Moore departs Gold Coast base
Trainer John Moore has departed his Gold Coast base, citing staffing issues and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
Moore, who handed a two-week notice to the Gold Coast Turf Club last week, confirmed to NewsCorp that he was in Hong Kong but did not wish to elaborate further on the situation.
Rick Hore-Lacy passes away
Champion trainer Rick Hore-Lacy, who trained stars such as Redoute’s Choice, Canny Lad and Dash For Cash, has passed away.
Rick Hore-Lacy | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The Australian Trainers' Association confirmed on Monday that Hore-Lacy had died after a long illness.
Hore-Lacy retired from training in 2014 and trained his last Group 1 winner, Toorak Toff, in 2011.
Pascero impresses
Pascero (Pierro) was an impressive debut winner at Sandown over 1400 metres on Monday.
The 3-year-old colt finished the better of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Matao Ma (Brazen Beau) to win by 1.75l under Luke Currie. The Chris Waller-trained Forge (Exosphere) finished third.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper, who is a half-brother to stakes winner Express Pass (Wandjina), was a $575,000 purchase by First Light Racing from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
“We paid a little bit for him, but I think he’s got plenty of upside and we’ve given him a bit of time,” Young said.
“Hopefully we can get another win at 1400 (metres) in a couple of weeks and maybe look at an Australian Guineas for him.”
Cox outlines Anamoe’s autumn
Godolphin Australia's Managing Director Vin Cox has outlined the G2 Hobartville S. at Rosehill as a likely first-up assignment for star colt Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
Cox said the G1 Cox Plate runner-up will campaign through Sydney’s autumn classic and avoid the All-Star Mile.
Anamoe
"He’ll trial towards the end of January and take aim first-up at a race like the Hobartville (S. on February 19)," Cox said of the spring’s Caulfield Guineas winner.
"He had a really good spell. Our primary ambition is Group 1 racing being a colt so we’ll try to build his CV through those Classic races and then maybe look at a George Ryder, a Doncaster or a Queen Elizabeth."
Tofane prepares for swansong
Mike Moroney has confirmed that Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will be retired at the conclusion of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Moroney told Racing.com that the multiple Group 1-winning heroine is being set for a first-up raid on the G1 CF Orr S. at Caulfield before rounding out her career in the G1 All Aged S.
Tofane (NZ)
He said the Queensland winter carnival is off the cards due to the timing of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast, where she was set to be offered last year.
Berry remains bullish
Tommy Berry remains optimistic about the chances of key Magic Millions mounts Soaring Ambition (Not A Single Doubt) and Jamaea (Headwater) despite last Saturday’s rain affected Doomben surface putting a dampener on the duo's final lead-up runs.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Soaring Ambition, who was a dominant debut winner in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 3YO Classic was denied victory while Jamaea was scratched due to Heavy conditions.
Tommy Berry
“I rode Soaring Ambition on a Soft track in a trial and she didn’t like it at all. She acquitted herself well considering she didn’t enjoy the ground and was still only beaten a short margin,” Berry told Racenet.
Berry said Jamaea is the type of horse who likes her races spaced and a tough run first-up on a bottomless track could have impacted her preparation for the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
Instead, Jamaea will have a barrier trial at the Gold Coast on Tuesday morning which will finetune her program for the Guineas.
Stupendo to start O’Brien’s Gold Coast assault
Danny O’Brien has confirmed Saturday’s Aquis Gold Nugget at the Gold Coast as impressive Flemington debut winner Stupendo’s (Supido) next start.
O’Brien said the exciting colt is open to immense improvement and will back-up into the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Stupendo
“I don’t think the seven-day back-up will worry him. He’s quite a gross little colt so I think the seven days will actually suit him,” O’Brien told Racenet.
“I think our guy is going to improve out of what he did at Flemington. The filly Coolangatta looks very hard to beat but hopefully we’ll go up there and give him his best chance.”
Cover Star out of Millions contention
Matt Cumani has opted to bypass Saturday week’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Cover Star (Star Witness) in preference for a Victorian autumn campaign.
Cumani, who had his sights initially set on the lucrative Gold Coast feature, cited a lack of subsequent form out of the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic and a subpar showing by Cover Star on Boxing Day at Caulfield.
Matt Cumani
“If you’re going to take on horses like Coolangatta, you want to be doing what Coolangatta did at both ends of the race and still win impressively,” Cumani told Racing.com.
“I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt, and I'm conscious of the fact that 2-year-old form is so untrustworthy.”
First winner for Satono Aladdin
Two-year-old gelding Kabugee (NZ) showed a glimpse of his talent when winning on debut at Te Aroha on Monday over 1000 metres and in the process provided his Rich Hill Stud sire Satono Aladdin (Jpn) with his first New Zealand-bred winner.
Sent out an overwhelming $1.40 favourite on the strength of two trials victories, the Jamie Richards-trained Kabugee settled three-back on the fence and powered away from his rivals to win by a soft 2l in one of the more impressive juvenile victories of the season.
“It wasn’t plan A to be off the pace, but he was a bit slowly away and ended up winning really well,” Richards said.
“It was probably a blessing in disguise for him to peel off and come between horses in the straight and he will take a lot of benefit from today."
Richards indicated the G3 Fairview Matamata Slipper over 1200 metres at Matamata on February 26 was a likely target for the debut winner who is not Karaka Million eligible.
Kabugee (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Bred by Graeme Hunt under his Cambridge Hunt banner, the smart youngster is raced by the Hunt brothers Barry, Graeme, and Peter and the Kabugee 2020 Syndicate.
Johnson on the improve
Leading New Zealand-based jockey Danielle Johnson is on the improve and is hoping to check out of hospital this week after a horror fall on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie.
Johnson fell from her mount Gold Watch (NZ) (Swiss Ace) when the Cliff Goss-trained galloper broke down in the straight during the G2 Rich Hill Mile.
Danielle Johnson | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“I’ve got one more night here in hospital. I had my operation on Sunday morning and speaking with my doctor, he said the x-ray has come up really well and he’s happy with what he’s done,” Johnson said.
“I’ve got a rod down my tibia and my fibula has a plate down the outside of it and a screw right through the fibula. I’ve got multiple breaks but he’s happy with the result of the operation.”
