Farewell Champagne
Cressfield Stud has announced the passing of 1998 G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) at the age of 27.
A dual Group 1 winner, Champagne amassed nearly $2 million in prizemoney before producing 16 live foals, including stakes winners Nadege (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and Martique (Danehill {USA}), herself the dam of Group 1 winner Charmont (High Chaparral {Ire}).
“She was a bit of a marvel; I don’t think she had a lame day in her 27 years and was just a phenomenally fertile broodmare. There would be very few mares in the Studbook with a record like hers,” Liesel Baumann of Cressfield said.
Amarelinha crowned New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year
Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) has been crowned New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2020/21 Filly of the Year following her four wins in the coveted series.
The Te Akau-owned 4-year-old finished the series on 34 points, 19 clear of her nearest rival, with her victories including the G2 Eight Carat Classic, G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic, G3 Sunline Vase and the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
The Waikato Stud-bred mare was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale Book 1 draft for NZ$300,000.
Shinn sets sights on Sydney cameo
Blake Shinn has made his ambition to ride at key Sydney autumn meetings known after winning the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint aboard Sky Field (Deep Field) at Sha Tin last Sunday.
Shinn, who has remained in Hong Kong for the best part of two years due to strict quarantine protocols, is hoping relaxed restrictions can see him move freely between the two racing jurisdictions.
“I would love to ride in Sydney next autumn. If it was possible, I would jump on a plane and ride in Sydney on the big days during autumn,” Shinn told Racenet.
“They are very strict over here and you have to do 21 days in isolation when returning to Hong Kong. I’m enjoying Hong Kong, but I miss home, I miss the racing and the people.”
Freedman filly eyes autumn redemption
Sam Freedman has outlined February’s G1 Surround S. as an autumn target for blueblood filly Argentia (Frankel {GB}).
The one-time G1 Thousand Guineas favourite, who turned heads with a 1.8l debut victory at Flemington in June, managed only one start during the spring due to a kissing spine injury and small stress fracture to her leg.
"We think she is up there with the best fillies and he Surround S. looks the perfect first target for her,” Sam Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, told Racing.com.
"Espiona might go there, but we won't be running scared, as we think she is very, very good."
Rossa ready to roll
Will Clarken holds high hopes for Beau Rossa’s (Unencumbered) upcoming Queensland campaign after his stable star sizzled in a Rosehill trial on Tuesday.
Clarken confirmed that the G1 Memsie S. runner-up will press on towards the G3 Falvelon Classic on Boxing Day before contesting the lucrative Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast on January 15.
“I thought he worked exceptionally well, he handled the tight-turning inside track there at Rosehill really well and got on his right leg over the last bit,” Clarken told Racenet.
“He knew he had a trial on the line, I reckon. He’ll strip a lot fitter for that, and it will be lovely to get him to Queensland to run in the Falvelon and from there he’ll take heaps of improvement.”
Aesop nears Australian debut
OTI Racing-owned import Aesop (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) is edging closer to an Australian debut after finishing third in a trial at Traralgon on Wednesday.
Trained by Phillip Stokes, Aesop boasts two victories over 2000 metres at Leopardstown and Cork when in the care of Jessica Harrington.
"I thought it was very good for a stayer, just over 1100 metres. He's probably got to have one more of those, but he's shown me he's going in the right direction,” Stokes told Racing.com.
"He'll have another trial in a fortnight, so he's probably about a month off. There's no rush, we'll start him off low and let him find his way, but I think he's going to make a nice stayer."
Rodd remains sidelined
Multiple Group 1-winning jockey Michael Rodd remains sidelined for the foreseeable future as he continues to recover from post-concussion syndrome.
Rodd, who last rode at the Sunshine Coast on May 16, told Racing.com on Wednesday that he hopes to return to riding trackwork in the next few months.
The cause of injury dates back to a pre-race incident at Eagle Farm in January, when Rodd was dislodged from his mount, Our Hot Friend (Sizzling), when the horse reared up as he was making his way on to the track.
VRC holds its AGM
Three incumbent Directors, Michael Ramsden, Sophie Cornell and Neil Werrett, were declared re-elected without ballot during the Victoria Racing Club’s Annual General Meeting for the 2020/21 season on Wednesday.
Five special resolutions to amend clauses in the VRC constitution also passed during the AGM, while a loss of $14.9 million was recorded to July 31, 2021, a slight improvement on the underlying loss of $16.5 million for the 2020 financial year.
“The Club is incredibly grateful for the loyalty and support from our members over the past 18 months. It has been one of the most challenging periods for our Club as well as the broader community, but the messages of encouragement we have received from VRC members have been much appreciated during this time,” VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said.
“We thank each and every member for their support and we look forward to welcoming all members back on course in 2022.”
Judge rules in favour of Tattersalls
A judge has ruled in favour of Tattersalls over trainer Tom George and bloodstock agent Alex Elliott after the auction house took legal action against the duo over George’s refusal to pay for a horse that he later found to have wind problems.
Elliott, on George’s behalf, purchased Lariat (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) for 90,000 gns (AU$175,800) at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, however, shortly after he arrived at George’s yard, Lariat was allegedly deemed unfit for National Hunt racing by a veterinarian.
Lariat, who had no pre-purchase veterinary inspection or declaration of wind issue, was found to be suffering from laryngeal hemiplegia.
The condition was confirmed by a panel of independent vets, but they found that Lariat was not making abnormal breathing noises during exercise and thus did not meet Tattersalls' terms and conditions for return, which states ‘a horse is returnable if they exhibit whistling or roaring sounds’.
