Pike relocating to NSW
William Pike will continue his riding career in NSW as he remains unwavering in his anti-vaccination stance.
Pike’s stand against being vaccinated for COVID-19 will force him out of the WA racing scene once the state’s mandate is enforced on February 5.
Pike’s manager Dale Verhagen said the star hoop will apply for a NSW jockey’s licence this week.
William Pike and Grant Williams
“The reality is he’s not vaccinated and whether he gets done in the future or not, I can’t really answer that,” Verhagen told Racenet.
“But they don’t require it there, so he’s decided to make the move to New South Wales. It’s not the circumstances that we would have liked but we’ll just deal with it as he goes.”
Anamoe to resume in Expressway
Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) will resume in next Saturday’s G2 Expressway S. with an eye towards the G1 Randwick Guineas after returning in style at the Rosehill trials on Monday.
The G1 Caulfield Guineas hero was one in a string of high-profile 3-year-olds that made their first public appearance for 2022, including Espiona (Extreme Choice) and Fangirl (Sebring).
Anamoe crossed the line in fourth in the 900-metre heat, to finish 4.5l behind the winner Mallory (Not A Single Doubt).
“We were delighted with his work. He did everything James asked of him and Rachel rode him well,” Godolphin Australia's Managing Director Vin Cox told Racenet.
“The team is happy with him and Rachel (King) said he has come back bigger and stronger, which is what the team at home has felt as well.”
Neasham outlines autumn agendas for imports
Annabel Neasham has set the bar high for classy imports Top Ranked (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) this autumn.
The Warwick Farm-based horsewoman is hoping Top Ranked can join star stablemate Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in securing a start in the All-Star Mile at Flemington.
Annabel Neasham
"I'd certainly like to think that we could bring him down for a race like that. He's only had one start here, he came over in the autumn, he was a very good miler in Europe,” Neasham told Racing.com.
"He wouldn't be as well known by the public here so he might need to win a race to get in."
Neasham believes Golden Eagle fifth placegetter Laws Of Indices would be suited to a first-up tilt at next month’s G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington.
Laws Of Indices (Ire) | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
"We've got a lovely horse called Laws Of Indices, who ran fifth in the Golden Eagle. That’s his only start that he's had here, but he's a Group 1 winner in France, and he's possibly the sort of horse, depending on how he comes up, that would suit the Newmarket fresh,” she said.
First runner awaits Boulder City
Winx's (Street Cry {Ire}) half-brother and Riverbank Farm stallion Boulder City could have his first runner on Saturday if the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Bill Boulder lines up in a juvenile handicap at Moonee Valley.
Bill Boulder, who was bred by long-time Lindsay Park foreman Gary Fennessy worked alongside the last-start Sandown winner The Superintendent (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) on Tuesday morning at Moonee Valley.
“He’s (Boulder City) a magnificent-looking horse. Everyone that comes to see him in the flesh, ends up sending another mare to him,” Riverbank Farm’s owner Russell Osborne told Racenet.
“He’s a son of Snitzel for the price alone, is pretty impressive, then you’ve got the mother of one of our greatest racemares."
Star filly ‘must fill out’
James McDonald believes star juvenile Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) must ‘fill out’ if she is to reign supreme in March’s G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
McDonald, who partnered the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly to victory in last Saturday’s R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, believes the undefeated galloper has what it takes to measure up against the ‘cream of the crop’ if she continues to strengthen.
James McDonald aboard Coolangatta, winner of the 2022 R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"She's a star filly. I feel she does need to fill out a little bit as she's quite lightly framed,” McDonald told RSN.
“She'll have to take another step to take on the cream of the crop in a Golden Slipper, but I see no reason why she couldn't."
Karaka Million draw to be announced on SENZ
New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) and the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing Inc. will exclusively announce the final fields and barriers for the Karaka Million 2YO and Karaka Million 3YO Classic on Wednesday morning via the SENZ radio platform and app.
Tune in from 11am (NZT) (9am AEDT) onwards for a full one-hour Karaka Million special with SENZ hosts Ian Smith, Louis Herman-Watt and Michael Guerin, alongside NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook, ATR General Manager of Racing Craig Baker, Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards and trainer Roydon Bergerson.
Gal galloping towards Classic
Carl Henderson has his sights firmly fixed on Saturday’s G2 Westbury Classic at Ellerslie with in-form mare Jodelin Gal (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
The Ross and Corrine Kearney-owned horse, who carries their Okaharau Station colours, has won five of her 12 career starts, including three of her last four, the most recent of those an Open H. at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Jodelin Gal (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“Hopefully, we can carry it on and it’s all systems go at this stage for the Westbury Classic. I’m happy with her, she hasn’t done a whole lot of work, but she doesn’t need to as she’s a fairly clean-winded horse,” Henderson said.
“She spends a fair bit of time in the swimming pool and she looks fantastic and is bouncing around the place so that’s all you can ask for.”
Maximum Security sires first foal
Four-time Grade I-winner Maximum Security (USA) sired his first foal at Dell Ridge Farm on Tuesday morning when Pussyfoot (USA) (Tiznow {USA}), a sister to Grade I winner Morning Line (USA), foaled a bay filly.
The filly was bred by Gary and Mary West, who bred and raced Maximum Security, an earner of over US$12 million (AU$16.7 million) in prizemoney.
“She’s outstanding. She’s a big strong foal and is very well put together, I’m delighted with her,” Des Ryan of Dell Ridge Farm said.
“We have a lot of Maximum Security foals on the way and if they all look like this we will be very happy.”
Mohaather sires first reported foal
Nunnery Stud stallion and G1 Sussex S. hero Mohaather (GB), who was a Group winner at two, three and 4-years-old welcomed his first reported foal at Brook Stud in Newmarket over the weekend.
The bay filly is out of the Shadwell-bred Radhaadh (Ire), herself a half-sister to G1 Lockinge S. winner Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}).
“I’m very happy with her. She’s exactly what we were hoping for,” Brook Stud’s Dwayne Woods said.
“She has great depth, is a good size and has a fantastic wide hip. She’s very strong with plenty of bone and she’s also blessed with a gorgeous, quality head with fabulous markings."
