Dead-heat in Tasmanian 2YO Classic
Jaguar Stone (Spieth) and Blonde Venture (Capitalist) shared top honours in Sunday’s Tasmanian Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Launceston.
Trained by Adam Trinder and Shane Nichols respectively the two fillies couldn’t be separated by the judge in the 1200-metre contest.
Jaguar Stone’s victory marked the third for her first season Aquis Farm sire Spieth while Blonde Venture became Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist’s 38th winner this season.
Purchased for $28,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale by Trinder from the draft of Berkley Park, Jaguar Stone is out of Tale Of The Cat (USA) mare Leopard Skin.
Blonde Venture was a $200,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Nichols and is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Blonde Intuition.
Mr Quickie retired
Dual Group 1 winner Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) has been retired after failing to recover from a hip injury sustained when slipping in his box last August.
The 5-year-old gelding was en route to trainer Phillip Stokes' Pakenham-based stables after a spell in Brisbane following his fourth-placing in the G1 Stradbroke H. when the incident occurred during an overnight stopover.
Mr Quickie | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Mr Quickie arrived at the farm of part-owner, Rosemont Stud, last week after completing rehabilitation, however, a subsequent scintigraphy scan revealed the fracture to his left hip joint hadn’t healed as hoped.
“He might get a bit of arthritis in that hip, but he’ll get an injection next week to make sure he’s comfortable and then he’ll live out his days at Rosemont where there’s already a paddock named in his honour,” managing owner Wylie Dalziel told Racing.com.
“He might not be a champion in everyone’s eyes, but he is in our eyes and he’s given us the best journey you could ask for.”
Lighthouse unlikely for All-Star
Lighthouse (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) is in doubt for next month’s The All-Star Mile, with connections focused on adding an invaluable Group 1 victory to their classy mare’s resume.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained import is likely to bypass next Saturday’s G1 Futurity S. in preference for a tilt at the G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill, which means that the 5-year-old would be required to back-up into The All-Star Mile.
Lighthouse (USA) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We are mindful that she’s had a few runs (six this campaign) and probably she ran a PB last start and we’re just mindful not to back her up too quickly,” Eustace told Racing.com.
“She’s already got that (Group 1 placing). We are trying to win one now and the distance and the cut in the track doesn’t worry her and the nice spacing (between runs) will suit.”
Heathcote earmarks Stradbroke for resuming Rothfire
Rob Heathcote has earmarked the G1 Stradbroke H. as a winter carnival goal for his stable star Rothfire (Rothesay).
The G1 JJ Atkins S. winner is back in Heathcote’s stable with no ongoing issues after being put on ice during the spring carnival due to a small joint flexion problem.
Rothfire
“The Stradbroke would be at the top of the list for Rothfire. I know it’s a handicap and he is a Group 1 winner as a 3-year-old, but I actually think he would get into the race quite well,” Heathcote told Racenet.
“I will be looking to kick him off in the Victory S. and then I will be selective with what I target, races like the Kingsford-Smith Cup, the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke will all come into consideration.
“First things first though, I just want to see him return successfully to race.”
Xtravagant secures 17th winner
Young Newhaven Park stallion Xtravagant (NZ) notched his 17th winner for the season via the victory of Improvident at Ballarat on Sunday.
Improvident
The Matt Laurie-trained gelding finished 0.2l the better of Turn It Up Tommy (NZ) (Tivaci) with a 1.75l gap back to Kentahten (Winning Rupert) in third.
Xtravagant, who has had just 39 individual runners this season, currently sits seventh on the second-season sire standing by winners and is third by prizemoney thanks to the R. Listed Inglis Millennium success of Xtravagant Star.
Huxtable outed for three weeks
Justin Huxtable has been hit with a three-week suspension after falling from his mount during an exaggerated celebration when crossing the finishing line in Saturday’s Kangaroo Island Cup.
The 21-year-old hoop, who was lucky to avoid serious injury, stood tall in the irons while flourishing his whip as odds-on favourite Splash Some Cash (Spurlash) duly saluted in his hometown cup.
Turn Me Loose filly impresses with debut victory
A gritty victory by juvenile filly Lickety Split (NZ) at her first raceday start at Ellerslie on Saturday has given her Windsor Park sire Turn Me Loose (NZ) a timely boost ahead of the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained youngster followed up an impressive trial win at Ellerslie late last month with a similar performance on Saturday as she overhauled pacemaker Slipper Island (No Nay Never {USA}) in the final stages after the pair had gone head-to-head over the final 400 metres.
Lickety Split (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“She has a bit of scope about her and to see the way she knuckled down and fought so hard after just the one trial was very heartening,” Forsman said.
“She did most things right, which was also good to see and I liked the way she found the line so strongly over the last little bit.
“She is a filly we think can go on with it next season now she has had a taste of what the racing game is all about.”
Walker ready for return
Five-time New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership winner Mark Walker is excited for the challenge that awaits when he takes over from Jamie Richards as Te Akau Racing’s head New Zealand-based trainer in April.
Walker spent 11 years at the helm of Te Akau’s Kranji-based operation in Singapore, where he was crowned Champion trainer on four occasions.
Mark Walker (second-right) | Image courtesy of the New Zealand Racing Desk
“It’s just fantastic to be back in New Zealand and I’m already eager to get back into stable life here. So, I’m heading to the track tomorrow (Monday) morning to catch up with Jamie (Richards) and to get started,” Walker said.
“I certainly enjoyed my time in Singapore and winning the races that we did. But coming home is special and I just can’t wait to get amongst it and training winners for Te Akau again.”
O’Brien sending two runners to Saudi
Joseph O’Brien will be out to add to his impressive haul of international success when sending Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to next weekend’s Saudi Cup meeting.
Baron Samedi, a G2 Belmont Gold Cup winner will line up in the Red Sea Turf H. while G1 National S. winner Thunder Moon is set to contest the 1351 Turf Sprint.
Joseph O'Brien
“He’s a good, solid horse who just keeps progressing and always seems to turn up on the day. He seems in good form at home and this is the race we’ve always had in mind to start him off this season,” O’Brien said of Baron Samedi.
“He (Thunder Moon) was unlucky not to be a Group 1 winner last year having been beaten a head in France and if he gets a good draw, we’d be hopeful he could run into some prizemoney.
“I think it’s fair to say he’s not the most consistent, but on the pick of his form he’s not without a chance, I think we’ve finally found his optimum conditions.”
New format for Arqana August
Arqana has revealed its lineup of yearling sales for 2022, including some format changes to key sales.
The company’s headline Sale, the Arqana August Yearling Sale, will take place from August 13 to 15 and will take place over the entire day on Saturday, beginning at the end of the afternoon following racing on Sunday and Monday.
The Sale had previously been staged as two evening sessions on the Saturday and Sunday and an all-day session on the Monday.
