Wil John's emotional Jericho success
Wil John (Reset) secured an emotional victory for part owner and breeder, Colin McKenna and co-trainer Ciaron Maher when claiming the fourth running of the $300,000 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool.
The 6-year-old homebred prevailed in a stirring battle with Budd Fox (Foxwedge) over the final stages to land the major prize, with McKenna later donating his share of the prizemoney to the charity of choice for event founder Bill Gibbins.
It was a significant win for Maher, who prepares the horse together with David Eustace. Maher was raised in the region and has had McKenna and his wife Janice as major supporters throughout his career.
"To win for Colin and Janice and connections is unbelievable. He's a really special horse and his mother was one of the first yearlings I bought for Colin and then to breed him and go through the whole ride like this is very, very special," he said.
Wil John has now won over $600,000 in his 25-start career.
Gibbins has funded the race to the tune of a total of $1.2 million over its first four years, helping launch the commemorative event over 4600 metres into the public mindset. Racing Victoria confirmed this week it would assume the funding of the race moving forward.
All-Star return looms for Regalo
The All-Star Mile looks a logical next major target for in-form Regalo Di Gaetano (Supreme Class), after his win in Saturday's G3 Eclipse S.
Off the back of three consecutive stakes wins, Richard and Chantelle Jolly are aiming the 6-year-old up at the $5 million autumn feature.
“The horse is really flying,’’ Richard Jolly told Racenet.
“The horse knows where the post is and Zac (Spain) rode him so well. We were going to run him in the Ballarat Cup but the conditions didn’t suit so we targeted this race and were committed to Zac riding him there.
“I need to speak to the owners about definite plans but the All-Star Mile seems the likely option. The horse will be spelled now to get ready for the autumn.’’
The horse ran 11th in the 2021 All-Star Mile.
McDonald committed to Coolangatta
James McDonald is committed to riding star filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), which has prevented him from staying on in Hong Kong to ride on International Day.
McDonald will ride in the international jockeys' series at Happy Valley on the Wednesday before international day but Queensland’s quarantine measures will prevent him from staying on to ride at the feature meeting.
He is committed to riding Coolangatta at Doomben on Boxing Day, en route to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“She (Coolangatta) looks pretty special in terms of a 2-year-old,” McDonald told Racing.com.
“She’s very precocious, very fluent action and strong as an ox for what she’s done, so I definitely want to stay with her on the way to the Magic Millions because she looks pretty hard to beat at this stage.”
Group 1 options open for Sinawann
Sam and Anthony Freedman are keeping their options open with import Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), after the 5-year-old's impressive victory in Saturday's G3 Kevin Heffernan S. at Caulfield.
“We’re going to work out where we go, there’s potential to run in a race like the Newmarket which might seem a little far-fetched, but we think he’s a horse that wants some good tempo,” Sam freedman told Racing.com.
“There’s races like an (G1 CF) Orr and Futurity (S.) or a Newmarket and a Stradbroke in Queensland and potentially an All-Star Mile so we need to think about all the options that are there.
“Like I said, we don’t really know what his trip is going to be, but he just needs some good tempo and you’re more likely to get that in some of the short-course races or big handicaps.”
A first for Power
Oaklands Stud's Power (GB) has produced his first winner from his Australian base, with the victory of Refuel at the Sunshine Coast.
Power relocated to the Stewart family's Oaklands Park in 2018 and the Tom Button-trained 2-year-old colt becomes his first Australian-conceived winner, with an upset victory under jockey Boris Thornton over 1000 metres.
Power, who stands for $13,200 (inc GST), and previously stood at Cambridge Stud, also had two winners at Cromwell in New Zealand.
Captain shapes up
Team Captain (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will go fresh into next Saturday's Listed Pakenham Cup.
Team Captain has won both his starts for Matt Cumani, including an impressive win over 2800 metres at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and off a four-week break will tackle Saturday's $300,000 feature.
“It’s a race we’ve won before and wouldn’t mind winning again,” Cumani told Racenet.
“The deeper we go into the season, the less stayers that will be left so it could be a nice race for him.”
Walker seals fourth Singapore title
Kiwi horseman Mark Walker claimed his fourth Singapore Champion Trainer’s title on Saturday night, extending his seasonal tally to 66 wins.
Walker has fashioned an outstanding record in Singapore where he has been champion trainer in 2015, 2017 (record 87 wins), and 2019, while also finishing runner-up three times, third, and fourth.
Walker ventured to Singapore in 2010, where he has made every post a winner for Te Akau Racing after joining the operation straight from school.
“I’ve not been losing sleep over the Premiership, to be honest, but it’s great to win it again after all the hard work throughout the year,” Walker told the Singapore Turf Club. “I have to thank my owners and a great team of staff. We must not forget I’m just the captain of the ship and I need a whole crew behind me.”
Walker’s apprentice jockey Hakim Kamaruddin also claimed both the champion apprentice and champion senior rider title and will be given further opportunities to blossom in New Zealand, subject to visa approval.
“There is potentially so much more improvement to come out of Hakim,” Walker said.
“That’s why I’m sending him to New Zealand where the opportunity to ride for Te Akau all around the country will be the making of him.”
Goss ready to step up Gold Watch
Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace), the Cliff Goss-trained 5-year-old, will tackle the G2 Rich Hill Mile after stretching his winning streak to six on Saturday.
His 90-year-old trainer is keen to test his stable star out in stakes company after he took his record to six wins from seven starts.
Gold Watch (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
"I think he is ready to take another step up now, with a race like the Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day a target for him," Goss said.
“We have been patient with him all the way through, but now he deserves a chance to see if he can match it in the big leagues.
“He is a very strong horse with a lot of guts, but he likes to think he is the boss and will try and kick or take a nip at you when he gets an opportunity.
“The thing I’m really enjoying is how many people have taken an interest in him, as his fan club is growing and that is good for racing.”
Stewart back to Singapore
Group 1-winning jockey Ronnie Stewart will rejoin the Singapore riding ranks in the new year after he was given a twelve-month licence by the Singapore Turf Club earlier this week.
“When I was there last time, Singapore was very strong, prizemoney was excellent,” Stewart said. “The potential’s always there. Things change relatively quickly in Asia, hopefully for the better.
“I think they’re getting a decent team of riders together for next season, so I think it’s going to be quite competitive.
“They’re a little bit less, meeting wise, which is always a bit of a concern, but in saying that too, there’s still, generally speaking, 10 races on the card.
“At the end of the day, I’ve just got to get there, work hard and ride some winners."
