Daily News Wrap

The Candy Man retired

Cult hero grey The Candy Man (Casino Prince) has run his last race, connections for the Barry Baldwin-trained horse which delighted crowds announcing Wednesday that a plan to bring him back to the track had been scrapped.

The 8-year-old gelding won 11 races in his 34-start career for a total $553,675 in prizemoney, that included seven straight wins culminating in a tight win in the G3 Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.

The Candy Man earned a following based on his ability to overcome adversity. Debuting in May 2016, he was sidelined for two-and-a-half years when he smashed his jaw in a stable accident and underwent nine hours of surgery to repair the damage.

He grabbed attention in January 2019 at the Sunshine Coast when he stood in the gates, missing the start by 8l before storming back to win.

The Candy Man’s last start was in June last year when he ran well back and second to last in the $1.2 million Q22 won by Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). He trialled at the end of December but Baldwin and connections have abandoned plans of a return with thoughts the grey may be used as a Clerk of the Course in future.

Artorius shows strength

Last year’s G1 Blue Diamond S. winner, the Flying Artie colt Artorius impressed in a jump-out at Balnarring Racecourse Wednesday morning.

Under the riding of Mark Zahra, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Redoute’s Choice mare Gracie’s Lass worked through the eight-horse field comfortably and looked strong to the line in winning the Heat 4 jump-out.

Miss Roseiano for Blue Diamond Prelude

A dominant trial on Tuesday has not been enough for connections of exciting filly Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel) to pay up for the Blue Diamond S., with the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) marked as her next start.

Peter Gelagotis said she took to the track on Tuesday morning for her first gallop since landing the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) last month and connections will decide whether to pay the $55,000 late entry fee to secure a start in the $1.5 million Blue Diamond S. after the 1100 metre Prelude run.

"She's come through it really well," Gelagotis told Racing.com.

"She's had an easy time and she did a little bit of light pace work this morning. She'll press on from this point and prepare for the Prelude and I couldn't be happier with her.

"Dr Peter Angus has a little share in her, he came in to run his hands over her today and said she's in tip-top, premium order."

Healing Game adds another winner for Tivaci

Waikato Stud's Tivaci (NZ) secured his ninth Australian winner for the season with the victory of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Healing Game at Sandown.

Healing Game, ridden by Jamie Kah, secured a comfortable 1.25l maiden win at his second start, defeating Ocean Raider (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Kilronan (Astern) in the 1400-metre race.

The 3-year-old gelding was an $18,000 yearling from the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Collingrove Stud.

Tivaci's season in Australia has been highlighted by the G1 Flight S. win of Never Been Kissed (NZ).

Sinawann is Williams’ pick

Craig Williams will take the ride on Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the opening Melbourne Group 1 race of the year, Saturday week’s CF Orr S. at Caulfield, giving up the ride on three-time Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Sinawann has raced just three times in Australia, winning the G3 Kevin Heffernan S. with Williams aboard for the first time at Caulfield on November 27.

Williams retained the ride for Sinawann's resumption in last Saturday's G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley, running second to unbeaten mare Marabi (I Am Invincible).

Sinawann emerged from the Australia S. as the $4 CF Orr favourite ahead of I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) with Tofane equal-third favourite alongside Lighthouse (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) and doubtful starter Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).

Williams has ridden Tofane at her past six starts guiding her to victory in the Stradbroke H. and Tattersall's Tiara at Eagle Farm over 1400 metres at Group 1 level.

Williams has won the CF Orr S. once, aboard Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) for Godolphin's Australian head trainer James Cummings in 2018.

Kah’s dash to Sydney

Jamie Kah will make a dash and grab mission to Sydney on Saturday to partner El Padrino (Street Boss {USA}) for the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace yard.

Victoria's reigning metropolitan premiership winner will partner El Padrino in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick.

Drawing barrier eight and up against favourite Gary Portelli's Sejardan (Sebring), Kah said the decision to head north was made a few weeks earlier, with 'not a lot going on' in Melbourne this weekend.

