'Unusual walk' strikes Lofty out
Unbeaten Snitzel colt Lofty Strike was scratched from Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S. on the eve of the race his trainer Julius Sandhu and jockey Jamie Mott had hoped would deliver them both a breakthrough Group 1 title.
When Racing Victoria stewards on Friday morning ordered Lofty Strike be withdrawn from the Blue Diamond at Caulfield due to lameness in the right front leg, a disappointed Sandhu expressed his view that the 2-year-old was in fact in better shape than he was going into his two previous runs and that he merely has an unusual walk.
“In my opinion, and every other person involved with the horse that knows anything about the horse – myself, all of my team, both of my vets and the owner (Paul Lofitis) himself – are of the opinion the horse is better than he was going into his two previous runs,” Sandhu said.
“He’s got a funny walk. The horse has historically never been the smoothest trotter in the world, and I have managed him accordingly. But unfortunately, the decision gets made by people who are detached from the horse. That is just the reality.”
Sandhu said Lofty Strike was unlikely to aim for the G1 Golden Slipper S. as a result of the events of the past few days.
“The reality of the situation is we are dealing with a 2-year-old that I’ve tried to manage really well and I am not sure I am prepared to put the horse through the travel up to Sydney, then put this horse through this (veterinary) nightmare again.
“He’s just about had a gut full of being fiddled with and poked and all the rest of it. My focus is on the wellbeing of the horse as it has always been and I will make a decision on what to do when the emotions have subsided.”
Minhaaj ready to pounce
Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) will be ready to pounce in the G1 Oakleigh Plate should undefeated favourite Marabi (I Am Invincible) get shaky under the pressure in the biggest race for her to date, says jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
McEvoy said he had earmarked the Oakleigh Plate after trialling Minhaaj twice in Sydney and put the trip to Caulfield, one of few over the past two years with COVID border restrictions limiting his options, as a place to be with the John O’Shea-trained mare. He added Minhaaj was quite stylish in two trials in Sydney.
Minhaaj | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I was taken by her wins, not that I rode her in the spring,” McEvoy said. “But having won the race previously on a mare called Mrs Onassis, who got in with a light weight I think (Minhaaj) profiles a bit similar.”
The former Lindsay Park mare won two Group 3s in her first campaign for O’Shea, at Randwick and Flemington with James McDonald.
Sweet Ride it was
She is Sweet Ride by name and the Deep Field colt for Annabel Neasham was ridden sweetly by Jean Van Overmeire for a solid win in the 2-year-old Black Opal Preview at Canberra on Friday.
Sweet Ride was very impressive popping off the back of eventual second-placegetter Winnertakesitall (Snitzel) and putting the race away easily from a long way from the post. Running in third was Smart Missile filly Lethal Lady.
Triple set of sire doubles
Three sires, Helmet, Hinchinbrook and Star Witness notched up winning doubles across Friday’s daytime cards, Helmet’s progeny getting the job done at Sale.
Three-year-old filly Quite The Lass for Mornington trainer David Brideoake kicked off proceedings for Helmet, followed up by Headsmart for Mark Webb in what was a race-to-race double for the sire.
Hinchinbrook had a Sale and Canberra double with Imposing Brook for Patrick Payne at Sale and Riverbook in Canberra, with jockey Andrew Adkins getting a win in before he was injured in a barrier incident in the next race.
For Star Witness, wins came at Canberra for Kelvedon Road for Todd Smart and at Rockhampton with Wine Talks for Ricky Vale.
Online bidding registrations open for NZ Bloodstock's Karaka Sale
New Zealand’s elite thoroughbred yearling crop will head to a physical auction at the iconic Karaka Sales Centre from March 7 to 12 and travel restrictions pose no boundaries, with yearlings in both Book 1 and Book 2 catalogues available to purchase via New Zealand Bloodstock’s (NZB) robust online bidding platform, with registrations opening Friday.
NZB’s Director of Sales Danny Rolston was at the forefront of developing the virtual bidding platform and oversaw its inception at previous NZB Ready to Run Sales and National Yearling Sale Series.
“We are extremely proud of the platform which is now used by about half of our buying bench, as evidenced at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale,” he said. “Online bidding accounted for more than 51 per cent of lots sold, turning over more than NZ$9.5 million remotely.
“Our prospective purchasers can once again do business with confidence, thanks to a combination of high-quality video footage and images of each yearling showcased on the NZB website, coupled with the online bidding platform’s real-time functionality and display.''
Stanaway disqualification stands
Bryce Stanaway has failed in his application for a stay of proceedings against his three-year disqualification on misconduct-related charges.
The Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on Friday rejected Stanaway’s application for the penalty to stay ahead of a VCAT review in his case, which is not expected to be held before the end of the season.
Stanaway, 62, had been disqualified for three years by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on seven misconduct-related charges arising from an incident concerning an injured horse he trained at the Bendigo racecourse on October 17, 2020.
