Goodwin rewarded for Verry special mare
Don Goodwin has been named the inaugural winner of the New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year Award for 2020/21 due to the feats of his outstanding mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
Sponsored by Luigi Muollo, the award recognises the achievements of a New Zealand breeder whose small broodmare band represents true breeding merit in the quality of racing performance.
Don Goodwin with the 2020/21 New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year trophy | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“I never thought I would breed a horse like Verry Elleegant,” Goodwin said. “It’s wonderful for a breeder of my size to get something like this. It keeps the little people in the game, and it is a hard game to be in. It’s the love of the horse that keeps you going.”
“To win the Melbourne Cup this year, that would be my proudest moment as a breeder.”
Mileva to fly fresh
Headwater mare Mileva is ready to run a big race fresh in Saturday’s Listed Kensington S. at Flemington, according to trainer Phillip Stokes.
He said the last start Melbourne Cup Day runner-up will appreciate the inside draw, barrier three, after finding herself exposed without cover when finishing 2.1l behind classy Rosemont Stud-owned mare Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) in the G3 Furphy Sprint.
Mileva winning the Listed Alinghi S.
“This race has been the plan; she likes those little four to five weeks freshen ups between runs. She’s been up at our farm just ticking over and is in really good order for this run,” Stokes told RSN.
“Her first run down the straight was good, she was left unexposed and found the line well. So, if there is no bias, she will run very well.”
Balfour backs in Outlaw
Ryan Balfour believes Outlaws Revenge (Reward For Effort) can notch back-to-back victories when he lines up in Saturday’s Christmas H. at Morphettville.
The exciting gelding showed his class when getting back in the run before flashing home to win the Listed City of Marion S. last fortnight.
"This horse has always oozed x-factor. He bumped, had a moment, regrouped, over-raced, and then still ran the quickest time ran on this track ever,” Balfour told Racing.com.
"He's gone and had a freshen up, come back fantastic. I couldn't be happier with him.”
Spellcatcher salutes at Extremely short-odds
Spellcatcher, a son of burgeoning Newgate Farm stallion Extreme Choice, backed up his brilliant first-up success with a dominant 1.2l victory at Scone on Friday.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned gelding, who is trained by Kris Lees proved too good for Wonfontein (Turffontein) to justify his ‘Winx-like’ odds.
Artie notches another
Flying Artie gelding Chief Artie provided his young Newgate Farm sire with his 15th winner for the season when winning at Doomben on Friday.
The Robert Heathcote-trained 3-year-old finished the better of Majestic Colour (So You Think {NZ}) and Yourallthat (Your Song) in the 1200 metre contest.
Bieg to unveil Hualalai’s first runner
Chris Bieg hopes his $50,000 punt on the progeny of a left-field sire at this year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale can pay early dividends when Humea steps out on debut at Morphettville on Saturday.
The juvenile will become the first-ever runner for unheralded stallion Hualalai, who is a half-brother to Libertini (I Am Invincible) and stands at Ducatoon Park in South Australia.
Hualalai | Standing at Ducatoon Park
“She's the first to race out of the sire I believe and she's a really nice filly. We bought her on type alone because we didn't know much about the sire at that stage," Bieg told Racing.com.
"She's going to be better as a 3-year-old but she's very forward and she's been working extremely well going into Saturday."
Griffiths not ruling out Friday night double headers
Victorian Trainers Association President Robbie Griffiths is neither for nor against the scheduling of two meetings on a Friday night.
Griffiths, who trains out of Cranbourne in partnership with Mat de Kock, was unwilling to shut down the possibility of it occurring again despite various industry participants questioning its necessity.
"We will see how it goes and let the results determine if it should continue,” Griffiths told RSN.
“If the locals support it, the trainers think it works ok and the wagering supports it that will be the answer."
Roses ready to roll
Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) will be out to add to her bouquet of Group victories when she heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to defend her crown in the G2 Cal Isuzu S.
The 5-year-old enters the race in winning form, having scored in the G2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at the Hamilton track last month.
Showoroses (NZ) winning the G2 Rich Hill Mile | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“She is good, she pulled up well and her work is good, I couldn’t be happier,” Showoroses trainer Joanne Surgenor said.
“She has improved, and she is happy in herself. She loves this time of year and has come to life now.”
Mogul on the money
Last year’s G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) returns on Sunday to defend his title and leads a three-pronged attack on International Day at Sha Tin from the formidable Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore training and riding combination.
Mogul has not won in four starts since last year’s Hong Kong success, however, Moore believes his 2021 performances can be excused.
Mogul (GB), winner of the 2020 G1 Hong Kong Vase | Image courtesy of HKJC
“A few things haven’t gone quite right for him through the summer, so he’s been lightly raced. His work’s been good at home and he looks great,” Moore told the HKJC.
“We know he likes Sha Tin and he likes quick ground. I believe Aidan’s very happy with him, so we’re hoping that he can step back in the right direction.”
Animoca Brands and Aquis Farm join forces
Animoca Brands, the blockchain gaming and open metaverse company, announced on Thursday that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide joint venture with Aquis Farm to bring the physical equestrian world to the metaverse.
The new joint venture will develop metaverse products, games, and NFTs directly related to real-world equestrian activities and assets, including the horses themselves, horse racing, showjumping, and other equestrian sports such as rodeo events.
“Whilst Aquis Farm will remain heavily committed to the physical equestrian world, the future cannot be ignored. Aquis recognises the inevitability of the growth of a digital and decentralised world and will be at its forefront to leverage the equestrian and other forthcoming opportunities of the metaverse. In Animoca Brands, we believe we have found a well-capitalised cutting-edge partner for this new and exciting digital world,” Aquis Farm’s co-founder and chairman Justin Fung said.
Rossis indicted, banned from racing
Charley Rossi his wife Jessica Marcialis, brother Cedric, uncle Frederic and racing manager and stable veterinarian were indicted and placed under judicial control on Thursday.
The six have been forbidden to participate in racing or be on the grounds of a racetrack or training centre during the indictment period, according to a press release from the public prosecutor.
The JDG reported that the indictment for this type of charge could last as long as a year while the investigation into their alleged organised cheating and doping of participating horses continues.