She has picked up four other bookings at the meeting and will partner debutant Tragara (Written Tycoon) in the opener for Richard and Michael Freedman, Cody Morgan's Aytobe (Bullet Train {GB}) in Race 2, Wisdom Of Water (Headwater) for Annabel Neasham in Race 4 and Frosty Rocks (Your Song) for Bjorn Baker in Race 10.

“Ciaron’s really happy with the way he’s been trialling and going and there’s no better judge going around at the moment,’’ Kah said of El Padrino.

Justify Ferrari hits Sydney

The Coolmore Australia Justify (USA) Ferrari will roll into Sydney shortly ahead of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where six progeny of Justify are on offer at the Riverside complex this weekend.

Buyers of a Justify are in the running to win a new Ferrari if it is the first to win a designated race next year. Among those races is the Inglis Millennium, this year’s rendition being stage on Saturday at Royal Randwick.

A dream come true

Segenhoe-based stud Ridgmont Farm is celebrating a dream that has been years in the making, presenting its first Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.

Posting to Twitter, principal Andrew Dunemann said it was proud to present its first draft, with seven yearlings at the Sale.

The old Glastonbury Farms along Segenhoe Road, opposite Darley, headed into the breeding season with a new name, run by Dunemann and his investors, namely Boutique Thoroughbreds.

Dunemann has said his partners come with plenty of experience.

“They aren’t new to bloodstock by any means, each of them having a significant stake in racehorse and broodmare ownership over the years. However, Ridgmont Farm will be their first thorough investment into farm ownership.’’

More ground sought for The Mitigator

Fresh from two victories at Trentham, Matamata trainer Peter McKay is hoping for another lucrative raid on a Central Districts track on Saturday.

McKay is taking two horses to New Plymouth, with his warhorse The Mitigator (Master Of Design) aiming at the G3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup over 1800 metres, and promising 3-year-old Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) contesting the Energy Vets Taranaki 3YO of 1300 metres.

For the first time in four years, The Mitigator missed the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham, a race he won in 2020, with McKay deciding to test the front-running gelding beyond a mile.

“He’s only tried twice and failed abysmally, but he’s never been let just roll over distance – both times he was ridden in behind the leaders and was pulling,” McKay said.

“There should be a bit of speed in that race but he’ll go forward and hopefully he’ll stretch out to 1800 metres alright.”

Giacomo shares his name with the winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby but McKay originally had the New Zealand version in mind for Giacomo, whose sire Puccini, named after the Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, won the New Zealand Derby in 2014.

Giacomo broke his maiden over 1560 metres at Rotorua on November 16 but disappointed at Matamata on December 4 and was given a break at that point, thereby ruling the New Zealand Derby out.

OBS March catalogue released

The catalogue for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is now online at www.obssales.com. A total of 635 juveniles have been catalogued for the two-day Sale, set for March 15 and 16, with both sessions beginning at 10.30am local. The auction's under tack show will be held March 10-12 and all three sessions are scheduled to begin at 8am local.

Graduates from last year's March Sale include Call Me Midnight (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}), winner of the January 22 G3 Lecomte S., and last year's G1 Starlet S. winner Eda (USA) (Munnings {USA}).

OBS will again offer online bidding during the March sale.

Dead heat for 1000th winner

Overseas to Wolverhampton, UK, and it was a dramatic way for veteran jockey Liam Keniry to bring up his 1000th winner when he dead heated in a two-horse race.

The match race between 1-6 favourite Golden Sands (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Havana Goldrush (GB) (Havana Gold {GB}), a 4-1 chance, ended in a dead-heat.

The dead-heat call came after five minutes of deliberation from judge David Hicks with a stewards' inquiry called to ascertain whether there had been interference in the run.

Keniry said: "I wouldn't imagine a two-horse race being a dead-heat – I'm not sure if that's happened before really. It was good to ride it for Stan [Moore] as they've given me a lot of rides over my career."