Spring stars please Waller
Chris Waller was delighted by Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) after the duo were impressive when blowing out the cobwebs in a Flemington jump-out ahead of their first-up tilts at Saturday week's G1 Black Caviar Lightning S.
Nature Strip, who was partnered by Jamie Kah, was asked to do very little when winning the 800 metre jump-out that featured only gallopers set to step out in the Lightning S.
G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Home Affairs with James McDonald on board also impressed, finishing strongly under very little pressure.
“(They were) pretty good, we don’t put too much emphasis into winning these types of workouts,” Waller told Racing.com.
“Naturally for Nature Strip he was pretty comfortable at the front without being under any pressure. We purposely kept them (Nature Strip and Home Affairs) apart to try not to develop into a bit of a match race.”
Oxley Road ready for Rubiton resumption
Peter Moody could hardly have been more categoric when he all but declared Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) the winner two days out from his resumption in Saturday’s G2 Rubiton S. at Caulfield.
The Pakenham-based trainer said the well-related colt has been set for the 1100-metre feature while his more credentialled rivals, such as Artorius (Flying Artie) may not be forward enough.
Oxley Road | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"I've been very happy with his work, I've been very happy with his trials, he's in very good order,” Moody said on his Moody On The Mic podcast.
“Oxley Road is an entire that we're looking to protect to build a profile and he's fit enough and forward enough to go and win, and his work suggests that he's certainly good enough.”
Makybe colours out front
Makybe Racing and Breeding saw the colours of the champion on which their brand is based at the pointy end of the pack for the second time in a row on Thursday night when the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Arktika (Snitzel) made it two from two at Pakenham.
The Snitzel 3-year-old filly is a half-sister to three stakes winners including Hong Kong winner Jolly Banner (Lonhro) and from the Group 3-winning dam Valkyrie Diva (Jade Robbery {USA}) the half-sister to the Champion Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}).
Arktika was offered for sale at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2020 by Lime Country Thoroughbreds but was passed in. A colt from Valkyrie Diva by Zoustar was withdrawn from last month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bing Bang Boom writes up first Australian win
Highview resident Wrote (Ire) has penned a timely new chapter in his fledgling stallion career with a first success in Australia for the Hamilton, New Zealand-based stud.
With the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale just around the corner, his quaintly named daughter Bing Bang Boom (NZ) drew further attention to the son of High Chaparral’s (Ire) progeny with her dashing maiden success at Kilmore on Thursday.
Bing Bang Boom (NZ) | Image courtesy of Brett Holburt
The 3-year-old was stepping out for just the second time for Cranbourne trainer Wendy Kelly and sailed home over 1600 metres to the delight of Highview’s Brent Gillovic, who initially sold the filly to trainer Jim Collett at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Sale for NZ$18,000.
“She was bred by a pal of mine, Simon Rushbridge, who lives just down the road. He’s been in and around the game for a long, long time,” Gillovic said.
Wrote won three races, including an edition of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf S. and from a handful of representatives has also produced the New Zealand winners Love Letter (NZ), also third in the G3 Desert Gold S., And We Danced (NZ) and Notes (NZ).
“Like all High Chaparrals, they will get better as they get older and over a bit of a trip. I thought his first Australian winner would be And We Danced, who has acquitted herself well in Sydney,” Gillovic said.
“Like all High Chaparrals, they (Wrote’s progeny) will get better as they get older and over a bit of a trip. I thought his first Australian winner would be And We Danced, who has acquitted herself well in Sydney.” - Brent Gillovic
Gillovic will offer 14 youngsters by Wrote during the Book 2 session at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Sale on March 10 to 12.
“They are a very even line of yearlings this year and we sold a Wrote out of a mare called Told You So last year for NZ$80,000 and his brother is a good sort,” Gillovic said.
He will be presented as Lot 654 and Told You So is an unraced daughter of Stravinsky and the G3 Eulogy S. winner So Lets and the family of former champion juvenile and sire Keeninsky.
Highview’s consignment also features Lot 736, a half-brother to Wrote’s latest winner Bing Bang Boom. He is by Frankel’s (GB) Group 2-winning son Eminent out of a half-sister to the Rushbridge-bred and raced G3 Concorde H. winner Statham.
Cup victory a big thrill for James
Reliable Man (GB) gelding Hypnos’ (NZ) victory in the G3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup at Awapuni on Friday proved to be a sentimental one for co-trainer Roger James.
The Group 1 performer is owned by long-time stable clients Ron and Fran Dixon and James said it was an emotional win as a result.
“I got a big thrill out of it,” said James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood.
Hypnos (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery
“He is not the easiest horse at distances further than a mile, but he has always had a lot of class and he is an elder statesman in our stable now.
“It was for my first-ever owner, and an owner who he and his wife have become great friends. We have had wonderful success over the years, it just meant a lot to us to do that today.
“He is probably getting to the twilight of his career and that was a neat win.”
It was the first win of the season for Hypnos, having placed in the G2 Tauranga S., G3 Eagle Technology S. and G2 Manawatu Challenge S. He subsequently ran sixth in the G2 Rich Hill Mile and eighth in the G3 Trentham S. last start.
Cross Counter crosses over
Team Godolphin’s Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) is progressing well in his retraining program, recently learning how to jump.
The Godolphin Rehoming team posted a short snapshot of the latest in the star’s transition into being an off-the-track star too. You can see him take to the air and hear the latest news from the Godolphin Rehoming team at: godolphinlifetimecare.com.
Archer the pick of the names for Schofield baby
Jockey Chad Schofield and wife Hannah welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on Wednesday, February 9, giving him the most perfect Australian racing name, Archer.
Schofield, who returned to Australia from riding in Hong Kong at the end of last year as the couple prepared for Archer’s birth, had a big week, riding the R Listed Inglis Millennium winner Xtravagant Star (Xtravagant {NZ}) last Saturday, followed by the arrival of his son.
Schofield is not resting up while Hannah and baby do, he has four rides at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
