Moody bullish about Brereton and Spanish Mission
Peter Moody is confident classy colt Brereton (Zoustar) and star stayer Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) can leave Caulfield on Saturday as winners.
Brereton, a last start G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner will line up in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper S. while Spanish Mission is a leading G2 Zipping Classic contender after finishing third in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Peter Moody
"He's (Brereton) in good order. He will be better for the experience from Caulfield (where he was narrowly beaten on debut) and I expect him to win,” Moody told Racing.com.
"He (Spanish Mission) has a bit more of a sharpness about him than the Europeans I've dealt with over the years. I'm very pleased with him heading to Saturday and you'd think (he'd be the one to beat) on ratings, wouldn't you?”
Shalaa and Extreme Choice on show at Newcastle
Arrowfield Stud stallion Shalaa (Ire) now sits equal third on the second-season sires' standings by winners after squaring the ledger with Vinery Stud’s Star Turn via the maiden win of Lord Winston at Newcastle on Tuesday.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding marked Shalaa’s 17th Australian winner for the season when accounting for Toesonthenose (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) by 1.8l.
Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice, the Champion First Season Sire of 2020/21, notched his sixth winner for the season by the way of Spellcatcher’s maiden victory at Newcastle.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned and Kris Lees-trained gelding was an emphatic 2.2l victor on resumption.
Kah’s return delayed
Jamie Kah’s return to race riding is set to be delayed by a week after the star hoop suffered a broken nose.
Kah, who is eligible to return from a three-month suspension later this week will now target next Saturday’s Pakenham Cup meeting for her return.
Star set for Millions
Matt Cumani has his sights set on January’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with last Saturday’s Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic runner-up Cover Star (Star Witness).
The $60,000 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase by McKeever Bloodstock and Cumani via the draft of Bowness Stud, picked up $45,000 in prizemoney for her deeds, however, Cumani is keen to factor in a ‘prep’ run to ensure his filly’s status in the $2 million feature.
Matt Cumani
"We just need to work out in the next couple of days the border controls, human resources and how we get her up there safe and sound,” Cumani told Racing.com.
"I think we'll take the opportunity to get her up there, get her acclimatised, have a race, and then all she needs to do is get a little bit of prizemoney just to get a spot and then go for the big one."
Port Louis ready to shake maiden tag
David Eustace is hoping talented colt Port Louis (Maurice {Jpn}) can shake an unwanted maiden tag in Saturday’s G2 Sandown Guineas at Caulfield.
The Katsumi Yoshida-owned 3-year-old, who suffered a narrow defeat in the Listed Amanda Elliott at Flemington on Stakes Day, has contested Group-level races in four of his eight career starts.
"He had a nice strong piece of work leading into the Sandown Guineas and he's come through Flemington in really good order," Eustace told Racing.com.
"It looks like it'll be a fairly low-pressure race which will help, he relaxes in the run so let's see if he gets the mile on Saturday."
Dates announced for 2022 Country Championships
Racing NSW’s $1.6 million Newhaven Park Country Championships Race Series will get underway at Coffs Harbour on Saturday, February 12.
In 2022, the heats will run in each of New South Wales’ seven country regions, along with a repechage known as the ‘Wild Card’ will be held across six weeks leading into the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 2.
Below is the full schedule
| February 12 - Saturday | Coffs Harbour - Northern Rivers |
| February 13 - Sunday | Nowra - South East |
| February 19 - Saturday | Wagga Wagga - Southern Districts |
| February 20 - Sunday | Taree - Mid North Coast |
| February 27 - Sunday | Mudgee - Central Districts |
| March 6 - Sunday | Tamworth - Hunter and North West |
| March 13 - Sunday | Coonamble - Western |
| March 20 - Sunday | Scone - Wild Card |
| April 2 - Saturday | Royal Randwick - FINAL |
Stern test for Yes We Khan
Grant Cooksley expects Saturday’s Listed Trevor and Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO at Te Aroha to provide him with a clear indication of promising stayer Yes We Khan’s (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) true ability.
The 3-year-old gelding was an impressive maiden winner at Pukekohe on November 11 when switching ground and taking gaps to score by 0.5l over 1400 metres.
“He should go a good race, though it’s a little bit stronger than I thought it would be. He’s got to step up so we can judge how he’s going, whether he’s going to improve and how good he actually is,” Cooksley, who trains in partnership with Bruce Wallace, said.
“All his breeding says he wants 2000 metres and further, and he’s getting stronger and stronger. It was a good win last time and he’s still learning what it’s all about.”
Pareanui Bay pleases Pike
Dominant G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. winner Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro) pleased trainer Tony Pike in a 950 metre home track trial at Cambridge on Tuesday.
Pike confirmed that the exciting gelding is all but certain to take his place in Saturday’s Listed Trevor and Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO at Te Aroha after finishing second in the trial.
Pareanui Bay (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“He was really good today. He travelled up nice coming to the corner and came up off heels and closed it off nicely late under minimal pressure and was good past the post,” Pike said.
“It was a nice day out for him. With four and a half weeks between runs we just wanted to give him a day out today to sharpen him up a bit before Saturday.”
Contrail to retire to Shadai
Last year’s Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will retire to Shadai Stallion Station in Japan following his final start in the G1 Japan Cup on November 28.
A fee for the 4-year-old North Hills Co., Ltd-bred will be announced at a later date.
Parker and Batum purchase stud farm
Former San Antonio Spurs teammates Tony Parker and Nicolas Batum have joined forces to purchase the 86-hectar Haras de Quetieville outside of Deauville.
“This investment was not planned in the short term, but I loved (the stud) when I visited it for the first time. It is a real pleasure to share this adventure with Nicolas Batum, my partner in most projects,” Parker, who is a burgeoning racehorse owner under his Infinity Nine Horses banner, said.
“We really want our Domaine de Quetieville to be open to everyone, trainers, owners, but also to a new clientele. Our team will always be available for external customers of the Domaine but also to serve a medium-term ambition; to breed the future early champion 2-year-olds.”
What A Winter filly heads BSA November
A juvenile filly by What A Winter (SAF) brought R800,000 (AU$70,000) to top the Bloodstock South Africa 2-Year-Old Sale at the TBA complex in Germiston.
Lot 29 - What A Winter (SAF) x Leylani (SAF) (filly) purchased by Hollywood Syndicate | Image courtesy of Bloodstock South Africa
Purchased by Hollywood Syndicate, the sister to G2 Camellia S. winner Celestial Love (SAF) was consigned by Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud.
At the conclusion of the day’s trade, 135 lots were sold for a gross of R18,800,000 (AU$1.65 million) with an average of R140,299 (AU$12,000) and a median of R100,000 (AU$8750).
