Squid Game remains unbeaten
An impressive debut winner at Sandown late last month, Squid Game (NZ) (Shooting To Win) produced a repeat performance to improve his record to two-from-two in Saturday’s Lexus Holiday Plate at Flemington.
Ridden patiently by Michael Dee, the Patrick Payne-trained gelding produced a strong finish from the back of the field and won by 0.75l.
"He’s had a bit better experience today down the straight,” Dee said. “He hit the front quite early and he began to look around. There was plenty to look at, and he still has more in store.”
Payne paid NZ$150,000 to buy Squid Game from Inglewood Stud’s draft at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He is out of Macavity (NZ) (Keeper), whose half-sister Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is the dam of Group 1 winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).
Huetor delivers again
After extending his unbeaten Australian record to three at Randwick on Saturday, European import Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) could have autumn carnival staying features on his itinerary.
“He has only been here a few months, so the fact he is doing what he is doing tells us we might have a nice horse on our hands,” co-trainer Peter Snowden said.
“He definitely wants further now. He’s really looking for that 2400 metres, but he has done a terrific job. He is very clean-winded. He is a real athlete and I just like that turn of foot that he has. He can sustain a long run, and that is gold for a stayer.”
Special win for Chau
Russian Warrior (Russian Revolution) delivered a landmark moment for popular local horseman Allan Chau in the first race at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Chau rode and also trains the 2-year-old filly, who credited him with a career-first victory as a trainer.
Immediately after Saturday’s win, Chau announced his retirement from race riding to concentrate on his training career. Chau finishes with more than 460 wins as a jockey, headed by last year’s G3 Gunsynd Classic aboard Supergiant (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}).
Russian Warrior became the third winner for Newgate Farm’s first-season stallion Russian Revolution.
Elzamee underway in style
Well-related colt Elzamee (Deep Impact {Jpn}) lived up to expectations and began his career on a winning note at Newcastle on Saturday.
Racing in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Elzamee went into his debut in the Tozer Air & Electrical Mdn Plate with three easy trials under his belt. Ridden on Saturday by Brodie Loy, the colt was travelling easily around the home turn and took control in the straight to score by 0.63l.
A $1.1 million 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing, Elzamee is out of South African Group 1 winner Amanee (Pivotal {GB}), herself a daughter of the French Listed-winning Moon Is Up (USA) (Woodman {USA}).
Amanee comes from the exceptional family of recently retired G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and multiple Group 1 winner Miesque (USA) (Nureyev {USA}).
Lavish Girl impresses
Stakes-performed filly Lavish Girl (Xtravagant {NZ}) collected the second win of her seven-start career with an emphatic 1.5l victory in Saturday’s TAB Trophy at Flemington.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Lavish Girl was a maiden winner at Pakenham in August before stepping up in class to finish fourth in the G3 Scarborough S., eighth in the Listed Springtime S., and a last-start third in the Listed Twilight Glow S.
Her ownership group includes Seymour Bloodstock along with Newhaven Park, whose second-season sire Xtravagant (NZ) is putting together a strong record with 15 winners from 38 runners to date. Listed Mitchell McKenzie S. winner He’s Xceptional is the best of three black-type performers.
“Teo (Nugent) gave her a beautiful ride,” Maher said. “You could see him waiting until he got a long way down the straight before he gave her the full bore, and it was beautiful.
Lavish Girl
"Great to get a winner for Seymour Bloodstock and the Kellys. A daughter of Xtravagant – they seem to be pretty good racehorses, pretty straightforward to train, so hopefully it is a sign of things to come.
“We’ll reset now. She’s been ticking over for a while. She does seem to be holding her form very well. We’ll work it out, but she may stretch to a mile.”
Parramatta Cup target
Chris Waller is working backwards from the Listed Parramatta Cup at Rosehill on February 19 after Toomuchtobear (Press Statement) resumed on a winning note in the ATC Thanks John Williams H. at Randwick.
Saturday’s win was Toomuchtobear’s first start since September, and the 4-year-old gelding has now had eight starts for four wins and three-placings.
