (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I wouldn’t have done it for anything, I didn’t come down to make the numbers up. I really thought he (Mo’unga) could figure so here I am,” Bowman told Racenet.
“I think all things being equal, if Zaaki turns up at his best he’ll win the Cox Plate. So, If I can beat him then I’m going to be very close to the pointy end."
Cotehele to rebound
John O’Shea believes a slight change of tactics can see talented colt Cotehele (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) measure up in Saturday’s $1 million Bondi S. at Randwick.
The classy 3-year-old could only manage fourth behind leading Bondi contenders Hilal (Fastnet Rock) and Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) in the G2 Stan Fox S. two weeks ago, however, O’Shea believes Cotehele can bridge the gap by settling off the speed.
“I was happy with the effort, we will just ride him a pair back this week,’’ O’Shea told Racing NSW.
“It was a good seasoning run; he had a hard run and a good day out. He will get a lovely run in behind the speed and he can show that turn of foot he has.”
Galileo and Frankel foals highlight Goffs November
Progeny of the late Galileo (Ire) and Juddmonte's Frankel (GB) are among the standout offerings in the Goffs November Foal Sale, for which the catalogue was released on Thursday.
Galileo will be represented by three foals, including a filly out of American Grade I winner Nickname (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Frankel also has three foals catalogued, including a half-sister to Sea The Moon (Ger) and a half-brother to black-type winners Lily’s Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Zurigha (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
The Goffs November Foal Sale will take place at Kildare Paddocks from November 15 to 18, with 1015 foals catalogued across four days.
Niarchos family to receive International Award of Merit
The Niarchos family will be honoured with the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit for 2021.
The award recognises distinguished horsemen and horsewomen for lifelong contributions to thoroughbred racing, with previous winners including the Magnier family and Aidan O’Brien, the Romanet family, Jim Bolger, Alec Head and Seth Hancock.
Maria Niarchos-Gouaze and Electra Niarchos | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
The Niarchos family has bred and/or raced 125 Grade and Group 1 winners around the globe, including influential sire Nureyev (USA) and his dual GI Breeders’ Cup Mile-winning daughter Miesque (USA).
More US farms announce fees
American stud farms Claiborne, Taylor Made and Airdrie have announced their stallion fees for the 2022 breeding season.
War Front (USA) heads all Claibone stallions in 2022 with a stud fee of US$100,000 (AU$75,000).
Leading second-crop sire Not This Time (USA) tops Taylor Made roster at a fee of US$45,000 (AU$60,000) while Cairo Prince (USA) and Collected (USA) lead the way at Airdrie, each standing for US$15,000 (AU$20,000).
