Williamses dissolve partnership
Leading WA-based trainers Grant and Alana Williams have dissolved their partnership, effective immediately.
The husband-and-wife duo, who were known for their association with Bob Peters and William Pike, notched 529 wins from 2054 starts, including 11 Group 1s, 11 Group 2s and 23 Group 3s.
Alana and Grant Williams
Grant Williams is currently listed as the sole trainer for all horses, with Alana’s name removed from the partnership on Monday morning.
Kah set for Sydney raid
Jamie Kah will attempt a hit-and-run raid on Sydney this Saturday when she partners the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained El Padrino (Street Boss {USA}) in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick.
Jamie Kah
Kah will also pilot the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained Tragara (Written Tycoon) in the Listed Lonhro Plate and one of Chris Waller’s four nominated gallopers in the G3 Eskimo Prince S.
Shalaa gelding salutes
Silver City’s victory at Newcastle on Monday marked the 25th Australian winner this season for Arrowfield Stud shuttle stallion Shalaa (Ire), who now draws level with Vinery Stud’s Star Turn on the second-season sire standings by winners.
Trained by Paul Messara, the 3-year-old gelding finished 0.6l and 0.9l the better of Annulus (Your Song) and Just A Tiff (Kiss And Make Up) respectively, with a 6l gap back to the next runner home.
Shalaa (Ire) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Shalaa and Star Turn currently trail Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist by seven winners this season.
Japanese stakes winner for Maurice
Arrowfield Stud shuttle stallion Maurice (Jpn) registered his fifth stakes winner in Japan on Sunday via the R. Listed Shirafuji S. victory of Jack D’Or (Jpn).
The 4-year-old entire, who notched his fourth win in a row and fifth success from eight career starts, took out the 2000 metre Tokyo contest in a slick 1:57.4.
Lucky number 13 for Deep Field
Shadwell-bred galloper Al Muthana brought up the 13th stakes winner for Newgate Farm stallion Deep Field when winning the Listed Wolf Power H. at Turffontein on Sunday.
The Mike de Kock-trained gelding settled at the rear of the field before powering away to 5.25l victory in the 1600-metre contest.
Al Muthana has now won five of his 11 career starts and also boasts two fourth placings at Group 2 level.
Neasham resisting Apollo kick off
Annabel Neasham will resist the temptation to kick off Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in next Saturday’s G2 Apollo S. in preference for a first-up raid on the G1 Canterbury S. with up to four of her stable stars.
Zaaki and stablemates Top Ranked (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) and Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) all made their first public appearances since last spring at Monday’s Rosehill barrier trials and Neasham outlined the 1300-metre contest as a logical starting point for the classy quartet.
Prime Star, Zaaki (GB) and Coastwatch - Rosehill trials | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He (Zaaki) could nearly go to the Apollo off one trial, but I think I’d rather have two and have him ready to go first-up,’’ Neasham told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“The 1300 metres is the shortest I have had him over but the way he won over 1400 metres first-up last prep I think it’d be good to see if he can do it over a slightly shorter trip.”
Wolf paddock bound
The Tasmanian racing carnival will be without one of its biggest drawcards, with Listed Tasmanian Guineas winner Alpine Wolf (Alpine Eagle) to be spelled.
It had been speculated that Alpine Wolf would contest the Listed Tasmanian Derby, but connections opted to wrap up the unbeaten 3-year-old's campaign.
Alpine Wolf | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“Barry (Campbell) feels that a good spell and coming back with more condition on him will make the world of difference,” managing owner Bruno Calabro told RSN.
“What he’s done this preparation, he’s done on raw ability. Barry is confident 'the Wolf' will make a great sprinter-miler next time in.”
Price holds first-up fears
Co-trainer Mick Price fears I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) may be underdone when he resumes in Saturday week’s G1 CF Orr S., opting to engage the OTI-owned gelding in a 1000 metre jump-out at Cranbourne on Tuesday.
The G1 Toorak H. and Golden Eagle hero has returned a ‘burlier’ horse this time in and won’t be ready to show his best until stretching out over a mile when contesting The All-Star Mile and G1 Doncaster Mile, according to Price.
I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"The 1200-metre trial looked like a non-event for him because there was only going to be five or six runners and they were going to crawl," Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
"I'm going to put him in a 1000-metre trial and that will be a more competitive trial for him, but I am convinced that, unfortunately, first-up he's going to be underdone.”
Behemoth to take on Orr
David Jolly has outlined the G1 CF Orr S. as the likely next start for The All-Star Mile-bound Behemoth (All Too Hard).
The multiple Group 1 hero may have failed to add another Listed Durbridge S. to his resume last Saturday but Jolly was ‘stoked’ with his stable star's first-up performance.
"He was really good, the tactics didn't help him, Kemalpasa got a pretty soft lead with not much pressure, and it was pretty hard to come off the back of him. So, I was stoked with his effort,” Jolly told Racing.com.
Behemoth
"I think he's pulled up in better shape than he did last year, he's probably had a more traditional miler's prep. So, we'll consider the Orr in two weeks if he does everything right."
Zahra to reunite with Gytrash
Mark Zahra and Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will be out to replicate their G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. success when they reunite for the first time in almost two years.
Gordon Richards, who has formed a training partnership with Damien Moyle since Gytrash toppled Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) in the 2020 edition, will engage the services of Zahra when he presents his stable star for a first-up raid on the Flemington feature.
Gytrash and Mark Zahra | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We probably have got to have everything in our favour to beat them so why not go back to the same well (Zahra),” Richards told Racenet.
“He was one of the first jockeys to get on to us when I put it out there that we didn’t have a rider for him and we’re happy to have him on.”
Vandyke locks in Pike
William Pike will team up with David Vandyke throughout the Sydney autumn as the duo looks to land the G1 Australian Oaks with unbeaten filly Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
The star hoop will make the move to NSW in the coming weeks after being forced out of his native WA for the foreseeable future due to his COVID-19 vaccination stance.
“The managing owner is a huge fan of Willie Pike, so we are glad to have him on. I have actually never met him so hopefully, he goes good,” Vandyke told Racenet.
“(Pike) is booked for both the Vinery (S.) and Oaks but we will see how she runs in the Vinery first because we don’t want to just go around for a ticket in the Oaks, she needs to perform well to go there first.”
Bosson banking on perfect Derby trial
Opie Bosson is putting in the hard yards as he gets set to ride leading G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby candidate The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel) in Wednesday’s G2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa.
The Perfect Pink will carry just 54.5kgs in the race, with Bosson working overtime to ensure he can make the weight for what on paper looks like a plum ride in both the Guineas and the Derby, which is to be held at Ellerslie on March 5.
The Perfect Pink (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“You can’t really take a line on The Perfect Pink from her trackwork as she gets beaten by everything, but she is screaming out for the 2000 metres and gets that for the first time on Wednesday,” Bosson said.
"I’m doing it tough to make the weight, but I think she is a filly who is well worth it.”
