Wet ground undoes Coolangatta
Jockey James McDonald believes the Heavy ground was the undoing of previously unbeaten filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in Saturday's G1 Golden Slipper S.
Coolangatta loomed to win in the $5 million race but couldn’t get past Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel) before Fireburn (Rebel Dane) stormed home to win. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly finished third.
"I'm really sad. She tried her heart out. Got into a beautiful spot. Let down but the ground got her. A terrific filly and really proud of her," McDonald said.
Sam Clipperton on Best Of Bordeaux was very proud of how the Snitzel colt fought it out.
"He’s done a wonderful job this preparation. He’s going to run 1400 metres this horse when he grows into himself. Going to be a lovely 3-year-old. Must say congratulations to Kacy Fogden. She’s done a brilliant job with this horse,” he said.
$250,000 Zaaki reward
All-Star Mile owner-ambassador Nicholas Bouseka is $250,000 richer after he selected Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in Saturday's $5 million feature at Flemington.
"I've followed his career," Bouseka told Racing.com of Zaaki after the dominant win.
"I saw him up at Doomben and ever since then I've watched every race."
"In the stalls he looked very powerful, very serene, very calm. Jamie (Kah) got on him and you could see he just lit up and he showed that in the race.
"I feel very surreal. Everybody's been asking me all day if I'm excited, and now I am because it's real."
"My thought process got me as far as topping up my TAB account. I entered because of my partner Katrina. She's the one who suggested for me to enter.
"It was an unexpected phone call, it's unbelievable. It feels unreal."
Group 1 goals for Yonce
Unbeaten Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) is set to take her streak to Group 1 level after she cruised to a sixth-straight victory at Flemington on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace stable indicated that the G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Randwick in three weeks looms as the final run of her campaign.
Assistant trainer Lucy Yeomans confirmed the plan was for Yonce to go straight to Group 1 level.
Yonce (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
"Dave just called me and said depending on how she pulls up we will look to send her to the Queen of the Turf in Sydney in three weeks," Yeomans said.
"I'm sure she won't do much between now and then.
"(It's) such a relief. To be fair to her she makes it look easy and it was never in doubt. Credit to the team at home for keeping a filly like this up for so long."
Maurice makes his mark
Arrowfield Stud’s Japanese shuttler Maurice (Jpn) made his mark early on the biggest day of racing at Rosehill, with his progeny winning the first two races on the card.
Achira for Lee and Cherie Curtius won the Midway H. with Robbie Dolan taking an on the rail run to just tip out Fantastic Baby (Zoustar).
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
It was a sign for the second race too, the Listed Darby Munro S., with Sam Clipperton steering Mazu to victory over Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel) and Smirnova (Snitzel)
The Mission gets a winner
Aquis Farm stallion The Mission scored a first-crop winner at Ipswich on Saturday with the Les Ross-trained Mishani Embrace out of the Show A Heart mare, Fallen For You.
The Mission | Standing at Aquis
She won from Written Tycoon filly Tyresa and Spirit Of Boom colt Our Heart Throb.
Amen to a fourth Hallowed Crown stakes winner
Underrated sprinter Can I Get An Amen (NZ) (Hallowed Crown) justified some inspired support at Trentham on Saturday when she captured the Listed Race A Horse With Te Akau NZ’s No. 1 Stable Lightning H.
The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained 5-year-old brought an impeccable form reference into the race having finished fourth behind Levante (NZ) (Proisir) and Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in the G1 Telegraph at the venue back in January.
Can I Get An Amen (NZ) (yellow cap), winner of the Listed Lightning H. at Trentham | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
After Roch ‘N’ Horse and Levante finished first and fourth respectively in last weekend’s G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington, that last-start performance ensured the daughter of Hallowed Crown started a warmly backed $5.50 second-favourite on Saturday and she didn’t disappoint.
Rider Kate Hercock had her positioned handily off the rail and in a driving finish defeated Burgundy Rose (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) and the late closing Cavallo Veloce (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ})to take the victory.
She becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Twin Hills Stud-based Hallowed Crown.
Philipsburg’s shot at Country Champs final
James Ponsonby will try to force his way into the Newhaven Park Country Championships Final with Philipsburg (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) via Sunday’s $50,000 Wild Card (1400 metres) at Scone.
Ponsonby conceded after the 4-year-old ran sixth behind Testator Silens (Star Witness) in the South East Championships at Nowra last month 13 that he wasn’t fit enough for what turned out to be a testing race.
Philipsburg (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Philipsburg has won third-up in both preparations for the trainer and tuned up for the Wild Card with a game second over 1550 metres on a Heavy track at Canterbury three weeks ago.
Rachel King is back on Philipsburg for the Wild Card, she rode him to victory in a TAB Highway at Kembla in September as well as at Nowra first-up.
