Gold Trip cleared for Rosehill Gold Cup
Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) has been cleared to run in Saturday’s $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup after being inspected by vets upon arrival in Sydney on Thursday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained entire was withdrawn from last Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate by Racing Victoria’s vets after showing signs of lameness in his off hind leg and off foreleg.
Maher has long maintained that the horse’s lameness was ‘very mild’ at that he was fit to contest the Moonee Valley feature.
“Dr (Toby) Koenig has advised that based on the veterinary report provided by Racing Victoria and after consulting with Prof (Chris) Whitton, the diagnostics determined that Gold Trip did not present with a heightened risk of injury,” a Racing NSW vets report read.
“On the basis of the lameness examination undertaken this morning, the horse has been deemed suitable to race this Saturday.”
State off for a Rest
State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) will return to Ireland for a spell after connections opted not to nominate the G1 Cox Plate winner for next Saturday’s G1 Mackinnon S. at Flemington.
“He heads home now, and we’ll look forward to a Northern Hemisphere spring campaign with him come next year,” Joseph O’Brien’s travelling foreman Mark Power told Racing.com.
“We’ll pull up now with just a long-term view and it’s a sweet feeling (going home with the Cox Plate).”
Second NZ winner for Extreme
Newgate Farm's star second-season sire Extreme Choice secured his second winner in New Zealand via the debut victory of Mohawk Brave at Te Aroha on Thursday.
The Jamie Richards-trained colt narrowly denied Miss Ella (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the 1000-metre contest.
Extreme Choice | Standing at Newgate Farm
A $160,000 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by James Harron Bloodstock via the draft of Newgate Farm, Mohawk Brave was subsequently on-sold through Inglis Digital. He is out of American Group 3 winner and G1 Santa Anita La Brea S. fourth placegetter Ben’s Duchess (USA) (Munnings {USA}).
Second winner for Odyssey Moon
Moon Stories notched Twin Hill Stud's sophomore sire Odyssey Moon’s second winner for the season when saluting at the Sapphire Coast on Thursday.
The Theresa Bateup-trained gelding finished 1.5l the better of stablemate Stryke ‘em Onesie (Super One) in the 1612 metre maiden handicap.
Vadamos and Belardo add to tally
New Zealand-based second season sires Vadamos (Fr) and Belardo (Ire) claimed their fifth and fourth winners respectively for the season at Te Aroha on Thursday.
Rich Hill Stud resident Vadamos was represented by the Simon and Katrina Alexander-trained La Crique (NZ), who bolted in by 6.3l in a 1400 metre maiden handicap.
Bella Luce (NZ), a daughter of Haunui Farm stallion Belardo was a dominant 3.3l victor at her third career start when accounting for Laneway Flirting (NZ) (El Roca) in a 1000 metre maiden handicap.
Belardo then achieved a double with Verona (NZ) victorious in a 1400 metre maiden at her first start.
Colette ready to arrive
James Cummings is glowing with confidence ahead of Colette’s (Hallowed Crown) tilt at Saturday’s G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington.
Cummings said the G1 ATC Oaks winner has trained on since her dominant last start romp in the G2 Tristarc S. at Moonee Valley.
Colette
“From that draw she will be spotting them a few lengths, but she’s got that foundation to be nice and fit for the mile at Flemington,” Cummings said.
“She is going well enough to be highly competitive and Damien (Oliver) was adamant to get back involved with her in the (G1) Empire Rose and was very bullish about her chances.”
Payment can prevail
Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is in fine fettle ahead of his title defence in next Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup, according to Joseph O’Brien’s travelling foreman Mark Power.
Power said the 9-year-old gelding has continued to train on since touching down on Australian soil earlier this month.
"Things have gone smoothly since he's arrived, he's travelled over brilliant from the start and we got him into that routine straight away, so it's all been straightforward," Power told Racing.com.
"He's in every bit and the same form he was in last year and his form on the track would tell you that as well. He feels the same horse to Sean (Corbey) riding him out every day, so he's every bit as good we think."
Kah ban remains in limbo
A decision on whether Jamie Kah will be required to serve an extra two-month suspension for providing false and/or misleading evidence about Mark Zahra’s attendance at a Mornington Airbnb in late August will be known before November 25.
On Thursday, Kah’s lawyer, Damian Sheales, told the Supreme Court of Victoria presiding judge Justice Richard Niall that his client’s additional two-month ban should be thrown out, as Kah never intentionally mislead Stewards about Zahra’s attendance.
Te Akau tackles Flemington features
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards is seeking further Melbourne Cup Week riches when he 'saddles up' stable stars Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), Sword Of State (Snitzel) and Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) in key Group 1 features at Flemington on Saturday.
Richards is attempting to claim a second G1 Empire Rose S. scalp when he produces G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Amarelinha in the fillies and mares' feature.
Jamie Richards
“She got shuffled up in her first start and then got caught three deep without any cover with the big weight last time. She’s a good mare; she just needs a bit of luck,” Richards said.
G1 Sistema S.-winning colt Sword Of State will tackle a star studded edition of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. while impressive last start Listed Weekend Hussler S. winner Kahma Lass line up with 52kgs in the G1 Kennedy Cantala S.
“He’ll go forward and put himself in the race and be in it for a long way. Whether he’s good enough, we’ll find out on Saturday but we think he deserves his spot,” he said.
Order Of Australia retired
Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) will not defend his G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile title after sustaining a career-ending injury on Wednesday morning.
The 4-year-old who also boasts victory in the G2 Minstrel S. and placings in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp was last seen when finishing last in the GI Keeneland Turf Mile S. on October 9.
Order Of Australia (Ire)
“He had a small fracture and had a pin put in it this morning, but the operation and everything went well. He will go off to stud now,” Aidan O’Brien revealed during a Breeders’ Cup press conference on Wednesday.
No slowing down at Fasig-Tipton October Sale
The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale, with a session still remaining, soared past its record gross with another day of break-neck bidding on Wednesday at Newtown Paddocks.
A total of 856 yearlings have netted US$39,511,600 (AU$52.5 million), bettering the previous gross record of US$38,258,900 (AU$50.9 million) which was set in 2019.
The October Sale is on track to break more records as it reaches its final session on Thursday. The three-day average of US$46,158 (AU$61,000) is up 31 per cent on 2020 and is ahead of the record average of US$37,955 (AU$50,000) set in 2019.
The median of US$21,000 (AU$28,000) is up 40 per cent from last year and is ahead of the Sale record of US$18,000 (AU$24,000) set in 2014.
A colt by Street Sense (USA) (Hip 1107) equalled the highest bid in October history when knocked down to bloodstock agent Jacob West on behalf of the Vinnie Viola’s St for US$925,000 (AU$1.23 million). Elias Stable and Mike Repole partnership.
John Fahey, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, went to US$450,000 (AU$600,000) to acquire a colt by Justify (Lot 893) from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment. “He's by Justify, a Triple Crown winner, he's a Canadian-bred, and he looks like a nice horse,” Fahey said of the yearling's appeal.
Of the Justify's Fahey has seen, he said, “They are strong, athletic, good-looking horses.
