Daily News Wrap

Argentia bouncing back

Argentia, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained, debut-winning filly by Frankel (GB) was back on track at Mornington on Thursday in her first public appearance since the early part of last spring.

Sam Freedman was pleased with the work of the filly who impressed on debut in June of last year at Flemington in a talent-filled 2-year-old race before coming to a grinding halt at The Valley in early September in the Listed Atlantic Jewel where she injured herself in the race won by stablemate Zouzarella (Zoustar).

Freedman told Racing.com Argentia had been a bit fresh, expected after such a long time off the scene, but he was happy with her work.

“She bounced out of the gates, travelled right behind the speed, Mark Zahra just held her together, she had a nice, easy trial, she was just here to have a day out and get a bit of fitness, so she had a nice blow afterward,’’ Freedman said.

"She'll have another jump-out in the next fortnight and then we'll look to start to find a race for her.

"She's had all the rehab and all the time that she's needed to overcome that, and she's come back, her action's perfect, Mark hasn't sat on her for a little while and just said she feels terrific. She's really been pleasing us,’’ Freedman said.

Demoliton job at Gosford

A 7l demolition of the 3YO Mdn H. field at Gosford on Thursday suggests any bugs Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott may have had with the promising but frustrating Snitzel gelding Castlereagh Kid have been ironed out.

Regan Bayliss took Castlereagh Kid to the front in the eight-horse race, strung it out and then burst away at the 400-metre mark to raise the eyebrows of many with the devastating performance.

The Strawberry Hill Stud-raised horse was passed in at the 2020 Inglis Easter Sale which now retains ownership. He has had three starts for two seconds, and a handful of trials, the poorer performances at which do not reflect what was on show on Thursday.

Out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Absolute Joy (NZ), Castlereagh Kid is a half-brother to Happy Hannah (More Than Ready {USA}), who ran third in the G1 Vinery Stud S. and had a couple of other Group level placings.

Robbie Downey settles in

Robbie Downey is hoping to turn heads at the races, and not just with his Hollywood name. The Ireland-born hoop has made the move to Australia and is being managed by Ash Beer for rides across Victoria.

Downey made his Australian riding debut on Sunday at Geelong aboard the Team Corstens-trained Graham (Host {Chi}) in Race 3, finishing well back in the field on the $51 long shot.

He has ridden in both India and Bahrain but has come to Australia in search of more opportunities, basing himself at Flemington as the 26-year-old searches for a permanent home and to make a fresh start.

In 2019, Downey was suspended by French racing officials after allegedly returning a positive drug test. He has always adamantly denied ever taking a banned substance, but despite lengthy appeals the ban stood.

Jockey duo suspended

Suspensions for Group 1-winning jockey John Allen and talented apprentice Logan McNeil came out of Wednesday’s Australia Day racing at Caulfield, in Race 8 won by Allen on Yonce (NZ) (Proisir).

Allen was outed for 11 meetings, while McNeil was given 10 after both pleading to careless riding. Allen was charged after allowing his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Sensationalisation (Written Tycoon) when passing the 150 metres.

It resulted in that mare being tightened between Yonce and Dance To Dubai (Pride Of Dubai).

McNeil was charged after he allowed his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of Libbyangel (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) taking that mare in and tightening the running of Comica (Magnus) which was severely checked and others in the field severely hampered.

McNeil’s suspension will end at midnight February 12, while Allen’s will end at midnight February 8.

New Karaka 2022 Trainers' Series commences

New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) has announced a new incentive for New Zealand-based trainers wishing to purchase at its National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka held from March 7 to 12.

Five race meetings throughout New Zealand have been selected for the Karaka 2022 Trainers' Series.

The trainer of each winning horse on the racecard of each meeting will go into a draw at the end of the day to win a special prize package, should they wish to purchase at NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series in March.

The Karaka 2022 Trainers' Series prize package includes a travel voucher to the value of NZ$1000 and an NZB Insurance voucher to a value (up to) NZ$2000 allocated against a purchased lot.

The first Karaka 2022 Trainers' Series prize package was won by Canterbury trainer Lance Robinson, after Mianna (NZ) (He’s Remarkable {NZ}) claimed the NZ$12,000 Punters Challenge 9 April Mdn at Riccarton last week.

Robinson was pleased to be drawn as the winner after claiming the second race on the meeting’s racecard.

“I was very happy to win the Karaka 2022 Trainers' Series prize package given I’m a regular at the yearling sales and never go home without a horse or two,” he said.

“Last year I purchased a very nice Rageese filly for NZ$52,500 and am looking forward to seeing her progress in the future.

“No doubt there will be more great stock to secure this year and I will be making use of the generous travel and NZB Insurance vouchers.”

There are four remaining racedays where trainers will have the opportunity to be drawn for the prize package, including at Trentham on Saturday, Wingatui on February 5, Te Rapa on February 12 and Ellerslie on February 19.

Jones’ dream only a sleep away

Adelaide-based jockey Caitlin Jones is just a couple of sleeps from her dream come true when she competes against some of the world's premier riders in Dubai this weekend.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the 31-year-old will partner the Will Clarken-trained pair of Parsifal (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and He's A Balter (Spirit Of Boom) in lucrative sprint races at Meydan as part of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

"To be quite honest, at the moment it's still a little bit surreal," Jones told RSN927.

Jones will line up against the likes of champion riders Frankie Dettori, Mikael Barzalona, William Buick and James Doyle.