After his mare Moorabool (Seventh Reason) broke down during a race that day, Stanaway ran onto the track and abused RV officials as they were treating the horse as well as threatening a veterinarian and then later he became abusive to other attendants to the horse.
Guerra appointed to RV board
Senior business leader Paul Guerra has been appointed to Racing Victoria’s board.
Minister for Racing Martin Pakula announced the appointment on Friday, replacing Rowan Craigie. He will start on March 1, with his appointment for four years.
Guerra is chief executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has also been Chairman of the Queen Victoria Market and held senior positions at United Health Group, Motorola and Vodafone.
Adkins injured in barrier incident
Jockey Andrew Adkins has a suspected fracture to his left arm after his mount, Beppe (Snitzel) for Peter and Paul Snowden, became fractious in the barrier prior to Race 3 at Canberra on Friday.
Adkins was transported to Canberra Hospital for further examination.
Autridge chases black type
Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) has two runner-up results next to her name and her Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer are hoping she can go one better on her home track this Saturday in the G2 J Swap Contractors LTD Matamata Breeders’ S. over 1200 metres.
She was beaten by subsequent Karaka Million 2YO placegetter Fellini (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) on debut before she repeated the result in the G3 Platinum Homes 2YO Classic at Te Rapa earlier this month where she was beaten by Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Val Di Zoldo (NZ)
She will meet the Te Akau runner once again this weekend and her trainers have been pleased with her efforts to date and thought she was unlucky in her last start.
“She has come through the run well, it was a big run,” Autridge said. “She had everything against her when the winner had everything in her favour.”
Val Di Zoldo has drawn barrier three in the competitive field and a win would send her in the direction of some Group 1 targets. Autridge will also be chasing stakes success with Alabama Gold (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) in the G3 Fairview Matamata Slipper.
Addeybb given clean bill of health
Four-time Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) has been given a clean bill of health and is on course for a return to racecourse action following a health scare late last year. Sheikh Ahmed's 8-year-old gelding experienced a blood clot in a hock that became infected.
Addeybb (Ire) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We had a real scare, we thought we were going to lose him in November but he's fine now,” said trainer William Haggas. “Hopefully we'll have him ready to return in the summer. He's marvellous, he's in good shape.”
Addeybb travelled to Sydney in March and April of 2020 to beat the 10-time Group 1 and future Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. He won the G1 Champion S. at the end of that season before returning to Australia to successfully defend his Queen Elizabeth title. Addeybb finished second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in last year's G1 Coral-Eclipse S., and was last seen finishing sixth in the latest edition of the Champion S. on October 16.
Pyledriver in shape for Saudi assault
Last year's G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is reported to be in fine fettle by his co-trainer William Muir ahead of Saturday's G3 Neom Turf Cup, and though a positive COVID test has ruled Muir out of travelling to Saudi Arabia, he has been keeping close tabs on his stable star via video feed and through communication with his team on the ground, which includes his son-in-law and jockey Martin Dwyer.
The 5-year-old Pyledriver won the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield on November 13 in his first outing since the Coronation Cup, and he was second in the G1 Hong Kong Vase when last seen on December 12.
“The horse is in great order, he travelled well to Hong Kong and that was the first time he's ever done it,” Muir said. “Since he's been in Saudi he's bouncing and kicking. He's done a breeze (Thursday) morning on grass, I've seen it on video and we were all very happy with it.’’
Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, said it was “frustrating” to be self-isolating while Pyledriver goes on his travels.
Servis trial delayed to 2023
The trial of alleged doping conspirator Jason Servis got pushed back to early 2023 at a status conference in federal court on Thursday.
Robert Gearty of the Blood-Horse first broke the February 24 story from the United States District Court (Southern District of New York).
Gearty reported that the former trainer's trial will take place in the first quarter of 2023 along with that of veterinarian Alexander Chan.
Previously, Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil had been aiming for a mid-2022 trial for Servis, the most prominent name among the remaining defendants asserting innocence.
Tiz The Bomb for UK tilt
Never afraid to try something different or to think outside the box, trainer Kenny McPeek is preparing Tiz The Bomb (USA) (Hit It A Bomb {USA}) for a trip to the UK that could include starts in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 30 and G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom on June 4.
“Who wouldn't want to win a race like the English Derby?” McPeek said. “It would be special, really special. What was it that Tesio said? The entire breed of the Thoroughbred is judged on one wooden post, the finish line of the Epsom Derby. Is it a trainer's dream to win that kind of race? Absolutely.”
Tiz The Bomb was primarily a turf horse during his 2-year-old year. After the colt broke his maiden on the dirt on July 2 at Ellis Park, McPeek switched him to the grass and he won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S. and the G2 Bourbon S. before finishing second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
McPeek was among the first US-based trainers to test the waters in Europe. In 2004, his Hard Buck (Brz) (Spend A Buck {USA}) finished second in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. at Ascot. In 2017, he sent Daddy's Lil Darling (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) to the G1 English Oaks, but she was scratched after bolting prior to the start.