“I didn’t expect him to win first-up today, but you can’t beat talent and that’s what he has got,” Waller said. “He has got a good record and I don’t think it’s going to stop there either.
“He’s on track to win a Parramatta Cup in February. That will be his race.”
Richards keeps on winning
Jamie Richards’ upcoming departure for Hong Kong has been the talk of New Zealand racing in the last 24 hours, but in the meantime the record-breaking trainer is continuing to sweep all before him on home soil.
Richards won both of the first two races at Te Rapa on Saturday with talented 3-year-old fillies Outfit (NZ) (Tivaci) and Pin Me Up (NZ) (Pins), lifting his season total to 41.
Outfit (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Potential G1 New Zealand Oaks contender Outfit races in the colours of owner-breeders Waikato Stud and is a daughter of G1 Herbie Dyke S. and Livamol Classic winner Costume (NZ) (Savabeel). Outfit has now had four starts for a win, two thirds and a fifth.
“Awesome to win with Tivaci filly Outfit at Te Rapa, the Waikato Stud team horse,” Mark Chittick said. “Every staff member has a piece of her. It’s a great reward after a massive season.”
Pin Me Up, also bred by Waikato Stud and also nominated for the Oaks at Trentham in March, was a NZ$270,000 purchase at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Konj. Out of a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Pimms Time (NZ) (Pins), Pin Me Up has had three starts for a win and two second-placings.
Tivaci's quickfire double
Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci made an early impact on Saturday’s racing in New Zealand, siring the impressive winners of the opening races at both Te Rapa at Awapuni.
Waikato Stud homebred Outfit (NZ) was the first to strike with a strong win at Te Rapa, followed immediately by the classy 2-year-old first-starter Kana (NZ) at Awapuni.
Tivaci | Standing at Waikato Stud
“She’s a lovely filly,” Kana’s trainer Peter Didham said. “I think she’s going to make a really, really nice 3-year-old. She’s very tall and still has a bit of developing to do.”
Kana is out of Tick Tock (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a half-sister to stakes-placed Splitsecond (NZ) (Pins) and close relative of Group 1 winner Sixty Seconds (NZ) (Centaine).
A withdrawal from the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, Kana was previously bought for NZ$65,000 by Exempt Bloodstock from Landsdowne Park’s draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Three in a row for Shamus
Unbeaten 3-year-old Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) added a third win to his perfect career record with another stylish performance in Saturday’s Waka Property Building & Renovations 3YO at Awapuni.
Ridden by Hazel Schofer for New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock, the bay gelding was slow to leave the starting gates but recovered into a midfield position, then showed his class in the straight and cruised to victory by 1.5l.
Nominated for the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March, Shamus was bought by Sharrock for NZ$85,000 from Woburn Farm’s draft at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Jelfs signs off
Popular broadcaster Lizzie Jelfs announced her departure from Sky Racing on Saturday morning after five years with the channel.
"Today is my last Saturday broadcasting for Sky Racing," Jelfs said on Twitter. "I wanted to thank everyone in front and behind the camera for making the past five years so memorable.
"Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing what 2022 has for us all."
Jelfs became renowned for her ‘pick of the yard’ expertise, most famously tipping White Moss (Mossman) to win the G2 Millie Fox S. at Rosehill as a $61 outsider in February of 2019.
Navarro gets prison time
Trainer Jorge Navarro, who has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs on his racehorse trainees, was given the maximum possible sentence of five years in prison on Friday in a federal court in Manhattan by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.
Navarro's attorney had asked the court to give Navarro a sentence of four years, but Vyskocil was adamant that Navarro be penalised to the fullest extent of the law, and stated in court that she would have given him an even longer sentence if it were allowable by law.
Jorge Navarro
Vyskocil lashed into Navarro several times throughout the 90-minute hearing.
“For years, Mr. Navarro, you effectively stole millions, cheating other trainers, owners and jockeys who you competed against,” the judge said. “You also demonstrated, Mr. Navarro, a collective, callous disregard for the well-being of the horses. Bottom line, you likely killed or endangered horses in your care.”
