Daily News Wrap

Golden Pal to race in Australia

Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier has confirmed that G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Golden Pal (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) will race in Australia during the upcoming autumn carnival.

Magnier didn’t disclose what races were on the star sprinter's agenda but said the Wesley Ward-trained colt is unlikely to line up on more than two occasions.

“There haven’t been too many American sprinters come to Australia so it’s going to be something different that we’re looking to do,” Magnier told RSN.

Purton outlines timeframe for return

Zac Purton will be sidelined for up to three weeks due to a fractured wrist suffered in a horror four-horse fall in the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday.

"The worst part is I've got a fractured wrist. If it wasn't for that I'd be riding next week but this will take a little longer,” Purton told RSN.

Auckland to welcome back racing

Ellerslie will hold one of the first major events in Auckland when it welcomes uncapped crowds on New Year’s Day.

The lifting of travel restrictions on December 15 means the course will host its Zabeel Classic Race Day on Boxing Day, however, crowds will be limited to 900 people as Auckland remains under a Red COVID-19 setting until December 31.

With the New Zealand Government announcing a move to an Orange setting on December 31, racing will go ahead as normal on New Year’s Day for anyone who has been double vaccinated.

Louis chasing morale-boosting breakthrough

David Eustace believes victory at Sandown on Wednesday will provide talented, colt Port Louis (Maurice {Jpn}), with the confidence required to realise his full potential.

The stakes-placed 3-year-old, who has lined up in Group races on five occasions, gets a golden opportunity to shake his unwanted maiden tag when he steps out as a red-hot favourite over 1400 metres.

“He’s rated 75 so there’s not a lot of races for him at the moment, and he’s still a maiden, so hopefully, we can knock that off tomorrow,” Eustace, who trains in partnership with Ciaron Maher, told Racenet.

“It’s no foregone conclusion but hopefully he can shake his maiden tag and hopefully he’ll gain a bit of confidence from that and we will manage him through to the autumn.”

Eustace earmarks Oakleigh Plate for Marabi

David Eustace has earmarked February’s G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield as a potential autumn target for unbeaten mare Marabi (I Am Invincible).

Eustace said the lightly raced 5-year-old is likely to contest the Listed Christmas S. at Caulfield on Boxing Day after proving her early feats were no fluke when saluting by 7l in a BM70 H. at Ballarat on November 20.

“She’s a high-quality horse and it’s a good race for her ahead of some tougher targets. She will stay in work and just tick over and focus on the autumn after Boxing Day,” Eustace told Racenet.

“The Australia S. at Moonee Valley at the end of January is a target race for her if she comes through well but that race before (Christmas S.) is a win and you’re in for the Oakleigh Plate so that is on the cards as well.”

Shalaa filly lobs

Missy Longport became the 18th Australian winner this season for Arrowfield Stud shuttle stallion Shalaa (Ire) when breaking her maiden status at Mornington on Tuesday.

The Cindy Alderson-trained filly finished 2l the better of the well-fancied Foxy Gal (Foxwedge) with a 3.75l gap back to Fu Peg (Fiorente {Ire}) in third.

Shalaa is currently fourth overall on the second-season sire standings by winners, behind barnmate Maurice (Jpn) in second and Capitalist and Star Turn who both occupy first position on 21.

Rupertson reigns supreme

Rupertson’s debut victory at Orange on Tuesday marked Newgate Farm stallion Winning Rupert’s 10th winner this season.

The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding narrowly denied the more experienced Suomenlinna (Delago Deluxe) by 0.08l in the 1000-metre dash.

Winning Rupert is now tied for ninth overall with Extreme Choice and Mikki Isle (Jpn) on the second-season sire standings by winners.

Hefel on the mend

Victorian-based apprentice Carleen Hefel hopes to be given the green light to return to race riding by early next year.

The 31-year-old has been sidelined since September after fracturing her femur in a fall at trackwork.

"I had an appointment with the surgeon on December 3 for another x-ray and I'm probably three-quarters of the way healed with the bone," Hefel told Racing.com.

"So, I'm probably due back for race riding early next year. It's all going well and very positive. In another five weeks I'll have another check-up and I might be able to commence riding trackwork then."

Sexton raising mental health awareness

George Sexton of Torryburn Stud will be running a five-a-side soccer tournament between stud farms, bloodstock agents, sales companies and anyone else in attendance at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale between 5pm and 7pm on February 2 to raise awareness about mental health.

The entry fee will be $20 per person and once the costs are covered for hiring of the venue, located 15 minutes from Warwick Farm, all proceeds will be donated to Beyond Blue.

“I didn’t really know Sebastian (Domange) that well and I never had the pleasure of meeting Bret (Hughes) but recent tragic events really hit home for me as I’m sure it did for many,” Sexton said.

“The industry we work in has so many highs and great points about it but at the same time it’s tough, it’s not easy work, it’s demanding, it’s 24/7 and it's mentally draining at times.

“We all have our demons and mental battles, so I want to organise something positive to remember those gone but to raise money to help others who may have similar feelings and to more importantly raise awareness that no matter how dark things may seem there is always someone to talk to.”

For further information please contact George at sextongeorge866@gmail.com.

Stanaway hearing adjourned

Trainer Bryce Stanaway has ‘won’ a stay of execution over the summer months as his misconduct hearing was adjourned until February 2022.

Racing Victoria’s representative Justin Hooper was in attendance at the hearing on Tuesday and made an application for the tribunal to stand Stanaway down until the new hearing date, saying his presence at racecourses and ability to continue training ‘is of great concern to stewards’.

The Tribunal rejected Hooper’s application although it did invite stewards to make a further written application for consideration within the next 24 hours.

Stanaway is currently facing charges for two breaches of AR228 for conduct detrimental to the interests of racing, one breach of LR94A for abusive conduct and one breach of LR94B for threatening conduct over incidents at the Bendigo Racecourse on October 17, 2020.

National Defense sidelined

National Defense (GB), who sired a first-crop Breeders' Cup winner when Twilight Gleaming (Ire) won the G2 Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on November 5, will miss the 2022 Northern Hemisphere breeding season after suffering an injury while on covering duty at Widden Stud's Victorian base in Australia.

The 2016 G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere winner will remain at Widden rather than travelling back to the Irish National Stud, where he was due to stand for €8000 (AU$15,000).

“Unfortunately, National Defense sustained an injury while on covering duties in Australia,” said Irish National Stud Chief Executive Officer Cathal Beale.

“He is recuperating well but on veterinary advice and in the interest of the welfare of the horse we have decided it would be prudent not to travel him at this moment in time. It is an unfortunate setback with his first crop having performed with such distinction but we look forward to welcoming him to the Irish National Stud to resume Northern Hemisphere duties in 2023."

Sealiway switches stables

G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), whose trainer Cedric Rossi was indicted by French police last week for equine doping and fraud, will join trainer Francis Graffard.

Sealiway is among 200 horses on their way to new yards after Rossi and family members Charley and Frederic Rossi and Jessica Marcialis, as well as a stable manager and veterinarian, were forbidden by police to participate in racing or be on the grounds of a racetrack or training centre during the indictment, which could last as long as a year.

Raced by the Chehboub family's Haras de la Gousserie in partnership with breeder Guy Pariente, Sealiway was trained by Frederic Rossi when he won last year's G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere and when second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in June. Transferred to Cedric Rossi in August, Sealiway was a good fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe off a layoff before winning Ascot's G1 Champion S. The G1 Saudi Cup has been cited as an early season target for Sealiway's 4-year-old campaign.