Zaaki scratched
An elevated temperature forced the shock scratching of Cox Plate favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) on Saturday morning.
Trainer Annabel Neasham confirmed the scratching just after 7.30am on Twitter, expressing her sympathy for connections and for jockey James McDonald, who travelled to Victoria from New South Wales for the ride.
A dominant winner of five of his last six starts, the 7-year-old gelding had maintained hot favouritism for the $5 million feature despite an unexpected last-start defeat in the G1 Might And Power S. at Caulfield.
Zaaki’s scratching reduced this year's Cox Plate field to eight, with Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {Fr}) previously scratched on Friday.
Double eases disappointment
A black-type double early on Saturday’s Moonee Valley program helped to ease the pain for jockey James McDonald after the scratching of Cox Plate favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
McDonald won the G3 Tandem Building Group Red Anchor S. aboard Generation (Snitzel), then delivered a repeat result 35 minutes later as the blue-blooded Mokulua (Redoute’s Choice) cleared out for an impressive 2.75l victory in the G2 3 Point Motors Fillies' Classic.
“The Zaaki scratching just shows that a week is a long time in racing,” McDonald said. “We were on top of the world, and then at 7:32am I got the phone call. It hurt a little bit, to be honest.
“It felt like the rug had been swept straight from underneath you. I kept checking the scratchings to see if it was real. But that’s racing. He’ll live to fight another day.”
Saturday’s Group 2 win was a valuable pedigree boost for Mokulua, whose dam Dear Demi (Dehere {USA}) won the G1 VRC Oaks and placed in another seven Group 1 races.
McEvoy suspended
Leading jockey Kerrin McEvoy will miss Victoria Derby Day after being suspended for careless riding aboard Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday’s Bondi S. at Randwick.
Racing NSW stewards charged McEvoy with shifting in when not clear of other runners around the 1300-metre mark. He pleaded guilty and decided to start his four meeting suspension immediately.
McEvoy will return in time to shoot for a fourth Melbourne Cup victory, riding Grand Promenade (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) in the Flemington feature on November 2.
Kiwi recruit classy in Crockett
Former New Zealand filly Dream Queen (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) has made a favourable early impression on her new trainers Ben and JD Hayes, winning Saturday’s Listed PFD Food Services Crockett S. at Moonee Valley.
Crossing the Tasman with two wins and two placings to her name from just four starts, the chestnut filly finished midfield on her Australian debut at Mornington on October 7. On Saturday she took a big step forward in her second appearance for Lindsay Park, ridden by Luke Nolen to a 0.1l victory over Our Heidi (Needs Further).
Dream Queen (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“That was fantastic,” Ben Hayes said. “She was a filly that we purchased from New Zealand from her race form, and we’ve had a lot of success with New Zealand horses lately with Mr Brightside, Super Thief and now her.
“I thought it was a great ride by Luke. Big congratulations to all the staff at home. To get these rewards is really big for us.”
Dabernig breaks new ground
Tom Dabernig has celebrated his first stakes success since leaving Lindsay Park in favour of a solo training career.
Dabernig saddled Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) for a runaway 4.25l win in Saturday’s G3 Powerflo Solutions Tesio S. at Moonee Valley.
“That was very special,” Dabernig said. “First Group 3 for the new stable, first in my own right and out of Warrnambool. I’m thrilled for Flying Start Syndications.
“That ride by Blaike McDougall – he’s ridden a lot of winners for me, but a lot of Victorians probably haven’t heard of him. I think they will. He’s a very good rider.”
First Australian stakes winner for Maurice
Arrowfield Stud’s Maurice (Jpn) sired his first Australian stakes winner when Mazu landed the Listed Daily Press Brian Crowley S. at Randwick on Saturday.
Third in the G3 Pago Pago S. as a 2-year-old and close up behind the placegetters in the Listed The Rosebud and G3 San Domenico S. earlier in the spring, the talented colt has now added a valuable stakes win to his CV in the sixth start of his career.
“He (Mazu) should be running in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. this week, this horse – that’s the amount of ability he has,” co-trainer Paul Snowden said. “Hopefully we’ll see that come to fruition later in the year.”
