Royal Ascot could await Anamoe
James Cummings hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) being set for a tilt at next year’s Royal Ascot features such as the G1 Queen Anne S.
Cummings confirmed an international raid to be among a host of autumn targets for the star colt, saying that the stable is likely to eye off April’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. before making any further decisions.
Anamoe | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“We are looking into it (Royal Ascot) with Anamoe, and perhaps he can have a travelling companion. He doesn’t have to go, it might not be next year, it could be the following year,” Cummings told Racenet.
“There’s always consideration given to that every time we have a horse emerge of the calibre that we think is impressive enough to put in front of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. We certainly feel Anamoe fits that category.”
Good Chat tops Magic Millions Online Sale
Three-time winner Good Chat (All Too Hard) has topped the latest Magic Millions Online Sale, selling for $62,500 to the owner of Group 1 winner Alligator Blood, Allan Endresz.
A three-time winner for David Vandyke, Good Chat, a half-brother to stakes winner Benny's Buttons (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) and Real Surreal (Real Saga) had most recently been in the care of Annabel Neasham, running second at Rosehill on Wednesday. He had been previously in the ownership of BK Racing.
A 2-year-old filly by Heroic Valour was picked up by Trilogy Racing for $37,000. She is out of the Lonhro mare Vital, who has produced three winners.
Sun to be better for the run
Lindsey Smith will send Too Close The Sun (Carlton House {USA}) around in Saturday’s G1 Railway S. with an eye towards the G1 Kingston Town S. on December 4.
The Warrnambool-based trainer, who still maintains stables at his original Casuarina-base, south of Perth, said Too Close The Sun will benefit from the second-up assignment.
“His first trial was ordinary, he was a bit too soft, then his first run he was a bit too fresh. I think he’s a run behind, but I have increased his workload quite a bit and his coat has come good and he’s a lot fitter,” Smith told Racing.com.
“He’s drawn a good gate (barrier two) he may lead so he’ll be out of harm’s way, and he’ll be a lot better, but I think the 1800 metres (Kingstown Town S.) will be a better race for him.”
Second-season sires strike again
Prominent second-season sires Capitalist, Maurice (Jpn) and Shalaa (Ire) were each represented by individual winners on Thursday.
Capitalist sits two wins clear of Maurice atop the second-season standings by winners after the Team Hawkes-trained Clemenceau notched his Newgate Farm sire's 19th seasonal winner in the fourth event at Hawkesbury.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
Arrowfield Stud’s Maurice broke a deadlock with Vinery Stud’s Star Turn for second after the Chris Waller-trained filly Morioka broke her maiden status at start number 10 at Mornington.
Maurice’s barnmate Shalaa remains in fourth position by winners after securing his 15th Australian winner this season via the maiden victory of Critical Time in the third event at Hawkesbury.
Malkovich on the money
Bjorn Baker expects talented sprinter Malkovich (Choisir) to prove hard to beat in Saturday’s $300,000 The Warra at Kembla.
The 4-year-old entire drops in class after being beaten by less than 1l in stakes-grade features at Caulfield and Flemington this campaign respectively.
“If there is one horse that deserves a good win it is Malkovich,’’ Baker told Racenet.
“He has come back from Flemington fit and well, we haven’t had to do too much with him, and he is there to run a good race. The 1000 metres suits him, it’s a specialist distance and his best form is over this trip.’’
Zou to resume in style
Tony Gollan is hoping renowned equine rehabilitation specialist Lee Everson holds the key to injury-riddled sprinter Zoustyle (Zoustar) realising his true potential.
Gollan, who credits Everson to the revival of subsequent G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}) following a serious suspensory injury, called on his services to aid Zoustyle’s recovery from a ligament damage.
The stakes-winning 6-year-old who burst onto the scene with six consecutive victories to his name will resume in the Listed Swiss Ace Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
“He specialises in rehab and soft tissue stuff. It comes from the trotting background, so heavy sand, swimming and conditioning them without galloping them, he (Everson) is a deadset master,” Gollan told Racenet.
“Whatever time it takes, it takes and when he sends them back, they are a healed and sound horse.”
Cummings remains optimistic
James Cummings is optimistic about the chances of Criaderas (Lonhro) in Saturday’s The Gong at Kembla Grange despite the talented gelding having up to a month between runs.
Cummings, who had hoped to run Criaderas in last Saturday’s The Hunter, has raised concerns about the prospect of him entering the $1 million feature ‘underdone’, however, he remains hopeful that a ‘degree of freshness’ could prove a blessing in disguise.
Criaderas | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He always runs on resolutely. I thought he might have gone a bit better first-up but Kerrin (McEvoy) said the horse went well,” Cummings told Racenet.
“Optimistically it should give him an added degree of freshness which is good for a horse like Criaderas who tends to get too far out of his ground.’’
Kent proposes shift to breeding and racing seasons
Trainer Mick Kent is of the belief that the Australian and New Zealand breeding and racing seasons should be pushed back several weeks.
The Group 1-winning trainer, who also breeds his own horses, questioned why Southern Hemisphere racing nations have a breeding season that is conducive to foals being born in winter.
Under Kent’s proposal, the racing season would begin on September 1 and stallions would be able to start covering mares a fortnight later to ensure that the bulk of foals are born from September onwards.
"Horses are meant to be born in the height of spring and that's when mares come into season naturally. A mare's metabolism improves into spring and they can finish off a foal better, they're able to put more into the foal,” Kent told Racing.com.
"Why would we go against nature? I just look at the welfare of having mares in boxes, under lights and needling them up to come in season. A later foal is a much stronger, healthier foal and racing needs stronger, healthier horses."
Bosson bullish about Blue
Unraced Te Akau filly Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) reminds Opie Bosson of star mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock), so much so that he will ride at his lightest weight, 54.5kg, since partnering Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) to victory in last year’s Karaka Million 3-Year-Old Classic.
Bosson will take mount aboard the Jamie Richards-trained juvenile in Saturday’s Listed Fasttrack Insurance 2-Year-Old S. after guiding her to a soft trial success at Matamata earlier this month.
"I really like this filly so hopefully getting down to that weight will be worth it. She reminds me of Avantage and she's fast,” Bosson said.
“I've ridden her in a few gallops and a trial now. The first time I rode her, I thought, 'Woah, this thing goes really well' and Jamie (Richards) said: 'Yeah, she does'.”
Maximus Mischief colt tops Book 5 opener
A first crop Maximus Mischief (USA) colt topped the day’s trade during the Book 5 opener of the Keeneland November Sale on Wednesday when knocked down to Patillo Equine for US$75,000 (AU$103,000).
Consigned by Tim and Nancy Hamlin’s Wynnstay Sales, Hip 2804 was bred in Indiana by Deann and Greg Baer DVM.
Hip 2804 - Maximus Mischief (USA) x Andapinkcarnation (USA) (colt) purchased by Patillo Equine | Image courtesy of Keeneland Sales
A total of 260 changed hands on Wednesday amassing a total of US$4,363,200 (AU$6 million) at an average of US$16,782 (AU$23,000) and a median of US$8000 (AU$11,000).
There have been 1950 horses sold during the first eight days of the Keeneland November Sale for a total gross of US$190,531,700 (AU$261.7 million). The average thus far sits at US$97,709 (AU$134,000) and a median of US$50,000 (AU$69,000).