"It probably won't occur to me too much until I'm sitting in the barriers with them, but obviously I've looked through the field and I've seen who I'm up against.

"It's not only the riders that I'm up against, I'm up against some quality horses and trainers that are renowned here and have had great success here.

"I've been given a wonderful opportunity by Will Clarken and the owners behind both of these horses to be here and ride, so that gives me enough confidence in myself to go out there and perform as best I can on the back of these horses that are giving me nothing but good feels.

"For me it's a dream come true."

Cameron the chosen one

In-form jockey Matthew Cameron has found himself the chosen one for The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday’s G1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile at Trentham, after his previous ride, the Annabel Neasham-trained Holyfield (I Am Invincible) was withdrawn on Wednesday.

The two-time champion jockey snapped up the mount on the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained The Chosen One, putting him in strong contention to win his first Group 1 race since the 2019 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton, when he rode Madison County (NZ) (Pins) ironically at the expense of The Chosen One, whom he had ridden to win his first two starts.

"It worked out pretty well back then so hopefully it can work out for me on The Chosen One this time," Cameron said.

"It was a bit up in the air which horse I was riding. I was booked to ride Annabel Neasham's horse, then they pulled out at the last minute and luckily enough, Murray and Andrew hadn't panicked about getting a ride for The Chosen One and I was pleased to get back on him."

A winner of six of his 36 starts, 6-year-old The Chosen One has been Group 1 on both sides of the Tasman and won a G2 Herbert Power S. in Melbourne. He has contested the last three G1 Melbourne Cups, finishing fourth and fifth the last two years and has placed in a G1 Sydney Cup and Caulfield Cup.

TAB bookmakers have him as a NZ$6 third favourite for the Thorndon Mile behind Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) at NZ$3.60 and Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) at NZ$3.80.

Cameron is just four wins away from 100 black-type victories and has eight rides at Trentham.

Trentham trip to decide filly’s goal

Gifted filly La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) will be the mistress of her own destiny and her performance at Trentham on Saturday will determine her major 3-year-old target.

She will bid to add to her tidy record in the G3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold S. while talented stablemate Te Toki (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) will be back on track at Ellerslie on Sunday after a no-risk approach ruled him out of Karaka Million 3YO Classic contention.

La Crique has hardly put a foot wrong in her limited career with three wins from just five appearances and this weekend will tell trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander which Classic will become their autumn focus.

They are confident she can cope with an extended trip, hence her nominations for the G1 New Zealand Derby and the G1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400 metres.

La Crique accounted for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel) last time out at Ellerslie over 1500 metres and the manner in which she finished off that race has given connections further encouragement for her future distance prospects.

“She was hard to pull up at the end of her race. I believe if she was sitting on an even tempo she would get over a bit of ground and that’s why we’re happy to press on to either a Derby or an Oaks,” said Katrina Alexander, who trains the filly with husband Simon.

“This will be her first trip away this weekend and will give us options if she travels well. I do like the time frame toward the Derby and I don’t think she needs to stay away from the males.

“If she doesn’t handle the trip then there’s no point going back for the Oaks and there’s also a possibility she could go to Australia. This weekend is going to tell us a lot about her.’’

Dascombe searches for new stable

UK trainer Tom Dascombe is still looking for a new yard from which to train after it was announced in December that he and Michael Owen were parting ways and Dascombe would leave Owen's Manor House Stables after 12 years.

Dascombe’s black-type winners are headed by the G1 Irish St Leger winner and popular stayer Brown Panther (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}).

“I'm still here training at Manor House Stables and looking to find somewhere to live,” Dascombe said. “There have been a few attempts, but I haven't secured a yard yet and when I do, I will let everybody know. In the meantime I will reside here and continue to do my job to the best of my ability and I have just got to get on with it.”

Dascombe said that while the initial news of the split was a 'shock' to him, he leaves Manor House Stables with no animosity.

“I'm leaving here and whatever Manor House Stables decide on is entirely up to them, and I wish them all the very best of luck,” he said. “There is no malice, no hostility. It is very simple, I'm leaving and I've got to find somewhere to go. I'm going to concentrate on myself. I don't have anything set up which is why initially I thought it was a bit of a shock to me and I would have had time to plan. But I will be absolutely fine. I have just got to sort a few things out, look after my staff and make sure everything is okay. My final day here is March 14. But it will be fine.

“Now is the time to be very active and positive and move forward. I have just got to find a way to move forward, and I will move forward.”

Destin colt on top at OBS

A New York-bred yearling colt by Destin (USA) was the priciest lot to change hands during Wednesday's open session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale.

Consigned by Sue Vacek, Agent II, the grey - already named Last Drink (USA) - was acquired by Rosewood Farm for US$95,000 (AU$134,000). Casey Newick LLC bred the session topper. Dam I Drink Alone (USA) (Intidab {USA}) has produced three prior stakes winners in the Empire State.

For the session, 186 transactions yielded gross receipts of US$2,075,600 (AU$2.9 million). That gross eclipsed the 2021 figure when 236 horses sold during the session.

For the entire Sale, which also featured consignor preferred and horses of racing age sessions on Tuesday, 416 offerings found new homes for a total of US$6,573,100 (AU$9.3 million) up from US$5,612,300 (AU$7.9 million) in 2021. The average was US$15,801 (AU$22,000) (up from US$13,756 {AU$19,500} in 2021) and median of US$8500 (AU$12,000), more than twice the level of last year.