Rematch fought from out wide
Chris Waller’s star fillies Fangirl (Sebring) and Espiona (Extreme Choice) go into their highly anticipated rematch from the G2 Light Fingers S. a fortnight ago with horror outside draws in Saturday’s G1 Surround S.
The only Australian 3-year-old fillies' Group 1 race under a mile, the pair have drawn barriers 13 for Espiona and 16 for Fangirl in the 16-horse field for the Randwick set-weights event.
The draw was much more kind to spring winners Yearning (Snitzel) and Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci), they drew barriers two and nine respectively while the Light Fingers S. third place-getter Jamaea (Headwater) will jump from barrier eight.
Marabi well-positioned in draw
It is as good a draw for undefeated Maher and Eustace star Marabi (I Am Invincible) in Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate, jumping from barrier two. But the speed will be on early with fellow speedster Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) right alongside the filly and Malkovich (Choisir) stepping away from barrier four.
Godolphin had made Marabi’s quest to remain unbeaten a bit easier by withdrawing Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) from the race. He was second-favorite before his withdrawal.
Snitzel pair, Maher’s Away Game and Wild Ruler for the Snowdens have drawn barriers five and six respectively, while jockey Kerrin McEvoy, riding Sydney visitor Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) for John O’Shea will be trying to avoid being buried back on the fence after drawing barrier one inside of the fancied speedsters.
Earlswood out for autumn
Exciting import Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) for Maddie Raymond will miss the rest of the autumn, having gone shin sore after opening his Australian racing career with a win in the G3 Carlyon Cup just a fortnight ago.
“Obviously, he’s a young horse with a big future ahead of him, so we’ll look after him and give him a bit of a break,’’ Raymond said of the 4-year-old.
Races like The All-Star Mile and Australian Cup had been touted as possible options for Earlswood, but Raymond said that the former Irish galloper would probably have six weeks off and that a return to racing in the spring was the most likely scenario.
“I’ve always said he’ll be a better horse in six months when he’s filled out and matured anyway, so I think going shin sore is just a sign of immaturity as well. If you were going to have a problem, it’s not a bad problem to have,’’ Raymond said.
Ideal for Icebath breakthrough win
Two-time Group 1 runner-up Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), one of the country’s most talented mares but still a black-type maiden has the perfect conditions to shake that title at Randwick this weekend says trainer Brad Widdup as she firms in the G2 Guy Walter Proven Thoroughbreds S. over 1400 metres.
Widdup said Wednesday the race would seem tailor-made for Icebath as she’s second-up off a slashing return at weight for age, she will strike a wet track and under the set weights and penalties conditions carries just 54kg .
Icebath (NZ)
“This race fits in well and she has a good weight. I’m sure if things go her way she’ll be bloody hard to beat,’’ Widdup said of the now $2.25 race favourite.
Turaath ready for Group 1 debut
The Group 1 debut for Turaath (GB) was delayed by an act of caution by trainer Maddie Raymond but she is now satisfied the import by Oasis Dream (GB), is ready for the test in the G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield.
Raymond said Wednesday that Turaath was bypassed for the CF Orr S. because the import’s pre-race blood picture was not perfect. She added the 5-year-old is fit and ready to race.
Turaath (GB) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“She hasn’t missed any work and she was rock-hard fit anyway after her two 1200-metre runs so we’re quite happy with her now.”
A win by Turaath would give Raymond her first Group 1 winner.
Double for Zahra
Simon Zahra picked up a winning double at Ladbrokes Park Wednesday with Dream Ahead (USA) mare Little Stevie claiming Race 6 at the Sandown circuit with Thomas Stockdale in the saddle and then making it a race-to-race double when Zac De Boss (Zacinto {GB}) storming home under the riding of Damien Thornton.
Double the celebrations
It was celebrations all round in the Yoshitomo Shima stables at Ladbrokes Park on Wednesday with double reason to cheer the winner of the first race, Dream Inherit (Kuroshio).
The win was apprentice jockey Tatum Bull’s first metro win of her career, while also delivering Shima his first city winner
Urgent investment needed
Racing SA Chairman Rob Rorrison says government investment in racing in South Australia is urgently needed, providing an opportunity to significantly increase prizemoney, or the industry will lose more trainers in a similar fashion to Tony and Calvin McEvoy who Tuesday announced the partnership was winding up in the state to chase more lucrative prizemoney in Victoria.
Rorrison said he was acutely aware the governing body in South Australia has more work to do as they were not giving trainers their reason to stay.
“Those reasons sit around prizemoney, the return they can get for their owners and the infrastructure that we have in place,’’ Rorrison said.
He pointed to Racing NSW’s latest prizemoney boost of $27 million, compared to South Australia’s total prizemoney pool last year of $45 million.
Pony race for South Australia
Pony Racing is headed to South Australia, Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC) announcing Wednesday that an exhibition pony race will open the card on a big day of racing at Murray Bridge Race Club Gifford Hill track, which features the richest juvenile race in SA, the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic on Saturday, March 5.
TIC, together with Pony Club Australia, Racing SA, Magic Millions and the Murray Bridge Racing Club are collaborating to put on the pony race following the recent success of the inaugural TIC Pony Race, held in conjunction with Magic Millions and the Brisbane Racing Club at Doomben racecourse, as well as the Australia Day Pony Race at Warwick Farm with the Australian Turf Club.
Pony Racing is aimed at generating industry involvement and interest at a grassroots level. The exhibition race will see up to 11 ponies race down the Murray Bridge home straight. The riders and ponies are selected by PCA, of which TIC is a major sponsor.
“The best way to know a sport is to participate in it, and our goal is to reach as many young riders as we can so that they will be able to understand all the career opportunities the thoroughbred industry offers. In turn, we hope this assists to alleviate the nationwide staff shortages in the long-term,” said TIC Chief Executive Officer, Lindy Maurice.
Duric back in the saddle
Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Vlad Duric makes a return to race riding at Pakenham on Thursday after his arrival back in Australia from riding in Singapore where he was four-time champion.
Duric will ride just one on his first day back racing, the Wendy Kelly-trained Jesta Dreama (Bon Hoffa). Duric said he had not been in a rush to return to competitive riding after he and his wife Storm and their three daughters arrived back in Australia. His daughter Sage is an aspiring jockey and is learning the trade from Julien Welsh.
Vlad Duric winning the Caulfield Cup on Master O'Reilly (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We’ve been away as a family for 10 out of the last 14 years, so I just wanted to take a bit of time to make sure we all settled in, and I was needing a bit of a break, that’s why I stopped riding over in Singapore, I just needed a bit of a break away from it,” Duric told Racing.com.
