Back concern for Home Affairs
Star colt Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) is in doubt for the G1 TJ Smith S. after pulling up with a back issue from his unplaced run in the G1 Newmarket H.
“Home Affairs pulled up with a very tight back so we are just trying to get on top of that,’’ trainer Chris Waller told the Daily Telegraph.
Home Affairs | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Once we know we are on top of that we will put out a (media) release where he goes next.’’
Home Affairs, who defeated Champion sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) in the G1 Lightning S. and won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. in the spring, is currently on the third line of betting for the TJ Smith S. on April 2.
Artorius Ascot-bound?
G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius (Flying Artie) could be bound for England after Sam Freedman hinted that the flashy 3-year-old profiles perfectly for two-time-honoured Ascot and Newmarket features.
Freedman, who trains the colt in partnership with his father Anthony, said they are currently in discussion with connections about targeting the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. (to be run as the Platinum Jubilee for the first time this year) and G1 July Cup.
Artorius | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We are giving that a bit of thought, nothing’s set in concrete but we just think that really stiff six furlongs at Ascot and Newmarket might suit him,” Freedman told RSN.
“Some of his straight-track runs, we think, have been his best anyway, that Ascot and Newmarket six furlongs really is a testing track and you probably want a horse that’s capable of running 1400 metres which is certainly him.”
Best Of Bordeaux yet to come
Kacy Fogden believes Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel) is yet to be seen despite the unbeaten Fung family and Gerry Harvey-owned colt lining up in Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper S. off the back of two impressive Group victories.
The classy juvenile was victorious in a 1175-metre trial on the Warwick Farm synthetic circuit last Friday and has drawn barrier 10.
Best Of Bordeaux | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Whatever happens on the weekend will be but I’m looking forward to him getting out and having a spell and strengthening. He’s not the biggest horse so it’ll be nice for him to catch up to his workmates physically,” Fogden told Racing NSW.
“There’s too much scope when you look at him. Even at the sales he was a nice type but had a lot of frame to fill into. Once he catches up, he’ll be a beautiful horse.”
Glenfiddich impresses in trial return
Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock) ticked off an important milestone on his road to a racetrack return when pleasing connections in an 800-metre jump-out at Pakenham on Wednesday morning.
The Edinburgh Park-owned and Peter Moody-trained G2 Stutt S. hero, who is on the comeback trail from a tendon injury, hasn’t been seen since finishing 12th in the 2020 G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington.
“The staff were deciding whether he should just go to stud, but we certainly thought he had more to offer on the track,” Ian Smith of Edinburgh Park told Racing.com.
“We’re just taking our time, Peter’s (Moody) in no rush and I said to Pete, 'We’ve got nothing to lose just take your time with him'.
“So, hopefully he comes through this trial nicely and Pete wants to give him another trial then we’ll look for a race.”
Can Berry overcome a wide draw?
Tommy Berry will be hoping he can replicate his G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning ride aboard Vancouver in 2015 when he takes mount aboard Russian Revolution filly Russian Conquest in this year’s edition of the lucrative juvenile feature.
Berry, who successfully overcame barrier 16 aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Vancouver, has again been allocated the awkward draw, barrier 16.
Russian Conquest and Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The first furlong in a 2-year-old race is your most important and that’s any 2-year-old race, and even more important when you draw wide, you want to find your position fast and then you want to get them to switch off,” Berry told Racing.com.
“I know the way she pulled up after her (first-up) run and she had a massive blow, so they knew that the Slipper was two weeks away and there was plenty up her sleeve. I get a lot of confidence going into the weekend knowing that they’ve got her right at the right time.”
Australian Bloodstock secures NZ Oaks contender
Promising filly Le Villi (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) will carry the Australian Bloodstock silks when she lines up in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
The John Wheeler-trained galloper was secured by the Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell-owned operation following her last-start victory in the G3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie.
“I have got no doubt about her getting the distance, which is a big plus, because a lot of them will struggle to get the distance. She is pretty fit, so I am pretty happy with her,” Wheeler said.
“At this stage she is in my care until after the (NZ) Oaks, but they (Australian Bloodstock) did say they would leave her to me to take her to the (G1) AJC Oaks if she went well enough (on Saturday).”
Moroney mulls next move
Mike Moroney is weighing up whether he tackles next month’s G1 TJ Smith S. with G1 Newmarket H. heroine Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) after the Little Avondale Stud-owned mare bounced through her boilover victory.
The Flemington-based trainer, who also has a complex at Matamata, said a final decision will be made in the coming day following discussions with Roch ‘N’ Horse’s owners Sam and Catriona Williams.
“Options are we either go to Sydney for the TJ Smith, which gives us three weeks between runs but the only concern there is the (wet) ground, I just have a funny feeling she is just better on good ground,” Moroney said.
“The original plan was we gave her a quick freshen and get her to Adelaide for the (G1) Sangster (S.) and (G1) Goodwood (H.) and then she goes to the paddock.
“One thing about the TJ Smith is it still does give you time to run in the Sangster.”
Entries open for NZB's National Weanling and Yearling Sales
Entries for this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock dedicated weanling-only Sale are now open, set to be held as a physical sale at the Karaka Sales Centre on Friday, 17 June.
Entries for the National Weanling Sale will close on Friday, 14 April.
Entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 National Online Yearling Sale are also open, with the Sale set to be held on NZB’s online subsidiary Gavelhouse Plus for the second year in a row.
The catalogue will be available to view online from Friday, April 8, with bidding set to close on Wednesday, April 20.
Entries for the 2022 National Online Yearling Sale will close Wednesday, 23 March.
Stakes schedules confirmed for Churchill Downs and Saratoga
The Churchill Downs spring/summer, which will include an Arlington Million Day card transplanted from the shuttered Chicago racetrack, will offer a record 53 stakes races worth US$20.37 million (AU$28.3 million).
The 44-day Spring Meet is highlighted by the US$3-million (AU$4.15 million) GI Kentucky Derby on May 7 and will run from April 30-July 4.
With the coordination of Ellis Park and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Churchill will host a special Arlington Million Day on August 13.
The card will feature four stakes cumulatively worth US$2 million (AU$2.8 million) including the US$1 million (AU$1.4 million) G1 Arlington Million as well as the G1 Beverly D. S., the G2 Secretariat S. and the G3 Pucker Up S.
The stakes schedule for the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga has also been confirmed and will include 77 stakes worth US$22.6 million (AU$31.4 million) in total purses.
Highlighted by the 153rd renewal of the G1 Runhappy Travers S. on August 27 and the G1 Whitney on August 6, the 2022 summer meet will open Thursday, July 14 and continue through Monday, September 5.
The Travers Day card will include six stakes races, including five Grade I events.
With a focus on the New York-bred program and certain categories of stakes races, the 2022 summer meet will feature a purse increase of more than US$1.1 million (AU$1.53 million) over 2021.