Mazu was a $180,000 purchase from the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by owners Triple Crown Syndications.
Maurice, who stands for a service fee of $44,000 (inc GST) at Arrowfield, has sired 117 winners from 265 runners worldwide with four stakes winners. Mazu is now the headline act among his Australian progeny, backed up by five black-type placegetters.
Career high for Duggan
Less than two years after suffering a skull fracture in a fall at Scone, apprentice jockey Jenny Duggan celebrated her first black-type win aboard Torrens (Adelaide {Ire}) in Saturday’s Listed ClubsNSW City Tattersalls Club Cup at Randwick.
“Can you believe that just happened? It feels amazing,” Duggan said. “Coming back from injury is always testing.
Jenny Duggan | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I was always so determined, even if I only had to have one ride back, I had to come back.
“I know people think that’s strange, but when it’s a passion involved, it’s so much easier. My mum didn’t want me to ride again. She was begging and she was very upset, but ever since I was little, she knows I go my own way, and here I am.”
Eagle back-up beckons Exoboom
Peter and Paul Snowden already have Aim (Star Witness) as a confirmed runner in next Saturday’s $7.5 million Golden Eagle, and they are hoping Exoboom (Exosphere) can join him after winning the Filante H. at Randwick on Saturday.
Exoboom needs at least a six-point rating increase to secure a spot in the field for the Golden Eagle in seven days’ time.
“I hope he’s done enough to get in, because he’ll give it one hell of a shake,” Paul Snowden said. “As long as we can draw well and those sorts of things line up on the day – that’s the difference between winning and losing.
“This horse is only starting to come to his top now and that will top him off for next week.”
Kubrick breaks win drought
Former quality age-group performer Kubrick (Shooting To Win) snapped a two-year win drought with a brilliant performance at Doomben on Saturday.
Placed in the G1 JJ Atkins S. as a 2-year-old and the winner of the $1 million Bondi S. on this day in 2019, Kubrick has gone winless in 20 starts throughout the 24 months in between times.
But the Chris Waller-trained 5-year-old was right back at his best in Saturday’s Tab Venue Mode Class 6 Plate, powering home from off the pace to win by 2.25l.
Kubrick was a $250,000 purchase from the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by Star Thoroughbreds, and he has now had 28 starts for four wins, seven placings and $957,250 in stakes.
Lucky Vega to Irish National Stud
Group 1-winning 2-year-old and Classic-placed 3-year-old Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will stand the Northern Hemisphere season at the Irish National Stud in 2022. He is currently serving his first book at Yulong Stud in Australia.
Irish National Stud Chief Executive Officer Cathal Beale said, “this is a great opportunity for the INS to offer our breeders a stallion with all the attributes they are looking for. He was fast and precocious, trained on at three and is a horse with excellent movement and presence. He is by the great Lope De Vega, who was the leading grossing stallion at Tattersalls Book 1 this year."
Stakes success for Southern Ocean
Lightly raced stayer Southern Ocean (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) burst into contention for next month’s G3 New Zealand Cup with a strong win in Saturday’s Listed Sothys Spring Classic at Riccarton.
Trained by Terri Rae, the 5-year-old has now had just nine starts for five wins and three second placings.
Southern Ocean (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“He has an excellent record for a lightly raced horse and he showed again today just what a promising stayer he is,” Rae told NZ Racing Desk.
“The New Zealand Cup is his target, so he will probably have a start in the Metropolitan Trophy the previous Saturday to put the finishing touches on him.
“Both races are on his home patch, so there is no travelling involved, which is good because he’s still not the finished product yet.”
Tatts releases catalogue
Tattersalls has released the catalogue for its December Mares Sale on Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, with 1168 fillies and mares catalogued including huge representation from Godolphin, Shadwell and Juddmonte, which bring 224 between them.
The Tattersalls December Mares Sale catalogue features previously announced headliners like Sunday Times (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 1810), the dam of Breeders' Cup winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) carrying a full sibling; listed-winning and Group 1-placed 2-year-old filly Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 1798); and dual Group 1 winner Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 1876) as part of the Sir Robert Ogden dispersal.
