Gytrash retired
G1 Lightning S.-winning sprinter Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been retired after reinjuring his troublesome near fore knee.
The Gordon Richards-trained gelding, who amassed just under $4.5 million in prizemoney, was last seen finishing a distant last in this year’s edition of the G1 Lightning S. at Flemington.
Gytrash has been retired after reinjuring his troublesome near fore knee
“It’s devastating but it’s better (it happens) now than four years ago,” Richards told Racing.com.
“He jumped out well on Tuesday morning and pulled up okay, but I didn’t think that was him, so I got the vets to check him out and x-ray him.
“As much as we tried with it, we couldn’t patch it up, so we’ve decided to retire him.”
OTI offers Quick Thinker online
Group 1 winner Quick Thinker (NZ) has been offered on the Inglis Digital (Early) Online Sale, which will conclude on Wednesday, March 16.
The OTI Racing-owned entire, who beat home Group 1 winners Castelvecchio, Shadow Hero (Pierro) and Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) in the 2019 G1 ATC Derby was retired last October after suffering a significant tendon injury.
Quick Thinker, a son of prolific Coolmore Stud stallion So You Think (NZ) currently holds a bid of $100,000.
Affairs in order
Chris Waller has Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) ready to peak when he steps out as a leading contender in Saturday’s G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington.
The Coolmore-owned colt, who will be required to lump 56kgs down the straight, announced himself to be the real deal when toppling star older sprinters Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Eduardo (Host {Chi}) first-up over 1000 metres in the G1 Lightning S.
“I was more concerned last start going into a weight-for-age race (than I am about his weight on Saturday) as that’s the real test of quality and he did a good job there,” Waller told RSN.
“He’s come through it (the Lightning) naturally, to be perfectly honest he wasn’t wound up to win first-up, I thought he’d need the run and be peaking for the Newmarket.”
Super debut success
The dominant debut victory of Super Extreme at Goulburn on Friday saw prominent young Newgate Farm stallion Extreme Choice notch his 18th winner this season.
The Mark Newnham-trained and Darby Syndications-owned colt finished 3.25l the better of the second-placed Smarter Than You (Smart Missile) with a 2.9l gap back to Niccolina (Nicconi) in third.
Extreme Success’ victory saw Extreme Choice break a deadlock with Darley's Astern and Newhaven Park stallion Xtravagant (NZ) to move into outright seventh on the second-season sires' standings by winners.
Messara yearns for Magic day out
Team Hawkes and John Messara could celebrate a rare feature race double with siblings across two states on Saturday when $2.5 million colt Magic steps out in the G3 Pago Pago S. at Rosehill followed by his 3-year-old sister and G1 Thousand Guineas-winning stablemate Yearning in the G2 Kewney S. at Flemington.
Magic and Yearning, who Messara has retained shares in, are both Arrowfield Stud graduates by Snitzel out of the G1 Australian Oaks heroine Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}).
John Messara
“Magic is very promising, he should handle a Soft track with no problems, but you never know how they will go on a Heavy track,’’ Messara told Racenet.
“We are expecting Yearning to run really well. She ran a super race first-up against the pattern, she was one of the few to make up ground that day.’’
American Pharoah filly breaks through
The breakthrough maiden victory of Emmy Regina at the Sunshine Coast on Friday marked the 14th winner this season for Coolmore Stud shuttle stallion American Pharoah (USA).
The Daiki Chujo-trained filly, who was having her 12th career start, dominated her rivals to score by 1.3l under Stephanie Thornton.
Emmy Regina’s victory sees American Pharoah draw level with Newgate Farm’s Winning Rupert, Darley’s Frosted (USA) and Armidale Stud’s Alpine Eagle on the second-season sires' standings by winners.
Spanish ready for Cup Mission
Leviathan owner Ozzie Kheir believes Spanish Mission (GB) (Nobel Mission {USA}) can show his top-class credentials by turning Saturday’s G1 Australian Cup into a truly run 2000-metre contest.
Kheir said the Peter Moody-trained stayer, who he purchased with Brae Sokolski and fellow connections following a third-placing in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup will prove hard to beat if left to his own devices out in front.
Spanish Mission (GB)
"I think if we ride him the way he would prefer to be ridden with him on-pace, rolling forward and building and not letting it become a sit-sprint, then he'll be seen at his best,” Kheir told Racing.com.
"He's a world-class stayer and there is no reason why he can't perform at that level. We are really excited by him and I think we'll get a good showing from him.”
Sooboog filly salutes
Hayley marked the 11th winner this season for young Kitchwin Hills Stud stallion Sooboog when breaking her maiden status at Bendigo on Friday.
The Michael Moroney-trained and Rupert Legh-owned 3-year-old went home 0.3l the better of Is This Love (Redoute’s Choice) with a narrow gap back to Starlea (Star Witness) in third.
Sooboog now draws level with Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci on the second-season sires' standings by winners.
Parker not Over thinking It
Kerry Parker has no doubt in his mind that Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) will handle the Melbourne way of going when he lines up as a well-fancied favourite in Saturday’s G1 Australian Cup at Flemington.
The classy son of prolific Coolmore Stud stallion So You Think (NZ) will contest his first start outside of New South Wales in the 2000-metre feature after connections opted to avoid Sydney’s heavily rain-affected surfaces.
“I think he will be sweet, he’s done a little bit of work that way (anti-clockwise) here at home and while you never know until you’re under pressure I think drawing a good gate helps,” Parker told RSN.
“So, once he gets around the first turn and into a rhythm, he will be fine.”
First mares scanned in foal to Fifty Stars
Gerry Ryan’s G1 Australian Cup hero winner Fifty Stars (Ire) who stands at Sunnyhill Stud in Ireland, has had his first mares scanned in foal.
Some mares in foal to the 7-year-old include G2 Fairyhouse Festival winner Lady Breffni (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}), Moraine (GB) (Rainbow Quest), the dam of Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), Kerry and Munster National-winning Cabaret Queen (GB) (King’s Theatre {Ire}) and bumper winner Stops The Nation (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}).
Fifty Stars (Ire) | Standing at Sunnyhill Stud
“We’re delighted to see Fifty Stars with his first mares in foal. His walk was the talk of the Irish Stallion Trail and his first book is proving hugely exciting,” said Jack Cantillon.
“A big thank you to breeders for their immense support at Sunnyhill including, in particular, his racing owner Gerry Ryan who invested almost €250,000 (AU$374,000) at the mare sales to support Fifty Stars. We couldn't be more excited after his flying start."
